Chapter 213
As the carriage was driving on Changwu Street, Lin Shuge suddenly asked, "Zhongxuan, I haven't asked you yet, what happened to Ah Ming?"
"Why do you think of asking this? Brother, you want to know how he hid in the Ding Mansion for so many years without being discovered, right?" Xie Chen stuffed a hand warmer into Lin Shuge's hand and said, "His name is Su Qianming. He was born weak and sickly. Someone told him that he should not see people before he reaches adulthood. The fewer people know about his existence, the better. It would be best to send him outside to be nursed back to health in order to save his life."
"At first, the Su family didn't believe it. Later, when they saw that his health was getting worse, they sent him away with the idea of giving him a last-ditch effort. They also deleted his name from the family tree and only said that the second son of the Su family died young due to his weak health. Unexpectedly, his health was getting better and better. Later, the Xie family got into trouble and the Su family was also implicated. He was the only one left in the entire Su Mansion. He then changed his name and sneaked into the Ding family and became an aide to Ding Wenbo. I didn't know about this at first. He came to me these few days and told me everything."
It turned out to be such a reason. This person was as tough as Zhongxuan in character. He endured it for many years and kept silent with Zhongxuan. Finally, he brought his enemy to justice, which was what he wished for.
"I see. It's all thanks to him for the information. Otherwise, how could we guard against Ding Yan, who has three burrows?" Lin Shuge said softly, touching the soft rabbit fur on the hand warmer.
"Yes, I didn't expect that Deng Ji would have problems. Fortunately, the captain of the palace city does not always listen to him. In addition, with the northwest border army, even if Ding Yanhe has more county soldiers, it will be of no avail." Xie Chen said.
"Zhongxuan, with His Majesty's decree, the governors and commanders of the northwestern counties will naturally let the border troops pass through secretly. Dingyuan County is no exception. I can naturally trust the character and integrity of Lord Li of Longxi County. What about Wei County, is the governor a member of the imperial party?" Lin Shuge suddenly remembered that they had long expected the Ding family to rebel, and they sent a message to Marquis Jingyuan early in the morning, asking him to send troops over, but the matter was extremely confidential and no link could be missed.
Xie Chen smiled mysteriously, "Brother, do you still remember the person I mentioned before?"
Lin Shuge looked at him in confusion, "Who is it?"
"When I was fleeing to the northwest, a general recognized me and let me go west."
"It's actually him. He is an official of Wei County?" Lin Shuge asked in surprise.
Xie Chen nodded and said, "He is now the commander of Weijun." Because of this incident, he briefed Emperor Yongyuan and asked the border troops to come from Weijun.
"It really seems like God is helping us." Lin Shuge sighed.
Xie Chen smiled and was about to speak when the carriage suddenly jolted. He asked, "What happened?"
"Sir, there is an execution going on ahead, and the people are blocking the street to watch the excitement." A Xun said outside.
Execution today?
Lin Shuge lifted the curtain and looked outside, only to see a crowd of people, with the people spontaneously moving to one side.
"I heard that the person being executed today is a branch of the Ding family. They relied on the power of the Ding family to sell official positions and titles, bully men and women, and force the local people to live."
"They deserve to be killed. If the Ding family hadn't protected them, they would have been chopped off long ago. Fortunately, Your Majesty has captured the entire Ding family."
Listening to the people's indignation, Lin Shuge said to Xie Chen, "I heard that His Majesty has asked the various ministries to rehabilitate the officials who were framed by the Ding family. I think Mu Yuanzhou and his men can return to Beijing."
There were countless clans like Mu Yuanzhou who either did not stand on the side of the Ding family or hindered the Ding family and suffered. Xie Chen alone knew that there were no less than ten clans, and their remaining descendants were hiding in the dark, waiting for this day.
Xie Chen had kept the evidence they had collected over the years, and he handed them over to Emperor Yongyuan these days, which could be considered as helping them.
"Axun, tell my aunt and the others that we'll take a detour." Xie Chen spoke up when he saw that the road was blocked.
"Yes, sir." A Xun whipped the horse whip and replied loudly.
Arriving at Xie's residence, several people got off the carriage. Lin Shuge saw that Xie Chen and others had nostalgic and sad expressions on their faces, and knew that they were feeling a little homesick at the moment.
"Let's go in." Lin Shuge said.
Everyone in the Xie family came back to their senses at this moment. Xie Ning wiped her tears and said, "We are finally back. Let's go. What are you all standing there for? Let's go in." Although Wang Heng had been here before, this was the first time he was truly home. Xie Chen pushed open the door. The mansion had been renovated and everything was arranged exactly the same as it was back then.
Long-forgotten memories came back to me, and the faces of my parents, brothers and sisters-in-law flashed one by one.
He seemed to still see his grandfather sitting at the top, polishing his weapons, his mother and father sitting together and talking, his brother and sister-in-law sitting beside them, smiling and saying, "Erlang, you're back."
Xie Chen's eyes were filled with tears unconsciously, while Xie Ning and the others were already weeping inconsolably.
When everyone arrived at the ancestral hall, Xie Chen held back his tears, took a bundle from Lin Shuge, and set up the tablets of everyone in the Xie family. After lighting the incense, he led everyone to kowtow three times.
"Ancestors, Xie Chen, a descendant of the Xie family, has finally cleared the name of the Xie family. Big brother, father, mother, brother, sister-in-law, your spirits in heaven can rest in peace now."
Lin Shuge saw Xie Chen's sad face and knew that he probably had something to say to his parents and relatives, so he left.
He walked around the house. It was very big. He walked along the corridor and suddenly saw a courtyard.
The yard was very tidy. There was a bamboo forest in the yard. The wind blew through the leaves, making a rustling sound. There was a stone table in the middle of the yard. Lin Shuge was a little curious and went forward to take a look. Unexpectedly, there were several stone chess pieces scattered on it.
Lin Shuge reached out and set it up. It looked like a chess game, but it was interrupted in the middle.
"Brother." Xie Chen's voice came from my ear, "What are you looking at?"
Are you done with it so soon? Lin Shuge turned around and saw him striding towards him with an unpredictable expression on his face.
Lin Shuge replied, "I wanted to walk around, and when I saw this courtyard was a little peculiar, I came to take a look."
Xie Chen scratched his ear and said, "This is my yard."
Lin Shuge said, "Hmm?" Xie Chen looked a little embarrassed, "As expected, we two are very close in mind. When you have time in the future, brother can live here with me."
After he finished speaking, he took Lin Shuge around everywhere, saying that this place was where he usually practiced martial arts, and that house was where he usually used to read and practice calligraphy, and he even took Lin Shuge to see the low wall that he used to escape from the house when he was a child because of playing.
Lin Shuge didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but seeing him so happy, his heart was also filled with joy. The sun will eventually dispel the haze, and the pain of the past will fade, becoming his motivation to move forward.
"Brother, there is something I need to tell you." Xie Chen finally had enough and suddenly said in a low voice.
Seeing that he was avoiding her gaze, Lin Shuge narrowed his eyes and said, "Tell me, what have you done to offend me?"
"I have just informed our parents and elders about what happened between you and me."
So that's it. What's the matter? Wait, Lin Shuge stared at him in amazement. "You mean my aunt and the others too?"
Xie Chen was still waiting for his praise, and nodded when he heard it.
Lin Shuge felt overwhelmed when he saw his attitude of seeking praise. He swallowed and said, "Aunt and the others..."
"I couldn't accept it at first, but then he said that as long as I was happy, it was fine." Xie Chen said.
In fact, the situation at that time was as if Xie Ning and others were struck by lightning. Their brains were filled with paste at first, and then after they regained consciousness, they slowly recalled how their nephew and Lin Shuge got along. Only then did they realize that the two were really too close.
No wonder, no wonder, Xie Ning only hated herself for not realizing it earlier. These two are still living together. She used to think that they were brothers with a good relationship and would naturally move out after they got married.
Who knew it would be like this? She looked at her uneasy nephew and couldn't bear to say anything against it. These two had traveled all the way from the northwest to Yandu, walking on thin ice and escaping death. Finally, the dust had settled. How could she bear to separate them? Besides, such a relationship could not be dispelled by a few words from others.
She sighed heavily, looking at the tall and strong Xie Chen in front of her, her heart suddenly felt unknown, and she could only ask him to treat Lin Shuge well. She knew the character of the Xie family. Lord Lin was gentle and polite, and would never do such a rebellious thing. It must be that her nephew had snatched it step by step, as her brother and eldest nephew were the same.
"So my aunt and the others agreed?" Lin Shuge asked in surprise.
"Of course. They know that my brother is so good. They also told me not to let him down in the future, otherwise they would be the first one to not forgive me." Seeing that there was a hint of surprise in Lin Shuge's expression of disbelief, Xie Chen couldn't help but walk forward and hug him.
Were the ancients so open-minded? Lin Shuge was still in a daze, and then he thought that Xie Ning just felt sorry for the hardship Xie Chen had gone through over the years and didn't have the heart to separate the two lovers.
"You are the only descendant of your Xie family? Do you want to be adopted?" Lin Shuge joked.
"Just let my aunt go back to the clan by herself. She wants to divorce the Liu family anyway." Xie Chen said indifferently. Besides, if his brother hadn't saved him, the Xie family wouldn't be here today. No matter what, he wouldn't let his brother suffer any grievances. His father and mother in heaven would agree as well.
"Divorce?" Lin Shuge tilted his head and asked him.
Xie Chen nodded, "My aunt and her husband are not on good terms, and she has wanted to divorce for a long time."
"Okay." Lin Shuge wanted to ask the reason but was afraid to touch upon what happened in the past.
Xie Chen looked down at him and explained, "Actually, it was all about the Xie family. The Liu family and the Xie family are relatives, and they chose to protect themselves back then. My aunt doesn't blame them. Unfortunately, the head of the Liu family wanted to divorce my aunt in order to distance himself from the matter. After my aunt and several cousins wrote to the late emperor, the head of the Liu family asked my uncle to divorce my aunt and marry someone else on the grounds that my aunt had not given birth to any children for many years. My uncle and aunt were young couples, so they naturally disagreed. The old lady of the Liu family threatened to die, so my uncle had no choice but to agree to take a concubine first."
"Later, my aunt and my cousins' righteous deeds were praised by the world, and the late emperor also issued an edict to praise my aunt. For the sake of reputation, the Liu family had no choice but to give up the matter."
Lin Shuge was somewhat puzzled, and Xie Chen asked again: "Brother, do you want to ask why Auntie could endure this for so many years given her personality?"
He sighed slightly, "Once the Xie family fell, the married Xie girls had no one to rely on. Although the Liu family is not as good as the Ding family and the Xie family, it is still a noble family, and my aunt has to protect others. Later, when Sister Aying got into trouble, my aunt came to ask for the dowry back, and she became famous in one battle. The Liu family dared not say anything anymore."
Lin Shuge felt sad, "That's fine."
"It's getting late, let's go back." Lin Shuge said, holding his hand.
Xie Chen said, "Brother, aren't you staying here with me today?"
Lin Shuge laughed and hit him, and Xie Chen also laughed and said, "Next time, brother will stay with me for a few more days next time." He said "um" softly, and the two of them left the yard together, only to find that Xie Ning and his group had already left.
Lin Shuge felt relieved, but he was also a little embarrassed by the atmosphere of meeting the parents for no apparent reason.
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