Chapter 109: Fear: Do you think you are the only one who threatens death?
People outside were in a panic, so the door of the teahouse was closed and Xu Pingsheng closed all the windows.
"Boss, why are you here at this time?" he asked, turning around.
Song Baoyuan glanced up at the beams and said calmly, "I'm sure you already know that the teahouse will be sold later."
Xu Pingsheng knew not only this, but also the widespread rumors of the Xie family's father-son dispute and Jiang Shaoqing's detention. He feared the teahouse's transfer of ownership was inextricably linked to these two events.
But he didn't ask any more questions, just said, "Yes."
Song Baoyuan's expression was calm. "Xu Xiucai, I admire your abilities, so you have three choices. One is to become my personal accountant and be at my disposal from now on. The second is for me to tie you to the teahouse, and you will simply wait here for your new employer. The third is to give you freedom and find another job."
Xu Pingsheng frowned, seeming to be embarrassed.
"Don't worry, take your time to think about it." Song Baoyuan stood up and walked upstairs. "Cen Zhou, come with me."
Cen Zhou, who had been leaning against the window as if in a daze, suddenly looked up, saw her move, and hurried to catch up.
Before entering the room, Song Baoyuan paused at the door. Suddenly, a dark shadow fell and A Qi stood steadily beside her.
"Miss."
Song Baoyuan glanced sideways and saw Aqi frowning and shaking his head.
Not dead, Song Baoyuan lowered her eyes and her expression became a little colder.
She walked into the house and placed the box she had brought on the table. She said absentmindedly, "This was left by your brother. He originally wanted to wait until you were older before giving it to you, but now he's worried he won't have the chance to give it to you, so he asked me to bring it to you."
Cen Zhou was stunned. He had never thought about this. When he came to his senses, he quickly opened it.
There were two things in the box, a wrinkled booklet and a yellowed envelope.
He had long since grown accustomed to the fact that all his relatives were gone, and even his former home had become a ruin, leaving no trace of his feelings. At this moment, his expression was dull, but his trembling hands still betrayed his feelings.
The envelope looked particularly fragile, so he tore it open with great care.
Song Baoyuan looked outside, her thoughts drifting away briefly until she heard footsteps.
She came to her senses and saw Cen Zhou in front of her take half a step back for no reason.
"What's wrong?" she asked, glancing casually at the open box.
In anger and sadness, Cen Zhou did not speak for a long time, but raised his head and slowly moved his gaze from the letter paper to Song Baoyuan's face.
Song Baoyuan didn't understand what was going on and felt uneasy when he stared at her, but unexpectedly he handed her the letter.
"Give it to me?" Song Baoyuan was suspicious.
Cen Zhou still didn't say anything, just nodded.
Song Baoyuan took it. The ink marks on the paper were a little blurry, but fortunately it did not hinder the identification of the content.
The letter, along with Chu Cenyu's instructions as his elder brother, explained the root cause of the family's troubles. Back then, the Supreme Court official had accepted bribes and repeatedly used innocent people as scapegoats for the true culprit. Once, a branch of the Chu clan was implicated. Chu Cenyu, who also served in the Supreme Court, discovered the situation and secretly gathered evidence, but it was discovered by the Supreme Court official. The official, exploiting Chu's father's involvement in the Youhou case, seized the opportunity to eliminate the entire Chu family.
Chu Cenyu originally wanted to use the evidence in his hand to expose the Dali Temple Minister before the disaster came, but the officials protected each other and he had no way out, so he had to keep the evidence.
Song Baoyuan frowned slightly. Wasn't the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple back then Xie Mingru?
She looked down at the contents of the box.
Wouldn't this be evidence to bring him down?
It can be said that it was obtained without any effort.
However, her mood seemed to be much calmer than she thought.
*
In the imperial study, the emperor sat at the desk, tapping the table with his fingertips, as if thinking about something.
The open booklet placed in front of him was the evidence that the Dali Temple Minister secretly convicted an innocent person.
In his expectation, Jiang Qing's incident was just the right time. He could have Jiang Keyu fake her death during exile in the name of rescue, and then have her go south to investigate the case for him. This would not only make Jiang Keyu remember his kindness, but also send the most trustworthy person to the south.
But now, this Miss Song has really given him a big problem.
He had a chance to save someone. If he didn't release Jiang Keyu, it would likely lead to a rift between the emperor and his subjects. But if he did, it would be hard for such a homebody to willingly travel south alone. Besides Jiang Keyu, who else could do this?
The emperor closed his eyes and felt a headache.
"Your Majesty." The eunuch brought the tea at just the right temperature. "Rest for a while."
The emperor closed the book and threw it aside. "How's things going at the Xie Mansion?"
"Your Majesty, as you instructed, the imperial physicians have all gone. Lord Xie's life will not be in danger, but his recovery will not be too fast or complete either."
The emperor lay on his back, silent for a moment, then asked, "How is the prince?"
"His Royal Highness still hasn't said anything, but Young Master Jiang has been in the palace for quite some time now. His previous study companions would have been expelled by His Royal Highness within a few days. But this time, His Royal Highness hasn't even expressed his opinion yet."
The eunuch was surprised, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has always hated noise, but the Jiang family's youngest daughter has been in the East Palace these past few days, chattering away every day, either crying or laughing, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince didn't do anything, just watching."
The emperor rubbed his brows and fell silent again.
After a while, he said, "Go and bring Jiang Qing here."
"yes."
Jiang Keyu had no idea what was happening outside.
When he learned that His Majesty had summoned him, he thought it must be about the trip south.
But he really didn't want to go.
Even if it was the only reasonable way to resolve his predicament.
However, he had to be separated from his wife and children by thousands of miles, go to a distant and unfamiliar place alone, face a group of jackals, tigers and leopards, and fight wits and courage every day for several years.
When I miss home, I will think that my wife may be making love with another man, and my child may be calling someone else "Daddy"...
Damn it, why not kill him now?
Wouldn't it be more pleasant to die?
Just imagining it now, Jiang Keyu felt suffocated and desperate.
After the father-in-law brought him into the imperial study, he left.
"Your Majesty, I bow to you."
"Since there are no outsiders, why bother with so much formality?" the emperor said casually. "What are your thoughts on the matter of moving south?"
Jiang Keyu lowered his head and said frankly, "I'm afraid I will disappoint Your Majesty."
The emperor was quite disappointed, but even more puzzled. "If not, how would Jiang Qing like me to deal with you? Should I truly exile you, or execute you directly as the ministers wish?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, "Jiang Qing, are you not afraid of death, or are you just being confident, thinking that I will definitely save you, or that someone will definitely save you?"
But Jiang Keyu's dejection didn't seem fake.
"I fear that my abilities are limited, and I fear failing to live up to your Majesty's trust and delaying important matters."
No matter how the emperor looked at him, he felt that he was both honest and arrogant. "Not capable enough?"
He held his forehead, "Jiang Qing, I really don't understand you."
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and all beings bow to you, so you have nothing to fear. But I am different. I have a fear since I was a child, something far more terrifying than life and death."
The emperor frowned, "What is it?"
Jiang Keyu paused, "I have no home to rely on."
"But Jiang Qing," the emperor said disapprovingly, "a strong trunk is the foundation for flourishing branches and leaves. When the matter is resolved, I will certainly reward you. Then you won't have to worry about having no branches to rely on."
Jiang Keyu lowered her eyes. "Your Majesty, if a tree has no roots, how can it thrive? My home is not the branches that spread outward, nor the leaves that flutter in the wind, but the roots that I rely on for survival."
He said dully, "A tree without roots, how can we talk about that time?"
The emperor's eyelids twitched. Seeing his appearance, he felt inexplicably angry, but he hesitated to speak.
It’s amazing that even the emperor feels aggrieved sometimes.
It’s hard to scold him, it’s hard to persuade him, and it’s hard to convince him by talking to him.
"You..." The emperor paused, and countless reasons for persuasion flashed through his mind, but he knew the result before he opened his mouth.
"Forget it." The emperor said helplessly.
There is no perfect person in the world. At least, being pretentious is much better than being too power-hungry.
This will ensure that there will not be a second powerful Xie Mingru.
"In that case, Jiang Qing, please go home." The emperor said slowly, "I believe Jiang Qing has been eager to return home for a long time. How can I keep him here any longer?"
Jiang Keyu didn't understand what he meant and didn't respond for a long time.
"Master Xie is seriously ill and unable to recover. I still need you, Jiang Qing, to help me with all matters at court," the emperor said sternly. "Since there is no need to leave your homeland and family, Jiang Qing must not continue to shirk responsibility and disappoint me."
Mr. Xie is seriously ill and cannot be cured?
Jiang Keyu was slightly stunned.
Has God opened his eyes?
*
The atmosphere in the Xie Mansion was cold and solemn, and the maids walking through the corridor were in a hurry.
Inside the room, Xie Mingru leaned against the bed, eyes closed, resting. His face was pale, and the wound on his chest had been bandaged, but the blood and flesh were still faintly visible.
On the side, Xie Yuchao was serving medicine with an expressionless face. Just as he took the bowl handed to him by the maid, he heard hurried footsteps outside.
It turned out to be Academician Du, who not only came here rashly but also had a strange look on his face.
"Cough." He coughed lightly to attract attention.
Xie Mingru turned his head slowly, and seeing his expression, his brows furrowed even deeper. "Everyone, go down first."
The servants obeyed the order and left, but Xie Yuchao stayed where he was, silently checking the temperature of the medicine bowl with the palm of his hand.
"You go out first." Xie Mingru said unhappily.
"Drink the medicine."
Xie Yuchao didn't move, and two cold words came out of his mouth.
Xie Mingru was already upset, and seeing his attitude, he became even angrier.
But before he could get angry, Grand Secretary Du spoke first, "Chao'er can't leave. He needs to understand the current situation more clearly."
Without outsiders around, Grand Secretary Du had no scruples. "That Lady Song, I don't know where she got the evidence of the Dali Temple's execution of innocent people, and she delivered it to Your Majesty without anyone noticing. If Your Majesty wants to punish me, I'm afraid..."
Although Du Daxueshi stopped, Xie Mingru already understood.
He was skeptical, "Really?"
Scholar Du nodded solemnly.
"What do you mean?" Xie Yuchao was confused and in a heavy mood. "The Dali Temple executed an innocent person? What does this have to do with you?"
"What tone are you using to talk to your father?" Xie Mingru said angrily, suddenly thinking of the young man from the Chu family who had served under him.
Grand Secretary Du clenched his fists anxiously. "It's already late, and you're still arguing. Chao'er is still a child, and his mistakes are not unforgivable. The most urgent thing is to prepare before His Majesty makes a move."
"Cough cough!" Xie Mingru had just straightened up when he bent down in pain, supporting himself on the edge of the bed with his hands, exerting so much force that his veins popped.
Xie Yuchao subconsciously reached out to help, but his body froze.
"Xie Yuchao!"
After calling out the name, Xie Mingru calmed down considerably. "His Majesty has a serious case on his mind, and he needs someone to go south on his behalf. You should go to the palace now, surrender to him, and state that you are willing to go undercover south."
"What do you mean by going south? What do you mean by starting a rebellion? What are you talking about?"
"Do as I say!" Xie Mingru said, slightly annoyed. "You just need to know that this is the only way to protect yourself and the entire Xie family!"
Xie Yuchao felt that he was being unreasonable. "Why should I go? Why should I..."
"Because your last name is Xie!"
"I just want an explanation!"
Suddenly there was silence.
"Oh." Xie Mingru sneered suddenly, "You only know how to get angry with your father. You don't understand anything at all. What can I explain to you? If I say too much, you might even join others in blaming your father!"
"I..." Xie Yuchao tightened his grip, "I won't go unless you explain clearly!"
"Then don't go." Xie Mingru put one hand on his chest, his tone slightly strange due to the pain. "It will be the same even if I die. His Majesty will not blame a dead person, and will definitely not implicate you and the Xie family."
Xie Yuchao was stunned. "What are you talking about?"
"I say, just think of it as me, Xie Mingru, having spent half my life's hard work, only to raise a bastard like you who killed my mother and is now forcing my father to death! This is my fate, I accept it!"
Xie Yuchao was stunned for a moment.
"What are you talking about!" Du Daxueshi was shocked and quickly pulled Xie Yuchao away. "Not really, not really."
Xie Mingru raised his head and looked at his son with cold eyes. "Do you think you are the only one who threatens death? I tell you, either you do as I say and enter the palace now. Or you wait here until the news of your father's death reaches the palace first!"
"Why do we have to talk it out?" Academician Du was caught in the middle and was at a loss.
Xie Mingru snorted coldly and said ruthlessly: "He has already killed his mother, so naturally he doesn't care about his father's life or death."
Buzz!
Xie Yuchao felt something explode in his brain, followed by a blank. His eyes turned red unconsciously, and he stepped back.
At this moment, I felt unprecedented confusion and helplessness.
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