Chapter 176: Another Half Month Granted
A crowd of onlookers had gathered at the Xie family's entrance.
"Just as I predicted—Xie Jingyu really did embezzle silver. His death was too merciful."
"Pity his elderly father, at such an age, has to perform hard labor. And his two young sons each owe over eighty thousand taels—their lives are ruined."
"One must admit, the Xie family's eldest son was fortunate. Otherwise, this debt would have fallen on him as the firstborn."
"Don't forget that the Yun family's eldest daughter is still Madam Xie. The Yun family will cover the losses."
"Without the Yun family's support, the Xie family would have ended up like the He family over twenty years ago—all male members executed…"
"…"
After announcing all the matters, the officials finally rolled up the scroll in their hands.
Just as Yuan Shi was about to stand up, she heard the officials declare, "All residences, manors, and shops of the Xie family are to be confiscated for the national treasury. Everyone in the Xie family must vacate the premises immediately!"
Yuan Shi felt blood rush to her head, her body swaying unsteadily.
If she hadn't been holding an infant in her arms, she might have collapsed to the ground like Ting Yu.
She turned and saw Xie Jingyu's coffin placed in the main hall.
It was only the first day since her son's death—he hadn't even been buried to rest in peace. How could they move his coffin along with them?
"Officers, I beg you, have mercy and give us some time…" Yuan Shi knelt on the ground, clutching the child, pleading desperately. "Although my Xie family isn't wealthy or powerful, we have elders and children. All the men are gone—the old, weak, women, and children truly cannot move out in such a short time… Officers, grant us a few more days. I'll kowtow to you…"
Her head thudded loudly against the ground, while the child in her arms wailed at the top of its lungs.
The scene silenced many of the onlookers at the entrance.
There were always soft-hearted people in this world. Though the Xie family's crimes were too numerous to record, what fault lay with the elderly? What fault lay with the innocent children?
The officials had long grown accustomed to such scenes and remained unmoved.
At this moment, Yun Chu, who had been silent all along, raised her head.
Although the Xie family had wronged her, from beginning to end, Yuan Shi had done nothing, yet she was the one bearing all the consequences.
"Officer," Yun Chu began.
The official quickly responded, "Madam Xie, I dare not accept such address from you. My surname is Zhou."
"Officer Zhou." Yun Chu knew that, out of respect for her father, these people would naturally show her some courtesy. She continued, "Moving out immediately is indeed difficult. You officers have worked hard coming here. The Xie family has nothing good to offer as hospitality, but if anything catches your eye, please take it."
She stepped aside, allowing the dozen guards at the entrance to enter.
Officer Zhou hurriedly waved his hand. "There's no need for hospitality, Madam Xie. If you have any requests, please state them."
Earlier that day, Cheng Xu, a trusted aide of Prince Pingxi, had specially invited him for tea and conveyed the prince's order: any request from Madam Xie must be unconditionally granted.
He knew the prince and General Yun were close friends, and Madam Xie was the Yun family's eldest daughter. As a low-ranking official, he could afford to offend neither Prince Pingxi nor the General's residence.
"Officer Zhou, if you don't take anything, how can I feel comfortable making a request?" Yun Chu insisted. "Please."
Officer Zhou pondered for a moment.
If Prince Pingxi's Manor and the Yun family cared about the Xie family, they would never have allowed things to reach this point.That is to say, they only needed to be cautious of Madam Xie.
He waved his hand, and his subordinates immediately entered the Xie residence.
They took whatever they fancied—decorative items, screens, vases… Old Madam’s storeroom was completely emptied… Only Shengju, where Yun Chu resided, remained untouched, as no one dared to approach it.
Yuan Shi knelt at the main entrance, her head lowered as she wept silently.
Concubine Jiang held Xie Xian tightly, refusing to look at the scene, forcing herself not to cry and urging her daughter to do the same.
The Xie family was nearly stripped bare.
Only then did Yun Chu speak: “I beg Officer Zhou to show some leniency and allow the Xie family to complete the funeral rites before we move out.”
Officer Zhou nodded: “Very well, we’ll grant you another half-month. Let’s go!”
A line of officers and soldiers dispersed under the watchful eyes of the onlookers.
The sky had already darkened, and as the spectacle concluded, the crowd naturally dispersed. The Xie residence gradually grew quiet.
A gust of wind swept through, rustling the white funeral banners and lanterns. The swaying shadows of the trees sent chills down everyone’s spines.
“What do we do, what do we do…” Yuan Shi, utterly distraught, turned to Yun Chu. “Chu’er, what should we do now? You must decide.”
Yun Chu replied calmly, “It’s dark. It’s time to keep vigil.”
“Chu’er, I’m not talking about that,” Yuan Shi pleaded, her voice hoarse from crying. “Your father-in-law has been taken away for hard labor. Can’t we think of a way to save him?”
Yun Chu’s tone was indifferent: “We should be grateful that Yun Ge’er and Kang Ge’er are still young. Otherwise, they would be the ones taking their father’s place in labor.”
Yuan Shi begged, “But they’re so young, and they’re already burdened with so much debt. What are we to do?”
“Then repay it slowly,” Yun Chu said without expression. “Since ancient times, sons have borne their fathers’ debts. If they cannot repay it in their lifetime, their descendants will continue to do so.”
Ting Yu, who had just regained consciousness, nearly fainted again upon hearing these words.
Concubine Jiang quickly steadied her.
“Madam, please save Yun Ge’er.”
Ting Yu pleaded through tears.
Concubine Tao could heartlessly abandon her child, but she could not.
Yun Ge’er was her life. She would rather die herself than see him grow up burdened with a debt of eighty thousand taels of silver.
She reached out to grab Yun Chu’s sleeve, but Yun Chu avoided her touch.
“As Yun Ge’er is now the eldest son of the Xie family, he shall keep vigil. We can discuss other matters after the funeral.”
Yun Chu turned and walked out of the mourning hall.
After she left, the two concubines and Yuan Shi remained, exchanging uncertain glances, none knowing what to say.
“Madam, Xian Jie’er will keep vigil tomorrow night. I’ll take her back to rest now,” Concubine Jiang said softly, bowing her head before leading her daughter out by the hand.
Only after her figure disappeared from the doorway did Ting Yu speak slowly: “Madam, the master is dead. The Xie family’s assets have been confiscated, and even this sheltering roof will soon be reclaimed by the court… An Ge’er’s fate in prison is unknown, Wei Ge’er’s whereabouts are also uncertain, Kang Ge’er was already frail and has been abandoned by Concubine Tao—he may not live to adulthood… Yun Ge’er is the only hope left for the Xie family’s lineage, Madam. You must consider his future.”
Yuan Shi looked bewildered: “How? What can I do? What options do I have…”
If her husband were still here, he might have devised a plan. But she, a mere woman, had been in a daze since the disaster struck, utterly clueless about what to do."Madam, you are the mother-in-law of the lady. If you ask her to hand over her dowry, would she refuse?" Ting Yu spoke slowly and deliberately. "The lady's dowry back then amounted to thirty thousand taels of silver. The silver that has been used over the years was previously replenished by Old Madam. As long as we obtain the lady's dowry, the Xie family can temporarily breathe easier."
Yuan Shi shook her head vehemently: "Which mother-in-law would take her daughter-in-law's dowry? We would be scorned and criticized by everyone!"
Ting Yu smiled: "Is your reputation more important, or is the continuation of the Xie family line more important?"
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