Chapter 453 Extra Story: Previous Life 5
White silk streamers fluttered throughout the Xie residence.
Many commoners passing by the main gate couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"The Yun family's entire household was executed - it's too tragic. I absolutely refuse to believe the Yun family would rebel."
"Now that Eastern Tomb Kingdom is invading our Great Jin's coastal cities, General Yun could have gone to face the enemy, but the Emperor executed him instead. Great Jin has no generals left!"
"Eastern Tomb Kingdom comes with overwhelming force, yet the Emperor kills his loyal general. Our Great Jin is doomed!"
"Well, at least the Xie family has some conscience, giving the Yun family's daughter a proper burial..."
"..."
Amid the murmurs of the crowd, a youth dressed in dark robes approached.
He gazed up at the plaque above the gate bearing the characters "Xie Residence." Minister Xie was a third-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, and his son was the currently prominent Chief Grand Councilor Xie Shi'an.
He knew that the Xie family maintained good relations with Gong Xi Prince, but had little interaction with his own father.
The death of the Xie family's matriarch should have had nothing to do with him.
Yet for some reason, as if pulled by a strange force, he found himself stepping inside.
The courtyard was filled with white lanterns everywhere, and the servants all wore sorrowful expressions. Entering further, the main hall served as the mourning hall, where a coffin was placed. Many people knelt before the coffin, heads bowed as they burned paper offerings.
The youth stepped closer, approaching the coffin.
Kneeling at the front was Song Yin. After Xie Shi'an joined the Grand Secretariat, she often accompanied him to palace banquets and naturally recognized the person before her.
She quickly performed a courtesy: "Greetings to Prince Pingxi's heir."
As she spoke, she stood up and brought three incense sticks, placing them in Chu Hongyu's hands.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Chu Hongyu lit the incense and bowed three times... for some reason, he felt that bowing wasn't enough.
Looking at the coffin, his eyes inexplicably stung, an indescribable sorrow continuously rising and fermenting in his heart.
Unable to control himself, he suddenly knelt on the ground.
He kowtowed three times in succession.
Song Yin and all the Xie family members were stunned.
That Prince Pingxi's heir had come to pay respects to the matriarch was surprising enough.
But this heir had actually knelt before the matriarch's spirit.
Generally, only children needed to kowtow before the deceased's spirit...
"Heir, this won't do." Yuan Shi quickly helped him up. "You are an honored guest, please rise quickly. Don't let this overwhelm Chuer."
Chu Hongyu stood up.
He lowered his head, gently wiping away the tears that had involuntarily spilled from the corners of his eyes.
"Prince Pingxi's heir." Xie Shi'an's voice approached from the distance. "For the heir to perform such great rites, I'm afraid my late mother doesn't deserve it."
Chu Hongyu concealed the grief in his eyes and spoke lightly: "Passing by the Xie residence, I specially came to pay respects. The Yun family has served with loyalty for generations, and the Yun family's daughter was no exception. She certainly deserves it."
"Prince Pingxi Manor is currently facing many troubles itself, yet the heir still has such leisure." Xie Shi'an spoke calmly. "If there's any assistance you require, heir, please don't hesitate to ask."
Chu Hongyu's expression darkened.
Three months ago, after the Yun family incident, his father had begun working to overturn the Yun family's unjust case. However, before the Yun family matter could be clarified, his father was impeached for privately storing weapons.
Because of this, his father was thoroughly investigated by the Court of Judicial Review and placed under house arrest by the Emperor.
Recently, he had been cooperating with the Court of Judicial Review's investigation to clear his father's name and restore the Yun family's honor.
Chu Hongyu pressed his lips together, turned, and left the Xie residence. Reaching the gate, he still couldn't help looking back at the coffin...
No sooner had he left than a man stumbled in through the entrance.Xie Shi'an looked up and stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute. "Marquis Xuanwu."
Qin Mingheng, Marquis Xuanwu, was nearly forty years old, yet one could still glimpse the elegance of his youth. At this moment, his face was dazed as he rushed to the coffin.
"Yun Chu..."
His voice was hoarse to the extreme, his lips moving as he murmured, though it was unclear what he was saying.
Xie Shi'an frowned.
During previous palace banquets, he had noticed that this Marquis Xuanwu often stared at his mother. It was likely a romantic entanglement from his mother's youth.
He spoke calmly, "Go and fetch my father."
Xie Jingyu had been drinking incessantly.
He kept thinking of Yun Chu's eyes, which remained open even in death, and felt profound fear, relying on strong liquor to numb himself.
"Yu Lang." He Shi snatched the wine cup from his hand, unable to hold back her words. "Is Yu Lang so heartbroken over Yun Chu's death?"
Xie Jingyu's eyes were vacant. "You don't understand... You could never understand..."
From their wedding night, he had failed Yun Chu, leaving her to live a life of widowhood while he was still alive.
Outsiders said the Xie family's matriarch was infertile. Of course—how could she bear children when he never touched her?
She treated all his children as her own, raising them with utmost care. Yet in the end, he joined forces with all those children to drive her to her death.
He knew clearly that the Yun family had not committed treason. She was not the daughter of a criminal official. It was the Xie family, in collaboration with Gong Xi Prince, who had orchestrated it all... The Yun family was wronged. She was wronged.
The elders said that those who die unjustly become vengeful ghosts seeking retribution.
"Ling Ying, do you see Yun Chu?" Xie Jingyu looked up at the sky. "Look, she's there, watching me... She hates me..."
He Shi turned pale with fright. "Yu Lang, d-don't speak nonsense. Yun Chu was the daughter of a criminal official. She deserved to die..."
"Yes, she deserved to die!" Xie Jingyu grabbed his wine cup and hurled it at an illusory shadow in the sky. "Get lost, Yun Chu! Get away from me! Stop staring at me..."
Just then, a servant came to report, "My lord, Marquis Xuanwu has arrived."
Xie Jingyu snapped out of his terror.
He rose and headed straight for the mourning hall. When he saw Qin Mingheng leaning over the coffin, his pent-up rage found a target. He raised his fist and charged at Qin Mingheng. "It's all because of you! If not for you, Yun Chu and I wouldn't have ended up like this!"
"You dare hit me?" Qin Mingheng could hardly believe it. He lifted his leg and delivered a fierce kick. "Yun Chu must have been blind to marry scum like you! How dare you raise a hand against me—where did you find the courage?"
He grabbed Xie Jingyu by the collar and landed several heavy punches.
The Xie family rushed forward. "Marquis Xuanwu, please calm down! Let's discuss this properly—no need for violence..."
"All of you, get out!" Xie Jingyu said coldly. "This is a private matter between Marquis Xuanwu and me. Leave us."
The crowd exchanged glances and had no choice but to temporarily withdraw from the mourning hall.
"At least you have some backbone!" Qin Mingheng hauled Xie Jingyu up by the collar and forced his head down before the memorial tablet. "Now, facing Yun Chu's tablet, tell me—how did she really die?"
Xie Jingyu gave a bitter laugh. "Does it matter how she died? She's already gone."
"Beast!" Qin Mingheng struck him in the face again. "I regret it—I should have told Yun Chu the truth back then. She would have divorced you without hesitation, instead of being murdered by the Xie family!""That's right, I should have told Yun Chu long ago that it was you who took her innocence on her wedding night!" Xie Jingyu let out a bitter laugh. "It was you who defiled her. Once she learns of this, she will never let Marquis Xuanwu's household off! Aren't you afraid of this consequence, which is why you've been keeping it hidden all along? You call me scum, call me a beast, but what about you? The entire capital knows Marquis Xuanwu loves his wife as his life, yet who knows that you secretly keep two mistresses identical to Yun Chu and have even secretly fathered several children with them..."
"Shut up!"
Qin Mingheng mustered all his strength and began punching and kicking Xie Jingyu violently.
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