Chapter 12.2: Enemies Meet, More Vicious Than Ever

The old emperor, having emptied the palace and the treasury, was worried about having no money to spend. After seeing the evidence scattered in the council hall last night along with the enormous sums recorded, his eyes gleamed with greed.

Without even verifying the information, he had already sentenced Prime Minister Su and several related officials to have their homes searched and to be exiled.

The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards initially thought this home search would be a lucrative opportunity, where he could make a profit and present the treasures he found to the old emperor for rewards.

To his surprise, upon entering, the Prime Minister’s residence was cleaner than the current palace.

After thoroughly searching the entire estate, the only valuable item found was a copper pot used for stewing tiger whip for Prime Minister Su.

Furious, the deputy commander felt rage boiling inside him and immediately ordered that Su Bingsheng be taken away and whipped fifty times.

Seeing that Shen Shi, Su Qingyin, and Su Chengzhi were still unconscious, he had no intention of showing them kindness. He directly drenched them with a bucket of cold water to wake them up and quickly dressed them in prison clothes before hastily escorting them outside the city.

Thus, when Su Qingning and her companions were escorted outside the city, they saw the Su family members looking sickly and extremely disheveled.

Su Bingsheng and his son were even paler, unable to walk normally, shuffling along in a bizarre manner.

Even with all their strength, they moved much slower than ordinary people and would occasionally receive a few lashes.

The members of the Xiao family were astonished to see the Su family.

Initially thinking they shared a common fate, they felt pity upon seeing the Su family’s miserable state.

However, before they could greet the Su family, they noticed that the Su family’s eyes towards Su Qingning were filled with poison, as if they were facing old enemies.

The Xiao family members immediately recalled the rumors about Prime Minister Su’s favoritism towards his concubine while neglecting his wife and abusing his legitimate daughter. They instinctively formed a protective circle around Su Qingning, glaring fiercely at the Su family in return.

Upon seeing the bloodthirsty gazes of the Su family, Xiao Huaishuo felt a chill run down his spine.

Just by imagining it, he could tell that Su Qingning’s previous life must have been worse than that of a pig or a dog.

He took Su Qingning’s hand, gave it a comforting squeeze, and shielded her behind himself.

Their gazes met, and everything was understood without words.

Su Qingning felt warmth in her heart seeing the Xiao family members protecting her. She increasingly realized that her decision to stay was correct.

This old emperor must have lost his mind to decree the expropriation and exile of over ten families in one go.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the city gate, bidding a final farewell to their relatives and friends who waited there.

The road to exile was often fraught with difficulties; many felt a sense of despair, and as they spoke, could not help but hold their families and weep. The cries echoed in the air, creating a desolate scene outside the city.

Xiao Huaishuo keenly noticed that several families among these people were looking at them with venomous glares. He knew this was likely to be a treacherous road ahead.

He exchanged a glance with his fourth brother, Xiao Huaijin, and together they instinctively shifted to position their female relatives behind them for protection.

Though their mother, Zhang Qinxue, and sister-in-law, Li Xuanyi, both came from distinguished families, their maternal families were all from the southern region. Second sister-in-law Jiang Xinyue was an orphan, having lost both parents.

Upon learning that the Xiao family was in trouble, far-off relatives in the capital were all afraid of getting implicated and kept their distance.

Therefore, compared to the bustling crowd, this side appeared much quieter. The Xiao family members were all watchful and waited silently for the officials to give the order to depart.

Just then, an excited voice called out from behind:

“Qingning! Oh dear—my darling Qingning, grandmother has finally seen you! Oh dear—how come you’ve gotten so thin! Come here so that grandmother can have a good look at you!”