Chapter 33

“How did you know that?” Luo Yu asked suspiciously. He himself was unaware of such matters—so how could this person know?

The man replied, “Hasn’t His Majesty assigned men to guard the General’s Mansion?”

“I know the gatekeepers; they were once brothers in the Capital Patrol. I heard from one of them that recently, His Majesty has sent several contingents inside—specifically to obtain that private seal kept by the old lady of the Xiao family.”

“It’s just a pity that the old lady is too formidable. The Xiao family’s guards have sealed off the mansion so tightly that all of the men sent in by His Majesty were beaten to death and thrown out…”

Luo Yu’s mind stirred. He was, in fact, aware of the Xiao family’s so-called “thieves affair” and had even encountered reports from Duke Yu’s men stationed at the General’s Mansion—reports that claimed the Xiao family had thrown corpses out. He had not known, however, that those men were actually on Emperor Qing’s side.

Leaning in close to Luo Yu’s ear, the man whispered, “Even His Majesty desires that private seal, so it must be connected to Xiao Jin.”

“If you can seize that private seal and pair it with a letter supposedly written by traitors to the Xiao family, then even if the courtiers try to plead on the Xiao family’s behalf, it would be hopeless. Besides, there are undoubtedly many documents bearing the handwriting of Xiao Jin and several of his nephews left within the Xiao family.”

“As long as we can produce even one such document, there are plenty of expert forgers in the capital—are we really afraid of being short on evidence?”

“Then why go to such trouble? Must we really force Xie Yunyuan to talk?”

Luo Yu hesitated for a moment, yet he could not deny that he was tempted by the prospect. No one understood better than he did whether the Xiao family was truly guilty, nor did anyone grasp more clearly what Duke Yu intended by having him interrogate Xie Yunyuan for the so-called “evidence of guilt.”

Just as the man said—after all, it’s all fabricated. What difference does it make whether he writes it or Xie Yunyuan writes it?

“But…” Luo Yu said, “How can we get inside the Xiao family’s domain?”

The man replied, “Isn’t it simple? Since you are in charge of interrogating Xie Yunyuan, you can easily claim evidence of the Xiao family’s collusion with the enemy has been found within the General’s Mansion. It is entirely justifiable for you to bring your men in to conduct a search—what can the Xiao family do to stop you?”

Luo Yu frowned.

Seeing his hesitation, the man continued, “To put it bluntly, the Duke always lets you take the lead while he stays in the background, never offending anyone.”

“After all, we’ve already offended both Xie Yunyuan and the Xiao family. Why be afraid of offending them one more time? If you’re too reluctant, then I’ll go over there with my men.”

“If we can secure the private seal that His Majesty desires, that would be a tremendous achievement!”

Eager and ready to act, the man’s words stirred something in Luo Yu’s heart.

After a while, Luo Yu looked at him and asked, “Are you sure that the Xiao family really has a private seal?”

“I’m sure!”

Luo Yu recalled the sullen look Xie Yunyan had given him earlier, along with Yang Hong’s words, and gritted his teeth. “Alright, go round up some men. In a little while, head straight to the Xiao family.”

“After all, we’ve already offended them—might as well do it again!”

……

Yang Hong turned his head as Luo Yu’s group suddenly departed, seemingly heading toward the garrison. Muttering a curse under his breath, he said to the man beside him, “Once we enter the city, go straight back to the Ministry of Justice.”

“Sir?” The official accompanying them looked stunned.

Today, escorting Xie Yunyan out of the city as part of the funeral rites was originally the garrison’s duty. It was Yang Hong who had mentioned, of his own accord, that Xie Yunyan was a wanted criminal of the Ministry; fearing complications, he had brought him along. But now, why does he suddenly want to leave?

“Aren’t we going to go with him to see what’s happening at the Xiao family?”

“What are you even staring at!” Yang Hong snapped irritably as if he had too much life left to lose.

That shameless madam of the Xiao family—who acts with not a scrap of propriety—made his legs go weak at the thought of those 30,000 taels of silver she had him dispatch and the lies she had him use to fool Luo Yu.

Yang Hong was convinced that something earth-shattering was bound to erupt at the Xiao residence today. Besides, he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to witness such a spectacle; after all, he hadn’t lived enough yet!

Lowering the carriage curtain, Yang Hong declared, “Soon, someone will take Xie Yunyan back to the cell. This isn’t our concern—just follow my orders and head back to the Ministry of Justice. Don’t ask any questions where you shouldn’t!”

……

After the procession escorting the Xiao family’s coffins entered the city, everyone stepped aside. Even the fluttering paper money and the ritual banners clutched in hands amid the pouring rain managed to hush the entire city.

The women of the Xiao family were all dressed in mourning, and a funeral banner hung high in front of the General’s residence. Under their watchful eyes, Xie Yunyan appeared limping through the curtain of rain. His broken leg was still unhealed; every step sent a piercing pain through him. By the time his trousers had become stained red with blood, he had straightened his back and clutched the memorial tablet to his chest with determination. Like unsheathed swords, his eyes glinted with lethal sharpness, and trailing behind him was a row of ebony coffins.

The pallbearers, their eyes red and faces solemn, had rendered the onlookers silent—as all the jovial chatter around them died away upon witnessing the scene.

Those were the remains of the Xiao family’s father and son. The entire Xiao family perished on the battlefield—now, only these coffins remain.

Old Madam Xiao led the group to stand before the gate. She watched as Xie Yunyan, dragging his broken leg, limped forward and, with his back held straight, approached her. In that instant, a trace of weakness flickered across his greatly emaciated face. Discarding the cane he had been leaning on, he knelt before her.

“Grandmother, Little Sixth brings Father and the brothers home.”

Old Madam Xiao could no longer hold back her sorrow as she gazed upon the coffin—covering her mouth, she broke into anguished sobs. Wei Wanyun and the others also wept softly.

Amid the driving rain and howling wind, as the Xiao family servants knelt and wailed in grief, the entire long street was filled with heart-wrenching cries. Onlookers, their eyes reddening with unshed tears, gradually began to kneel as well. That was the Xiao family—the Xiao family that had safeguarded the Great Jin for a hundred years!

When the coffin stopped before the gate, Old Madam Xiao, her eyes red, helped Xie Yunyan stand. She felt his wrist was exceedingly delicate, and noticing that one of his legs was unnaturally bent, she realized he could stand only on his good leg. With a choked voice, she said, “You’ve suffered so much.”

“I’m not suffering,” he replied.

Xie Yunyan’s hair was disheveled, his face was almost translucent white, and his long eyes were as red as if dripping blood, fixed on her. “I must follow my elder brother and the others to Linchuan,” he declared.

If he went, perhaps his elder brother and the rest might not perish—and maybe even the General could return…

Su Jinyuan, clad in mourning garments, stood aside. Watching as Xie Yunyan’s face grew even more gaunt, and noticing the mingling of rainwater with the blood stains that trailed on the ground, she pressed her lips together and stepped forward. “Grandmother, the time has come.”

Old Madam Xiao’s grip tightened slightly as she pulled Xie Yunyan back a half-step. Su Jinyuan’s expression turned grave.

“The heroic souls have not yet dispersed; the bones still point home—let us welcome the General and the Junior General back to the mansion!”

As the rain hammered down on the coffins with a clattering sound, members of the Xiao family knelt on either side, eyes red as they watched several coffins being carried inside. The surrounding onlookers, struck by the scene, couldn’t help but begin to weep softly as well.

But who would have expected that at that moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed not far off?

Moments later, someone shouted loudly: “Hold on!!”

Luo Yu rode forward on his horse, leading a group of men, and positioned them in front of the coffins.

“The garrison has been ordered to investigate the Xiao family’s treacherous dealings. We have just received word that the Xiao family secretly harbors documents of collusion with the enemy—and even traitors—within their mansion. We have orders to search the premises.”

“People, these coffins must not be allowed into the mansion for now. You will follow me inside to search!”