Chapter 57: The Son’s Sin of Killing is Too Serious

The eunuch standing nearby, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly lowered his head to pour tea for Emperor Liang De.

He was the Emperor’s closest attendant and could do such things without fear of punishment.

However, the King of Xuan suddenly reached out and snatched the celadon teapot from his hand, personally pouring a cup of tea for the Emperor.

Emperor Liang De’s expression immediately softened.

The King of Xuan then calmly said, “My son has committed too many sins. I have no capacity to love anyone in this life.”

Emperor Liang De slammed the porcelain cup in his hand heavily onto the table, rebuking, “I forbid you to speak like that! Those you have slain are all traitorous rebels, or barbarians from the north and south! Today, the Great Liang is peaceful and prosperous, with music and dance everywhere. Your contribution is evident in this. How can this be considered sin?”

The King of Xuan remained silent.

Emperor Liang De said coldly, “You are a prince of the royal family. It is their fortune to marry you. Even if you don’t love them, what does it matter? Sitting in the position of a princess, it brings her and her family supreme glory. Isn’t that enough?”

But soon, Emperor Liang De changed his tone and sighed, “Forget it. There are too many gossiping tongues. I know your concerns. Your illness…”

Emperor Liang De hesitated, finally only saying, “Do as you wish. But the Empress Dowager… never mind.”

The King of Xuan pretended not to hear the last part and bowed to thank Emperor Liang De.

“Go back. I am tired,” Emperor Liang De looked like an old father who had been deeply hurt, and he propped his forehead with one hand, no longer looking at the King of Xuan.

The King of Xuan took his leave and departed.

Fang Chengzhong, the deputy general guarding the two gates, immediately greeted him.

Fang Chengzhong whispered, “Your Highness… are you going to marry Miss Xue?”

“Yes,” the King of Xuan said emotionlessly, “She is the most suitable, isn’t she?”

However, Emperor Liang De wouldn’t issue the decree so easily.

But it didn’t matter. Today was just the beginning.

Fang Chengzhong nodded and said, “It’s good that Your Highness has someone you like.”

Like?

The thought flashed quickly through the King of Xuan’s mind.

The King of Xuan walked slowly towards the palace gate.

He passed by high walls built of gray bricks. The walls were high, making the road seem narrow. When he looked up, the sky seemed to be squeezed into a thin line.

Beneath the high walls, countless lives had been buried.

He wondered if Xue Qingyin would still be able to laugh so freely every day after marrying into the King of Xuan’s Mansion.

“Tell Du Hongxue to send some things to the Xue Mansion tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

The King of Xuan paused and said, “You mentioned last time that Xue Qingyin’s maternal family is…”

“They live in Xingping County. Xue Qingyin’s uncle is the County Magistrate of Xingping County.”

“A County Magistrate,” the King of Xuan’s tone was cold, clearly regarding such a small official as insignificant.

Fang Chengzhong whispered, “It is said that Xue Qingyin’s mother was once beautiful and was supposed to be sent to the palace as a maid. Later, she accidentally broke Princess Fengyang’s cup. The Emperor saw it and gave her to Minister Xue as a concubine.”

The King of Xuan didn’t care about these things and simply replied, “Hmm, deal with it. Consider it a gift for her.”

“Yes.”

The Xue Family.

Xue Qingyin had just finished dressing when a maid rushed to her courtyard.

“Master has returned and asked for Miss to come to the front to speak,” the maid said, panting.

It seemed urgent.

Xue Qingyin asked in confusion, “Isn’t Father supposed to be on duty at the Ministry of Revenue?”

The maid shook her head, “This servant doesn’t know.”

Xue Qingyin could only obediently go to the front hall.

Xue Chengdong was already sitting inside, his face gloomy and silent.

This was a rare sight, Xue Qingyin thought.

Then she crossed the threshold.

The sound of her footsteps startled Xue Chengdong.

Xue Chengdong asked coldly, “Why did the Duke of Zhao insist on recognizing you as his adopted daughter?”

Xue Qingyin tilted her head, “Because I’m smart, clever, cute, and adorable?”

“…” Xue Chengdong’s face immediately turned even darker.

Xue Qingyin even immediately asked him back, “Father, why are you home today? Shouldn’t you be at the Ministry of Revenue?”

At the mention of this, Xue Chengdong’s face turned even darker.

He raised his hand and said, “The invitation has been sent to the Ministry of Revenue. How could I not come back?”

Xue Qingyin took a look and realized it was the invitation from the Duke of Zhao.

Xue Chengdong stood up and said coldly, “I have already declined the Duke of Zhao’s request. Why did you agree in private? Such a major matter should be decided by parents and elders, not by you. We will discuss this later. You don’t need to attend the Duke of Zhao’s banquet.”

With that, Xue Chengdong tore up the invitation.

Mrs. Xue rushed over, hearing the commotion. Upon entering, she was furious. Before Xue Qingyin could say anything, Mrs. Xue exclaimed loudly, “You’re never around, and when you come back, you’re immediately scolding your daughter. What kind of father are you? If she recognizes another one, I don’t see anything wrong with it. That young master, although born foolish, is probably a thousand times better to our daughter than you!”

Actually, Mrs. Xue had never seen how Zhao Xufeng treated Xue Qingyin.

But in the heat of the moment, she naturally had to say such things.

Xue Chengdong shouted, “She dares to make decisions on her own now, and you still spoil her. This is not love, but harm. If you continue to indulge her, will she dare to change her father one day?”

Xue Qingyin quickly pulled Mrs. Xue, “Okay, okay, Mother, don’t argue. I’m not even angry, why are you angry?”

Xue Chengdong looked up and saw that Xue Qingyin was indeed nonchalant, showing no sadness or fear, not even blushing.

Xue Chengdong became even angrier.

“Take Mrs. Xue away. She should not interfere in this matter,” Xue Chengdong said coldly.

Mrs. Xue became even more anxious, “What are you doing? What do you want to do?”

“You always pamper her because she is weak, unwilling to hit her or scold her. You have cultivated this kind of temperament. When she marries into another family, will you let her act like this and offend her in-laws?” Xue Chengdong seemed determined to establish his authority as a father.

Xue Qingyin said, “Okay, stop arguing. If you really punish me today, what will the Duke of Zhao think? Will he think that our Xue family is so petty that we need to tear down the face of the Duke of Zhao’s Mansion for such a trivial matter?”

Xue Chengdong gave her a cold look, “You’ve learned to use the Duke of Zhao’s Mansion to pressure your own father.”

Xue Qingyin shut her mouth.

For a moment, she felt that He Songning and Xue Chengdong weren’t father and son by blood, but they were like father and son.

The two of them were quite similar.

Xue Chengdong lowered his eyes and said, “How could this matter be related to the Duke of Zhao’s Mansion?”

He raised his eyes.

Two maids immediately came in, half-supporting and half-dragging Mrs. Xue out.

Xue Qingyin was dumbfounded.

She thought that although Xue Chengdong was annoying, and He Songning would later hate Xue Qingyin and even hate Mrs. Xue because of him, at least for now… Mrs. Xue’s position as the mistress of the mansion was very stable.

But now it seemed… that wasn’t the case.

Xue Chengdong never interfered in the affairs of the mansion, but he was still the most authoritative figure.

Xue Qingyin desperately winked at Mrs. Xue, wanting to calm her resentment and signal her not to worry about her.

Then she turned her head and heard Xue Chengdong say calmly, “The Duke of Zhao will only know that I punished you today because you didn’t take good care of your sister, causing her to bump her head.”

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, you’re quite good at finding excuses!

But she wasn’t really angry.

She just thought, it’s a good thing Mrs. Xue didn’t hear that. Otherwise, if she used Xue Qingyin as the “reason” for her punishment, Mrs. Xue would really go crazy on the spot!

“Kneel down,” Xue Chengdong said.

Xue Qingyin cursed inwardly, this damn patriarchal era!

No wonder women at this time, in order to escape their terrible families, could only choose to marry. But often, they were just jumping into another cage.

Xue Qingyin temporarily put aside her inner thoughts, raised her eyes to meet Xue Chengdong’s gaze, and said confidently, “My legs hurt, I can’t kneel.”

“How come I didn’t know you had a leg pain?”

“Father, why don’t you ask the King of Xuan? He knows very well.”

Since you don’t want me to use the Duke of Zhao’s Mansion to pressure you, then it’s okay for me to bring up the King of Xuan, right?

Xue Qingyin thought this was very reasonable.