No sooner had Rui’an and his entourage left than the women of the Xiao family rushed forward, surrounding the Old Madam Xiao.
Chu Xiangyue hurried to the old matriarch’s side and gently supported her.
“Mother, are you all right?”
Her face was filled with concern. Though years of martial training had given her the straight, proud posture of a pine tree, she unconsciously bent slightly with worry.
Meanwhile, Fei Manxiang directed the maids to clean up the wreckage. The sight of the devastated hall filled her with anger.
“Those damned beasts! How dare they destroy our home like this!”
Her almond-shaped eyes blazed with fury, completely replacing her usual gentle demeanor.
The two children, Xiao Xiang and Xiao Rui, also gathered around the Old Madam, their young faces filled with fear and uncertainty.
Old Madam Xiao sighed softly and waved a hand.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Her face was somewhat pale, yet her gaze remained calm and unwavering, like a weathered reef that had endured countless storms.
The second daughter-in-law, Su Linlang, slowly stepped forward with hesitation written across her pale face.
Born into a scholarly family, she had been frail since childhood. After Xiao Jinghe’s second brother, Xiao Ye, died on the battlefield, she had fallen gravely ill herself and had only recently begun recovering.
After today’s fright, however, her complexion had turned deathly pale once more.
She coughed softly into a handkerchief before speaking.
“Mother… there’s something I’d like to say, though I’m not sure whether I should.”
Old Madam Xiao looked at her kindly.
“We’re family. Just say what’s on your mind.”
Su Linlang drew a deep breath, a conflicted look flashing through her eyes.
“Mother… don’t you think… Seventh Sister-in-law’s actions today were rather suspicious?”
Chu Xiangyue frowned.
“Second Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?”
There was clear displeasure in her voice. In her eyes, Xin Long had done nothing wrong tonight. She had genuinely been trying to help the Xiao family.
Su Linlang bit her lip.
“Seventh Sister-in-law only returned from the palace yesterday… and today His Majesty suddenly claimed our residence was hiding a counterfeit Imperial Jade Seal…”
She hesitated before voicing the thought that had been weighing on her heart.
“Could it be… that Seventh Sister-in-law colluded with the Emperor and deliberately framed the Xiao family?”
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the main hall froze.
The other daughters-in-law all wore grave expressions.
Deep down, they had entertained the same suspicion.
After all, Xin Long was a member of the imperial family. If the Emperor intended to destroy the Xiao family, how could she possibly not know?
Perhaps she not only knew…
Perhaps she was even his accomplice.
Old Madam Xiao sat steadily in her grand chair, looking first at her second daughter-in-law, then at the others.
She took in every expression on their faces before speaking slowly.
“Then tell me… has that counterfeit jade seal been found?”
Su Linlang froze before shaking her head.
Old Madam Xiao sighed.
“It’s obvious Long’er knew nothing about it. We’re family. How can we distrust one another?”
Though her voice remained calm, it carried unquestionable authority.
“Before Jinghe left, Long’er faithfully relayed every word he told us. Had she not warned us in advance and given us time to prepare, everything valuable in this household would have been gone by now.”
“If Long’er truly stood with the Emperor, she would never have told us what Jinghe said.”
Her words left everyone in the hall silent.
She was right.
Had Xin Long not warned them beforehand to gather and hide their money and jewelry, today’s smashing and looting would have stripped the Xiao residence clean.
And besides…
The counterfeit jade seal still hadn’t been found.
Thinking of this, Su Linlang flushed crimson with embarrassment and lowered her head.
Old Madam Xiao was right.
They were family.
She should never have doubted Xin Long.
“Mother… do you think this is really over?”
Chu Xiangyue stepped forward, unable to hide the worry on her face. Her hand unconsciously rested on the sword hanging at her waist—a habit forged through years on the battlefield. Only by gripping its hilt did she feel even the slightest sense of security.
Old Madam Xiao looked at the devastated hall and slowly shook her head.
“I’m afraid…”
“It won’t end so easily.”
Taking a deep breath, she gave her instructions.
“Before the Emperor makes his next move…”
“All of you should return to your parents’ homes.”
“Go say your farewells.”
Xun Ruoqiu’s hand trembled, and her eyes immediately reddened.
Fei Manxiang also stood stunned.
Even the capable, composed woman lost her usual calm.
“Mother… are you saying…”
Even the usually quiet Su Linlang couldn’t help speaking.
“Mother… our Xiao family has served the nation with unwavering loyalty for generations. Surely His Majesty wouldn’t really…”
Her pale face flushed with unhealthy color as her voice trembled.
Old Madam Xiao looked at the daughters-in-law before her, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
They were all good women.
Yet they had to suffer this undeserved disaster alongside the Xiao family.
Stretching out her thin, weathered hand, she gently patted Chu Xiangyue’s.
“Xiangyue…”
“You’re a sensible child.”
“You should understand that this matter won’t simply be allowed to pass.”
Chu Xiangyue pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes turning red.
Of course she understood.
The Emperor’s true goal was to wipe out the Xiao family.
If he failed to use the counterfeit jade seal this time, he would simply find another excuse the next time.
The Xiao family…
Could no longer survive in the capital.
Little Xiao Xiang and Xiao Rui clung tightly to their grandmother.
Their innocent faces were filled with fear and confusion.
They didn’t understand what had happened.
They only knew that bad people had come and turned their home upside down.
Looking at her two grandchildren, Old Madam Xiao’s heart ached even more.
How she wished they could grow up carefree…
Instead of facing such cruel realities at such a young age.
Suppressing the grief in her heart, she forced a smile.
“It’s all right, children.”
“Grandmother will protect you.”
She gently stroked their hair, yet her heart was filled with helplessness.
She knew she could protect them for a while…
But not forever.
The road into exile would be fraught with countless dangers.
Xiao Xiang and Xiao Rui were only eight years old.
She didn’t even know whether they would survive long enough to reach the place of exile.
Being the eldest, Chu Xiangyue was the first to regain her composure.
She took a deep breath, forcing down the sorrow in her heart.
“Mother… I know what to do.”
Turning around, she looked resolutely at the other sisters-in-law.
“Let’s go.”
“Let’s return home…”
“And say goodbye to our parents.”
The women exchanged glances.
In each other’s eyes, they saw the same unwavering resolve.
They all understood that this farewell…
Might very well be their last.
But they were daughters-in-law of the Xiao family.
Whether in life or in death…
They would stand with the Xiao family and face the coming storm together.
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