"Mother!"
All five wives of the Lu family reddened their eyes in unison.
First Madame Lu spoke up first: "I won't leave. Since I married into the Lu family, my husband is here and my children are here. Whether in life or death, this is where I belong!"
"Mother, I won't leave either. If I go, what will happen to Xiaoqing and Ningning? I can't let them lose their father's protection and their mother's company at the same time." Second Madame Lu also shook her head with tears in her eyes.
Third Madame Lu suppressed her grief: "Mother, Third Master once said that on the battlefield, the most contemptible thing is to be a deserter. Now that the General's Estate has fallen on hard times, as a daughter-in-law of the Lu family, I am willing to share in the hardship and stand together through thick and thin."
"That's right. What Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, and Third Sister-in-law said makes sense. Once we enter the Lu family, we are one family. Even if we die, we die together."
Seeing this scene, Old Madame Lu felt both comforted and deeply sorrowful. She suppressed the tightness in her throat and looked toward her youngest daughter-in-law, who sat at the lower seat and had not spoken a word.
"Cheng Yu, you have neither sons nor daughters, so you have fewer ties to hold you back. Whether you stay or leave, I will not blame you. Don't feel compelled to stay just because your sisters-in-law are staying. This concerns life and death, and I respect whatever decision you make."
Fifth Madame Lu said calmly: "Mother, if Fifth Master dies and that person gives us no way to live, then I will gladly join Fifth Master in the afterlife. If Fifth Master is still alive, then even more so, I cannot leave the General's Estate."
She had never once considered leaving. In fact, her resolve to stay was even harder to shake than that of the wives before her.
Old Madame Lu knew of the deep bond between her and Fifth Master, so she did not try to persuade her further. Besides, the General's Estate might not truly be at the end of its road.
She straightened her back, and the strength that had seemed to leave her seemed to return: "Good. As one family, we will share hardship and stand together, never abandoning one another. I refuse to believe we cannot find a way to survive!"
By the time the imperial guards surrounded the General's Estate, Song Mingyuan had just finished looting the last room in the estate.
Old Madame Lu's room contained quite a few antiques, and the wives' rooms were mostly filled with jewelry. Anything valuable or important had all gone into her Spatial Dimension.
When she emerged from the rooms and walked to the front courtyard, she happened to hear the eunuch's shrill voice announcing loudly: "The imperial edict has arrived—"
The eunuch, holding a horsetail whisk, carried a roll of bright yellow imperial edict and walked to the center of the courtyard, flanked by a squad of sword-bearing imperial guards.
Hearing the commotion, Old Madame Lu, her hair streaked with white, was supported by her daughters-in-law as she walked out. Seeing the display before her, her hand gripping the silver-gilt twelve-ringed staff tightened.
"Old Madame Lu, is everyone present?"
Old Madame Lu's face tensed as she gave a slight nod.
"In that case, kneel and receive the edict!"
First Madame Lu, who had already knelt along with the rest of the Lu family household, could not help but say: "The late emperor once decreed with his own words that the Old Madame need not perform the kneeling bow in the presence of the sovereign…"
The eunuch glanced at her sideways: "Times have changed, First Madame Lu. It would be best not to make things difficult for me. I am carrying out the emperor's orders."
Old Madame Lu knew this was not the time to quibble over such matters. She calmed her daughters-in-law and knelt down: "Please proceed with the edict, Eunuch."
Seeing that Old Madame Lu knew how to adapt to the times, the eunuch did not press the matter further. He opened the edict and read it aloud in a high voice.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: General Lu Feng, Defender of the Nation, has conspired with foreign enemies and betrayed his country. Instead of guarding our borders and securing the realm, he plotted rebellion and defied imperial authority, causing the fall of seven cities—Shuoyang, Anding, Huainan, and others—to enemy hands, leaving the people displaced and suffering. For this, his entire clan shall be executed!"
"Yet, in consideration of his ancestors' meritorious service, the death penalty is commuted. However, exile is unavoidable. He is hereby stripped of rank and reduced to commoner status. All within three degrees of kinship shall have their property confiscated and be banished, escorted by officials to Yongzhou in Baiyue to serve their sentence. None may leave without imperial decree. Should any dare defy this edict, death shall be their punishment!"
The eunuch rolled up the imperial decree: "Old Madame Lu, receive the decree and give thanks for the Emperor's grace!"
Old Madame Lu stared at the decree for a long moment before slowly setting down her tin staff and prostrating herself in resignation.
"This humble woman receives the decree. Long live the Emperor—ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
What a fine charge—conspiring with enemies, defying imperial authority! The Lu family had served their country and sovereign faithfully for generations, their ancestral tablets filling the family shrine to overflowing.
And in the end, they were branded with such a crime. How utterly absurd!
The Lu family had annihilated countless foreign foes to protect the nation's borders, making them a thorn in the Emperor's side—one he wished to pluck out at all costs. How dare he claim the Lus conspired with foreign enemies!
Old Madame Lu's heart burned with hatred, but to preserve the Lu family's bloodline, she could not utter a single word of defiance. Instead, she had to kneel in gratitude for the imperial "mercy."
The younger children had already learned what "conspiring with enemies and betraying the country" meant—it was a precept carved into their very souls since birth.
Yet these people dared to slander them with such a crime!
Lu Peian and the other three children clenched their fists, eyes red with fury, wanting to fight for justice—but their mother clamped her hands firmly over their mouths.
They didn't understand.
Why?
They couldn't believe that their eldest uncle—the man who had longed to see them grow up to drive out foreign invaders, to exalt the nation's might, to guard the borders and protect the homeland—would ever betray his country.
Why were their mouths being covered?
They didn't understand. They only felt lost, watching their grandmother's bowed form and their mother's tearful, pleading eyes. In that moment, something seemed to crumble within them.
Song Mingyuan watched from a distance and felt the sorrow of a subject who must die simply because the sovereign wills it.
Peace is won by generals, yet generals are never allowed to witness that peace. In this world where Spiritual Power was scarce, imperial authority was everything.
Qiuniang was already weeping freely, but she did not forget Old Madame Lu's instructions: "Miss, come with me. I know marrying into the General's residence was never your wish. The Old Matriarch does not want to burden you."
On the way back from Fuqing Courtyard, the Young General had told her everything.
Every fault lay with Song Panshan—going back on his word and pushing another daughter forward to take the blame. Such behavior was truly despicable!
"There's a secret passage in the rear courtyard of the General's residence that leads outside. This is the letter of divorce the Old Matriarch instructed me to give you. We must hurry—once they discover you, you won't be able to leave."
Song Mingyuan took the letter of divorce but did not follow Qiuniang away. "No. I'm not leaving."
If she wanted to leave, a mere letter of divorce couldn't hold her back. She had made a promise, and she generally didn't break her word. Besides, she was rather curious about the place of exile.
It was said to be a gathering place of villains—wasn't that just another home for her?
Qiuniang was visibly moved: "Miss…"
"There's no need to persuade me. Since I promised your Young General that I would escort Old Madame Lu and the others safely to their place of exile, I don't intend for those to be empty words."
She immediately performed a grand bow.
"Miss, your righteousness is admirable. I must shamelessly ask you to look after the Lu family with great care. Qiuniang will go on ahead and await word of your arrival with the Old Matriarch at the place of exile."
Song Mingyuan gave her a slight nod. "Then we shall meet at the place of exile."
Leaving alongside Qiuniang were many loyal servants of the Lu family—those who were unwilling to abandon the household. Unable to accompany the exile procession, they could only go ahead to the place of banishment to make preparations, so as to welcome Old Madame Lu and the others upon their arrival.
Watching them depart, Song Mingyuan finally stepped out from behind the partition wall and into the courtyard.
No sooner had she moved than the chief Imperial Guard commander spoke in an imperious tone: "You there, come over." Strip their clothes off for this Deputy Commander—don't let them take a single thread or needle from this place!"