A twelve-year-old child, acting on impulse, had injured someone. As long as the Xie family handed him over to accept punishment, no matter how angry the Old Imperial Uncle was, he couldn’t possibly have the boy killed.
But if he ran away, that would be harboring a criminal—adding one mistake on top of another.
When Xie Jiyan heard his elder brother say this, his face flushed red, and his legs trembled unconsciously.
He… had wanted to run. After striking the blow, seeing the dripping blood, its bright crimson color made his whole body tense, and he desperately wanted to flee. But that physician… was too infuriating, speaking in a way that looked down on him. In his rage, he lost his head and returned home.
And now, his elder brother was praising him?
A hint of pride surfaced in his anxious heart.
But before he could feel relieved, people arrived from outside.
Xie Jiyan shrank back again, looking at his elder brother with a pleading gaze.
Unexpectedly, Xie Jiling stood up and patted his shoulder. “Second Brother, don’t worry. You’re still young, and what you did isn’t a major crime. You won’t die—at most, you’ll suffer a bit. Once the Old Imperial Uncle vents his anger, it’ll be over. If that Miss Jiang wants to curry favor with the Old Imperial Uncle, she’ll at most have the physician pretend to recuperate for two or three months before actively seeking treatment. As long as you endure these days, you’ll be able to return home.”
“…” Xie Jiyan’s mouth involuntarily turned downward.
As they spoke, the people entered.
The Old Imperial Uncle didn’t come himself but had sent the Ministry of Justice’s Vice Minister Wei. It seemed he didn’t intend to say much, planning to arrest and detain the boy directly.
Madam Meng, heartbroken for her son, quickly said, “Isn’t the physician injured? Can’t we compensate with money?! The child is still young—how can he be sent to a place like prison?!”
“This official is under orders to apprehend the criminal. No one is to obstruct! Marquis Xie, the Old Prince said that there are far too many arrogant young nobles bullying commoners in the capital these days, and the atmosphere is truly poor. Your son, only twelve years old, dared to wield a sword and commit violence. If he is not strictly disciplined, I fear he will become a great calamity in the future. Moreover, since the assault occurred in public, witnessed by many commoners, if the criminal is not brought to justice, the people will surely say the Marquis’s estate is arrogant and abuses its power. Therefore, the Old Prince ordered this official to ensure strict punishment.” Vice Minister Wei said.
This task wasn’t difficult to handle.
The Old Prince had said: twelve years old, cannot be severely punished.
But even if he doesn’t die, he must shed a layer of skin.
“Even if it’s to rectify the atmosphere, it must be done according to the law. Although my brother injured someone, he had his reasons. You cannot convict him without investigating the cause. If your Ministry of Justice acts without proper procedure, my father will surely petition His Majesty for fairness!” Xie Jiling didn’t stop the arrest but reminded them.
Vice Minister Wei paused for a moment, glancing at Xie Heng.
Petition His Majesty?
Would Marquis Xie dare?
Marquis Xie had been a member of the imperial family for fifteen years. In the first two years, neither father nor son could even write, needing others to draft their memorials, which were filled with crude language unfit for refined ears.
In recent years, they’ve started writing themselves, but aside from greeting His Majesty, they’ve never dared to mention anything else.
Everyone knew the Xie family feared His Majesty. Their noble title had come suddenly, and they were terrified of displeasing the Emperor, lest the entire family be sent packing back to their hometown.
“I am merely following the orders of the old prince. Just the other day, His Majesty was still concerned about the old prince’s health. Yet, the second young master’s sword strike yesterday not only oppressed the common people but also went against His Majesty’s wishes. If the Marquis were to report this to His Majesty…” Official Wei chuckled. “The Marquis is His Majesty’s cousin, but the old prince is His Majesty’s own uncle… You should understand which carries more weight.”
“Guards, take Xie Jiyan away. Anyone who obstructs or shields him will also be brought to the Ministry of Justice,” Official Wei added.
As soon as these words were spoken, Xie Jiyan was seized.
“Mother! Father, Mother, save me!” Xie Jiyan struggled and shouted as he was dragged away, a far cry from the arrogance he displayed when he attacked someone yesterday.
Madam Meng tried to rush forward but was stopped by Xie Jiling, who understood that while these officials appeared polite on the surface, they would not hesitate to act harshly if the Xie family made any misstep.
It was pitiful that his second brother was being arrested, but if they caused further trouble, the entire family would suffer.
Xie Jiling’s expression was grim. The reason these officials treated them this way was because the Xie family lacked power and influence. However, he would not allow his family to remain so lowly forever. He had recently passed the military provincial examination and would soon be eligible for an official appointment. As long as he could climb higher, such humiliation would never happen again!
Xie Yingyue’s face turned pale, and thinking of Jiang Tan’er, her resentment grew even stronger.
She felt deeply wronged. Her conflict with Jiang Tan’er had been nothing more than a verbal dispute, yet the other party dared to poison her. And because there was no evidence, her brother’s act of revenge on her behalf was now treated as a crime!
Soon, Xie Jiyan was dragged outside the Xie family gates, attracting the attention of many onlookers. The Xie family followed helplessly, powerless to intervene.
“Lock him in the prisoner cart and take him away!”
When noble families committed offenses, they were usually shielded from public disgrace before a conviction to preserve their dignity. However, the Xie family received no such courtesy this time.
Just as Xie Jiyan was being forced into the prisoner cart, Songyin appeared.
She suddenly emerged in the middle of the road, standing out conspicuously. Official Wei did not recognize her and was about to order her removal when Songyin spoke up: “I am the person Xie Jiyan attacked yesterday. Hearing that an official has come today to seek justice on my behalf, I came specifically to see.”
Hearing this, Official Wei understood—she was the physician.
“Rest assured, although Xie Jiyan comes from a noble family, since he broke the law and harmed you, he will not escape punishment. Once he is taken to the authorities, you will receive justice,” Official Wei said, his tone softening slightly.
“It’s all because of you!” Xie Jiyan, seeing Songyin, flew into a rage. “You deceitful scoundrel! I’ll attack you every time I see you! I’m not afraid of a hypocritical, malicious wretch like you!”
Facing his enemy, his courage returned.
“Is there perhaps a misunderstanding, Your Highness and Official Wei? Siblings sometimes have conflicts—it was just a fight. Though the attack was harsh, it was a family matter. Why trouble the authorities to punish him? Such a minor issue can be handled with family discipline. There’s no need for such a spectacle, is there?” Songyin spoke again, as if she hadn’t heard Xie Jiyan’s furious outburst.
Her words left the Xie family bewildered.
Official Wei was also taken aback.
Songyin hadn’t come to the Xie family last night because she knew it would be pointless.
Now, however, things were different. Either the Xie family would allow Official Wei to take Xie Jiyan away for punishment, or they would have to accept her words and bring her into the family as one of their own.
The latter option, even if done reluctantly, would suffice.
The days ahead are long. As long as the Xie family remains alive, she will have plenty of opportunities to make up for past regrets.
A melon forced from the vine, if kept for a while, will eventually sweeten.
In her previous life, the Xie family suffered immense humiliation because of this incident. Xie Jiyan went into hiding, while Xie Heng was forced to submit a memorial confessing his failure in discipline, accepting blame and punishment. By the time Xie Jiyan returned home, there was no longer any chance to defend himself. Xie Heng took the beating on behalf of his son, and Xie Yingyue was slapped and humiliated by men sent by the Seventh Prince for falsely accusing someone of poisoning.
The Old Imperial Uncle’s illness was delayed for three months. During those three months, the Xie family dared not even step outside their door, becoming the laughingstock of the entire capital and later looked down upon by others.
The entire family could not hold their heads high.
From then on, the Xie family became psychologically twisted, harboring hatred toward Jiang Tan’er, and began their subsequent path of unscrupulous self-destruction.