Xie Yunyan reached out to block Su Jinyuan inside the carriage and shoved her back in when she tried to get out. Only then did he face the people outside with his sword in hand and say coldly, “Who are you?”
He had not attacked because these men were wearing military uniforms.
“I am Luo Yu, the Garrison Commandant. I have been ordered to apprehend the members of the Xiao Family.”
The leader surrounded Xie Yunyan with his men. “Young Master Xie, you have a very close relationship with the Xiao Family. His Majesty has ordered us to take you back to the Capital.”
Xie Yunyan’s expression sharpened. “How could His Majesty order the arrest of the Xiao Family? Who exactly are you? Why are you impersonating the Capital Outskirts Garrison? What audacity!”
Luo Yu immediately removed the plaque from his waist and held it up to Xie Yunyan. “Young Master Xie has been in and out of the military before. You should recognize this Official Waist Plaque, shouldn’t you?”
Xie Yunyan’s expression changed when he saw the plaque.
Luo Yu said, “I’m afraid Young Master Xie doesn’t know yet that when General Xiao led troops to Linchuan Commandery, he colluded with the rebel army and was defeated within the pass, allowing the Southern Yue army to enter our borders. His Majesty has issued an edict ordering all the male members of the Xiao Family to be arrested and tried.”
“Although you were never entered into the Xiao Family Genealogy, you are Xiao Jin’s adopted son. Please come with us.”
“Impossible!”
Xie Yunyan shouted. How could Uncle Xiao have been defeated? And how could he have colluded with the rebel army?
“Xiao Jin has already died at Linchuan. Please don’t make things difficult for us, Young Master Xie. Otherwise, don’t blame us for showing no mercy.”
“Men, seize him!”
When Xie Yunyan heard that General Xiao had died in battle, his face instantly went pale. Naturally, he refused to surrender as the men across from him approached. He swung his sword, about to strike the man in front of him and seize the initiative, but Su Jinyuan suddenly stopped him.
“Su Jinyuan!”
Su Jinyuan clung tightly around his waist and spoke rapidly into his ear.
“Young Master Xie, Luo Yu is the commander of the Garrison Camp. The Garrison Camp answers directly to the imperial court and obeys only His Majesty’s orders.”
“Since he came personally to arrest you, he definitely wouldn’t have brought only these few men. Putting aside whether you can defeat them, even if you truly escaped, the Xiao Family would then be branded with the crime of treason and collaborating with the enemy.”
“Although you aren’t the Xiao Family’s biological son, you grew up in the Xiao Family from childhood and were raised and taught by them. Everything you do is the same as if it were done by the Xiao Family.”
“There are still women of the Xiao Family in the Capital. If you kill anyone now, the Xiao Family truly will have no chance to clear its name.”
Su Jinyuan did not know why Xie Yunyan had not been caught in her previous life, yet had been caught red-handed in this one.
She thought of the bandits who had been sent to the authorities, and of how Xie Yunyan had failed to find her in Qu’an in her previous life.
Her heart pounding anxiously, she realized that something must have gone wrong on her end. Xie Yunyan had run into her, and his capture of the bandits had alerted the authorities, exposing their whereabouts.
“If they hadn’t run into you, you could still leave and claim that you didn’t know about His Majesty’s edict, then make plans slowly. But now that you’ve encountered Luo Yu, fleeing would be resisting the imperial command.”
“As long as you kill one of them, regardless of whether General Xiao and the others truly collaborated with the enemy and rebelled, the Capital will immediately move against the Xiao Family.”
Not one of the Xiao Family’s women would survive!
Xie Yunyan’s hand went rigid. Thinking of Old Madam Xiao and the other women of the Xiao Family, his eyes instantly reddened.
Su Jinyuan leaned close to his ear and said urgently, “Young Master Xie, I owe you a life. I will find a way to protect the Xiao Family’s women and keep them safe.”
“Why should I believe you?” Xie Yunyan’s eyes were bloodshot.
Seeing the men drawing near, Su Jinyuan said urgently, “You have no choice but to trust me. If you hadn’t encountered them, you would naturally have had a chance to escape. But with so many people surrounding you, even if you fought with all your strength, you would only be throwing your life away.”
“You can’t kill this many people. As long as even one of them gets away and spreads the news, the Xiao Family is finished. I swear on my father’s name that I will do everything in my power to protect the Xiao Family and find a way to save you.”
Xie Yunyan stared fixedly at Su Jinyuan, while Su Jinyuan met his gaze calmly without retreating in the slightest.
She remembered seeing Luo Yu when she and Lu Zhuo returned to the Capital several years later. By then, he had risen to the highly prestigious rank of a third-grade official. Lu Zhuo had told her about it.
Luo Yu had been able to rise smoothly through the ranks precisely because he had captured members of the Xiao Family and earned a reward for killing the Xiao Family’s rebellious traitors, thereby catching Emperor Qing’s attention.
The others might have come under orders to arrest Xie Yunyan, but Luo Yu had not.
He had come to kill Xie Yunyan.
If Xie Yunyan fought back, he would certainly die. By then, the Xiao Family would also be branded with the crime of plotting rebellion and would never have a chance to clear its name.
Su Jinyuan clung tightly to his arm and looked at the approaching men from the Garrison Camp. In a deep voice, she said, “Young Master Xie, trust me!”
Xie Yunyan’s gaze fell into her eyes. His own reflection was visible in those dark pupils, while her slightly pale face held not the slightest trace of guilt.
He suddenly shoved something into Su Jinyuan’s arms.
“Su Jinyuan, Eldest Brother Xiao waited for you for years. Until the very end, he was still protecting you. I only hope he wasn’t wrong about you.”
“Remember what you just said. If you fail to do it, I will skin you alive, one knife at a time!”
He threw aside the sword in his hand and pulled Su Jinyuan off him. Then he raised his voice toward the men who had already come close.
“The Xiao Family would never collaborate with the enemy or betray the nation. The general and the members of the Xiao Family would never plot rebellion. I am willing to return to the Capital with you and await trial.”
“I believe His Majesty is wise and discerning. He will never wrong loyal subjects!”
A crossbow bolt had already been readied against Luo Yu’s wrist. He had come under orders to arrest Xie Yunyan, and if Xie Yunyan resisted, Luo Yu was to kill him on the spot and implicate the Xiao Family under the charge of plotting rebellion. But no one had expected that this notoriously unruly young master, who submitted to no one, would voluntarily surrender his weapon.
When Su Jinyuan saw Luo Yu’s expression turn vicious and his hand rise as though to do something, she hurriedly scrambled to her feet and shouted sharply:
“The Xiao Family has loyally protected the nation for a hundred years, fighting on behalf of Great Jin in every direction! General Xiao would never collaborate with the enemy or betray the nation!”
“Although Young Master Xie is not a member of the Xiao Family, his conscience is clear, and he would never disobey the imperial command. He is willing to return to the Capital for trial and await His Majesty’s restoration of the Xiao Family’s good name!”
Xie Yunyan’s words had carried Inner Strength, allowing nearly everyone nearby to hear them, while Su Jinyuan’s voice was even sharper.
Before the two sides had even exchanged blows, Xie Yunyan had already surrendered. The Garrison Camp soldiers around them also stopped. If Luo Yu attacked and killed him now, wouldn’t that be tantamount to announcing the purpose of their mission to everyone?
Luo Yu angrily concealed the crossbow bolt beneath his robes and said, “It’s good that Young Master Xie is willing to cooperate. Men, take the two of them away!”
“Wait!”
When Xie Yunyan saw several men approaching, he said in a deep voice, “Lord Luo, did His Majesty issue an edict to arrest the women of the Xiao Family?”
Luo Yu frowned at him.
Xie Yunyan’s expression was cold and impassive. “His Majesty merely ordered you to arrest the Xiao Family’s male members and put them on trial. He never said to arrest the women as well. Moreover, this woman has no connection to the Xiao Family. She is Eldest Brother Xiao’s runaway bride-to-be, not yet married to him.”
“Since His Majesty has not ordered the entire Xiao Family imprisoned, that means the general’s alleged crimes have yet to be clarified.”
“The Xiao Family has fought for Great Jin for a hundred years and rendered outstanding military service. Before there is conclusive proof of their crimes, you dare lay hands on the women of the Xiao Family—and on a woman who has not even married into the family? Aren’t you afraid of earning His Majesty the reputation of a foolish ruler?”
Luo Yu’s expression changed.
His Majesty had indeed only ordered the Xiao Family’s male members to be imprisoned. He had not touched the Xiao Family’s women, merely ordering men to watch the entrance to the Xiao residence. The members of the Xiao Family were still safe and sound inside the estate.
Xie Yunyan stepped half a pace forward. “Since I’m returning to the Capital with you, your mission is already complete. You may not benefit from arresting her without authorization.”
Luo Yu hesitated before saying, “Let her go.”
His purpose this time was Xie Yunyan, anyway.
When the surrounding men rushed forward and forced Xie Yunyan to the ground, his knees struck the earth so hard it felt as though his bones had been smashed.
The Young Master Xie who had been carefree and unruly moments ago was pressed into the pool. Mud spattered his dark-red brocade robe, and blood appeared on his forehead.
When he turned his head to look at Su Jinyuan, he suddenly bared his teeth in a smile.
Go.