Su Jinyuan kowtowed heavily three times before continuing.
“I was abducted to Qu’an. On my way back to the capital after escaping, I encountered bandits, and Young Master Xie saved my life. But he was captured on his way back. He is already being escorted to the capital.”
Old Madam Xiao’s face went pale. “Ayan… Ayan was captured too?”
“Yes. Luo Yu, the Garrison Commander, was ordered by His Majesty to arrest him. He said the Xiao Family had colluded with the enemy, committed treason, and rebelled against the throne. Young Master Xie was afraid of implicating the women of the household and didn’t dare fight back, so he could only surrender.”
Su Jinyuan’s eyes reddened.
“Young Master Xie protected me and told me to return to the capital. I also promised him that no matter what happened, I would never abandon anyone from the Xiao Family and live on alone.”
“If you dislike me, please don’t rush to drive me away. Once the Xiao Family gets through this crisis and Young Master Xie returns to take up the family’s mantle, I will certainly leave. I absolutely won’t remain in the Xiao Family and offend your eyes.”
“But before that, I beg Old Madam to allow me to remain in the household.”
In truth, she was afraid of death, and she had considered turning around and fleeing.
But the inadvertent warmth of Xie Yunyan’s youthful spirit, as well as the gentle consideration Xiao Yunxi had shown without ever questioning her, made her desolate heart unable to stop itself from wanting to draw close to the Xiao Family.
In her previous life, Su Jinyuan had ruined herself over Lu Zhuo, living half her life in a muddle without realizing it. This time, she only wanted to remain with the Xiao Family and share the honor and disgrace of this family, which had once protected Great Jin for a hundred years and whose every member possessed such unyielding integrity.
If there was any chance of saving them, she would never let go.
Even if she couldn’t save them, she would simply stake her life on it—as if she had died beneath that cliff, repaying Xie Yunyan with her life.
Xie Yunyan had been raised by Second Madam Xiao from childhood, just like her own son.
When Second Madam Xiao heard that Xie Yunyan had also been captured, her entire body swayed as if she might collapse.
First Madam Xiao had also gone rigid. She had never imagined that after every man of the Xiao Family had died on the battlefield, even their only “adoptive son” would be thrown into prison. Suddenly, she covered her face and began to weep.
“What sin has my Xiao Family committed…”
“My husband and my children guarded the borders and fought for our country for years, bringing peace to the people of the realm. How could Heaven be so unjust? Why, after they all died in battle, must they still bear such a vile accusation?!”
Colluding with the enemy. Treason. Rebellion against the throne.
If the Xiao Family had truly colluded with the enemy, Great Jin would have fallen long ago. Her children—her three children—had all died on the battlefield. She…
“Eldest Sister-in-Law!”
Seeing First Madam Xiao’s body go limp and begin to crumple to the ground, Second Madam Xiao cried out in alarm.
Su Jinyuan climbed to her feet and quickly pulled out the two medicines Xi Junning had given her earlier. With trembling hands, she stuffed them into First Madam Xiao’s mouth, only for Old Madam Xiao to seize her wrist.
“Old Madam, this medicine can save her life.”
Old Madam Xiao hesitated before releasing her. After seeing Su Jinyuan place the medicine into First Madam Xiao’s mouth, she watched as the woman’s deathly pale complexion gradually regained a trace of color.
Only then did she let out a breath of relief. “Help her inside first.”
Su Jinyuan hurried forward and carried First Madam Xiao on her back, while Second Madam Xiao supported her from the side.
After helping her into the inner room and laying her down, they saw that although First Madam Xiao had fallen asleep, her breathing was steady. Only then did they relax.
But before Old Madam Xiao could speak to Su Jinyuan, someone came rushing in from outside, looking flustered.
“Old Madam, Old Madam, something terrible has happened.”
Old Madam Xiao slammed her hand against the table. “I’m not dead yet! What are you panicking for?!”
The servant jumped in fright.
Old Madam Xiao said, “What happened?”
“It’s… it’s the Second Young Madam. Someone from her maternal family has come to take her home. They’ve opened the storeroom at Golden Grain Courtyard and are moving things out…” The servant looked frantic.
Old Madam Xiao’s expression turned grim, while Second Madam Xiao shot to her feet and cursed angrily, “Second Son has only just met with disaster, and she already wants to leave the Xiao Family? Does she really think that our Xiao Family is doomed this time and that she needs to escape while she still can?!”
The Xiao Family had five sons and one daughter. Apart from the Fifth Young Master, who had died young, and Xie Yunyan, who had been raised by the Xie Family and had entered the family’s generational ranking as the Sixth Young Master despite not taking their surname, there were also—
The eldest son, Xiao Yunxi; the Third Young Master, Xiao Yunquan; and the Fourth Young Master, Xiao Yunxin, all sons of First Madam Xiao. All three had died in battle this time.
The Second Young Master, Xiao Yunyao, and the Seventh Miss, Xiao Yunxuan, were the children of Second Madam Xiao.
Xiao Yunyao had also died in Linchuan during this campaign, leaving only the newly eight-year-old Xiao Yunxuan in the entire household.
Xiao Yunyao’s wife was Qi Lanzhi, who had married into the Xiao Family three years earlier.
Second Madam Xiao believed that she had always treated Qi Lanzhi extremely well, and the Xiao Family had never slighted her in the least. Even when Qi Lanzhi occasionally helped the Qi Family with certain matters, she had pretended not to notice. As long as things did not go too far, she acted as if she knew nothing.
Qi Lanzhi had not conceived during her three years of marriage into the Xiao Family, but Second Madam Xiao had never once reproached her. Xiao Yunyao had never had any intention of taking a concubine, either.
The two of them could be considered a loving and harmonious couple, and Qi Lanzhi had always been exceptionally attentive to Xiao Yunyao.
Who could have known that only a few days after Xiao Yunyao’s death in battle, she would already want to leave the Xiao Family?
Second Madam Xiao understood that once the person was gone, affection would fade. But Qi Lanzhi’s heartlessness was truly too chilling.
Second Madam Xiao was trembling with rage and wanted to go outside to argue with Qi Lanzhi, but Old Madam Xiao held her back.
“Let her go.”
“Mother!”
“With the Xiao Family in its current state, if she wants to leave, no one can stop her.”
Old Madam Xiao looked at Second Madam Xiao’s reddened eyes, then turned to the servant who had just arrived.
“Go call the Second Young Madam, the Third Young Madam, and the Fourth Young Madam here.”
“And summon all the servants in the household as well.”
The servant hesitated. “But the Second Young Madam…”
The people of the Qi Family were so fierce. They had already opened the storeroom and were trying to carry things away—why would they come here?
Old Madam Xiao’s face was expressionless.
“She is a daughter-in-law of the Xiao Family. Even if her husband has died, she is still a member of the Xiao Family. Without a Wife-Release Letter from the Xiao Family, even if she leaves this household, she cannot escape being implicated. The same applies to everyone in the Qi Family.”
“Go tell her that. She will come.”
Only then did the servant nod and withdraw.
After he left, Old Madam Xiao looked at Su Jinyuan, who was standing to one side.
“You’ve seen the Xiao Family’s current situation as well. When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Even they want to leave and preserve their own lives. Do you truly still intend to remain here and wait for death with the Xiao Family?”
Su Jinyuan said, “The Xiao Family will not die, and Young Master Xie will return.”
“The Xiao Family still has you, Madam, and the Seventh Miss. As long as you remain here, the Xiao Family’s bloodline will never be severed.”
“Old Madam, you needn’t test me. Since I’ve decided to stay, I will never regret it. They are them, and I am me. Even if every last person leaves, I will remain with the Xiao Family.”
Old Madam Xiao gave her a long, searching look.
The person sent to summon them returned very quickly, followed by a large crowd.
At the front was a middle-aged woman who looked extremely overbearing. Before she had even entered the courtyard, she began shouting.
“What is the meaning of this, Xiao Family? My daughter married into this household to enjoy a life of comfort, not to die alongside all of you!”
“All the men in your household are dead. Do you still intend to keep my daughter here to live as a widow?”
“I’m telling you, whether you agree to release her or not, you will release her today. The daughters of my Qi Family are precious. She absolutely will not remain a widow to some traitors…”
“Who did you call a traitor?!” Old Madam Xiao’s expression turned severe.
Madam Qi was startled at first. But when she thought of the Xiao Family’s situation, she planted her hands on her hips and shouted furiously, “Who else could I mean but your Xiao Family? Who doesn’t know that Xiao Jin colluded with the enemy and committed treason? Every single person in the Xiao Family is a traitor. His Majesty has even issued an edict ordering a strict investigation. You may well be arrested and your entire family exterminated tomorrow. What, do you intend to drag my daughter down to the grave with you—”
Aah!
Before Madam Qi could finish speaking, Old Madam Xiao suddenly flicked her wrist. The whip that had been coiled around it lashed directly toward her.
The whip moved like a spirit serpent, carrying tremendous force. With a single crack, it tore Madam Qi’s mouth open.
“Mother!” Qi Lanzhi cried out in shock.
Blood streamed down Madam Qi’s face as she let out a miserable scream. Qi Lanzhi stared at Old Madam Xiao in terror.
“Grandmother…”
Old Madam Xiao flicked her wrist again, and the whip cracked against the ground, splitting even the marble floor into two.
“My Xiao Family is loyal to the death. We have never committed the slightest act of rebellion. Even if every man in my Xiao Family were dead, it is still not your Qi Family’s place to spout such nonsense.”
“If you dare insult my Xiao Family again, I will tear your mouths apart!”
The raucous courtyard fell silent in an instant. The people of the Qi Family retreated in terror, while Madam Qi was so frightened that she nearly fell over.
Old Madam Xiao snorted coldly. With a twist of her hand, the long whip seemed to have eyes of its own as it returned to her palm and coiled itself around her wrist.
Old Madam Xiao said icily, “Qi Lanzhi, do you want to leave the Xiao Family?”
Qi Lanzhi’s face was pale. Under the furious gaze of Second Madam Xiao beside her, she lowered her head and said in a quiet voice:
“Grandmother, I… I had no choice. I still have my parents and brothers in my clan. I… I can’t drag them down with me…”
The Xiao Family was clearly on the verge of collapse. Once the crime of rebellion was confirmed, the entire clan would be executed.
Qi Lanzhi clenched her palms tightly.
“I’m willing to return home and chant sutras and observe a vegetarian diet for Second Son. I won’t remarry for five years. But I can’t let my parents and relatives accompany the Xiao Family to its death. I beg Grandmother to let me leave.”
“I think my two sisters-in-law feel the same way…”
Old Madam Xiao turned to the summoned Third Young Madam and Fourth Young Madam.
“Do you feel the same as her?”