They had assumed that Yang Xun, a man who looked so frail and sickly, would have lost most of his former strength and authority, even if he had once fought on the battlefield.
According to Xi Xiao and Xi Tan, two fists could hardly defeat four hands. Although they had lost their knives, they still had their strength. If necessary, they could simply strangle him to death.
It was a good plan in theory. But when they actually tried to carry it out, they quickly realized that they had underestimated their opponent.
Yang Xun had once been a fierce general capable of fighting a hundred enemies on his own. His explosive strength and speed were far beyond anything the siblings could match.
Xi Xiao’s combat experience consisted mainly of whipping Xi Tan, while Xi Tan’s only real experience was once carrying a bow and chasing a fox for two li.
As the saying went, even a starving camel was bigger than a horse.
Their only hope of overpowering Yang Xun was if he were completely paralyzed. But now that all four of his limbs still worked perfectly, subduing two teenagers was as easy as lifting a finger.
Xi Xiao had her wrist pinned down but continued resisting stubbornly. Xi Tan, on the other hand, immediately began howling in pain, repeatedly crying out that it hurt. He had clearly reached the limit of what he could endure.
Outside the carriage, guards from the Marquis’s residence rushed in from every direction, surrounding the vehicle completely. They were merely waiting for an order before rushing forward to capture the intruders.
As the realization of their impending failure sank in, Xi Xiao thought that perhaps it was not so bad after all. If they survived, they might still have a chance to see their parents again.
But once again, events did not unfold as they had expected.
Yang Xun ordered the guards outside, “Stand down.”
The guards obeyed without hesitation. They did not ask for an explanation and quickly dispersed, leaving the area completely clear.
Only then did Yang Xun release the siblings. His voice was cold as he said, “If I weren’t your brother-in-law, your heads would already have fallen to the ground.”
The siblings were dissatisfied, but there was nothing they could do. They were forced out of the carriage.
In truth, they had reached a dead end. They had no way to rescue their parents and elder sister from prison.
Once someone became involved in a rebellion case, no one would dare lend a helping hand. It was not necessarily because their friends and relatives were unwilling to save them, but because asking for help would only drag more people into danger.
The only thing the siblings could do was rely on their youthful courage, take the Marquis of Yanling hostage, and force him to order the release of their parents and sister.
Yang Xun had already seen through their intentions. With a single sentence, he shattered their illusions.
“Your father rose to the position of Censor-in-Chief, and your Xi family has produced distinguished officials for generations. The grand entrance and family insignia outside your residence are the clearest proof of your status.
“A family like yours can only continue to stand in this world if it completely clears its name. If you merely rescue your relatives and force them to spend the rest of their lives hiding like rats in the streets, wouldn’t death be preferable?”
Xi Xiao considered his words seriously, but Xi Tan had a different opinion.
“Empty fame is nothing more than something outside ourselves. Better to live miserably than to die well!”
Yang Xun looked at him and gave a disappointed, mocking laugh.
“Your understanding of the world falls far short of your elder sister’s.”
At the mention of their elder sister, the siblings grew even more indignant.
“You have no right to mention our elder sister! A man who sends his own wife to prison will be condemned by everyone for the rest of his life. People will point fingers at you and curse you until the day you die!”
They were children who had barely grown up, and yet their mouths were the only things about them that were truly tough.
Yang Xun helplessly turned his gaze away.
“If you keep insulting me, I may decide not to help your Xi family at all.”
The moment he said this, Xi Xiao and Xi Tan fell silent.
His words gave them plenty to think about. After a long pause, Xi Tan finally asked, “Are you willing to release our parents and elder sister?”
Originally, Yang Xun had no intention of doing so. After all, he had gone to considerable effort to get them imprisoned in the first place.
But his thoughts had begun to change. Perhaps the entire Xi family did not necessarily have to die.
“Life without your elder sister’s company would probably be rather lonely,” he said slowly. “After all, your elder sister is a virtuous wife. She always thinks ahead and takes care of whatever I might need, even before I realize that I need it.”
The siblings finally became convinced that their elder sister’s methods were indeed brilliant. The plan she had made during her wedding visit was apparently progressing smoothly, and the Marquis of Yanling seemed very satisfied with it.
Xi Xiao and Xi Tan were quick to adapt to changing circumstances. They immediately changed their tone and sincerely apologized.
“Brother-in-law, we were wrong. We thought you had betrayed our elder sister and abandoned her to her fate. We never imagined that we had misunderstood you.
“You always keep your word, Brother-in-law. Since you have decided to save them, the sooner, the better. Why not bring our parents and elder sister home tomorrow?”
Yang Xun glanced at them.
“This is a major incident that has shocked the entire court and country. How can I simply bring them out whenever I please? There are too many eyes watching me. Even if I intend to show them personal favor, I must handle the matter carefully.
“If I release them with a single word, I will lose the confidence of the court. Your father will also find it difficult to maintain his position in officialdom in the future.”
“Then how long will it take?” Xi Xiao asked. “Surely they won’t have to remain imprisoned for a month or two?”
“It won’t take that long,” Yang Xun replied, “but it won’t be settled in a day or two either. You must be patient and stop acting recklessly.”
He added another instruction.
“The guards are searching the entire city for you. You cannot return home, but you cannot wander around outside either. Stay at the Marquis’s residence for now. Once your father is released from prison, you can return to Great Poplar Street.”
The siblings did not immediately agree. They watched him with wary eyes, clearly still unable to trust him.
Yang Xun patiently asked, “Can the two of you defeat me?”
They shook their heads.
“Can you escape the encirclement of the guards at my residence?”
Once again, they shook their heads.
“Since you cannot defeat me or escape, why would I waste my breath dealing with you? I could simply kill you or send you straight to the Sili Prison.”
His tone was casual, yet filled with contempt and arrogance.
“You aren’t worth the effort of deceiving or placating. Do you understand?”
That was undeniably true. Xi Xiao and Xi Tan had a realistic understanding of their own abilities. The two of them alone could not cause much trouble.
Therefore, they had no choice but to place their hopes in him. They did not know what schemes he might be hiding, but that was something to worry about later. For now, rescuing their family was the priority.
Xi Xiao was slightly more clever than her younger brother. She cautiously asked, “If we stay here, does that mean we’re being imprisoned in disguise? Will you send us out later to claim credit for capturing us when the time is right?”
This was precisely why Yang Xun disliked children. They always wanted to question everything until they had an answer.
In the past, he would not have bothered to entertain them at all. But it seemed that he would have to continue dealing with them as family, so he reluctantly tolerated their questions.
“You are free to move around the inner quarters of my residence. No one will monitor you, and no one will imprison you. If you wish to leave, you may do so at any time.”
That did not sound too bad.
The guards had filled the entire city, and returning to Great Poplar Street was impossible. Under the circumstances, staying in the Marquis’s residence might actually be the safest option. After all, the most dangerous place was often the safest place to hide.
Xi Tan decided that he should ask a question of his own.
“When our parents and elder sister are released, will you let us go home? And will you take a liking to our second elder sister and force her to stay here as your concubine?”
His reasoning was truly something else.
Not only Yang Xun, but even Xi Xiao was stunned.
For once, a genuine smile appeared on Yang Xun’s face. Then he seemed to realize that smiling so openly might undermine his dignity, so he turned his face away and answered, “No.”
He had no intention of wasting any more time talking to them.
“Follow me.”
With that, he turned and led the way.
Night had already settled over the city. Lanterns hung beneath the eaves of the Marquis’s residence, their light piercing the mist that was gradually gathering and outlining the figure walking ahead in a golden glow.
Lean but tall, visibly ill but not at all dispirited.
That was the strong impression Yang Xun left on Xi Xiao and Xi Tan the second time they met him.
He was difficult to understand, let alone explain.
Having spent years navigating the political world, he possessed deep schemes and considerable skill. He was also capable of ruthlessly driving others to their deaths.
Yet his cruelty was not the obvious, outward kind. It lay hidden beneath a calm and peaceful exterior, carefully arranged and executed in ways that caught people completely off guard.
Until earlier that day, the siblings had shared the same goal: to kill him.
Now that they had confronted him directly and discovered that they stood no chance, that path was closed to them.
All they could do now was wait for their elder sister to be released. A gentleman could wait ten years to avenge a wrong. They would have to lie low for the time being, observe the situation, and wait for the right opportunity.
That was the wisest course of action.
Yang Xun walked ahead in his loose robes and flowing sleeves, looking relaxed and unhurried. He seemed entirely unconcerned that the siblings might attack him from behind.
Following behind him, Xi Xiao and Xi Tan both began to regret their failure to bring another knife. They had walked such a long distance, and now they had missed their best opportunity. It was a real pity.
Amid their tangled thoughts, they entered the inner residence.
The steward waiting at the doorway hurried forward to greet them. Yang Xun instructed him, “Prepare two rooms for them. Make sure they have food and drink, and don’t allow anyone to disturb them.”
The steward and the female servants respectfully acknowledged the order and led the siblings toward the courtyard opposite his own.
Yang Xun took no further interest in the matter. He returned to his private quarters, ate, washed, and read for a while before going to bed.
Life returned to its usual routine.
Yet during the night, when he turned over in his sleep, his arm suddenly fell into empty space, and he briefly woke up.
The next morning, he recalled the incident and found it amusing.
He had slept alone for twenty-eight years. How had he developed the habit of having someone beside him after barely twenty days of marriage?
Perhaps this was the most obvious example of how difficult it was to return to a simpler life after becoming accustomed to luxury.
Although he and Xi Cai had always guarded against each other and had never truly been of one mind, her repeated calls of “Husband” and the warmth of her body had been real.
The following day, dealing with the aftermath of the military coup required a great deal of time and energy.
Yang Xun did not need to concern himself with repairing the imperial palace, but there were still the damaged streets and houses throughout the city, the innocent civilians who had been killed or injured, and the frightened people whose hearts had been left trembling by the violence.
All of these things needed to be addressed.
Yang Xun established relief stations and temporarily arranged accommodation for the homeless at the Jimin Shelter, ensuring that no one would be left sleeping on the streets.
Only after inspecting these arrangements did he head to the Sili government offices to check on the progress of the investigation.
At that time, captured rebel soldiers who had escaped the initial roundup were being brought in to face justice.
Yang Xun sat inside drinking tea, gazing blankly through the window.
The Commandant of Sili discussed the cases involving the officials with him. After remaining silent for a while, Yang Xun finally said, “Perhaps I should avoid involvement in this matter. After all, my wife’s relatives are among those implicated. If I continue to interfere, people will inevitably gossip.”
The man who had previously been eager to push the investigation forward had suddenly changed his attitude and now wanted to avoid involvement. The Commandant of Sili immediately sensed the hidden meaning behind his words.
“My lord, you don’t look well. Have you been overworking yourself?”
Yang Xun rested his forehead against one hand.
“I’ve been sweating in my sleep, soaking through my nightclothes. I haven’t taken my medicine regularly these past few days either. My wife usually takes care of that for me…”
He smiled slightly and said no more.
The Commandant of Sili immediately understood.
“Regardless of how the case develops, your wife has nothing to do with the rebellion. You should bring her home, my lord. A household without a woman to manage things is inconvenient, after all.”
Yang Xun shook his head sadly.
“You don’t understand. My wife is stubborn to the core. She insists on sharing her parents’ fate, living or dying alongside them to fulfill her filial duty. There’s simply no reasoning with her.”
The meaning was clear enough: if the Marquis’s wife was to be saved, then the Xi couple had to be saved as well.
The Commandant of Sili could not help feeling that even the Marquis of Yanling had his weaknesses. This time, his wife was using her own life to force his hand. If he continued to persecute Xi Jiyuan relentlessly, he might as well prepare to spend the rest of his life as a widower.
Having understood the hint, the Commandant of Sili readily took responsibility.
“My lord, since your health is poor, leave the case to the Director of the Secretariat and me. We will make sure everything is handled properly.”
Yang Xun raised his hands in a slight salute. Everything had been settled without needing to say anything more.
Officials came and went through the government offices, reporting on various matters. Before long, the Director of the Secretariat arrived as well. The two officials reviewed the written confessions while Yang Xun listened from the side.
The Commandant of Sili said, “Lady of Chen has already been investigated. She did exchange letters with the two princes, but the contents were limited to ordinary family greetings and did not involve anything else.
“The old lady is advanced in age. This morning, she suddenly suffered a seizure. We had to summon an imperial physician, who used acupuncture to bring her around. We dare not detain her any longer. If something were to happen to her, the consequences would be serious. Her family has therefore been allowed to take her home.
“As for Prince Yue and the others, although they remain under suspicion, there is not enough evidence to convict them. We have transferred them out of the high-security prison and placed them in the prison for criminal trials.”
He then informed Yang Xun, “Censor Xi and his family have also been transferred there. At least the accommodations are more spacious and less damp than those in the high-security prison.”
Yang Xun nodded.
“I imagine their appetites aren’t very good while they’re in prison.”
A junior official responsible for administrative affairs spoke from the side.
“The meals for officials and their families who have not yet been convicted are prepared separately. However, no matter how carefully we prepare them, the food here cannot compare with what they enjoy in their own residences.
“Besides, everyone is under considerable emotional strain in the current circumstances. Often, the amount of food we send in is exactly the same as the amount brought back out.”
Yang Xun sighed softly.
“My poor wife. I’m afraid she’s going to lose weight from hunger.”
Everyone paused in surprise.
The junior official cautiously asked, “Then perhaps we should send some extra refreshments to your wife? Would that meet with your approval, my lord?”
It was an absurd situation.
A woman who could easily be released from prison refused to leave, while the officials responsible for investigating a major rebellion were no longer discussing the case itself. Instead, they were thinking about how to provide her with extra food.
It was a perfect example of how having powerful connections could make all the difference.
Yang Xun considered the suggestion seriously.
“Very well. I’ll send someone to buy some pastries from a restaurant outside. My wife has always been pampered and is not accustomed to eating ordinary food. However, I fear this might violate the prison’s rules. I hope the Commandant will forgive the inconvenience.”
The Commandant of Sili laughed and waved his hand.
“Every household has a wife who is difficult to coax into doing what she should. We have known each other for years, my lord. What is such a small matter between friends? There’s no need to take it to heart.”
A fast horse immediately galloped away.
One of Yang Xun’s personal attendants rushed to the most famous restaurant in Luodu and bought an assortment of pastries made with crystallized honey, along with floral teas. By the time the prison guards carried the food into the cell, the pastries were still warm.
“Madam of the Marquis,” the prison guard called respectfully from outside the cell, bending forward as he spoke. “You haven’t eaten for several meals. If you continue like this, your body won’t be able to endure it.
“The Marquis has sent these pastries for you. Please eat a little, so I can report back to him.”
Xi Cai was leaning against the corner of the wall. She did not open her eyes. Her lips moved slightly as she answered, “I won’t eat. Take them away.”
The prison guard frowned worriedly.
The woman inside had her hair hanging loosely around her shoulders, and she looked utterly desolate. The ceremonial quezhai robe she wore made her complexion appear even paler. In the dim prison, she looked almost frightening at first glance.
“Madam, why make things difficult for yourself? The case is still being investigated. Perhaps your father’s name will be cleared as early as tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be a shame to suffer like this for nothing?”
No matter how much he tried to persuade her, the woman inside refused to respond again.
The guard had no choice but to carry the food box away. Looking disappointed, he reported to Yang Xun’s attendant, “I’ve tried everything I can think of, but Madam still refuses to eat. There’s nothing more I can do.”
When the news reached Yang Xun, he was naturally displeased. Nevertheless, his smile did not fade as he turned to the Director of the Secretariat and the others, joking self-deprecatingly.
“She is terribly difficult to coax. She’s willing to risk her life just to oppose me. She knows perfectly well that I can’t bear to abandon her.”
Since he had put it that way, the Director of the Secretariat and the Commandant of Sili helped smooth things over.
“Women can be a little temperamental. Perhaps Madam has misunderstood your intentions and is simply sulking. Why don’t you visit her yourself, my lord? Say a few comforting words and persuade her to eat something. That’s what matters most right now.”
Yang Xun nodded, pushed himself up from the armrests of his chair, and took the food box.
Then he walked into the prison for criminal trials.
When he reached her cell, he found that Xi Cai looked exactly as the guard had described: exhausted, pale, and utterly dispirited.
Even her usual sharpness seemed to have faded. She remained motionless in the corner, refusing to open her eyes.
He had no choice but to call out to her.
“Madam, please eat something.”
Xi Cai ignored him and turned her head away.
He frowned.
“Ti-ti, please eat at least a little. Do you really intend to starve yourself to death?”
Xi Cai remained unmoved.
In her mind, she had already chopped him into mincemeat. As far as she was concerned, he was already dead.
She thought he would eventually give up and leave when he realized she would not listen.
But he had another weapon up his sleeve.
His voice slithered through the cold, hellish prison like a poisonous snake.
“Xi Xiao and Xi Tan tried to assassinate me last night. They are in my hands now. If you still want to see them, open your eyes and look at me.”