Chapter 431: Chapter 431: Getting Used to Being in Debt
The servant, who had excitedly rushed back to report the moment he got the news, froze at her words.
"...Second Miss Ye, Lord Ye has been exonerated! This is wonderful news! You... you..."
’Why is your reaction so calm?’
Ye Chutang’s slender, pale fingers gently stroked the bone china teacup, her expression casual.
The servant then remembered that the woman before him had also been there that year. She had probably known all along that someone had intentionally framed Lord Ye Zheng. Now that the truth was out, it meant her years of hard work and suffering had not been in vain.
To others, this was merely a topic for idle gossip. But for Ye Chutang and her family, it was a painful memory, stained with blood and tears, that could never be forgotten.
Ye Chutang lifted her gaze slightly. "I’m saying, after Prince Qi committed all those numerous crimes, in the end—he was merely stripped of his title and confined to Chengxin Lake?"
The servant choked on his words and said in a small voice,
"B-But... he is His Majesty’s flesh and blood, after all..."
’How could they really make him pay with his life?’
The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips curved into a faint smile, but not a single ripple disturbed her clear, cold eyes.
’Indeed.’
’They say that when an Emperor’s son breaks the law, he is judged the same as a commoner, but how could that ever be true in reality?’
’Huo Yucheng’s entire family of over a hundred people, my father who was implicated, and countless other innocent victims, both seen and unseen...’
’So many people were dragged into this vortex, their bodies lost forever, yet the main culprit can still stand at the center of it all, safe and sound.’
Perhaps to others, this punishment was the most severe and terrifying outcome for Xiao Chengxuan. But it wasn’t enough.
Nowhere near enough.
"I heard that in the imperial court, the Prime Minister tried to plead for Prince Qi?"
The servant hesitated. "Well... there are rumors to that effect, but they’re just rumors. I don’t know if they’re true. But he is Prince Qi’s maternal grandfather, so I imagine he wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing, right?"
Others wouldn’t dare to stick their necks out, but Jiang Zhao Yuan was different.
For one, he was a man of high status and great power. For another, his relationship with Xiao Chengxuan was extraordinary. No matter what, he had to do everything in his power to protect him.
"But from the looks of it now, even if the Prime Minister did speak up, he wasn’t able to turn the tide..."
But Ye Chutang was not convinced.
’She refused to believe that Xiao Chengxuan could have done those things without the involvement of people like him.’
’But for now, he was the only one being punished.’
’Wildfires can’t burn it all away; the spring winds will bring it back to life.’
’He has too many ways to start over.’
But of course, Ye Chutang would not say these things to a servant.
She gave a slight nod. "I understand. You’re dismissed. Go to the tavern later to collect your reward."
The servant’s face immediately lit up, and he kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Second Miss Ye!"
Everyone knew that Yunlai Tavern was Second Miss Ye’s business, and its shopkeeper was also in charge of the Ye Mansion’s accounts.
Second Miss Ye was generous, and anyone sent to the tavern for a reward would receive a handsome sum.
After the servant left, Ye Chutang finally lifted her teacup and took a small sip.
Xiao Wu sat beside her, her cheeks cupped in her hands, a half-eaten plate of chestnut and red date cakes on the table before her.
She tilted her head.
’It seems Big Sis knew what was going to happen today all along!’
’Even when she heard that Xiao Chengxuan had been demoted, she was so calm, as if everything was within her expectations.’
In fact, Ye Chutang had long guessed that Emperor Muwu would spare Xiao Chengxuan’s life.
Even before that, she knew Emperor Muwu doted on this son of his more than any other.
Xiao Chengxuan ending up like this today was already beyond Ye Chutang’s expectations.
She knew very well that a crucial factor in all this was—Shen Yanchuan.
Both Huo Yucheng and Ye Zheng were subjects of the crown.
If a ruler wants his subject to die, the subject must die.
Even if their lives were lost at Xiao Chengxuan’s hands, Emperor Muwu might not have felt the slightest bit of genuine pity.
The one who had truly forced him to issue a decree of severe punishment was Shen Yanchuan.
The Dingbei Marquis Mansion held an extraordinary status, especially since Shen Youyan had been guarding the Northern Border for over a decade.
His loyalty went without saying, but more importantly, he held real military power in his hands!
His only son had been nearly killed in two assassination attempts by Xiao Chengxuan. Naturally, Emperor Muwu had to give him an explanation!
Today, Shen Yanchuan had made a complete break with Xiao Chengxuan, showing him no mercy whatsoever.
While this had certainly gotten him the result he wanted, it had also put Emperor Muwu in a corner, forcing him to make this decision.
’Emperor Muwu is probably also displeased with Shen Yanchuan now.’
’With Shen Yanchuan’s personality, he should have had other ways to resolve this.’
’But he did it this way anyway.’
Ye Chutang put down her teacup and turned to look at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu looked back at her, clueless.
Ye Chutang clicked her tongue lightly and leaned back lazily in her chair.
"Oh well. When you’re deep in debt, a little more doesn’t hurt."
Xiao Wu: ?
’What? Debt!? Don’t we have a little bit of money now? How can we be in debt!?’
Seeing her expression, Ye Chutang couldn’t help but laugh, knowing exactly what she was thinking.
"Don’t worry, it’s not a debt of silver."
’It’s a debt of gratitude.’
’Those are much harder to repay than silver!’
But Xiao Wu didn’t care about that. Hearing her sister’s words, she was relieved.
’That’s good, that’s good!’
’As long as it’s not a debt of silver, everything else is fine!’
She happily picked up another pastry and started eating.
’Big Sis is in a good mood today. It’s rare for her to let me eat a little extra!’
Ye Chutang pinched her soft, tender cheek.
"Eat a little less. Save some room for when your third and fourth brothers get back tonight."
Xiao Wu was overjoyed. She puffed out her cheeks and worked on swallowing the piece in her mouth. ’Really? Really?’
Ye Chutang: "..."
’Truly, nothing can stand in the way of a foodie’s heart.’
She pressed her forehead. "I already sent someone to the Imperial College this morning with a message. We’ll go to the Xu Residence together tomorrow."
Xiao Wu understood at once. ’Big Sis is going to thank Uncle Xu in person!’
’That makes sense.’
’They seem to have been the ones worrying about Father’s case. Now that there’s a result, it’s only right to pay a special visit to thank them.’
Xiao Wu’s eyes curved into crescents as she nodded happily.
’Okay!’
...
That night was destined to be a sleepless one for countless people.
With Xiao Chengxuan’s sudden fall from power, his subordinates were thrown into chaos.
But aside from Jiang Zhao Yuan, who relied on his status as the Grand Secretary to argue on his behalf, everyone else knew better and kept their mouths shut.
Almost overnight, the political winds shifted in favor of the Third Prince, Xiao Chengqi.
However, his injuries had not yet fully healed, so it was hard to say whether he could ultimately stabilize the situation.
When Xie Pei returned, everyone in the Duke Zhongyong Mansion was silent as a winter cicada.
Logically, this matter shouldn’t have been directly related to the Xie Family. The problem was that the Heir’s wife was the current Princess Huan Ning—the biological daughter of Consort Ru and the full-blooded older sister of the Second Prince.
With Xiao Chengxuan reduced to a commoner, how could those close to him not be implicated in the slightest?
Just as Xie Pei stepped into the courtyard, he saw someone waiting in front of the study door.
When she saw Xie Pei, she fell to her knees at once, crying out,
"Father! Please, you have to find a way to save Cheng Xuan!"
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