Chapter 153: The Bloody Massacre of the Xie Family

Chapter 153: The Bloody Massacre of the Xie Family

Xie Yan's eyes revealed deep sorrow.

The candlelight flickered, casting a shadow over Xie Yan's brow and eyes, half of his face hidden in the shadows, the corners of his eyes unnaturally red, almost menacing.

A horrific massacre had taken place, and a baseless accusation of treason was levied. The once prosperous and illustrious Xie family was reduced to ashes, with hundreds of innocent lives lost, their blood staining the streets of the marketplace.

"Mingchao, the current emperor is the youngest brother of Emperor Wencheng, and he is the nephew of the former emperor, Emperor Jingxiang."

"When the current emperor was born, Emperor Wencheng served as regent in his capacity as crown prince, his position as unshakable as Mount Tai. He was generous with his brotherly affection, and over time, he raised the current emperor as his own, granting him the title of Prince Kang to show his deep favor."

"The former emperor, Emperor Jingxiang, was the eldest son of Emperor Wencheng, and he was naturally appointed as the crown prince and succeeded to the throne."

"Since the uncle and nephew were close in age and both were educated under the guidance of Emperor Wencheng, they had always been very close. Rather than calling them uncle and nephew, it was more accurate to say they were like brothers from the same mother."

"After Emperor Jingxiang ascended the throne, Prince Kang was elevated to Prince Kang, enjoying great honor and favor in the emperor's heart. Prince Kang was cautious in his words and actions, always adhering to propriety, never overstepping his bounds."

"No one in the court could detect Prince Kang's ambitions, and they would even sincerely praise him as truly being raised under the tutelage of Emperor Wencheng."

"At the peak of the former emperor's reign, he suddenly met with an untimely demise, passing away. Prince Kang immediately shed his former guise of loyalty and filial piety, and with the support of the imperial guards and the Qin family, he ascended to the throne with a swift and decisive move, carrying a will of dubious authenticity. At the same time, Prince Kang claimed to have received secret intelligence that the Xie family of the Duke of Xin's residence was colluding with the enemy and harboring treasonous intentions. He dispatched guards to surround the Xie family's residence overnight, searching for so-called incriminating letters, and imprisoned the entire Xie family."

"All of this happened in just one night."

"By dawn, the majestic imperial city had a new master."

"The grave crime of the Xie family's treason was conclusively determined within three days, and except for the grandfather, the entire Xie family, young and old, was beheaded as a public example."

"It was euphemistically said that in memory of the Duke of Xin's lifelong military service and his contributions to expanding the empire, he was spared death and instead exiled."

"After the Duke of Xin's residence was ransacked and the family exterminated, the eldest sister was divorced by her husband's family, and along with the newborn Jingyi, she was driven out. With no one to turn to, the eldest sister struggled to hide Jingyi in a safe place, and with a lifeless baby girl she found in a mass grave, she dashed her head against the drum of grievances and died."

"The death of the eldest sister was like a small stone thrown into a river, creating ripples. Some officials had doubts about the treason case of the Xie family."

"But with the sudden death of the former emperor, the complete annihilation of the Xie family, and the house arrest of Empress Dowager Xie, no one in the court dared to be the first to speak out. After all, the blood of hundreds, nearly a thousand lives shed at the marketplace had not yet dried, and the head of the second son of the Xie family still hung high on a flagpole, being pecked at by birds and crows."

"So, in the end, the ripples subsided into calm."

"Gradually, from the top down, no one in the court dared to mention that the treason case of the Xie family of the Duke of Xin's residence was unfounded and unclear. Instead, it was replaced by the belief that the Xie family had gotten what they deserved."

"In the art of imperial power, whether someone harbors treasonous intentions is not important. What is important is that the Duke of Xin's residence had the capability to commit treason, which was inherently a capital crime."

"The new emperor, in seizing the throne, needed to establish his authority, solidify his supreme position, and reward his loyal followers. What better choice was there than the family of the former emperor's maternal grandfather?"

The Duke of Xin's residence turned to dust, became soil.

Xie Yan's hands were tightly clenched, his voice trembling, his tone wavering, as he tried to suppress his emotions, but his lips uncontrollably quivered, like the flickering candlelight in a biting cold wind.

His face was pale, the pallor of a dead man, yet the corners of his eyes grew increasingly red.

The hatred and longing had not faded with the passage of thousands of days and nights; instead, they had become more deeply ingrained in his bones.

In Xie Yan's words, Lu Mingchao felt an overwhelming sense of despair and hatred.

Lu Mingchao thought that the feeling might be akin to the agony of drowning.

At such a time, any words of comfort seemed pale and inadequate.

Lu Mingchao sighed deeply, leaned forward, and wrapped her arms around Xie Yan's shoulders, gently patting him again and again.

Xie Yan's chin rested on Lu Mingchao's shoulder, feeling the warmth of breath against his ear and the soothing pats on his back. His whole frame shuddered, and he could no longer hold back his tears, weeping silently.

No one knew the despair and grief he felt when he received the secret message from Empress Dowager Xie Ru'an while stationed far in the northern frontier.

Not long ago, his father and brothers had joyfully prepared birthday gifts in advance for him before being summoned back to the capital.

In a short span of time, his father, brothers, and relatives had all died under the executioner's blade, their bodies dismembered and left without a proper burial.

It was then that he realized the conspiracy targeting the former emperor and the Xie family had already begun to close when those in the Xie family who commanded armies outside the capital were summoned back.

In this world, apart from Empress Dowager Xie Ru'an, no one could attest to his identity as the fourth son of the Xie family.

He hated!

He also feared!

In his youth, consumed by rage, he even thought recklessly that it would be better to fulfill the new emperor's wish, defect from Daqian, offering his allegiance to the northern barbarians, leading a cavalry charge to crush the unjust and ruthless new emperor, avenging the slaughter of his entire family.

It was his grandfather and aunt who dissuaded him.

The former emperor's death and the massacre of the Xie family must be avenged, but not by sacrificing the well-being of the common folk.

For generations, the Xie family had guarded the northern frontier, protecting Daqian's borders and its people.

A lineage of loyal martyrs.

Even if only one Xie family member remained, they could not turn their swords against the very people they had vowed to protect.

The common folk had not wronged the Xie family.

When news of the Xie family's alleged treason and disloyalty reached the northern frontier, the locals dismissed it with scorn.

They refused to believe it, found it impossible to accept, yet felt powerless.

Lu Mingchao felt the warm wetness on her shoulder, her heart sinking deeper into sorrow and heaviness.

The vast Xie family, once spanning four generations, was now reduced to just three members.

Old Master Xie, once a towering figure, was now a shadow of his former self.

His gaunt, frail, and stooped frame could no longer shoulder the burden of the Xie family's vendetta or shape its destiny.

Xie Ru'an, merely a child, was just as powerless.

The mantle fell squarely on Xie Yan.

Though Xie Yan had repeatedly promised her that he would not risk seeking revenge.

He acknowledged that while avenging his family's massacre was crucial, the lives of the survivors mattered just as much.

But at this moment, she deeply realized that if he failed to avenge his family, Xie Yan's life would be consumed by hatred, finding no solace even in death.

This was the unavoidable duty that Xie Yan, as the fourth son of the Xie family, carried both on his shoulders and in his heart.

Similarly, despite Huaiqian's tangled emotions of bitterness, loathing, and yearning for the former emperor, he couldn't help but feel a pang of injustice for the former emperor.

And then there was Xie Yan.

After reviewing the manpower, assets, and plans Xie Yan gave her, she realized revenge wasn’t entirely impossible or doomed.

The fallen Xie family was like the lifeless, gray ashes of burnt grass and wood.

Xie Yan, the fourth son, was the seed left by the Xie family, full of life and vitality.

He would sprout, grow, and stand tall like a majestic, flourishing tree.