Chapter One Hundred Eight: Vindication

Chapter 108: Exoneration

Day was about to break.

Xiao Xun returned early on the morning of the 27th, just as dawn was breaking. The capital was quiet, its rows of houses and buildings silent, with only a few candles flickering in windows, where shadows of people occasionally moved.

Lin Qiuran was already up, having lit two more lamps than she had during the night. She had just risen and was about to put up her loose hair when Xiao Xun pushed open the door to the inner room, accompanied by the maid’s greetings at the entrance.

Lin Qiuran looked toward the door. She hadn't expected Xiao Xun to return at this hour.

Two days had passed, and he was still wearing the bright red official robe he'd left in two mornings ago, with a leopard mandarin square. The sleeves and hem were wrinkled.

Lin Qiuran then looked at his face. Xiao Xun wore a black gauze cap, with a light stubble on his chin and dark circles under his eyes.

Yet his eyes were bright. Seeing Lin Qiuran, he paid no mind to his disheveled state after two days without washing up and pulled her into a hug.

"I’m back," Xiao Xun said.

Lin Qiuran was momentarily stunned. Tangyuan was still on the kang. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he finally confirmed it was indeed his father and burst out from under the covers, cheering, "Wow, Dad’s back! Dad’s back!"

Lin Qiuran, suddenly embraced, tensed up at first but gradually relaxed.

Yes, Xiao Xun was back.

Xiao Xun felt cold from the outside air, but it inexplicably brought Lin Qiuran a sense of calm. She hugged him back, patting his back, and asked, "Will you have to leave again today?"

Xiao Xun shook his head. "No, the New Year is almost here. I won’t be going anywhere these next few days."

Tangyuan bounced on the kang a couple of times. Seeing Lin Qiuran and Xiao Xun still hugging, he couldn’t help but say, "Mom, Dad, I want to join too!"

The room was dimly lit, but outside the window, the sky was turning pale gray. Dawn was approaching. Lin Qiuran quickly pushed Xiao Xun away, tidied her hair, and said to Tangyuan, "What do you mean, 'join too'? Hurry up and get dressed and wash up. No bouncing on the kang—what if you fall or it collapses?"

Tangyuan let out a resigned groan and quietly picked up his clothes to get dressed.

Once she'd seen to their son, Lin Qiuran turned back to Xiao Xun, who was still watching her.

Lin Qiuran couldn’t help but smile. Seeing Xiao Xun’s tired expression, she knew he hadn’t slept well. She said, "Go freshen up first, have something to eat, and then catch up on some sleep."

Lin Qiuran instructed a maid to go to Shou'an Hall to inform Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi that Xiao Xun had returned.

Sun Shi had been genuinely worried these past two days, constantly on edge, afraid something might happen to Xiao Xun. She had even visited the family shrine to pray for blessings from the Buddha. Xiao Dashi seemed concerned too, but his words were less comforting.

The day before, Xiao Dashi had said, "Could he have gotten into trouble? And right before the New Year, too."

Lin Qiuran smiled slightly but didn’t respond. Sun Shi, however, scolded Xiao Dashi, "Shush! What nonsense are you spouting, you jinx!"

Recalling this, Lin Qiuran couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Xun. She said, "Father arrived on the 25th. Go see him after you’ve rested. There’s also something else I need to tell you once you’re awake."

Since Xiao Xun had returned safely, it meant Zhao Tingyue was not faring well. There was no rush to ask for details.

"I’ll go see him after breakfast. I’m actually not tired," Xiao Xun said.

On the contrary, he felt clear-headed and refreshed, as if the worries of the past few days had vanished.

He hugged Lin Qiuran again, smiling, "I’ll go freshen up first."

While he washed up, Lin Qiuran finished getting ready. Breakfast was served, and the family of three ate together at the Eight Immortals table in the main hall.

Although Xiao Xun claimed he wasn’t tired, he had spent the past two days at the Ministry of Justice, unable to eat properly or sleep. After a warm breakfast, drowsiness began to set in.

Lin Qiuran urged him to rest. "Go to sleep first. There’s no hurry to see Father—he’s here at home and isn’t going anywhere."

She felt that Xiao Xun’s efforts were for the family’s sake, so delaying his visit to Xiao Dashi wasn’t a big deal. After all, Xiao Xun was the one supporting the estate. If he were to collapse from exhaustion, it would do the family no good.

Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi were elders; they ought to understand.

Xiao Xun was so exhausted that he fell asleep almost as soon as he lay down on the kang. Tangyuan stayed by his side, feeling sorry for him. "Dad looks so tired, Mom. I want to keep him company."

Lin Qiuran said, "That’s fine, but you mustn’t make noise and wake him. You need to be quiet."

Tangyuan nodded. "Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll just stay here and watch over him."

Lin Qiuran patted Tangyuan’s head gently. "Okay."

With Xiao Xun back, Lin Qiuran no longer sent Lin Xia out to gather information. The rumors outside were chaotic, and there was no telling what they might uncover. She instructed Lin Xia, "Today, aside from those running errands, no one is allowed to leave the estate. And no discussing matters privately."

Lin Xia nodded. Over the past two days, the servants had indeed been debating General Zhao’s affairs, with opinions split into two factions. Since the master was a court official, it was inappropriate for the servants to gossip about such matters.

The sky gradually brightened. Servants bustled in and out, while Lin Qiuran sat quietly in the main hall, reading. Xiao Xun didn’t sleep for long—just over half an hour—before waking up. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Tangyuan, who was cupping his cheeks and saying, "Dad, it’s still early. Sleep a bit more!"

Xiao Xun shook his head. His throat was dry, and he coughed before asking, "Where’s your mother?"

Tangyuan immediately called out toward the door, "Mom, Dad’s awake."

Lin Qiuran put down her book and entered the room. Xiao Xun was already sitting up, rubbing his temples. He glanced at Lin Qiuran, then at Tangyuan. With the child present, some topics were best avoided.

Lin Qiuran beckoned a maid. "Take Tangyuan out to play."

Tangyuan had already been keeping watch for over half an hour, and his mind had long wandered. If it weren’t for the fact that Xiao Xun was his father and he had promised to stay, he would have left earlier.

Once Tangyuan was gone, Xiao Xun got down to business. "The Zhao Duke Residence has been raided. The evidence is conclusive. There are three main charges: corruption and bending the law, reckless disregard for human life, and persecution of the loyal."

The charge of corruption was reported to the Ministry of Justice by General Xu, Zhao Tingyue’s Deputy General, who detailed how military officers under Zhao Tingyue had bribed him—even he himself had offered lavish gifts.

The Zhao Duke Residence was opulent, and Zhao Tingyue’s private treasury contained many tributes that, upon closer inspection, were not bestowed by the emperor.

Ordinary items might not have drawn attention, but these tributes were reserved for royalty and nobility. Yet, the Zhao Duke Residence had many such precious items on display.

Deputy General Xu, having reported his superior, received twenty lashes. Over the years, he had committed many offenses under Zhao Tingyue, but by turning informant, he hoped to spare his family from harm, even if he couldn’t save his own life.

This was why General Xu was willing to betray Zhao Tingyue. To Zhao Tingyue, it was an act of treachery from someone he had promoted.

The charge of reckless disregard for human life led to the exposure of the persecution of the loyal, along with a lesser charge of forming cliques for personal gain. Under Zhao Tingyue, officials shielded one another, and in recent years, many capable military officers had died under mysterious circumstances. Investigations revealed over ten such cases, with Xiao Xun being one of the few survivors.

As for the matter involving General Shen years ago, Deputy General Xu served as a witness, confirming that Zhao Tingyue had deliberately framed him by cutting off supplies, leading to a devastating defeat for Great Yue. The subsequent victory claimed by Zhao Tingyue was also exaggerated.

Zhao Tingyue had defended Great Yue for twenty years and had indeed achieved merits, but his success was built on the blood of his colleagues. Over those two decades, the Zhao Duke Residence amassed great wealth, and Zhao’s descendants all held official positions, living in luxury.

The emperor ordered Zhao Tingyue detained at the Ministry of Justice. In consideration of his past contributions, a final judgment would be made after the New Year, once all matters were thoroughly investigated.

The subsequent proceedings would be handled by the Ministry of Justice. The current chief general in the camp was a man in his thirties, honest and straightforward, appointed by the emperor. Xiao Xun remained a third-rank Zhaoyong General, now answering directly to the emperor.

Xiao Xun, in his early twenties, was still young. Though he had been granted a title, his official career required more experience before he could advance further.

For him, these matters were secondary. The most important thing was clearing the Shen family’s name.

Xiao Xun sighed softly. "If Zhao Tingyue hadn’t been charged with other crimes, the case wouldn’t have been overturned so quickly."

Xiao Xun reflected that Zhao Tingyue’s downfall was also due to his growing power, which had made the emperor wary. He resolved to take this as a warning, lest he follow in Zhao Tingyue’s footsteps.

Lin Qiuran had mixed feelings; in just a few days, the Duke Zhao's estate had fallen. She said, "What about the Marquis of Anyang's residence..."

Xiao Xun was almost certainly a member of the Shen family, though she wasn’t sure what his plans were.

Xiao Xun lowered his head. "I survived back then, but I can’t claim kinship now. Perhaps it was fate that you sold that bracelet. Mom and Dad treated me well, and besides, there’s no evidence to prove I’m from the Shen family. Maybe I can visit them occasionally in the future and keep in touch."

There wasn’t much else Xiao Xun could do. Over the past couple of days, he had also met with the Marquis of Anyang, who held a court appointment, though not a high-ranking one. Xiao Xun kept looking at the Marquis’s face for similarities between them—sometimes he thought they looked alike, other times not.

Perhaps he wasn’t the Shen family’s child after all, but he was still glad that General Shen’s name had been cleared. Someone who truly defended the country shouldn’t have died with the false accusation of delaying military operations and causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Great Yue soldiers.

Lin Qiuran nodded. "That’s for the best."

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Xiao Xun asked Lin Qiuran.

Lin Qiuran cleared her throat. "It’s about family finances. At the beginning of the month, I wrote home and asked Father to bring the account books and profits from the Golden Tripod Restaurant when he comes from Yu'an. I’ve reviewed them, and they’re fine, but two items are missing: the share of profits from Aunt Yu’s shop and from Madam Yang’s. These are businesses I invested in."

Lin Qiuran rarely discussed business matters with Xiao Xun and hadn’t mentioned that it was her personal funds. Household expenses sometimes made it hard to draw clear lines.

Over the past couple of days, Xiao Dashi hadn’t mentioned these two sums, which should add up to around eighty taels. It wasn’t a huge amount, especially since their current residence was large and the Emperor had bestowed many rewards. Additionally, the Golden Tripod Restaurant had generated over six hundred taels in profit over two months, and they still had money brought from Yu'an. Lin Qiuran still had over a thousand taels left.

She certainly wasn’t short of money.

But if it was a small amount, it was still enough to buy a decent house in Yu'an or keep an ordinary family going comfortably for several years.

Moreover, Lin Qiuran felt that Xiao Dashi had been acting off lately, almost as if he were a different person. He would wander around the residence idly, asking about the house and what rewards Xiao Xun got.

Sometimes it annoyed Lin Qiuran.

She told Xiao Xun that she wasn’t discussing whether to ask Xiao Dashi about it, but rather how to handle the situation. She definitely intended to ask, as the household earnings were managed by her, and she had never stinted Xiao Dashi.

If Xiao Dashi had used the money, she ought to know where it went.

She couldn’t just ignore it if he didn’t bring it up.

If the money had really been used for the main family, what should they do? Lin Qiuran couldn’t simply let it go and act as if nothing happened. She had seen what the people from the main family were like—if they started this, it would lead to nonstop problems.

Even her own sister-in-law from her parents' family received no support from her, so why should the main family spend the money she earned?

Xiao Xun paused. "I’ll ask him. It might be awkward for you."

Lin Qiuran nodded. "Father hasn’t mentioned it, so I didn't feel right asking. It’s more appropriate for you to ask. Actually, Mother could also ask him privately."

"No need, we’re all family," Xiao Xun said.

Xiao Xun believed he knew how Xiao Dashi was fairly well. Throughout his life, the people from the main family had never been nice to him. He thought that since Lin Qiuran and the others had been away from Yu'an for several months, Xiao Dashi probably hadn’t had any dealings with the main family.

They just needed to clarify the matter; perhaps he had simply forgotten.

Lin Qiuran nodded and said, "Once Tangyuan finishes playing, let’s go to Longevity Hall for lunch."

As noon approached, Lin Qiuran and Xiao Xun took Tangyuan to Longevity Hall.

Xiao Dashi had originally meant to go out, but Sun Shi stopped him. He had been waiting all morning and couldn’t help complaining to her, "I don’t know what’s going on—they haven’t shown up all morning. Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to travel all the way from Yu'an? And now he’s making his father wait."

Sun Shi thought Xiao Dashi was making a fuss. "What’s so difficult about it? They just returned after being away for a couple of days—let them rest. Not everything has to revolve around you. What’s wrong with you? You used to be fine. Why are you acting all important now that we’re in the capital?"

Xiao Dashi scratched his nose, uneasy. "It’s not that. Qiu Ran said there are many rules in the capital. I’m just curious—there don’t seem to be many rules in the residence either. Ah, you’re reading too much into it."

Sun Shi gave him a suspicious look. Shortly after, a maid came in to announce, "Madam, the Master's wife and their son have arrived."

Sun Shi quickly said, "They’re family—no need for announcements every time. Please show them in."

Tangyuan rushed in first. "Grandpa! Grandma!"

Sun Shi held out her arms. "Oh, easy now, no running!"

Lin Qiuran smiled. "Father, Mother."

Xiao Xun also greeted them, "Father, Mother, I was at court this morning, so I just returned."

Xiao Dashi smiled. "It’s good that you’re back. You’ve been so busy. Are you going to work today?"

Xiao Xun replied, "I have to be at the palace on New Year’s Eve, and then I’m free until the sixth day of the new year."

In the future, Xiao Xun would mostly be with the troops, depending on the Emperor’s arrangements.

He asked Xiao Dashi if his journey had been smooth. Xiao Dashi said, "It was fine. The trip was uneventful."

Xiao Xun nodded and asked, "What about Aunt Yu’s family? Didn’t she start a business with Qiu Ran? Did you bring the profits from the past few months, Father?"