Chapter 313 Execution of Nine Clans

Chapter 313: Execution of Nine Kin

"I bought a manor outside the city before the new year. Halfway up the mountain, there's a hot spring that ordinary manors don't have, so I named it Muquan Manor."

Meng Wan said to Zheng Shushen and Lan Niang at the dinner table: "When the roads are easier to travel another day, I'll take you all up the mountain to soak in the hot springs—no kids, just the three of us."

He was a thoughtful man with remarkable social grace; if he set his mind to befriending someone, anyone would be willing to be his friend.

Lan Niang already had a favorable impression of him from the Chai Jun affair back then, and after Meng Wan returned to the capital, she was even more eager to spend time with him. Zheng Shushen, a proper, well-mannered husband, also enjoyed being around Meng Wan.

He glanced at his husband beside him, and Wu Zhaoyuan understood what he meant, smiling as he said: "Go if you want to. Being cooped up at home all day is dull—go have some fun with your younger siblings' spouses."

The two had been childless for many years, and Zheng Shushen had developed a fixation on it. Wu Zhaoyuan had tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail—Zheng Shushen wanted a child even more than he did.

It would do him good to go out with Meng Wan and the others—lift his spirits and untangle that knot in his heart. Otherwise, once his wife's parents arrived, he might get upset all over again...

Wu Zhaoyuan sighed to himself.

Meng Wan's cooking had improved more and more over the years, and the large table of dishes was almost completely cleaned up.

After the meal, the three households gathered together and chatted for a while longer, mostly about their respective fortunes over the past seven years.

Zhu Zening had led an uneventful life—shielded by Third Master Zhu at home, helped by his wife's older brother after marriage, and now that Song Tingzhou was back and everyone knew of their close friendship, even his superiors had become gentler with him.

"Last time I requested leave, my superior initially refused. But the moment he heard I was going to pick up Jingxing, he let me go without a second word." Zhu Zening deeply understood that it helps to have friends in high places.

The whole room laughed. By comparison, Wu Zhaoyuan's path had been far rockier, and his relationships far more tangled.

"The time I spent in Jiangnan was the most relaxed and carefree of my life." Meeting everyone's sympathetic gazes, Wu Zhaoyuan instead appeared at ease—he figured his luck was pretty good, running into helpful patrons at every step.

Song Tingzhou pondered for a moment and asked: "Has Wu Wei shown up at your place?"

Wu Zhaoyuan shook his head. "The only ones who know I'm a Wu now are you and Zening. Everyone else is long dead."

"That's for the best." Song Tingzhou was relieved.

After leaving the Wu residence from the meal, Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou went to see Chang Jinhua. A Xun said she was out of danger—they'd cut the dosage tomorrow, and after two more days of the medicine, she'd be completely fine.

After checking on Chang Jinhua, Meng Wan paced around the house, feeling like he was forgetting something...

Chi Yu finally made it back to the Song house after all that running around, and it was nearly dark by then. He didn't even bother reporting to Song Tingzhou first—he rushed to the front courtyard to check on Xue Sheng in his room.

"Xuesheng-ge, are you okay?" Chi Yu asked, all worked up.

Xue Sheng had been lying in bed resting with his eyes closed, and almost got scared to death by his yell.

He said with a helpless sigh: "Xiaoyu, keep your voice down."

"Okay, okay." Chi Yu crept in and quietly closed the door, then pulled a stool over and sat by Xue Sheng's bed.

Like Chi Yu, Xue Sheng had his own room. Chi Yu lived in the main courtyard where Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou resided, while Xue Sheng lived in the front courtyard.

Xue Sheng wasn't fussy about where he lived. Everything in his room had been picked out by Meng Wan himself—a four-poster bed draped with dark brocade curtains on three sides, a four-panel clothes rack, a small folding screen, an octagonal table with matching stools, a stove connected to the heated brick bed, plus a heated floor and charcoal braziers—nothing was missing.

Chi Yu sat by Xue Sheng's bed, half guilty, half confused: "Xuesheng-ge, you took it way too far! You could've just faked it—why'd you have to hurt yourself so bad!"

Xue Sheng rubbed his aching chest. "I don't know what the master told you to do, but either way, it's all for show for outsiders. The master's hands are pretty tied in this position. Even if we've offended the Consort, we can't be too obvious in how we act. I'm worried that if people see through us, it'll hurt the master."

Chi Yu rubbed the back of his head. "You... well, that's true."

He got up from the stool. "Have you eaten? Want me to get you something from the kitchen?"

Xue Sheng shook his head. "Not hungry for now. Don't go to all that trouble—the courtyard's full of servants, I can just call one over."

Just as he said that, a knock came at the closed door, and Meng Wan called out from the doorway: "Xue Sheng, I'm coming in?"

Chi Yu hurried over to open the door. "Husband, I'm in here."

Meng Wan entered with Huang Ye, shooting him a curious glance. "You went with me to the Wu residence this morning—where did you run off to in the middle of it? Good thing you have a heart, knowing to come visit your Xuesheng-ge when he's sick."

Chi Yu dropped his gaze, looking a little guilty. "I didn't go out to play. The master assigned me something to do. I came back, heard Xuesheng-ge was ill, and came to check on him. Husband, since Xuesheng-ge is fine, I'll head out now?"

"Move that side table from the corner over here before you leave." Meng Wan directed Chi Yu to do some work.

Chi Yu carried the side table—slightly taller than the bed—over to Xue Sheng's bedside. After finishing the task, he made an excuse and slipped away. The table was square, serving as a bedside stand—normally used for an oil lamp, but now it doubled as a dining table for Xue Sheng.

Meng Wan and Huang Ye set out the dishes one by one. "I asked A Xun—everything I had made for you is something you can eat: preserved vegetable and pork congee, sesame-oil stewed pig's blood, and a plate of wood ear mushroom stir-fried eggs. This is your usual portion. If it's not enough, call Songshan and Song Qiao—they'll be serving in your room these two days. If you can't finish it, no need to force it; those two lads have big appetites and will polish it off in a few bites."

Meng Wan finished his instructions in one breath, and Huang Ye added: "Xuesheng-ge, the medicine packets are stored at my place. Three bowls a day—I'll bring them all to you. Rest easy; A Xun says you'll be better in no time."

Xue Sheng sat up halfway in bed, leaning against the headboard. "It's nothing serious—no need for you all to go to such trouble."

Meng Wan rolled his eyes at him. "Where did you learn to be so formal? We're family, yet you're talking to us like strangers."

Huang Ye also chided him with a reproachful look: "Exactly! Xuesheng-ge, just eat your meal and recover properly."

Chastised by both of them, Xue Sheng smiled wryly and surrendered: "Alright, alright, my fault. I won't say anything more—I'll eat."

Meng Wan scooped a spoonful of congee for him. Though he ostensibly shouldn't know the specifics of what had happened, he still said with a hint of foreboding: "Take good care of yourself. No matter what happens, your husband and I don't need you to sacrifice yourself."

Xue Sheng's eyes reddened. He swallowed a mouthful of the savory rice porridge—tasteless yet full of a thousand flavors—and let out a soft "Mm."

Leaving Xue Sheng's room, Meng Wan returned to the main courtyard to his and Song Tingzhou's bedchamber. Without saying a word, he stood in front of Song Tingzhou, lifting his eyes to gaze at him.

Song Tingzhou chuckled. "What are you doing?"

Meng Wan curved his beautiful eyes slightly. "What mischief did you send Chi Yu off to do?"

Scented soap was now popular nationwide, and their household used it too. Song Tingzhou, carrying the fresh fragrance of soap, coaxed Meng Wan onto the bed. "He went to play matchmaker."

"Matchmaker? Chi Yu?" Meng Wan let Song Tingzhou remove his heavy outer robe and wrapped him up with the quilt in his arms.

Song Tingzhou kissed him several times, then rested his head heavily in the crook of Meng Wan's neck, muttering: "Some filthy business—already handled. Didn't want you to know and get angry."

His tone even carried a hint of sulkiness and coaxing—a rare sight indeed.

Meng Wan's heart softened instantly. "I'm not angry. You don't need to dwell on it too much. It's just some people who can't stand seeing others live well, sending a few people to the household to cause trouble."

He felt Song Tingzhou's hand, which had been roaming at his waist, freeze. His gaze darkened. "So it really was that. Who's so idle as to do such a thing—Lin Conghui?"

Song Tingzhou slipped his other hand in as well, his voice low and husky: "Consort Nie."

Whatever he was doing under the covers made Meng Wan's breathing falter as he said in fragments: "A... a Consort, meddling in her minister's private chambers—shameless!"

The last few words were gritted out through his teeth, a double entendre.

Song Tingzhou rolled over and pressed down on him, silencing his gasping mouth with a kiss, ravaging his lips until they were red and swollen before asking through heavy breaths: "Who are you cursing?"

His technique had grown increasingly skilled. Meng Wan had lost most of his wits, mumbling dazedly: "Her—that Consort Nie with nothing better to do... no no no, easy~"

"In bed, we don't talk about other people," Song Tingzhou said before kissing him again. Meng Wan was about to cry, wishing he hadn't asked.

---

There had long been rumors the emperor was going to crack down on the aristocratic families, yet everyone assumed these clans were unshakable—and if any were to fall, the Wu family, which was already going downhill, would be the first to take the hit.

Unexpectedly, it was the Yue Zheng family—who had kept a low profile in Jincheng—that got wiped out first, their entire household destroyed.

The imperial court's authority was not something to mess with; treason meant the execution of nine generations of the family. The emperor was dead set on wiping out every last remnant of the old dynasty, even going so far as to pour boiling water on the ant nests at their doorstep.

The whole city of Jincheng was sealed off tight, with every household bolting their doors. Officials patrolled the streets, dead set on not letting a single person slip through the cracks.

The Yue Zheng family's main household had over a thousand people, and nearly all of those outside the city were slaughtered by the emperor's soldiers, dying for no clear reason in this bitter winter.

The largest group of clansmen left were in Jincheng, putting up a last-ditch resistance with armor and troops they'd secretly stockpiled. Unfortunately, Duke Dingxiang led the assault personally; to him, such resistance was nothing more than a mantis trying to block a chariot—which only made the Yue Zheng family's rebellion look even more certain.

The gates of the Yue Zheng estate fell quickly; it was the easiest fight Duke Dingxiang had ever had.

Blood, severed limbs, and dead bodies were everywhere, but his personal guards were long used to this kind of carnage.

Curses and the screams of women and children blended together, eventually turning into cries of pure despair.

Outside was chaos, but inside the Yue Zheng ancestral hall, it was dead silent. Yue Zheng Qi, who was supposed to be locked up in the Ministry of Justice's prison, suddenly showed up there, wearing a soldier's armor. After walking around the hall for a bit, he suddenly said, "Do you really think hiding in here will keep you safe? Once the hordes of gold and jewels are hauled out of the Yue Zheng estate, the whole place will be set on fire, and you'll be burned alive in here."

A cold wind blew the red cloth on the altar table, bringing an eerie chill.

There wasn't a sound from inside the hall.

The sounds of fighting got closer, and a squad leader waiting outside with a small group of soldiers urged nervously, "A Qi, can you hurry up? If Nie Chuan finds us, we're screwed."

Yue Zheng Qi's eyes were dead as the fighting got closer. He continued, "Besides, do you think Duke Dingxiang is stupid? With that many names missing from the family records, is he blind or something? You can't tell me you didn't know the emperor has spies in all four great families, right?" Sure, those spies were just servants and couldn't get to the clan's core secrets, but they knew exactly how many elders and kids were in the main branch.

A rumbling sound echoed through the hall—the sound of heavy stone scraping against the floor. Seven or eight old men stared at him with sharp eyes.

They all had the Yue Zheng family's trademark light-colored hair, sunken eye sockets, and pale eyes.

"You're also from the Yue Zheng bloodline?" the elder in front noticed something off about Yue Zheng Qi's looks.

"No, you're A Yue's son!" another elder said, recognizing him right away because his face looked so familiar.

It had been ages since anyone mentioned his mother's name. Yue Zheng Qi's gaze flickered briefly before sharpening again, a visible fury tinged with resentment from unpleasant childhood memories.

"How dare you speak of my mother!"

The elders recalled old grievances, seeing no fault in their actions. "Your mother violated clan rules. She was a princess, with all of Jincheng's finest young men at her disposal. She could have chosen anyone, yet she secretly consorted with the Yu Kingdom's royalty, leaving behind you—this... this bastard child."

"So you killed them all—my mother, Nurse Kong, Aunt Chen, Zan'er, everyone connected to her, including me." Yue Zheng Qi's lips curved upward, his deep-set eyes brimming with immense hatred. His strikingly handsome face, marred by such bitterness, looked worse in a smile than in tears.

"You hate us, so you exposed the Yue Zheng family to the Yu Kingdom's emperor?" the clan elder's aged face turned toward Yue Zheng Qi.

Another elder asked word by word, "How did you know? Did A Yue tell you before she died?"

"We should never have spared his life back then."

Listening to their exchanges, Yue Zheng Qi's eyes turned bloodshot as he demanded fiercely, "Should I not hate you?"

The elder's brow twitched involuntarily; inwardly, he wished to tear Yue Zheng Qi apart, but outwardly, he had to concede, "Arguing over right and wrong now is pointless. You hate us, but the women and children of the clan are innocent. For sparing your life all those years ago, please let them go."

Hidden in the secret chamber were the remaining children and women of the main lineage—the clan's hope for the future.

In the biting wind, Yue Zheng Qi bared half his chest, revealing the ghastly, pitted scars beneath his neck. His expression was colder than the frost outside. "When my family was slaughtered, did anyone step forward to help us? Those children died before your very eyes—did you feel a shred of remorse? If I let them go and the Yu emperor turns his wrath on me, dooming my husband and son, would you deserve that?"

"Since I survived back then, you should have known I'd return—to bring the entire Yue Zheng clan to ruin."

Yue Zheng Qi could never forget his mother bound atop a towering pyre, burned alongside hundreds of loyal servants in that devastating blaze.

The agonized screams of his loved ones tormented him day and night, never granting him peace. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw that fire that had raged for over twenty years.

The cries and wails of that day folded into today's, making it impossible to tell which was more harrowing.

The squad leader at the door suddenly shouted, "You're too late—there are just a few old men left in the hall."

Yue Zheng Qi swiftly exited the ancestral hall and retreated behind the squad leader as a flood of soldiers surged in. There wasn't even a skirmish—just one-sided slaughter.

After the elders were killed, the secret chamber was soon discovered. Soldiers followed the tunnel out, and it was only a matter of time before the hidden main lineage members were found.

Yue Zheng Qi closed his eyes and silently recited:

"May today's sins fall upon me alone, not my wife and child. If vengeance is sought, let it come to me and me only."