Ink Burns

Chapter 102: Buried Past

Xue Xiao's tone remained low, and no emotion could be heard.

The meaning of the words, however, is blatant criticism and questioning.

Xue Changfeng was angered again: "Even if your mother likes it, so what? Parents' orders and matchmaker's words are the principles of human relations. What's wrong with that? You are not qualified to comment on it!"

Xue Xiao lowered his eyes and smiled softly, "Since Madam Zhu likes it, let's leave it to Brother Chen. I'll go to my mother's grave one day and ask her what she likes."

This simple sentence choked Xue Changfeng to the point where he was speechless.

Hearing her husband being provoked and unable to finish the scene, Zhu turned her head away and took a deep breath with patience.

The Xue Mansion in Zhenjiang is a hundred years old. The four pillars supporting the main hall are made of nanmu wood, which is painted carbon black and then varnished. Because the wood is rare, it only needs simple treatment methods to keep it from decaying for a hundred years, and even keep it looking new over time. The wooden surface exudes a warm and bright texture.

Just these few pieces of nanmu wood are only available to a family with deep wealth.

The Xue family has been a scholar for nearly a hundred years, and has been prosperous for nearly a hundred years. They are well-known in Zhenjiang Prefecture and even in the entire Jiangnan officialdom. Their fame and influence are by no means comparable to the Liu family in Songjiang Prefecture, the Qiu family in Jinling Prefecture, etc.

When the Wei Dynasty was founded, the head of the Xue family was the chief editor of the first edition of the Wei Law. The revision and implementation of the third edition was presided over by Xue Changfeng's biological father. In the capital, the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice and other places were controlled by the Xue family for decades. In the local areas, most of the people in the Censorate were descendants or disciples of the Xue family.

Xue Changfeng is the eldest son of a prominent family in Zhenjiang Prefecture. He is a man of noble character and comes from a top-notch family. He always prides himself on being a modest and gentle gentleman, but whenever he meets the eldest son, he is completely defeated by Xue Xiao's irrelevant methods.

Xue Changfeng only thought that his eldest son, who was rising step by step, was despicable and had no integrity, but Zhu never dared to underestimate this "mad dog"-like stepson.

There are so many people who would do anything to climb up the career ladder, so why was it this "mad dog" who climbed to the third-rank official in just five years?

".If I don't think it's the best, why would I bring it to you?"

Zhu took over Xue Changfeng's words and said, "Isn't that annoying you?"

Zhu glanced at Xue Changfeng, who seemed to have grasped his backbone. He supported his knees with his hands and sat down in silence.

"Give it to Brother Chen. I have no objection." Zhu continued.

Xue Xiao raised his eyebrows slightly.

Zhu seemed to be unaware of Xue Xiao's expression. She spoke softly and eloquently, "I am not from a wealthy family. My father is just a small town squire. He can't even get a rank in the huge capital. If you think I am deliberately using a girl from a humble family to humiliate you, then you are really thinking too much. When you have a decent life, you will know that while family background and teachings are important, the most important thing is whether the person is suitable. Your mother passed away early, and your uncle's family also suffered. When I entered the Xue family, you had already been sent to a Taoist temple to avoid disaster. As for the relationship between mother and son, "

Zhu frowned and shook her head slightly: "It's really not the same between you and me."

Unconsciously, Zhu slowly and steadily eroded the initiative of discourse to his side bit by bit.

Zhu was always sincere and frank: "As I said before, your marriage concerns Chen Ge'er, so I must worry about it. If you don't like this Miss Liu, then forget it, we can slowly..."

"Since you want me to marry the girl that Madam Zhu likes——"

Xue Xiao did not give Zhu the chance to take the initiative and immediately interrupted him.

He was seen leaning against the pillar of the main hall, looking sideways and raising his chin, revealing a sharp look of cold observation. He spoke in a low voice, ignoring Zhu, and directly negotiated with Xue Changfeng:
"Then would you like to give some benefits to Xue Taibao?"

Xue Changfeng was caught off guard and subconsciously looked at Zhu.

Zhu was interrupted and lost the initiative. She was annoyed but didn't show it on her face. She just pursed her lips tightly and said, "As for your marriage, your parents and the clan will consider buying property for their children and grandchildren. If you ask your parents to give you some benefits before you agree, I'm afraid that if you tell others, people will laugh at the Xue family for having no family discipline and the dignified censor for blackmailing you."

Xue Xiao turned his head calmly and looked at Zhu. He slowly extended his index finger, lightly touched his lips, and made a "silence" gesture.

Zhu tucked her hands into her sleeves, and her nails, which had always been well maintained, dug into her flesh, causing both pain and anxiety.

Xue Changfeng was torn apart and lost all his strength: "Tell me, tell me, what do you want?"

As long as the eldest son's marriage was not settled, the court officials would keep chattering.

Xue Xiao was like a small pebble that irritated the Xue family during their century of prosperity, unscrupulously consuming the Xue family's reputation for forbearance and low-keyness.

If they can get married, they can separate the family in an open manner. His fragile back will not have to be constantly alert to being pointed at by his colleagues.
Xue Xiao brushed his shoulder against the tall lacquered nanmu pillar and straightened up slightly. "After the first month of the lunar year, you will submit a memorial to request that the Duzhou dike breach case be transferred from the Dali Temple to the Censorate, along with all the documents and evidence. I will be fully responsible for the re-investigation."

Zhu lowered her head slightly, and in the dark, her pupils dilated and contracted violently.

Xue Changfeng seemed to be extremely tired: "It has been 20 years since the Duzhou dam breach case, and the Dali Temple official who sentenced him at the time has long been buried. Because your uncle Zhang Chengyi was corrupt and the dam was hollow and rotten, it collapsed under the flood and thousands of people died. This case is a major case, and the local Censorate, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple official need to review it three times. There is no doubt in it, and the case has already been closed."

"Are you going to agree or not?" Xue Xiao said succinctly: "If you agree, we will open the door to welcome the new year in the spring. If you don't agree."

Xue Xiao glanced at Yan Zhu and said, "Let's keep Miss Liu for Brother Chen. Since Madam Zhu likes her, it must be right."

The pain in Zhu's palm made her more awake.

It's not her turn to speak at this time.

This is a matter of the court.

She shouldn't talk.

In front of Xue Changfeng, she has to play the role of a frank, polite, gentle and friendly wife; in front of Xue Xiao, she is a stepmother who knows the boundaries, the bottom line, and knows how to be close to her; in front of the servants of the Xue family, she needs to be serious and kind; in front of "Qingfeng", she needs to be tough and majestic when she looks down, and sensible and respectful when she looks up.
At this point, she should shut up.

But she was worried.

It seemed as if the secret that had been sealed for twenty years was about to be revealed at any time.

What was she going to say?
What should she say!
Zhu fell into a dilemma.

Xue Changfeng's tired compromise saved her from danger at the right time.

"can."

Xue Changfeng felt that his son's stubbornness in this matter was childish and ridiculous.

Twenty years.

The body has turned into bones.

His uncle's family was on the way to exile in southern Fujian. Some died, some were injured, and those who were lucky enough to survived had probably already become tea farmers in southern Fujian, married and had children, and forgotten their past.

But if a trivial case can make a rebellious son marry an obedient wife, then it would be a good deal.

Xue Changfeng said: "In the first month of the year, I will ask the cabinet and the Dali Temple to transfer the case files. If the cabinet disagrees,

"If I can get you to agree, I can get the cabinet to agree."

Xue Xiao opened the door curtain with one hand, not wanting to say anything more. As he raised his foot, he glanced back, his sharp eyes hinting at a half-smile of sarcasm: "Since this girl was chosen by Madam Zhu, please take good care of her."

With a "swish", the door curtain fell down.

Xue Xiao's figure was immediately hidden in the wind, frost, snow and rain.

The original relaxed and harmonious atmosphere in the room had long been disrupted.

Xue Changfeng clenched his fists and pounded the table, sighing softly, "Evil boy, how come I owe him something?"

"If I had known this would happen, it would have been better for him to go with his mother. It would have been a good thing for me, him, and the Xue family."

Xue Changfeng finished his suffering and waited for Zhu's usual sweet words.

After waiting for a long time, the expected comfort still did not come.

Xue Changfeng looked up in confusion, only to see that his wife, who had always been well-behaved, now had a pale face and blue eyes, and he didn't know what she was thinking.

(End of this chapter)