Xu Ke, courtesy name Xiaoyu, was from Zisang County.
He was born in a poor family and was fortunate enough to meet his master, which gave him the opportunity to learn.
Before he encountered the great change at the age of seventeen, he had imagined his future countless times and was filled with enthusiasm.
Although he lived a poor life, he still found joy in it. His poor body did not make him poor in spirit.
His master was slightly worried about Xu Ke's optimism.
The more virtuous a person was, once he encountered a setback, he would either be more stubborn or completely destroyed and fall into the abyss.
The Dongqing court respected the gentry, and the living space left for the poor was not rich, not to mention that Xu Ke's family was not even comparable to an ordinary poor family. With such a proud character, he was really worried that Xu Ke would not be able to take it if he encountered continuous setbacks in reality.
His master had a vague premonition, but he did not tell Xu Ke directly. He only wanted to wait for him to grow older and have a good talk with him.
He never expected that Xu Ke would be in prison because of a wrong decision.
"Caught and thrown into prison? How did this happen? "
Xu Ke's master was awakened by his servant. He was so shocked that he forgot to speak.
How could Xiaoyu kill someone?
"Quick, help me change my clothes and bring me to the county chief!"
Xu Ke's master was a famous scholar in the local area. He opened a private school and among his students, Xu Ke was the one he liked the most.
Although he was born in a poor family, he was very perceptive, careful and patient. He also had a photographic memory, so it was very easy to teach him.
He even planned to recommend Xu Ke to find a friend in Shangjing when he was twenty years old and help Xu Ke have a future.
How did he become a murderer?
The county chief of Zisang County revealed a little inside information for the sake of the famous scholar.
It turned out that Xu Ke's mother had offended a noble when she went to the market to buy vegetables. She was pushed to the ground by the noble's servant and died. Xu Ke had just returned home from school and heard the news. He was very sad and angry. He took a knife and went to seek revenge. In the end, he killed the noble's servant. He was outnumbered, and in the end, he was caught, beaten up, and thrown into prison.
The county chief sighed, "I know he is your favorite disciple, so I sent someone to take good care of him. He won't suffer too much in prison."
His master's mind went blank. After a long while, he said, "You should avenge your mother. What did you do wrong, Xiaoyu?"
The county governor could not help but roll his eyes and say, "If killing is used to stop the killing after one's family is killed, what kind of law is there in this world?"
His teacher said angrily. "Law? If Xiaoyu's mother was killed, would the 'nobleman' and his henchmen suffer retribution? Punished by the law? "
The laws of Dongqing sounded nice, but when it came to actual implementation, they were bullsh * t.
On the surface, the landowning households would be severely punished for "accidentally killing" poor or commoners, but in reality, they would only be fined some money.
The gentry could use money to buy a person's life, but it was different for the commoners and commoners.
Their crime of assaulting a landowning household was even more severe than the normal punishment.
Even if Xu Ke had killed a lowly servant, the "noble" from the aristocratic family would still make Xu Ke pay with his life!
The county governor said, "What's the point of telling me all this? Your student is too hot-tempered. To put it nicely, he would rather die in glory than live in dishonor. To put it bluntly, he has no schemes at all. He is jade, and that servant is not even worthy of being called a tile … "
It was only because they were familiar with each other that the county governor told Xu Ke these things. Otherwise, he would have chased Xu Ke out of anger.
After a long while, his teacher asked, "Is Xiaoyu's life in danger?"
The county governor said, "That family wanted Xu Xiaoyu dead, but if you do something about it, he will probably be exiled."
His teacher had been busy making arrangements for Xu Ke, but in the end, he was still banished to a lowly servant and was branded as a punishment for thirty years.
Although the county governor took care of him, Xu Ke, who was taken out of prison, was still extremely skinny.
"I will never forget the kindness of teaching and saving my life. It is a long journey, and my unfilial disciple will not be able to serve me. Please take care of yourself, teacher. " Dressed in prison clothes, Xu Ke's face was no longer as relaxed and cheerful as it was a few months ago. His brows were full of darkness, and his eyes were cold.
His teacher sent Xu Ke off. In the end, he sighed and handed the prepared luggage to Xu Ke.
"I have arranged everything. You … take good care of yourself …"
Xu Ke took it, but he was not very optimistic.
If his teacher could help him, that family could also send someone to do the same to Xu Ke secretly.
He was in a mess, and wearing broken straw sandals, he was forced to embark on the road of exile.
Just as Xu Ke had expected, he was sold to a broker house as soon as he left Zisang County. He was sold with a straw tag.
"If I can rise to the top one day, those who bully me, humiliate me, and hate me should all die!"
The pain of losing his mother and the disaster of being imprisoned made him grow rapidly in a short period of a year.
Even though the tattoo on his face had festered and he had a high fever for several days in the hot summer, he stubbornly survived.
His mother had passed away, but his aunt was still alive. How could he die so easily and make his enemies happy?
After being sold, Xu Ke became a vegetable washing worker in the backyard of an aristocratic family. Under his careful planning, Xu Ke, who was diligent and intelligent, successfully caught the eye of the kitchen supervisor. In addition, he was literate. Step by step, he became the confidant of the young supervisor in the accounting room.
In the spring of the second year, the turning point finally came.
Xu Ke, as the dowry of the noble lady of the aristocratic family, entered another family.
This family was also one of the aristocratic families in Dongqing. The marriage between the two families was a strong alliance.
Xu Ke relied on his own ability to climb a little further. He kicked away the young supervisor and successfully caught the eye of the male master.
Don't misunderstand. It was not because of his appearance that the male master was interested in, but because Xu Ke discovered the hidden ambition under his elegant appearance.
Even though the man was not a good person, he was grateful to him for recognizing his worth and saving him from a dangerous situation.
With his help, Xu Ke got rid of his lowly status and brought over his widowed aunt from Zisang County.
To these people, it was just a small effort, but to Xu Ke, it was a reversal of fate and a turning point.
After that, Dongqing was in chaos. The male master that Xu Ke worked for took advantage of the situation and became one of the famous feudal lords in the chaotic world.
Xu Ke also took advantage of the situation to take revenge. He let the soldiers rush into the aristocratic family in Zisang County.
Before exterminating the whole family, he let them taste the greatest humiliation before they died.
The situation in the chaotic world was ever-changing.
One day, they might be dancing and singing, but the next day, they might be beheaded and hung for humiliation.
Xu Ke, who had become a prisoner, looked at the hanging corpse of his old master. His dark eyes were calm, and he surrendered to the new master without saying a word.
There were also colleagues who would rather die than surrender. They cursed Xu Ke for forgetting his morals at the sight of profit, completely forgetting who raised him!
"The previous master must have been blind to trust such a traitorous ingrate like you!"
Xu Ke had a rebellious streak in his brain. His straightforward action of defecting to the new master seemed to prove this point.
A traitorous villain was not to be trusted!
Xu Ke said coldly, "It's useless to say more."
Another two years later, Xu Ke relied on his outstanding ability to gain the trust of the new master, Jiang Pengji. She entrusted him with important tasks.
Xu Ke did not let down Jiang Pengji's trust in him. He took care of everything properly.
"Xu Xiaoyu, I advise you …"
One day after the celebration banquet, Xu Ke met Feng Jue, who reeked of alcohol. When they passed each other, he heard the latter muttering.
"What do you mean?"
Xu Ke stopped in his tracks and looked at Feng Jue calmly.
"If Xiaoyu has done anything wrong, please don't hesitate to enlighten me."
At that moment, when the night wind blew, Feng Jue shivered and sobered up a little.
"No, nothing."
Feng Jue acted like he was in pain. He waved his hands and left.
Xu Ke's heart sank slightly, but he did not give up his plan because of this.
In order to avenge the previous master, he had been planning for a long time. He absolutely could not give up halfway at this time.
Xu Ke admitted that Jiang Pengji was much better as a lord than the previous master, but so what?
The person who saved him from the swamp was the previous master. That day, Xu Ke promised the heavens that he would remain loyal for the rest of his life.
For him, there was no right or wrong in this matter. There was only the difference between what should be done and what should not be done.
Xu Ke made use of Jiang Pengji's trust in him to tamper with the military reports and misrepresent the military situation. Not only did he secretly collude with the ambitious surrendered generals to rebel, but he also lured Jiang Pengji to lead her troops deep into the enemy's encirclement. He also took advantage of the situation to cut off Jiang Pengji's supply of military rations and any escape route.
When Jiang Pengji's confidants realized that something was wrong, the best time to rescue them had long passed.
Qiguan Rang waved his feather fan and said calmly, "She treats you well."
Xu Ke used all the spies he had plotted for years. He did not intend to leave a way out for himself.
When he was captured by Qiguan Rang and his men, he was prepared to die.
However —
Before he died, there was still Jiang Pengji on the road to hell. He did not lose out.
"So what if she treats me well? I'd rather use these 'treats' in exchange for my lord's life and the safety of my family. " Xu Ke said, "Besides, tsk — if it weren't for your stupidity, your bravery, and your arrogance, you wouldn't have taken so long to realize that something was wrong."
After a day and a night, livor mortis appeared.
Xu Ke still remembered the death of his old lord.
Jiang Pengji was ruthless.
His old lord was hung on the city wall as a warning to the public. His family members, old and young, also fled. None of them survived.
Qiguan Rang said, "Why are you so stubborn? The 'lord' you mentioned wasn't a wise lord. It doesn't matter if he died earlier or later. It's just a different time. Even if he didn't die in the hands of the lord, he would die in the hands of others. You're smart, how could you not see through it? "
"But he was personally killed by Jiang Pengji. The hypothesis you mentioned doesn't exist." Xu Ke sneered. "It doesn't matter if Jiang Pengji is a wise lord or if my lord is only ambitious but not capable. What does that have to do with me? I've never cared about the lives and deaths of the people in this world. You have a noble aspiration to save the common people and end the chaotic world, but I, Xu Ke, am just a villain through and through. I don't see justice in black and white! "
He was tired of the so-called "law." The world was chaotic and messy. If Jiang Pengji was changed, she would just be repeating the old path of the predecessors.
Would she bring justice to the people?
Could she make the law treat everyone equally?
Don't joke with me!
From the beginning to the end, Xu Ke only wanted this person's life to avenge the death of his old lord. There was no other nonsense to say.
Qiguan Rang sighed. "If that's the case, there's nothing else to say. Xu Xiaoyu, have a safe journey. Consider it a token of my gratitude for working with you for the past two years. "
For the sake of these sentiments, he would let Xu Ke die with dignity.
Xu Ke felt that something was wrong.
"Jiang Pengji was killed. Why are you indifferent?"
Qiguan Rang said, "My lord has clear eyes and a clear heart. She's the best at seeing through people's hearts. How could she not see whether you're sincere or not?"
Xu Ke's heart sank. "She didn't fall for it?"
Qiguan Rang said, "She fell for it. She did it on purpose. She just beat her at her own game."
At most, she was in a sorry state. Her heart was hurt a little.
Qiguan Rang believed that at some point, his lord really trusted Xu Ke. She even gave him a chance.
If Xu Ke gave up on the plan, this matter would be over. Unfortunately, Xu Ke didn't.
It gave Jiang Pengji a chance to clean up the disloyal people in her camp.
Cleaning up a group of people would be considered as getting rid of the weeds and keeping the gold.
Xu Ke sneered. "There are 7,000 enemy troops in ambush. She has no chance of survival …"
Jin Qichuan, whom he had carefully chosen, would be her burial ground!
At that moment, a low sound of armor clashing came from outside the tent. There were familiar footsteps and a familiar cold voice.
"Xiaoyu, I'm really disappointed. Not only did I survive, but I'm also unscathed."
The tent was lifted and a person covered in blood came in.
The straw sandals under her feet had sucked a lot of blood. Every footprint was stained with blood.
Xu Ke looked at her without saying a word. Qiguan Rang bowed and retreated to the side.
With a swoosh, a long sword was unsheathed. The snow-white blade was stained with dried blood. It was directly pressed against Xu Ke's throat.
"I've seen your choice. I'm too lazy to talk nonsense with you …" Jiang Pengji's face was also covered in blood. Most of the sticky red blood had dried up, but there was still some hanging on her face, covering her expression. Only her cold and murderous eyes could be seen clearly. "Xu Xiaoyu, I hate betrayers the most. Those who betray me, regardless of their status or achievements … In front of me, only death awaits them!"
Not long ago, Qiguan Rang pleaded for mercy in front of Jiang Pengji, but she rejected him.
"Wenzheng, betrayal is betrayal. When he did it, he was already a dead man."
Of course, Qiguan Rang's plea was not useless.
Originally, Jiang Pengji wanted Xu Ke to suffer the death penalty of a thousand cuts. Now, she changed it to beheading him herself.
"I'll cut off the relationship between our master and her subject."
"Xu Ke, don't let me see you in your next life!"
"You must remember to stay away from me when you see me. Your betrayal disgusts me!"
How much did Jiang Pengji hate those who betrayed her?
Xu Ke's corpse was hung in the sun in Jin Qichuan for decades.
After the establishment of the Jiang Dynasty, Xu Ke's friends who were on good terms with him put in a good word for him so that he could be buried in peace. However, they were reprimanded one by one. In serious cases, they were ordered to go home and reflect on themselves for two months. Until the second year after Emperor Chen's death, the new emperor granted amnesty.
Only then could Jin Qichuan's corpse be buried.
At first, it was impossible.
It was the late emperor's order to expose Xu Ke's corpse to the sun. Jiang Yan did not want to change her order when her mother had just passed away.
However, the one who submitted the memorial was the assistant minister, Qiguan Rang. She had to treat it with caution.
"Xu Ke deserved his fate, but I really don't want this to become one of the pieces of evidence for the people to accuse the late emperor of being ruthless."
The late emperor did not care about his reputation when he was alive, but Qiguan Rang had to.
Jin Qichuan's corpse had been hanging in the wind and rain for nearly 30 years. It was enough.
"Okay, I'll think about it."
Many years later, Jiang Yan was tidying up her mother's belongings out of boredom. She found a strange small box.
There was a faded memorial book in the box.
Jiang Yan took a closer look and found that it was a memorial from Xu Ke's best friend, asking for Xu Ke's pardon.
Her mother's response was only one word.
"Yes."
Decades of resentment, as the people in the story passed away one by one, became a few ink marks in the history books.
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