A 'true person' was a very unusual praise.
Chen Changsheng was quiet for a while, then asked, "There's another one?"
Madam Xue had previously said that he was one of the two true persons that Xue Xingchuan believed to be.
Madam Xue did not directly answer this question, but changed her method. "Sir is truly worthy of being the Divine Empress's son."
Chen Changsheng understood and said, "Regretfully, I am not her son."
Madam Xue replied, "I am very gratified to hear Sir say that it is regretful."
Chen Changsheng replied, "Yes, I do not think that it is shameful to have this sort of mother. Although she was not a good person, she was an extraordinary person."
Madam Xue sighed, "Yes, or else how could my late husband and the others have been willing to follow the Empress until death?"
Chen Changsheng suddenly asked, "Do you hate?"
In terms of hate, Madam Xue had far too many reasons to hate, and in terms of regret, she had reasons to regret.
This hate and regret was not all for the new government. It was for that supervisor of the Ministry of Justice, for Xu Shiji, and probably also for that period of time in the past.
Madam Xue was very calm, saying, "No, I only hate that Zhou Tong did not die."
Chen Changsheng calmly gazed into her eyes, saying nothing, not comforting her.
Madam Xue was extremely intelligent and understood. She was rather shocked and moved. She wanted to advise him, but she could not open her mouth, as she did not know what to say.
Chen Changsheng had said nothing, so how could she advise him?
The two bid farewell. In front of the Orthodox Academy, Chen Changsheng said to Madam Xue, "Please do not leave."
Based on the news sent by the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, the Xue Estate was already empty. There were several boxes of luggage prepared at the back gate. It seemed that Madam Xue might return home in the near future.
But Chen Changsheng requested that she not leave.
Madam Xue understood his meaning, because he understood her meaning.
She fell silent for a very long time, then with some difficulty, she revealed a faint smile. "Fine, I will personally see."
Chen Changsheng replied, "Sir will see."
… …
… …
After the confiscation, the Xue Estate had dismissed all its servants. Whether it was the chief branch or the second branch, as long as they had not been implicated, they had all been sent back to their homes. The estate now only had Madam Xue, a servant woman, and an old steward. It seemed particularly cold and cheerless. Madam Xue's intentions were that even this servant woman and steward should leave, but she had no way of persuading them.
The maidservant said, "Since we are going to hold a sacrifice, no matter how simple it is, we still have to buy some things. We can help Madam share some of the burden."
Madam Xue shook her head. "He's already been buried, so what need is there to hold a ceremony?"
The housekeeper said, "Since the imperial court has not said anything, it means that they have tacitly agreed. Presumably, in the coming days, there will be some officials or old colleagues who will come to pay their respects. We have to welcome them."
He had spoken according to his old way of thinking, but he had caused Madam Xue to grieve. She indifferently said, "Do you think that anyone would dare to come?"
The housekeeper thought that the master was a hero of his generation and had many friends in the capital. As long as the imperial court did not issue an edict, someone would come.
Madam Xue asked, "Since we want to hold a sacrifice, where will we find the money?"
The housekeeper thought for a moment and said, "I can't sell the sacrificial field in the suburbs of the capital for the time being. As for the shop on Xizhi Street …"
The Xue Manor didn't have enough money now. If they wanted to build a decent praying hall, they had to sell the properties of the clan that hadn't been confiscated, and they had to sell the best properties.
Xizhi Street was the most flourishing place in the capital, and the shops on the street could be said to bring in gold every day. No one had ever been willing to sell them.
The housekeeper saw Madam Xue's hesitant expression and thought that she was unwilling to part with them. He advised, "After returning to the village, there will be no one to look after the shops, and they'll be gone sooner or later. Since they won't be coming back, there's no need to keep them."
Madam Xue was quiet for a while, then said, "Don't sell the shops."
The housekeeper was somewhat shocked. He continued to advise, "Madam, please …"
Madam Xue shook her head. "I know what you're worried about, but I've already changed my mind. I won't be leaving the capital."
The housekeeper was even more shocked at these words, but before he had time to say anything, he heard the madam continue, "In a few days, go back to the village and bring Brother Jin back."
Brother Jin's full name was Xue Yejin, and he was Xue He's only son. The housekeeper already knew that Second Master Xue He was currently being escorted back to the capital and would probably not be able to escape death. Brother Jin was currently the sole scion of the Xue Estate. Two days ago, after confirming the Imperial Court's decree, Madam Xue had sent him back to the family in the middle of the night. Why had Madam Xue decided to have him return to the capital? It had to be known that this was an enormous risk. Who knew if those newly ascended figures in the Imperial Court had changed their minds?
With a trembling voice, he said, "Even if Brother Jin returns, how can he watch over those shops?"
"Brother Jin is the only bloodline of my Xue clan. How can he waste his time on these common affairs?" Madam Xue seriously said to him. "When he returns to the capital, he needs to study."
The housekeeper inwardly groaned, thinking, just which school in the capital would dare to accept a descendant of the Xue clan? Let alone the Six Ivies, even the most ordinary school would probably reject Brother Jin at its door.
Madam Xue did not speak of her subsequent plans. She said to the housekeeper, "Go and busy yourself with the funeral. As for the money, use this for now. If it's not enough, then we'll talk about it."
As she spoke, she took a pure gold hairpin from her hair and handed it over.
The housekeeper could only accept the order and take the hairpin out of the door.
The maidservant brought over a bowl of tea and said, "Madam should first moisten your throat."
Madam Xue took a sip of the tea. As she gazed at her pale face reflected in the tea, she suddenly revealed a smile.
Unlike the past few days, although her smile was still tired, it was at least a little brighter.
And then she felt that the tea was somewhat sweet.
If there was blood in the throat, it should also be sweet.
This was what she had discussed with Xue Xingchuan.
At the time, they had just gotten married. On the second day that she was in charge of the family's financial affairs, she discovered that there were many problems with the clan's accounts and that a lot of money was flowing in the wrong direction.
It just so happened that there were many rumors going around in the estate at the time.
She was somewhat sad that she had not eaten soup at dinner.
Xue Xingchuan had no other choice but to tell her the truth. Only then did she know that her husband had been adopted and that he had a brother called Zhou Tong.
In order to comfort her, Xue Xingchuan told her many other things and interesting stories, as well as stories from the battlefield. For instance, if there was blood in the throat, it should be sweet.
If that golden hairpin pierced the throat, it should also be sweet.
Madam Xue thought.
From the very start, she had never intended to leave the capital.
She had intended to bury Xue Xingchuan, then commit suicide and follow him.
But yesterday, the situation changed.
She was no longer prepared to die.
She was prepared to continue living in the capital, because she wanted to personally see Zhou Tong die.
She also wanted to raise the sole descendant of the Xue clan in the capital, because she wanted him to go to the Orthodox Academy to study.
Weeping could be heard from outside the courtyard.
The servant woman led in a noblewoman with red and swollen eyes.
The noblewoman entered the room and threw herself into Madam Xue's embrace, crying, "Mother, how can we live like this?"
Madam Xue gazed at her eldest daughter who had married the Assistant Minister of Rites and calmly asked, "You were divorced?"
The noblewoman was given a fright, and then she angrily retorted, "I didn't do anything wrong! How could the Wei clan dare to divorce me!"
Madam Xue asked, "Since you weren't divorced, why are you crying?"
The noblewoman's eyes reddened once more as she replied, "They treated me badly."
Madam Xue replied, "If your husband's clan is not willing to accept you, just come back."
The noblewoman somewhat awkwardly replied, "In the last few days, father-in-law and mother-in-law have had rather unpleasant expressions, but he … can still be considered amiable."
Madam Xue calmly replied, "Amiable? If he continues to be amiable, then divorce him. "
The noblewoman was somewhat hesitant. "Then what about the child? Besides, he's treated me pretty well. In the future, once the matter is settled, Brother Jin's prospects … "
Madam Xue said, "Whether Brother Jin joins the army in the future or enters the court, you run a store, or remarry, how can you not find a way to survive?"
The noblewoman thought this over, then forcefully nodded her head. "Mother's words are reasonable. I will tell him exactly what you said."
… …
… …
(I am extremely satisfied with today's chapter. From the start of the new volume until now, this is my favorite chapter.)
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