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Chapter 173 : Duan Family Met With Mishap (3)

Yuxi had already gotten up at the first glimmer of dawn in the sky.

Zisu was on night duty last night. She knew that Yuxi had been tossing and turning in bed all night, not even sleeping at all. At that moment, she persuaded, “Miss, why don’t you sleep some more?”

Yuxi shook her head as she replied, “No, I can’t sleep even when I’m lying down.” She couldn’t fall asleep, and she was feeling bored while lying down. So she might as well find something to do.

On this day, Yuxi practised Wuqinxi twice and dove into her study soon after. By this time her mind was calm enough for her to practise her calligraphy.

After breakfast, Yuxi got the news that the correspondences between Imperial Censor Duan and the late Crown Prince had been confiscated from the Duan family residence yesterday. The matter had been confirmed, and now it was up to the Emperor to decide on how to deal with it.

Yuxi was not an ignorant little girl, as a sneer appeared on her face after hearing these words. Imperial Censor Duan wasn’t a fool. Even if he was indeed the Crown Prince’s accomplice, after the Crown Prince committed suicide, all this so-called evidence would have been completely disposed of and the government troops would have still been looking for them. The reason for this sudden finding was that the evidence was 100% had been planted to frame him. “Go ask them carefully regarding the location the Duan family members are currently being held.”

At this moment, Yuchen’s maid, Shiqin, came over. “Fourth Miss, our Miss invites you to come over.” Seeing Yuxi frowning, not wanting to go, Shiqin walked two steps forward and whispered, “Fourth Miss, my Miss is looking for you regarding the Duan family’s matter.”

Yuxi blinked and hurriedly nodded her head, “Okay, I’ll go there now.” Yuchen was better informed than she was, and she knew more than she did alone.

Yuchen’s news was indeed much better than Yuxi’s. Yuxi knew what happened only last night, but Yuchen already knew what just happened this morning. Yuchen told Yuxi the bad news, “Imperial Censor Duan committed suicide in the prison last night.”

Yuxi’s eyes widened, “How could Imperial Censor Duan kill himself?” Even if Duan Yushi didn’t do it for himself, he should also think about his family. If he committed suicide at this juncture, he would get free of the punishment, but the Emperor’s anger would only be vented on the rest of the Duan family instead. That way, the Duan family had to die without a burial site.

Yuchen answered, “The information I have found said that Imperial Censor Duan did commit suicide. When the Emperor found out about it at the morning court assembly, he was furious and issued a decree that all the male members of the Duan family were to be beheaded and the female members were to be sent to the military camp in Liaodong.” The Duan womenfolk were sent to the military camp not to work as criminal slaves, but rather as prostitutes in military brothels.

When Yuxi heard this, her limbs went cold. “How could…” She had thought that the worst situation for Duan Xinrong would be sold into a brothel. Last night, she was thinking that she would pawn Xinrong’s jewellery in the next two days and add up with her savings, she would be able to get money to ransom her if Xinrong was indeed being sold into a brothel. However, she had never imagined that Xinrong would be transported and filled in a military camp in Liaodong.

Yuchen knew that Yuxi had a very good relationship with Duan Xinrong, but some things must be said to her, “The Duan family’s matters are too huge. Si Mei, even if you have a good relationship with Duan Xinrong, you can’t get involved in this matter, even if you only try to help by bribing the officers.” Since the Duan family had provoked the Emperor, at this time, whoever took the initiative to speak up on behalf of them would also be implicated. Yuchen was reminding Yuxi that she should not implicate the Duke of the State just because of her old feelings. [T/N]

Yuxi smiled bitterly as she said, “I know what San Jie meant. Don’t worry, San Jie, I won’t do anything that will implicate the family.”

When Yuchen looked at Yuxi’s smile, her heart suddenly seeped with fear, “Si Mei, it’s not that San Jie is trying to be cold-blooded and heartless, but this matter is too big for even us to help.” If the crime was not as big as this, it would be fine if they wanted to help for the sake of their friendship. But the Duan family’s matter was too big for them to get involved with.

When Yuxi walked out of Tingyun Pavilion, she was in a daze. For the Duan family womenfolk to become military prostitutes in a military barrack, the Emperor must have hated Imperial Censor Duan so much! No, he must have hated the late Crown Prince and Empress very much! Otherwise, there would not have been such an Imperial Decree.

As Zisu looked at Yuxi acting like this, she became very worried, “Miss, don’t think about it. This matter is not your fault either. It’s not that you don’t want to help Miss Xinrong, you just can’t do anything about it.”

Yuxi muttered to herself, “That’s right! There’s nothing you can do, nothing you can really do!”

She returned from Tingyun Pavilion in a trance and instructed Zisu before entering her own house, “Have our people outside ask around for news on how the Duan family is currently doing.” Since she couldn’t help with the fight, it was still possible for her to ask for information.

Zisu nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll have someone inquire about it.” Seeing Yuxi walk towards her study, Zisu advised, “Miss, you should take a break for the rest of the day. You should not read any more books.” Since Yuxi had not been sleeping for the whole night, her complexion had become very poor.

Yuxi shook his head, “I’m fine.” Not long after she entered the study, she ordered Zisu, who refused to leave her alone, “Go and make me a cup of strong tea.” The strong tea had a refreshing effect. Right now, Yuxi was in low spirits, thus she needed strong tea to refresh her mind.

Zisu persuaded, “Miss, you should stop reading when you are tired. You should just go to sleep!” And there was no telling who her Miss was going to mess up with once she left!

No matter how much Zisu tried to persuade, she was unable to persuade Yuxi. As a result, Zisu could only go out and make a cup of strong tea for her.

After Yuxi finished with her tea, she continued reading the book, «Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance». Although Yuxi looked serious and focused, Zisu couldn’t help but worry.

Yuxi didn’t take a nap after lunch. She casually took some of her lunch and then made her way to the study once more. The way she looked so desperate made Zisu almost cry.

In the evening, Kufu learned about the follow-up on the Duan family from her father, “Miss, all the menfolk in the Duan family are dead. For the womenfolk…” Kufu was hesitant when it came to this part.

Yuxi asked, “Is sister Xinrong gone too?”

Kufu lowered her head and said, “Before he died, Second Young Master Duan wrote a letter of divorce, divorcing Second Young Mistress Duan; Madam Duan and Eldest Young Mistress Duan committed suicide. Miss Duan also committed suicide, only to be saved by someone. Now, out of the dozen members of the Duan family, only Miss Duan remains.” After her mother had been cast away in divorce, Miss Duan was no longer a member of the Duan family. Second Young Master Duan had given her a way out by divorcing Second Young Mistress Duan.

Yuxi muttered, “She was saved, huh?” She had mixed feelings about this. Although it was said that it was better to have a bad life than a good death, Yuxi believed that Xinrong Jie would rather die than fall into a situation that was worse than death.

Kufu asked cautiously, “Miss, what shall we do now?”

Yuxi remembered Yuchen’s warning and smiled bitterly, “Can you tell your father to find out when Xinrong Jiejie will leave for Liaodong?” Once she had done saying that, she waved everyone out and stayed in the study alone.[+]

Kufu hurriedly nodded.

Yuxi muttered to herself, “It’s only been a day since the incident took place, and in just one day, the Duan family has all been destroyed. I wonder just how deep the mastermind’s grudge against Imperial Censor Duan is.” After she had said this out loud, her face changed drastically, “No, this is not right.” Not to mention that there were many doubts about Imperial Censor Duan, even if he was really the Crown Prince’s accomplice and had participated in the treason, he should have been tried by the Three Departments and then convicted by the Emperor. Instead, he committed suicide on the night he was arrested, without leaving behind any last words.

Thinking of Chen Shizi who led the raid on the Duan family that day, Yuxi’s look turned very ugly. Chen Shizi was the 9th Prince’s aide, and it was likely that the 9th Prince had a hand in what had happened to the Duan family. However, Yuxi did not understand why the 9th Prince would do this. Even if Imperial Censor Duan had impeached him before, he shouldn’t have used such a ruthless tactic.

Soon, Kufu’s father passed the news that he had inquired. Kufu informed Yuxi, “Miss, my father said Miss Xinrong will set off the day after tomorrow.”

Yuxi always felt that she should do something, otherwise she would feel uneasy. After thinking about it, she entered the study and wrote a letter, then stuffed three silver tickets in, and called Caidie over, “Give this letter to Patrol Guard Lian, and wait until he replies before you return.”

Patrol Guard Lian was a literate person. After reading the letter written by Yuxi, he hesitated for a moment before saying, “Tell your Miss that I can take care of the yamen officials who are escorting Miss Duan so that she will suffer less on the road. The rest I can’t do anything about it.” If they didn’t bribe them well, there were countless ways for these officials to torment people. If they did bribe them well, they would be able to travel safely to Liaodong.

Knowing that Yuxi had taken out three thousand taels of silver, Mama Fang said, “This time, to help the Duan girl, Miss has probably even emptied to her bottom.” Nowadays, the business was getting worse and worse, and the annual income from the hamlet and the two shops was only two thousand taels. Miss spent a lot in the residence, so how could she save any more money?

Lian Shan also felt that Yuxi was a generous person, “This is also the kindness of the Fourth Miss.” In this world, many people liked to add flowers to the brocade, but few could send charcoal in snowy weather.

Having received Lian Shan’s reply, Yuxi’s heart was still heavy as she asked Zisu, “Do you think it is right or wrong for me to do this?” She always felt that it was wrong for her to do this, but this was all she could do for Xinrong.

Zisu replied, “Miss, the Duan family is now left with Miss Duan alone. If she dies too, the Duan family will be extinct. Heaven never seals off all the exits. As long as one lives, there is always a way out.”

These words were the only Yuxi’s solace.

On the day that Duan Xinrong set off to Liaodong, Yuxi did not leave the house. It was not that someone had stopped her from doing so, but rather she didn’t bring up this matter at all. She knew very well that even if she brought the matter up, she would not only be unable to get out, she might even be scolded by Han Jingyan. Everyone in the capital avoided the Duan family’s affairs, so how could Han Jingyan let her get involved with them?[+]

It was also on the day Duan Xinrong left that Yuxi had a dream that night. After waking up, Yuxi was in a daze and muttered to herself, “How could this be? How could it be like this?”

Zisu noticed Yuxi’s appearance like she just lost her soul and dropped her spirit that Zisu shook her twice, “Miss, what’s wrong with you? Please don’t scare me! Wake up, Miss!”

Yuxi came back to her senses. She was stunned for a while, and exclaimed, “Stop screaming, I’m fine.” When she spoke, her voice was hoarse. It was rather like she was in endless exhaustion.

However, after this dream, Yuxi couldn’t sleep any more. “Go and make me a cup of strong tea.” After drinking the strong tea, she took her medical book and tried to read it. Unfortunately, she was unable to concentrate on reading. In her anger, she even threw the medical book to the floor.

Zisu was so scared by Yuxi’s abnormal behaviour that she went to see Qiu Shi at dawn to ask for a physician to come over and check on her Miss.

Physician Bai came and checked on Yuxi’s pulse. He diagnosed that there was nothing wrong with Yuxi’s body. It was just that she was just having a depression in her heart. If this depression did not dissipate, it would not be good for her health.

Qiu Shi looked at Yu Xi, who looked like she was more dead than alive. She hated iron for not becoming steel as she scolded her, “I know you feel bad for the Duan girl, but what’s the use of being this sad? You didn’t cause what happened to the Duan family. What else can you do other than being a disgrace to yourself?” Qiu Shi couldn’t understand how someone who was usually so intelligent could have drilled herself into a bull’s horn this time around.

Yuxi kept her head down and said nothing. She couldn’t tell anyone, that yesterday she had a dream about her past life. It was also this dream that made her recall that Chiang Jing had indeed been betrothed to someone else before he married Lin Furong. But then, something happened to the other party, so they withdrew from their marriage arrangement. The person Chiang Jing had withdrawn his marriage from was Duan Xinrong. In Yuxi’s previous life, Duan Xinrong’s family was ruined and she was exiled after Chiang’s family withdrew from their marriage arrangement. In this life too, Duan Xinrong’s family was also ruined and she was sent into exile in Liaodong after a broken engagement with the Hong family. Duan Xinrong repeated the fate of her previous life, then what about her? Was she also unable to change her fate and will she still die in the end?