Chapter 214 - 101: The Prime Minister’s Mansion Demands the Xie Family Hand Over Jian Jia? Lan’Er Only Needs to Wait 3 Days

"How is this possible? I know Uncle Xie Qing’s character very well. How could he possibly collude with Demons? This must be a frame-up, a slanderous accusation by that Prime Minister..."

"In this entire vast court, not a single minister dared to stand up for Uncle Xie Qing? Even His Majesty Emperor Xia has tacitly approved this crime?"

Xiao Teng’s voice was trembling, and he was consumed by rage.

The Xie Family was a renowned and influential clan in Jingyang City.

The old Grand Tutor had assisted the former emperor and was even the current Emperor Xia’s teacher. He later retired from public life due to critical illness and old age.

But even if the Xie Family was in decline, they were by no means comparable to any ordinary aristocratic family.

This was a clan that could cause an earthquake in Jingyang City just by stomping their foot.

Yet now, for the crimes of colluding with Demons and falsifying historical records, they were to be stripped of their status and become commoners, with the men exiled to the frontiers and the women sent to a Sword Sect to wash swords.

Within Great Xia, there were three major Sword Sects. Although it was unknown which sect she would be sent to, what was the difference between being a Sword Maid who washed swords and a common slave?

The thought of Xie Jianjia, the woman he was betrothed to, being sent to a Sword Sect to wash swords every day in a bone-chillingly cold pool...

From then on, it would likely be difficult for them to ever meet again.

Sharp pangs of pain and anguish stabbed at his heart. He couldn’t help but clench his fists, his whole body trembling with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

Prince Zhenbei Xiao River watched the utterly furious Xiao Teng, a sense of helplessness welling up inside him. With a bitter expression, he shook his head and said,

"I’ve known your Uncle Xie Qing for many years. Surely you know of the friendship between us?"

"But in the imperial court today, who dares to defy the Prime Minister? Especially when he personally presented all of Xie Qing’s alleged crimes to His Majesty, watched him read them, and then exercised authority with the Palm Seal on his behalf. Who would dare to say no?"

"The only reason the Xie Family wasn’t executed outright is that His Majesty Emperor Xia fought hard for them. Otherwise, you would have seen agents from the Observatory taking everyone from the Xie Family away today."

"As for Jian Jia, would you rather see her sent to the Imperial Music Bureau, or to a Sword Sect to wash swords?"

Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion and the Xie Family had always maintained close ties. In this generation, Prince Zhenbei’s third son, Xiao Teng, had been betrothed since childhood to Miss Xie, Xie Jianjia.

The two visited each other often and seemed to have developed mutual affection.

If not for this unexpected turn of events, their wedding date would likely have been set soon.

He also knew that Xiao Teng had been running himself ragged recently because of Xie Jianjia’s unique constitution, searching for wood from an Ancient Phoenix Tree to soothe her bloodline.

"Jian Jia..."

Xiao Teng’s face turned deathly pale, and his fists clenched so tightly they audibly cracked.

To him, this news was like a bolt from the blue.

Just moments ago, he had been searching through Ancient Texts and Scripture Scrolls on behalf of Xie Jianjia’s condition, thinking of how happy and moved she would be to know he was helping her so much.

But who could have known that in the blink of an eye, such a shocking disaster would strike?

Compared to being sent to the Imperial Music Bureau—to suffer endless bullying and humiliation, a fate worse than death where one’s dignity is trampled—being sent to a Sword Sect to wash swords was naturally a better outcome.

But "better" was only relative. Everyone knew that the Sword Pool of a Sword Sect was filled with residual Sword Qi from years past, making it bone-chillingly cold. Even cultivators with established cultivation bases couldn’t get close for long.

So how could Xie Jianjia, her cultivation stripped away, possibly endure it?

It wouldn’t be long before the Sword Qi invaded her body, seeping into her very bones. She would suffer immense pain and torture, becoming a frail and broken shell of her former self.

"What a Prime Minister... To eliminate his rivals, he treats a meritorious subject like this. All the Xie Family’s years of distinguished service are worth less than the one-sided words of a Powerful Minister..."

Xiao Teng clenched his fists, his heart filled with bitter resentment.

Although he had often heard of the Prime Minister’s many ruthless deeds, they had never directly affected him.

But now, Xie Jianjia of the Xie Family—his fiancée—was the one in trouble. How could he not be worried? How could he not be furious?

"The engagement between you and Jian Jia... it seems it will have to be called off now."

"The Xie Family has been convicted of colluding with Demons. Everyone is scrambling to distance themselves. Although I am Prince Zhenbei and command the northern armies, even I dare not provoke the Prime Minister at a time like this."

"Great Xia has truly become his personal mouthpiece. Even His Majesty Emperor Xia can only remain silent and turn a blind eye," Xiao River sighed.

Xiao Teng’s expression was as grim as still water. He could understand his father’s actions.

At a time like this, if they didn’t quickly sever ties with the Xie Family, they would likely be implicated and treated as accomplices by the Prime Minister.

The tens of thousands of lives in Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion depended on him not making a mistake—not even the slightest misstep.

"Father, the Prime Minister wouldn’t have attacked the Xie Family for no reason. Do you know why he did it?" Xiao Teng had calmed down and asked in a low voice.

’It’s basically impossible to help the Xie Family with my power alone.’

’Unless I can find real evidence proving the Xie Family did not collude with Demons.’

’As for stealing the Royal Secret Canon, that kind of charge is all too common. If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. As long as I can prove the Xie Family didn’t collude with Demons and didn’t intend to bring chaos to the court and country...’

’His Majesty Emperor Xia would surely find a way to pardon these lesser crimes, given the old Grand Tutor’s status.’

Hearing Xiao Teng’s question, Prince Zhenbei Xiao River’s expression became slightly unnatural.

"Father, is it something you can’t talk about?" Xiao Teng asked, confused.

Xiao River took a deep breath, seeming to hesitate over whether to tell him.

But seeing his son’s expression, he let out a small sigh of resignation. "Are you aware," he said, "that some time ago, Jiang Lan, the son from the Prime Minister’s Mansion, obtained the inheritance and fortune of the Purple Mist True Monarch in the Secret Realm he left behind?"