Chapter 220 - 102: So Green I’m About to Glow; Returned to Me After Being Used for 3 Days?

"Heh... The heavens must want to destroy our Great Xia. That Powerful Minister holds the court in the palm of his hand, silencing everyone with a single word. Not one person, up or down the court, will speak for my Xie Family. All because I refused his shameless demand, he frames and slanders us..."

A bitter smile on his face, Xie Qing slumped to the ground.

Xie Yunshuang was just as furious, his fists clenched tightly, but he knew that in this situation, the Xie Family was utterly helpless, with no way to fight back.

In the imperial court, even His Majesty Emperor Xia remained silent, not daring to offend the Prime Minister over this matter. What hope did anyone else have?

"My Xie Family is not the kind to sacrifice a daughter for glory..."

"That Prime Minister is so shameless! He actually wanted us to send Jianjia to the Prime Minister’s Mansion. How could we yield even a single step to such bullying?" Xie Yunshuang said.

Xie Qing’s expression remained one of utter misery.

Who could have imagined that simply for refusing his demand, Jiang Lintian would be so ruthless? He fabricated facts and framed them right in front of all the court officials.

The Xie Family has been honorable for generations. How could they possibly collude with Demons?

Falsifying historical records and stealing the Royal Secret Canon? That was even more preposterous.

And yet, despite knowing it was all a fabrication, not a single person in the imperial court stepped forward to defend the Xie Family.

His Majesty Emperor Xia’s face was grim, but he did not say a word. His silence was a tacit acceptance of the list of crimes the Prime Minister had submitted.

The great Xie Family had fallen overnight. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

The many Noble Families that had been their dependents all scattered. They could barely fend for themselves, let alone find an opportunity to help the Xie Family.

"It’s all my fault..."

"...for bringing the family to such a state."

Just then, a cool and slightly apologetic voice came from the cell opposite theirs.

Both Xie Qing and Xie Yunshuang looked up at the sound. They sighed. "Jianjia..."

"You can’t blame yourself. This is the state of Great Xia, the way of the world. Even your father and I can’t protect ourselves, let alone a young woman like you."

"If anyone is to blame, it’s that treacherous minister in power, sowing chaos in the court..."

In the cell opposite them, a young woman was being held.

She was exquisitely beautiful, with eyes like polished lacquer and a nose like carved jade. Her black hair cascaded down, held by a single cyan jade pin. Her entire being radiated a faint, noble, and cool grace.

Her once-pristine white gauze dress was now stained with grime, splotched with black and white. But even here in this water-logged prison, she projected an aura of calm and composure.

"Father, Brother, please don’t be like this. It is I who have dragged down the Xie Family."

"If I had agreed to the Prime Minister’s demand that day, would the Xie Family have fallen to this state?" Xie Jianjia said, her voice filled with guilt and self-reproach.

"Jianjia, stop talking like that! Do you have any idea what would happen to you if we handed you over to that Prime Minister and sent you to the Prime Minister’s Mansion?" Xie Qing demanded. He was worried she might despair and make some sort of compromise.

Xie Jianjia’s long lashes drooped as she whispered, "It is only my virtue. If I could trade it for the safety of you, Father and Brother, and protect the entire Xie Family, what would it matter?"

"Jianjia..."

Hearing her words, both Xie Qing and Xie Yunshuang felt a surge of pain and self-reproach.

Xie Jianjia had always been so sensible it was heartbreaking. Even now, in such a predicament, she was still thinking only of her family.

"Jianjia, stop this foolish talk."

"When you’re determined to accuse someone, you’ll never lack a reason. That treacherous minister has wanted to move against our Xie Family for a long time. He’s simply found an excuse now," Xie Qing sighed.

At his words, the light seemed to fade from Xie Jianjia’s eyes.

"Uncle Xie Qing, Brother Yun Shuang..."

"Jianjia..."

At that moment, a soft call echoed through the dim corridor.

A handsome young man dressed in a light fur robe with a loose sash arrived, accompanied by several prison guards.

"Xiao Teng?"

Both Xie Qing and Xie Yunshuang recognized the newcomer. They were stunned for a moment, then a wave of joy washed over them.

In all the days since their imprisonment, not one of their former colleagues had come to visit. But Xiao Teng had braved the immense risk to come see them in person.

This gesture moved them both deeply. It proved that the high regard they had always held for him was not misplaced.

Xie Jianjia, seemingly not expecting Xiao Teng to appear here either, called out softly, "Brother Xiao Teng..."

"Jianjia..."

Xiao Teng’s heart ached as he looked at her haggard form in the cell. Separated by the Profound Iron Fence, there was nothing he could do.

"Jianjia, I’m sorry. I was too weak to protect you," he said, his voice laced with guilt and heartache.

"Brother Xiao Teng, please don’t say that. This has nothing to do with you," Xie Jianjia consoled.

Xiao Teng sighed inwardly. He had to pester his father, Prince Zhenbei, for a long time to get the Token allowing him to visit Xie Jianjia at the Observatory.

Right now, none of the Nobility in Great Xia dared to associate with the Xie Family, fearing they would be misunderstood by the Prime Minister and targeted for retribution at this critical juncture.

He cut to the chase. "Jianjia, don’t worry. I will protect you."

"I’ve already asked some friends of mine to make arrangements with the Sword Sect. No one there will give you trouble. Once you arrive at the Sword Sect, I’ll figure out a way to clear the Xie Family’s name and see that you get justice."

"Trust me. I swear on my Dao Heart."

Xiao Teng wasn’t sure which Sword Sect Xie Jianjia would be sent to.

Great Xia currently has three major sword sects, collectively known as the Three Great Sword Sects: the Dao Cang Sword Sect, the Canglan Sword Sect, and the Infinite Sword Sect.

According to the information he’d gathered, Xie Jianjia would most likely be sent to the Dao Cang Sword Sect.

However, the intuition from his Pupil of Truth told him something was amiss. He was convinced it was just a smokescreen, and that Xie Jianjia would actually be sent to the Canglan Sword Sect.