Chapter 1002: Chapter 840: The Fall of Daxia

“The Princely Heir of the Jiang Family is dead?!”

Daohua looked at Wang Manman in shock.

Wang Manman nodded vigorously, “It’s all spread outside.”

Daohua rubbed her forehead, her eyes filled with confusion, “Weren’t they pursuing Xiao Yechi, how did it end up being the Princely Heir of the Jiang Family who died?”

Not only Daohua but also the people of Beijing found it hard to believe.

In less than half a year, the legitimate eldest grandson and the eldest son of the Jiang Family had passed away one after another, and now all that was left was the aging Duke Cheng’en to support the family; it truly was lamentable.

“The Jiang Family has been overbearing and tyrannical, could this be divine retribution?”

Before the people could finish exclaiming over the death of the Princely Heir, the Duke Residence was then raided by the soldiers, each of the Luo Family’s masters were shackled and escorted into the cells of the Ministry of Justice, awaiting execution.

“How did the Duke Residence get raided?”

“It’s said that they belonged to the Eight Princes Party. The son of the Eighth Prince came back to Beijing for meetings with them.”

“The followers of the Eight Princes, they should be arrested indeed.”

The Eighth Prince had conspired against the state, colluded with the Tartars on the Northern Frontier, and severely injured the army of Daxia. All these actions had caused the people to have no sympathy for the Eight Prince whatsoever.

Dong Yuanyao and Sun Changze stood among the crowd, listening to their denunciation against the Luo Family, their faces showing an unprecedented ease.

Sun Changze gripped tightly Dong Yuanyao’s hand and smiled, “Now you can rest assured.”

Dong Yuanyao smiled and nodded, “Without the threat of the Luo Family, even though Xiliang is poor and cold, I believe that with my elder brother there, the Dong Family will be able to live well.”

…

Xiao Yeyang returned at dawn.

Looking at his bloodshot eyes, Daohua let him rest his head on her legs and massaged his temples to relieve his fatigue.

Back home, Xiao Yeyang’s tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he said with some regret, “It seems we won’t be able to catch Xiao Yechi.”

Daohua asked, “How did Xiao Yechi manage to get out of the city?”

Xiao Yeyang scoffed, “The Jiang Family put in the effort.”

Daohua’s face showed sudden understanding, then she asked with confusion, “How did the Princely Heir end up dead then?”

Xiao Yeyang replied, “Xiao Yechi, to buy himself a bit more time to escape, took it upon himself to kill the Princely Heir.”

Daohua said, “The Jiang Family agreed to help Xiao Yechi; they must have struck a deal. Now that the Princely Heir is dead, Duke Cheng’en must be so full of regret he’s turning green.”

“By the way, with the Jiang Family colluding with Xiao Yechi, how will the Emperor deal with them?”

Xiao Yeyang sighed, “Duke Cheng’en and his factions adamantly claim that the Princely Heir was there to capture Xiao Yechi. Plus, given the long-standing animosity between the Jiang and Wan Families, no one believes that the Jiang Family would conspire with Xiao Yechi.”

Daohua asked, “So that’s the end of it?”

Xiao Yeyang’s mouth curled slightly, “Xiao Yechi and the Jiang Family, to the Emperor, are a foreign threat and a domestic worry, respectively.”

“To pacify within before dealing with external aggression, the death of the Jiang Family’s next Patriarch over one Xiao Yechi–it’s a very profitable affair for the Emperor.”

“The Emperor, having gained advantage, won’t continue to oppress the Jiang Family without solid evidence now to avoid tarnishing his reputation.”

“Moreover, with the Jiang Family losing their Princely Heir and legitimate grandson in succession, both Duke Cheng’en and the Empress Dowager are probably on the verge of collapse now. If the Emperor were to relentlessly pursue them, they might react desperately.”

“Dominating half the Imperial Court is not an empty boast. For the sake of the court’s stability, the Emperor will not move against the Jiang Family at this time.”

Daohua nodded, then her face showed concern, “You led the pursuit of Xiao Yechi; won’t the Empress Dowager and Duke Cheng’en blame you for the death of the Princely Heir?”

Xiao Yeyang’s expression became grave, “I was present at the deaths of Jiang Jinghui and the Princely Heir. With the temperaments of the Empress Dowager and Duke Cheng’en, they will certainly direct their anger at me.” Looking at Daohua, he said, “I’m not worried for myself, but you, when you go out, be sure to take more people with you.”

Daohua nodded solemnly, “I will try to go out less.”

…

Duke Cheng’en Residence.

The white banners that had just been taken down were hoisted up once again. Duke Cheng’en hunched over, prostrate before the coffin of the Princely Heir from the Jiang Family, his face and eyes filled with regret.

Had he not coveted the treasure left by the previous Emperor, he would not have agreed to collaborate with Xiao Yechi. Then, his son would not have died.

Xiao Yechi…

Truly a descendent worthy of Consort Wan, just as ruthless and venomous as she, without a shred of credibility.

He should never have sought to consort with a tiger!

Cining Palace.

Upon learning of the death of the Jiang Princely Heir, the Empress Dowager had fainted and remained unconscious throughout the night, slowly awakening only after a long slumber.

Seeing the Empress attending by her side, the Empress Dowager closed her eyes in despair and pain.

The Jiang Family… was it truly about to collapse?

The Empress herself was also at a loss. Her eldest brother and the legitimate eldest grandson of the Jiang Family had died, her second brother was paralyzed in bed, and his legitimate eldest son had broken his leg. Now, there was not a single able and responsible male in the Jiang Family, except for their aged father who was struggling to keep things together.

How could the Jiang Family decline so rapidly?!

Hesitantly, the Empress looked towards the Empress Dowager, “Aunt, the Jiang Family can bear no more turmoil. From now on, let’s quietly serve as loyal subjects to His Majesty, shall we?”

The Empress Dowager’s expression sharpened in an instant, her gaze turning coldly towards the Empress, “Are you suggesting we side with His Majesty?”

The Empress immediately knelt down, pleadingly looking at the Empress Dowager, “Aunt, I am not trying to side with His Majesty, I just want the Jiang Family to be well, hoping that father can enjoy his old age in peace.”

“Aunt, can we let go? You are the mother of His Majesty in name; as long as the Jiang family doesn’t oppose His Majesty, he will not touch the Jiang Family for his own reputation.”

“But if… if you continue to commit heinous acts, the Jiang Family will indeed be finished.”

The Empress Dowager gave a derisive laugh, “Heinous acts? The Emperor’s throne was obtained through heinous acts. What matters is the victor’s justice; if the Jiang Family ends up victorious, who would dare to accuse us of heinous acts?”

Seeing that the Empress wanted to say more, the Empress Dowager interrupted her sharply, “Remember your place, Empress. You are a daughter of the Jiang Family. Only if the Jiang Family is well will you be secure in your position as Empress.”

“Aunt…”

Seeing the obsessiveness on the Empress Dowager’s face, the Empress felt her heart sinking incessantly.

With her eldest brother and Jinghui gone, if they continued the fight, who would be the next Jiang Family member to die?

The Empress Dowager said harshly, “The Emperor will not hold back against the Jiang Family. If we do nothing, we will be nothing but fish on the Emperor’s chopping board.”

Unable to persuade the Empress Dowager, the Empress left Cining Palace, disheartened.

The death of the Jiang Princely Heir disrupted all of the Empress Dowager’s and Duke Cheng’en’s plans, causing their previous strategies to collapse entirely. Following the Princely Heir’s funeral, the Jiang Family fell into complete silence.

While the Jiang Family remained silent, the Empress Dowager became notably outspoken, frequently summoning Princes and Princesses to Cining Palace for chats and heart-to-hearts.

The Emperor didn’t intervene, merely continued to have the Imperial Guards and the Jinling Guard watch over the Jiang Family.

The Emperor was looking for an excuse to reinstate Xiao Yeyang to his official post in the wake of arresting Xiao Yechi. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately summoned Xiao Yeyang to Cining Palace, bringing up the matter of choosing someone for an appointment.

After being refused by Xiao Yeyang, rumors of Xiao Yeyang defying the Empress Dowager spread throughout the palace that very day.

Unlike the previous time, the Empress Dowager seemed determined to smear Xiao Yeyang’s name. Each time she summoned the ladies to the palace, she implied accusations of Xiao Yeyang’s unfilial behavior.

In this way, within a few days, Xiao Yeyang once again became the talk of Beijing.

And Xiao Yeyang’s reputation, with the manipulation of those with ulterior motives, was even more tarnished than when he was a child.

“Why is the Empress Dowager trying to discredit you, what is she aiming for?” Daohua asked, puzzled as she looked at Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang appeared unconcerned, “The Empress Dowager simply doesn’t want to see me well. She lost her nephew and grandnephew; she will make sure I lose my standing post as well.”