It made sense, though. With just three yuefu poems by Xue Bozheng, Xie Xiuxian could gain a lasting reputation. Xue Bozheng's other works surely wouldn't be inferior.
At first, the emperor didn't pay much attention to Xue Bozheng's case. But when he saw Xue Bozheng's calligraphy, he flew into a rage instantly. That scoundrel Xie Xiuxian had caused the Great Jin to miss out on such a talented young man. It was truly a pity.
"Someone, announce Xie Xiuxian's crimes to the whole world," the emperor ordered angrily.
Xiaodezi shivered. Apart from the matter of General Xiao, this was the first time the emperor had lost his temper so badly.
The emperor was really angry. If Xue Bozheng hadn't died, he would have had Xue Bozheng for civil affairs and Xiao Jinghan for military affairs. With such talents, there would be no worry about pacifying the world. That old scoundrel Xie had suppressed such a gifted person just for his own false reputation, and what was even more unforgivable was that Xue had died after his ascension to the throne. This was unbearable.
Announcing the crimes to the whole world was quite different from confining someone at home. Once the crimes of the Duke of Xie were announced, he was doomed to be reviled for all time and become a disgrace to the literati. Moreover, he would have to bear such infamy while still alive.
Previously, the literati had regarded it as an honor just to meet the Duke of Xie, and it was even more of an honor if they could get his guidance. Now, those who had items related to the Duke of Xie burned them all, and they even avoided walking past the Xie Mansion. This was truly a great humiliation.
Although the punishment for the Duke of Xie remained the same, the Xie family was finished. After such an incident, the descendants of the Xie family would never be able to pursue official careers again. They could only rely on their in - law relationship with the royal family and live off the imperial grace with a thick skin.
Lady Xie wanted to see the queen, but the queen ordered that no one from the Xie family be admitted and told them to reflect on their mistakes at home.
It wasn't that the queen was heartless. If she couldn't tell right from wrong at this moment and got involved herself, the Xie family would lose even the little imperial grace they had.
If the family was upright, she wouldn't mind standing up for them. But with such conclusive evidence, how could she defend them?
The emperor had already given the Xie family enough face by not blaming the other family members. If they caused more trouble, no one could protect them.
Yi Qing's ideal outcome was to announce this incident to the whole world and make the Duke of Xie a rat scurrying across the street, despised by everyone. But she only thought about it. After all, the Xie family wasn't just the Duke of Xie; it was an entire clan. Unexpectedly, this was exactly what happened.
"I heard that Xu Maozhi sent Xue Bozheng's calligraphy and paintings to the palace. The emperor rewarded the Xue family handsomely and stored the calligraphy and paintings in his private treasury. It seems that the emperor was so angry after seeing Xue Bozheng's talent," Xiao Jinghan explained to Yi Qing.
"Why didn't I notice before that the emperor was so eager to recruit talents?" Yi Qing asked suspiciously.
"Otherwise, why would he support the students from humble backgrounds?"
Yi Qing thought it made sense. "This matter is finally over. My grandfather is back. We'll go out of the city to welcome him tomorrow."
Xiao Jinghan nodded. When the Duke of Di returned, they definitely had to go out to greet him.
The Duke of Di was just returning from guarding the border, not a triumphant return. The emperor sent the Minister of Rites to welcome him. With Xiao Jinghan there, the ceremony was already of a higher standard.
When Yi Qing saw her grandfather entering the city, she stood up. The Duke of Di left the procession and rode his horse towards them.
"I heard someone bullied you?" the Duke of Di asked with a gloomy face.
"Absolutely not," Yi Qing laughed. She quite liked this old man.
"Whoever bullies you, grandpa will avenge you," the Duke of Di looked around. Not seeing his daughter, he felt a bit disappointed.
"Mother is busy preparing for your return. After you go to the palace to pay respects to the emperor, we can go home," Yi Qing quickly explained.
Actually, her mother still didn't want to appear in public for fear of being gossiped about.
Yi Qing didn't really care about this anymore. Her mother's ideas were deeply ingrained, and it was unrealistic to expect her to change completely all at once. At least she didn't cause any more trouble now, which was also a kind of progress.
"Who's in the carriage behind?" Yi Qing noticed a carriage following them.
"Oh, the son of an old acquaintance. He has a strange illness and came to the capital for treatment," the Duke of Di explained.
Yi Qing looked at the carriage suspiciously. She felt as if someone in the carriage was staring at her, which made her uncomfortable. Her first reaction was to wonder whether the person inside was male or female.
"Duke of Di, the emperor is waiting for you in the palace," Song Jinzhao came forward to pay his respects.
Yi Qing looked at Song Jinzhao. It seemed that the emperor was exploiting him. When Song Jinzhao was a deputy minister, he was sent to greet people, and now that he was a minister, he was still sent to do the same thing.
"Qing'er, take Young Master Jin to the Duke of Di's Mansion first," the Duke of Di said as he prepared to ride into the palace.
Xiao Jinghan originally planned to go to the palace. But when he heard that there was a man in the carriage, he changed his mind. "I'll go with Qing'er."
"Alright," the Duke of Di laughed when he saw that the young couple didn't want to be separated for a moment.
Watching the Duke of Di enter the palace, the two of them looked at each other and then took the person in the carriage to the Duke of Di's Mansion.
"Thank you both," Jin Xiao lifted the curtain of the carriage and politely thanked them.
Yi Qing glanced at the delicate - looking man. She wondered why her grandfather would know such a person. "You're welcome. Does Young Master Jin have a place to stay in the capital?"
"I'm in the process of arranging accommodation. I won't trouble the Duke of Di for too long," Jin Xiao said and then coughed gently.
"Since Young Master Jin can't stand the wind, put down the curtain and rest well," Xiao Jinghan felt a bit uncomfortable looking at the man who was more beautiful than a woman.
"Yes," Jin Xiao put down the curtain and didn't say anything more.
Xiao Jinghan escorted Yi Qing into their carriage and directly placed her on his lap.
"What's wrong?" Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan's strange expression.
"Did you stare at that good - looking man a few more times because he's handsome?" Xiao Jinghan asked with a hint of jealousy.
Yi Qing helplessly tried to soothe Xiao Jinghan. "Don't you think that man is a bit strange?"
"He's strangely beautiful."
Yi Qing angrily pinched Xiao Jinghan's cheek, but it was too hard, and she couldn't pinch it. "He's the person brought back by grandpa. Don't you remember the Bai Yutang they brought back last time? What if there's a problem this time too?"
"There must be a problem. I saw that man looking at you in a different way."
Yi Qing was stunned for a moment. She had thought that man was strange but couldn't put her finger on it. After Xiao Jinghan's reminder, she remembered. The man's look at her wasn't like that of a first - time encounter but more like a reunion.
She had been to Licheng before. Could it be that she had met someone on the way to Licheng without noticing, while the other person remembered her?
"Could he really be your old acquaintance?" Xiao Jinghan saw Yi Qing frowning.
Yi Qing shook her head. "Definitely not. If I had seen someone as good - looking as him, I would surely remember. I have no impression at all, so I must not know him."
"So you still think he's handsome."
Yi Qing felt that this conversation couldn't continue properly, so she decided to tease him instead.
Xiao Jinghan stiffened when he saw Yi Qing taking the initiative. Then his response turned into a more passionate demand, and he didn't stop until Yi Qing collapsed in his arms.
"General, the Duke of Di's Mansion is here," Hetai announced from outside.
"Okay," Xiao Jinghan carried Yi Qing out of the carriage horizontally.
Lady Di was waiting at the door. When she saw Xiao Jinghan carrying Yi Qing out of the carriage, her face changed drastically. "What's wrong with Qing'er?"
"She's not feeling well. I'll take her to her room first," Xiao Jinghan said seriously.