She was too naive, single-mindedly wanting to change things, but how could a declining aristocratic family depart with dignity?
"It's not as bad as you think, perhaps..." Xie Jiayan's words were cut short as Ye Feisheng hurried in, "My lord..."
Ye Feisheng hadn't expected anyone to be in Xie Jiayan's room. One foot was already inside, the other still outside the door. He was neither able to enter nor retreat, and the half-spoken words stopped in time.
"Sect Master Ye, please come in and speak!" Xie Jiayan said.
Upon hearing "Sect Master," Yu Mingyue instinctively looked up. The Sect Master of Li Jing Sect?
Ye Feisheng also saw the woman's face clearly. It was her!
Yu Mingyue looked at Xie Jiayan. Xie Jiayan nodded gently, resolving her doubt.
Yu Mingyue knew about the accompanying guards from Li Jing Sect, but she hadn't expected the Sect Master of Li Jing Sect to also come to Qinghe. Was he protecting Brother Jiayan, or did he have other intentions?
Yu Mingyue showed no emotion and rose to salute, "So it is the Sect Master of Li Jing Sect. This humble girl pays her respects."
Ye Feisheng raised an eyebrow. "Humble girl?" He thought she was quite bold.
However, he was worthy of her bow.
"You are too kind, Miss."
"Sect Master Ye, you came in such a hurry, is something the matter?" Xie Jiayan's question implied he had no intention of hiding anything from Yu Mingyue.
She had known since Xie Jiayan stood up for her last time, so there was nothing to be surprised about.
"Taohua Village has been massacred."
"Impossible! Zhu Yu went there just yesterday," Yu Mingyue said incredulously.
The villagers of Taohua Village who had been detained by the authorities had all been released. They had not caused any further trouble. Yesterday, she had even asked Zhu Yu to deliver medicinal herbs and tonics to the mothers of those two young boys.
"All one hundred and thirty-two villagers, not a single one spared!" Ye Feisheng added.
Seeing Yu Mingyue's complexion grow worse, Ye Feisheng did not mention the cruel methods of the perpetrators. Not only were human lives lost, but even livestock had not been spared.
Yu Mingyue could no longer sit still. She stood up and said, "Brother Jiayan, I will come to see you another day."
Over a hundred lives, gone in a single night.
Xie Jiayan was worried. She had been preoccupied all day, and before he could ask, Ye Feisheng had arrived, and now her complexion was even worse.
"I'll escort you back."
Yu Mingyue shook her head, "No need. I want to be alone for a while."
Yu Mingyue's face was alarmingly pale. Even she began to suspect if the Cui family was behind this.
The reason the authorities had arrested people back then was because the villagers of Taohua Village had caused trouble. The matter of reclaiming land for cultivation and planting mulberries had escalated like this. Yesterday, the Cui family's cargo ship had been burned.
She was certain her maternal grandfather would never issue such an order, but the Cui family had many members... it was not impossible for someone to hold a grudge.
Xie Jiayan did not press her further. He only escorted her to the entrance of the inn. As she was about to board the carriage, Yu Mingyue remembered the purpose of her visit to Xie Jiayan today.
She suddenly turned back and said earnestly, "Brother Jiayan, do not trust that Mr. Chai. Do not believe anything he says."
"Alright!" Xie Jiayan did not ask why.
He trusted her!
Yu Mingyue resolutely boarded the carriage and left in a hurry.
Yao Zhinian's cause of death had yet to be investigated, and Taohua Village had been massacred. All matters were converging and erupting, and the consequences would be even more unimaginable.
She had to speak with her maternal grandfather again. There was no time left.
When Yu Mingyue arrived at Guangsi Hall, she was stopped by guards. "The master is in a meeting. Sixth Miss cannot enter."
"Then I will wait here." Yu Mingyue glanced in the direction of the study and had no intention of leaving.
"We don't know when the master's meeting will end. Sixth Miss should go back and wait."
The guards knew their master doted on this granddaughter and treated her with great courtesy.
If it were anyone else acting so foolishly, they would have had them 'escorted' away directly.
"I know you are in a difficult position, but I truly have something important to tell my maternal grandfather. I will stay here and not approach." Yu Mingyue promised.
The argument here clearly disturbed those inside. Old Master Cui recognized Yu Mingyue's voice and came out of the room.
Seeing her maternal grandfather emerge, Yu Mingyue ran forward, "Grandfather!"
The guards moved to stop her, but Old Master Cui raised his hand to stop them.
"What mischief are you up to again?" Old Master Cui did not sound angry.
Yu Mingyue saw that her maternal grandfather looked much older, as if he had aged significantly overnight, making it difficult for her to speak.
"Grandfather, Taohua Village..."
Yu Mingyue was interrupted before she could finish, "Sixth Miss, do not concern yourself with this matter. Grandfather will handle it and will certainly not let the common people die in vain."
Yu Mingyue felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, frozen in place. It was indeed the Cui family.
Why would they be so cruel?
"Grandfather, let the clan members leave Qinghe and seek a new life elsewhere. Otherwise, it will truly be too late." Yu Mingyue looked at her maternal grandfather, almost pleading.
Old Master Cui's smile was helpless, and he sighed softly, "Child, it is easier said than done."
The Cui clan had over a thousand members, each with their own intentions. They had long been accustomed to living in a position of high status and respect. How could they be willing to live a simple life and become commoners?
Otherwise, they would not have taken their anger out on the villagers of Taohua Village and committed such beastly acts.
"Grandfather, the Wang family's precedent is before us. If, if... a rebellion breaks out in Jiangnan,"
"Impossible," Old Master Cui interrupted Yu Mingyue again. "Grandfather will never let such a thing happen. Sixth Miss, go back. Grandfather knows you are a good child. Grandfather will properly handle the matter of Taohua Village and give the people of Qinghe an explanation."
"Grandfather," Yu Mingyue had a bad premonition.
"Be obedient and go back!" Old Master Cui smiled. "Once things are settled, Grandfather will go and meet that Scholar Xie. If he passes Grandfather's test, Grandfather will preside over your wedding."
He would no longer force her to marry the Seventh Prince. The fate of the Cui family should not be borne by her. Her heart, after all, was still inclined towards the Cui family, and it did not betray his teachings over the years.
Yu Mingyue understood her maternal grandfather's meaning. If it were yesterday, she would have thanked her grandfather. But at this moment, there was no joy in her heart.
She and Brother Jiayan had a long future ahead of them, but the Cui family was in imminent danger.
If she had known the Cui family's crisis would arrive so soon, she would never have been so eager to confess her feelings to Brother Jiayan.
Yu Mingyue left, looking back repeatedly. She thought that since her maternal grandfather could approve of Brother Jiayan, he might also agree to let the clan members leave Qinghe, change their names, and start anew.
Guangsi Hall
...
"What is done is done. It is our Cui family that has wronged Taohua Village and the people of Qinghe. We, the Cui family, will admit our mistake. From now on, take the Cui family's eldest branch and leave Qinghe." Old Master Cui said.
"Father intends to remove me from the family registry? Why? What wrong has your son committed?" The eldest master of the Cui family was unwilling.
"You have been competitive since childhood and have caused such a great disaster, yet you remain unrepentant. Do you think I don't know that your sixth brother dared to act this way because he received your orders?" Old Master Cui reprimanded.
"Your son has no selfish motives. Everything I have done is for the Cui family. I know you favor the ninth brother as the head of the family, but his nature is scattered and soft-hearted. How can he bear the responsibility of the Cui family? It is I who can lead the Cui family further."