Chapter 14 The News from Chang’an
The next morning.
When I woke up, Pei Zhao was sitting by my bed.
I was dazed for a moment.
I thought he was probably going to coax me about what happened last night.
But something felt off.
Why did he look so serious?
And why did he seem like he wanted to say something but kept hesitating?
I sat up and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
I saw reluctance in Pei Zhao’s eyes.
It was a long time before he said softly, “Xue Chan, news came from Chang'an.”
“Lord Xue… took his own life in prison.”
“Stepmother sent a letter asking us to return for the mourning rites.”
My mind went completely blank.
I couldn’t come back to my senses.
Pei Zhao gripped my shoulders tightly. “Xue Chan!”
“Say something.”
Tears slid down my cheeks.
My breathing grew more and more rapid.
Pei Zhao pulled me into his arms. “If it hurts, just cry out loud. Don’t hold it in, alright?”
I cried my heart out.
That same day, we prepared the carriage and hurried back to Chang'an for the funeral.
By the time we arrived, my father had already been buried.
Stepmother said, “The corruption case involved many people. The investigation dragged on for nearly a year without conclusion. Then His Majesty suddenly issued a decree that all officials involved must be severely punished. Your father was old and wouldn’t have survived exile, so he chose to end his own life. ”
“The Xue family was raided. Your father had prepared a letter of divorce for me beforehand. That was how I escaped disaster.”
After leaving the Xue family, Stepmother bought a new residence in Chang'an.
It wasn’t large, only three courtyards deep, but it was quiet and comfortable.
Pei Zhao suggested she return to Jinling with us.
Stepmother refused.
She said, “I don’t want to go back to that house for even a moment. I’d rather live freely on my own.”
“I’ll stay right here and not go anywhere.”
“If you two miss me, just come visit.”
As she spoke, she looked outside, took my hand, and said, “It’s almost New Year. Why don’t you stay here this year?”
Outside, the world was covered in white snow. The dry branches bent under the weight, hanging over the roof tiles.
The setting sun cast a golden glow across the sky.
I nodded. “Alright.”