Jiapingguan Chronicle

“Innocent?” Jin Miaomiao sneered. “Your Highness is joking. These people are far from being innocent.” She rolled her eyes and said, “These people are very cunning and know how to assess situations.”

“Miao Miao is right.” Shen Cha nodded. “If they hadn’t seen through Master Qingsong’s scheme, they probably wouldn’t have surrendered so easily. If they had gotten involved, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

“That’s true.” Song Yaojia smiled. “When I heard Yan Chen say that they were also there, I was worried that things wouldn’t end well this time. But things turned out differently than I expected; they admitted defeat themselves.”

“The Yun family is much more pragmatic than the roughnecks from the Gong and Ma families,” Shen Cha said, raising an eyebrow at Song Yaojia. “They know they won’t gain anything here, so they won’t waste their energy. Perhaps if they surrender, they can get a pardon, but that’s just wishful thinking on their part.”

“Indeed, their plan was to escape the death penalty but not escape punishment. Unfortunately, they weren’t given that chance.” Song Yaojia smiled. “However, Yan Chen is quite interesting. He said that after seeing these people’s handwriting by Master Qingsong, their faces turned completely white, and they obediently squatted in the corner, extremely surprised. Before actually seeing Master Qingsong in person, Yan Chen thought that the Imperial Preceptor was a fraud.”

"That's actually what he thinks?"

“Hmm!” Song Yaojia nodded. “Thinking about it, it’s normal. After all, those who work in criminal law don’t really like this kind of thing. Of course, Gongsun Yue is an exception. But after he really got to know Master Qingsong and witnessed his methods, he said that he felt he had been too naive before. Being a national advisor is really not an easy job.”

"What did the advisor do to make Lord Yan Chen say such a thing?"

"Master Qingsong was well-versed in literature from a young age. If he hadn't come from a prominent family and couldn't participate in the imperial examinations, he probably would have been the top scholar long ago. Most importantly, and what makes Yan Chen particularly ashamed, is that Master Qingsong has extraordinary insights into criminal law, and he is much more adept at using it than Yan Chen. With just a few words, he can dispel the fog for Yan Chen, and problems that he couldn't understand for a long time suddenly become clear."

"That's amazing?"

"Yes!" Song Yaojia nodded. "They're exceptionally skilled."

Shen Haolin, Shen Cha, and Jin Miaomiao exchanged a glance, and the three of them looked in the direction of the Marquis of Wuding's residence at the same time.

"Hey, hey, hey, what good stuff is over there?" Song Yaojia craned his neck to look. "You guys aren't thinking of—" Seeing the three of them nod, he sighed, "Will you tell us?"

"Probably. The old man should be happy to talk about the past." Jin Miaomiao stroked her chin. "Haven't you heard? The old man doesn't talk about the past, not because he doesn't want to, but because he hasn't found the right time or the right person. If we ask him, he will definitely tell us."

"Hmm!" Shen Cha nodded, raising an eyebrow at Song Yaojia. "Look at those guys in our family, they can't wait to drag us into talking about their past, right?"

"That's true, although we're not from the same place, but..."

"All old men think the same way." Jin Miaomiao chuckled mischievously at Song Yaojia's exasperated expression. "Are you satisfied, Master, with these little traitors from the Yun family being so sensible?"

"Of course, I'm very satisfied."

"That's good. If the Yun family were just like the Gong and Ma families, a bunch of rabble, I'm afraid the advisor would have to go back and clean up the mess."

"You're absolutely right, Yan Chen said the same thing."

"Did he ask?"

“I asked back then.” Song Yaojia shrugged. “Master Qingsong’s answer was this. Although ‘rectifying the sect’ is a bit of an exaggeration, it’s close enough.” “Large families have their own rules, let alone a family like the Yun family. Their rules must be even stricter!” Jin Miaomiao sighed, thought for a moment, and asked, “Your Highness, I have another question.”

"You said."

"Did you really not see them, Master?"

“That’s what Yan Chen said.” Song Yaojia nodded. “He and Lord Gongsun both asked Master Qingsong for his opinion, and the master refused. He meant that since they had violated the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, they should be handed over to the government for handling. They didn’t need to interfere. He believed that the government would treat them fairly and give them what they deserved.”

“Give them what they deserve,” Jin Miaomiao couldn’t help but rub her arm. “When Your Highness said those words, I suddenly felt a chill, and I had a bad feeling.”

"Isn't that a bit much? The next part is even more..." Song Yaojia chuckled mischievously, "Yan Chen specifically went to the prison to ask those people from the Yun family if the Yun family elders or the Grand Master asked for them, would they leave with him?"

"Why do you ask that? Is someone from the Yun family trying to rescue them?"

"Yes, these people's relatives and friends did indeed plead with a slightly older elder of the Yun family. Although this elder wouldn't disobey Master Qingsong's wishes, he still had to ask permission when his clansmen came to him for help. Master Qingsong's intention was that if they were willing, he could also make a request; he still had that much face to offer. But..."

"Those people aren't happy about it?"

“He was indeed unwilling, and what he said was completely unexpected by Yan Chen.”

What did they say?

"They said they would rather die than leave their cells; they would stay inside no matter what."

"Huh?" Jin Miaomiao was taken aback. "Why is that? Several people are saying the same thing?"

“Yes!” Song Yaojia nodded. “Their answers were surprisingly consistent, which puzzled Yan Chen. They were detained separately and interrogated separately, so there was no possibility of them colluding. Yet their answers were so identical.”

"But why?" Jin Miaomiao spread her hands. "Isn't going back to the Yun family better than being in prison?"

Upon hearing Jin Miaomiao's words, Shen Haolin and Shen Cha smiled in unison.

Jin Miaomiao looked at the two of them, even more confused. She grabbed Shen Cha's sleeve, wanting her to give her an answer.

"I don't know the specifics, but the Yun family has its own rules, and these rules," Shen Cha thought for a moment, "seem to make their lives even worse than death?" She looked at Song Yaojia, "Right?"

“That’s true.” Song Yaojia looked at Jin Miaomiao. “I asked Yan Chen the same question you just asked. In fact, after listening to those people, Yan Chen had the same doubts as us. Later, the Yun family explained it to him, and he finally understood that for those who betray the Yun family, being captured and brought back by the Yun family is like falling into endless darkness, never to see the light again.” (End of this chapter)