fake gentry

No one expected Xie Hong to be so fierce, actually drawing his sword and committing suicide.

Even Ge Hong was extremely worried and immediately stood up, exclaiming, "Why has Feng Zhi come to this?"

Xi Zhong also realized what was happening and hurriedly shouted, "Feng Zhi, quickly put down your sword!"

Zhai Tang, Gu He, and Zhu Faqian could no longer sit still and hurriedly got up to stop them.

Are you kidding me?

If Xie Hong were to commit suicide in front of them, their reputations would be completely ruined.

Leaving aside the feud with the Xie family of Chen Commandery, the fact that a gentry member was forced to commit suicide at one of their gatherings is a stain they can never wash away.

From now on, let's all stop associating with celebrities and instead learn from Zhai Tang and truly live in seclusion.

The other scholars and young gentry also stared blankly at Xie Hong, and for a moment Huangshi Rock was deathly silent.

Zhai Tang hurriedly stood up and said, "Young Master Xie, quickly confess your crimes. All the scholars in the world are willing to be your witnesses. If there is any injustice, I guarantee with my lifelong reputation that no one will dare to frame you."

His excellent reputation must not be ruined.

Xie Hong then turned around and slowly put down the Han sword in his hand.

Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief, thinking thankfully, no one had committed suicide. Only Luo Shao and the others looked extremely grim.

Xie Hong's move completely disrupted all their plans.

Luo Shao, in particular, was so angry he wanted to kill someone.

Logically, when someone is framed, shouldn't one panic and deny everything, making things worse the more panicked they get? Why did this kid pull this stunt?

Thinking about the preparations he had made, Luo Shao's slightly uneasy heart calmed down.

Xie Hong first bowed to Zhai Tang and the other two, then bowed to everyone in the distance. He then calmly and slowly recounted everything that had happened since his kidnapping.

This time, he didn't hold back his deception skills and used all the tricks he had used to get older women and aunties to tip him during his live streams. Everyone listened intently.

"The above is what I have experienced in the past ten days."

Xie Hong stopped speaking, but everyone present was still immersed in the story and couldn't come back to their senses. Xi Xuan, in particular, had tears welling up in her eyes beneath her veil, and she almost fell in tears.

He was actually taken hostage by refugees? After escaping, he even passed on his family's secret techniques to the refugees in exchange for food and clothing.

Others might not believe Xie Hong, but Xi Xuan never doubted him.

Ge Hong and Xi Zhong were also filled with sighs and shock.

Feng Zhi repaid evil with kindness, but unexpectedly, she was framed. But why did she conceal the fact that Zhai Tang's son forged the invitation?

Luo Shao slightly turned to the side, and Zhang Xun behind him immediately realized what was happening, standing up and sneering, "Gentlemen, he's lying!"

Xie Hong's pupils contracted slightly: "Where did I lie?"

Zhang Xun said, "Gentlemen, you may not know this, but my nephew Zhang De is the magistrate of Chaisang County. A few days ago, some refugees fled into the city and happened to meet Zhang De. They said that their husbands were from a family of gentry who had migrated south. After they were scattered, they became refugees. They originally wanted to live in seclusion in the mountains and wait for the world to stabilize before finding their genealogy and re-registering as gentry."

Then he pointed at Xie Hong and said loudly, "I never expected to run into this person in the mountains. I originally thought he was from the Xie family and befriended him, but I didn't expect that he would covet his family's secret honey-finding technique. Their young master was not even ten years old and was deceived by him. This person even tried to kill them to cover it up. Their young master was murdered and only five servants escaped. This person made a million in profit in just a few days."

Xie Hong seemed to have grasped something from the situation and asked with a smile, "In that case, let those five people come and confront us."

Luo Shao coldly said, "These five people have been transferred to Nanchang City, and I want to interrogate them personally."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Guang objected and immediately stood up, saying, "Lord Luo, this is my case in Xunyang."

Luo Shao said impatiently, "I'm afraid you've been bribed by Xie's son."

Zhou Guang was so angry that his nose twisted.

Even if he were the Prefect of Xunyang, he wouldn't stand a chance against Luo Shao if Luo Shao didn't become the Assistant Prefect of Yuzhang.

The Luo family was the head of the four families in Yuzhang, and had been rooted in Yuzhang for hundreds of years. His status as a collateral branch of the Zhou family in Runan was not enough to compare, especially since he was a fallen aristocratic family that had migrated south.

Zhai Tang looked at Xie Hong: "Young Master Xie, do you have anyone to corroborate this?"

Xie Hong certainly had corroborating witnesses. The other twenty-odd refugees were among them.

But the other party was still able to occupy the high ground to slander him.

What are refugees?

You lowly people.

The lives of the untouchables are not considered lives, so their words are naturally unreliable.

Since these refugees were taken in by Xie Hong, they must have become his servants and dependents. How could they possibly betray their master?

As for Xi Zhong and Ge Hong, although they had befriended Xie Hong, they had not experienced what had happened before. Given their status, it was absolutely impossible for them to lie.

They can only prove what they saw, not what they didn't see.

Xie Hong had been waiting for them to ask this question, and was about to speak when a furious roar suddenly came from behind him: "I can testify to it!"

Xie Hong suddenly looked over.

Chen San's face was deathly pale, and he swayed precariously.

Liu Chong raised a small cloth bag high, his hair standing on end in anger, and stepped forward: "I am the son of General Ruosi, the General Who Conquers the West, and the grandson of Dai Chang, the Prefect of Kuaiji. My name is Dai Jing, courtesy name Zhuozhi. In my hand is the golden seal of the General Who Conquers the West, which proves my lineage."

"Because my father was killed by Wang Dun, I had no choice but to flee to Jiangzhou and hide in this mountain. What Brother Xie said is true. I am willing to use the Dai family as evidence. If you gentlemen do not believe me, you can write to Jiankang. My uncle Wang Zhi was the Minister of Personnel, but he has been dismissed by Wang Dun."

An uproar erupted on Huangshi Rock.

The Langya Wang clan is indeed one of the most prestigious aristocratic families, but it is now in a very awkward position.

Before April, when Wang Dun launched his rebellion, Wang Dao immediately led his entire clan to kneel outside the palace to beg for forgiveness. However, Emperor Sima Rui said that Wang Dun was Wang Dun and Sikong was Sikong, so the Langya Wang clan was still the same Wang clan that shared the world with Sima.

After returning home, Wang Dao immediately shut himself in and severed all ties with Wang Dun.

Now Wang Dun has become the prime minister.

On the surface, Wang Dao severed ties with Wang Dun, but in reality, they both knew what was really going on.

Damn it, isn't this a double-edged sword?

When Wang Dun was in power, Wang Dao retreated into seclusion. Once Wang Dun was truly purged, Wang Dao would likely step back into power.

The two most important people killed by Wang Dao in his rebellion were Zhou Yi and Dai Yuan.

Given Wang Dun's personality, the fact that Dai Yuan's son was still alive would surely have prompted him to send people to hunt him down.

In the mind of the immature teenager, Xie Hong was already his older brother. After spending half a month together, he had witnessed how Xie Hong had won over Xi Zhong and Ge Hong. In addition, Xie Hong was able to make ice in the summer. He had no objections at all and completely regarded Xie Hong as his older brother.

Moreover, he had witnessed Xie Hong's refined and aristocratic demeanor from the moment Xie Hong was kidnapped.

Such a virtuous man was falsely accused; he deserves to die!

Liu Chong's charge stunned Luo Shao, and his so-called confidence vanished instantly.

Xie Hong was deeply moved.

This kid refused to tell him his real name, fearing that he would sell him out, but in order to protect himself, he actually revealed his identity to the whole world.

This young man has been a part of it his whole life.

But you ruined your brother's plans.

Forget it, leave the rest to me, I'll protect you.

Ge Hong and Xi Zhong exchanged a glance, their eyes also filled with shock.

Ge Hong picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. Then he stood up, bowed to Zhai Tang, and said:

"Lord Zhai, Hong Yuan, in the name of the Ge family of Danyang, will serve as witness for Xie Fengzhi."

Xi Zhong sighed inwardly, thinking to himself, "Ge Zhichuan, you should have at least told me before you got up. It makes me look like a coward."

"Lord Zhai, I am also willing to testify for Xie Fengzhi. He is the most outstanding gentleman of the aristocratic family I have ever met during my travels in Jiangzuo, with the most refined demeanor and outstanding talent."

Luo Shao chewed his teeth until they were crushed.

Everything's in chaos!

If that's the case...

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Luo Shao suddenly looked up and burst into laughter:

"How ridiculous, Ge Zhichuan, Xi Gong, I never expected you to be so laughable, to be deceived without even realizing it."

"Gentlemen, this boy is definitely not a descendant of the Xie family." Luo Shao slowly rose and unleashed his ultimate attack:

"He's using a false name!"