Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 240 The Young Master of the Xu Family
Although Xu Jingzong was over 60 years old, he was still studious. Every day after returning home from the government office, he would read history books for an hour without interruption.

Today he suddenly felt unwell and could hardly continue. He sighed and said, "I am really getting old." He put down the book and went to the bedroom.

When he arrived at the bedroom, he did not see Madam Yu.

Xu Jingzong's first wife, Mrs. Pei, died early. Mrs. Yu was a little maidservant beside Mrs. Pei. She was quite pretty and was taken as his second wife.

On weekdays, after Xu Jingzong finished his studies, Yu would always prepare meals and wait for him in his bedroom.

He arrived a little earlier today, thinking that she might still be preparing the meal.

Xu Jingzong walked along the corridor to the kitchen with a cane, but did not see Yu, so he looked for Yu in the backyard.

When he passed a house, he suddenly heard strange noises coming from inside.

He put his ear to the door, but could no longer hear the sound.

Xu Jingzong looked suspicious and pushed open the door with his crutch, only to see a woman standing by the window. It was his second wife, Yu.

The window was open. Yu's back was facing the window. When she saw him come in, she smiled and said, "Ah Lang, how come you finished your studies so quickly today?"

Xu Jingzong looked at Yu carefully and noticed that her face was a little panicked and her clothes were a little wrinkled. He asked suspiciously, "What are you doing in the room?"

Yu turned her head to glance out the window and said with a smile, "I'm just enjoying the scenery here."

Xu Jingzong asked, "Are you the only one in the room?"

Yu tucked her hair and said with a smile, "Yes, who else could it be?"

Xu Jingzong looked out the window and stared at the ground carefully. It had rained last night and there was a lot of mud on the ground. If someone had walked by, there would definitely be footprints.

There were no footprints on the ground.

But Yu's expression was truly suspicious. Just as Xu Jingzong was about to ask more questions, a servant walked in and said, "Ah Lang, County Lord Cui wants to see you."

Xu Jingzong asked, "Cui Yixuan?"

"Yes."

Xu Jingzong sighed, "I knew he would come sooner or later." Turning to Yu, he said, "I'll go to the study to receive the guests. No need to serve tea."

After saying that, he walked away.

As his footsteps gradually faded away, the cabinet in the room was suddenly pushed open, and a disheveled man walked out. It was Xu Jingzong's eldest son Xu Ang.

"Humph, he actually came out of the study so quickly today. I have to change the time next time."

Yu said hurriedly, "Oh, my dear, please get out quickly. Be careful that he doesn't come back."

Xu Ang snorted, "Even if he really catches me, I'm not afraid." Although he said this, he still left the house quickly.

In the study, Cui Yixuan's face was as gloomy as water.

After he was dismissed from his official position, he seemed to have aged a lot in an instant, his face was haggard and his hair was gray.

Facing this old friend, Xu Jingzong could still smile, as if it was not him who impeached him.

"Brother Cui, there's no need to explain in detail the friendship between you and me that has spanned more than 30 years." Xu Jingzong said with a smile.

Cui Yixuan said calmly, "You'd better explain it. I'm old and confused, and I'm afraid I might misunderstand you."

Xu Jingzong used a teacup to pick up the teapot, poured him a cup of tea, and said slowly, "You should know that it is His Majesty who really wants to remove you from office. Without me, others would also impeach you."

Cui Yixuan said expressionlessly, "So, I should thank you?"

Xu Jingzong said sternly, "You should thank me. The longer this matter is delayed, the more people will look for evidence against you. If they uncover things that Your Majesty shouldn't know, how can you escape unscathed?"

Cui Yixuan said coldly: "No matter how eloquent you are, it cannot change the fact that I am being impeached."

Xu Jingzong looked at him and said calmly, "Old friend, if I really want to harm you, you embezzled 30% of the confiscated funds when you eliminated Chen Shuozhen. If I report this to the emperor, you will know what will happen to you. You should know!"

Cui Yixuan's face changed and he asked, "How do you know this?"

Xu Jingzong laughed and said, "We've been friends for so many years. If I didn't know you inside and out, how could I dare to open up to you?"

Cui Yixuan was silent for a long time, then said, "Forget it, I won't pursue this matter. I didn't come to you today for this matter in the first place."

Xu Jingzong picked up the teacup, blew on the hot air, and said with a smile: "If you need any help from me, just ask."

Cui Yixuan was silent for a long time, then said, "You should know about the capsizing of the canal boat carrying the Xiao family's wealth, right?"

Xu Jingzong's expression changed drastically. He put down his teacup, his eyes becoming colder as he said, "Don't tell me you were the one who did this!"

Cui Yixuan smiled bitterly and said, "Do you think I would do such an unwise thing?"

Xu Jingzong was silent for a moment, then said, "That's true. However, if it wasn't you who did it, why did you suddenly bring it up?"

Cui Yixuan stared at him and said, "Although this was not my fault, I am already deeply involved in this matter and I am afraid it will be difficult to escape."

"How did you get involved?" Xu Jingzong frowned.

Cui Yixuan didn't answer for a long while, then suddenly asked, "Old Xu, how is your son Xu Ang doing recently? Can you still control him?"

Xu Jingzong frowned and asked, "Why did you suddenly mention him?"

Cui Yixuan stared at him without blinking, saying nothing.

Xu Jingzong had no choice but to say, "I have put in a lot of effort and finally got him into the Eastern Palace as a Prince's attendant. He has improved a lot recently and is no longer as naughty as before."

Cui Yixuan sighed, "Although you only have one son, he was able to change his evil ways and become a good person. This can be considered a blessing."

Xu Jingzong frowned and said, "Old Cui, you're beating around the bush. What on earth are you trying to say?" Cui Yixuan said slowly, "You know my second son. He's just as naughty as your son Xu Ang. Before I was dismissed from office, I could control him, but now I can't. He finally got me into trouble!"

Xu Jingzong was startled and asked, "Could he be involved in the boat capsizing?"

Cui Yixuan smiled bitterly and said, "That rascal, addicted to gambling, ended up ruining things and being taken advantage of. Now the Dali Temple is investigating him."

"Tell me what happened slowly." Xu Jingzong poured out the cold tea in his cup and poured him a cup of hot tea.

Cui Yixuan took a sip and said slowly, "The officers and soldiers who were escorting the Xiao family's property once sent an urgent letter to the Ministry of War, but it disappeared without a trace. Did you know?"

"heard."

Cui Yixuan said, "That memorial was taken away by that bastard."

Xu Jingzong suddenly realized. He knew that Cui Yixuan's second son, Cui Shenqing, was working in the Ministry of War and could definitely do this.

"You said he made a mistake because of gambling?"

Cui Yixuan sighed, "Yes, that kid has loved cockfighting since he was a kid, and he even liked to gamble with others on cockfighting. Later, he became interested in polo, and started using polo for gambling."

This is the favorite game of the rich young men in Chang'an. Young people like excitement and use the wins and losses of polo to gamble, with huge stakes.

Cui Shenqing once lost a garden that Cui Yixuan gave him to manage because of betting on polo.

Since then, Cui Yixuan has strengthened his discipline on his son and strictly prohibited him from gambling.

Cui Yixuan was recently dismissed from office and suffered a great blow. He was depressed and had no time to discipline his son.
Cui Shenqing was also depressed when he saw his father being dismissed from office. Under the temptation of his friends, he couldn't help but go horse racing with others, and ended up owing a large sum of money.

He didn't dare tell Cui Yixuan, so he had to bear it alone, hoping to win it back, but he ended up losing more and more.

Just when he was at a loss, someone came to him and promised to help him pay back the debt, but they needed him to do a favor.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingzong said, "The other party wants his help to retrieve the urgent report from the Ministry of War?"

Cui Yixuan said, "Yes, that person deceived him, saying that he would only keep the memorial for three days and return it after three days. However, after two days, the memorial from the Imperial Household Department had already reached Chang'an, and the matter had become a big deal. It was impossible for him to return it."

Xu Jingzong shook his head and said, "Your son is confused!"

Cui Yixuan said in a deep voice, "It's pointless to say these things now. Di Renjie is investigating the memorial and has already identified three suspects, Shen Qing among them."

Xu Jingzong sighed, "Old Cui, Di Renjie and I have no friendship at all. I can't help you with this matter!"

Cui Yixuan stared at him and said, "Brother Xu can still help."

Xu Jingzong's gray eyebrows were wrinkled and he didn't respond.

Cui Yixuan continued, "The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites are adjacent to each other. Brother Xu only needs to arrange a few officials to help Shenqing make a statement and eliminate the suspicion. Cui will be forever grateful for your kindness!"

Xu Jingzong's eyebrows were raised, and he said, "Old Cui, you are not asking for my help, but you are trying to drag me down!"

Cui Yixuan lowered his head and said, "I have no choice but to ask you for help. Shen Qing is not involved in this matter. As long as you help to provide evidence, Di Renjie will change the direction of investigation and find the real culprit behind the incident. Everything will be fine and it will not affect you at all."

Xu Jingzong said in a low voice, "It has no impact? What if Di Renjie finds out that my people have committed perjury?"

Cui Yixuan said: "I don't think it will be that serious."

Xu Jingzong leaned slightly to the side, closed his eyes, and said, "I can't help you with this matter, Brother Cui, please find someone else."

Cui Yixuan stared at him and asked, "Are you really not going to help?"

Xu Jingzong sat like an old monk, motionless.

Cui Yixuan sneered, "Xu Jingzong, do you think I don't know what you did?"

Xu Jingzong still had no reaction.

Cui Yixuan said calmly, "When you wrote the biography of your relative Feng Ang, you were quite bold. How many false achievements did you add to his biography? Do you want me to tell you all?"

Xu Jingzong suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Cui Yixuan, if you tell me about this, I will also tell you about Chen Shuozhen."

Cui Yixuan showed a strange smile and said, "Alright then, you say yours, I say mine, and we'll fight to the death!"

Xu Jingzong looked closely at Cui Yixuan's expression and saw that he was not joking.

"Hey, we have been friends for decades, why has it come to this?" He said with a wry smile.

Cui Yixuan said, "I have come to this point. I can only rely on my two sons. Brother Xu, don't blame me."

Xu Jingzong said, "Brother Cui, I actually understand how you feel. It's just that even if I help you, it's useless. You're using the wrong method."

Cui Yixuan stared at him without saying a word.

Xu Jingzong said, "I'm not saying this because I'm afraid of being implicated. You might as well think carefully about how Xiao Siye survived the crisis."

"Xiao Siye?"

"Yes, he was facing a rebellion from his own people. The situation was much more serious than yours, but he remained safe and sound."

Cui Yixuan gritted his teeth and said, "You're not asking me to denounce my son, are you?"

"No." Xu Jingzong raised his hand and said, "You should ask your son to go find Di Renjie, tell him everything, and then help him solve the case. Maybe he can still save the case!"

Cui Yixuan's dry face turned even paler, his eyes flickered, and he was obviously having an ideological struggle.

Xu Jingzong said: "Your Erlang was not the mastermind. As long as we find the person who deceived him and solve the case, we may be able to redeem ourselves!"

Cui Yixuan took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Brother Xu, for your guidance. I was so confused that I almost went astray. Goodbye." He stood up and left.

(End of this chapter)