Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Chapter 297 Not Wronged

Xi Qiao sighed, "That's all we can do. Although Father has passed away, the remaining members of the Yu family still need to live. Hurry up and have someone prepare Father's body for burial."

Yu Peng looked at her with a troubled expression: "Big sister, Father is in his prime, and we haven't prepared his funeral clothes and coffin yet. It's already past midnight and the shops have closed. So, it's not that we don't want to prepare Father's body for burial, but we simply don't have any funeral clothes or other items."

"It's almost New Year's Eve, so it's not a good time to borrow these things from other places. Xiao Linzi, have someone take the prefecture's token to the deputy commander of the Central City Garrison and ask him to help me find out where the funeral merchants live."

Xiao Linzi immediately accepted the order and went down to fetch help. They had brought many people with them when they came, but at this moment, they were all in the outer courtyard.

After Xiao Linzi left, Yu Peng's wife, Cheng, said to Xi Qiao and Yu Yuan, the four married daughters, "After all this time, the eldest sister and the three younger sisters must be tired. Tomorrow they will have to kneel and mourn again, so it's not good for them to be short of energy and strength."

"To prevent any mishaps tomorrow, why don't you and your three younger sisters go and rest first? We'll leave things here to our husbands. Once Father has finished tidying up, I'll send someone to invite you back."

Xi Qiao glanced at Madam Cheng and responded softly.

Madam Cheng immediately stepped forward to help Xi Qiao up: "Elder sister is an honored guest in our family and we should not treat her lightly. I hope you will not find me clumsy."

Xi Qiao did not refuse and left with Madam Cheng.

They arrived in silence at the guest room that the Yu family had reserved for her. When they arrived, Yu Peng was already waiting in the room.

Upon seeing him, Xi Qiao was not surprised. He simply walked to the main seat and sat down, waiting for him to continue.

As soon as she sat down, Yu Peng knelt down in front of her with a thud: "Elder sister, no, Fujin, perhaps you prefer to hear me call you Fujin."

"Over the years, I know that my son and I have wronged you, Your Highness, and the late Madam. You and Your Highness do not need our compensation. However, since you, my lady, do not intend to kill my son and me, I hope you will show us a way to survive."

He looked up at Xi Qiao, and although he said he was admitting his mistake, he didn't show any remorse.

Because if they had to do it all over again, he and his mother would make the same choice.

The Yu family only has so many resources. If he wants to live well, to have famous teachers, to achieve fame and fortune, and to have power, he has to fight and grab.

Since Consort Zhuang gave birth to the imperial heir, although Yu Lu has made things difficult for the Yu family and for the mother and son, he has never had any intention of killing them.

As for her two younger sisters, they only showed that they would no longer have any contact with them. Although their husbands' families had objections to this, they did not dare to do anything about it. They still had to treat them with respect out of respect for Consort Zhuang and herself.

Xi Qiao smiled. Yu Peng was born when Ma Shi and Yu Chonglin were at the height of their love. He received the most and the best love and resources from the Yu family.

Of the entire Yu family, he is probably the smartest one.

She had inquired and learned that when she was in Shanxi, the people the Empress sent were originally intended to take Yu Chonglin's life, so that she would travel thousands of miles to attend his funeral.

It was because of Yu Peng's vigilance that Yu Chonglin was able to survive, hold on until the emperor sent a royal physician, and return to the capital with his life.

Xi Qiao leaned back comfortably in his chair: "You're telling me all this now probably because I forced you to do things you didn't want to do."

She spread out her spiritual power. Although there were no people who shouldn't be there, both inside and outside the house, there were some things she didn't want to say that would give others cause for gossip.

"But you probably don't know something else."

She didn't say what it was about directly, but instead asked Yu Peng, "Do you know how many years Father served in the Imperial Household Department?"

Yu Peng's expression suddenly changed; how could he not know!

He knew even better how many bondservant families in the capital had been wiped out and their entire clans exterminated for abusing their positions in the Imperial Household Department to amass wealth through corruption and empty the national treasury.

My father's salary when he worked at the Guangchu Department was barely enough to support the family's wealth, let alone feed the whole family.

The Emperor was so angry about the embezzlement by the bondservant officials that even the Wuya family was angered, not to mention the Yu family...

Yu Peng's face turned deathly pale.

The Yu family is still doing well only because of the protection of Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince in the palace.

But the Emperor despises corrupt officials so much that he doesn't even spare his own maternal family. So what if Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince escaped this calamity? The Emperor hates the Yu family, so how could the Yu family possibly have a chance to rise in the future?

My father... he died a just death!

Worth, so worth it!

When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; naturally, all those cases of corruption and bribery can be thoroughly investigated.

As long as the Emperor vents his anger, and with the support of Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince, the Yu family, after years of silence, will eventually have a chance to rise again.

Yu Peng took a deep breath: "Thank you for your guidance, Madam. I am deeply grateful."

Xi Qiao looked at him and said, "Whether you are grateful or not is not important. Letting you go is not difficult either, but you need to know what I want."

What does she want?

Yu Peng had thought about this issue long ago.

"Don't worry, Madam. The Yu family, and even their in-laws, will not cause you, Your Highness, or the Sixth Prince any more trouble."

The Yu family is of no use to them; they only hold them back.

However, they could not abandon their clan. Such was the way of the world and the rules of etiquette. A person who could disregard his clan was not worthy of being trusted or followed.

However, people are inherently greedy. Since the Yu family has two powerful backers like Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince, how could they not benefit from it? And since they have benefited, how could they not want to climb even higher?

Greed breeds evil.

Whether it's Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince in the palace, or Yu Lu, the wife of Prince Mu, they all need a hidden knife, controlled by them, to deal with these evils for them.

And Yu Peng was willing!

Xi Qiao nodded: "You're a smart man. It wasn't for nothing that I helped you. I've always liked dealing with smart people. Yu Peng, I hope you'll continue to be smart in the future."

After saying that, she picked up the teacup on the table next to her and skimmed off the foam.

Yu Peng lowered his head: "Thank you for your praise, Madam. I will remember it. I have disturbed you for too long, so I will take my leave now."

"Go ahead, Ah-Jie will come to mourn after dawn, so look after things for me."

Yu Zhui had already been adopted by Wu Shi and Yu Chonglin. Now that Yu Chonglin had passed away, he should come to pay his respects.

"Yes, Madam, rest assured, I will take good care of my younger brother."

When Yu Peng got up to leave, Xiao Linzi had already returned, and he brought a maid and a eunuch with him. The maid was to serve Xi Qiao, and the eunuch was to deliver messages and run errands. Both of them were brought from their Prince's Mansion, so they were trustworthy to use.

At the same time, he was also carrying a large package containing spare clothes and jewelry.