Famine and exile: I brought the Spirit Spring to save the entire Marquis's mansion.

"Sorry, time's up! Anyone who obstructs an execution is guilty of the same crime as the prisoner!"

After giving the order, Huo Qiuye picked up the death warrant.

“Ms. Song, leave me alone. From now on, you won’t have to see my repulsive face anymore.” Zhang Wenting lowered his head again.

"I'm sorry that you and your family are left destitute and homeless in your old age..."

"Third son of the Huo family!" Song called out again.

"Please allow me to meet with Madam Huo. It's about... about Huo Zhennan."

Huo Qiuye slammed his hand on the table, his brows furrowed and his gaze sharp as a sword as he looked at Song Shi.

“Huo Zhennan…yes, Huo Zhennan, you can’t kill me.” Another person next to him raised his head.

"Huo Zhennan owes me. He can't kill me, Sang Ning'er... Sang Ning'er!"

A sword was pressed against his throat.

Huo Qiuye squatted down, looked at Sang Xiuqi who was looking dejected, and said, "Guess why my fourth brother married Sang Ning in such a grand way?"

"In order to... cover up the scandal."

"Tch, our Huo family is upright and honorable. Do you think you're some rat in the gutter, only good at scheming and power-grabbing, like a dog trying to take advantage of someone else?"

I don't understand, so let it go. Anyway, they'll have many children and grandchildren and live a happy life.

Furthermore, my fourth sister-in-law specifically instructed that her mother be moved from the Sang family ancestral graves, and that she would have no further connection with you.

"No! She is a woman of the Sang family!"

"Sang your father!"

Huo Qiuye was stunned after he finished cursing.

He also followed military rules: he could curse his father but not his mother; cursing one's father was cursing one's very roots.

That's the right way to scold them.

"You old bastard, you only deserve to be locked up with your wicked second wife and executed!"

Sang Xiuqi seemed to only then realize: "You're telling me who Sang Ning'er's father is? If it's not Huo Zhennan, then who is it? It's..."

The sound faded away as the head rolled off.

Huo Qiuye once again looked sharply at the frightened Song Shi.

"I, I really have something important to tell you... Huo Zhennan, Huo Zhennan is still alive!"

At the window of the teahouse next door, Huo Qingchuan, with a cold and aloof gaze, watched a row of prisoners being beheaded, but walked around one of them.

The chief executioner, Huo Qiuye, actually left with a woman.

His dark, mountain-like brows furrowed. Just as he was about to go downstairs, he heard the sound of a sharp blade cutting through the wind behind him.

……

The residence of the Marquis of Boyang.

Madam Song met with Madam Yang Xinlan.

She had thought that after such a calamity, Yang would be seriously ill, or at the very least, old and emaciated, no longer possessing her former beauty.

In the past two years, even wealthy families in the capital have been living frugally, let alone those in the harsh and cold regions.

She had seen the Huo family from afar when they were exiled from the capital.

He was clearly disheveled and looked utterly miserable.

But now Yang Xinlan has smooth, black hair without a single gray hair. Apart from the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, her face is also smooth and fair.

This isn't just about visiting Liangzhou; it's like going to a land of immortals and consuming some divine elixir of beauty!

Her two daughters-in-law beside her were also radiant.

Especially the eldest daughter-in-law, Li.

She remembered that this eldest daughter-in-law, as the head of the household, used to attend various banquets and wasn't this beautiful and delicate. How come she's getting younger and younger now?

"Madam Song, what brings you here? If it's to plead for your husband, then please leave. I have no say in those matters," the old lady said calmly.

Madam Song withdrew her surprised gaze.

His gaze toward Yang was dull and complicated.

This is how the Yang family used to be.

When Huo Zhennan was of low status, she spoke to people in a plain and unassuming manner, without feeling ashamed.

Even when Huo Zhennan held great power, she was not arrogant. With a simple "I don't care," she turned away everyone who wanted something from Huo Zhennan.

This is one of the reasons why she didn't have many friends in the capital.

Another reason, of course, is that she has a man that every woman in the capital wants!

And he has four outstanding sons!

She was just an ordinary woman, with no outstanding features, talents, or intelligence, yet she was incredibly lucky!

At every banquet, he became the object of women's jealousy.

Huo Zhennan, a dignified marquis, would peel shrimp for her, lift the hem of her skirt, and give her endless instructions, as if she were a child who had not yet grown up.

She would even refuse the woman bestowed upon her by the emperor.

Her sons were all smart and obedient, requiring no care from her. Even her youngest and fourth sons, who were the only ones with lively personalities, were well-behaved and never caused any major trouble.

She's so lucky!

“I’m jealous of you,” said Mrs. Song.

She was once insanely jealous.

As a result, she drifted further and further away from her husband.

This further fueled Zhang Wenting's hatred for Huo Zhennan, leading him to side with the Crown Prince.

This led to the grave mistake I made today.

"I know all the women in the capital are jealous of me, but so what?" The old lady's voice held no mockery; it was merely tinged with doubt.

Women who are jealous of her are simply not as lucky as her to have met a good man like Huo Zhennan.

Everyone knows the hardships women endure; what is there for her to laugh at or be angry about?

If it weren't for Huo Zhennan, she would have married into the Yun family, and her life would have been just as miserable.

"Madam Song, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to say...I want to say..." Madam Song seemed somewhat unwilling, her aged face drooping like a bitter gourd.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and blurted out, "If I say I saved Huo Zhennan, can you spare my family?"

"Clang—" The old lady knocked over the teacup on the table.

"What did you say?"

"Mom, be careful."

Xie Yurou immediately helped the old lady up.

Li Yuzhi had someone quickly sweep up the broken porcelain, and then looked calmly and collectedly at Madam Song.

"You saved my father-in-law? Where is he now?"

"If I tell you where he is, will you let my whole family go?"

"Madam Song, a country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Not every mistake can be forgiven!"

"It's already a blessing that you women weren't involved in the treason and weren't punished. If the Yan family had been in power, what do you think the outcome would have been?" Li Yuzhi's voice was cold and imposing.

Madam Song's complexion became even more ashen.

If it were the previous dynasty, the whole family would suffer, their property confiscated and they would be exiled.

But, but she saved Huo Zhennan!

This achievement is greater than the heavens!

"Yang, Huo Zhennan has spoiled you your whole life, but Zhang Wenting's life is just a dog's life. Is it worth comparing him to him?"

"He really is still alive..."

"Alive... but, but already, a cripple..."

"Where is it? Take me there!"

"The conditions I mentioned..."

"Madam Song!" Li Yuzhi shouted.

In an instant, the guards with swords entered the room in an orderly fashion, standing on both sides, staring intently at Madam Song.

"Do you think you have the right to negotiate now? The life and death of your entire family are now in the hands of the Huo family. Think it over before you speak!"

"you--"

Madam Song never imagined that Li Yuzhi would become so assertive; she used to be so mild-mannered!

"Yang, you can't even speak now? Your daughter-in-law doesn't care about Huo Zhennan's life, and you're going to give up on him too?"

“You’re wrong, Madam Song,” the old lady said.

"Everyone knows Zhang Wenting's crimes. Together with the deposed Emperor Yan Mingyu, he colluded with the Northern Mongols to sell the Huo family to the enemy country."

This crime is indeed a grave one that will implicate the entire family!

My eldest son, considering that you were unaware of the situation, did not participate in the punishment; this is already a great favor from Heaven.

"In the early days of a nation, it is the time to establish authority and enforce the law. If even treason can be forgiven, the Marquis would not agree if he knew!"

“Song, the law is not a game. I would rather die with the Marquis than disregard the law and release someone who shouldn’t be released!”