MSW Chapter23

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51

The upheaval in the Yu family left Xu Ying and others, who were close to Yu Jing, deeply worried. Ignoring the elder’s repeated warnings not to get involved in the Yu family’s matters, they directly approached Mu Peixuan. After Mu Peixuan reassured them, they finally calmed down.

 

Among them, Xu Fangyi and Yu Jing were the closest. He suddenly turned to Mu Peixuan and said, “I want to go to the capital with Second Brother Yu.”

 

Mu Peixuan was taken aback and replied, “How could your father allow that?”

 

Xu Fangyi said, “I’ll go secretly. My father is busy with disaster relief and doesn’t have time to manage me.” He continued, “You all have official duties and can’t leave without an imperial decree, but I don’t. I’ll ride swiftly and catch up to Second Brother Yu and help him out a bit. At the very least, it’ll spare him some trouble.”

 

Mu Peixuan replied, “I’ve already taken care of it with the Jinyiwei, and I’ve also asked someone to take care of things in the capital.”

 

Xu Fangyi shook his head and said, “I won’t be at ease unless I see it with my own eyes.”

 

Mu Peixuan sighed and said, “Why get yourself involved in this mess?”

 

“This isn’t getting involved in a mess,” Xu Fangyi said. “We’ve been close for so many years, we may not be blood brothers, but it’s not far off. Especially Second Brother Yu, all these years, he’s always looked after me. Whenever I got into trouble and my father wanted to beat me, it was always he who stopped it. When I caused a mess, he was the one cleaning up after me. Even my own elder brother never protected me like he did.”

 

“These past few days, every time I close my eyes, all I see is Eldest Brother Yu in the imperial prison,” Xu Fangyi said. “Eldest Brother Yu was such a brilliant man, a child prodigy of Ruizhou since he was young, and even a top scholar who only comes once in ten years. His essays are still carved on the wall at Qinghe Academy. Someone so extraordinarily gifted, just gone like that, and died in such a filthy place as the imperial prison as well.”

 

Xu Fangyi said, “I heard that those who die in the imperial prison are all tortured beyond recognition…” As he spoke, his voice was already choked with emotion. Mu Peixuan felt a pang in his heart and gently patted his arm, saying, “It won’t be like that.”

 

“That’s why I must go to Liangdu. If Uncle Yu’s family clears their name, I’ll bring them back,” Xu Fangyi said, vigorously wiping his reddened eyes, gritting his teeth as he continued, “And if… if not, at least there’ll be someone to handle their final affairs.”

 

He couldn’t even bring himself to utter the words “collect the bodies.” Mu Peixuan fell silent for a moment, then said, “Alright.”

 

Duan Linzhou had been quietly listening at the side. Hearing this, he spoke up, “The capital is not like Ruizhou. It might be difficult for Young Master Xu to manage alone.” He took off the jade token hanging at his waist and handed it to Xu Fangyi, saying, “I have a few shops in the capital. The managers there have lived in the capital for a long time, they might be of use to Young Master.”

 

Xu Fangyi was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Mu Peixuan, and only when he saw Mu Peixuan nod did he accept the jade token, saying softly, “Thank you, Boss Duan.”

 

Duan Linzhou shook his head and said, “We’re all allies.”

 

That single sentence moved Xu Fangyi greatly. Beside him, Xu Ying was also somewhat stirred, but Li Yue, being the steadier one, gripped Xu Ying’s arm. Mu Peixuan swept a glance over the two of them and said in a deep voice, “You two stay put in Ruizhou.”

 

Xu Ying pouted but could only agree with a reluctant “Alright.”

 

Ruizhou seemed to settle down following the departure of the Yu family. Before leaving, Governor Yu had made thorough arrangements, so even when a snow disaster struck, no major chaos broke out. The snow in the city was cleared away, and gradually, more pedestrians appeared on the streets again. At the docks and among the collapsed houses in the city, many displaced people were working on repairs and cleanup. Outside the city, porridge stations and temporary shelters were set up to keep out the cold. Ruizhou slowly regained a measure of vitality.