Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 930

Chapter 930: Side Story : Xu Wenjuan : 2

This journey to Linshan may be fraught with uncertainty, with no return in sight.

Xu Wenjuan knew from the start that she might never return. These past few nights, she had dreamt of her parents, brothers, and her second sister-in-law in her dreams, holding her nephew with a broken leg, questioning how she could sleep peacefully.

Day and night, she dreamt of the Xu family. At certain moments, Xu Wenjuan wished she could stop dreaming.

After waking up from another nightmare, Xu Wenjuan had grown accustomed to the feeling. Seeing He Xun still fast asleep, she tiptoed out of bed.

In another hour, it would be dawn, but Xu Wenjuan was no longer sleepy. She went to the window, not wanting to disturb the servants, wanting only to sit alone and look at the sky.

Jiuyi had almost no winter, so it was never cold. Xu Wenjuan did not even take a coat, sitting by the window letting the cold wind caress her face, as if it could soothe her anxious emotions.

“Cuixi, do you think our Queen knows about the Xu family’s affairs?”

A low voice came from not far outside the window. Although the volume was very soft, Xu Wenjuan could still hear their conversation.

Cuixi shook her head, saying she was not quite sure. She and Bitao were palace maids who lit the lamps at night. They were sitting on the stone steps, and seeing that the main hall was still dark, she continued, “But I think she probably knows. After all, think about it, the Xu family’s affairs are so big. Although our Jiuyi are far from the Emperor’s reach, the Xu family’s rebellion has long been known throughout the city. The King forbade it from being spread, but people kept talking about it. And the Xu family’s letters were sent to the Queen one after another; she could not possibly not know.”

“But if she knew, why did she not offer any help?” Bitao asked, puzzled. “Did the Queen’s maid not say that when the Queen was still unmarried, she was the most favored child in the Xu family? But now that something’s happened to her family, even if they’ve committed a serious offense, the Queen should at least offer some assistance. It would be too cold-hearted to do nothing.”

“Yes, I think so too,” Cuixi nodded. “Everyone used to say the Queen was kind, but after this incident, I think if the Queen were to truly cause trouble for the Jiuyi Kingdom, she would quickly distance herself, since she does not even acknowledge her own parents.”

“I think so too,” Bitao agreed. Just as she finished speaking, she looked up and saw the lights in the main hall come on. Then the door was pushed open, and the King walked out in his undergarments, startling her so much that she quickly stood up.

Cuixi was also startled. She jumped up and quickly bowed with Bitao.

But before Cuixi and Bitao could finish bowing, He Xun ordered them dragged away and had their tongues cut out. He had heard their entire conversation.

“Spreading rumors about your master! Since those mouths cannot keep order, they are no longer to be used. Guards, drag them away!” He Xun’s face was extremely grim.

Bitao and Cuixi were stunned for a moment, then knelt down with a thud, crying, “Your Majesty, spare us! We had no intention of offending you; we will never dare to do it again!”

Cutting out their tongues would not just mean losing their ability to speak; they’d be banished from the palace. Without their tongues, they would not even be able to speak, and might be sold off at will.

The two women kept kowtowing to He Xun, but he refused to listen. He was already worried about Xu Wenjuan’s condition, and now these maids were spouting nonsense.

Bitao trembled violently and rushed out, kowtowing frantically.

As Xu Wenjuan reached the door, she saw Bitao and the other woman kneeling on the ground, looking utterly disheveled. “Forget it,” she said, “they are not wrong. Just send them out of the palace. I do not want to see them again.”