eurekapd Chapter 347 The Xiao Family's Decision
Chapter 347 The Xiao Family's Decision
Xiao Taiping's words silenced everyone.
Excluding one's clan is no small matter. In everyone's heart, the clan is a source of confidence. Otherwise, why would so many people want to have sons? Sons are the ones who carry on the family name, while daughters marry out and become part of another family.
Only when the number of family members increases will the clan prosper.
If even one person in the clan prospers, the entire clan can benefit.
If a family produces a scholar (xiucai), the entire family is exempt from taxes. If a village produces a scholar (juren), the entire village benefits.
Therefore, everyone believes that even if someone dies, they should be buried in the ancestral grave.
Although the Xiao family is in trouble now, everyone is still alive, especially the Empress. Although she is under house arrest, she is not dead, and her title has not even been revoked.
Under such circumstances, he might be reinstated at any time.
Of course, there is an even more important issue: the Empress has two sons. The Crown Prince is said to be dead, but everyone knows that there is a Seventh Prince who is still alive. Although no one knows where he went, as long as he is not dead, there is a possibility that he will come back.
In this situation, if the fourth branch of the family is expelled from the clan, then...
"Second brother, you can't just say things like that." Xiao Tai'an glanced at Xiao Taiping.
“Brother, I’m not just making this up. I thought about it carefully before I came here.” Xiao Tai’an sighed. “You know how Xiao Taishun got here, right?”
Xiao Jinxiu, who followed in, had her eyes light up. Could it be that her grandfather had some gossip to share?
She herself didn't realize that she had been deeply influenced by Yun Yidi these days. She was no longer the dignified and composed first talented woman of Jiangnan. Instead, she had become much more lively.
Xiao Taiping noticed his little niece's gossipy look. Although he felt it was inappropriate, after so much time had passed, he was no longer as pedantic as before, so he sighed and nodded slightly.
It turns out that the late patriarch of the Xiao family and his wife, Madam Mu, were very much in love. Although they did not swear any vow of being together for life, they never had any concubines or maids by their side.
Especially after the birth of their eldest son, Xiao Tai'an, the old man felt that having offspring was enough and he didn't want his wife to suffer anymore. Originally, he didn't want his wife to have any more children, but Mu said to let nature take its course. If God would give her another child after a few years, then they would have one. So, eight years later, their second son, Xiao Taiping, was born, and four years after that, Xiao Taihe was born.
Therefore, the three brothers are quite far apart in age.
As for Xiao Taishun, his half-brother, he was tricked by the daughter of Mu's wet nurse.
Because Mu Shi had a good relationship with the wet nurse, she always allowed the wet nurse's daughter, Chuncao, to serve her closely and did not guard against her.
So, one time when the Mu family went outside the city to offer incense, Chuncao drugged the old man and got what she wanted.
Originally, Chuncao was to be beaten to death, but Mu Shi couldn't bear it and only sent her to the estate. Who knew that on that occasion, Chuncao would become pregnant, and then when her eldest son Xiao Tai'an was twenty years old, she gave birth to Xiao Taishun.
At that time, Xiao Tai'an was already the youngest Juren (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
“Brother, over the years, although we despise Aunt Chuncao’s behavior, we haven’t mistreated her, especially after our parents passed away. We even let her live the life of a wealthy old lady. And what happened? She’s instilled in Fourth Brother the idea that we can’t tolerate her, and she’s even gossiped about our mother…” Xiao Taiping sighed. “Before, we only spared them because of Granny Luo, but now? They’ve actually sent my wife to a brothel. Is that something a human being would do? I’ve said it before, the Xiao family can have a fool, but not a vicious one. If we keep her here, how will our future children face each other?”
The Xiao family represents the Empress. The Crown Prince has been restored to power and will ascend to a high position sooner or later. If people expose the actions of the fourth branch of the family, how will the Xiao family maintain its dignity and authority?
Xiao Tai'an fell silent.
"Brother, we can't let those people ruin so many of our family members, not to mention the other collateral branches." Xiao Taiping said with a pained expression.
He was the headmaster of the academy. After passing the imperial examination, he did not stay to become an official because he already had an older brother who was an official. So, he returned to Jiangnan to teach and educate people. In fact, his thinking was the most orthodox.
"Is everyone thinking the same way?" As the patriarch of the Xiao clan and the current head of the family, Xiao Taiping was not about to make a major decision lightly.
“Dad, I agree.” The eldest daughter-in-law, Li Mengrui, was the first to speak up. “Since Fourth Uncle is a scoundrel, we don’t need to treat him like a human being anymore.”
“Yes, elder brother.” Xiao Niu’s wife nodded. “We can’t go on like this. Now we are the eldest son’s wife, and there is a second son’s wife to come. If this continues… we will all be too ashamed to live.”
Xiao Tai'an nodded: "In that case, let's get rid of it."
Yunyi quickly received the message brought back by Nineteen. Looking at the decision, she was surprised but also felt it was very reasonable. After all, if a family wants to go far, it must do things cleanly and efficiently.
This is the principle behind the saying "the old families remain, but the dynasties come and go."
Upon seeing this news, Guo Yajing couldn't help but slap her thigh and laugh: "Grandfather is truly brilliant!"
Tian Yuzhi didn't know what was written in the letter, but judging from their expressions, she knew it must be good news. So, a surge of courage welled up in her heart. She was willing to do anything, as long as the Xiao family could accept Pingting.
"Next, it's up to your Xiao family. Ya Jing, as the eldest grandson's wife of the eldest son of the eldest branch, you are the matriarch of the Xiao family. I'll send a few people to you to handle it." As she spoke, she found someone to help write a divorce agreement and a letter of separation. It would be up to Xiao Mufeng to sign which one.
As for the matter of expelling the clan, Xiao Tai'an had already brought over the page of the fourth branch of the family genealogy, which only needed to be handed over to Xiao Taishun.
"No problem." Guo Yajing stood up and left with Tian Yuzhi and Xiao Pingting.
Lin Hui sent Shi Tou with seven or eight people to go with him.
“Lin Hui, although Kuang Shi is not dead, he is now a cripple. I think it’s time to bring Black City under our control.” Yun Yi kept Lin Hui behind and shared her thoughts.
"Yes," Lin Hui replied immediately. "However, there are probably still seventy or eighty people over there, and these people..."
“Those who are willing to surrender, keep them; those who are not, kill them.” Yun Yi curled the corner of her mouth. “And we need to be quick.”
After all, those were Bai Jianming's men. Bai Jianming had an army. Although he hadn't returned yet, he had left his trusted generals in Tianyang City. Once they found out, they might send troops over, and that would be troublesome.