Regarding Zhou Xuennian’s death, Zhou Xueli was busy managing Zhou Xuennian’s corpse at the ti and didn’t make detailed inquiries, but he had enough silver with him, so he stuffed so silver into the hands of the governnt officer who ca to report the news, piecing together a rough idea.
As far as he knew, Zhou Xuennian had quarreled over an attendant with soone nad Ma Datou, and after drinking a few too many cups, he mocked Ma Datou, who had a crooked neck and a big head, relying on his minor official status.
Ma Datou hated people comnting on his big head the most, so he held a grudge against Zhou Xuennian. As the nephew of the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, he was usually rampant, and nobody dared to provoke him. Didn’t Zhou Xuennian stir up a hornet’s nest?
One night, Zhou Xuennian and his son were drinking at a brothel, where they ended up killing a Flower Girl, and they were caught red-handed with the knife.
"Your eldest brother couldn’t possibly kill soone, where would he get the courage?" Old Lady Zhou trembled as she spoke, "He must have been frad!"
Zhou Xueli knew his eldest brother well and nodded, "On the surface, that’s it. They were quickly arrested and thrown in jail. Later, after the case was judged, Dajun was exiled to mine, but people say he escaped, and now no one knows if he’s dead or alive. My elder brother was beaten to death by soone in the sa prison over a quarrel."
"Unjust imprisonnt, it’s definitely all unjust imprisonnt. Your elder brother died unjustly." Old Lady Zhou began to wipe her tears.
Zhou Xueli sighed and spoke after a long silence, "Whether he was wronged in this matter is hard to say, but I heard from those governnt officers that my elder brother was quite good at putting on airs and privately accepted a lot of benefits from rchants! Even my sister-in-law wore gold and silver, and mixed with Ladies Official or wealthy rchant’s wives."
Old Lady Zhou’s body stiffened, and she spoke hatefully, "I said long ago that he would die because of his greed. With a bit of petty power, he thought he was so dignitary. He would eventually have an accident. Look, didn’t soone exploit him, and he lost his life for it! He, he was sowing the seeds of calamity for himself. Who would believe he is innocent?"
Zhou Xueli lowered his head in silence.
Old Lady Zhou took a deep breath, "What about your sister-in-law and them?"
"I heard from that governnt officer that after the accident happened to my elder brother, my sister-in-law said she would go to Changan to find soone to rescue my elder brother. When he was alive, my elder brother also said that his brother-in-law was an official in the Ministry of Rites, a fifth rank one. I suppose my sister-in-law went to find that person."
"So, they still don’t know that your elder brother doesn’t need saving anymore, and he has already died." Old Lady Zhou’s voice was very cold.
Zhou Xueli pursed his lips and said, "Mother, let’s not talk about Dajun for now; he escaped on his own, and it’s impossible to find him. Although there is still Yongyong, the distance to Changan is too far from us. Should we wait for my elder brother until they return?"
"Wait? Those won, whether they are alive or dead, they don’t know. Even if alive, the return journey would be next year. How can we wait?" Old Lady Zhou showed a bitter smile, "Not to ntion I look down on your sister-in-law and her lot, maybe knowing your elder brother is dead, they’ll pretend nothing happened."
"Then..."
"I can’t control what she wants to do, but Yongyong must be brought back. Dajun is uncertain, but if Yongyong is alive, he is your elder brother’s only successor. We can’t let your elder brother die without anyone to pay respects." Old Lady Zhou looked at him and said, "You are his only younger brother, so you must oblige and help him with the rites. If truly none of them are left, then this house will be given to you. If Yongyong survives, let him kowtow to you when he returns."
"Mother, I know."
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