Xiao Yuan packed the pieces of gold back into place, setting the bases of the morial tablets one by one.
He then divided the tablets: "Lao Si, Lao Liu, each of you take two, I’ll keep so here myself."
Xiao Jin and Xiao Ling didn’t take any: "Third Brother, just leave them with you."
Xiao Yuan shook his head: "No, you each need to take two."
The two remained motionless.
Xiao Yuan then spoke: "Eggs shouldn’t be placed in one basket, nor should gold be kept with one person. If anything happens to that person, what will the rest of us do? It’s safer to divide them."
Xiao Jin took two tablets, but Xiao Ling only took one: "I’m alone, so one is enough for . More would be cumberso to carry."
Xiao Yuan collected the remaining ones, wrapping them in a bundle: "Alright, everyone has money now. Tomorrow, we’ll act separately to buy carriages and supplies. The day after, we’ll leave the capital."
"Shouldn’t we wait another day?" Xiao Ling asked: "The imperial edict says we can leave the day after tomorrow."
Xiao Yuan shook his head: "Leaving the day after tomorrow, staying an extra day brings extra risk."
Xiao Jin understood the reasoning and said: "I’ll act quickly tomorrow then."
After sending Xiao Jin away, Xiao Yuan carried the bundle into the inner room.
Anning sat by the bed, busy sewing clothes.
Xiao Yuan placed down the bundle, and Anning stopped her work: "It’s all settled then."
Xiao Yuan sat by the bed: "Yes, the day after tomorrow we’re leaving."
Anning shook out the sewn clothing for Xiao Yuan: "Try it on."
She sewed a coarse outer garnt, grey and rough on the outside but suitable for travel.
After all, they needed to hurry on their way, wearing anything too bright would make them targets.
Xiao Yuan tried it on: "It fits well, my wife makes the best clothes."
After Xiao Yuan took it off, Anning folded and put it away with a smile: "Tomorrow, I’ll make a few outfits for the children too, and one for Sixth Brother. I’ll ask Fourth Sister-in-law to make so for Fourth Brother and the kids. When we leave the day after, we’ll wear these."
"Okay." Xiao Yuan stood up, tidied things a bit, and then carried Anning up: "Rest early, tomorrow there’s still a lot to do."
Xiao Jin happily carried the two tablets back.
Hui had already lulled Xiao Zhong and Ke’er to sleep, and upon seeing Xiao Jin, she quickly asked: "What did Third Brother talk to you about?"
Xiao Jin placed the tablets on the table: "You find a bundle cover to wrap these up."
Hui was startled: "Why bring tablets back, is that good or bad?"
Looking closer, they were the tablets of the Xiao Family ancestor: "How co..."
Xiao Jin put a finger to his lips: "Quietly."
Hui nodded.
Xiao Jin went to the door, opened a crack to look outside, finding no one around, everything was very quiet.
Returning, he imitated Xiao Yuan and disassembled the base, taking out a piece of gold from inside: "See? This was given by Third Brother. Third Brother said back when Eldest and the deposed Crown Prince were close, he felt unsure and did so preparation. He secretly placed the saved gold inside here, and during the raid, he specifically instructed Brother Ying to always carry it. So, here it is, smuggled out of prison."
Hui looked at the gold, feeling quite astounded: "Third Brother and his wife really have wits, silently handling this, even the Old Master might not have expected it."
Xiao Jin smirked: "If the Old Master had thought about it, would he have split the clan?"
That’s true.
Splitting the clan isn’t like splitting the family.
Splitting the family still ans one big family, only not living daily together, but still needing to manage things.
Splitting the clan is different. They aren’t the sa clan, so whether there’s trouble or not, no one has to seek anyone else. Even if cris are committed, they aren’t connected to anyone else.
Hui thought about the despicable things the Old Master and the Eldest branch did, then imagined their regret upon discovering the third branch had a backup plan, and couldn’t help but laugh: "The Eldest branch sched so much, yet couldn’t outsmart Third Brother."
Xiao Jin chuckled: "I always thought Third Brother and his wife were honest and upright, like invisible people in our mansion, didn’t expect them to be this shrewd. During the raid, they must have thought about splitting the family. Their minds are aligned, both pretending to be sick in prison. You wouldn’t believe it; when Third Brother called earlier, he seed fine, I couldn’t see any signs of illness. Their room lacked dicine slls, rely suspicion that Third Sister-in-law’s illness is feigned."
Hui increasingly felt the third branch had tricked the Eldest branch.
She chuckled lightly: "I’m relieved. Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law thought everything through, we won’t lose out following them."
"It’s still Brother mine that had a good mind, looking after Third Brother in prison, willing to join him during the split. Otherwise, we wouldn’t benefit this much."
Xiao Jin still had sothing not shared with Hui.
He thought the third branch probably had more hidden plans, and if Third Brother prepared early, it wouldn’t just be these tablets, possibly more elsewhere.
In the eastern room of the main house, Xiao Yin and Xiao Fu lay on the bed, unable to sleep.
Xiao Fu patted Xiao Yin’s back: "Yin’er, sleep well, have a good night’s rest."
How could Xiao Yin sleep?
She was worried.
Suddenly splitting the clan, parents ill, how were future days to be lived?
Currently, Fourth Uncle and Sixth Uncle appear good, willing to look after them, but if father doesn’t recover, what if Fourth Uncle and Sixth Uncle get impatient?
Xiao Yin knew ancient life really lacked security, a re cold could claim a life, this journey full of woes, she doubted they’d reach Southern Yi.
"Sister, do you think we can reach Southern Yi?"
Xiao Yin softly asked Xiao Fu.
Xiao Fu forced a laugh: "Why consider this, parents are here, it’s not up to you to worry."
"Sister, did you hide anything?" Xiao Yin asked.
Xiao Fu yawned: "Yes, hid two silver notes and a few gemstones."
Xiao Yin chuckled: "I hid so too."
Anning was up early making clothes.
As the children ca to see her, she was sewing.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
Xiao Ying, worried Anning would tire herself out, advised: "We can buy replacent clothes, no need for mother to work her fingers to the bone."
Anning handed a finished garnt to Xiao Ying: "Bought clothes are all good materials; rough fabric clothes aren’t sold. Who wears rough fabric clothes? Only those working fields, scraping for food, who accumulate little money annually, who has spare cash for clothes."
"Why wear these then?"
Xiao Ying didn’t understand.
Anning explained with a smile: "For the road, wearing these won’t be conspicuous or attract attention."
Xiao Yin quickly understood, dressed in tatters, even if encountering bandits, seeing their clothes, they might be let pass.
Xiao Ying and the others thought and grasped it too.
Xiao Fu sat down: "Let help mother sew."
Xiao Fu, nearing ten, had learned needlework for a few years, sewing clothes was within her abilities.
"Alright, I’ll cut the clothes; you sew."
Anning sought needle and thread for Xiao Fu.
She also brought out so fabric for Xiao Ying to send to Hui: "Tell your Fourth Aunt to make clothes for Fourth Uncle and your siblings."
anwhile, Xiao Yuan was guarding at the inn, and Xiao Jin and Xiao Qing acted separately, one buying carriages, the other buying supplies.
By nightfall, Xiao Jin returned with three carriages.
The carriages weren’t eye-catching, appeared broken, yet internally solid.
Xiao Ling also returned with supplies.
He bought several oilcloths, so preserved at and dried provisions, rice, flour, oil, and in addition, a few buckets and water bags.
With everything prepared, Xiao Yuan arranged a feast at the inn, gathering everyone for a good al.
After dining, Xiao Yuan addressed everyone: "Tonight, rest well, tomorrow morning when the city gate opens, we’re leaving."
User Comments
0 comments from readers