vstars Chapter 26 The Whole Family Gathers and Walks Together
Chapter 26 The Whole Family Gathers and Walks Together
"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!" The guards' loud shouts rang out at the end of the street.
The crowd was forcibly dispersed to both sides by the officials, clearing a large area at the street corner.
A prison van slowly appeared.
The Wen family members inside the prison van instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.
Murmurs gradually rose from the crowd.
"General Wen... how many military exploits did your family achieve, and now they've come to this end. Alas..."
“Cowardice, treason, all military achievements are negated. The fact that the Emperor did not execute nine generations of his family is already an extraordinary act of mercy.”
"You don't know anything, stay away from me."
"Hey, you're such a busybody, meddling in other people's business."
"..."
Regarding the Wen family's affairs, some people highly praised the imperial family's benevolence and virtue.
Some people watch from the sidelines, observing with indifference.
However, no one has come out of the prison alive in recent years, especially since it involves several members of a family, which is enough to arouse everyone's curiosity.
I'm curious what kind of life-saving secret the Wen family has, or some kind of get-out-of-jail-free card, otherwise how could they have escaped from the Heavenly Prison alive?
The Wen family members, wearing shackles, closed their eyes and huddled listlessly in the prison cart, their heads hanging low as if they were dead.
"Ah, looking back on those glorious years, things are so different now."
"Bookworm, what are you showing off with? Get lost..."
"Oh, you..."
actually....
The Wen family members were all thinking about what path to take in the future.
Having endured all the tortures in the imperial prison, what fear is there of the bitter cold and snow on the way north, or of the rugged terrain?
The Wen family descendants can withstand it.
Even at a slow pace, there's still a result. Even if the prison cart retreats three steps at a time, it eventually reaches the outskirts of the city.
The men in the prison cart were wearing shackles and had their feet bound with iron chains. Their prison clothes were covered in blood. Their faces were withered and their bodies were emaciated. They had none of the former valor of their military families. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they were dying old men.
The Wen family, young and old, were filled with heartache as they looked at the miserable state of the people inside the car.
Lord Ren was deeply saddened.
What was once a powerful national asset is now mired in a quagmire.
"Take care, my dear in-laws. As long as Qilin and the others are still alive, there is hope. I have old acquaintances over there, so please don't stand on ceremony."
The prison van finally came to a stop.
"Boom, bang, bang."
The constables pounded on the car door, shouting, "Criminals Wen Qilin, Wen Qiyuan, Wen Chengjian, and Wen Chengbin, get out of the car!"
The people in the prison van slowly opened their eyes, and more than twenty figures in the distance came into view. Their eyes instantly filled with tears.
Wen Chengjian and Wen Chengbin, who were near the prison gate, immediately endured the pain, grimaced, and quickly got out of the car. Standing by the gate, they smiled through their tears and suddenly waved to their family in a silly manner.
This scene left the yamen runner speechless, and without saying a word, he picked up his whip and lashed the two men several times.
Even after hitting him, he didn't forget to scold him.
Years later, when their family moved to Yuanling, Wenwen asked her eldest and second brothers why they had waved to everyone when the whole family gathered outside the city years ago. She thought it was such a stupid thing to do, and that they got a few extra lashes for it.
The eldest and second eldest brothers replied: "Oh dear, from afar, our family, young and old, all stood incredibly straight, like sharp swords ready to be drawn, about to soar into the sky! I had to call you in time so you could take us with you. Look at us now, we can all fly! Hahaha!!!"
However, these are later stories.
Urged on by the constables, the group of people in front of them took steps forward.
Although Wenwen was mentally prepared, what she saw with her own eyes was another matter entirely.
Judging from the bloodstains on their clothes, one could guess that they must have suffered many injuries.
The father, Wen Qilin, suffered a severe injury to his right leg and could not walk independently, requiring his elder brother, Wen Chengjian, to support him.
Uncle Wen Qiyuan's eyes were bound with bandages, rendering him blind. He needed his second brother, Wen Chengbin, to help him and guide him.
Although her two older brothers were not missing any limbs and could move freely, she was certain that while the external injuries were not visible, they likely suffered considerable internal injuries. Coupled with the whippings they had just received, their injuries were compounded.
Wenwen thought that having gone through the stage of burning away hatred, she could deal with these things calmly.
The truth is, she still couldn't control her emotions in front of her family.
Her body trembled violently, and her grandmother hugged her tightly, patting her back to comfort her, "Wen'er, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's alright, it's alright."
With her grandmother's comfort, Wenwen gradually calmed down.
From a distance, she watched them approach step by step, supporting each other.
The family was finally reunited after suffering a great calamity.
The grandmother looked at her son and grandson before her, tears streaming down her face, "It's good that you're back."
After a brief conversation with his family, Wen Qilin walked up to Lord Ren and bowed respectfully.
"I've caused my father-in-law some worry..."
Wen Chengjian helped him to his feet, where he staggered.
"Grandfather, your unfilial son..."
Lord Ren hurriedly helped Wen Qilin and his son up, saying with concern, "It's good that you're out. You must not let your guard down on this trip north."
These words were spoken with utmost seriousness.
Wen Qilin and his son understood.
"I am aware of this and will be extremely careful."
Lord Ren nodded, his voice choked with emotion.
At this moment, a chorus of weeping erupted outside the city gate as prisoners and their families bid farewell.
After parting at the city gates, we embarked on the road to exile, our fates uncertain. Perhaps today's meeting will be the last.
The escorting officers glanced at the sky.
He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Time's up! All prisoners, listen up! Line up! Line up!"
Upon hearing this, Wenwen realized that time was of the essence and tugged hard at her grandmother's clothes. Her grandmother quickly squatted down and hugged her. Just as she was about to speak, Wenwen swiftly placed a longevity pill into her grandmother's mouth.
She covered her grandmother's mouth with both hands and whispered in her ear, "Grandmother, take care of yourself. Wen'er will come back to see you soon."
Judging by the time it would take for the pill to melt, she hurriedly broke free from her grandmother's arms, and using her short legs, she used the same trick again, successfully feeding the last longevity pill into her grandfather's mouth.
The two elderly people inexplicably ate a pill, both thinking it was just a sugar pill for children.
Wenwen's maternal uncle, Ren Zihao, had been keeping a close eye on Wenwen's movements. Now, seeing her series of actions and her cunning eyes, he finally believed the maid, Liaoyu's words.
He strode over to Wenwen and whispered a message to her, "I'll find someone to take over the matter you instructed about Yu. Just wait."
Wenwen thought to herself, "Hmm, my uncle is interesting. I'll just believe him."
She tilted her head and smiled at her uncle, then followed her family forward.
The messenger was still shouting, "Hurry up and line up!"
The prisoners were registered one after another.
The official in charge of the handover was named Zhu Chongba. He had dark skin and a burly build, and when he stood at the city gate, he looked like a mountain.
He led a few constables and carefully checked the information of the lined-up prisoners, meticulously and solemnly, as if afraid of making a mistake.
This group of exiled persons numbered nearly two hundred. Among them were heinous criminals, corrupt and arrogant members of wealthy and powerful families, and even upright officials implicated by the Wen family. It was a veritable dense forest, lacking nothing.
The government carefully selected dozens of yamen runners and soldiers from various government offices and the Ministry of War to escort this group of people, hoping that their escort would minimize any mishaps on the journey.
Ren Zihao tried every possible way to bribe the officials in charge of escorting him, hoping they would take care of him along the way. Unfortunately, his ideals were far from reality.
The Wen family was essentially labeled by the Emperor, and no one dared to do them any favors, nor did anyone want to bring trouble upon themselves.
The line of prisoners being checked moved slowly forward, and soon an officer called out, "Prisoners from the Wen family, come here!"