bayedsolid Chapter 24 Farewell at the City Gate: A Glimpse into the Lives of People (1)
Chapter 24 Farewell at the City Gate: A Glimpse into the Lives of People (1)
"immediately……"
Wenwen felt a pang of despair. They hadn't even given her a single steamed bun before setting off so early in the morning; how heartless!
Worried about her grandmother, she held her hand and looked at her with questioning eyes.
Grandma patted the back of her hand and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, stay close to Grandma."
Led by the dark-faced general, the family traversed more than a dozen bends, uphill sections, and downhill sections.
This winding road also allows the eyes to adjust to the strong light.
It felt like they had walked a very long way before they finally stepped out of the prison cell and stood in the sun.
The escorting officer waited impatiently to the side, urging, "Hurry up, keep up."
All the men were shackled and forced to walk forward.
On the women's side, the grandmother, mother, eldest sister, and second sister were also being led forward in shackles.
Wenwen noticed that her fourth brother wasn't wearing shackles.
This means children under 12 don't need to be shackled.
Wenwen quickly gave her fourth brother, third sister, and fourth sister a meaningful look.
The older brothers and sisters took immediate action upon receiving the signal.
Fourth brother Cheng Feng pulled his sixth sister Wen Qing and fifth brother Cheng Mo along.
Mai Mai and Sui Sui protected the millet.
Third sister Wenqiong brought her sixth brother Chengjing with her.
Fourth sister Wenhong brought Ruirui along.
She brought her stepsister, Cheng Yu, with her.
Everyone, get into your places and find your mothers.
Wenwen held her younger brother's hand and followed beside her grandmother and mother.
The prison cell gradually shrank behind them.
At this moment, only the sound of footsteps could be heard on the street.
The members of the Wen family all looked ahead, their faces calm and their steps steady.
The streets were packed with people, including ordinary citizens as well as wealthy and powerful families.
Someone spoke up, and their words stirred up a huge wave of discussion.
"Alas, what a pity that the Wen family has been loyal and virtuous for generations."
"You can't talk nonsense. The Wen family colluded with foreign enemies. Not wiping out their entire clan is already a lenient treatment."
"Pshaw, you don't know anything. A general in the field may not obey orders. Is what they say on the front lines about colluding with foreign enemies true?"
"Shut up, all of you, don't you want to live?"
"I heard that Old Master Wen committed suicide by hitting his head against a pillar in the main hall."
"Open your dog eyes! Old Master Wen is still alive and well."
"I heard that many families who spoke up for the Wen family have been implicated."
"Yes, I confirm that my neighbor, Lord Chen, and his family also angered His Majesty because of the Wen family's affair, and they are probably in the exile procession now."
"I heard that the eldest son-in-law of the Wen family, the youngest son of the Marquis of Dongbo, is the famous henpecked husband in the capital. He asked to leave the clan to follow his master. The Emperor was angry and kicked him to the northern desert."
"I also heard that Master Zhou led the students of the Imperial Academy to submit a memorial, which displeased the Emperor, who also banished him to the northern desert."
"..."
"These are tough times."
Outside the city gate, the heat was sweltering, and the autumn sun shone brightly.
The city gate guards set aside a special area for relatives who came to see their loved ones off. If a relative slipped them some silver, they could get closer to the gate, and the guard, having received the bribe, would let them pass.
Wenwen's maternal grandfather, Minister Ren, stuffed a large silver ingot into her mouth and stood with his family in a forward position, anxiously peering into the city gate.
At this moment, Lord Ren Zu'an asked his wife, Madam Wu, "Did you bring everything for A-Ying and the other children? They're heading north into the frigid north, so they need warm clothes and medicine."
Mrs. Wu nodded, "Yes, yes, I brought them. I even made some lychee desserts that Wen'er loves."
Lord Ren then instructed his eldest son, Ren Zihao, and his eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang Lianyu, as well as his second son, Ren Zixin, and his second daughter-in-law, Xu Mingmin, "Where are the clothes and medicines I asked you to prepare for Wen'er's second and third uncles' families?"
Ren's eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang Lianyu, replied, "Father, don't worry. Their family isn't in the capital and can't prepare anything, so we've prepared everything for them, just like we prepared for my younger sister."
"Yes, you've put your heart into this. It's just that these kids have suffered. You've all seen how much they care for Wen'er."
Wu kept her eyes fixed on the city gate. She could see that some prisoners had already met with their relatives and friends, but she hadn't seen the Wen family members yet.
Wu wiped away her tears in desperation, and asked her husband and son again, "What time is it? The court won't change their verdict at the last minute and sentence the Wen family to death again, will they? It's really..."
Ren Zihao and Ren Zixin hurriedly comforted their mother, "Mother, don't worry, don't worry, just wait a little longer, our little sister and the others will be here soon."
"Okay, okay, let's wait a little longer."
Wu's eyes were filled with tears as she tightly clutched the bundle in her hands.
Not long after, the Wen family's procession turned the corner and appeared at the city gate. The procession consisted of about twenty people, half of whom were shackled and the other half were children. Each of them stood up straight with calm faces. Although their clothes were disheveled, their hair was neatly combed.
Urged on by the escorting officer, they walked steadily toward the city gate.
Lord Ren looked at the Wen family and admired their integrity, but he was also saddened by the plight of his own daughter, Lady Ren, and his grandson and granddaughter.
"Ah Ying!" Tears welled up in Wu's eyes instantly.
When the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wen family heard her mother's voice, she looked in the direction of the sound.
It was my parents and several brothers and sisters-in-law.
Looking at her relatives, tears she had held back for many days finally streamed down her face, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Wenwen followed beside her, sensing her mother's emotional fluctuations.
Grandmother Wen also noticed the Ren family members and turned to Madam Ren, saying, "Aying, take the children over there."
Wenwen, holding her younger brother's hand, walked towards her maternal grandparents' house, led by her mother and older sister.
The grandmother hugged her daughter, grandson, and granddaughter one by one, her heart aching, repeatedly saying, "The children have suffered so much, so much, what can we do?"
"Mother, don't cry, we're alright." Ren Shi comforted her mother, her own face streaked with tears.
The eldest sister held her grandmother's hand and said, "Grandma, don't worry, I will take good care of Mother."
Wenwen also spoke up, "Grandmother, don't be sad, Wenwen will take good care of Mother."
The younger brother followed suit, saying, "Grandma, there's me too. I'll take good care of Mom."
Mrs. Wu was taken aback by this string of assurances, and her sadness shifted somewhat. "Oh dear, they're all good children."
Upon hearing Wenwen speak, her grandfather touched her forehead with trembling hands and asked uncertainly, "Wen'er, are you alright?"
Grandmother was also overjoyed and hugged Wenwen tightly, "My dear, you're awake?"
Wenwen nodded obediently, "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm really all better now."
Grandmother wiped away her tears, took out some snacks from her pocket, and hurriedly stuffed them into Wenwen's mouth, then her younger brother, older sister, and mother.
"Wen'er, Grandma remembers this is your favorite snack. You probably haven't eaten anything this morning, right? Is it delicious? If it is, eat more..."
Wenwen was caught off guard when a mouthful of pastry was stuffed into her mouth—a lychee-flavored pastry, no less.
She forgot to chew for a moment and swallowed it hard, almost choking on it.
The grandfather next to him hurriedly handed him a water bag.
"Wen'er, come here, have some water."
Her empty stomach was filled with her favorite snacks, and she felt the love of the two elderly people.
The two elderly people must have been very worried about their mother and them these past few days.
Looking at the old man's graying temples and sorrowful face, Wenwen secretly made a decision for the sake of this profound love.
Grandfather chatted with them for a while, mainly telling them to be good on the road and not to worry the adults. Then he instructed them, "You few keep Grandmother company and talk to her."
“Grandfather, we know.”
The maternal grandfather turned and walked towards the paternal grandfather.