After the Wu family reported the crime, the Zhou and Dong families also immediately went to the Dali Temple to report.
However, their reports were meaningless, because on the day the new emperor ascended the throne, the Baili family was exonerated, and all evidence was posted on the imperial city's decree board.
It turned out that the Baili family, loyal generation after generation, had not colluded with the enemy or betrayed the country, but had been framed by the Zhou, Dong, and Jiang families.
The new emperor ordered the confiscation of all properties of these families, the execution of key criminals, and the banishment of all family members within three generations to the northern border, never to return to the capital.
General Baili was posthumously honored as the Loyal and Filial Super-Rank Marquis, with his spirit tablet enshrined in the ancestral temple.
To demonstrate the new emperor's impartiality, he personally wrote a "Decree of the Predecessor's Guilt," frankly admitting to the subjects of Great Xia that the previous emperor's misjudgment and dereliction of duty had led to the unjust execution of an entire loyal noble family, and encouraged the imperial family to take this as a warning and protect the loyal officials and generals of Great Xia.
When the news spread, the entire capital was in an uproar.
People quickly shifted their attention from why the late emperor chose Xia Hongqian as the new emperor to the unjust case of the Baili family.
"The Baili family sacrificed so many people over generations to protect Great Xia and guard the borders, only to be harmed by a few power-mongering treacherous officials. It is truly tragic!"
"I said back then that the Baili family must have been framed. Now it seems my prophecy was correct. The late emperor did indeed have a responsibility for misjudgment. Even a humble commoner like me could see the problem, couldn't the emperor in a high position see it? Alas, serving a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. It's safer to be a commoner."
"Fortunately, our new emperor was able to punish his own relatives and honestly admit the late emperor's mistakes. Otherwise, the hundreds of wronged souls of the Baili family would not have found peace. I think this new emperor is much more reliable than the late emperor."
"Of course. I heard that the new emperor was cultivated by the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess is a gentle, magnanimous, righteous, and humble person, so the new emperor is naturally excellent."
...
After the secret guards reported the public opinion from various parts of the capital to the new emperor, the new emperor felt that his aunt's move was indeed brilliant.
It not only protected him from speculation and criticism but also established his image as a wise ruler and won the hearts of the people. It was indeed a plan with many benefits.
However, he soon received another piece of news that brought both joy and worry: the Zhou, Dong, and Wu families had all been robbed by the "God of Wealth."
Therefore, the money seized from the Zhou and Dong families was not even enough to fill a gap. He had intended to replenish his treasury by confiscating their property, but unexpectedly, the "God of Wealth" had beaten him to it.
On the other hand, he was wary of the Wu family's military power and dared not act against them immediately. Unexpectedly, the "God of Wealth" had helped him greatly.
With the Wu family's accumulated wealth gone, their vitality would be greatly depleted, making it much easier to reclaim their military power.
Who exactly was this "God of Wealth"?
Was it a human or a ghost?
If it were human, how could they leave no trace? How could they silently empty an entire mansion, not even sparing the roofs?
What if the God of Wealth emptied the palace one day? Therefore, the Dali Temple still had to continue investigating this "God of Wealth."
Lu Manor.
Bai Sheng asked Yang Ming and Uncle Ding to go to Jingye Realty Agency to find the real estate agent Dou to list Baihua Manor and Hongfen Jiaren shop for sale.
She and Zuo Ye then returned to Hongshu Village and told everyone about the recent events in the palace and at home, as well as their plan to collectively relocate to Qinghuang Kingdom.
Except for Du Min and Feng Pingyuan, who were uncontrollably excited, the others were shocked. They had only left the capital for a little over a month, and so many things had happened.
The Emperor and Empress of Great Xia had died, and a new emperor had ascended the throne. Their Eldest Master's biological mother was actually the eldest daughter of the Baili family, not a lowly bonded slave; their Third Uncle was Baili Rongmo, and Prince Yu was Third Uncle's biological son; Granny Wu was from Qinghuang Kingdom; their Eldest Master's biological father was Zuo Hanchen, also a member of the former noble families, with no relation to the Lu family at all!!!
All of this shocked them immensely. The Eldest Master's family, due to the extermination of the Baili family, had scattered in all directions. Twenty years later, they had miraculously reunited through destiny. It was truly marvelous!
Du Min and Feng Pingyuan, with red eyes, knelt before Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye.
Du Min said guiltily, "Eldest Master, Madam, actually... my husband and I are also from Qinghuang Kingdom. When Qinghuang Kingdom was destroyed, we fled to Great Xia to escape. We've been hiding in remote and desolate places like Tasha County. Fortunately, we were taken in by the Eldest Master and Madam, and we survived. I'm sorry, we lied... we deceived you."
Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye helped Du Min and his wife up and said gently, "Sister Du, Brother Feng, please don't say that. You didn't reveal the truth only for self-preservation, and you haven't done anything wrong, so please don't blame yourselves."
Bai Sheng, having transmigrated from modern times, also didn't reveal everything to everyone for her own protection, so she could especially understand Du Min and his wife.
Du Min looked at Bai Sheng with affection in her eyes. She opened her lips but couldn't say what she wanted to say, only shedding tears and expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, Madam."
Bai Sheng then took out everyone's deeds of sale and said with a gentle smile, "We plan to relocate to Qinghuang Kingdom and will no longer be citizens of Great Xia. I know everyone misses their homeland, so anyone who wishes to stay in Great Xia can take their deed of sale. I will provide some resettlement funds, and you can use the money to find a stable place to start anew.
This is not a small matter, so please consider it carefully and don't hesitate to say what you think."
As soon as Bai Sheng finished speaking, Du Min and Feng Pingyuan eagerly said, "Our whole family is willing to follow Eldest Master and Madam forever. No matter where you go in the future, we will resolutely and loyally follow you!"
Ma San raised his hand to wipe away his tears, his voice sounding very emotional, "Eldest Master, Madam, remember three years ago, I, Ma San, was a man in his thirties who was starving and dying of thirst. But today, I am not only alive but also well-fed and robust, have a diligent and capable wife, and will soon have a second child. Our life is prosperous and stable. All of this is thanks to Eldest Master and Madam. Therefore, my entire family will follow Eldest Master and Madam for life. Please don't drive us away."
Zhao Dazhuang, Granny Zhong, Tian Guihua, and the entire Yang family told Bai Sheng that no matter what happened to this family in the future, even if the sky fell, Madam should never bring out their deeds of sale again. They would die before leaving this home.
"Good," Bai Sheng said, her eyes moistening.
Lu Hao's expression was somewhat somber because Xiao Ye's surname was Zuo, not Lu, and she and Xiao Ye had no blood relation. She choked out, "Xiao Ye, Xiao Sheng, to be honest, I'm genuinely happy for you that you are no longer related to the Lu family, because the Lu family... truly does not deserve to be your family.
But I... I also feel sad for myself. I... how I wish I were truly your cousin.
So, I am very grateful to have this deed of sale. As long as it's here, I am still your family. My Dog-Gone and our children truly hope to be your family forever.
My homeland and my parents never protected me. In the first half of my life, I lived worse than a pig or a dog. So, in my heart, Eldest Master and Madam are our home and country."
Dog-Gone pursed his lips and nodded heavily, "What my wife says is what I want to say."