When they reached the main courtyard, they found themselves to be the latest arrivals again, but at this moment, no one paid them any attention.

Xu Huizhen’s face was pale, her mind filled with various speculations.

Could it be a coup in the palace? Or did the master invite trouble?

Having soldiers surround the mansion is not a good sign, does this mean they are to be punished?

"Did you send someone out to notify Kai Ping and Kai Chen?" Xu Huizhen asked Liu Yun, knowing that Gu Baijiang certainly could not return to the mansion, and the only ones she could rely on now were her two sons.

"The soldiers outside are guarding us, no one is allowed to enter or leave." Liu Yun held onto Gu Antong’s hand tightly, she had already tried to do this at the first opportunity, but the soldiers outside were so ruthless.

"Didn’t you try slipping them some silver notes," Xu Huizhen said, resentment in her voice, seeing her eldest daughter-in-law with disappointment, indeed a daughter of a concubine, full of petty habits.

"I did, but they refused," Liu Yun’s hands were trembling, "Mother, please think of a way, is there any other way to contact Father?"

Xu Huizhen, "There’s no way out, what can I do?"

Xu Yulan was wiping her tears, "Such good days, and now a disaster has befallen us."

Bai Suihe was more curious about their anxiety, wondering how Xu Huizhen and Gu Baijiang discussed settling the concubine last night.

But seeing the old lady’s weary face, she probably stayed up all night again.

And the new Gu Mansion, will it be part of this investigation and confiscation?

As Bai Suihe pondered, Gu Kaiyuan, currently the only male head of the household, could not let things continue in chaos. He sighed and reminded, "Mother, my two sisters-in-law, we should prepare for the worst.

I’ve already instructed the kitchen to serve the food first, everyone, let’s fill our stomachs.

If we’re truly being charged, the Holy Decree might be on its way."

What he said was unpleasant and ominous, if it were the past, Xu Huizhen would have scolded him, but now with only a young son at home, she held onto him as her backbone, "Yuan, you’re out every day, do you have any way to resolve this situation?"

Gu Kaiyuan was unfamiliar with this term of address he hadn’t heard in a long time, "Mother, I know nothing about official matters, only that having soldiers surround the mansion is not good, we must prepare for the worst.

What we need to do now is settle the household and take care of ourselves."

"What difference does it make whether you say something or not," Xu Yulan said irritably, "Just say if there’s a way to get a message out."

Gu Kaiyuan, "Second Sister-in-law really overestimates me, I can only handle trivial matters, isn’t it Father and Elder Brother who make the decisions in our family?"

"You’re just useless," Xu Yulan scolded unceremoniously, "You’re a grown man, yet you can’t make any decisions."

Bai Suihe frowned and stepped forward, shielding Gu Kaiyuan behind her, "Second Sister-in-law, you’re being excessive, Mother still has her decree, if she goes out and inquires, wouldn’t it be better than us causing chaos here?

Although my husband has no titles, where are you any more noble than us? Is it because Second Brother has been taking the imperial exams for years and still can’t pass to be a Scholar?

At least my husband can manage household affairs, better than some who just eat for free."

"You..."

"Enough, at this time, you’re still arguing," Xu Huizhen didn’t want to bother with their nonsense right now, but Bai Suihe’s words reminded her, she indeed had a decree, how could those junior officers dare to stop her?

Summoning the maidservants, she supported herself as she walked out, Liu Yun and her daughter quickly followed.

Xu Yulan stamped her feet hard and glared at Bai Suihe before taking the maidservant and catching up.

Bai Suihe, "Should we follow and see?"

Gu Kaiyuan, "It’s useless, this is a command from the emperor, a rank two title, even princesses and princes would have no power."

Bai Suihe shrugged, she was not being deliberate, "I was just trying to give them something to do, whether it works or not is not on me."

At that time, the dishes were served from the kitchen, Gu Kaiyuan immediately helped Bai Suihe sit down and served her a bowl of soup and placed her favorite dishes in front of her.

"Are we not waiting for them?" Bai Suihe asked after taking a sip of her soup.

Gu Kaiyuan, "They probably have no appetite; you’re pregnant, can’t go hungry."

Gu Kaiyuan began eating in large mouthfuls, without any images of propriety.

After both had finished eating, Xu Huizhen and the others still hadn’t returned.

Seeing that most of the dishes had been consumed by them, Bai Suihe had new dishes brought in, as for whether they would eat, that was not her concern.

Even the maidservants and old servants accompanying them, Bai Suihe instructed them to eat first in the kitchen.

Not knowing if the officials would provide food later, she decided to be prepared.

Gu Kaiyuan looked at the sky, knowing the time was approaching, he helped Bai Suihe slowly walk towards the front courtyard.

The timing was perfect, Xu Huizhen was still arguing with the guards outside when a sharp voice came through, "The Holy Decree arrives..."

"Under the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees, after investigation, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Gu Baijiang, has formed parties for private interests, embezzled military provisions, and accepted bribes, with conclusive evidence.

The merciful Emperor today spares the Gu Family from the death penalty, but will confiscate all the Gu Family’s possessions, and all servants will be reassigned by the officials, while the entire Gu Family will be exiled to Lingnan..."

As soon as the Holy Decree was read, Xu Huizhen collapsed directly onto the ground, without any regard for her dignity.

Xu Yulan slapped her thighs and cried loudly, "What kind of sin have we committed? This is truly a den of wolves..."

Liu Yun and Gu Antong clung to each other, their faces pale. Now they were no longer the family of an official, and no longer could stay in the capital.

In contrast to theirs, Bai Suihe and Gu Kaiyuan’s reactions were significantly noticeable.

However, the eunuch in charge of the confiscation paid them no mind, instructing the accompanying officers to begin their tasks.

The agitated servants were driven to one side, where officials took down their details. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Gu Family women, take off all the jewelry you are wearing; if anything is found, do not blame us for being ruthless." At that moment, an expressionless matron, with several hefty women, stood before them, staring coldly.

Bai Suihe cooperated fully, removing all her jewelry thoroughly, and opened her arms for a body search, Gu Kaiyuan did the same.

The matron in charge seemed pleased with their awareness, her tone softened a bit, "You two stay aside for the moment, someone will take you to the prison shortly."

Upon hearing this, Xu Huizhen and the others felt as if the sky had fallen, unaware that confiscation also meant imprisonment, how could they live after this?

Seeing them still standing there blankly, the matron became impatient, gesturing for several women to start searching, pinching those who resisted.

Gu Kaiyuan, afraid the scene would get ugly and offend anyone, quickly advised, "Mother, it’s better you take them down yourself."