sbdcsierra Chapter 116 Redemption
Chapter 116 Redemption
Zhao Tingxiao stood in the shadows, silently watching everything unfold, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He didn't want to see bloodshed, but he knew that only a complete change could bring about a new life for his family.
He knew that the pain and sacrifice of this moment would be the only way to the light.
He clenched his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes.
As the battle continued, the resistance of the Zhao family gradually weakened, and Qu Dacheng's army pressed forward step by step.
Soon, the core area of the Zhao residence was breached, and the disheveled Zhao Si was surrounded by soldiers.
Zhao Si's eyes widened in anger, but he was powerless to resist.
At this moment, Zhao Tingxiao slowly stepped out of the shadows, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, "Father, don't blame me, this is for the future of the family."
"You beast!" Zhao Si gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with anger and disappointment.
Zhao Tingxiao seemed oblivious to Zhao Si's anger. He said softly, "Sir, Zhao Si's eldest sons, Zhao Bochao and Zhao Zhongchao, are not here."
Zhao Si was slightly taken aback, but then his reason was consumed by overwhelming rage. He roared, "How dare you betray the family? You will die a horrible death!"
Zhao Tingxiao remained calm and unmoved: "Father, everything I have done is for the sake of the family."
"Bastard!" Zhao Si laughed angrily, his voice trembling slightly. "Fine, so much for the family! If your two brothers and I are captured, the Zhao family will be completely finished!"
Zhao Tingxiao gave a bitter smile and said in a low voice, "Father, the Zhao family still has me. I will protect it and give it a new life."
"You, a mere servant's son?!" Zhao Si's sarcastic remark pierced Zhao Tingxiao's heart like a sharp blade, causing him immense pain.
"Hehe." Zhao Tingxiao's bitter smile turned into a miserable laugh. He straightened his back and, under Zhao Si's extremely shocked gaze, slowly knelt down at Qu Dacheng's feet.
"My lord, I am reporting that Zhao Si, the head of the Zhao family, and his two eldest sons, Zhao Bochao and Zhao Zhongchao, have been secretly hoarding prohibited weapons and are plotting a rebellion. These prohibited weapons are stored in the Zhao family's treasury. Please send someone with me immediately to verify the Zhao family's crimes."
Qu Dacheng sneered and waved his hand to signal the soldiers to follow Zhao Tingxiao.
The group quickly crossed the courtyard and headed straight for the Zhao family's storeroom.
The door was pushed open, and rows of hidden weapons were clearly visible. The soldiers quickly began a search and soon found conclusive evidence.
Zhao Tingxiao stood aside, watching all of this with a blank expression.
Qu Dacheng nodded in satisfaction. "Tingxiao, you did a great job."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tingxiao knelt down and kowtowed excitedly: "My lord, everything I have done is for the survival and glory of my family. I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you and clear the Zhao family of its sins."
Zhao Si flew into a rage again, “You shameless scoundrel! You must have smuggled these ox-tail knives into the mansion to frame me and your two brothers.”
Zhao Si's accusations echoed in the empty warehouse, but Zhao Tingxiao remained unmoved. "Father, you, Zhao Bochao, and Zhao Zhongchao have long harbored rebellious intentions. I am merely following the will of Heaven. Where did this frame-up come from?"
Zhao Si trembled with rage. "You beast, how can you do this to me? How can you face this family?"
Zhao Tingxiao said coldly, "Father, don't blame me for sacrificing family for the greater good!"
Zhao Si was so angry that his blood boiled, his eyes rolled back, and he almost fainted.
But he forced himself to stand firm, his finger trembling as he pointed at Zhao Tingxiao: "You...you are truly the eternal sinner of the Zhao family!"
At this moment, Qu Dacheng's soldiers escorted the disheveled Zhao Bochao and Zhao Zhongchao into the warehouse.
The two men were ashen-faced, their eyes filled with disbelief, anger, and despair.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Si launched into another tirade of curses.
Without a word, Qu Dacheng swiftly swung his knife, severing Zhao Zhongchao's left hand and spurting blood.
Zhao Bochao was terrified and collapsed to the ground.
A flicker of despair crossed Zhao Si's eyes as he pleaded in a trembling voice, "Sir, please have mercy and spare my son!"
Qu Dacheng snorted coldly and pointed his knife at Zhao Bochao and Zhao Zhongchao: "If you do not repent, your eldest son's life will be lost in your hands!"
Zhao Si collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face, finally realizing that all was lost.
He knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, and said, "Sir, the Zhao family still has hundreds of thousands of taels of silver notes. We are willing to offer them all, only begging you to spare my son's life."
Qu Dacheng looked down coldly and said in a deep voice, "The silver note can spare Zhao Zhongchao's life."
Zhao Si trembled as he took out the silver notes from a hidden compartment in the storeroom and presented them with both hands.
Qu Dacheng took it, smiled coldly, and waved for the soldiers to step forward and stop Zhao Zhongchao's bleeding.
Zhao Bochao looked at his father with teary eyes and despair.
Zhao Tingxiao stood silently to the side, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
After a slight hesitation, Zhao Si pleaded again, "Sir, the Zhao family owns four restaurants and two shops. We are willing to offer them all up in exchange for the life of my eldest son."
Qu Dacheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Zhao Si felt relieved, but could not hide the sorrow in his heart. He took out the land deed from another hidden compartment and handed it over with trembling hands.
Qu Dacheng took it and said coldly, "Go, untie the eldest son of the Zhao family."
After being untied, Zhao Bochao staggered a few steps, tears streaming down his face.
Zhao Si held his two sons in his arms, tears streaming down his face.
Zhao Tingxiao watched all this coldly, his heart filled with complex emotions.
Qu Dacheng watched coldly, then said in a deep voice, "Zhao Si, it's your turn. What do you plan to use to save your life?"
Zhao Si raised his head with trembling hands, a resolute glint in his eyes: "My lord, I am willing to hand over all the secrets, including evidence of corruption in officialdom over the years, just to save my remaining life and protect the last bloodline of the Zhao family."
Qu Dacheng frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then nodded coldly: "Deal, but if there is even the slightest deception, your life is over!"
Zhao Si kowtowed repeatedly, thanking his superior for his mercy!
He took out a stack of documents, holding them with trembling hands. He knew that although this action saved his own life and that of his sons, it completely destroyed the Zhao family's century-old foundation.
"My lord, you mustn't!" Zhao Tingxiao suddenly exclaimed, staring intently at the documents in Zhao Si's hand. "Once this evidence is made public, it will cause a huge upheaval in the officialdom. Even you, sir, will find it difficult to protect yourself!"
His tone was urgent, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes, "Sir, these documents are unacceptable."
Qu Dacheng nodded thoughtfully.
Zhao Si was stunned, then his eyes quickly showed anxiety. Apart from these documents, he had nothing else to save his life. He said urgently, "Sir, although these documents are dangerous, as long as you have them, it is equivalent to having a lot of dirt on officials, which is enough to make you invincible in the officialdom. If you use them properly, you can not only save your life, but also further enhance your power."
Upon hearing this, Qu Dacheng frowned, silently weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
A moment later, he reached out and took the document, saying with a half-smile, "Zhao Si, your life is temporarily spared."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Si breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed deeply, "Thank you for your mercy, sir!"