Li Xinyue also felt it necessary to inform them beforehand about this matter. Moreover, Qin Yichen reminded in person that it would be more convincing than her, a newcomer, speaking.
"Alright, I'll send someone to invite them over immediately."
Li Xinyue instructed several servants outside the door to invite people to the different courtyards. Then, she returned to the room again.
She asked Qin Yichen, "Do you have any good arrangements in mind?"
"You and the Sisters-in-law can take the divorce letters and leave." At this moment, the only thing Qin Yichen could think of was that the fewer people involved, the better.
To this, Li Xinyue did not refute.
Although she had little contact with the eight Sisters-in-law, she could see they were all kind-hearted.
It was pitiful enough for them to be widowed at such a young age. Following along to be exiled and suffer it was indeed unbearable.
As for herself, she did not overthink about it.
She sympathised with the Qin family's fate and hoped to change Qin Yichen's early death fate with her ability.
Not long after, Old Lady Qin and the Sisters-in-law successively arrived in a hurry.
Li Xinyue could see that the concern on everyone's faces for Qin Yichen did not seem fake.
Old Lady Qin was the first to arrive at her son's bedside. Although she had tears, she still looked tough to others.
"Jiuye, how are your injuries?"
"Mother, your son is fine. They are just some flesh wounds."
"Ninth brother, how did you get injured?" asked the fourth Sister-in-law in concern.
Qin Yichen looked around.
"When all the Sisters-in-law are here, I will tell everyone together."
Hearing Qin Yichen say this, no one asked any more questions. Instead, they sincerely cared about his injuries.
After a while, the few Sisters-in-law who were farther away also arrived.
Li Xinyue vigilantly instructed the servants to guard the door well and not allow anyone in.
Qin Yichen felt very warm at Li Xinyue's thoughtfulness. At the same time, his previous understanding of Li Xinyue had also changed significantly.
If not for this encounter, perhaps he would have tried to get along well with the other party and spent his whole life with her.
Unfortunately, fate makes fun of people, and the heavens do not give him such a chance.
Qin Yichen collected his stray thoughts and said in a deep voice, "Mother, Sisters-in-law, today I was bullied by the Emperor in the palace and was severely beaten 50 times."
Hearing this, the Sisters-in-law were utterly uneasy.
"Ninth brother, what exactly did you do wrong that the Emperor would beat you like this?"
"That's right, Ninth brother. Fifty heavy beatings is no joke. Are your injuries serious?"
"Ninth brother..."
Hearing the string of concerns, even a tough guy like Qin Yichen felt a warmth in his heart.
Such a harmonious family would cease to exist after today.
Although reluctant, he still had to do what he should do.
"Mother, Sisters-in-law, from today's events, it can be seen that the Emperor can no longer tolerate the existence of my House of Mo. I'm afraid he will soon issue a decree to punish us, either lightly by exile or heavily by beheading."
Qin Yichen deliberately made the matter more serious, hoping those Sisters-in-law would know when to retreat.
Hearing this, the eyes of the eight Sisters-in-law unanimously looked towards Li Xinyue.
When they left the bridal chamber earlier, the Ninth brother and sister had reminded them similarly.
At that time, they did not take it seriously, thinking the Ninth siblings were babbling gloom and doom.
However, after hearing such words from Qin Yichen again, they had to take it seriously.
Li Xinyue met those inquisitive eyes and solemnly nodded slightly to confirm that she had not been talking nonsense earlier.
"Jiuye, are your words true?" Even the usually calm Old Lady Qin was a little uneasy now.
"Mother, the chances are eight or nine out of ten." Qin Yichen needed to make his words definite, after all, he had only heard it from Li Xinyue and combined some of his analysis.
Hearing this, Old Lady Mo's body shuddered.
"To think that my Qin family has been loyal and upright for generations, yet in the end, the men in the family died for the country, only to get such an outcome?"
As she spoke, Old Lady Qin even let out a cold laugh.
"Back then, I advised your father to return to civilian life. What good are fame, fortune and official positions compared to a family living in peace and contentment? But he just refused to listen.
He said the mission of the Qin family was to protect the Great Shun Dynasty. This one sentence of his cost me my husband and eight sons.
So what if we used our lives to guard the Great Shun's lands?
Hah... What a joke..."
The eight Sisters-in-law were also filled with righteous indignation.
"This is too much. What wrong did our Qin family do to deserve this?"
"I do not accept this. I will return to my maiden home now and ask my father to help say some good words."
"I will also find my elder brother to see if he can help."
Qin Yichen shook his head.
"Sisters-in-law, just give up! The Emperor is determined to eradicate the Qin family. How could he possibly listen to advice?"
"Then what should we do? Are we just going to wait for someone to pin a crime on us arbitrarily?" Seventh Sister-in-law Yang Man asked indignantly.
Qin Yichen did not answer but looked towards Old Lady Qin instead.
"Mother, your son thinks it'd be better to take this opportunity to give the Sisters-in-law divorce letters rather than letting them be implicated along with our Qin family."
Old Lady Qin pondered momentarily, then said solemnly, "Hmm, what Jiuye said makes sense. You Sisters-in-law are already pitiful enough. Our Qin family should not continue to implicate you all. And the same for the Hes. Having just married, it would be unjust for her to be implicated along with the Qin family."
"Mother, Ninth brother, I do not want a divorce letter. I, Cui Biteng, was born as a Mo, and I will die as the Mo's ghost."
"Me too. Even if the entire Qin family is executed, I, Xie Fang, will keep the Qin company till the end."
"I also do not want a divorce letter. I will stay and live and die with the Qin family."
"I promised my late husband that no matter what, I will be filial to his mother on his behalf."
"I'm not leaving either."
"..."
The eight Qin widows were filled with righteous indignation, and none were willing to leave with a divorce letter.
They did not want it, even if it was the only way out. They were determined to live and die with the Qin family.
The eight daughters-in-law could be like this, so Old Lady Qin was moved. At the same time, her gaze turned to Li Xinyue.
"Young Lady He, what about you?"
"I want to stay, too." Li Xinyue answered loudly without even thinking.
Old Lady Qin looked at Qin Yichen again, "Jiuye, you see, the women of our family are all strong-willed. Mother also wants to gratify them."
Hearing this, Qin Yichen solemnly looked at everyone. There was a sense of admiration in his eyes.
"Sisters-in-law, we only have one life. If one can live, who would choose to die? I hope you all do not let your sense of righteousness get the better of you in this matter."
"Ninth brother, my mind is set. Please do not say any more."
Led by the Eldest Sister-in-law, the other Sisters-in-law made the same choice again.
Old Lady Qin knew the temperaments of these daughters-in-law very well. Although there might be some minor friction when everyone was together on normal days, none would become deserters at the critical moment.
This was how the Qin women should be.