Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Master Pei is very lucky

A woman in a black cloak shuttled through the dirty and smelly cell. The cloak was wide enough for a breeze, revealing her slender skeleton, her smooth and small chin was faintly visible, and her cunning round eyes were half-hidden in it.

Su Bai took out a bag of silver from his bosom and handed it to the two gatekeepers. As his body swayed, he inadvertently revealed the shiny token on his waist.

He was originally from County Magistrate Shen.

The two officers looked at each other and stepped aside.

In just five days, this was Lu Suizhu's second time in this prison, and both times were for a man named Pei.

Walking along the dim corridor, Lu Suizhu lowered his cloak, walked with his head down, and folded his hands.

In the innermost cell, Pei Zhiji was indeed sitting there, looking from afar. The clothes were torn into several holes, and there were threads on the sleeves.

Lu Suizhu frowned, these people were too cruel.

But on second thought, he deserved it. He was imprisoned for trespassing and molesting decent women.

When the county government arrested someone, the "person involved" did not argue, which is no wonder it aroused the resentment of the neighbors on the street. This case, which had no disputes or conflicts, was not tried at all and was directly sent to prison, waiting for the county magistrate's decision.

Pei Zhiji saw the woman standing there.

There were too many insects and ants in the cell, and it was extremely dirty and messy. He could not bear it for a long time. His throat felt like it was blocked by a lump of mud wet from rain, and his chest was stuffy and painful.

After running around for a few days, his body was now exhausted. He pretended to be calm, but his hands, which were shaking uncontrollably when he lowered them, were gathered into his sleeves and twisted into fists.

The question was stuck in his mouth for a moment. A trace of heartache crossed Lu Suizhu's face. He seemed to have lost weight again in the past few days.

She took out a small bowl of ginseng soup from the lunch box.

Pei Zhiji shook his head.

Knowing how picky he was, he was very particular about his diet on weekdays, let alone in this smelly cell. He actually drank a few sips of the water that was brought to him.

There were still traces of blood on his face where the sharp nails had scratched it, and the drops of bright red were particularly horrifying on his pale face.

Lu Suizhu looked at him with both heartache and a bit of amusement. She took out a handkerchief, dipped it in water, and gently wiped him.

The process of the "fight" in the brothel was really embarrassing, and Pei Zhiji didn't want to think about it anymore. He coughed dryly and put down the hand that Lu Suizhu had carefully wiped. He was afraid that she would ask about the details, so he spoke first.

"When Yunshui County was hit by floods, the imperial court allocated a total of 3,000 taels of silver, which was directly diverted to the mine. Zhang Ding, the mine's general manager, used 1,000 taels for himself to redeem a girl from Xiangyi Garden. I was looking for that girl's whereabouts."

Looking down at his ragged appearance in prison, he was indeed a bit embarrassed. He explained dryly: "This injury on my face...I really miscalculated."

Lu Suizhu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, and the silver bell-like sound was particularly pleasant in this prison.

"Are you so happy to see me get humiliated?"

Lu Suizhu had seen the girl who reported to the police. She was indeed a bit fierce. She put away her gloating expression and shook her head repeatedly to prove her innocence.

"I just think it's a little funny that Master Li Ji was defeated by the three words 'stinking hooligan'."

Lu Suizhu emphasized the word "Li Ji".

"No, this is not a trap. The enemy is in the dark and we are in the light. If I don't take advantage of the situation and go to jail, how can he let his guard down?"

"Look at these two things."

The cell was damp and dim, and only Pei Zhiji's face seemed to be lit by a single lamp, her graceful demeanor being out of tune with the surroundings.

Even the fingerprints all over his face cannot obscure the radiance of Master Pei.

How magnificent would it be for a 17-year-old young man who passed the imperial examination and rode a horse through the streets?

Even though Shen Zhuo pointed out countless shortcomings of his, ranging from family affairs to government affairs and even the harem, he could only sigh when it came to Pei Zhiji: The sky is falling before autumn, and God is jealous of talented people.

Lu Suizhu thought to herself and was distracted for a moment.

"Why are you so absent-minded? Did County Magistrate Shen say something?" Pei Zhiji asked.

"Nothing, go on."

Pei Zhiji nodded in a trance, his throat rolling up and down, his breathing became heavier, and he couldn't help but think about the scene in front of him. Instead of dragging her into the quagmire and pit of the Pei family, it would be better to let her go.

The mountains and rivers are far away, the sky is high and the sea is vast. After several years, when the news of Master Pei's death reached Fanxi, he might have already been buried. At that time, the girl who was far away from home could shed a few tears for her late friend, which would be a comfort to his spirit in heaven.

Pei Zhiji thought so, and although he had been feeling bitter just now, he now felt somewhat happy.

Each of them had their own ulterior motives, and they kept it to themselves, and the only thing they talked about was the case.

"The disaster relief silver was escorted directly to the local counties by the Ministry of Revenue. While the silver looked normal, the Minister of Revenue secretly withheld it to avoid disputes. Each number with the number three had an extra, extremely secret inscription on the lower right. Not even the Crown Prince knew about this."

Lu Suizhu picked it up and looked at it carefully. It was just as Pei Zhiji said. She raised her head, a little suspicious: "Something that even the prince doesn't know..."

"The Pei family's spies are all over the court."

Pei Zhiji did not hide anything and was very frank, without any guilt about plotting against others behind their backs or abusing his power to oppress them.

The Minister of Revenue, who was far away in Shangjing, was enjoying flowers and drinking tea with Xu Ruogu when he suddenly sneezed. Thinking of the letter threatening him from Pei Zhiji yesterday, he was still frightened.

Xu Ruogu smiled and chatted with him: "Your son is straightforward and honest, free and unrestrained. Although Master Pei is young, he is kind and benevolent. He will definitely promote your son well. You can rest assured after you retire."

The Minister of Revenue laughed it off, but he felt extremely regretful in his heart. Sending his stupid son to the Ministry of Rites for training was like sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth.

Lu Suizhu couldn't help but complain in his heart that not everyone could be this official.

This arrogance and self-confidence was as if he was standing not on the tattered straw in the prison, but on the golden carpet in the Qinzheng Hall.

The kindhearted man, unaware of the problem, continued, "This map shows the exact location of the mine on Xiaofeng Mountain."

"Okay, I'll report it to the authorities," Lu Suizhu said. "These two things, plus the bodies we found in the back mountain, are enough to open a case. I'll have my father take people directly to the mine. With everyone watching, they won't be able to deny it."

"Thank you very much. I thank you on behalf of Pei Wuyou and His Majesty." Pei Zhiji said this from the bottom of his heart.

"Since Lord Pei said so, shouldn't I also thank you on behalf of Fanxi County and the people?"

He carefully placed the things in the wide cloak to ensure that they would not fall. Lu Suizhu's eyes were moist and more beautiful than the moonlight.

The silver light fluttered down and spread layer by layer to the chest of the man in front of her.

Even so, he was able to hide his emotions very well, very well.

The air suddenly moved, and the smell of the cell seemed less unbearable, and a faint trace of makeup spread between the two of them.

Lu Suizhu had been in Louyue Pavilion for a long time and was very sensitive to women's perfume. She leaned in and took a sniff: "What a strong scent of powder! Master Pei has been very lucky these past two days."

His Adam's apple rolled up and down three times, and the tip of his tongue licked the dry lines on his lips. Pei Zhi didn't know how to respond to such obvious teasing. After a long while, he could only spit out one sentence: "I have no choice."

As he spoke, he took off his outermost garment and placed it on the tattered straw mat: "This way, there will be no smell."

Lu Suizhu nodded in satisfaction. "Oh, there's one more thing. My father said that after you're released from prison, he'd like you to come over to his house so they can get rid of the bad luck in your cell."

There was a gleam of light in Pei Zhiji's eyes, and then he listened to Lu Suizhu convey another sentence very seriously.

"My father said he read the flood control plan you wrote for the people of Liangxi. He said Lord Pei is a good official."

Good official.

Good official.

Pei Zhiji recited this several times in his mind while alone in prison. His desolate expression was filled with unconcealable self-mockery, self-blame, and helplessness from beginning to end.

He had forgotten that his greatest wish when he entered the officialdom at the age of seventeen was to be a good official who was selfless and dedicated to the public and spoke up for the people.

The backlight and the moon are in the shade of flowers,

Ten years have passed.

*

A major event occurred in two southeastern counties that had been peaceful for more than ten years.

First, the missing disaster relief funds from Yunshui County were taken to Fanxi and used to secretly mine.

Secondly, all the missing men in the county were forced to work in the mines.

The smoke is choking, the white cloth is bleak, and the withered green grass leaves only sadness.

Beneath the blazing fire were piles of white bones, and the heat rolled like waves, splashing onto the faces of every person wrapped in white cloth.

Chenzhuo led his men in a sleepless search in Xiaofeng Mountain for two days and two nights before they finally gathered the 32 corpses together.

Buried together today.

Although they are death row prisoners, they also have relatives who miss them and feel sad for them.

Looking at the scars and broken limbs on their bodies from being beaten, the people were furious and cursed the miners for being cruel and unscrupulous.

What is even more regrettable is that there are still a few good people among them.

Thinking back to that day, Chen Zhuo almost got his shirt wet.

He crossed mountains and rivers and led his men in through a small path in order not to alert the enemy and catch them all in one fell swoop, but in the end he was still half a step too late.

When they arrived, the mine was littered with corpses and blood.

Apart from the corpses lying all over the place and dying, the only one left was Zhang Ding, who was blinded by killing.

He admitted all the guilt and refused to reveal the mastermind behind the crime no matter how he was threatened or tempted during the interrogation.

Therefore, Governor Fan was only fined and demoted for the crime of poor supervision.

Pei Wuyou was released from prison. He dragged his trembling body and immediately returned to Yunshui County and their home with the remains of his old friend.

The mountains and rivers are beautiful, and there are no obstacles along the way.

*

Sunken House.

The matter in Yunshui County was finally settled, and Lin Yan returned home. She brought a bowl of ginseng soup and placed it in front of Shen Zhuo's desk: "Take a break. You haven't had a good sleep these days."

He held his forehead in his hand, his eyes dark and blue, and before he knew it, a few more gray hairs had sprouted from his forehead. He was still checking the death row and the unidentified bodies. It was unbearable, and he slammed his fist on the tea table with a suppressed force, full of the pain he had suppressed in the past few days: "So many young men have disappeared in the county, and I didn't even notice it."

"And Zhang Ding was able to move the contents of the mine right under my nose, leaving no trace, and then kill people so quickly to silence them. He must have been colluding with the county magistrates long ago."

Lin Yan sighed, patted his shoulder, and said comfortingly: "Things have already come to this, don't blame yourself too much. Now the serious matter is to quickly find the spies in the county government. We can't let them cause any more trouble."

Lu Suizhu, standing outside the door, watched her parents talking and withdrew her foot.

Just then, Yueying walked past in a panic, holding a basket of vegetables in her hand, and Lu Suizhu called her to stop.

"Where are you going? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Yueying came back to her senses and knelt down to pay her respects: "My lady, today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. I am going to the river to light lanterns and pay tribute to my deceased mother."

After saying that, Lu Suizhu nodded and let her go.

People gathered and dispersed on Xiaofeng Mountain. Many villagers went to place a bouquet of wild flowers for the dead to comfort the souls, and also hoped that they could bless Fanxi with good weather and no more disasters in heaven.

There were thirty-two corpses, each with a different identity. No one could trace their lives before their death, and after their death, they were all just a handful of earth. What was even more tragic was that these people did not even leave behind a handful of earth, only burnt remains of flesh and bones.

Pei Zhiji and Suo Ye stood facing the wind for a long time and bowed to the corpses.

Then he jumped onto the horse and squeezed the horse's belly tightly. The horse galloped wildly, and there were many phantoms in front of his eyes, and the scenery changed with every step.

Pei Zhiji tightened the reins, and his hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

"Let the remaining Pei Mansion warriors stay in Fanxi to protect County Magistrate Shen's family."

The mountains flashed by like flowing light, getting farther and farther away from the two of them.

The Jielu Pavilion slowly appeared halfway up the mountain. Pei Zhiji's hand holding the reins tugged, and his speed slowed down significantly.

"What's wrong, sir?" Suo Ye also stopped.

"Nothing, I just feel like I'm missing something." Pei Zhiji had been feeling a sense of emptiness in his heart since just now.

"Zhang Ding has been apprehended, and the mine has been destroyed by the county government. Although the weapons were moved in advance, Your Excellency has also obtained Zhang Ding's confession. Judging by the time, the news has not yet reached Shangjing, Your Excellency does not need to worry about any incidents in the Eastern Palace."

"Well, let's go."

The sky was getting darker and darker, the clouds piled up together, forming thick fog, and the clearly defined sky merged together, squeezed and shrank, converging into a dull gray-black color.

There was a rumbling sound, and heavy rain began to fall in an instant.

Pei Zhiji and Suo Ye stayed in an inn.

The dampness and coldness entered his lungs, and the chilly, hissing rain air wrapped around his body like an evil spirit, crawling into every crevice between his bones, embedding into his weak internal organs, sucking his soul and taking his life.

After finally stopping coughing, Pei Zhiji developed a high fever again.

The rain was pouring down, and he was in a furnace, his veined hands tightly clutching the quilt.

In his sleep, anxiety and fear came one after another, his brows were furrowed and his whole body was covered in sweat.

I was suddenly awakened from my sleep.

Glaze.

Yes, he missed Liuli!

As Suo Ye came in with the ginger soup for dispelling the cold that he got from the proprietress, he saw Pei Zhiji getting up and putting on his shoes.

"Put down the soup and let's go back."