Chapter 291: Appease the People and Climb the Wall to Enter Pei Mansion
"If you say he was wrong, then he was indeed wrong. He was wrong in not caring about the people, he was wrong in not working hard, he was wrong in not sharing the worries of his colleagues in the court, he was wrong in not sympathizing with talented people, he was wrong in not selflessly dedicating himself to you..."
With every word Shen Zhao spoke, the people's voices became weaker.
Although there were still people crying, the shouting and cursing gradually decreased.
The people's shouting became less frequent, and Shen Zhao could hear the voices of the rebels more clearly.
People were sent to pull out the traitors hiding in the crowd one by one.
It was easy to get, and I didn't expect that on this trip I could also catch fifteen rebels who sneaked into Kyoto.
Fortunately, among these people there are not only the seven kings, but also other people who are against the kings.
Someone came out and said, "General Chu, we are not ignorant of right and wrong.
Those who came this time were those whose family members had died tragically on the banks of the moat.
We are not ungrateful and heartless people. We know everything that Master Pei has done for us over the years and we understand his painstaking efforts. But if we understand Master Pei, who will understand us?"
As he spoke, the old man called out from the crowd a young woman dressed in mourning who was holding a young child. Behind her were two children about three or four years old.
They opened their ignorant eyes, huddled behind the young woman in fear, and shouted timidly.
"Mother...Mother, we are scared...I want daddy...Daddy..."
"General Chu, her husband, father, brother, and younger brother all died on the banks of the moat yesterday. Upon hearing the news, her mother-in-law and her mother collapsed and remain unconscious ever since.
Now she is struggling to support herself with a hungry baby in her arms and two mouths waiting to be fed.
General Chu, please tell me, someone please pity them. Lord Pei is not at fault, but are her husband, father, brother, younger brother, mother, and children also at fault?
The old man called over the old woman who was leaning on a cane and had red eyes from crying.
"She was an old lady who lived out her days in peace and contentment, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and had a harmonious and happy family. Yesterday, her husband, two sons, and half-grown grandson all died in the moat.
His daughter-in-law at home even committed suicide by hanging herself from the beam of the house.
The body is still hanging on the beam. If the villagers had not stopped her, the old sister-in-law would have hanged herself at home.
Is General Chu wrong? Are her deceased relatives wrong?
Many people covered their faces and cried bitterly.
Lord Pei was right. What was wrong with their dead family members? What was wrong with them for losing their loved ones?
Shen Zhao and Xie Yuheng's eyes also turned red.
"Brother Chu, I can't stand it anymore. Damn these traitors! I'm going to kill them all and avenge the tragic deaths of the craftsmen."
The people fell on the bodies of their loved ones and cried bitterly.
Many people began to sob:
“I don’t blame Lord Pei. If it weren’t for Lord Pei’s help during the flood, my family would have died in the flood.
We are not here today to force the Pei Mansion or Master Pei, but to hope that the court can give us an explanation."
“I was fortunate to have received support from Lord Pei over the years and was able to pass the imperial examination. This time, my brother and father died tragically.
My mother, sister-in-law and I are not here to blame Lord Pei.
Rather, I hope the court can give Lord Pei a fair hearing."
Many people did not intend to attack Pei Yuanyi, but to ask the court to give Pei Yuanyi justice.
A few people took money and came to the gate of Pei's house to cause trouble.
There were also many people who were blinded by the hatred of losing their loved ones. When provoked, they lost their minds in an instant and blamed all their hatred on Pei Yuanyi.
After hearing what Chen Zhao said, these people instantly became much more sober.
"I am well aware of your grievances and hatred. You can rest assured that the court will give an explanation to everyone and to the deceased craftsmen.
I will send soldiers to follow you back, and I will not let any of the people of Nanchu suffer.
The court will pay all expenses and compensation.
Everyone, please disperse now, so that your deceased loved ones can rest in peace soon, and the Pei Mansion can have some peace and quiet."
Many people were promised to carry the bodies away, but some people still refused to leave.
Shen Zhao ordered his soldiers to take all the rebels to the Dali Temple.
After getting away from the crowd, Xie Yuheng pulled Shen Zhao, who was about to get on his horse and go to the Dali Temple.
He whispered, "Brother Chu, since you're here, come with me to the Pei Residence. I'm worried about Pei Xiaosi."
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhao nodded and said, "Then let's go."
When the two stood under the high wall, Chen Zhao glanced at Xie Yuheng, who was rolling up his sleeves, and with a low shout, he turned over and climbed up the wall, his eyes full of contemplation.
Xie Yuheng, who was sitting on the wall, stretched out his arms like a thief and whispered to Shen Zhao, who was standing with his hands behind his back:
"Brother Chu, I'll catch you, you quickly turn up."
Shen Zhao only felt a flock of crows flying over his head.
"Yuheng, do we have to walk over the wall? Do you have any grudge against the Pei Mansion? You can't visit through the main gate!"
Xie Yuheng, who was sitting on the wall, was stunned.
Yes!
He and Brother Chu came to visit Pei's house, not to secretly find Pei Xiaosi to do anything wrong, so why would they have to climb over the wall?
Xie Yuheng chuckled and said embarrassedly:
"I'm so used to climbing over the wall when I go to Pei Mansion that I forgot for a moment that I can go through the main gate today."
Just as Xie Yuheng was about to climb down the wall, he heard an angry shout.
He stopped moving instantly, and the inspector pricked up his head to listen.
Seeing this, Chen Zhao climbed up lightly and landed steadily next to Xie Yuheng in an instant.
But behind the vermilion gate of Pei Mansion, there was a group of people standing.
The Pei family members looked pale and bloodless as they listened to the shouting and cursing of the people outside the door.
A middle-aged man in brocade clothes couldn't help but complain, "Why did this Chu provoke these crazy people for no reason? He made them even more angry. Now I can't even get out the back door, how can I go out for my second brother?"
"My second brother is the same. He didn't let us get any benefit from him, and now he is causing us to be scolded and suffer because of him."
This man was none other than the eldest brother Pei, who was idle at home in the Pei Mansion.
As he spoke, he looked at the mother and son opposite him with disdain.
The middle-aged woman beside him, dressed in gold and silver, was even more rude. She pointed at the haggard woman opposite and said, "What's the point of your crying now, Second Brother's wife! Why didn't you do that earlier? When Second Brother started to have those inappropriate thoughts, Second Brother's wife should have stood up and stopped him. Now the whole Pei family is being scolded.
This is so annoying! I've even made an appointment with Mrs. Wang from the neighboring house to pick out rouge and powder together. How can I go out now?
And my second brother and sister-in-law, why haven't you paid the monthly salary that should have been paid yesterday? I'm telling you, not only must you pay it today, you must pay double to make up for the humiliation we've suffered following your second branch!"
Mrs. Pei's eyes were red and swollen from crying. She held herself up and said, "Yuan Yi is innocent. My elder brother and sister-in-law have caused you to be scolded in recent days. I apologize to you here."
Madam Pei raised her nail-stained fingers and said, "Second sister-in-law also knows that our eldest wife has suffered because of you, so why don't you compensate us quickly?
If the second brother is truly innocent, why would the emperor imprison him in the Heavenly Prison?"
The young man who had been supporting Madam Pei spoke with red eyes:
"My father is innocent, so please be careful with your words, auntie."
"These blood-sucking worms of the Pei family are so abominable. They made Pei Xiaosi so angry that his eyes turned red." Xie Yuheng said angrily.
Chen Zhao looked at Pei Xiaosi and then at Xie Yuheng, and asked:
"Is Pei Xiaosi the legitimate son of Master Pei?"
Xie Yuheng nodded, "Yes, the only legitimate son."
Shen Zhao frowned because she heard Pei Xiaosi's secret.
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