Pei family imprisoned
Following Xu's lead, they rode to Chang'an in a grand procession of several carriages on their return journey.
The wounds on his body had already scabbed over, but the carriage traveled slowly and steadily.
Fan Lingzhang served tea and water, fed the children, and packed up everything that belonged to Sui Zhixu.
Dan Hong was so angry that she gritted her teeth, but considering that Sui Zhixu had indulged him, she could only keep her anger to herself.
"We're almost in Chang'an." Sui Zhixu lifted the curtain and saw people queuing to enter the city from outside the city gate.
Some carried loads on shoulder poles, some were merchants pulling carts, and there were wealthy families with servants in circles around them—a diverse array of people.
“Father and Mother seem to be at the city gate.” Sui Zhixu saw a familiar figure and leaned out.
It was indeed Cong Lan and Sui He. Cong Lan was extremely anxious and kept pacing around in circles. Sui He, standing to the side, spoke softly, but his gentle face could not hide the aura of someone who held absolute power.
"Should I excuse myself?" Fan Lingzhang asked with a smile, as he wrapped his hand around his wife's blue shawl.
Sui Zhixu was dressed in a dress purchased from Hedong. The green silk was delicate and smooth, and the gold thread in the dark pattern was subtle yet elegant, making her seem to be shining.
She wasn't used to wearing such eye-catching clothes; she usually wore elegant ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and the most vibrant color she wore was only lotus leaf green. But this guy next to her kept praising her.
Her eyes sparkled, and when she turned around and smiled... her beauty was so stunning that Sui Zhixu quickly covered his mouth in fright.
Fan Lingzhang's praise was extremely sincere. Even when Sui Zhixu covered his mouth, his eyes shone brightly, filled with admiration and love for her.
In the end, Sui Zhixu bought the clothes, and Fan Lingzhang insisted on paying for them.
Thinking of her parents, she felt a headache coming on. "Are you going back or not? You should go back."
He calls Chu Feixuan "wife" affectionately every day, and his mother probably already knows. It doesn't matter if his mother knows, he still has to cover it up with the Prince of Xuanping.
Sui Zhixu flicked his cheek, "You still have to deal with the Prince of Xuanping, be good."
"Let's hug a little longer."
Fan Lingzhang hugged her from behind, breathing casually in her ear, "Ah Ling smells so good."
The delicate jasmine fragrance is as refreshing as a mountain spring flowing gently, with a touch of moisture that invigorates the lungs.
"I like jasmine." Fan Lingzhang nuzzled against Sui Zhixu's neck. "I like Aling."
As they approached the city gate, he released his embrace of Sui Zhixu, saying, "A-Ling is coming to find me."
As soon as Xu stepped off the carriage, he nestled into the arms of Sui He and Cong Lan like a weary bird returning to its nest.
"Mother." A gentle, comforting fragrance, like a ripe peach in summer, with a rich and mellow flavor.
"Father." After hugging one child, he picked up the next.
Leaning against Cong Lan's chest, she thought that compared to the charming grass, Aye could still be saved and continue to be the noble and aloof plum blossom.
"It's good that you're back." Cong Lan patted Sui Zhixu's shoulder, his gaze cold and brooding as he stared at the corner of the carriage that had been lifted.
"We'll talk about other things when we get home." Sui He gently stroked Sui Zhixu's hair, his words carrying a deeper meaning.
Lady Wu'an, the wife of the Marquis of Wu'an, was also standing at the city gate waiting for Cheng Zhijie. As soon as he got out of the carriage, she went up to him and looked him over. "Ah Hui, you've suffered."
Cheng Zhijie subtly avoided her hand, bowed, and greeted her, "Mother, Madam Liu."
Noticing Cheng Zhijie's questioning gaze, Madam Cheng took Liu Xi's hand and said, "Even if you two are not destined to be husband and wife, according to my relationship with her mother, she should be your sister. What's wrong with a sister welcoming her brother?"
"Sister? I thought this was Ah Hui's fiancée? Where is his fiancée? Let me take a look." Sui Chuke got out of the carriage and put his hand on Cheng Zhijie's shoulder to look around.
"As long as Mother is happy." He tried to find Xu Mingyi in the crowd and finally found her in an inconspicuous corner.
A shy look appeared on Xu Mingyi's face, as soft and fluffy as a dough ball.
“Ah Hui, it’s time to go. Your father is still waiting for you at home. It’s unlucky for engaged couples to meet. She doesn’t understand, and neither do you.” Madam Cheng grabbed Cheng Zhijie’s arm.
He smiled slightly and said calmly, "Coming."
Xu Zhi glanced in this direction, frowned and remained silent, then sent Dan Hong to pick up Xu Mingyi.
Sui Chengyu, who was clinging to Sui Zhixu, naturally saw it too, and said indignantly, "How could Madam Cheng do this? When did Chang'an start having this kind of rule?"
"I remember their wedding was in the autumn, which is just over a month ago." Sui Zhixu said indifferently, unsure whether their wedding was a good or bad thing in this turbulent year.
Sui He sighed and hugged Xu Mingyi, whose eyes were red. As her teacher's wife, she couldn't really criticize her, so she could only comfort the young lady in her arms.
Sui Chengyu was indignant and recounted the past experiences of Liu Xi and Madam Cheng. She stood in front of the group and berated them. If Sui He hadn't stopped her with a look, Chengyu's denunciation of the Marquis's wife would have been the talk of the town among the young ladies of Chang'an the next day.
However, compared to the disputes within the women's quarters, an even bigger wave surged into the Duke Pei's mansion in Chang'an.
Last year, the Jiangnan region suffered from severe flooding, causing great hardship for the local people. At a critical moment, the imperial government's disaster relief funds were stolen, resulting in the displacement of the people of Jiangnan and heavy casualties.
The incident caused a great uproar throughout the land. The Censorate investigated for a year and only found out that there was an account book, but they had no clue as to where it was.
This time, when Cheng Zhijie found the account books, the mastermind behind it all pointed directly at Duke Pei.
As Xu stood at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence, he watched as soldiers surged into the neighboring area like a tide, completely surrounding the residence.
Soon after, Duke Pei was invited out, and Xu saw the little boy she had once given gold and pearls to. He was being held in his mother's arms, his wet eyes looking around, completely unaware of what had happened.
His mother kissed his forehead with tears in her eyes, and he could only babble and call out "Mother".
Standing at the head of the table was Duke Pei, with his son, Prince Pei, by his side, and the ever-upright Third Prince Pei…
"It is said that Madam Pei was invited directly from the palace," Dan Hong said softly, standing beside Sui Zhixu.
"Is that so?" Sui Zhixu spoke slowly. She knew about this catastrophe when she saw the last page of the account book. She pictured Pei Qinglian's aloof and cold eyes and the postures of the Pei family members in the distance.
"Sanlang? Sanlang!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Sui Zhixu raised her head.
"My lady, it is Third Lady Ning."
She saw Ning Yan running towards Pei Sanlang, only to be stopped halfway by soldiers.
"Ayan, what are you doing here? Go back now. How will you investigate cases in the future if you knowingly commit a crime?"
The officers and soldiers shouted sternly, "Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from approaching!"
Ning Yan stood outside the battlefield, the crisscrossing broken halberds cutting off their contact and even their conversation. She could only watch helplessly as her beloved was taken away by the soldiers.
"Ayan." Sui Zhixu walked to Ningyan's side.
She lowered her head and said in a deep voice, "A-Lian went in too. While you were away, A-Lian and A-Wan broke up. Not long ago, Xi Yushao explained Jiannan's past to A-Wan. He was not from the branch that married Lady Chu back then, but he had been subjected to unwarranted slander for many years because of that branch. A-Wan felt sorry for his experience, and her love for him was rekindled. A-Lian couldn't stand it, and the two of them argued. In a fit of rage, she tore off her robe and severed all ties with him."
“Now that Sanlang is in great trouble, Father won’t let me get involved and wants me to cut off all contact with Sanlang.”
Ning Yan pulled down Sui Zhixu's clothes and whispered in her ear, "His Majesty's thoughts are hard to fathom. Even if Prime Minister Cong recommends Young Master Cheng to investigate the case, it's hard to guarantee that His Majesty isn't trying to use this opportunity to bring down the Duke's Mansion."
Ning Yan shook her head, looking dejected. "Ah Xu, what am I going to do? I've investigated countless cases, but in the end, I can't even protect Sanlang."
Sui Zhixu helped her up and said calmly, "Don't panic, things haven't gotten to the worst yet. Lord Ning is cautious, things may not be as bad as he thinks. The people on the list are being escorted to Chang'an. You know more about interrogation and torture than I do, we still have time."
"Yes, I was distracted. The Dali Temple first examines the authenticity of the confession, and then compares the witnesses and physical evidence three times. Only when there are still contradictions between the confession and the physical evidence, and it is unclear which is true and which is false, can torture be used."
Ning Yan wiped away the tears from her eyes, "Father won't let me investigate, but I can investigate secretly."
“I can request to assist in this case. I found a copy in the ledger, and I can’t just stand by and watch Ah Lian be sentenced.” Sui Zhixu’s gaze towards Ning Yan was calm yet firm. Their hands, clasped tightly together, conveyed each other’s warmth, and they understood each other perfectly.
She vividly remembers having a private conversation with her father the night she returned home, with the study in the Prime Minister's residence lit up all night.
"What did you say?" Cong Lan's voice fell, her expression grave.
Sui Zhixu said firmly, "I said I suspect the disaster relief funds are related to Prince Xuanping."
She leaned over and rested her head on the table. “In Yungang Village, I saw Yueling’s junior brother and Miao disguised themselves as Taoist priests to lure the villagers into sacrifices. They also impersonated gods and Buddhas to use me as a sacrifice in an attempt to end my life. He is now holding an important position under the Prince of Xuanping. I have every reason to suspect that this matter is related to him.”
"Do you know how the court treats Prince Xuanping?" Cong Lan asked, then leisurely lit the lamp wick.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Zhixu composed himself and said, “He distributes porridge and bestows kindness, and has an excellent reputation among the people. He is exceptionally talented and has a high reputation among scholars and commoners. He is also highly respected for his lineage from the previous dynasty’s royal family. Naturally, the court is very wary of him.”
Cong Lan nodded and then shook his head. "In order to demonstrate 'generosity,' the late emperor recruited former officials and treated the former imperial family well. As a result, some officials in the court were former officials of the previous dynasty, which caused some trouble. Three years ago, I took down a group of former remnants of the previous dynasty who had stationed troops, so you should know that I was appointed prime minister."
Sui Zhixu nodded.
"But do you know why Prince Xuanping was unharmed?"
“I heard that he usually did not attend court, except for that one time when he did attend to apologize.”
“You know quite a lot.” Cong Lan first praised her, then said, “The Dali Temple’s torture and interrogation couldn’t get them to talk. They even fabricated the bloodline of another prince from the previous dynasty, but they couldn’t reveal any information related to the Prince of Xuanping. In addition, he took the initiative to plead guilty, and scholars and common people pleaded for him. His Majesty could only let him stay in his residence to reflect on his mistakes.”
Cong Lan added, "The people of the previous dynasty were all slaughtered by the late emperor. It was only because the Empress Dowager stopped them that the sickly former crown prince and his wives and concubines were spared."
"Plead for him?"
Cong Lan sighed, "I even suspected that he had cast a spell on those people, the fire was burning so fiercely but it didn't burn him at all. Three years ago, his niece happened to pass away. While he was in Jingfu reflecting on his mistakes and praying for her, the people felt even more sorry for him. The incident three years ago caused a big commotion, and since then, it's hard to say how the court will treat him."
"Such a great threat, isn't His Majesty worried? Aren't the officials worried?" Sui Zhixu paused for a moment, then continued.
“Every time we get involved with him, it’s like being trapped in a maze, and we end up getting dragged into it. Over time, unless there is ‘conclusive evidence,’ officials rarely mention him. It’s amazing that your father, you, and your mother are the only two people in all these years who have gotten through his mess and even been promoted. The rest… sigh, it’s all tears when I talk about it.”
Sui Zhixu understood that it was the male protagonist system within him; this was what happened to people with exceptional luck—it was truly disgusting.
“I know you have a good relationship with Madam Pei, and so do I with Old Pei, don’t we? When I found out about this, I sent Ah Hui there hoping to find a way for them to survive. Don’t take her to Prince Xuanping’s place yet, let’s get her out first.”
"Ugh, I'm so worried! I've lost so much hair, what if I go bald? I've taken such good care of my face for so many years, and now I'm going to lose my good looks because of my hair loss?"
Cong Lan accidentally pulled out a few strands of his own hair, which startled him so much that he cried out in pain.
Sui Zhixu sighed helplessly, wondering how her father could switch back and forth between seriousness and insolence.
She casually suggested, "How about we have Danhong take a look at you and find a prescription to help you recover?"
"Really? I was a little embarrassed to ask your mother's people, but I didn't expect you to come to me like this. Then I won't stand on ceremony."
The peach blossom eyes that were exactly like hers were extremely excited, but Sui Zhixu was quite uncomfortable with it. "You don't need to be like this. What's there to be embarrassed about with the people around Mother? You've all been together for so many years."
"Sigh, when I was young, I used some rather disrespectful methods to get rid of my rivals and marry your mother. I'm a little embarrassed about it now that I'm old," Cong Lan said with a proud air.
"Is the head of the Medical Clinic also your rival in love? I clearly remember her as a woman."
“It’s her junior brother. I’m going to find the female physician by my wife’s side. He’ll definitely come and mock me when he hears about it. One day, everyone in Chang’an will know that I’m bald. Father can’t bear the shame.”
Sui Zhixu: "..."
His achievements as a young man were remarkable.
"Knock knock—"
Sui He leaned against the doorway, "What's so embarrassing about that?"
“It’s nothing.” Cong Lan shook her head vigorously, becoming serious. “I meant her lover is not a proper person.”
Sui Zhixu: "?"
"That scoundrel Fan Lingzhang is deeply in love with his wife, and he specifically asked me about the assassination attempt on the pleasure boat two years ago, looking for a suspected murderer. How did he end up getting entangled with you?"
Sui Zhixu cleared her throat. "That's between him and me. Anyway, I won't suffer any losses."
How could she explain that Fan Lingzhang mistook her for his wife? She decided to use this opportunity to inquire about the Prince of Xuanping.
Cong Lan looked at her with a dark and unfathomable gaze, and frowned, saying, "You wouldn't be attracted to his looks, would you? Father doesn't mind that he's a businessman, but he's a widow and his intentions aren't pure. I absolutely cannot agree to your marriage."
“There are so many handsome young men in Chang’an, any one of them would be better than him. If you don’t like him, Xiao Kai, Chu Erlang is also quite good-looking.” Sui He nodded in agreement.
"Wait a minute, when did I say I was getting married?" Sui Zhixu raised her hand to stop the two of them.
"Right now, all I want to do is resolve the Pei family's matter and clear A-Lian's name. As for him, our relationship isn't what you think it is. Anyway, it's very complicated, but I can handle it myself."
"A complicated relationship? You're not treating him like a gigolo, are you?"
"Father, please stop talking."
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