Chapter 17 (The silver gleam at the man's temples was not moonlight)
Outside the post station, Pubu inquired about Wei Mingsu's identity and went to the Lu family to report the news.
Chai Yong's face was full of disappointment: "Neither the Governor of Xizhou nor the Chief Secretary came. Who came?"
His father had served as the Prefect of Xizhou when he was alive, and the current Governor of Xizhou was then a military advisor in the Protectorate General's Office. The two had worked together for eight years, and their families were old friends. If the Governor of Xizhou were to come to Liucheng in person, he would surely be able to suppress Zhou Qin's arrogance, and Chai Yong could also use the friendship between the two families to persuade the Governor to arrest Wu Yanxing's followers. However, the Governor shirked his responsibilities and refused to come, clearly not wanting to offend Zhou Qin and Suo Yuanli behind him.
The governor's inaction from the sidelines indicated that the situation was even more serious than Chai Yong had imagined.
Pubu said, "It is Governor Wei Mingsu. I heard that he was demoted to Raozhou, and after leaving the capital, he was demoted by the emperor to several thousand miles away. He just arrived in Xizhou. Before his demotion, he was in charge of the judicial affairs at the Dali Temple. The governor asked him to handle this case. As soon as he arrived in Liucheng, he brought people to bring Lady Lu out of the prison."
Pei Jingyao jumped to his feet: "How could it be Wei Mingsu? He's no good!"
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The name Wei Mingsu was a household name among the纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who were spoiled and dissolute) of Luoyang.
This scribe, who came from humble beginnings, was penniless before the age of twenty. After the age of twenty, he gained the appreciation and promotion of the Empress Dowager and quickly rose to prominence. He helped the Empress Dowager to eliminate dissidents during her revolution to overthrow the Tang dynasty and bloodily slaughtered the descendants of the Li family.
No one could have imagined that a mere poor scholar, fresh out of school, would dare to oppose the gentry of the land. Born a monastery student, he made a living copying Buddhist scriptures, yet he possessed no Buddhist heart, was shameless, vicious, and perverse. Well-versed in classics and history, he willingly became a lackey of women for power. Beneath his handsome exterior lay a mad and cruel wolf, his hands flowing with blood in just a few years, striking fear into the hearts of the royal families, nobles, and powerful clans of Chang'an and Luoyang.
After the completion of the Mingtang, the tallest building in the Tang Dynasty, the Empress Dowager held a grand ceremony there to worship the Heavenly Emperor. On that day, the Empress Dowager wore the imperial robes for the first time and arrived at the Zetian Gate Tower in Luoyang to receive the obeisance of all the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries.
Wei Mingsu stood beside the Empress Dowager, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his official robe. His dark, indifferent eyes swept over the assembled officials. Compared to the swaggering Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi, he was as quiet as an ordinary scholar who had inadvertently stumbled into the ceremony. However, no one dared to ignore him. Everyone knew that if anyone dared to show even a hint of disdain, doubt, or anger towards the Empress Dowager wearing the imperial robes, Wei Mingsu would immediately reveal his devilish nature and beat that person to death on the spot!
On that very day, Princess Jinxiang understood the Empress Dowager's determination and ambition to become emperor, and decided to send Chai Yong to Xizhou to avoid a bloody storm that would inevitably sweep through the entire court.
Young men from prominent families like Chai Yong and Pei Jingyao often received earnest advice from their elders, and the name Wei Mingsu was familiar to them.
The Princess of Jinxiang once instructed Chai Yong that it was better to offend powerful high-ranking officials in the court than to offend cruel officials like Suo Yuanli, Lai Junchen, and Wei Mingsu.
Pei Jingyao's face showed more anxiety as he said, "I heard that Wei Mingsu was bullied by the sons of noble families before he rose to power, so he hates the powerful families especially. After he gained power, he specifically targeted the powerful families to avenge the humiliation he suffered back then. This kind of dark-hearted villain is no different from the vicious Zhou Qin!"
Lu Huaying was the most prestigious daughter of one of the five noble families, and the very family that Wei Mingsu hated the most.
"Steward Gu!" Chai Yong frowned and called over a middle-aged man. "You are the steward of the manor, familiar with the interpersonal relationships between the court and high-ranking families. What is the relationship between Wei Mingsu and Suo Yuanli?"
Steward Gu lowered his head and said, "Young Master, Suo Yuanli, Zhou Xing and the like are birds of a feather and have close ties. However, this Prefect Wei is an exception. He doesn't associate with others much. He comes from a humble background and seems to know nothing about the interpersonal relationships in officialdom."
Chai Yong then asked, "Has our Chai family ever offended Wei Mingsu?"
Steward Gu shook his head and said, "The noble families of the capital city disdain associating with Governor Wei. The Duke's Mansion and Governor Wei keep to themselves."
Chai Yong breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "Last year, the Wu family wanted to form a marriage alliance with our Chai family, but my mother declined. The Wu family was dissatisfied, so Wu Yanxing kept provoking me. Zhou Qin wanted to frame me for Wu Yanxing's death, which was most likely also at the behest of the Wu family, as revenge against the Chai family. Although Wei Mingsu has a bad reputation, he has never had any enmity with the Chai family. His handling of this case may bring a turning point."
The Chai family had not offended Wei Mingsu, and Wei Mingsu had come at the behest of the Governor of Xizhou, so he was unlikely to be as determined as Zhou Qin to bring down the Chai family.
But would he be willing to uphold justice for Lu Huaying, who now holds a lowly status? Would he, like the Registrar of Household Affairs and the Magistrate of Liucheng County, disregard human life, hastily close the case, and directly...
Should Lu Huaying be sentenced to death?
After a moment's thought, Chai Yong said, "I will go and see Governor Wei, and explain the doubts about this case to him in person."
Upon hearing the word "turning point," Pei Jingyao's face lit up with joy: "It's good that there's a turning point!"
He immediately relayed the news to Wang Yu, who had been weeping day and night for the past few days.
He meant well, but when Wang Yu heard Wei Mingsu's name, the last trace of color drained from her face, and she trembled with fear: "Wei Mingsu?"
Pei Jingyao comforted her, saying, "Sister-in-law, Sanlang will go to Governor Wei to prove that Sanniang is innocent. Governor Wei has no grudge against the Chai family and will not try to frame someone like Zhou Qin did."
Wang Yu's face turned deathly pale, and tears streamed down her face: "You don't know... Wei Mingsu has no grudge against the Chai family, but what he hates most is our Lu family!"
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Wang Yu still remembers the look in Wei Mingsu's eyes four years ago when he was driven out of the Duke's mansion, got up from the ground, slowly straightened his back, and turned to look back at the Lu family.
Those dark, calm eyes were filled with deep-seated hatred.
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The soldier from Xizhou Prefecture took the heavy purse that Steward Gu had stuffed into his hand, beaming with joy, and said, "Young Master, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, but if you want to see Governor Wei, you may have to wait until tomorrow. Today, wave after wave of people have come to see him, but Governor Wei hasn't seen any of them. The Prefect wanted to hold a welcome banquet for Governor Wei, but he declined."
Chai Yong asked, "I wonder what Governor Wei is busy with?"
The soldier replied, "After the clerk and the prefect left, Governor Wei was in the room looking at official documents. We didn't see anyone else. He hasn't changed his clothes since he entered the city, nor has he sent anyone to bring him food."
The dignified governor appeared before everyone dressed in a drab gray robe. The clerk and the county magistrate were so shocked that their eyes almost popped out of their sockets. If it weren't for the fact that Wei Mingsu was surrounded by soldiers from Xizhou Prefecture who were carrying swords, no one would have believed that he was the ruthless governor Wei.
Chai Yong thought to himself that Wei Mingsu had taken Lu Huaying away and taken over the case as soon as he arrived in Liucheng, so he must first understand what happened in the case before he could make a judgment.
He gestured to Steward Gu to give the guard another purse, and looking at the guard, he said earnestly, "Please tell Governor Wei that the guards of the Prince are all suspected of murder."
"So that's what the young master wanted to talk to Governor Wei about..." The guard stuffed his purse into his sleeve and laughed, "Young master, Governor Wei just sent someone to deliver an order that all the prince's personal guards must stay in the post station and not leave without his written permission!"
Chai Yong was taken aback, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.
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A series of hoofbeats approached from behind, and a sweaty young man jumped off his horse and ran past him.
Chai Yong waited outside the door for a while. People kept going in and out of the courtyard, but no one spoke. From their hurried footsteps, it was clear that their superior, Wei Mingsu, was strict and authoritative.
Pubu came to find Chai Yong and said in a low voice, "Young Master, Young Master Pei said that Governor Wei and the Lu family have a feud."
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Wang Yu, her face filled with despair and tears welling in her eyes, said, "Young Master Chai, four years ago, Wei Mingsu came to the Lu family to propose marriage. He wanted to marry Third Sister..."
Chai Yong was stunned and blurted out, "How is that possible?"
Four years ago, Lu Huaying was a noblewoman from one of the five noble families, while Wei Mingsu was a penniless sutra copyist. The difference in their social status was like heaven and earth. If he went to the Lu family to ask for her hand in marriage, it would be an understatement to say that he was humiliating himself! In recent years, even when princes wanted to marry daughters of the Lu family, the Lu family had always looked down on them!
Wang Yu wiped away her tears, sighed, and said, "The events of that year cannot be explained in a few words. It was Third Sister who wronged Wei Mingsu. She once said in front of many people that she liked Wei Mingsu... Later, when Wei Mingsu proposed, the Lu family said many things to mock Wei Mingsu."
Chai Yong and Pei Jingyao exchanged a glance, both of them quite taken aback.
Wang Yu sobbed, "Third Sister has fallen into Wei Mingsu's hands; Wei Mingsu will not let her go!"
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Chai Yong snapped out of his reverie, paced back and forth a few steps, and said, "Four years have passed. Perhaps Wei Mingsu doesn't hate Third Sister as much now?"
Wang Yu smiled bitterly: "Young Master Chai is magnanimous and doesn't hold grudges, but most people in this world are vindictive! Besides, Third Sister did indeed deceive Wei Mingsu back then..."
She was lost in thought for a moment, then her gaze fell on Pei Jingyao.
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Pei Jingyao looked suspicious. Why was he asking about his older brother?
He said, "My elder brother is filial, respectful, well-educated, and courteous!"
A hint of mockery flashed across Wang Yu's tear-filled eyes as she gave a sorrowful smile: "Four years ago, the Lu family's property was confiscated, and the women were all imprisoned in the family temple. One night, your eldest brother came late at night, and his attendants came and dragged Third Sister out, taking her to a room alone."
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Wang Yu didn't say it explicitly, but her expression said it all.
"Impossible!" Pei Jingyao was stunned for a long time, his face flushed red, and he looked at Wang Yu angrily. "My elder brother is a gentleman, he would never do such a thing! He truly loved Third Sister, and he was heartbroken for a long time after hearing that Third Sister died in Qianzhou!"
Wang Yu's smile was tinged with sadness.
Lu Huaying had no idea how much Wei Mingsu had changed.
The man, holding the roster, asked calmly.
"Sister-in-law, it's alright."
Wang Yu looked at Pei Jingyao and wiped away her tears: "Fifth Brother, after you return to the capital, you can ask your eldest brother whether he is truly saddened by Third Sister's death or if he is just feeling guilty."
Chai Yong frowned again.
She never imagined she would meet Wei Mingsu again in this lifetime.
...
“When Feifei was taken away, she knew what was going to happen. She told her younger cousins to close their eyes and go to sleep, and she even smiled at me… But I knew how your older brother would treat her. I saw her struggling shadow reflected on the window… She didn’t make a sound. She knew we could hear her… She was afraid we would be scared…”
His voice was low and hoarse.
The man stood in front of her, glanced at her, and walked away, sand falling from the hem of his robe: "Bring me a pen."
Several people came in, lifted Lu Huaying up, and led her into the courtyard.
With Wu Yanxing dead, Liucheng was thrown into chaos. Messengers sped off one after another, and Zhou Qin and Wei Mingsu arrived one after another, each with a more powerful background than the last. The Revenue Department didn't have time to investigate thoroughly, nor did it want to. Anyway, with Lu Huaying as a scapegoat, they could get away with it. Since the Governor and the Chief Secretary hadn't given any orders, the more he did, the more mistakes he would make, so it was better to do nothing.
The moonlight made his jet-black hair shimmer with a silvery light.
Lu Huaying never expected that they would meet again in such an awkward way.
The voice of Steward Gu came from outside the door.
Without any artificial light, only the moonlight and starlight illuminated his figure, which was hazy but could not soften his face, which was colder than a blade. He wore an old blue robe and a turban, and his thin, sharp features were sharp and angular, with unfathomable eyes.
"Lu Huaying".
Lu Huaying wanted to sleep, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter what she did.
Moonlight shone into the prison cell.
He looked at her, called her full name, his voice cold and hoarse, his eyes almost overflowing with disgust.
"If Feifei hadn't hidden a stone in her hand and injured your older brother, how could your older brother have let her go?"
"The governor wants to interrogate you."
"I never want to see you again in my life."
He was unaware of the past between Lu Huaying and Wei Mingsu, and wondered if Wei Mingsu would use this case to retaliate against Lu Huaying.
The man said wearily, "They need to show their travel documents to leave."
Each word was like a sharp knife, piercing Lu Huaying's heart. She couldn't utter a single word, turned around in a panic, and left dejectedly.
Four years ago, Wei Mingsu was driven out of Chang'an by the Lu family and went to Yangzhou.
"Your Highness, something has happened! Governor Wei is ordering the arrest and interrogation of all of the Prince's close associates."
News just came that ten of the guards escorting the Prince are missing!
The clerk's face was pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He said in a low voice, "The prince has suddenly passed away. The escort officer said he would send someone to report the news... I failed to do so."
Zhou Qin, as expected of Suo Yuanli's subordinate, was indeed skilled in interrogation. After being given some medicine by his attendants, she was very clear-headed. Even though every piece of flesh and every bone under her skin was in pain, she was still clear-headed and could not even faint or pretend to be dead.
A figure walked out of the door, boots treading on the yellow earth steps, slowly approaching Lu Huaying.
"Your humble servant will immediately go and find out who these people are in the city!"
"How could someone as ruthless and heartless as Wei Mingsu forget the hatred from four years ago, when a man of such outstanding character as Young Master Pei harbored resentment and attempted to assault her because Third Sister rejected his advances?"
The torment was multiplied, affecting both the physical body and the mind.
Lu Huaying's gaze fell on his temples beneath his turban.
The boy came over carrying a plate of flatbread: "Young man, have something to eat."
The silver gleam at the man's temples was not moonlight.
"How come there are ten people missing?"
The clearer one's consciousness, the more unbearable the pain becomes; every bit of pain is crystal clear.
Over the course of four years, she would occasionally hear news about him. Officials who had been demoted to Xizhou would drink and curse him, and she would listen silently, feeling a mix of emotions.
The nights in Xizhou are more desolate and bleak than those in the Central Plains, but also more magnificent and majestic. The moonlight is bright, the stars are shining, and the Milky Way streaks across the vast night sky like splashing waves, while the cold wind whistles.
She looked at him in disbelief.
Outside, the sky was filled with stars, and the moonlight was bright.
She was carried to a cell on the ground. Outside the cell was a courtyard. Throughout the afternoon, people walked around in the courtyard, but she didn't hear any voices.
Lu Huaying thought about her current situation to ease her pain.
She recalled the last time she saw Wei Mingsu, his gaunt face and his cold, lifeless eyes.
The man closed the register and looked up.
Wei Mingsu didn't recognize her, but he needed to investigate the case, and once he saw the confession, he would be able to discover her identity.
Just when she thought there might be a glimmer of hope, it vanished in an instant. And then came Wei Mingsu, who was even more dangerous than Zhou Qin and harbored a deep hatred for Lu Huaying. From despair, she fell into even deeper despair. Wang Yu couldn't suppress her bitterness, and her face was covered in tears again.
"Young Master!"
Wei Mingsu, who was only in his twenties, already had gray hair at his temples.
When Lu Huaying was taken away, she was pale and turned back to give Wang Yu a slight smile.
The presiding judge for the case was changed to Wei Mingsu.
Hu Cao shouted loudly, then turned and strode out.
She couldn't sit up, nor could she maintain her kneeling position, so the group had to move a stool and put her on it.
Pei Jingyao suddenly dared not meet the gaze of the sickly-looking woman in front of him, and abruptly took a few steps back, his shoulders hunching weakly.
Lu Huaying lay on the haystack, her gaze following the moon's reflection on the ground, which resembled water.
Wang Yu will never forget that smile.
Lu Huaying was startled, snapping out of her daze and realizing that she was not dreaming.
When they met again, she was a prisoner, only able to barely lift her head and see the hem of his robe and boots through the gaps in the crowd.
The cell door was suddenly pulled open.
...
It got dark.
Lu Huaying felt ashamed and guilty, and dared not inquire about him. Later, the Lu family suffered misfortune, and she was exiled to Qianzhou, and then to Xizhou, thousands of miles away from him. She thought she would never see him again in this lifetime.
If Wei Mingsu hadn't come and locked all the soldiers in the post station to count the number of people against the roster, who would have noticed that ten people were suddenly missing?
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