Chapter 21 (She was begging him, begging him to spare her family)
"Wei Mingsu said there were no suspicious points, so Feifei is the murderer?"
Wang Yu stood up, her face pale, and supported herself on the table.
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The news had already spread. After interrogating Lu Huaying, conducting a second autopsy, and questioning everyone at the inn on the day of the incident, Wei Mingsu, based on their testimonies, delivered his verdict: Lu Huaying was the murderer.
The officials of Liucheng were very pleased, and the young noblemen from the capital also breathed a sigh of relief, believing that although Governor Wei had a bad reputation, he was a smart man.
“He must be settling a personal score…” Wang Yu closed her eyes, trembling slightly, “He hates Fei Fei, and he sentenced Fei Fei to death so quickly!”
Pei Jingyao was filled with shame, not knowing what words he could use to comfort Wang Yu. No one could change Wei Mingsu's verdict, and he couldn't help Lu Huaying.
Wang Yu cried in despair for a while, then asked, "Can I see Fei Fei?"
Pei Jingyao shook his head angrily and said, "Wei Mingsu said that Third Sister is the murderer and forbids her from seeing anyone!"
Chai Yong was worried about Lu Huaying and asked to see her, but Wei Mingsu refused. He said he would not talk to Lu Huaying, but only wanted to see her for a few moments, but Wei Mingsu still refused.
Wang Yu felt a wave of weakness wash over her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
A few footsteps sounded from inside the room. The curtain was lifted, revealing a delicate and pretty face. Although she looked haggard, her features were still exquisitely beautiful, and her demeanor was elegant, which made people feel a little sorry for her.
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The Prefect of Xizhou stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the towering mountains shrouded in mist on the horizon outside the city. The snow-capped peaks reflected the sunset, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight.
The ancient temple in the north of the city rang its bell, the sound passing through the pagoda complex where eminent monks of past dynasties were buried, the lingering echo reverberating in the twilight of Xizhou City.
A cold wind blew in through the window, chilling him to the bone. The chief clerk couldn't help but say, "It's going to snow."
The Governor of Xizhou, sitting at his desk, glanced out the window and said, “Quickly close the window! Don’t stand there in the wind. If you catch a cold, how am I supposed to deal with Wei Mingsu and Zhou Qin by myself? And Chai’s third son, his mother, the Princess of Jinxiang, has sent a letter asking me to look after him. The imperial clan is arrogant and domineering, but the Princess of Jinxiang is very humble. Her reputation for virtue and kindness is even spreading throughout Xizhou. She wrote to me personally, but I haven’t replied yet.”
The Prefect of Xizhou closed the window and said, "Zhou Qin is too eager to frame someone, which means he hasn't found any evidence that is detrimental to the Chai family. Chai Yong saved the Prince, which was witnessed by many people. Zhou Qin can only resort to torture. Lu Sanniang, a woman, is quite tough and would rather die than implicate Chai Yong. It won't be difficult for the Chai family to get away with this. Wei Mingsu has just been demoted and won't try to drag the Chai family down like Zhou Qin did. He has offended the Governor and the Duke of Huo's mansion at this time, which is like throwing a pearl at a sparrow. He shouldn't dare to joke about his future."
The governor of Xizhou nodded, which was one of the reasons he pushed the case to Wei Mingsu.
Before Wei Mingsu arrived, he and the chief secretary were very uneasy, worried that Wei Mingsu had come to confiscate their property. After meeting him, they learned that Wei Mingsu had been demoted again.
That night, Wei Mingsu appeared at the foot of Xizhou City, standing in the moonlight, his face covered in dust, his temples white as frost, his expression heavy, looking very dejected. The two wondered if he had been completely rejected by the Empress and could never return to Luoyang.
However, the governor of Xizhou was still somewhat uneasy: "What if Wei Mingsu and Zhou Qin collude?"
Zhou Qin is backed by Suo Yuanli, and Suo Yuanli is backed by the Wu family. Wei Mingsu and Zhou Qin conspired to frame the Chai family and curry favor with the Wu family. Wu Chengsi helped him say a few good words to the Empress, and he was able to be summoned back to Luoyang. This man is ruthless and heartless, and he will do anything for power. What is the Chai family, who are not related to him,?
The Prefect of Xizhou shook his head and said, "The evidence is insufficient, and Wei Mingsu has no way to explain to the Governor. Moreover, the credit for bringing down the Chai family does not belong to him, but to Suo Yuanli and Zhou Qin. He is the one who gets the infamy. Although they are both cruel officials, they are also vying for power and neither of them is willing to submit to the other. Even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. If Wei Mingsu wants to explain himself to the Governor, he will not be willing to use his future to pave the way for Suo Yuanli for nothing."
The governor of Xizhou pondered for a moment, his wrinkles deepening, and said, "Forget it, I can't control him. If he conspires with Zhou Qin, I'll send someone to bring Chai Jia Sanlang over. As long as I can save his life, I'll have given the county magistrate of Jinxiang an explanation."
He didn't want to get involved in the court's intrigues, so he handed the case over to Wei Mingsu, letting Wei Mingsu offend people and also entrusting the fate of the Chai family to him. He felt somewhat guilty towards the Chai family.
The Chief Secretary of Xizhou comforted him, saying, "The Governor is also considering the overall situation. Whether Xizhou is safe or not depends on the Governor. The Governor cannot get involved in the conflict between the Wu family and the Chai family."
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Looking at the moonlight shining on the ground, the Chief Secretary of Xizhou said, "The wisest thing for Wei Mingsu to do is to close the case as soon as possible."
No one knows what kind of turmoil this case will cause.
Few people cared who the real culprit was or whether Lu Huaying was innocent. The Chief Secretary and the Governor were indifferent. The life and death of a woman who had been reduced to a lowly status was insignificant compared to the power, family, and potential upheaval involved in the case.
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A figure knelt before a desk, the lamplight illuminating his curly hair. He closed his eyes in thought, then opened them when he heard the door open.
The chief secretary was startled: "Sijian, is there something you need?"
The middle-aged Hu man stood up, bowed to the chief clerk, and said with a serious expression, "Chief Clerk, there are a few people who have come from Liucheng and wish to see you."
The chief clerk sensed something ominous in his expression, and his eyelids twitched: "Who wants to see me?"
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A young voice came from the corner, and a young man in the uniform of a soldier emerged from the darkness. He quickly walked to the chief clerk, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "My family has been destroyed and I am now wandering aimlessly. I wanted to escape to the south, but I was betrayed by a villain. I have nowhere else to turn but to come to Xizhou to seek refuge with you, Uncle! I beg you, Uncle, to spare my life for the sake of our two families' friendship!"
The moonlight fell on the young man's face, illuminating his handsome, fair features clearly.
The chief secretary stared in disbelief at the face that bore a striking resemblance to his old friend.
The doors and windows were closed, and there was no wind in the room, but he felt the bone-chilling cold seeping in everywhere, as if he had fallen into an ice cave and was watching helplessly as the opening above his head froze over and was completely frozen.
The chief clerk shuddered, his face stiffened, and he walked up to the middle-aged barbarian, raising his hand to slap him across the face.
"Did you already know? Why didn't you report something so important sooner?"
He asked with a gloomy face.
The middle-aged Hu man remained calm and knelt on the ground, whispering, "Chief Secretary, I never expected things to turn out this way. Now that they have escaped to Xizhou, we cannot stand by and watch them die."
He winked at the young man.
The young man crawled to the feet of the Prefect of Xizhou, hugged his legs, and cried loudly, "Uncle, you must save me! Uncle!"
The chief clerk closed his eyes, like a withered leaf in late autumn, devoid of all vitality, becoming old and shriveled.
Did you kill Wu Yanxing?
He asked coldly.
The young man, tears streaming down his face, dared not answer.
The chief secretary sighed deeply, took a dejected step back, and sat down on the mat.
"If only I had known..."
The chief secretary covered his face and sighed.
"Wei Mingsu should not have been allowed to preside over this case."
The chief secretary sat for a long time and remained silent for a long time.
The young man, bewildered and at a loss, quietly stopped crying and looked pleadingly at the middle-aged Hu man, who remained seated and motionless.
"This case must be closed immediately."
The awkward silence was broken by the chief clerk himself. He suddenly raised his head, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"The murderer can only be Lu Sanniang!"
His tone was resolute, and his face was full of determination.
The young man and the middle-aged Hu man exchanged a glance, and both breathed a sigh of relief.
...
A north wind blew all night.
Liucheng closed its city gates, leaving only a small gate open for people to enter and exit, and entry and exit required a pass issued by the government.
The short boy carried a stack of documents he had obtained from the captain of the guards and walked up the stairs.
A boy of similar age to him walked down the aisle, but much taller. He covered his nose with both hands and walked quickly.
"Tongjin, what's wrong?"
Tong Jin let go of his bloody fingers and showed him his face: "I suddenly had a nosebleed. Ah Lang said it was because I couldn't adjust to the new environment and told me to go and rest."
The boy quickly stepped back a few paces to let his companion pass: "You go ahead!"
He carried the documents upstairs.
As dawn broke, the light was dim. The windows were open, and the north wind blew in, making the room whistle. Wei Mingsu sat at his desk writing, his thin figure appearing even more desolate against the backdrop of the bleak morning light outside the window.
The boy dared not make a sound, put down the document, and retreated to his room.
Tong Jin washed his face, lay down on the bed, and pinched his nose tightly.
The boy walked over and lay down next to him, nudging his arm: "Tongjin, don't you think Alang's temper has become even stranger since he came to Xizhou?"
Tong Jin, not daring to look away from his nose, asked, "What's wrong?"
“I can’t explain it.” The boy’s face showed a thoughtful expression. “I feel like this isn’t Alang’s first time in Xizhou! After leaving Yumen Pass, Alang seemed to be familiar with everything. He knew where the post stations were, where the beacon towers were, and where to fetch water. He was very calm about everything he saw.”
Unlike them, they find everything they see new and exciting every day.
"Impossible!" Tong Jin shook his head, his tone confident. "This place is so far from the Central Plains. Alang's hometown is in the south. How could he have come to Xizhou? Moreover, the round trip from the capital to Xizhou would cost a lot just for the carriage, lodging, provisions, and expenses. Alang's family is very poor. I heard that before he became an official, he was so poor that he couldn't even afford a horse. He had to walk everywhere. His colleagues have ridiculed him for this many times. Where would he get the money to travel to Xizhou?"
The boy was silent for a moment, then said, "What you said makes sense, but Ah Lang's eyes give me the feeling that this isn't his first time here!"
Tong Jin laughed heartily: "A Fu, you follow A Lang every day, haven't you heard the saying, 'Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles'? People who read a lot have broad knowledge, and it's like they've traveled ten thousand miles without even leaving home. A Lang reads every day, both outside and at home, so he has much more knowledge than us. He must have read about the local customs and culture of Xizhou in books, unlike us who have little experience!"
Afu thought about it and nodded. That makes sense.
Upstairs, the steward led several servants to knock on Wei Mingsu's door.
“Governor Wei, the Registrar said last night that the weather looks like it’s going to snow soon, so he sent me to bring you winter clothes and a stove.”
Wei Mingsu looked at the official documents on the table and nodded.
The steward and servants carried the stove into the room and immediately noticed that Wei Mingsu was dressed in thin clothes. They smiled ingratiatingly and said, "This is Governor Wei's first time in Xizhou. He may not know that it's winter here."
"No matter how cold it is, even though it's still early in the season, the snow can start falling suddenly! And when it starts, it'll be a heavy snowfall!"
Wei Mingsu raised his head and looked out the window at the bluish-gray sky and the continuous snow-capped mountains, with the horizon turning slightly white.
The heavy snow in Xizhou can freeze people to death.
"I have been to Xizhou."
He said calmly.
The steward was taken aback. Governor Wei had been to Xizhou?
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and a soldier ran up: "Prefect Wei, the brother of Lu San Niang, a lowly commoner, requests an audience."
Wei Mingsu raised his eyes.
...
Lu Hongbi's head was still bandaged with blood, and he was too weak to mount a horse. Pei Jingyao hired a carriage to take him to Wei Mingsu's building.
Lu Huaying was lying on the ground.
"Second Brother?"
The guards immediately rushed forward. The few unfamiliar guards, seeing that they had been exposed, gritted their teeth, drew their swords, and charged forward, engaging in close combat.
At that moment, Lu Hongbi stood with his hands behind his back on the steps, looking down coldly at Wei Mingsu kneeling on the ground, his expression indifferent and arrogant: "Who is your status? There's no need to see you. Also, Wei Mingsu, you are not someone who can call Third Sister by her nickname."
She sat up and slowly moved to the doorway, where she saw several guards dragging Lu Hongbi into a room. His clothes were disheveled, and he was being dragged along by his collar, looking utterly wretched.
A gaze fell upon him.
The flames immediately engulfed the entire second floor.
The fire was still burning, mixed with the shouts of the soldiers.
Wei Mingsu closed the official document with his pale, rough hands and gestured to the guards to let the man in.
"Where is Governor Wei?" Lu Huaying gripped the window. "My injuries are much better, I want to see Governor Wei!"
He directed everyone to evacuate, but then ran upstairs himself.
Wei Mingsu stood by the window and glanced down.
Lu Huaying stood up anxiously.
"Quickly, put out the fire!"
Chai Yong stood by the window, watching the neighboring courtyard engulfed in flames. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he turned and ran toward the cell where Lu Huaying was imprisoned.
“Prefect Wei…” Lu Hongbi raised his head, “If you knew Feifei before she was thirteen… perhaps you would forgive her after she turned thirteen.”
Wei Mingsu didn't even lift his eyelids, and said coldly, "I have my own procedures for handling this case."
Pei Jingyao found Chai Yong.
“Governor Wei, Feifei has wronged you, but her crime does not warrant death. Please spare her life.”
Lu Huaying looked into his eyes.
The voice was cold and sharp.
Wei Mingsu's voice was calm and composed.
The implication is that Chai Yong was not the official in charge of handling the case, and it was not his place to interfere.
Lu Huaying's expression changed.
The guard went in to deliver a message, and came out a short while later, gesturing for him to go in.
Wei Mingsu did not look at the firelight behind him.
Now, it was his turn to kneel at Wei Mingsu's feet, humbly begging Wei Mingsu to spare Lu Huaying.
Wei Mingsu looked down at her.
The group followed him through the alley and into a courtyard across the street. It was close to the fire, but separated by a street, so the fire couldn't reach them.
Lu Hongbi broke free from the guards, got up again, and ran towards Wei Mingsu's retreating figure: "Prefect Wei, I'll kneel before you and apologize, as long as you can vent your anger! Don't you need a murderer to take the blame? I killed Wu Yanxing! I beat him to death! I can confess!"
Lu Hongbi did not hear her voice.
The group rushed to the prison cell door. Several unfamiliar guards looked flustered when they saw them and lowered their heads.
Lu Hongbi looked up and saw a slender figure standing with his hands behind his back on a high platform made of rammed earth opposite him. Behind him was an endless, gray sky and snow-capped mountains standing on the horizon. The sun was rising, and a ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the silvery mountaintop and also on his brow.
The golden roof was dazzling, but the young man had a cold expression.
"Wei Mingsu!" Lu Hongbi stood up. "I beg you, spare Feifei!"
Four years ago, Wei Mingsu came to the Lu family to ask for a marriage proposal. The person who drove him out of the Duke's mansion was Lu Hongbi.
Chai Yong's expression turned serious. He gestured for his attendants to leave, paced back and forth in the room, then suddenly stopped, unfastened the waist knife from his belt, and rubbed his temples.
The guard grabbed his sword and pounded on the window: "Who is Governor Wei? Who are you? Do you think you can just see Governor Wei whenever you want? You're already sentenced to death, so cherish what you have now!"
His heart tightened, and he anxiously picked up Lu Huaying, pressing his fingers against her wrist, and let out a long breath.
She begged him, crying.
The guard glanced at Lu Hongbi, who was dressed in tattered clothes and had a pale face, and waved him away, saying, "The governor has no time to see you!"
Several captains of the garrison stopped the terrified garrison soldiers and led them to fetch water to put out the fire.
Chai Yong picked up Lu Huaying and ran out of the prison cell. The guards, fearing he would escape, stayed close to him.
A north wind blew up the curtains, and a burning smell wafted in. Along with the smell, a sudden shout erupted outside the window.
Chai Yong clenched his fist inside his sleeve.
The fighting at the entrance stopped, and the guards escorted a man into the cell. Blood was splattered on his shoulders and the hem of his blue robe. His gaze fell on Lu Huaying, whom Chai Yong was holding.
The guards downstairs were about to help put out the fire when they caught a glimpse of Wei Mingsu running in the opposite direction. They paused for a moment, then quickly turned around and ran back.
Wei Mingsu calmly raised his eyes, his face covered in sweat. He stuffed the official document into his pocket, turned around, walked to the window, and decisively jumped out.
Young Lu Hongbi closed his eyes and turned around.
"Second Brother!"
Outside the cell, the flames grew ever closer.
A hint of self-mockery flashed across Lu Hongbi's face as he said, "Please go in and inform Governor Wei that this lowly commoner, Lu Hongbi, requests an audience."
Suddenly, flames erupted in the neighboring courtyard, and black smoke drifted away in the twilight. Soldiers and attendants ran around like headless flies in the narrow corridor, their footsteps and voices a jumble of panic.
Lu Hongbi walked into the courtyard.
She heard Lu Hongbi's voice.
A tear welled up in Lu Hongbi's eyelids, and his forehead slammed heavily against the muddy ground.
Lu Huaying slowly opened her eyes.
She was begging him, begging him to spare her family.
Chai Yong immediately sensed that Wei Mingsu would not release the person.
"Fire!"
...
A bleak smile gradually appeared on Lu Hongbi's pale face. He looked up at the young man, put both knees down, and knelt down.
Just as the two people were about to pass each other, Wei Mingsu suddenly said, "Grab them."
Chai Yong went to see Wei Mingsu.
He frowned slightly and said, "Prefect Wei, Lu San Niang has been sentenced to death. Lu Er Lang is her brother. He was provoked and spoke recklessly. On the day the Prince was murdered, he stayed at home and did not go out. Please investigate thoroughly, Prefect Wei."
"Prefect Wei..." Her mind was still hazy. Afraid that he would turn around and leave, she sat up from Chai Yong's arms. "Prefect Wei, it's all my fault..."
"Prefect Wei." Chai Yong strode up the stairs, exuding a sharp air, and didn't forget to first bow, displaying the demeanor inherent in a scion of a noble family. "I heard that you, Prefect, have also arrested Lu Erlang? What crime did he commit?"
The tall boy ran over and raised his arm, saying, "This way!"
Four years had passed, and the young man's calm and resolute demeanor made Lu Hongbi almost unable to lift his head.
Chai Yong didn't bring his waist knife. He kicked aside a guard and rushed into the prison cell.
In the blink of an eye, large bursts of burning sparks blew over, sprinkling onto the roof and windows, and blue smoke rose everywhere.
A soldier ran in and said, "Governor Wei, the fire is about to spread!"
Wei Mingsu stood with his back to the sunlight, his face shrouded in shadow, silent, before turning and leaving.
That tear, as it slid down her dirty face, was etched into Lu Hongbi's heart.
"Sanlang, Governor Wei has arrested Lu Erlang as well!"
Wei Mingsu turned and walked out of the cell: "Everyone, leave immediately."
A soldier from the garrison came over and knocked on the door to warn Lu Huaying.
"He confessed to killing the prince, and I arrested and interrogated him in accordance with regulations."
A figure flashed past, and Wei Mingsu seemed to have thought of something, already rushing downstairs ahead of him.
Lu Huaying looked in the direction Lu Hongbi was dragged away, a chill running through her body.
As dusk settled, the young man in brocade stood in the courtyard, tall and handsome, exuding an imposing aura. His upright posture and agile figure revealed him to be a martial artist. His eyes gleamed with a sharpness unique to youth, like the sunlight filtering through the branches in spring—bright, warm, and harmless.
Several guards came over and held him down. He fell to the ground, his face full of sorrow.
“I went to see Wei Mingsu… He really wanted to take revenge on the Lu family. Third Sister was sentenced to death, and I can’t let her family suffer the same fate.”
The gentle and handsome young master Lu Er Gongzi had long since become a walking corpse, devoid of self-respect, ambition, and the will to live. The only reason he was still alive was because Lu Huaying had not given up on him.
Chai Yong originally wanted to take advantage of the chaos to say a few words to Lu Huaying, but seeing that she was not fully conscious, he had to give up.
The one who deserves to die is him, not Lu Huaying.
"Third Sister, Third Sister."
"Brother, I beg you... I beg you..." She writhed in the mud, her face covered in filth and blood, her hands raised as she tried to crawl out of the courtyard. "Brother... save me..."
Lu Huaying lifted her head from the mud to look at him, the light in her eyes slowly dimming, and a tear fell down her cheek.
Tong Jin asked Chai Yong to put Lu Huaying down.
Four years ago, Wei Mingsu, even wearing a new turban and clean new clothes, could not hide his poverty and destitution. He knelt straight at his feet, his self-respect and pride completely shattered: "Let me see Feifei."
Under the dim red light of the fire, Wei Mingsu went upstairs to gather the official documents and yellow paper recording confessions on his desk. Flames burst in through the window, and the curtains quickly caught fire, but he seemed not to notice. He took all the documents and turned to go downstairs, only to be blocked by the scorching flames at the door.
...
"How did my second brother get arrested?" Lu Huaying didn't back down. "He wasn't at the inn that day and had nothing to do with this case."
The guard sneered, "Your brother is obstructing Governor Wei's investigation. Governor Wei said he'll lock him up for a few days to let him calm down."
Wei Mingsu hated not only her, but also the Lu family.
“Prefect Wei, four years ago, the Lu family was blind to the truth. Prefect Wei, please be magnanimous and let Fei Fei go. She did not kill anyone.”
Thirteen-year-old Fei Fei was also pinned to the ground in front of him in the same way.
Lu Huaying, who was fast asleep in her cell, was awakened by the noise outside.
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