Chapter 23 (Four years ago, Wei was ignorant and arrogant)
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The moonlight shone on her, a layer of ice and snow, the chill seeping into her skin from head to toe, penetrating her bones, and reaching her very heart.
After a few muffled voices outside the door, footsteps sounded, then silence fell, completely still.
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Lu Huaying slowly curled up into a ball and fell onto the pillow, her mind blank and her body stiff and cold.
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Before, she could laugh when she wanted to laugh and cry when she wanted to cry, never suppressing her feelings. Later, she became too tired and couldn't cry anymore, nor did she have time to cry.
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The world is cold and indifferent. After the Lu family's property was confiscated, she experienced far too much humiliation and disgrace.
She is now in a desperate situation with no other choice.
But this time, it seems she misunderstood Wei Mingsu.
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Since their reunion, even when he had to interrogate her, Wei Mingsu always kept his eyes down and wouldn't look at her. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't say a word to her. How could he still want her when he hated her to this extent?
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The county magistrate and the registrar instructed them to serve Governor Wei well. They understood and made arrangements according to the rules for serving high-ranking officials, preparing hot water, spices, wine, and dancing girls to warm the bed.
After Wu Yanxing and his group moved into Liucheng, the county magistrate made these arrangements, and Zhou Qin and his subordinates also sent dancers to them.
Before nightfall, Governor Wei's attendants said they would send Lu San Niang to the inner courtyard, and they did so. Just now, another steward came, took a look around the inner courtyard, and scolded them for their incompetence, saying that the dancers they had chosen were not as beautiful as Lu San Niang, and that Governor Wei did not like them.
The two men were filled with trepidation. After pondering for a moment, they suddenly realized what was going on, so they didn't let the dancer into the courtyard and replaced her with Lu San Niang instead.
"Every word we have said is true; we would never dare to deceive the governor!"
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Wei Mingsu's expression did not soften; he waved his hand.
The guards dragged the two servants out.
Tong Jin and A Fu ran over one after the other, watching as two trembling servants were dragged away.
"I went to the south of the city to arrest people, and I told you to keep an eye on the inner courtyard. Is this how you kept an eye on it? How could you let them send the dancer to Ah Lang's room?"
Tong Jin was so angry that he slapped A Fu on the head.
Ah Fu was short and couldn't dodge, so he could only cover his head, looking aggrieved: "I was worried that someone would sneak in and set a fire at night, so I went to the roof to keep watch for Ah Lang. I didn't pay attention to them. Who knew they would send women to Ah Lang?"
Tong Jin was furious. Sending women was one thing, as such things were tacitly accepted in official circles, but how could they send prisoners?
The two complained to each other while secretly watching Wei Mingsu's expression.
Under the moonlight, Wei Mingsu's face was as cold as ice, and his voice was also tinged with chill: "Find the steward who delivered the message."
Tong Jin and A Fu split up to look for people, but after searching around, the managers they found all said they had never been inside the inner courtyard.
The two men asked their servants to identify him, but the servants said it was dark when the steward entered the courtyard, and they couldn't see clearly who it was, only that he was dressed...
He was dressed in the clothes of a steward, spoke arrogantly, and spoke with a thick accent of Heluo Mandarin, so I assumed he was one of Governor Wei's own attendants.
Tong Jin asked around, cold sweat trickling down his forehead: a manager had infiltrated, and they hadn't even noticed!
Afu glanced at the guards around him, full of vigilance, and whispered, "My lord came to Liucheng in a hurry and only brought the two of us with him. We can't trust anyone else."
Tong Jin nodded, a look of lingering fear on his face. "Now, in Liucheng, besides us, the only people who can speak the Heluo Mandarin are those young masters from the capital and Minister Zhou and his group. Ah Lang, it must be Minister Zhou who wants to harm you!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud bang came from the direction of the door!
With this loud bang, the entire courtyard seemed to shake, and sand fell from the roof.
The guards were terrified and drew their swords, rushing towards the door and shouting questions.
Ignoring everything, the people outside continued their reckless assault, and with a few loud bangs, the door was finally forced open from the outside!
A group of men dressed in black rushed in, carrying knives. Behind them, others carried torches and escorted Zhou Qin, who was wearing a black cloak, into the courtyard.
Afu and Tongjin immediately stepped in front of Wei Mingsu.
"My lord, run! Vice Minister Zhou has broken in and killed someone!"
Wei Mingsu stood still, looking calmly at the smug Zhou Qin: "He didn't come here to kill anyone."
Zhou Qin came to confront Lu Huaying, only to discover that he knew her.
Wei Mingsu took a step forward and instructed his companion, "Go in and keep watch. Don't let anyone in."
We shall proceed together.
The soldiers, intimidated by Zhou Qin's imposing presence, slowly retreated to Wei Mingsu's side.
With a confident smile on his lips, Zhou Qin walked into the courtyard step by step. His gaze fell on Wei Mingsu, who was standing under the moonlight, and he paused, his smile freezing for a moment.
Why is Wei Mingsu outside?
Zhou Qin glanced at his subordinates out of the corner of his eye.
His subordinates were also stunned by the surprise.
Zhou Qin's expression darkened slightly.
He had already taken Lu Sanniang to Wei Mingsu's bed, and the steward reported that Wei Mingsu had entered the room, where incense from the Western Regions was lit, and even the stone man couldn't resist. How could Zhou Qin miss such a golden opportunity? He immediately led his men to catch them in the act.
As Zhou Qin burst through the door, he could almost picture his men rushing into the room and pinning the disheveled Wei Mingsu to the bed. The thought of making someone like Wei Mingsu feel utterly ashamed in front of him filled Zhou Qin with immense pleasure, making him feel light as a feather, and he grinned from ear to ear.
Upon entering the courtyard, Zhou Qin's bright smile froze.
Why is Wei Mingsu standing outside, dressed neatly and with a calm expression?
Zhou Qin's smile faded, and he frowned as he sized up Wei Mingsu.
Does Wei Mingsu have some hidden illness? How come it's over so quickly?
Zhou Qin's mind raced, and he felt that he might have guessed the truth. He glanced at the inner courtyard and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.
He secretly regretted arriving too late, unable to catch her in bed, but he had already obtained evidence of Wei Mingsu and Lu Sanniang's acquaintance and had still managed to find a handle on Wei Mingsu.
Zhou Qin narrowed his eyes, his gaze suddenly turning cold: "Prefect Wei, you're quite the ladies' man!"
Wei Mingsu remained calm: "What do you mean by that, Vice Minister Zhou?"
“Prefect Wei, stop being so stubborn.” Zhou Qin said with a forced smile, “Prefect Wei, do you think that just because Xizhou is remote, no one knows about your past? Four years ago, you were a sutra copyist at Luyuan Temple, and you had an affair with Lu San Niang. Cheng Can witnessed it with his own eyes. You had an affair with Lu San Niang, so it's not appropriate for you to be the presiding judge in this case, is it?”
A collective gasp came from the doorway.
Zhou Qin led his men to break down Wei Mingsu's door. The news reached the officials in Liucheng, and a group of men rushed over with their entourages, barely dressed. Zhou Qin's men did not stop them.
For them, the more onlookers there are when they catch someone cheating, the better.
The group of people had just arrived at the door when they heard Zhou Qin's words, and they all stared at Wei Mingsu in disbelief.
...
The noise of the door being banged on could be heard throughout the entire courtyard.
Lu Huaying sensed something was wrong with the noise outside and got out of bed.
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but turn to Wei Mingsu.
Zhou Qin remained silent for a while, his face darkening. He handed the paper back to Afu and bowed to Wei Mingsu, saying, "I drank too much tonight and trespassed on Governor Wei's residence, obstructing Governor Wei's investigation. I was truly wrong and dare not disturb Governor Wei any further. Governor Wei, I apologize!"
Clearly, Zhou Qin had seized on Wei Mingsu's weakness and exposed it in public. With dozens of ears listening to Zhou Qin's words, would Governor Wei give them a good face after tonight?
After regaining their senses, everyone shuddered and lowered their heads, quietly moving back: Governor Wei was even more terrifying than Zhou Qin! If they didn't run away, were they just waiting to incur Governor Wei's wrath?
The unwavering determination revealed in those words left Zhou Qin speechless.
The magistrate of Liucheng County and the Registrar of Households looked embarrassed and regretted that they had arrived so quickly.
Wei Mingsu put the paper he had just shown Zhou Qin into his sleeve and glanced back at the direction of the inner courtyard.
Everyone loves to watch a spectacle, but sometimes watching a spectacle can ruin your future.
The others stood there, looking completely bewildered.
He didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. Was Governor Wei forced to admit this by Zhou Qin, or did he simply not care about his colleagues' doubts and was determined to take revenge on the Lu family?
Afu watched from the top of the wall for a while, then jumped down.
After a moment's thought, Steward Gu said, "Young Master, this old servant thinks it might be a good thing."
Zhou Qin's lips curled into a smile.
The smile on Zhou Qin's face disappeared.
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Zhou Qin snapped out of his daze and took a step forward: "Prefect Wei, since you've admitted it, hand over Lu Sanniang! This case should be tried by me to convince the public."
As they were speaking, the voice of a servant came from outside the door.
Lu Huaying could only climb onto the bed, lean against the window, and listen intently to the voices coming from outside.
The crowd immediately fell silent, all turning their gazes to Wei Mingsu.
Liu Cheng's officials and subordinates stared at him with wide eyes. He couldn't help but tremble, a shadow falling over his face. He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and turned to leave in a hurry.
Steward Gu said, "Your Highness, although Governor Wei is known as a cruel official who has launched a great crackdown on the imperial family and aristocratic families, none of the cases he presided over when he was in the Dali Temple were overturned."
"If Vice Minister Zhou feels that my judgment is unfair when the case is closed, he may appeal to His Majesty."
Pei Jingyao looked at him nervously, "Sanlang, the news that Governor Wei once proposed marriage but was rejected has spread. Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?"
"study."
Wei Mingsu looked at Zhou Qin with a calm expression: "The Governor and Chief Secretary of Xizhou have already decided that I, Wei, will preside over this case. Lu Sanniang and I are not related by blood, so I do not need to recuse myself. When I took on this case, I already told the Governor that I had met Lu Sanniang four years ago and had already reported the whole story to the capital."
Did Governor Wei scare away the ruthless Zhou Qin with just a piece of paper?
These words caused everyone's faces to show expressions of disbelief.
Including Lu Huaying, who was listening by the window.
Chai Yong nodded, his eyes lighting up: "If the evidence isn't enough, he won't dare close the case. Once word gets out, it will be even harder to close it."
Zhou Qin narrowed his eyes, unable to guess what Wei Mingsu wanted him to see, and took the paper with a sullen face and opened it.
She heard Zhou Qin questioning Wei Mingsu.
Pei Jingyao sighed, "If only we could capture those ten guards!"
Steward Gu shook his head: "The cases presided over by Governor Wei are all based on solid evidence, so no one has overturned them. There are so many suspicious points in the death of the Prince, and those ten soldiers have escaped. Governor Wei wants to prove that Lu San Niang is the murderer, but the evidence is not enough. He is now being questioned for taking revenge in public office, and he must find more compelling evidence to prove that Lu San Niang is the murderer."
Tong Jin strode in, pushed open the door, and said to Lu Huaying, "Third Sister Lu, don't wander around!"
Wei Mingsu raised his hand.
The crowd erupted in a clamor of discussion.
Wei Mingsu admitted that he knew her, but only said that he admired her and went to the Lu family to propose marriage, but was rejected by the Lu family. He didn't mention her at all... Everyone would naturally assume that it was the lowly Wei Mingsu who was delusional and wanted to marry the high and mighty her.
After saying that, he slammed the door shut and sat down to guard it.
Wei Mingsu remained expressionless and calmly admitted, "I do know Lu Sanniang."
She was completely stunned.
The guards outside the gate stood under the eaves, huddled together and whispering among themselves.
He said it, his tone completely flat.
Wei Mingsu looked at him.
The events of the night were known throughout Liucheng the next day.
Chai Yong paused for a moment, then said, "Please let him in."
This Governor Wei, of such low birth, dares to covet the legitimate daughters of the five noble families!
Pubu stood in front of Chai Yong and whispered, "Minister Zhou went to question Governor Wei in a fierce manner, but he was so frightened by a piece of paper from Governor Wei that his face changed drastically, and he immediately took his men back."
In an instant, tears welled up, pressing heavily on Lu Huaying's eyes and her heart.
The crowd fell silent, but Zhou Qin would not remain silent. He looked at Wei Mingsu, raising his face triumphantly, pleased that he had finally gained the upper hand: "Prefect Wei, do you have anything else to say?"
Four years have passed... Even though he loathed her, Wei Mingsu still took on all the blame and protected her reputation, just like before.
"Young Master, there's a servant outside requesting an audience. We can't get rid of him no matter what we do. He says he can help Lu San Niang!"
Afu, who was standing next to him, walked up to Zhou Qin with a piece of paper in his hand.
He glanced at the others, then raised his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them under the moonlight.
The subordinates looked at each other, stunned for a moment, then came to their senses and followed.
He spoke each word calmly and composedly.
Chai Yong shook his head and remained silent.
...
The guards closed the gates and returned to their posts. Each of them was quick and efficient, and their eyes were filled with even more respect and fear as they looked at Wei Mingsu.
Wei Mingsu paused for a moment, then continued, "Four years ago, I was ignorant of my place and lacked respect for hierarchy. I admired Lu San Niang and rashly went to propose marriage, only to be rejected by the Lu family."
More and more people gathered in the courtyard, and the crowd talked incessantly.
...
...
The other three people in the room were all looking at him.
Chai Yong looked surprised: "Not a single case has been overturned?"
His stubbornness hasn't changed in four years.
He was the one who seduced him.
Chai Yong frowned.
Where will you be sleeping tonight?
When gods fight, mortals suffer!
"My lord, Vice Minister Zhou and the others have all left."
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