Chapter 164 He is going back to Beijing (fourth update)
That evening, Jingzhe was taken away by Xue Gang. When Zhuang Wan wanted to go see Jingzhe after dinner, Lixia said she had already left Luyang County.
Zhuang Wan didn't know what had happened to Pei Xingju when he went to Nanxi County, what had become of Shen Zongji, or what had happened to Liang Jinxian. Pei Xingju seemed reluctant to elaborate, so she didn't ask any further questions.
The next few days were busy for both of them. Zhuang Wan's shop had begun to take shape, with the first batch of seafood snacks ready. Zhuang Wan also contacted two foreign merchants, hoping to use Luyang as a base to mass-produce these snacks and sell them far and wide.
She went out early and came back late every day, and Lixia followed her. She knew that Lixia was appointed by Pei Xingju, but she did not ask and pretended not to know.
Many officials came in and out of Pei Xingju's house every day. After Liang Jinxian fled Hezhou in a hurry, he actually sent someone to deliver a letter to him the next day.
Pei Xingju unfolded it and saw a list of names on it. He smiled as if he had expected it.
Liang Jinxian was no fool. Now that his affairs had been exposed at Pei Xingju, he couldn't hope to conceal them from Duke Xin. For years, he had been operating covertly in Hezhou, amassing wealth under the guise of building a shrine dedicated to the Empress Ciguang. While this money seemingly went into Duke Xin's pocket, a significant portion had been siphoned off by Liang Jinxian. But what had Liang Jinxian done with it? Any inquiry from Duke Xin would reveal the truth.
He knew that Duke Xin would not let him go, so he was naturally willing to help Pei Xingju. Giving Pei Xingju the list of officials implicated in Hezhou would allow him to directly confront Duke Xin, which would have more advantages than disadvantages for Liang Jinxian.
With this list, Pei Xingju felt like a fish in water, and things in Hezhou went very smoothly.
He was an imperial envoy specially appointed by the Emperor, with the power to execute first and report later in the imperial prison in Hezhou. According to the names on the list, he arrested and tried them one by one, and if there was irrefutable evidence, they would sign and seal it. If they were sent to the capital, they would be imprisoned there, and if they were executed immediately, there would be no delay.
For a time, the entire Luyang almost became the core of Hezhou. The officials of Hezhou and the court thousands of miles away were all staring at this place.
Pei Xingju was resolute and decisive, using an iron fist. Besides the case of Hezhou's private taxation, many unjust cases that had been buried under the corrupt bureaucracy in Hezhou over the past two years were also brought to light.
The most sensational case was the Yuzhuang Liu family case six years ago. Framed, the Liu family, dozens of members, were murdered in the pavilion. The Liu family, long a prosperous family, collapsed like a building, a moment of profound sorrow. However, no fewer than a dozen officials were implicated in the case, the highest-ranking of whom was Liu Rongyi, the prefect of Heyang County.
After the case was investigated, Liu Rongyi was escorted to the capital, and the others were all executed.
On the day of the execution, the Caishikou in Luyang County was crowded with people.
A slender woman stood silently in the crowd, wearing a veil and with an indifferent expression, staring at the guillotine without blinking.
When the tiger-head guillotine fell, it seemed as if something in her heart suddenly disappeared, and she felt empty.
At noon, the cold wind blew fiercely, making Luyang City look like a hell with ghosts and wolves howling.
After the crowd at Caishikou dispersed, Liu Ningyan was numbly pushed along by the crowd. She stumbled and fell, unable to see the way she came.
She stood in the crowd, lonely and confused.
The maid Lingshan asked from the side: "Miss, are you not going back?"
Liu Ningyan asked in a daze: "Where to go back?"
Lingshan said, "Let's go back to the inn. Miss, aren't you going back to the inn?"
Liu Ningyan thought for a long time and asked, "And then?"
"What then?"
"Go back to the inn, then where should I go?" Liu Ningyan suddenly laughed: "Where should I go? Where should I go?"
She laughed and cried, like a lost child.
After crying for a long time, she said very sadly: "Lingshan, I have no home. Where should I go?"
Over the years, she had hidden herself in Zuishenglou, seeking only revenge and redressing the injustice done to the Liu family. Now that her revenge had been avenged and the injustice had been resolved, she suddenly found herself at a loss as to what path to take for the rest of her life.
"Lingshan, where should I go?" she asked crying.
.
In mid-November, the first snow of winter fell.
When Zhuang Wan got up early in the morning, she saw servants from Pei Xing's house across the street coming in and out, all busy loading things onto the carriage.
Pei Xingju is leaving Hezhou and returning to Beijing today.
Zhuang Wan stood at the door and looked for a while.
Lixia came over and asked: "Miss Zhuang, are you really not going back with the adults?"
Zhuang Wan smiled and shook her head. "What will happen to the shop if I go back? It's finally starting to pick up. Besides, your master has invested so much money, I can't let his money go to waste, right?"
She had told Pei Xingju this reason two days ago, when he asked her if she wanted to return to the capital with him. He had actually asked this question several times, and it seemed inappropriate to ask again. So after Zhuang Wan explained this reason, he fell silent and never mentioned it again.
For the past two days, she had pretended to be busy and hadn't visited him. Pei Xingju, too, had seemed to have forgotten her and hadn't come to say goodbye. The two of them were each quiet, as if deliberately avoiding something.
Lixia added, "Qiutan is still in the capital, she wants you to go back."
Zhuang Wan nodded. "I know. I've already written to her asking her to run the shop well. I'll come back to see you in two years."
"In two years?" Lixia's eyes lit up: "When?"
Zhuang Wan shook her head: "I don't know for now. I'll find out when I have time."
When Pei Xingju calmed down, she also got rid of her excitement. She thought that the two of them should be able to meet each other calmly.
well!
She suddenly let out a long sigh. Maybe by then he would be surrounded by his confidantes, and she... might have become a rich woman.
"When do we set off?" Zhuang Wan asked.
Lixia said, "It's Chenshi. Many officials are still here. After dealing with them, we should set off."
"Oh." Zhuang Wan nodded.
When Pei Xingju was about to leave, the officials from Hezhou came to see him off. He was quite busy, so he probably didn't care whether they saw him off or not, right?
In this case...
"I'm going to the shop now, so I won't take you out of the city," said Zhuang Wan.
Lixia was very disappointed: "Miss Zhuang, won't you send me off?"
"Ah! All good things must come to an end. Why should I send them off? Besides, there are so many officials here. It's not appropriate for me to send them off."
Lixia is silent.
The two of them were silent for a moment, and Zhuang Wan pursed her lips. "Okay, I'm leaving. By the way, have you packed the things I gave you yesterday? They're all Luyang specialties. Remember to bring them back to Qiu Tan and Princess Wu Jing for me."
"It's already packed," Lixia said, "I'll definitely deliver it to you."
"Thank you very much."
Zhuang Wan smiled, not knowing what to say next. She looked at the door where people were still busy moving luggage, feeling sad.
It’s not that she doesn’t have time, but she... doesn’t dare to send Pei Xingju off.
After a moment, she withdrew her gaze and prepared to leave.
Just then, many officials emerged, forcing Zhuang Wan to wait again. Lihua Lane was narrow, barely wide enough for a single carriage. Zhuang Wan planned to wait for them to leave before going to the shop.
A dark figure suddenly appeared among the many officials in red or green robes.
She lowered her eyes, pretending not to see.
After a moment, the figure stopped in front of him, and a pair of black boots appeared in his sight.
This is Pei Xing’s residence.
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