Chapter 102 Regret (Two Chapters in One)
When the wife of Marquis Baoqing came out of the palace, she saw her eldest son. Marquis Baoqing stood in front of the horse, waiting anxiously. When he finally saw his mother come out, he hurried to greet her: "Mother, what did the Concubine Dowager say?"
The old lady glanced at him and snorted, "What are you asking? Why don't you even look at where we are? Let's talk about it when we get back home!"
Baoqing Hou forced a smile and said, "Alas, isn't this a worry, son?"
He personally helped the old lady into the carriage and followed on horseback.
When they returned to the mansion, as soon as the old lady sat down, Marquis Baoqing couldn't wait to ask, "Mother, what did that person in the palace say?"
The old lady glanced at him, took the tea from the maid, and took a sip slowly: "What can I say? Of course, we don't have to worry about it."
Baoqing Hou was overjoyed: "It is you who have personally stepped in, mother. Haha, our Yu'er is saved."
The old lady scolded: "What do you mean by 'salvation'? That doesn't sound auspicious."
Baoqing Hou said hurriedly: "Yes, our Yu'er is just going to the Ministry of Justice to have some fun. It's a good omen. But, mother, that person in the palace is really giving face."
The old lady snorted coldly: "We are sisters, so we should give you some respect."
Marquis Baoqing looked around with a sharp gaze. The maids tactfully retreated, leaving only the mother and son in the room.
Marquis Baoqing said, "As long as you are in charge of our mansion, we can rest assured."
The old lady put down her teacup, her eyes grim. "I'm only two months older than her. Don't worry, I won't die before her. Besides, even though the man on the throne is her son, she's terrified. I'm afraid she won't reveal that story until her death."
Marquis Baoqing thought, even if Concubine Li didn't say it out loud, once you close your eyes, no matter whether Concubine Li is alive or dead at that time, will the emperor still give our family face?
However, Marquis Baoqing changed his mind and thought that his mother was still in good health and could live for another ten years. By then, Yu'er would have reached middle age and grown up, and her temper would no longer be as impulsive as it is now. If he could find her an obedient wife and take in a few concubines, he would be content.
No one knows a son better than his mother. The old lady could guess what Marquis Baoqing was thinking without asking.
She said calmly, "Tomorrow you go to Qingjing Temple in person and bring some medicinal herbs and supplements. I hope that person will live a healthy and long life without any illness or disaster."
"Yes, my son will go there in person tomorrow." Baoqing Hou replied.
......
Compared to the commotion in Marquis Baoqing's Mansion, Prince Liang's Mansion seemed too quiet.
The case was not concluded and the body of Master Nie Er remained in the Ministry of Justice.
Zhao Tingxuan was still under house arrest and could not leave the palace. The Nie brothers were his study companions. Although the incident was caused by them, the emperor did not put them under house arrest. Instead, they could come and go freely.
Upon hearing the news of Master Nie's death, they went to the Ministry of Justice. They were told that the body could not be returned until the case was solved. The two were furious: "The murderer has been caught, how come the case hasn't been solved yet?"
The person from the Ministry of Justice said in a cold tone: "Who says that the one who is caught is the murderer? As long as he is not convicted, he is not the murderer. Stop making trouble here and leave!"
The two brothers had no choice but to walk out of the Ministry of Justice cursing, but they did not go back to the palace directly.
In the past, every time they went out, they had to follow Zhao Tingxuan. They were not allowed to go here or there, so until now, they have not been able to see the flowers and splendor of the capital.
They have never been to places frequented by scholars and literati, nor have they seen the legendary talented women of the world.
Especially this time, they heard that Master Nie Er actually died in Liu Ruyan's boudoir, which made them shocked and envious.
I didn't expect that my second uncle, who seemed so righteous on weekdays, was actually Liu Ruyan's lover.
In the Imperial College, there are diligent and studious children from poor families, as well as playboys from the capital who are forced to attend school by their elders.
When the Nie brothers were in the Imperial College, they often heard those playboys talk about the three most talented women in the capital.
Bai Huanqing, Lu Pinpin and Liu Ruyan!
All three of them have great ambitions and can speak eloquently. It is said that the most fun thing for them is to recite poetry by clapping their hands. Every clapping makes a poem come out, and just thinking about it makes young people feel excited.
A few days ago, they were beaten black and blue by Yan Xia. Now the swelling has finally subsided and they can finally get out. The two brothers want to explore those beautiful places.
But things don't go as planned. In an alley, they were caught with a sack from behind and beaten half to death. When they regained consciousness, they found that the sack on their heads was gone, and they were lying in a dilapidated alley, surrounded by a group of onlookers.
"You guys want to get a free ride and get thrown out of a brothel, right?"
"Puqi (not), Puqi (not)"
How come there is air leaking out when I open my mouth?
I licked it with my tongue and found that my front tooth had fallen out.
There were two brothers, one lost his left front tooth and the other lost his right front tooth. When they put their teeth together, their two front teeth were now complete.
But that’s nothing. There’s something even more terrifying than scholars having no front teeth, and that is... they’re not wearing pants!
No wonder they were said to be thrown out of a brothel, but they didn’t get anything for free, they haven’t even gone to a brothel yet.
However, they had no money left and wanted to report to the police, but they had no pants to wear. They had no choice but to ask people to send them back to Liang Wangfu. However, no one believed that they were from Liang Wangfu. Would someone from Liang Wangfu take advantage of them for free without money? Would they be stripped of their pants and thrown into the back alley?
Who would believe that!
Fortunately, after some bargaining, someone finally agreed to deliver the letter to Prince Liang's Mansion for five taels of silver. After the letter was delivered, the other party would be paid five taels of silver.
Two hours later, the Nie brothers finally returned to the palace. Not only were their faces bruised and battered, but their butts were also visible to half the people on the street.
Zhao Tingxuan didn't know what to say. He had originally planned to let the Chief Secretary go to the Ministry of Justice, but the two brothers volunteered to go. They were the nephews of Master Nie Er, so it was reasonable for them to come forward.
But who can tell Zhao Tingxuan that the two brothers went to the Ministry of Justice?
How come he appears in the red-light district again, and in such an image?
In desperation, Zhao Tingxuan had to send the Chief Secretary to the Ministry of Justice again. The Chief Secretary had a fellow townsman working there. After making inquiries, the Chief Secretary came back and told Zhao Tingxuan, "Zhu Yu was originally imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's main jail, but today he was suddenly moved to a solitary cell."
Zhao Tingxuan didn't understand and asked, "Single room, what kind of single room?"
The Chief Secretary lowered his voice and said, "Any prisoner who has been taken care of by the higher-ups will be locked up in a solitary cell. There are high beds and soft pillows in those cells, and they also have special meals. Generally, prisoners who are transferred to a solitary cell will be released after a few days."
Zhao Tingxuan was shocked: "Zhu Yu killed someone, so he can be released? Will he not be sentenced?"
The Chief Clerk whispered, "My fellow townsman said that the Second Master and Zhu Yu were fighting each other. Furthermore, the Second Master was the first to strike, and the weapon was his. He stabbed Zhu Yu himself. This case will most likely be closed as suicide. If it is suicide, then Zhu Yu must be released."
Zhao Tingxuan slumped down on the chair.
suicide?
Mr. Nie, who loves poetry and beauties, would run to a brothel with a knife and commit suicide?
Zhao Tingxuan didn't believe it, and neither did anyone else.
But the facts proved that he ran to the brothel to commit suicide.
Zhao Tingxuan felt his head buzzing. He wanted to find someone to talk to, but found that there was no one around him who could give him any advice.
The royal palace in the capital cannot be compared with the royal palace in Liang, and the chief secretary of the royal palace in the capital is just a decoration. Moreover, this person was reappointed by the court after Zhao Tinghan left the capital. It is already a great honor for Zhao Tingxuan to be able to go to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about the news. As for the others, the chief secretary does not care and does not have the ability to do so.
Master Li came to Beijing with Zhao Tingxuan. Zhao Tingxuan trusted him very much. However, Master Li was just a teacher. He was only devoted to reading the books of sages. As for other things, he didn't understand and couldn't help.
There is also Eunuch Cui, the chief eunuch in the palace. For some reason, Zhao Tingxuan is a little afraid of him. When something like this happens in the palace, Zhao Tingxuan doesn't dare to ask him to help make a decision.
Zhao Tingxuan sat on a chair. The maid in the palace was not responsible and did not even put a cushion on the chair. Zhao Tingxuan sat there, feeling cold from the inside out, and his heart was also cold.
He missed the days in Liang. Even when it came to something as big as his father's death, his elder sister was always there to take the lead. No matter what problems he encountered, he just had to tell his elder sister and she would help him with it.
In addition to his eldest sister, there were also the loyal servants in the mansion. No matter what he asked for, the loyal servants would rack their brains to satisfy him.
Unlike now, there is no one around him to give him advice, and no one who really cares about him or takes care of him.
He suddenly remembered Mr. Shi, whom his elder sister had arranged for him to go to Beijing.
Mr. Shi has followed my father for many years and has connections not only in Liang, but also in the capital. Moreover, he is knowledgeable and resourceful. If Mr. Shi were here, the last incident would have been resolved, and the emperor would not reprimand him, let alone confine him.
Zhao Tingxuan regretted it.
He admitted that he was very happy when he first heard that Mr. Shi was going to go to Beijing with him.
Mr. Shi was not a conservative person, and he had a good impression of him. He even praised him in front of his father.
But later, why didn't I want Mr. Shi to come with me?
Zhao Tingxuan thought carefully, oh, he remembered, it was after he went to Suining Palace.
What did my mother say at that time?
My mother said that Mr. Shi only cared about his eldest brother and never took him seriously...
He forgot what he was thinking at the time. Although he felt that what his mother said was not entirely right, he still followed his mother's wishes and politely declined Mr. Shi's kindness.
Not only Mr. Shi, but also his reading companion.
The tutors of the Prince of Northern Yan were recruited through examinations. Although they did not interact much with them, when they looked at the Prince of Northern Yan, their eyes were full of respect and gratitude.
The Nie brothers had never had such an expression before.
The Nie brothers did not respect him. In their eyes, he was just one of their many cousins. Even when they were using the name of the Prince of Liang's Mansion to bully others, they were referring to their eldest brother, the current Prince of Liang.
As for gratitude, they had even less of it. They even felt that being his study companion was giving him enough face.
Although they didn't say it explicitly, one could sense from their tone that they thought his knowledge and insights were inferior to theirs, and that he was not worthy of being their study partner.
Zhao Tingxuan suddenly thought, when his two original study partners refused to go to Beijing, how would his elder brother and sister choose a new study partner for him?
Will he also do what the King of Northern Yan did, recruiting people from all over the land, choosing the most outstanding person who is most compatible with him, and have him accompany him to the capital?
Yes.
Although he never asked, Zhao Tingxuan believed that his elder brother and sister would definitely do so.
But now, he has nothing.
He didn't have Mr. Shi's experienced and well-connected staff to assist him, nor did he have a humble, cautious, intelligent, and studious tutor by his side. He even lacked a few loyal guards. He politely declined the guards his sister asked him to bring with him, and replaced them with his mother's concubines. Those concubines were all children of the Nie family. In this palace, they only obeyed the orders of the Second Master Nie...
Zhao Tingxuan hugged his head in annoyance. He found that he had messed up everything. His sister had paved the way for him, but he dug it up.
He regretted it.
But it's no use regretting now. He dug the road himself, and he can only walk on it with its bumps and potholes.
The matter turned out to be just as the Chief Secretary had inquired about. Within a few days, the case was determined to be a suicide.
Zhu Yu was carried out of the Ministry of Justice's cell because he was injured. He was stabbed in the buttocks by Master Nie Er. The stab was not deep and it had almost healed.
But a stabbing is a stabbing, and just because he has recovered doesn’t mean he is no longer a victim.
So he was carried out lying on a brocade couch, and the Baoqing Marquis' Mansion even set off two strings of firecrackers in front of the Ministry of Justice.
Zhu Yu did not return to the Marquis' Mansion, he was carried to the Prince of Liang's Mansion.
Pay money!
The people from the Baoqing Marquis Mansion started cursing in front of the Liang Wang Mansion, but they didn't curse the Liang Wang Mansion. They cursed the Second Master Nie and the Nie family!
"If someone surnamed Nie doesn't want to live anymore, just find a toilet and jump in. He's looking for someone to take his place before he dies. How shameless! The Nie family's ancestral graves must be filled with pig manure. All of their descendants are like grass grown in a pigsty (grass is a plant)."
They were not cursing at the Prince of Liang's Mansion, but they were cursing in front of the gate. People from the Prince of Liang's Mansion came out and asked them to go somewhere else to curse, but they refused to go and continued cursing in front of the gate. In desperation, Zhao Tingxuan had to ask someone to hand over a silver note worth one thousand taels.
Zhu Yu raised his head from the couch and said to his men, "Throw these tattered silver notes in their faces. They're like sending beggars away. Without ten thousand taels of silver, I'll stay here. Go, set up the tent, and call Bai Huanqing and Lu Pinpin over to sleep here with me!"
Even if the Prince Liang's Mansion in the capital is small, it is still a prince's mansion.
Setting up a tent in front of Prince Liang's mansion and asking Hua Niang to come over, what kind of thing is this?
Zhao Tingxuan had no choice but to ask the accountant to collect money. He brought a lot of good things to the capital, but no one had that much cash in their account. After scraping together money, he could only come up with 7,000 taels. Zhao Tingxuan also took out a few fine jade pieces, and only then did Zhu Yu reluctantly agree to withdraw.
The group of people finally left. Zhao Tingxuan let out a long breath and felt the air was fresher.
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