Chapter 44: It’s better to let him be burned alive
Dali Temple.
Xie Wuhen was reviewing the case files when Wu Sheng entered the room and reported, "Boss, we've collected and organized all the information about the tea artist."
"explain."
"Twenty years ago, the most renowned tea art masters in Daliang State numbered four: Bai Gu in the south, Li Jiang in the north, Yuan Chenghao in the east, and Zeng Wusheng in the west. Bai Gu and Li Jiang passed away several years ago, leaving behind twelve disciples. Their backgrounds were clear and unremarkable. Yuan Chenghao, from the east, retired to the mountains in his seventies. A solitary man, he never accepted any disciples, and thus remains alone to this day. Finally, Zeng Wusheng, from the west, disappeared seventeen years ago and has not been heard from since."
"Missing?"
"That's right, but even if he's not missing, he's probably dead by now."
"Does he have any disciples?"
"It's said that he took in two disciples, one male and one female, but I haven't found out their details or names. After all, it's been a long time, and Zeng Wusheng disappeared without a trace."
Xie Wuhen pondered for a moment and said, "Send more people. We must find out where Zeng Wusheng and his apprentice are. We must find them alive or dead."
Then he instructed: "Tea masters may have interactions with each other, so you can start with those 12 disciples and Yuan Chenghao."
Wu Sheng was somewhat helpless: "It is said that Yuan Chenghao has a very stubborn temper and a tough mouth."
Xie Wuhen clenched his fist and said, "Then please invite him to the capital. I will meet him in person."
Wu Sheng lowered his head and replied "yes".
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Liuzi entered the room and reported, "Boss, someone just came with a message saying that a distinguished person has invited you to the private room of 'Fu Pavilion' in Changlong Restaurant for a chat."
Xie Wuhen paused: "Your Excellency?"
Xiao Liuzi handed over a jade pendant: "This is a token of trust given by that noble man."
The jade pendant is warm, translucent and of great value. There is a hollow carving of the word "博" in the middle of the jade pendant.
He chuckled: "So it's the Second Prince."
Wu Sheng was stunned: "Do you want to go over there?"
The conflict between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince is now a recognized fact in the court. Many court officials have even formed factions to fight against each other in private. Xie Wuhen is one of the few officials who remain neutral.
He replied, "Since he came to me so openly, I naturally have to show myself."
Then he ordered: "Prepare the car and go to Changlong Restaurant."
Changlong Restaurant is located in the prosperous area of Jinling Middle Road, just a few minutes' walk from Dali Temple.
After getting off the car, Xie Wuhen went directly to the "Fu Ge" private room on the second floor.
Guarding outside the private room was Zhao Bo's personal bodyguard Xiang Qingchi.
When he saw Xie Wuhen, he immediately clasped his fists and said, "Sir Shaoqing, please wait a moment." Then he went into the house to report.
In just a moment, Xie Wuhen was invited into the private room.
At this time, a sumptuous meal has been placed in the private room.
Zhao Bo stood up to greet him, "Thank you, sir, for coming here at your invitation. It is truly a great honor for me."
Although he had just reached adulthood, he had a pair of mature eyes, which were meaningful and seemed to be smiling.
Xie Wuhen did not take his seat. Instead, he stood in the open space in the room and bowed solemnly. He then returned the jade pendant engraved with the word "Bo" to Zhao Bo and asked directly, "The Second Prince asked me to come here. I wonder why?"
Zhao Bo's brows relaxed. "It's nothing serious. I just wanted to treat Master Xie to a meal."
Xie Wuhen replied: "I won't accept it without merit. Besides, the emperor has always disliked court officials making friends with princes. I am ashamed to accept it."
"It's just a meal."
“No matter how small a favor is, it is still a favor.”
Zhao Bo looked at him inquiringly for a few times, then sent the servants away from the private room.
The room became quiet, with only the aroma of food and wine lingering in the air.
Zhao Bo spoke again: "I heard that Lord Xie is investigating an old case for my father. To be honest, I invited Lord Xie to dinner just to express my gratitude."
"I am only following the Emperor's orders. Why should you thank me, Second Prince?"
"After all, if that old case is solved, Lord Xie will have done me a great favor. To show my gratitude, I would like to recruit Lord Xie as my subordinate. If I am fortunate enough to ascend to the throne in the future, I will ensure that the Xie family prospers for generations to come."
Sure enough, the Second Prince not only intended to win him over, but also intended to use the disappearance of Empress Duofu to bring down the Crown Prince.
Xie Wuhen's face was calm: "I am truly sorry, I have no intention of interfering in the dispute over the throne."
Zhao Bo said with a forced smile: "With Lord Xie's intelligence, he should be able to see the current situation clearly. The Crown Prince's position in the court is precarious. Only this prince is the ideal candidate in the eyes of the emperor. Lord Xie should make long-term plans."
He replied, "Thank you for your advice, Second Prince. I only follow six words: Eat the emperor's food and be loyal to him. If the Second Prince ascends the throne in the future, I will still follow these six words."
Seeing that he was unmoved, Zhao Bo gave up and said, "Alright, then I will meet Master Xie at the summit."
Xie Wuhen clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Second Prince, for your help." Then he turned and left Fulu Pavilion.
Zhao Bo watched his back disappearing out the door and secretly clenched his fists.
Xiang Qingchi also gritted his teeth and said, "This man is so ungrateful, I will take his head for the Second Prince right now."
Zhao Bo shook his head. "He still has some use for us. We can't touch him for now. When I sit on the throne, I will sacrifice the entire Xie family as punishment for his disrespect today." He then ordered, "Kill the person who just delivered the message to the Dali Temple."
He clasped his fists and replied "yes" to Qingchi, then turned and left.
After coming out of Changlong Restaurant, Xie Wuhen went straight back home.
Wu Sheng followed behind his master, puzzled: "The Second Prince said that the Crown Prince's position is in jeopardy, so why is he still trying so hard to win over the leader?"
Xie Wuhen sneered: "The Crown Prince is cunning, and the Second Prince can't find any evidence to bring him down, so he needs my assistance."
Wu Sheng asked, "Why didn't the leader help him?"
He sighed: "The Crown Prince is not a good person, and neither is the Second Prince."
Wu Sheng added, "But the Emperor is old now, and the Chief is still young. If the Second Prince really ascends to the supreme throne in the future, I'm afraid he will hold a grudge against you for what you did today."
Xie Wuhen looked at him with disdain: "How do you know he can ascend to the supreme position?"
"Doesn't the Emperor only have two princes, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince?"
He looked up at the sky and said, "Who said that our Daliang Kingdom only has two princes? Don't forget, there are five princes." After saying that, he quickened his pace and walked forward.
Wu Sheng paused, then suddenly realized what was going on and hurriedly followed.
As Xie Wuhen walked, he instructed, "Go to the roasted nuts shop and bring back a bag of chestnuts for the young lady."
The topic suddenly changed, and Wu Sheng was a little stunned. After a moment, he replied solemnly: "This is a big deal. I will go and do it now."
At this time, Su He had arrived at Tongxin Lane, north of Jinling Street.
Liu's house is located at the entrance of Tongxin Lane. It is a spacious house that looks much more imposing than the houses next to it.
According to Ah Si's investigation over the past few days, Liu Dazhong would sit in the "Tongxin Tavern" opposite the house for fifteen minutes after finishing his shift every day, eat a plate of peanuts, drink a cup of wine, and then return home.
Su He also sat at a table by the window in the tavern and asked the waiter to serve drinks and dishes. She ate while waiting for Liu Dazhong.
Zhang Xiuhua touched her hair and adjusted her collar, feeling anxious: "Miss, do you think the judge will recognize us?"
Su He took a sip of wine and said nonchalantly, "Time has passed. I have grown up, and you have also grown old. How can he recognize you?"
He added, "Besides, he has countless lives on his hands. My mother and us are like ants in his eyes. I'm afraid he can't remember them even if he wants to."
Zhang Xiuhua was silent, then snatched the wine cup from her: "Miss, please drink less when you are out there."
Su He agreed with her and replaced the fermented rice wine with orange juice.
About a quarter of an hour later, Liu Dazhong walked into the pub.
He wore a long sword on his waist, had a burly figure and a full beard. As soon as he entered the store, he sat down near the door and told the waiter to bring peanuts and drinks.
Su He recognized him almost at first sight.
This face, this person, has been seared into her mind like the mark of a branding iron.
She came here on purpose today - to see the murderer of her mother, and to deeply imprint his appearance eight years later in her mind.
One of them sat at the door and the other sat at the window.
There is a distance of five wooden tables in the lobby between them.
That day in front of the Dengwen drum, she and he were also separated by such a distance. She watched him swing the knife to cut her mother's neck, and watched her mother twitching and bleeding to death on the ground.
This is the distance between life and death;
This is the distance between the yang and the yin;
This is the distance of hatred; it is also the distance she has gone through eight years of hardship.
Now she's out for revenge.
He wanted his mother to die, so she let him die.
Liu Dazhong was not aware of Su He's existence.
He was drinking and eating peanuts and hardly looked at her.
This is the pub next to his home. He comes here every day and it is like half of his home.
This day was no different from any other day, and he was very familiar with it.
He wouldn't even think that someone would dare to seek revenge on him.
As an official appointed by the imperial court, he has good skills and is backed by the Zhou family. Who would dare to cause trouble for him?
He had taken the last sip of his drink and eaten the last peanut on the porcelain plate, then stood up and walked out of the tavern.
He did not pay because no one in Tongxin Lane dared to take money from him, Liu Dazhong.
Su He looked at his back and said, "He's getting old too."
Zhang Xiuhua replied: "Even though he's getting older, he still looks hateful."
Su He gently stirred the citrus juice in her cup with a spoon. The sunlight streaming in from the window cast a half-bright, half-dark shadow on her face. She asked, "Aunt, what do you think is the most painful and tragic way for a person to die?"
Zhang Xiuhua suddenly burst into tears.
She quickly turned her head, raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and choked back, "Your mother...your mother's behavior, isn't it painful and...tragic enough?"
Su He added, "Aunt, I want Liu Dazhong to die more painfully and tragically than Mother's."
Zhang Xiuhua paused, "Let him... be hacked to death?"
Su He shook his head: "Not enough."
"So he died of poisoning?"
"Death by poisoning at least leaves an intact body, but that's still not enough."
Zhang Xiuhua was at a loss, "How does Miss want him to die?"
Su He's eyelashes fluttered, and the scene of her mother falling to the ground after Liu Dazhong suddenly cut her throat emerged involuntarily in her mind. How desperate her mother must have been at that time!
She said, "It would be best if he were burned alive, burning him to excruciating pain, until he was reduced bit by bit to charcoal and dry bones."
Zhang Xiuhua gasped when she heard this, glanced out the window, and lowered her voice: "Could it be that Miss wants to set fire to the Liu residence?"
Su He lowered his head and began to stir the citrus water again. "Liu Dazhong's daughter, son-in-law, and a group of servants are still living in the Liu residence. I will not kill innocent people."
"So how should the young lady proceed?"
Su He drank a spoonful of citrus juice, which tasted sour and sweet and made him feel happy.
She said, "I remember that not far from the Dengwen Drum was the city wall. Outside the wall was a low-lying melon field with many melon sheds. We could choose one of the sheds and lead Liu Dazhong there."
Zhang Xiuhua's face showed worry. "This close to the Dengwen Drum, even closer to the government office, wouldn't it be... dangerous?"
"Don't be afraid. Mother died under the drum that day. She will definitely protect us."
Su He spoke in a low voice, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: "I want my mother to see more clearly how the enemy who killed her died tragically."
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