Chapter 50: Retribution Your brother is a good man and will not hurt you...
In Chunhua Courtyard.
Chunlan was dressing Su He while she whispered, "I just heard from Mr. Wu that the son-in-law was very ruthless to Mei Zi and Zhang Qian Er from the main courtyard."
Su He paused: "Why are you so cruel?"
Chunlan replied, "Mei Zi was sold last night."
"really?"
"It is said that the old lady fainted from anger and has not been able to get out of bed tonight."
Zhang Xiuhua, who was tidying up the house, couldn't help but interrupt: "So, Miss, are you going to the main courtyard to visit the old lady?"
Su He shook her head. "As soon as the Xie family scandal was exposed, I went to hang around her. I think she'd think I was there to make fun of her, and my kindness would be met with backlash."
Zhang Xiuhua thought for a moment and said, "That's right."
Su He asked again: "What punishment did Zhang Qianer receive?"
Chunlan replied, "I heard from Mr. Wu that the son-in-law sent a letter to Li Tai'an. Naturally, there wasn't anything good in that letter. As for what punishment Zhang Qian'er received, the Li family, with their vast mansion, don't know for now. If you're interested, why don't you go back to the Li family and find out?"
Su He said indifferently, "I'm not interested in going back to the Li family just for Zhang Qian'er."
After a moment, she sighed deeply, "The most pitiful one is Xie Erlang."
Zhang Xiuhua put down her work upon hearing this. "That's right! He clearly came from a wealthy family, but he has a brain disease and is locked up in that small courtyard. I reckon he probably doesn't even have a proper name, just Erlang Erlang."
Su He was silent for a moment, then ordered, "Go make some cakes and some sweet drinks later, and we'll send them to Anxinyuan."
Chunlan reminded: "Miss, you forgot that there is a lock on the door of Anxin Courtyard."
Su He asked, "There will be a time to unlock it, right?"
Zhang Xiuhua took over the conversation, "I heard from the kitchen maid that the locks of Anxin Courtyard will be opened at night, and then Madam Zhou will take Xie Erlang for a tour of the mansion."
Su He breathed a sigh of relief: "Then let's go there at night."
Zhang Xiuhua looked worried: "If we act this way, will the son-in-law be... angry?"
Su He replied, "Although he doesn't like Erlang, he also knows that he is his younger brother. It won't be a problem if we avoid him."
Zhang Xiuhua sighed and agreed to her request.
Xie Wuhen has been busy investigating tea artists these days, going out early and returning late every day, which gives Su He many opportunities to go to Anxinyuan.
Xie Erlang was particularly close to her. When he saw her appear, he ran over barefoot: "Young Madam is here, and the delicious food... the delicious food is here too."
Nanny Zhou followed him, carrying a pair of shoes. "Erlang, you took off your shoes again. Put them on before you go see the young lady."
Erlang didn't bother to pay attention to Nanny Zhou. He ran over, took the cake and began to eat it with big mouthfuls, saying as he ate, "Young Madam is so kind, and the cake is so delicious too."
After finishing the cakes, Su He took him to the pavilion in the garden.
The summer night sky is full of bright moon and sparse stars, like a vast painting.
The two of them sat on the beauty chair and looked up at the sky. Su He taught him to count the stars, but he counted one and forgot the other.
Erlang covered his eyes with his palms and said, "I won't count anymore. They said I was a fool and couldn't learn anything."
Su He asked: "Does Erlang think he is a fool?"
Erlang thought about it seriously: "That lady said I was punished, she didn't say I was a fool."
Su He took his slap away from his eyes: "Which lady said that?"
Erlang paused and hushed Su He, "You can't tell me... You can't tell me. That lady is my mother. You can't tell anyone."
Then he asked again: "What do you think is better, being a retribution or being a fool?"
He obviously didn't know what retribution meant, nor did he know what a fool meant.
Su He was silent for a moment: "From now on, Erlang will call me 'sister-in-law'."
"What is 'sister-in-law'?"
"'Sister-in-law' means your brother's wife."
"elder brother……"
"Your brother's name is Xie Wuhen."
Erlang's eyes flashed with panic, and he suddenly hunched his shoulders: "I'm afraid... I'm afraid of my brother."
Xie Wuhen must have given his younger brother a bad look many times, so that he was afraid when he talked about him.
Su He gently stroked his shoulders: "Don't be afraid, Erlang, your brother is a good man and will not hurt you."
"Is what my sister-in-law said true?"
"Of course it's true."
In the bright night, Erlang finally smiled happily.
The "good guy" Xie Wuhen was extremely busy.
In the past few days, he sent people to Mingyue Mountain to "invite" the retired tea artist Yuan Chenghao to the capital and to the Dali Temple.
There were many torture instruments in the interrogation room. Yuan Chenghao was tied to the shackles. He was in tattered clothes, had an unshaven beard, and looked extremely miserable.
But he was in good spirits and had a stubborn temper. He was struggling and roaring, "I have done no murder or arson, and I have done no theft or robbery. What gives you the right to detain me here?"
He added, "My life is worthless. If you want to kill me or chop me up, come at me."
Xie Wuhen sat at the desk, watching him scold while carelessly tapping the table with his index finger. He didn't stop until he was exhausted from scolding. Then he ordered someone to bring a bowl of water, "Sir, please quench your thirst."
Yuan Chenghao was indeed tired of scolding, so he stretched out his mouth and gulped down half a bowl of wine. After drinking it, he still felt unsatisfied: "Although I am a country bumpkin, I am not a coward. Killing people is not enough, so you guys go ahead and do it." After saying this, he deliberately stretched his neck.
Xie Wuhen smiled gently yet cruelly, "I have no intention of taking your head, nor do I intend to hurt you. If you hadn't insisted on not cooperating, I wouldn't be detaining you here right now. In the final analysis, if you can tell me everything you know, I will let you go today."
"Bah!" Yuan Chenghao shouted, "You're just a bunch of hypocrites and lies. Do you believe me when I say I don't know Zeng Wusheng?"
Xie Wuhen took out a case file and said, "We've found out that seventeen years ago, in January and March before Zeng Wusheng disappeared, he visited you in Mingyue Mountain."
"I've never seen him in Mingyue Mountain." Yuan Chenghao refused to admit it. "Besides, you were only a few years old seventeen years ago. You were just kids. How can you find out anything about something that happened so many years ago?"
Xie Wuhen didn't have time to waste talking to him. "It is the emperor's will to investigate this matter. If you insist on concealing it, then I will have no choice but to keep you in custody." After he said that, he turned and walked out.
Yuan Chenghao shouted behind him, "I won't let you succeed. What can you do to me?"
Wu was so angry that he stepped forward and kicked Yuan Chenghao hard: "You old donkey, just bear with it." After that, he followed his master out of the interrogation room.
Wu Sheng asked, "Boss, what should we do now?"
Xie Wuhen pondered for a moment: "Yuan Chenghao deliberately concealed it, there must be something fishy."
Wu Sheng's expression brightened: "Could it be that Zeng Wusheng is really the master of Lady Duofu?"
He answered irrelevantly: "First, send someone to investigate Yuan Chenghao's ancestors for three generations. We will eventually find his weak spot."
Wu Sheng answered loudly, "Yes," and added at the end, "Let's see how long this old donkey can be so stubborn."
Xie Wuhen then returned to the public housing.
As soon as he entered the room, Xiao Liuzi came to report: "Boss, someone just brought you a letter."
He took the letter, tore open the wax seal, and read it.
The letter contained a few words: I hope to have a chat with Mr. Xie at Wuyou Teahouse.
The signature is the word "Che".
Che is the Crown Prince Zhao Che.
The Second Prince had once asked him to have a chat, and now the Crown Prince also asked him to have a chat.
However, compared with the Second Prince's cautious use of the jade pendant as a token of trust, the Crown Prince's behavior was obviously more rampant. He wrote down the letter as proof. Isn't this the ironclad evidence that the Crown Prince was making friends with powerful officials?
He ordered in a deep voice: "Prepare the car and go to Wuyou Teahouse."
Since the prince dared to invite him, he naturally had to show up.
The carriage sped along and soon arrived at the entrance of Wuyou Teahouse.
As Xie Wuhen got off the carriage, a eunuch at the door came to greet him and whispered, "Master Xie is finally here. I will take you to see the Crown Prince."
Xie Wuhen said "thank you" and followed the eunuch.
The two of them walked up to the second floor one after another and came to a private room at the end of the porch.
Xie Wuhen stepped into the private room and what caught his eye was a table full of dishes.
The Crown Prince sat at the head of the table, dressed in gorgeous attire, looking superior. A faint smile appeared on his round face. "Thank you, sir, for coming as promised. I am truly relieved."
Xie Wuhen stepped forward and saluted: "Your Highness summoned me, and I dare not refuse."
The prince said something with a hidden meaning: "Since Lord Xie is so sensible, the next thing will be easy to deal with."
Then he ordered the eunuch: "Quickly give Master Xie a seat."
The eunuch brought an official hat chair and placed it below the prince.
Xie Wuhen did not take a seat, "I wonder why Your Highness summoned me?"
The prince still maintained a condescending attitude: "I can chat with Master Xie while we eat."
He replied, "The Emperor has always disliked Your Highness making friends with court officials. I dare not eat this meal."
The Crown Prince's face fell, he picked up the porcelain cup and took a sip of wine, then spoke slowly: "Master Xie, are you trying to use my father to pressure me?"
He lowered his head and replied, "I dare not."
The Crown Prince sneered: "Master Xie has earned the trust of the Emperor. Is there anything you wouldn't dare to do now?"
He replied respectfully again: "Your Highness, you are too kind. I must serve the emperor and be loyal to him. This is my duty."
The prince stood up and paced around the room for a few steps. "I don't want to beat around the bush with you. To be honest, I asked you to come here today because I have a favor to ask of you."
He said he had something to ask of him, but his face showed an aggressive attitude.
"Your Highness, please feel free to speak."
"I heard that Lord Xie is investigating an old case for my father?"
Xie Wuhen replied calmly: "Your Highness, yes."
"I wonder how far the investigation has progressed?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you right now."
The prince secretly clenched his fists, anger rising in his heart. "Then I'll ask this question another way. I wonder if Master Xie can shed light on this old case?"
He answered simply: "Yes."
The prince unclenched his fist and forced a smile. "Then I would like to ask Sir Xie not to investigate this case, or rather, not to find those who should not be found. I wonder if Sir Xie can do that?"
Xie Wu raised his eyes to look at him, "Your Highness, I am sorry for putting me in such a difficult position."
The prince lowered his voice and said, "Master Xie, please feel free to ask for anything you want."
Seeing Xie Wuhen remained silent, he added, "Father is old now, but Lord Xie is still young. We should consider the long term."
Xie Wuhen said indifferently, "Thank you for your advice, Your Highness, but I'm sorry I can't obey your order."
The prince seemed to be surprised by his refusal so bluntly: "Master Xie, are you so stubborn?"
He was neither humble nor arrogant: "Everything I do is in accordance with the will of the emperor. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
The prince's expression grew increasingly gloomy. "I never thought Sir Xie would be so courageous. I admire him greatly. I only hope Sir Xie will not regret it."
Xie Wuhen saluted again and turned away without hesitation.
Guard Zhou Cheng stepped forward with his sword in hand: "Your Highness, this man is so ungrateful, why not teach him a lesson?"
The prince raised his hand to stop him: "After all, it is the Xie family. Let me ask the Queen Mother first, and then make any plans."
Zhou Cheng lowered his head and replied "yes".
Xie Wuhen walked out of the private room, crossed the porch and went down the stairs.
When he looked up, he saw the stairs leading to the third floor.
He asked the waiter, "Are there any private rooms on the third floor?"
After all, a noble person like the prince only occupied the private room on the second floor. What was the sacred room on the third floor?
The waiter smiled and said, "The third floor is our master's tea room. There are no private rooms."
"gentlemen?"
"He is the owner of a teahouse and a famous tea art master in Liang State. His name is Zeng Yidao."
Xie Wuhen paused: "Surname Zeng?"
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