Chapter 453: Imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison
The Duke of Wei’s Mansion.
"Master is back? Madam is waiting for you in the yard." The maid saw Li Lie returning home and walked up to him and said softly.
Li Lie nodded and walked into the inner courtyard, where he saw his wife waiting for him.
Time has left faint traces on the lady's dignified face, and her figure is a little plump, but she still has charm.
However, this bit of charm has long lost its interest in the eyes of Duke Weiguo.
"Master, I heard that you went to see the emperor regarding Xu'er's matter?" the lady asked softly, with a hint of worry in her eyes.
Li Lie nodded perfunctorily, but did not sit down. He asked directly, "What's the matter?"
The lady's heart tightened, and she spoke slowly:
"After all, Xu'er is not our biological son, and you don't value him. If Your Majesty intends to favor the Chief Censor, why would you bother to offend Your Majesty for a deceased nephew?
Although our Duke's Mansion has made great contributions, if the forces in the court press us, and if we anger His Majesty..."
"Ignorant woman!"
Li Lie glanced at her impatiently, "You came to me just to talk about this?"
The Duke's wife was worried and did not respond.
Li Lie said:
“Let me tell you, it was the King of Zhenbei’s intention to make this matter a big deal.
Zhu Lan has always been at odds with our Li family, and this time we have the help of the King of Zhenbei, so we can just pull her down."
Li Lie stood up and walked towards the villa, then turned back and said:
"By the way, I will be moving to Duxin Temple from today to pray for the late emperor. Please help me pack some warm clothes to take with me."
The Duke's wife didn't dare to ask any more questions after hearing this, and only said, "Then I will go and bring food to the master..."
"There's no need for you, just let Huier come." As he spoke, an obsessed smile appeared on Li Lie's face.
His back disappeared on the path leading to the villa, as if he couldn't wait to meet someone.
The Duke's wife stood there, her face looking terribly gloomy.
"Go find that vixen again..."
The sound of gnashing teeth dissipated in the wind.
The maid Ah Xiao came forward and called out, "Madam..."
"roll!"
A slap landed hard on Ah Xiao's face, and the Duke's wife stormed out in anger.
Ah Xiao covered his face with his hands in grievance, not daring to cry.
The Duke of Wei was well-known for favoring his concubine over his wife.
Although the title of the Duke's Wife sounds nice, she is old after all and has long lost the master's favor.
When it comes to the people who really have the final say in the Duke's Mansion, apart from the master, it is the beautiful Madam Hui in the villa.
Madam Hui is not only very good at pleasing the master, but also has a good business sense. Now even the accounts of the entire Duke's Mansion are in her hands, while the Duke's wife is just a figurehead, so naturally she is jealous.
Ah Xiao thought to himself that he should find an opportunity to go to the villa to show his abilities and think of a way to serve Madam Hui. This would be a proper way out.
…
The next day, the imperial guards escorted the Qingzhou officials and Li Moxu's coffins slowly into the suburbs of the capital.
The closer we got to the capital, the more solemn the atmosphere in the carriage became.
Zhu Lan and Zhu Qingyan sat opposite each other, each thinking about their own things.
Before reaching the city gate, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Zhu Qingyan felt curious and lifted the car curtain to check, but was stunned.
Zhu Lan also looked outside, and saw a group of people kneeling on the white snow in front of him. They were all wearing mourning clothes and looked grief-stricken and angry.
"Oh no...it seems like they are all from the Li family. Li Xiang from the Shaofu Supervisor is also here. It seems like they are here to ask for someone." Zhu Qingyan turned around and said to Zhu Lan in a deep voice.
Zhu Lan thought for a moment and said, "Let someone bring the coffin up."
Li Moxu's coffin was brought to the Li family, and the sound of wailing was deafening.
Zhu Qingyan looked at them. Those people were howling heartbreakingly, but few of them were actually crying.
Someone stood up and pointed at Zhu Lan and said angrily:
"Zhu Lan! As the Chief Censor, you take human life lightly and abuse lynching!
Return my cousin's life to me!"
As soon as these words came out, it was as if the fuse was instantly ignited, and more than a dozen angry gazes shot towards Zhu Lan like sharp swords!
They stood up and began to slowly approach Zhu Lan, as if they wanted to eat her alive.
Zhu Qingyan immediately drew out the willow sword and blocked Zhu Lan, saying loudly:
"Protect the Lord Zhongcheng!"
Fortunately, Zhu Lan was a very high-ranking member of the imperial guard. Before Zhu Qingyan finished speaking, the soldiers had already rushed up with swords in hand and protected Zhu Lan and Zhu Qingyan.
Those members of the Li family were unarmed, but they refused to give in and kept moving forward step by step.
Although the soldiers had weapons, they did not dare to use them and had to retreat step by step.
"Let's rush over, capture Zhu Lan, and make her pay with blood!"
"Yes! Blood debt must be paid with blood!"
Several young men from the Li family rushed up shouting, and a fight was about to break out!
Just then, there was another burst of hurried horse hoofbeats.
Everyone looked back and saw that they were people from the Military Affairs Department.
The leading general jumped off his horse, walked in front of everyone with a stern face, and shouted back the two parties who were about to fight.
He glanced around, walked up to Zhu Lan, and said loudly:
"Your Majesty has an order——
During his inspection tour of Qingzhou under the imperial order, Chief Censor Zhu Lan failed to perform his duties properly, resulting in the death of Li Moxu, a court official. Qingzhou prefect Shi Yuanzhong was robbed and killed by thieves before he could confess his guilt, shocking the court and the public.
"He who murdered a minister should be executed according to the law. He is now thrown into the Tianlao, and the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple are ordered to examine the case together, without favoritism."
Zhu Qingyan's expression immediately changed, and he angrily said, "Why are you arresting him? Li Moxu clearly deserves to be put to death!"
"Don't spit blood on me!"
"My cousin has been murdered, and you still want to throw dirty water on him. What is your intention?"
The Li family pointed at Zhu Lan and the other two and cursed at them again.
"Central Prime Minister Zhu, I'm sorry." People from the Military Department surrounded him and wanted to take Zhu Lan away.
Zhu Qingyan raised his eyebrows, took a step forward and said, "Let's see who dares!?"
"Qingyan." Zhu Lan put his hand on her shoulder, "Don't be impulsive. We can't fight with the people from the military division."
She walked up to the person and said calmly:
"I'll go with you."
"Zhu Lan!" Zhu Qingyan was a little anxious.
You have to know that it is not an ordinary prison cell. Only those who have committed heinous crimes will be thrown into the prison.
Moreover, how many people who have entered the Heavenly Prison can ever come out alive?
Zhu Lan turned around and shook his head gently at her, but his eyes seemed to be meaningful.
Zhu Qingyan remembered what she had said to him in the car and was stunned for a moment.
It seems that she had already anticipated what happened today?
Seeing Zhu Lan's cooperative attitude, the other party did not make things difficult for him and bowed:
"Zhu Zhongcheng, please."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
