Chapter 59 Clash (1)
Both Lu Jingli and Lu Weifu paled. This attendant was the most skilled fighter among their men, yet he hadn't even managed to touch a single hair on the servant's head before he was sprawled on the ground, completely incapacitated. Lu Jingli was both anxious and furious: "Guards! Guards, come quick! Beat him up!"
Two more people rushed in from outside. At this moment, Gan Jian couldn't hold back any longer. He followed behind the two men, directly blocking one of them and starting a fight. The other man jumped up from the ground, his right thumb and forefinger tightly clenched inward, aiming straight for Li Xiaoxiao's neck.
Li Xiaoxiao picked up a stool from the ground and smashed it directly on his head. The stool shattered and broke into pieces. The attendant was also stunned and disoriented. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his lower back and was sent flying, flying straight forward.
A scream escaped Lu Weifu's lips as he was struck squarely by his attendant and landed firmly beneath him.
The attendant was terrified and hurriedly tried to get up, but Lu Weifu, enraged, pinned him down and straddled him, beating him wildly: "You dog, how dare you pounce on me? I'll beat you to death..."
Meanwhile, the other attendant was engaged in combat with Zhao Jian, fighting back and forth, and was completely unable to attend to Lu Jingli's side.
Because he had come to attend a banquet, Lu Jingli only brought these few attendants with him. Before he could even make a move, they were already useless. Lu Jingli's face turned pale and then red.
Watching Lu Weifu tear at his attendant, Meng Guanqi recalled how he had beaten Baohe in the same way that day and couldn't help but sneer: "Young Master Lu's habits really haven't changed. Wasn't he beating Baohe like this at Old Madam Zheng's birthday banquet? I wonder if he's still alive now?"
The words "Madam Zheng's birthday banquet" clearly reached the ears of everyone present. Almost everyone who had heard the rumors about Lu Weifu gasped, and an indescribable expression appeared on their faces.
Although the matter was suppressed by Prefect Song and Judge Lu, and it was publicly claimed that Lu Weifu was poisoned and murdered by his servants, the incident occurred in Biyang County, and Magistrate Meng and Meng Guanqi were present at the birthday banquet of Old Madam Zheng.
This is interesting. Meng Guanqi is bringing this up in front of everyone now, which probably means he's going to retaliate.
Lu Jingli's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong. Lu Weifu had already stood up with red eyes: "What did you say? You dare to mention it again?"
Meng Guanqi didn't move an inch, his eyes fixed on him: "Why wouldn't I dare to mention it? That day, I personally witnessed how Young Master Lu ran naked out of that burning house..."
Someone gasped first, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated as gasps filled the air.
The person who witnessed the incident firsthand actually showed up!
Was it really as Lu Weifu said, that he was poisoned by his servants?
Everyone's hearts pounded; the truth was about to be revealed!
Lu Weifu grinned maliciously and said, "Meng Guanqi, do you dare to tell us what happened that day? Do you dare to tell us the truth in front of so many people?"
Meng Guanqi sneered: "What do I have to be afraid of? I was right across from Mingyue Hall that day, and I watched you walk into Mingyue Hall with my own eyes..."
Prefect Song's expression changed: "Lu Zhang! Take Wei Fu away!" His voice was stern and urgent, which startled Lu Zhang, who hurriedly went to pull Lu Wei Fu away.
Lu Weifu's eyes were already red. He shook off Lu Jingli's hand and walked step by step toward Meng Guanqi with red eyes.
Magistrate Meng's face darkened instantly; he immediately understood his son's plan.
This was the first time Meng Guanqi had bared his fangs; he could no longer hide behind him.
Meng Guanqi didn't move an inch, nor did he change his speaking speed: "Inside Mingyue Hall, Baohe lies unconscious..."
These words caused an uproar in the hall.
The truth is so unbearable: it wasn't the servants who drugged Lu Weifu, but Lu Weifu himself who drugged Bao He.
In the corner, Lu Weifu's father-in-law was trembling all over. Absurd, utterly absurd!
The whole story about being framed is a lie! Lu Weifu is gay and acted recklessly at someone else's birthday banquet, utterly disgracing the Lu family! He even implicated his daughter!
Lu Jingli rushed forward, grabbed Lu Weifu, and tried to pull him back, but the heavily pregnant and pampered Lu Jingli was no match for the young and strong Lu Weifu.
Lu Weifu struggled to break free from his father's embrace and lunged forward, grabbing Meng Guanqi by the collar. Just as Li Xiaoxiao was about to move, Meng Guanqi gave her a look, signaling her to step back.
Li Xiaoxiao took a step back.
Lu Weifu grabbed Meng Guanqi's collar and grinned maliciously, "Yes, the one lying inside is Baohe. I still can't understand why, the one lying inside is—"
Prefect Song was shocked. He couldn't say anything, or Lu Weifu would be finished! He rushed forward and reached out to cover Lu Weifu's mouth.
A foot suddenly appeared out of nowhere, causing him to stumble and nearly fall to the ground. Of course, he also failed to cover Lu Weifu's mouth.
Lu Weifu had already finished speaking: "The one lying in there should have been you!"
These words silenced the room once more, followed by a commotion and countless disdainful yet shocked glances.
Prefect Song closed his eyes in despair.
The prefectural school's academic director, his veins bulging, slammed his hand on the table: "Absurd! Lu Weifu, do you know what you're saying?" Meng Guanqi was a scholar with the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the county level). How dare Lu Weifu poison and murder a Xiucai!
No wonder Meng Guanqi never went to the prefectural school. With the Lu family father and son and Prefect Song around, how could he dare to come to the prefectural school to attend classes?
But what kind of place is Lin'an Prefectural School? It is the cradle of all the scholars and officials in Lin'an Prefecture, not Prefect Song's backyard. Even if he is at odds with Magistrate Meng, he can't possibly reach into his prefectural school!
But could he blame Magistrate Meng? Could he blame Meng Guanqi? As long as Lu Weifu was still attending classes at the prefectural school, there was absolutely no way Meng Guanqi would be able to study there. He might be murdered one day without even knowing it!
Meng Guanqi sneered, "So you admit it, you were the one who drugged me that day, weren't you? Who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on me? Do you think I'm Bao He or some nobody?"
In his rage, Lu Weifu blurted out, "Who are you? You're nothing but a homeless stray dog, kicked out of the former Minister's family. Your father will be stuck in Biyang County for the rest of his life. So what if you passed the imperial examination? The Meng family has even sent you to Biyang County. They're not going to stand up for you anymore!"
Meng Guanqi's gaze was deep: "So you think I can be humiliated by you at will?"
Lu Weifu chuckled coldly.
Meng Guanqi forcefully broke free from his hand, patted his clothes, and raised his head: "In your opinion, my grandfather separated my branch of the family, and he stood by and did nothing when my father had his accident. Does that mean our branch has no connection with the Meng family?"
He pointed at Lu Weifu and laughed loudly, tears welling up in his eyes: "How can you be so naive? We just separated our family, not had our property confiscated. No matter how bad the relationship between my grandfather's family and my family is, I still have the surname Meng and am a member of the Meng clan! My family still worships the ancestors of the Meng family. My grandfather may stand idly by while you insult me like this, but we members of the Meng family, the patriarch of the Meng family, will absolutely not turn a blind eye."
He wiped away his tears with his sleeve, his eyes gradually turning cold: "Lu Weifu, you can't escape! I didn't retaliate against the humiliation of that day only because it was difficult to obtain evidence, but today, in full view of everyone, the evidence is irrefutable, and you can't deny it even if you want to. Your attempt to poison and harm a scholar with academic achievements may not be punishable by the laws of this dynasty, and your family may be able to smooth things over with some bribes, but my Meng family will not let you off the hook."
The Meng family of Tai'an is a prestigious family that has been passed down for hundreds of years since the Great Wu Dynasty. Countless members of the Meng family serve as officials in the court. If the Meng family really wanted to stand up for Meng Guanqi, it would be something that small families like theirs could not possibly resist.
Lu Weifu took a step back, his rationality finally returning, and he subconsciously looked at Lu Jingli.
Upon hearing Meng Guanqi's words, Lu Jingli subconsciously looked at Prefect Song.
Prefect Song turned his face away.
Lu Jingli couldn't help but tremble. Was it true? Could what Meng Guanqi said be true?
Magistrate Meng stepped forward and gently straightened his son's clothes: "The witnesses are all there. I will write a letter to the clan chief to seek justice for you."
The bullying of clansmen can be a big or small matter, but Lu Weifu committed the most disgusting and despicable crime. When this matter is reported back to the main family in the capital, even if Minister Meng does not pursue it, the clan head cannot let it go unpunished.
Otherwise, wouldn't the Meng family be able to bully anyone at will?
Lu Weifu's face turned pale, and he pleaded in a trembling voice, "Father... Uncle..."
Prefect Song acted as if he hadn't heard anything.
Despite the dead of winter, Lu Jingli's forehead was covered in sweat. He gritted his teeth and suddenly knelt down before Meng Guanqi and Magistrate Meng: "My son was confused for a moment. Please, Magistrate Meng, have mercy and let us go..."
Magistrate Meng took a step back, his brows furrowed. Lu Zhang was a man who could bend and stretch, but unfortunately, he used his cleverness in the wrong place.
He took his son's hand and said, "Let's go, there's no need to stay here any longer."
"Magistrate Meng, Magistrate Meng, let's talk this out, let's talk this out!" Lu Jingli chased after him, but was stopped by Li Xiaoxiao: "Please wait, my lord, my master will not let you off the hook."
Her words were so blunt that they startled everyone in the hall.
Li Xiaoxiao reached out and took Liu's necklace back, putting it in her bosom: "This belongs to our mistress, I'm taking it."
Who would dare to compete with her for this right now? Lu Jingli felt like he was about to face a major disaster.
Seeing the Meng father and son leave without looking back, Lu Jingli rushed towards Prefect Song: "Brother-in-law..."
Prefect Song was like a mute eating bitter melon, unable to express his suffering.
All the officials present stood up and took their leave. After such an incident, even those who hadn't eaten enough were too embarrassed to continue eating.
The room was quickly emptied, leaving only Prefect Song, Manager Lu, and Lu Weifu.
Prefect Song clutched his head, groaning in pain.
On the other side of the room, several men dressed in black had watched the spectacle unfold. The leader seemed to be enjoying it more: "How dare a mere lad with no experience humiliate the Meng family like this? How interesting. Wan Quan, leave someone here and let's see what Prefect Song is capable of."
Wan Quan's attendant bowed and replied, then went to make the arrangements.
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