Chapter 115 Deathly Remonstrance and Exposure

In short, the public opinion nowadays is that everyone holds his own opinion, and no one can convince anyone else.

After being in a coma for a day and a night, the head of the Cui family also woke up.

After knowing that he was poisoned and the poison had penetrated deep into his bones, and that he would not live long even if he found the antidote, Patriarch Cui went completely crazy.

He ordered a search of the entire mansion, and finally the court doctor discovered the poison in the incense burner in his study.

The person who poisoned the food was extremely clever. He mixed the poison with the incense that Patriarch Cui liked the most. It was lit for such a long time, but no one noticed that there was anything wrong.

When the Cui family went to look for the maid who was in charge of managing the incense burner in the study, they learned that she had found an excuse to go out after the head of the Cui family fainted and was sent back home, and she never came back.

There was a letter under the maid's pillow. When she opened it, she found that it was not written by her. The name of Master Cui was written at the end of the letter.

The second young master Cui said in the letter that this was the last gift he left for his father, and it was also his final calculation towards the Cui family, because the reason for the tragedy of his life, in addition to the calculation of the eldest young master Cui, was the indifference and inaction of the head of the Cui family.

This was a plan arranged by the Second Young Master Cui based on his understanding of his father, because the maid who managed the incense burner was personally selected by the head of the Cui family. The head of the Cui family was extremely confident and would not doubt his choice. Therefore, before the poison took effect, the head of the Cui family would definitely not know that there was a problem with the incense.

Even if Patriarch Cui discovered that something was wrong with his body during the poisoning process, this poison would just trigger a person's negative emotions, and Patriarch Cui's inner arrogance, temper, irritability, and sinisterness would be magnified hundreds or thousands of times.

Young Master Cui bet that he would not admit that he was sick.

The result now is that Mr. Cui made the right bet.

The head of the Cui family tore the letter into pieces with red eyes in anger. After checking the background of the maid, he found out that she was actually the sister of the servant who had been with the second young master Cui for many years.

That year, their family was rescued by the Second Master Cui, and they have been loyal to him ever since. The maid was a chess piece arranged by the Second Master Cui to be beside the head of the Cui family, with the original intention of just monitoring him and passing on messages for himself.

Unexpectedly, in the end, she became the sharpest knife that the Second Young Master Cui used to stab the head of the Cui family.

Before taking poison, the second young master Cui asked the servant to go home and say goodbye to his family, meaning that he wanted him to send his family away first. Now, unless the Cui family searches the entire Dasheng inch by inch, it will be impossible to find this family.

With such a sophisticated layout, it has to be said that the Second Young Master Cui is indeed the most successful heir cultivated by the head of the Cui family.

It’s all his fault that he cared too much about interests and ignored family affection, which forced the Second Master Cui to retaliate and vent his anger.

The head of the Cui family looked haggard, holding a pile of shredded paper, with an expression of anger and despair.

At this moment, he just wanted to dig up his second son's grave, grab him and ask him why he wanted to harm his father!

But he also realized that no matter what he did, it would be useless. He was destined to die, and the Cui family was destined to decline from his generation...

"No, no..." Suddenly, Patriarch Cui seemed to remember something, and his expression suddenly changed from sad to ferocious. He laughed, and his laughter was extremely terrifying.

"Even if I die, I will drag Rong Yin and Zong Zhengxiao with me. If it weren't for them, our family, my Cui family, wouldn't be like this now!"

He raised his hand to wave away the shredded paper, his eyes gradually becoming sinister, and he said to the steward beside him: "Go call the eldest young master, I have something to say to him, and then send someone to contact Prince Ning, prepare a generous gift to apologize, and tell him that I want to meet with him to discuss important matters together."

When the steward saw that Patriarch Cui walked out of the shadow of death so quickly, he understood that Patriarch Cui was planning to burn his boats. Even though he didn't support it in his heart, he knew that if he dared to deny Patriarch Cui's idea, he would die, so he had to obey his orders.

When the news that Patriarch Cui had been poisoned and was dying reached the palace, Zong Zheng Xiao had just put down a secret letter. He and Rong Yin smiled at each other, their eyes filled with the confidence that they were determined to win.

"People and things are on the way. Now everything is ready, only the east wind is missing." Rong Yin said.

Zong Zhengxiao smiled: "The second Cui's scheming is truly terrifying. If he were not around, Old Cui would probably act more cautiously. It will definitely take us some time to deal with him."

Rong Yin said: "Perhaps this is the power of hatred. Even if it means burning myself to ashes, I must kill all my enemies."

Zong Zhengxiao nodded: "If Old Man Cui had not abandoned Cui Laoer because he had lost his value, and had shown more concern for him, perhaps things would not be like this now."

"If the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam will be crooked." Rong Yin curled her lips, "Neither of them is a good person. They only deserve a dog-eat-dog ending. They don't have love."

Love can melt hatred, but hate only breeds more hatred.

The confrontation between the royal family and the Cui family became increasingly tense. To those who did not know the inside story, even Prince Ning, a member of the royal family, betrayed Zong Zhengxiao, which showed that Zong Zhengxiao was at a disadvantage in this game.

I heard that Prince Ning went out a few days ago and was met by people from the Heroic Officials Group. The two sides had a big quarrel and finally parted on bad terms. It was a very ugly scene.

Rumor has it that the Ning Prince's Mansion has been silent for so many years just because of this moment.

At first, they had to sever ties with their eldest son. In fact, Prince Ning's family hated Zong Zheng Xiao to the core, otherwise why would they help the Cui family's opponents Zong Zheng Xiao and Rong Yin.

There are even more exaggerated ones, saying that Prince Ning's eldest son and daughter-in-law appeared in Princess Ning's dreams and told her that they hated Zong Zhengxiao very much and that he must die to relieve them.

Princess Ning asked a monk to interpret her dream, and the monk replied that if the hatred of the wronged soul was not resolved, the soul would never be reborn.

Everyone in the capital knows that Princess Ning has become obsessed with Buddhism, and she is heartbroken about her deceased relatives, so the couple will definitely risk their lives to avenge Zong Zhengxiao.

Since they were all rumors, Zong Zhengxiao could not find any concrete evidence and could not punish Prince Ning's Mansion. It was said that he was furious.

Under such circumstances, the connection between the Cui family and the Ning Palace has become increasingly close. I believe that sooner or later they will take action against Zong Zhengxiao and Rong Yin again.

Jiaofangsi, in He Yan's room.

He Yan looked at the letter that Ning Yue returned to her and held her forehead helplessly.

"This is the seventh letter this month, and every other one has been returned." He Yi'er no longer had any thoughts of gloating at this moment, because she felt that if this situation was not handled properly, the relationship between her sister and Ning Yue would really be over.

You have to know that He Yan spent a lot of time and energy to pursue Ning Yue, who doesn't like girls. Their sweetness has only lasted for a short time, so how come it is heading towards tragedy?

He Yan looked solemn: "She and I finally came to this point."

He Yan understood that Ning Yue was forcing her to make a choice. Either she let go of her hatred and hand over the evidence, and the two of them could still be together; or she would be stubborn and watch Zong Zhengxiao and Rong Yin being bullied by the Cui family, and they would go their separate ways.

He Yan had expected this choice, because Ning Yue had come to her just to collect evidence of the family's crimes.

Later, when the two were together, Ning Yue guessed that she and her sisters really had evidence left by the head of the He family.

Ning Yue must have wanted to exchange evidence for something with Rong Yin, and Rong Yin was Ning Yue's friend. Now that he was in trouble, she couldn't just turn a blind eye.

Regardless of the purpose, Ning Yue must let He Yan make a choice, otherwise it will be too late to wait any longer.

He Yi'er looked at her sister's sad face and sighed, "The messenger heard from Sister Ningyue's maid that Sister Ningyue has been crying all day and can't sleep at night. Therefore, she can't receive guests normally during the day. Not only is she disliked by the guests, but she has also been scolded by the boss several times."

Hearing Ning Yue suffering, He Yan frowned.

He Yi'er struck while the iron was hot: "Sister, the reason why father left these things to us was to prevent other noble families from breaking their promises and harming us. If we hand these things over, the royal family will definitely spare our lives."

As He Yan's eyes were lost in reminiscence, He Yi'er continued to persuade her, "In these years, the sisters refused to hand over the evidence even if they died, because they felt that the Zongzheng family was also the enemy of the He family. But if it weren't for Sister Ningyue's help, we would have died under the persecution of the family. And why was Sister Ningyue able to help us? Because the Zongzheng royal family stood behind her."

He Yan's eyes were confused: "What about the He family's revenge? Aren't we going to take revenge?"

"Silly sister, why are you so confused at this moment?" He Yi'er held her sister's shoulders, frowning slightly, "Father didn't want us to take revenge back then. After all, our He family was defeated because we violated the law. The purpose of these evidences is to protect us. Since now is the best time to hand them over, why should we miss the opportunity because of stubbornness?"

When you miss a good opportunity, you may also miss a good relationship.

He Yier patted her sister on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, sister. I have already asked other sisters for you, and they are all willing to hand over the evidence. Sister, the past is the past. We are still alive, so we should look forward."

He Yan looked out the window, as if trying to convince herself.

An hour later, the maid who delivered the letter for He Yan went to Qingqiu Pavilion again, but this time there was no letter, only a sentence that He Yan wanted to say to Ning Yue.

He Yan said she was willing.

The maid relayed the words to Ning Yue without understanding what was going on. Ning Yue burst into tears of joy, clasped her hands together towards the sky, and raised the corners of her lips, "Thank you, God, for your blessing."

…

Almost a month had passed since the last morning court session between Patriarch Cui and Prince Ning. After that, both of them used the excuse of being seriously ill to not attend court or go to work, and stayed at home to rest.

As the New Year approaches, Zong Zhengxiao is about to put down his writing and spend the New Year with Rong Yin in peace.

Early that morning, before daybreak, high-ranking officials were preparing to go to the palace to attend court, while lower-ranking officials were also riding in ox carts and horse carriages to go to their respective departments.

大殿內，宗政逍坐上皇位，執禮大監宣布早朝開始。

朝議進行到一半，天光漸亮，衆人正在讨論赈災情況，一個內侍卻急匆匆從後面饒到四喜身邊，湊到他耳邊說了句什麽。

四喜一驚，跟龍椅上的宗政逍對視一眼，在得到他的允許後，才上去報告了內侍傳來的消息。

宗政逍聞言沒有驚慌，反而很是淡定地說了一句，“終于來了。”

天上還飄着小雪，寒風拂過，稍微穿得薄一些的人都不禁打了個寒顫。

崔家主帶着那個術士以及術士的信徒，寧王身後是兩位佛寺高僧，以兩人為首，衆人神色堅定地在宮門前靜坐。

在他們身後不遠處，是聞訊趕來的百姓看客。

有人道：“崔家和寧王府，這是要硬逼皇上處置戎老板嗎？”

“這不是顯而易見？不過崔家自己都不幹淨，怎麽好意思說戎老板是妖孽？還有寧王，他大兒子和兒媳是因為犯了錯才被砍頭的，又不是陛下誤殺，他居然會因這種事背叛自己親弟弟。”

有人小聲咕哝：“難不成當年有隐情？”

“無論情況到底如何，他們帶着這麽多人擋在宮門前，皇上不可能視而不見，孰是孰非，今天就能有結果了。”

話音未落，一道激動的聲音忽然道：“出來了！皇上和戎音都出來了！”

衆人擡頭看去，宮門前，宗政逍和戎音并肩走在最前面，他們身後跟着文武百官，氣勢浩然，一步步來到了崔家主和寧王面前。

宗政逍身着龍袍，神色肅然，垂眸俯視他們，冷聲問：“崔大人，你這是何意？”

不等崔家主回應，他身後的信徒之一突然指着宗政逍身旁的戎音，厲聲大呵：“都怪這個妖孽，害得我們大晟災禍不斷，他就該活活被燒死！”

周圍寂靜得只有風聲，是以這人的聲音傳出去了很遠，聽起來特別刺耳。

戎音神色不變，宗政逍卻是轉眸掃了過去。

他上位者的威嚴如一把鋒利的劍，一個眼神便抵在了出聲那人的喉間，讓他即便漲紅了臉，也不敢再出聲說第二句話。

“繼續。”宗政逍收回目光，看向崔家主。

崔家主一身黑衣，頭發也只以布巾束之，因為坐了有一會兒時間了，他頭上身上都淋滿了雪，顯得他那張憔悴的臉更加滄桑。

崔家主擡頭望着宗政逍，一副正義凜然的表情，“陛下，妖孽禍國，實是不可留，臣今日帶領衆多百姓彙聚以此，乃是為了懇請陛下除去鲛妖，以平天怒，還我們百姓一個平安盛世！”

他話落，信徒們便跟着齊聲道：“懇請陛下除去鲛妖！平息天怒！”

這些人嘴裏說着“請”字，可做的樁樁件件，無一不是在以命願為由，逼迫宗政逍不得不聽從他們的要求。

宗政逍唇角上揚，但笑意未達眼底，他道：“崔大人真是好本事，竟能驅策如此多的百姓為你所用，比朕這個皇帝還威風呢。”

崔家主眼底閃過一抹冷意，明白這是宗政逍在挖坑給他跳，連忙道：“臣絕無僭越的行為，臣也是陛下的百姓，所憂所懼皆與在座各位百姓相同，都只是怕妖孽禍國，故來請陛下除去鲛妖，僅此而已。”

“哦，原來崔大人是這樣想的。”宗政逍語氣裏滿是嘲諷，似乎并不在意他的話，也不在意他這個人。

崔家主恨極，咬了咬牙，忽然從袖中掏出一把匕首，橫在了自己脖頸前。

他大聲道：“陛下！您已被妖孽所惑，看不清真相，臣不怪您，可如果陛下依舊執迷不悟，不殺鲛妖以平天怒，那臣就只好以血祭蒼天，請滿天諸神替天下百姓誅殺妖邪了！”

他的話像是一個信號，他一說完，他身後的信徒也紛紛從袖中拿出匕首，毅然決然對準了自己的脖子。

似乎只要崔家主一聲令下，他們就會立即血濺當場，完成死谏。

見此情形，宗政逍戎音以及文武百官和圍觀的百姓都被驚住了，這些人竟然已經被蠱惑到這個地步，寧願以性命來強迫宗政逍就範！

如果他們真死在宗政逍面前，那不僅戎音洗脫不了妖孽的名聲，宗政逍也會被史書定性為昏君，之前兩人所有的努力，都将付諸東流。

宗政逍垂眸，正巧對上了崔家主那雙滿是得意的眼眸。

崔家主知道自己馬上就要死了，反正早死晚死都得死，不如用自己的死來為他怨恨的兩人潑上一盆永遠擦不幹淨的髒水。

如果他成功完成，從某種意義上來說，在這場世家和皇室的博弈中，他也還是贏了。

所以他不是簡單的威脅，而是真的敢抹脖子。

宗政逍垂在身側的手攥成拳頭，他沒有馬上回應會不會答應殺戎音，而是看向崔家主身後的那個外表莊嚴神聖的老道，開口問：“崔大人和各位百姓之所以堅信戎音是帶來災禍的妖孽，都是因為這位道長的斷言，對嗎？”

崔家主見他把矛頭轉向道長，怕出什麽意外，意圖解釋，“道長的話只是其一，事實也證明了戎音就是……”

宗政逍直接打斷了他，聲如洪鐘地道：“朕只問，你們來這裏要朕除掉戎音，是不是因為他說了戎音是禍國殃民的妖精！！！”

崔家主被宗政逍淩人的氣勢吓得一哆嗦，差點沒拿穩手裏的匕首。

宗政逍：“怎麽沒人回答？啞巴了？剛才不是還很能說嗎！！！”

崔大人沒吭聲，信徒也被宗政逍的威嚴壓得不敢回應，最後還是旁邊一直保持沉默的寧王開了口。

“回陛下，的确是這位道長信誓旦旦告訴百姓們，皇宮方向黑雲缭繞，是有妖孽在作祟，而妖孽就是戎音，近幾年發生的水患旱災，以及今年的雪災，都是他招來的，所以必須除掉戎音，以平天怒。”

說完，他轉頭看了信徒以及圍觀的百姓一眼，補充道：“百姓們都可以作證，臣所述俱是道長之言論。”

宗政逍神色冰冷，看着信徒們道：“既然沒人反駁，那就說明朕方才那句話沒錯，而你們之所以相信這位道長的話，是因為你們覺得他術法高超，是個真正的得道之人，對嗎？”

宗政逍說着，目光落在了那個道貌岸然的道長身上，道長垂下眼眸不敢跟宗政逍對視，後背已然冒出了冷汗。

還是寧王回應的宗政逍：“這位道長這幾年走過大晟許多地方，替人捉鬼拿妖，診脈開藥，治好了許多疑難雜症，光是在京城，就有過三次捉鬼經歷，給數十位病人開過藥，并且病人都是藥到病除，是以許多人都很是信任他，是吧，無虛道長？”

聽見寧王叫自己，無虛在心底暗罵了一聲，但這麽多人看着，他不可能裝聾，便又擺出了慣常的那副高人姿态。

“老道我受天尊點化，救人間百姓于水火，無論是斬妖除魔，還是治病救人，都乃老道的本職罷了。”

他說話的時候，那些舉着匕首的信徒都對他露出了仰慕的神情。

宗政逍嗤笑：“斬妖除魔，治病救人，呵呵……”

無虛被他笑得一陣心虛，像是被看穿了一般，渾身上下都不自在了起來。

這時崔家主終于回了神，他道：“陛下，您這是在質疑道長的本領嗎？”

此話一出，那些信徒看向宗政逍的眼神驟然變得狠厲，像是在看殺父仇人一般。

這時，他們口中的“妖孽”戎音卻站了出來，微笑着看向無虛：“道長今日前來，是為了除掉我這個你口中的妖孽，那在動手前，道長可否給個面子，讓我向你介紹幾個人？”

戎音嘴上是在征詢無虛的意見，但其實根本沒有給他選擇的機會，就跟他們說着請，但實際是在逼迫宗政逍的行為一樣。

戎音說完，立馬就對旁邊的侍衛道：“把人帶上來。”

不等崔家主和無虛反應，一堆人就烏泱泱地來到了他們面前。

當看見其中那些人的臉時，無虛倒抽一口涼氣，吓得差點直接爬起來。

走在最前面的是個老婦人，她衣着簡樸、滿頭白發，走路都需要人扶着。

但她瞧見人群裏的無虛以後，卻是怒目圓睜，用力掙脫侍衛的攙扶，大喊着就沖了上去，“你個妖道！還我女兒！還我女兒的命來！！！”

無虛被婦人吓得再也坐不住，驚恐地往後縮了縮。

還好婦人重新被侍衛拉了回去，不然他可能會直接跳起來。

戎音對婦人道：“老人家，皇上就在這裏，您有任何冤情都可以向他傾訴，他一定會還您一個清白。”

本來還在掙紮的老婦人聽見戎音的話，先是愣了一秒，緊接着轉頭看向宗政逍，發現他的确是穿着龍袍後，這才撲到他面前跪下，哭着大喊：“皇上！那妖道害草民女兒的性命，求您為草民做主啊！”

婦人雖然在哭，但聲音洪亮，邏輯也清晰，很快把整個事件講了個清楚。

It turned out that she was originally from the south. After her husband and parents-in-law passed away, she took her only daughter and worked diligently on the farm to make a living.

Five years ago, fishermen in the big river near their village had their boats capsized for unknown reasons and were attacked by dark shadows. Several of them lost their lives.

No one could see clearly what the black shadow was, and the rumor spread that it was Ha Bo's anger.

It happened that Wuxu passed by their village at that time, so the village chief paid him a large sum of money to help him figure out what was going on.

Wuxu ate and drank his fill, took the silver, and then slowly pinched his fingers. He concluded that it was indeed Hebo who was angry. A virgin needed to be sacrificed to Hebo as his wife in order to appease Hebo's anger. Otherwise, there would be constant disasters on the river.

The villagers asked Wuxu who to choose. Wuxu cast his eyes on the old woman's daughter without hesitation and said that he had calculated and the girl's birth date and time were exactly compatible with He Bo, so she had to be the only one to be sacrificed.