Chapter 36 Pei Lang Imprisoned "This is outrageous! The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review..."
Despite Lin Zhi's repeated attempts to dissuade her, she was unable to stop her aunt. She had no choice but to have someone cover her wounds before accompanying her over.
Lin Zhi only realized how serious the situation was when she saw her uncle!
He was perfectly fine just a few days ago, but now he can only lie in bed, his once resolute face now crooked at the corner of his mouth, looking listless and devoid of his former vigor.
Lin Shaowan quickly sat down on the edge of the couch and wiped the saliva from her husband's lips with a handkerchief, angrily telling everyone to leave.
"No one but the doctor is allowed to stay!"
After frowning and leaving the room, Lin Zhi hurriedly called out to the servant beside her uncle: "Where is the young master? What happened to my uncle?"
The servant, his face contorted with distress, nearly knelt down in fear: "Miss, I am merely a servant who attends to the master and young master on their travels. I have been waiting at the palace gate all day today."
“Normally, the young master and master would leave the palace and return home in just two or three hours, but today we waited all day and they still didn’t come.”
"Just half an hour ago, I saw Master being carried out by several palace eunuchs, who said he had suffered a stroke. But no matter how I asked why the eldest son hadn't come out, they ignored me!"
Lin Zhi's face turned ashen. Pei Lang was a prodigy at a young age, not only respected by the Emperor but also serving as the Crown Prince's tutor. She never imagined that he would be made difficult by anyone.
A strong sense of unease welled up in her heart. The Pei family had already suffered a setback, and now her uncle and Pei Lang were also in trouble. Whatever the reason, she had to stabilize the situation first!
"Go and prepare the guest rooms in the mansion for the doctor, and prepare double the consultation fee. He is not allowed to leave the mansion for the next few days!"
"And steward, go and tell everyone in the manor, whether maids or servants, to keep their mouths shut and not to talk nonsense."
"If I hear any gossip, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Lin Zhi, somewhat flustered yet composed, took charge of the situation. Only after the servants had finished their duties and left did she remember that Lin Fengyuan was still locked up in the woodshed.
He must never know about his uncle's affairs!
Lin Zhi clenched her fists tightly and led a few servants straight to the woodshed, only to find two servants knocked unconscious at the door, lying on the ground.
She paused, then quickly stepped forward. The chains on the woodshed door had been broken, and the woodshed was completely empty.
Raymond Lam has run away!
Staring at the empty woodshed, Chuntao stepped forward and whispered, "Miss, should we send someone out to chase after him? I'm afraid Master Lin hasn't been able to leave the city yet."
Lin Zhi closed her eyes. The chain was broken cleanly, clearly cut by a sword. It was likely that someone was in cahoots with Lin Fengyuan. She dared not gamble at this time: "No need. Have someone guard the gate and patrol it more often these days."
"yes."
Lin Zhi didn't sleep well all night. Every time she closed her eyes, she would dream that Pei Lang was in trouble and wake up in fright. She was also worried about her aunt's injury and her uncle's illness. She tossed and turned in bed for only two or three hours before getting up.
When Lin Zhi carried the brewed medicine into the room, she saw her aunt sitting on the edge of the bed, dozing off with her forehead propped up.
"Aunt...Aunt? You're too tired. Go lie down and rest. Uncle, there's me and the doctor here."
Lin Shaowan opened her eyes groggily, but just waved her hand: "Your uncle can't sleep well without me by his side. Has Pei Lang come back?"
Lin Zhi frowned and put the medicine bowl aside to cool: "Aunt, my cousin didn't come home all night. The servants at home guarded the palace gate all night but didn't see him leave the palace. Could something have happened?"
Hearing her concern for Pei Lang, Lin Shaowan raised her hand to cover the wound on her forehead. "Azhi, you're still worried about Pei Lang at this time? You should be worried about yourself."
“Now that the Pei family has just gotten into trouble, Lin Fengyuan is like a wolf that has smelled meat. Your aunt can help you once, but she can’t help you forever.”
Speaking of Lin Fengyuan, Lin Zhi frowned even more: "Aunt, we locked Lin Fengyuan up yesterday, but he escaped with the help of someone."
Feeling guilty, she dared not look up, and naturally did not see the fleeting stiffness on Lin Shaowan's face.
“Azhi, your aunt doesn’t mean to blame you, and this is not your fault. But you are not a child anymore. You should know that in the capital, a man’s marriage and a woman’s marriage are never simply a matter of mutual affection.”
"The powerful families are entangled in a complex web of relationships, all driven by self-interest."
“Now your aunt doesn’t want to drag you into this quagmire of aristocratic families, which is why she’s been so earnest in advising you.”
Lin Zhi looked up at the wound on her aunt's forehead and her reddened eyes, feeling helpless and guilty, but unable to utter a single word in response. At this moment, she desperately hoped that Pei Lang could return to take charge.
Knowing that Lin Zhi was outwardly obedient but inwardly stubborn, Lin Shaowan didn't want to push her too hard, so she let go of her hand and patted her: "Go out, your uncle will definitely not want anyone to see him like this if he wakes up."
"As for the rest, think it over carefully yourself, and come see me when you've figured it out."
Lin Zhi bit her lip, holding back her tears, and had no choice but to get up and leave.
After such a calamity, the Pei family fell into a period of silence for many days. Even the noble families that had previously been on good terms with the Pei family rarely came to offer their condolences or visit. Although Lin Zhi could still come and go freely in the mansion, she felt as if she were under house arrest.
Gazing at the pond, Lin Zhi's brows were furrowed with sorrow that even a gentle breeze could not dispel. The lotus flowers and leaves in the pond had withered and died overnight, much like the Pei family in their current state. Lin Zhi could not help but feel sentimental at the sight.
"Miss, it's windy here, why don't you put your cloak on?"
Lin Zhi stood up and let Chun Tao drape the cloak over her shoulders, but she only sighed, "Chun Tao, it's been five days, why haven't we heard from my cousin yet?"
"Could something have happened in the palace?"
Chun Tao frowned and said, "Miss, don't scare yourself. The eldest young master is highly regarded by the Crown Prince, nothing will happen to him."
"However, you have been refused entry to the Madam several times. Are you really unwilling to give in?"
"In my humble opinion, since Madam treats you well, the marriage she has found for you might not be bad..."
Chun Tao had originally intended to say a few words of advice to reconcile them, but when she saw Lin Zhi's beautiful eyes filled with sorrow, she couldn't bear to continue. Her young lady had already had it hard enough.
"Then shall I accompany Miss back to rest?"
Lin Zhi frowned and thought for a moment, still feeling uneasy. She wanted to send a servant to inquire about the situation, but she had only taken a few steps when she bumped into a hurried servant. "Miss! People from the palace have arrived!"
Following the direction he pointed to, Lin Zhi didn't have time to ask any questions. She quickly lifted her skirt and walked over. As soon as she saw the palace carriage, she saw her aunt being helped out.
Lin Zhi quickly composed herself and obediently stood behind her aunt, but her eyes couldn't help but peek outside.
A messenger from the palace has arrived, presumably to deliver a message for my cousin.
However, to the delight of the Pei family, the eunuch who entered the mansion was an unfamiliar face. He glanced at everyone with a mocking look and held up the bright yellow imperial edict with both hands.
"All members of the Pei family, receive the imperial decree!"
Lin Zhi was stunned for a moment, then was pulled down to kneel, lying prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise her head.
"By imperial decree, Pei Lang, the eldest son of the Pei family, has uttered arrogant and disrespectful words. He has been stripped of his post and imprisoned in the palace prison, never to be released!"
"I will not pursue the matter of the Pei family, considering that the second son of the Pei family died in battle on the frontier and rendered meritorious service in protecting the country. However, although the death penalty may be waived, punishment will not be escaped. The entire Pei family will be expelled from the capital and never allowed to return!"
The eunuch, his face full of disdain, put away the imperial edict and stared at Lin Shaowan kneeling on the ground: "Madam Pei, please rise and receive the edict."
"His Majesty is merciful and grants you permission to leave the capital within three months to properly treat Lord Pei's illness. Otherwise, you will never have such a good opportunity again."
How rude!
Lin Zhi suddenly looked up and vaguely recognized the person as a eunuch from Xiao Wen's palace. She wondered why he had been sent to deliver an imperial decree to the Pei residence.
But then she remembered that Pei Lang had offended Princess Wenyu for her sake. Now that this eunuch was being so rude to his aunt, it was probably Xiao Wen's doing, coming to the Pei family to kick them when they were down.
Although Lin Shaowan was pale, she still accepted the imperial edict with proper etiquette. The moment the eunuch and palace servants left, she collapsed to the ground, and it took her a lot of effort to get up with their help.
"Aunt, my eldest cousin must have been framed!"
"Don't worry, Azhi will definitely find a way! His Majesty wouldn't be so heartless towards the Pei family!"
Before Lin Zhi could finish speaking, a crisp sound rang out, and she turned her head to feel a burning pain on her left cheek.
"What time is it now, and you're still thinking about Pei Lang!"
Lin Shaowan's hand trembled slightly as she slapped her, unable to understand why her niece was so stubborn.
"Pei Lang is the one who caused the Pei family to fall into this state, and you still care about him? Do you want to avenge him?"
"The imperial decree has been issued, what can you do about it!"
Lin Zhi covered her face blankly, feeling her mind go completely blank, and her slender body trembled involuntarily.
But the next moment, Lin Shaowan stepped forward and hugged her tightly, holding her waist so tightly that Lin Zhi could hardly breathe.
“Azhi, your aunt doesn’t want you to wander with us. Stay in the capital and get married. Your aunt will find you a good marriage with a respectable family.”
"This is the last thing your aunt can do for you."
"If you do well in the future, your aunt can come back to the capital to visit you."
Large, broken tears welled up in her eyes. Lin Zhi didn't even notice that she had bitten her lower lip until it bled. Although she didn't nod, she didn't refuse again.
Lin Shaowan was overwhelmed with household affairs and her husband's illness. After finally persuading Lin Zhi, she also went to attend to other matters.
Feeling uneasy, Lin Zhi took advantage of her aunt's inattention to slip out of the Pei residence and go to the Dali Temple.
"Young lady, the Dali Temple is a restricted area that not just anyone can enter. You should go back!"
Lin Zhi, hiding her anxiety with a veil, was so anxious she wanted to stomp her feet. "Please inform the Junior Minister that someone from the Pei residence has come to see him!"
She had been to the Xie residence before, but the servant said that Xie Zheng had been busy these days and hadn't returned home for several days.
Having seen this kind of thing many times, the guard's tone grew impatient: "Miss, how many people want to see Shaoqing every day? If he could see them all, Shaoqing Xie wouldn't need to handle any cases."
"If you don't leave, we'll have to kick you out!"
Lin Zhi was accidentally pushed and almost fell. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision, but she gritted her teeth and refused to give up.
She absolutely had to see Xie Zheng today!
The guards thought she was going to give up and leave when they saw her take two steps back, but to their surprise, she sat down on the steps and burst into tears!
"This is outrageous! Xie Zheng, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review! He abandoned his wife! He is ungrateful and treacherous!"
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Author's Note: Thank you all for your support and love for my work! If you have any extra nutrients, please feel free to use them! It's the biggest encouragement for me~ [heart emoji]
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