However, Wei Shuwan didn't have time to think about it anymore, because her mother's sobbing interrupted her thoughts: "Axiu!"
Upon hearing the sound, Wei Shuwan looked at her younger brother, Wei Chengxiu. She wondered what Chengxiu had said or done to anger the constable, who was now striking him repeatedly with his fire-and-water stick.
"Stop! Stop it!" Wei Shuwan shouted anxiously and struggled to break free, but her strength and voice were so insignificant at this moment, and were drowned out by a chorus of cheers and laughter.
Sun Lurong was also struggling to break free. She tried to pry open the hands that were holding her, but those hands pushed her to the ground instead.
"Mother!" Wei Shuwan's heart was torn between two things, but she was helpless.
Just then, Meng's laughter rang out from behind: "Hahahaha—"
Wei Shuwan turned her tearful eyes to look at her aunt, Meng Shi, who was genuinely happy: "Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes! You wanted to harm my Xu'er, and now your whole family will be buried with him!"
"Karma is swift, karma is swift indeed!"
Meng laughed and shouted like a madwoman. Even Wei Hai and Wei Wenshi, who were usually on her side, couldn't stand it anymore. Wei Wenshi sighed bitterly and said, "What kind of mess has the Wei family made!"
Wei Hai kept whispering to Meng Shi, "Alright, stop making a scene!"
In front of the Wei family's gate, some were being beaten, some were weeping, and some were laughing madly... Passersby stopped to watch.
Just when Wei Shuwan was exhausted and in complete chaos, her savior finally arrived!
Grandfather Sheng was only dressed in his casual attire, without even having time to put on a cloak, when Zi Qiao invited him over. It wasn't until they stopped in front of the Wei family's gate that Sheng Yun caught up from behind carrying a cloak and quickly draped it over his grandfather's shoulders.
When Sheng Yun withdrew his hand, he glanced at Wei Chengxiu and saw him lying on the ground. He didn't care about anything else and rushed to Wei Chengxiu's side, kicking away the yamen runner who was still holding the fire stick and about to hit him!
"Brother Ah Xiu!"
The yamen runners didn't recognize Sheng Yun or Lord Sheng, and seeing this young girl dare to obstruct their duties, they were about to fly into a rage! But the imperial decree official, who had been coldly watching the farce unfold, shouted sharply, "Stop!"
Although the constables dared not beat Wei Chengxiu and Sheng Yun again, they were still completely confused. Just then, the official walked quickly to Lord Sheng, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Lord Sheng, what brings you here?"
As an official of the imperial court, he naturally recognized Lord Sheng at a glance. Although Lord Sheng was not the Crown Prince's tutor, he was the teacher that His Highness the Crown Prince longed to acknowledge. Who in the court did not know Lord Sheng's great name?
Since the other party recognized him, Lord Sheng was more agreeable. He politely returned the greeting and then asked, "What crime has the Wei family committed that has troubled Lord Pei to personally come and escort them?"
Sheng Gong also recognized the man in front of him as Pei Shiyou, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The fact that he was able to come forward to arrest people showed how serious the case involving the Wei family was.
Pei Shiyou admired Duke Sheng and, because of the Crown Prince's influence, naturally had to give him face, so he opened the imperial edict to Duke Sheng for him to read.
After quickly reading through the imperial edict, Lord Sheng's expression suddenly turned serious. This case was indeed no small matter...
Lord Sheng knew that this situation could not be reversed in a few words, but after looking at the disheveled Wei family, he still shamelessly asked Pei Shiyou for some help: "Lord Pei, the Wei family and my Sheng family are not only neighbors, but also close friends."
With just that one sentence, Pei Shiyou knew what he had to do, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry, Lord Sheng, I will not allow my men to make things difficult for them."
After saying this, Pei Shiyou gave a wink to the yamen runner beside him. The runner immediately understood and quickly went over to whisper a few words to the other yamen runners. The yamen runners then released the Wei family members and became more polite.
The Wei family had no intention of disobeying the imperial decree, and since they were treated with such courtesy, they dared not delay any longer and helped each other onto the prison cart.
When Wei Wenshi and Sun Lurong passed by Sheng Gong, they both nodded to him in thanks. Wei Shuwan was the last to board the carriage. When she passed by Sheng Gong, she also nodded to him in thanks. Afterwards, when she passed by Zi Qiao, she whispered, "I'll wait for you in prison."
Zi Qiao's clear eyes trembled upon hearing this, but since there were yamen runners following behind their young lady, neither of them could ask any further questions. They could only watch her get into the prison cart.
After thanking Pei Shiyou, Sheng Gong could only watch as the prison cart slowly drove away.
After everyone had left, Zi Qiao approached Lord Sheng and said excitedly, "Lord Sheng, my young lady just said 'she's waiting for me in prison'! She must have figured out a way to escape and needs me to take care of it!"
After pondering for a moment, although he did not believe that a young girl like Wei Shuwan could turn the tide, he still nodded and replied, "Don't worry, I will try to ask the Dali Temple to make an exception and let you and your servant meet."
...
The prison cart for seven people was too small to stand or sit in, so the Wei family members could only squat on it and were jostled all the way to the Dali Temple Prison.
During their detention, men and women were separated into two cells. Wei Hai and Wei Chengxiu were imprisoned in the men's cell, while Wei Shuwan, her grandmother, mother, aunt, and Wei Shuyao were imprisoned in the women's cell. The women's cell was further divided into two rooms: the grandmother, mother, and aunt were imprisoned in one room, and Wei Shuwan and Wei Shuyao were imprisoned in the other.
After the jailer herded the two women inside, he locked the cell door with iron chains. Just as he was about to leave, a pair of hands that had passed through the iron bars grabbed them.
The jailer looked up at Wei Shuwan and was about to reprimand her, but Wei Shuwan quickly took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and stuffed it into the jailer's hand without saying a word.
The jailer had seen this kind of thing many times and knew she must have something to ask for, so he said bluntly, "If you want to eat and drink well, I can try my best to satisfy you, but if you want anything else, I'm afraid I can't help you!"
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