Chapter 133
The war elephants that Yun Xiang was going to lend to the army entering Burma were all poisoned overnight. Yun Kai was furious and had all the elephant slaves at Da Ping's elephant shed imprisoned and tortured.
Looking at the confession on the desk, Yun Kai was filled with shock and rage, but he simply ordered Feng Xiaosai with a stern expression, "First, lock that little bastard Jiping in the water dungeon, and then send someone to Mengshang to bring back Second Uncle."
Feng Xiaosai didn't dare to say anything extra, he just lowered his head and replied "yes".
There was a thick stack of confessions on the table, but only two of them were useful.
One was the confession of an elephant slave, saying that Master Jiping from Master Tinglai's family had come to visit the day before the war elephant died suddenly.
The other one is the investigative record written by the witch doctor after he examined the elephant's corpse: the poison that the war elephant died suddenly was the same as the poison that killed the old chieftain and the master that year.
Ai Ye hurriedly reported to Yue Ming: "I just met Feng Xiaosai. He said that the murderer who killed the master and the eldest young master has been found. It was Master Tinglai."
"Grandpa Tinglai?" Yueming was surprised, but not entirely surprised. She had suspected him since the old chieftain and the eldest son's bodies were still warm, when Grandpa Tinglai and the other leaders had joined forces to oppress Yunkai. She had mentioned this to Yunkai vaguely upon returning to Yunxiang. But Yunkai flatly denied it, believing Grandpa Tinglai had simply been temporarily deceived by the other leaders. While he might have ambitions to become chieftain, he wouldn't be so cruel as to harm his own family.
Yueming knew he was projecting his feelings for Li Yang onto the master and Tinglai. She wanted to say, "Not all brothers in this world are like you and Brother Li Yang." But she couldn't bear to expose his feelings, so she swallowed back what she was about to say.
Now that the facts were indeed as she had suspected, Yueming had no desire to be proud at all. Her chest felt like it was filled with straw, making it difficult for her to breathe. She took a long breath and said, "The matter between the old master and the eldest master has come to an end. It's finally a good thing... So how is the old master now?"
Ai Ye shook her head and said, "I don't know. Feng Xiaosai was in a hurry to go out and mentioned it to me. I didn't bother to ask in detail and hurried to report it to you." She glanced at Yue Ming and said, "Feng Xiaosai was so busy and yet he came to mention it to me. He just wanted me to ask you to persuade the master. You..."
Yueming hesitated for a moment and sighed, "Let him calm down! Right now, I don't know how to comfort him. Let's wait until the matter is finally settled!" After sighing, he instructed Ai Ye, "Keep a close eye on the servants in the mansion. Don't let them gossip at the slightest sign of trouble. Anyone who dares to spread rumors and alarm the old lady before the master has spoken will be sent directly to the second housekeeper to receive a whipping."
Although the servants in the mansion were all gossiping, Madam Yueming's personal maid gathered them together and gave them a lecture on the importance of discretion. No one dared to discuss the matter privately. But while Yueming could control the mouths of the servants, she couldn't control the tongues of the officials in the government office.
The Great Buddha of the Zhuangfang had a very good relationship with Master Tinglai. Seeing that the master had not only arrested Master Tinglai's eldest son but also sent people to Mengshang to arrest Master Tinglai as well, he came to the Tusi Mansion to ask to see Yueming.
Yueming felt that the thunder was getting bigger and bigger today. She asked, "The Great Buddha wants to see me?" Why did he come to see her? Why not go to the real master? If that doesn't work, go to the old lady!
Seeing Ai Ye nodded affirmatively, she rubbed her forehead and said to Ai Ye: "Please come in, Master Buddha!
After greeting each other, Dafoye and Yueming began to criticize Yunkai: "Master, this is too much. How can you be so disrespectful to your uncle and unkind to your cousin just based on the same poison and a slave's half-truthful confession?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Mingben winked and asked Ai Ye, who had just served tea, to go out and guard the door. The following conversation between her and the Big Buddha would not be very pleasant.
She put on a proper smile and said to the Buddha, "Master Buddha, you are too kind. I have no intention of being disrespectful or unkind. It's just that the matter involves my second uncle and cousin, so I have to call them over to ask questions."
"Madam, why are you avoiding the important issues? The eldest young master has been imprisoned in the dungeon, and the master has ordered that he not be given any food. Isn't it unkind to treat your brother so harshly before the facts are fully investigated?"
Dafoye's tone was gentle, but his words were full of aggressive questions.
Yueming took a deep breath and said, "When my master was teaching me, he once told me that our Han Buddhism advocates the salvation of all sentient beings, while local Buddhism advocates self-liberation. I asked my master, 'What does self-liberation mean?' He said, 'It means to take care of yourself and not meddle in other people's affairs.'"
Seeing the change in the Buddha's expression, she also said coldly, "Let's put aside other things. Prime Minister Yun has done such a big thing. Someone has reported my eldest cousin for causing such a terrible disaster. Can't you even ask a question? The sudden death of the war elephant promised to be lent to the army, the murder of the old master and the eldest master, which one is a small matter? Which one should not be thoroughly investigated and questioned? The Buddha came here to accuse me without asking any questions. I don't understand. The scriptures say that the Buddha, a monk, does not serve the Buddha and promote Buddhism, but comes to meddle in the government affairs of the government and the family affairs of the mansion?"
The Great Buddha held such a high position in the Yunxiang government that even the chieftains had to show him respect. How could he allow a woman to accuse him like this? She had simply used her wealth and beauty to please the master, allowing him to disregard his dignity and treat her as his equal. Everyone flattered her by calling her Madam Yueming, but she took this foolishness seriously.
The Buddha said with an unhappy look on his face, "Madam, you have lived in Yunxiang for a long time. Don't you know that the master always informs us about politics and sacrifices? I can still say a few words about Yunxiang's affairs, big and small."
"Really?" Yueming smiled coldly. "Grandpa Tinglai is quite popular. When the old man was buried, the leaders of that group embraced him as the chieftain. At that time, were the few words that the Buddha said on his behalf, or on behalf of the old man?"
He stood on the dry shore and said nothing. He could only say awkwardly, "The rules of our ancestors are in place, and no one can violate them."
Yueming looked at the big Buddha's face, which turned red and blue, and tilted his head and smiled; "So the master is a rule-abiding person? But if the master really abides by the rules, why did you come to me to talk about this today? You should follow the rules and laws and go to the master! It's nothing more than feeling that my status is low and I will need to rely on you a lot in the future. If you use both kindness and force, I will go to the master to plead for Master Tinglai. What a pity..." Yueming's eyes turned cold: "I won't buy it. The Japanese army's ambitions are obvious, and all Chinese people regard resisting Japan as their responsibility. The master is dedicated to defending his country, but someone is trying to trip him up at the critical moment, and you come to plead for the culprit. Whose rules and laws are these?"
"The Japanese attacked the Han people, what does it have to do with us? I have never approved of you getting involved in this mess." After saying this, Master Fo glanced at Yueming meaningfully.
Yueming raised an eyebrow. "Do you think a Han Chinese like me instigated this? You've been living in the temple for a long time. It's time for you to go out and see the outside world. The Japanese have their guns and cannons right on the edge of the Nu River. Do you think they'll stay on that side of the river?"
The Buddha was speechless after being blocked by Yueming. He angrily said goodbye, but when he reached the door, Yueming called him again: "I advise you, Buddha, you should know what is good and what is bad. We Han people have a saying, marry a man, marry a man, and you will have clothes to wear and food to eat. I married the master, I eat his food and use his things, so naturally I have to be on the same page with him. You should weigh it yourself and decide who you should serve as your master."
As soon as the Big Buddha left, Yueming didn't even have time to catch her breath, Ai Ye hurried in and whispered to her.
Yueming's head hurt even more after hearing this: "It's already this late and they still...can't they just calm down for a while?"
"So what do we do now?"
"Leave them alone for now."
When Master Tinglai was brought back to the mansion, Feng Xiaosai came to ask Yunkai whether to take him directly to the water dungeon in the mansion or to the main jail at the government office. Yunkai told him to bring him directly to the study.
When Grandpa Tinglai entered, Yunkai was sitting behind his desk, oiling a stringed instrument. After not seeing his nephew for two years, he seemed a different person, his downturned mouth mirroring his father's.
Yunkai looked up at Master Tinglai standing at the door. The days of fear and anxiety were not easy for him. His temples were already gray, his cheeks were thin, and the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth were so deep that they looked like they were carved.
"Xiao Sai, serve tea to Uncle Er." He ordered and continued with his work. He wiped the tea carefully with a fine cotton ball soaked in horse oil.
Feng Xiaosai offered the teacup, but Master Tinglai glanced at it and didn't take it. He sat woodenly on the chair. He placed the teacup on the small table and left.
Yunkai finally finished his work. He wiped his hands with a handkerchief and smiled at Grandpa Tinglai, "Second Uncle, you still remember this zither? The python skin covering the drum was given to me by you. Dad wanted to beat me when he saw me carrying the zither to the teahouse every day, but you helped me stop him."
On the way here, Master Tinglai had already imagined the worst-case scenario, believing Yunkai would tear him apart as soon as they saw him. But he smiled, had the servants serve tea, and even chatted with him about their childhood. Unsure of what he was up to, he could only plead for his son: "Jiping is ignorant, so whatever's wrong with him, put it on me. Whether it's jail or beheading, I'll handle it."
Yun Kai chuckled. "Uncle, do you think I'm using Jiping's incident to take your life?" He shook his head. "Jiping's misfortune is indeed not small, but he's responsible for his own actions. I won't use this opportunity to embarrass others. I invited Uncle here because I want to ask him why. What did my father do to offend you that made you so cruel that you even spared my eldest brother?"
A thunderclap exploded above Master Tinglai's head, and his face turned pale. The backs of his hands, which were gripping the armrest, were covered with bulging veins.
Looking at his expression, Yun Kai knew there was no need to interrogate him. He was the one who did it.
He spoke with a sad tone, "The food, clothing, and other expenses of the Grand Master's Mansion are on par with ours. Although Dad didn't allocate a Meng to you, every year the harvest and taxes of the two Mengs are sent to your mansion without a cent missing. My eldest brother cares about Jiping and Jicheng, big and small, and takes care of them in every way. How could you be so cruel?"
"Be good to me?" Master Tinglai sneered, "Do you think keeping me in your mansion is good to me? Your so-called meticulous care for me is just because you're afraid I'll become disobedient once I go to Meng and have my own power." He gave Yunkai a cold look and said, "Who cares? A good man has ambitions. Who wants to be a chicken under the wings of a hen?"
Yun Kai laughed in anger and asked, "Now that you have finally achieved your goal, are you relieved? Are you more comfortable than in the Grand Master's Mansion? If you have finally achieved your goal, why are your hair so white? Shouldn't you be full of energy and making great strides in the world? Why are you staying in the mansion chanting scriptures every day?"
Master Tinglai lowered his head and said disdainfully, "With my two sons held hostage, what else could I possibly do? Look, the knife hanging over my neck has been cut off today, hasn't it?"
Yunkai shook his head and sighed: "Second uncle, second uncle, do you know why my father didn't let you go to Mengshang? It's because of your character that you always think you are right. Everything is someone else's fault, and it's always others who have wronged you, but you never reflect on yourself. He said that you have great ambitions but little talent, and you are easily influenced. Others instigated you, and you didn't even think about what was going on, but you dared to follow them. He couldn't bear to see you suffer. Now it seems that my father was right about you! Since I was a child, I have heard my father tirelessly say that brothers quarrel within the walls, and you should defend yourself from outside. I listened to him and did the same. If I didn't consider the relationship between uncle and nephew, would you still be able to chant scriptures in Mengshang? If it weren't for the relationship between brothers, would Jiping be able to swagger into the elephant house and poison you? It's a pity that I have only kindness, but you don't have a grateful heart."
Speaking of Jiping, Tinglai's face trembled uncontrollably: "Jiping is young and ignorant. It is my fault for not educating him. I will bear all the blame. Please let him go!"
Yun Kai put his hands behind his back and looked at him coldly: "Second Uncle, you are no longer qualified to negotiate with me. The reason I told you so much is to want to know who your accomplices are."
Grandpa Tinglai said calmly, "I had no accomplices. I did it all by myself. My family is completely unaware of it."
Yun Kai sneered, "Uncle, I'm not looking down on you. This whole thing was so meticulously planned, leaving Mengkan Prefecture completely undefended. And yet, even afterward, no clues could be found. It's truly beyond your imagination. Let me ask you, first and foremost, where did you buy the poison? I've checked every pharmacy in Yunxiang, big and small, even the witch doctors setting up stalls, and no one has ever sold this kind of poison."
Grandpa Tinglai's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "I did it. I bought the medicine from a passing witch doctor."
Yun Kai stared at him for a while, then heaved a long sigh and said, "Since Second Uncle Lian Jicheng doesn't care about him anymore, then let it be!" He called out loudly, "Come here, bring Master Jicheng here as well!"
Hearing the "yes" from outside the door, Master Tinglai panicked and became angry. He slapped the armrest and said, "What are you doing? Why are you dragging Jicheng into this? He's just a child!"
Yun Kai turned his back and walked back to the desk and sat down, his face full of sternness: "Liang Yun is also a child. It was you who made him lose his father at such a young age. Second Uncle really should take a good look at the law code. If one person plots treason, the whole family will be executed. You have the lives of more than a dozen people in my family and the Mengkan Tusi family on your hands. Now only four lives of your family are taken to make up for it. It's already a bargain for you. Aunt is a woman after all. I won't behead her as a public display. After you and your son are executed, I will give her a portion of the poisoned wine you gave my father."
Master Tinglai collapsed in his chair as if all his strength had been drained, begging Yunkai, "Please, let them go. Your aunt makes new clothes for you and Li Yang every year. She knows nothing about it. I did it all by myself, and they know nothing."
Knowing that he was playing the emotional card at this time, Yun Kai remained unmoved: "I know what you are planning. You sacrificed yourself so that the Jiping brothers could hold the evidence against that person. If something happens in the future, that person will definitely not dare to stand idly by. Now I can tell you clearly that this evidence is useless. Since Jiping knows about the poison, he must also know who that person is. It doesn't matter if you don't tell me, Second Uncle. I can ask the prison staff to ask Jiping."
Yes, this handle is indeed useless now! Master Tinglai covered his eyes with his hands, tears streaming down his face. He sobbed and said, "Pujiang, the Pu□□ medicine in Mengding Prefecture was given to me by him."
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