Chapter 4766: Clearly aware of everything
The verandahs, painted buildings and bright lights in the mansion seem to be exaggerated by the festive atmosphere of Buddhism and Taoism. Even after dusk and the lights begin to come on, servants and maids can still be seen coming in and out in brightly dressed clothes, creating an atmosphere of a luxurious life with bells ringing and dishes eating. It becomes more and more vivid.
When he arrived at the door and went straight into the main hall, Wei Wan, wearing a Sichuan brocade gown and a turban on his head, stood up and held his hands to greet him: "Since we are old friends, how can we not come in when we get home? Dear nephew, please take a seat."
He returned the favor with a humble expression: "I am here on official business, so I am a little presumptuous, so I dare not come to greet you."
These are polite words, but in fact the two families have not had contact with each other for many years since the death of Lai Huer. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if he came to the door rashly and was turned away?
The two of them sat down, and the servant served them tea. Wei Wan sighed: "When I was young, the first time I saw your father was at my eldest brother's house. At that time, I was impressed by your power and domineering. Your father even gave me a gift. A bite of the precious sword. My father did not change his expression when faced with the butcher's knife. The act of betraying the emperor is actually a loyal minister and a good general. It is deplorable that Yu Wenhua and his rebels are disobedient. It is also regrettable that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was so stubborn and arrogant, stupid and violent that he ruined a great country and brought countless loyal ministers to a bad end. He is really to blame for himself and is hateful. Extremely.”
The Xinye Lai family was once a well-known local family, but the population was sparse and it was difficult to reproduce. There had been no outstanding people since the Han Dynasty, and the family was inevitably in decline. His father came to take care of his children all his life and wanted to revitalize the family, so he gave birth to more than a dozen sons. They were flourishing and leafy. At one time, they were not far from the "Fanyue". After three or five generations, they multiplied and prospered while making meritorious deeds and becoming nobles. Naturally, he became a member of the family.
However, in the 14th year of the Great Cause, when Yu Wenhuaji launched a rebellion in Jiangdu to kill the king, Laijia was swept away and suffered a devastating blow.
Lai Ji also felt deeply sad: "Times have changed, thirty years have passed, things have changed and people have changed."
Wei Wan said warmly: "Although the elder has passed away, we are still friends from generation to generation. When my nephew has free time, he can often go to the house to have a glass of wine with me and listen to music. No matter how good the relationship is, we should move around frequently. Otherwise, it will be a pity that the friendship between the older generation will become cold.”
Laiji nodded repeatedly.
In society, people are so sophisticated, and such a friendship passed down from ancestors is very important, especially in the officialdom where there are very few trustworthy people, and it becomes even more precious, because if you betray such a friendship, you will be punished by everyone in the world. It’s a shame, no matter what is going on behind the scenes, men steal and women prostitute are just for profit, you must despise and cast aside the “treachery”.
This is the case at all times and in all countries...
The two chatted for a while and drank a cup of tea. The steward of the house came in from outside and bowed: "To inform the head of the family and the county magistrate, the caravan has been assembled and can accompany the magistrate back to the county office at any time to assist in the investigation."
Lai Ji stood up immediately and said, "It's not that I'm being rude. It's because this matter is too big and has a bad influence. The Duke of Yue has a strict order to end it as soon as possible. I have to come to the door rashly. I hope I will forgive the offended person. I will come to the door one day to bear the thorns." Please forgive me.”
"Hey, what are you talking about? If others come here, I will definitely be polite, but my nephew comes for official business, how can I not cooperate fully? Not only this matter, if you have any difficulties in the future, you can come and discuss with me , as long as I can help, I will never refuse.”
"Thank you so much. It's getting late. Duke Yue has already gone to Da Ci'en Temple to apprehend the monks involved. I don't want to keep him waiting for a long time, so I'll say goodbye first."
"Please."
Lai Ji, accompanied by Wei Wan, came out of the main hall and saw more than ten people gathered in the courtyard. The steward whispered: "This is the family's caravan, responsible for selling goods from the Western Regions to Chang'an to the Western Market. Today is a good time After selling all the goods, I returned home to reunite with my family. I saw a commotion at Daci'en Temple and talked about it, but I didn't know if there was any violation of law or discipline."
Wei Wan waved his hand: "My nephew, just take him away for interrogation. If there is anything inappropriate, please punish him according to the law. There is no need to worry about Jingzhao Wei's face. Jingzhao Wei has always been law-abiding and will never protect his family just for the so-called face." Servant, disrupt the law and order.”
"The master of the family understands justice very well, and I admire you very much. Please rest assured, I will definitely not wrong anyone."
"Haha, let's stop chatting. Business is more important. Please invite me, my dear nephew."
"Yes."
Lai Ji bowed his hands and said goodbye, turned around and stood on the steps and glanced at the dozen or so people... Suddenly he felt something was wrong.
During the day, he had seen this group of people from a distance. They were very conspicuous because more than a dozen people gathered and dispersed all over the place to confuse people and incite people. However, because he was afraid of the Daci'en Temple at the time, he tried to suppress the matter through persuasion, but he also sent people to keep going. Stare.
Looking at this group of people now, he clearly found that one person was missing. The man named Gein was older but handsome and distinguished in temperament, and he was very eye-catching among the crowd.
Lai Ji stopped and looked back at Wei Wan with a calm expression: "I have done my courtesy and paid a visit because I care about our friendship with our elders. It's fine if the head of the family doesn't recognize this friendship, but why should he deceive me?"
Wei Wan was stunned: "What do you mean by my nephew? You are here for official business. Is it wrong for me to warmly welcome you and fully cooperate with me? If it had been anyone else, I am afraid they would not even be able to get in. You are so ignorant of the actual order." People don’t know what to say.”
Lai Ji pointed at the caravan at the foot of the steps: "There is one person missing among them. It would be better for the owner to hand over that person."
Wei Wan shook his head decisively: "This is my family's caravan in the West City, no more than one, no less. Don't mess around with the county magistrate."
From "good nephew" to "coming to the county magistrate", his face became gloomy, and he looked as if he was holding back his anger and was about to explode.
Not everyone can bear the anger of Jingzhao Weishi.
Lai Ji turned a blind eye, showed no fear, and said slowly and calmly: "If the men in Shouguang County do not admit it, please gather all the men in the house who are twenty to thirty years old here and let me identify them one by one."
Friendship is friendship. Does it mean that if you have a little friendship, you can ignore official duties and bend the law for personal gain?
"How presumptuous! Laiji, you are going too far to deceive others. Back then, we had a close friendship. Your father was recommended by your ancestors, so he had the opportunity to follow Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in his southern expedition to annihilate Nanchen, and then rose to prominence. Could it be that Laihu'er died? This recommendation was Don’t you recognize the merit and kindness of being here?”
Wei Wan was furious and glared angrily, and all the servants of the mansion gathered together to share the same hatred.
Lai Ji sighed, but was not angry at Wei Wan's coercion, and said sincerely: "It is precisely because I remembered the kindness of the past that I came to pick up the person in person. Only in this way can I leave some dignity for your house, otherwise if you are under the command of the Duke of Yue, Jinwu's guards are coming, does Shouguang County man think there is still a chance to speak like this?"
Wei Wan was shocked, and said with force: "Even Fang Jun cannot be unreasonable, let alone trample on the Wei family at will!"
Lai Ji frowned. It was just a dispute. Even if the Wei family was at fault, the final punishment would be nothing more than a fine and a reprimand. He couldn't understand why Wei Wan was so stubborn, hiding someone and refusing to admit it until death.
Why bother?
He thought of a possibility and asked tentatively: "There were also people in your mansion who participated in the attack on the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen last night?"
When I asked the question, I felt it was wrong.
With so many people attacking the Jingzhao Mansion, even if the so-called "law does not punish the public" is of no use under His Majesty's order, it is not a big deal for a family like Jingzhao Webster. At worst, Jingzhao can exchange interests privately. In the end, whether it is the government or the three judicial departments, it is nothing more than fines, redemptions, admonitions, and defiance, which means that the disciples involved in this matter are dismissed from office and banned from entering the official position for several years. But for Jingzhao Weishi, what does this mean? After a few years of operation, not only can the official be reinstated, he may even be able to take a step further.
Why are they so prepared, even hiding one of them to resist interrogation?
Unless...
Lai Ji's eyes were bright and his expression was solemn: "I would like to advise the head of the family to hand over your son this morning. Don't make the situation worse."
The only explanation for the Wei family's behavior is that the children in the family not only participated in the attack on Jingzhao Mansion last night, but were even more seriously involved in Li Jingshu's death. In this way, Jingzhao Wei couldn't settle it, but he couldn't let the family leave. His children were lost, so he wanted to hide them.
Even the reason why this caravan returned to Jinchangfang from the West City was to protect the children of the Wei family...
Wei Wan looked ugly and categorically denied: "When you come to the county magistrate, don't come here to make false claims or wanton accusations. There is absolutely no such thing!"
Lai Ji persuaded in a low voice: "If I return without success, the Duke of Yue will come with his troops next time... Are you sure this is what the family master needs to do before he is willing to surrender?"
Wei Wan remained silent, his face uncertain.
The Wei family and Fang Jun have always had a grudge. Although they did not fight to the death, Wei Zhengju, the most outstanding descendant of the Wei family, was destroyed at the hands of Fang Jun. His mother was the legitimate daughter of the Yuan family, and the Yuan family was also destroyed at the hands of Fang Jun. , so the Wei family's revenge on Fang Jun has never stopped. Under such circumstances, if Fang Jun takes advantage of it, how can they let it go?
I'm afraid that everyone in the family will be imprisoned by Fang Junji.
When Emperor Taizong was alive, Fang Jun was favored and arrogant. Now that Li Chengqian has ascended the throne, Fang Jun is even more arrogant, arrogant, and willful. There is nothing that the mallet dare not do...
Sighing dejectedly, he turned around and ordered his servant: "Bring Saburo out."
The servant hesitated and replied: "Here."
He turned around and hurried to the backyard.
Wei Wan looked at Lai Ji and said, "How about my nephew come into the hall first and talk?"
Lai Ji didn't seem to notice that the other party's address to him changed again, and said calmly: "I have official business, so it's inconvenient to reminisce about the past. Just wait here for a while."
Wei Wan knew that some things probably couldn't be hidden anymore. Lai Ji was smart and capable, and he knew everything. Behind him, Fang Jun was unparalleled in courage and dared to fight and kill. His Majesty's order was issued. It was probably impossible to stay out of the matter before.
How could he not be anxious when his best son was involved?
He asked tentatively: "This matter... I wonder what Zuo Jinwuwei is planning to do, and what does His Majesty mean?" Although Jingzhao Weishi's lintel has not fallen, he has long been excluded from the core of power. Regarding His Majesty's She didn't know much about her thoughts and the court's movements. Concubine Wei was in the deep palace and could no longer get the news as well as the Zhenguan Dynasty, so she had no idea how this matter would be handled and how far it would develop.