Chapter 10 Trial
Famine broke out in Jiangling for several months, but the court has not promulgated any relief measures for the disaster area. Instead, the Tang family has united with the local gentry to raise the price of food, which the government can no longer afford. Due to the high price of grain, people are almost emptying their wealth to buy grain.
People were so hungry that they did anything. In less than half a month, all the fish, birds and beasts were eaten. Even tree bark, grass roots, wild vegetables, everything that could be eaten was wiped out.
There is even a saying outside the city that "Yi Zi is eaten, and the bones are separated to cook"
After listening, Xu Shanshan removed his hand and looked at him with a slight pressure: "Master Liu, you Is there any way for me to meet the city commander? ”
But Mr. Liu was dizzy: "This... it's not difficult to clear it up, but Xiaoshan, why are you going to see the city order at this time?
"The state has its national destiny, and the city naturally has its own destiny. The Tang family is deeply rooted in Jiangling City, and the fate of the family is tied to Jiangling City and is inherited from one another. Just now you couldn’t figure out why the Xie family wanted to murder the Liu family. If there is no grievance or enmity, it must be because the Liu family does not care about you. . "
What do you mean?!
Master Liu's heart was beating fast when he heard this, but he was also a smart man. After sorting out Xu Shanshan's words, he suddenly said in shock: "You mean The Xie family's intention to deal with the Liu family is Jiangling City? ! "
Xu Shanshan: "Yes or no, we will know soon. ”
"But, if the Xie family wants to destroy Jiangling City, then the Liu family can't compare to the Tang family. The Tang family can definitely affect the fate of Jiangling City more. Why didn't the Xie family deal with the Tang family and only arrested me, the Liu family? Disaster?" Mr. Liu was angry again.
"The Xie family can't touch the Tang family for the time being." She smiled, but her white jade-like face made people feel scared: "Unless the Tang family destroys itself first."
——
Shangqiu did not have a local government office, but the Tang family had a "clan mansion" called Sangongtanghui.
Clan affairs and cases in the city are all handled here, including the arrest, trial, and punishment of clan members, Shangqiu tenants, servants, etc.
Jiashan broke off the engagement privately, which angered the Tang family. He was brought to the hall. As soon as he stepped into it, he felt a cool breath blowing against his face.
The dark stone slabs vaguely reflect the weak light, the dome is high above, and the darkness is deep. The pillars carved with huge animal heads look particularly strong in the dim light, as if supporting another mysterious space.
The three men sat on tall chairs and asked angrily: "Jiashan, did you really break off your engagement with Xu Shanshan?"
Jiashan lifted up his clothes and knelt down, lowering his eyes: "Yes. . ”
The quiet environment suddenly becomes sharp and tense, and it will explode immediately at the slightest touch.
"Obstacle! Are you stupid for practicing Buddhism? You practice Mahayana Buddhism and can get married in the secular world. Why do you have to cancel this marriage?" Hai Gong started to protest.
At that time, Jiashan was sent to the Jialan Temple to practice, firstly because he did have this enlightenment, and secondly because the abbot of the Jialan Temple wanted to enlighten him and help him transcend the world, and he had a huge number of believers and prestige. This matter happened in the Tang family It is also very helpful.
But now that his wings have grown stronger, he has learned to backstab the family, which is simply treason!
“Jiashan devotes himself to the Buddha and takes refuge in the Tathagata. Now that things have happened in the secular world, Jiashan will formally accept the three altar precepts from Jialan Temple in the near future, and will devote all his energy to cultivation for the rest of his life.”
"Absolutely impossible! Jiashan, as the direct grandson of the Zong family of the Tang family, you are born to shoulder the responsibility of the rise and fall of the Tang family. We don't care whether you have feelings for Xu Shanshan or not, but this marriage It must not be destroyed!”
"The marriage contract has been torn and cannot be reversed."
"Although the marriage contract of the Tang family is gone, the marriage contract is not yet concluded. When we exchanged tokens with the fortune teller, apart from the signed marriage contract, According to the contract, he also gave each family an artifact as a token. Now that the token has not been returned, the marriage is only half canceled."
When Jiashan heard this, countless expressions changed in his eyes.
“Why does the clan have to make such a marriage contract, and why does it have to be in Jiashan?”
Tang Gengfu, one of the three princes, looked at Mr. Hai, indicating that he could not blindly force and marry him. Intimidation.
"Well, it's time to tell you some things clearly. You may know part of what happened back then, but you only know one part and not the other."
The fortune teller is the real wise man. He knew astronomy and geography, and was especially proficient in prophecy and divination. However, the Tang family back then was not a big family, just an ordinary merchant family in Jiangling City. One day, the divine fortune teller suddenly appeared in Shangqiu. He predicted that a catastrophe would happen to the Tang family, but if they survived this catastrophe, their business would be smooth and prosperous in the next ten years.
Sure enough, not long after, the Tang family really encountered fatal difficulties, and misfortunes never come singly. A merchant ship encountered a storm and capsized into the sea, traders encountered robbers, and there were also troubles in the family. He was involved in lawsuits and all kinds of troubles, which almost completely overthrew the Tang family.
At this time, the fortune teller came again and signed a marriage contract with them in the name of Xiangshu. This was what Jiashan knew.
What he doesn't know is -
"The magic weapon now placed in the Tang family's town house is the marriage contract token given by the divine fortune teller. If any of the five families terminates the engagement early..."< br>
He breathed heavily and let out a long sigh: "Then not only must the magical artifact be returned to the house, but the five families will also suffer the backlash of their oaths, and their foundations will be destroyed for decades!"
Jiashan eyebrow center He frowned and remained silent for a moment before speaking out: "Do you believe this prophecy?" We have seen it with our own eyes. Is it possible that he would tell lies to deceive us?" Haigong was angry again.
Jiashan said: "As you said, the token has not been returned, and our Tang family has not received another marriage certificate. Now the marriage is only half canceled, and the prophecy must not be fulfilled."
How could Sangong not understand what he meant: "But we agreed at the beginning that Xu Shanshan would be over eighteen, unless she is not willing to marry you, but if you don't marry, it will still bring disaster to the Tang family."
This is undoubtedly It was a domination clause, but they couldn't. They signed it no matter who asked them to.
“There are many marriageable men in the clan, so the three princes can choose any one to marry, not Jiashan.”
Tang Gengnong was also so angry that he roared: “You think we have to do it? Are you forced? If the fortune teller hadn’t calculated the matching men among all the tribes, and you were the only one who chose your birth date, why should we be worried about your disobedience?”
However, Jiashan still remained unyielding: "Jiashan has no intention and cannot marry a wife."
"Okay, okay, we don't want you to suffer that torture, and we have tried to persuade you nicely, but you can't get in." , then..." Mr. Hai was about to pronounce the punishment and punishment for this trial, when Tang Gengfu took the lead and said, "Then why don't you make an agreement with me?"
Tang Gengfu. Nong and Tang Genghai looked at Tang Gengfu doubtfully.
"Promise?"
"Yes, you should know that our Tang family has a pool of love. If you can get out of the pool of love with that Xu Shanshan day and night for a month, we will be happy You are truly incapable of worldly love, but as long as you still have a trace of lust, you cannot go to Jialan Temple to receive the three altars and be willing to marry Xu Shanshan!”
As soon as these words came out, Tang Gengnon and Tang Genghai immediately realized Tang Gengfu's intention.
The Love Pool, as the name suggests, is a spring pool that can touch the deepest desires in people's hearts. It is also a torture pool.
As long as people soak in the pool water, it will induce the ugliest, most straightforward, and most unconcealable evil desires in human nature, and then people will sink painfully in the venom pool formed by their own desires. .
They let him soak in the pool overnight, and the next day they would check whether he was poisoned by love, and they would know whether he had any desires that should not exist during this night.
Jiashan's face was calm. This might be a public execution for others, but he felt that this was a "merciful" choice given to him by Fugong, because he would never have lust for "Xu Shanshan".
He folded his hands and said solemnly: "Okay, Jiashan accepts."
Mr. Fu: Oh, are you the only one in the Liu family who has a good-looking son? We in the Tang family also have a grandson who is both handsome and delicious, so let’s all rely on our own abilities.
(End of this chapter)