Since the failure of the Lu clan's rebellion, Tiandu had entered an era of bloody purge.
Every day, those who were originally in a high position or were well-known were pushed to the Meridian Gate to be beheaded. Their families were exterminated, and their children and family members were reduced to lowly status. Some were sent to remote and uncivilized places and were even more miserable. They wore shackles and a long queue passed through the streets of Chang 'an. Most likely many people would die on the road and would never be able to return to Tiandu.
These things should have nothing to do with ordinary people, but for some reason, the people of Tiandu still felt that dark clouds were shrouding their heads. Everyone felt tense, and even their voices and hearty laughter were deliberately suppressed, as though they did not know who Xiaoxin would disturb.
Like a pot of oil that was about to boil, like a summer that was about to rain.
Everyone had a feeling that they could not breathe properly.
These two days, Tiandu suddenly became lively again.
The cause of the incident was that Song Fuxiao of the Song family had injured Yan Xiangma of the Yan family. Not only did the Yan family not go to the Song family to argue, but Yan Xiangma was expelled from the family. Yan Xiangma ran away from home in a fit of rage, and his whereabouts were unknown.
Just as everyone was discussing the power of the Song family and the weakness and incompetence of the Yan family, Song Fuxiao suddenly knelt at the door of the Yan family, begging the Yan family to find Yan Xiangma and bring him back. If Yan Xiangma did not return, he would not get up.
The head of the Yan family, Yan Donglou, personally went out to invite him, and said that there was no news of Yan Xiangma, and they were also trying to find him — —
The Yan family and the Song family were at loggerheads, and the people of Tiandu were happy to watch the excitement. For more than a year, Tiandu had been lifeless, and it had been a long time since such an interesting thing had happened.
Zhu Yuren was also one of the people watching the excitement.
Zhu Yuren was the Imperial Censor of the West Wind Kingdom, and had the duty of supervising the hundreds of officials. The Imperial Censor was a relatively special group of people. Their power could be said to be very great, but it could also be said to be very small. The key was whether the Emperor could tolerate the world, and have the magnanimity to listen to.
Some of the Imperial Censors were unyielding and unafraid of death. They would even remonstrate with the Emperor's mistakes and ask him to correct them. Even the Emperor was afraid of them and avoided them.
Zhu Yuren was one of those unyielding Imperial Censors. At least, that was what he thought.
Zhu Yuren had long since known of the 'conflict' between the Yan and Song Clans, but he had no intention of getting involved. Ordinary people were not aware of the succession of imperial power in West Wind, but Zhu Yuren was very clear about it.
This time, the late emperor passed away and Lu Enterprises collapsed. The Song family and the Cui family were the biggest beneficiaries. Next were the top clans led by the Yan Clan.
The Yan family also followed the lead of the Cui family. If these immortals were to fight, it would definitely be because of the uneven distribution of benefits. What does it have to do with me?
Although Zhu Yuren was straight, he was not stupid. If he was a fool, he wouldn't have been able to become the censor of the central government.
Early in the morning, Zhu Yuren was drinking porridge and eating pickled vegetables at home, when suddenly the housekeeper Zhu Li came to report, whispering in his ear: "Master, there's a beggar at the door who wants to see you."
Zhu Yuren's face changed dramatically, glaring coldly at Zhu Li. "Do I have to see all the beggars in Tiandu? Do I still need to eat? Do I need to work? "
Zhu Li knew that the master was angry, so he quickly explained, "That's right. I said that to the beggar … but I didn't expect the beggar to kneel down in front of our door. No matter what I said, he wouldn't get up. I was about to ask the guards to lift him up and throw him far away, but he took out something from his bosom — — he said that as long as I presented him to the Master, the Master will definitely see him. "
As he spoke, Zhu Li placed the jade pendant in his hand on the dining table.
The jade pendant was pure white, translucent, and there were faint clouds moving inside. It was obvious that it was not an ordinary object. The jade pendant was carved into the shape of a Qilin. The carving was exquisite, and the Qilin was beautiful, like a living creature.
Zhu Yuren's face instantly changed, staring at the jade pendant on the dining table with wide eyes, as if he had discovered something incredible.
Zhu Yuren's expression was uncertain. After pondering for a long time, he asked aloud: "Where is the beggar now?"
"At the back door of the mansion, I saw that his clothes were tattered and he was as thin as firewood, but he was able to take out such a token. I thought that he might really know the Master." Zhu Li and Xiaoxin stared at Zhu Yuren's face and said aloud: "So I took him to the gatehouse and told him to wait for a while. If the Master doesn't want to see him, I'll get someone to give him some money. "
"Quietly take him into my study." Zhu Yuren said in a low voice. "Tell the people in the gatehouse that no one is allowed to say anything about this, or else their legs will be broken."
"Yes, Master. The people on duty in the gatehouse are all our old people, they know the gravity of the matter. "Zhu Li responded and immediately retreated.
Zhu Yuren reached out and stroked the jade pendant, muttering to himself: "Brother Sanjie, why do you have to do this? After so many years, I still want to avenge you, but I'm afraid that the words of a lowly person will not be able to fulfill my old friend's wish. "
Having lost his appetite for breakfast, Zhu Yuren grabbed the jade pendant in his hand and walked towards the study.
Sure enough, just as Zhu Yuren walked into the study and opened the door, a middle-aged man fell to his knees in front of him, hugging his calf and crying: "Uncle, I'm Wen Jin, I'm your nephew Wen Mian …"
Zhu Yuren sighed deeply and reached out to pull the beggar up, saying in a deep voice: "I know you're Wen Jin. When I saw this qilin jade pendant, I had already guessed your identity … I personally put this qilin jade pendant on your neck when you were born, to congratulate Brother Sanjie on the birth of a qilin child. But didn't your entire family die in the hands of the great bandit Hong Hai 'er? Not a single one of you escaped. When the news reached Yi Capital, I was inconsolable and even specially sent capable people to Yan City to look for you. In the end, they didn't find a single one of you. They only saw a row of densely packed corpses … How did Wen Jin escape? And why did you come to Tiandu? "
"Uncle, you have to avenge our family … Father, Mother, and the others died too tragically. They were all killed by someone. Our Li clan was killed by the Song clan. "The middle-aged beggar once again knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Zhu Yuren.
Zhu Yuren's face was cold, saying: "Wen Jin, get up and speak. Since I asked someone to bring you to this study, I've already taken responsibility … Tell me the truth, and then we'll discuss it at length. "
"Yes. Uncle. " The middle-aged beggar got up from the ground, his eyes blood red, and said in a sorrowful voice: "Little sister Li Wan has a beautiful appearance since she was a child, and was also good at the zither. Her name shook the capital. Just because she showed fear when she saw the Song clan's Song Yu, she was hated by Song Yu. During a gathering, he secretly followed my little sister and kidnapped her. My pitiful little sister suffered miserably, and when she finally found an opportunity to escape with great difficulty, she was chased by Song Yu on the street … torn to pieces on the street … "
Thinking of his little sister's tragic state, Li Wenjin was extremely sorrowful, his voice choked with sobs: "Poor little sister … She was killed by them. Killed by Song Yu … I … My father went to the Song clan to hold them accountable, but was forced by the Song clan's power. First they found someone to take the blame for Song Yu, then they transferred my father to Yan City and ordered our clan to immediately take up the post … Everyone thought that my father was bribed by power, so he sacrificed little sister's life, but who knew that my father washed his face with tears every day and was in extreme pain? "
Zhu Yuren nodded his head and said: "I know some inside information about this matter. It's just that after the incident, your Li clan disappeared in one night, and your father went to Yan City to take up the post without even saying a word. I wanted to speak up for you, but without the victim's family, it was hard to succeed … "
There was another sentence that Zhu Yuren did not say. At that time, everyone thought that Li Ruigang, who was also Li Sanjie, was bribed by the Song clan, and used the position of Yan City's Lord to exchange for his daughter's life. Although Zhu Yuren did not believe that his close friend was this kind of person, when he went to confront Zhu Yuren, he discovered that Li Sanjie's family had already disappeared, and after a few days, there was news that they had already taken up the post in Yan City. Zhu Yuren laughed coldly three times, and did not mention this matter again.
"How could father not leave? The Song clan sent people to capture Fifth Brother and brought him to Yan City, and gave father three days to rush to Yan City. They said that if he arrived one day late, one of his arms would be chopped off, and if he arrived three days late, they would kill Fifth Brother … Father did not dare to delay, and before he could even pack his luggage, he brought his family and rushed to Yan City … We knew that our strength was weak, and it was difficult to contend against a large clan like the Song clan, but we did not expect that after that Song Yu was sent to the army, he actually had great prospects, and very quickly became a General of Light Cavalry … Father had always been paying attention to that Song Yu's movements, and every time he was promoted, father's face would become a little gloomier. After one great victory at the Iron Gate Pass, Song Yu was actually promoted three times in a row. Father's face was deathly pale, and he gathered all of us together, and told us to pack our luggage. He wanted to send us brothers away in the middle of the night … "
"At that time, we still did not understand his intentions. It was clearly the Song clan who killed my younger sister, and it was clearly the Song clan who owed us, so why were they so afraid of these villains … Besides, we had always lived in Yan City, and had never shown any dissatisfaction towards the Song clan, so why did we have to escape? Why did the Song clan want to kill us? Father said that the greater Song Yu's authority and the higher his military rank was, the more the things he did in the past became a thorn in his eye, a thorn in his flesh. He had to pull out this nail, otherwise, he could be thrown out and attacked by his political enemies at any time … Father said that the best way was to kill us. Only the dead can settle this matter, and the dead can tell no tales. We didn't even have the time to escape when that great bandit brought people over and charged into the City Lord's residence, exterminating our Li clan … "
Li Wenmian wiped his tears with his pitch-black sleeves, and said aloud, "At that time, a friend invited me out for a drink, and I happened to have an upset stomach, so I went to the toilet … When I came back, my friends were all dead. I remembered father's words, and knew that they were coming for me. I didn't go home, but directly ran into the wilderness and hid for a few days, until the government issued an announcement. Only then did I dare to mix into the crowd and take a look at the corpses of my Li clan … "
Li Wenjin prostrated on the ground, choking with sobs, and said, "Uncle, I … I beg you, seek justice for my Li clan, otherwise my father and mother died unjustly …"
After listening to Li Wenjin's account, Zhu Yuren was furious, but also hesitant.
He naturally believed Li Wenjin's accusation, and this was indeed the Song clan's way of doing things. They regarded themselves as scholars, so the dirty work was taken care of by others. Li Wenjin didn't believe that the Li clan would offend the great bandit Red Boy, and even less believe that a great bandit would bring people to kill into the City Lord's residence and slaughter the City Lord and his family because of a little conflict of interest.
Only the Song clan had a reason to do so, in order to cover up Song Yu's crime, and pave the way for him to eventually control the Iron Gate Pass.
But, did he really want to get involved in this pool of muddy water?
Who were they facing, it was the Song clan.
It was the Song clan that had power over all levels of society, and the monarch behind the scenes who pushed King Chu to the top.
As long as he revealed his intention to reverse the verdict for the Li clan, or even as long as the Song clan found out that he had been in contact with the Li clan, he was afraid that he would also meet with misfortune.
His death was not to be pitied, but his entire family would probably not be spared.
Didn't the Li clan's misfortune explain the problem very well? The Song clan's style of doing things had always been to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots. The late emperor only said a few harsh words about the Song clan's dictatorship in the imperial harem, and the result was that the late emperor was killed by the Lu clan …
Seeing that Zhu Yuren was silent, Li Wenjin only felt his heart sink.
"Could it be that those people bullied me? They said that as long as I told the truth in front of Uncle Zhu, he would definitely stand up for me …"
"Uncle …" Zhu Yuren called out. "I know that this will definitely put Uncle in a difficult position, but I really have no other choice … My health is getting worse, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to live for more than a few years. If I also die of illness, then my Li clan will have no descendants, and our Li clan will never be able to take revenge, and no one will even know … "
Zhu Yuren gently rubbed the qilin jade pendant in his palm, and said aloud: "Your father, Brother Sanjie, and I are fellow villagers and close friends. When I was young, my family was poor, and I couldn't even fill my stomach, let alone go to school. It was your Li clan's support that allowed me, Zhu Yuren, to be able to read and write, and to have the wealth and honor I have today. I owe your Li clan too much. "
"My father only told us about his deep friendship with Uncle, and never mentioned anything about helping you." Li Wenjin echoed.
"Well, this is the Brother Sanjie I know. There are many who add flowers to embroidery, but there are few who send charcoal in the snow. Back then, your father was the one who sent charcoal in the snow. If it wasn't for his basket of charcoal, I'm afraid I would have been frozen to death by that heavy snow. "
"Uncle …"
Zhu Yuren waved his hand and said: "I already know what to do about this matter. You can stay in my mansion for the time being. There are also some officials in the mansion who know something about the way of the yellow river. They will help to check your physical condition. If it's not difficult to treat, it should be no big deal … "
"Thank you, Uncle." Li Wenjin was moved to tears.
"What are you thanking me for? We are originally a family. "Zhu Yuren waved his hand. "Wenjin has been on the run for many years, why didn't you come to Tiandu to find me earlier? Why did you come back at this time? "
Li Wenjin's heart skipped a beat, and he said expressionlessly: "To tell you the truth, Uncle, Wenjin was still hesitant about whether to come to you for help before …"
"Are you afraid that I won't help you?"
"I don't doubt Uncle's desire to help others, I'm just worried that the Song enterprise's power and influence will put Uncle in a difficult situation."
"Now that the Song enterprise is more powerful than in the past, you're not afraid?"
"I just … just thought that I don't have many days to live, so I have to take the risk to try … What if … what if Uncle has some way?"
Zhu Yuren's eyes were like knives, scraping Li Wenjin's face. Li Wenjin felt a burning pain on his face, but he didn't dare to avoid it, and tried to look into Zhu Yuren's eyes.
After a long time, Zhu Yuren sighed softly and called: "Zhu Li, take Wenjin to have a rest."
"Yes, Master." Zhu Li answered, and walked out of the study with Li Wenjin.
Zhu Yuren stood in the study, looking at the four big words on the plaque hanging on the wall: Carefree and Dustless.
This was something that the late Emperor had casually written and bestowed upon him. There wasn't even a signature or seal. However, Zhu Yuren was grateful, and he had always taken these four words as his code of conduct and the way of being an official.
"Dustless, Dustless, who in the world can be dustless?" Zhu Yuren muttered to himself: "I'm honored. I don't know who has chosen me to be the sharp knife to stab the Song enterprise … For the country, for the people, and for my close friends, I have to be this knife."
※ ※ ※
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In the silk and satin shop, Li Muyang had been getting more and more comfortable. If the other shop assistants were too busy, he could take charge of the work of receiving new customers alone.
Gao Dafu and Chen Goudan were very fond of Li Muyang's generosity, and they were a little afraid of the "proprietress" behind him, so they would not take the initiative to offend her. Mo Li was also a little more affectionate to Li Muyang because he did the big deal with Cui Xiaoxin and Princess Chu Ning. He thought that although this guy was not good-looking, ugly people had ugly luck, and he could still make money for the shop.
He didn't know the real identity of Boss Mo, and only thought that he was a rich man in Tiandu.
When Li Muyang was cleaning the dust on the shop with a horsetail whisk, the proprietress dressed by Hong Xiu suddenly rushed in. She pointed at Li Muyang and scolded, "Huang Ergou, how many times have I told you to work hard when you come here? Use your eyes to observe and learn with your heart … Look at you. I asked you to clean the shop, but you used the horsetail whisk to flick around. Where did the dust fall? It fell on the satin, and when it fell on the satin, the color of the satin will turn black and dark. When the customers come, they will think that it is old goods from previous years. How can it be sold? "
When the lady boss flew into a rage, the waiters in the shop kept quiet out of fear, and even Mo Li looked up at Li Muyang with a dissatisfied expression.
"Look at you. Don't affect other people's business in the shop. Come out, I will teach you a good lesson today …" Hong Xiu shouted angrily and took the lead to walk in front.
"Proprietress, don't be angry. Huang Ergou just came here and doesn't know the rules. I will finish it for him. I will never let the customers see that there is dust on the satin shop in our shop … "When Dafu saw that Li Muyang was going to be punished, he gritted his teeth and stepped forward bravely. He stood in front of Hong Xiu and interceded for Li Muyang.
"That's right. Huang Er Gou has done a big business as soon as he arrived. He's already a hero to our shop … He's much better than when Dafu and I first arrived. Lady Boss, please give Er Gou another chance. He will definitely do better … Ergou, quickly apologize to the proprietress. You won't make such a mistake again, right? "
"Are you two itching for a beating?" Hong Xiu sneered again and again, "When I teach people a lesson, do you two have the right to speak? Go and work for me. "
Hong Xiu glared at Li Muyang fiercely. She didn't know when he became so good at winning people's hearts. The two silly guys in the shop seemed to be in the same boat as him.
"Huang Ergou, come with me. I want to have a good talk with you today. "
Under the worried gaze of several people, Li Muyang walked out of the shop and followed Hong Xiu to the backyard where his family lived.
After entering the room and closing the door, Hong Xiu whispered, "Sir, we have sent the person in."
"Yes." Li Muyang nodded. "Well done."
"Although Zhu Yuren is famous for his uprightness and is a famous censor in Tiandu. But this person is wise and has been in the officialdom for decades … Will he fall into our trap? "
"Trap? What plan? "Li Muyang asked in response.
"Don't you want Zhu Yuren to stand up and reverse the verdict for the Li clan?"
"Yes." Li Muyang nodded and said, "But, what is the plan? We just took advantage of the situation to send the son of Zhu Yuren's close friend to him and let him know the truth of what happened that year … Whether he wants to reverse the verdict for the Li clan or not, that is his own choice. It has nothing to do with us. "
"I'm afraid that Li Jinwen will be seen through by him and know that he was instigated by someone … At that time, I'm afraid that the feelings in his heart will turn cold, right?"
"Suspicion is inevitable. But, didn't I ask you to teach Li Jinwen a set of words … That set of words is true, and his illness is also true. Even if Zhu Yuren has doubts, but how can he distinguish between the truth and the falsehood? "
After a pause, Li Muyang continued, "Moreover, whether Zhu Yuren is willing to stand up and reverse the verdict for the Li clan, the key is not whether Li Jinwen has deceived him, but how much feelings or gratitude he has towards the Li clan …"
"Sir, even if Zhu Yuren is willing to stand up and reverse the verdict for the Li clan, can he do it?"
"So, we need another key person to take action." A cold smile appeared on the corners of Li Muyang's mouth.
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