"Oh, what are you doing? This should not be done; I am not worthy," Lian Bingcheng repeatedly waved his hands, saying over and over again, "Sister-in-law, Brother Changhe, this is too formal, please get up, all of you get up."
He reached out to help one person and then another, and after a lot of helping and talking, Su Ran and the others finally stood up.
After standing up, Lian Changhe couldn’t help walking over, hooking his arm around Lian Bingcheng’s shoulder, and burst into laughter, "Big Brother Bingcheng, why are you sweating so much? You weren’t scared, were you, haha."
Lian Bingcheng gave him a glare. How could he not be startled by such a grand gesture?
Suddenly he paused and reacted fiercely, "What did you just call ?"
Lian Changhe innocently responded, "What?"
The two, arm in arm, started fooling around like good brothers, with great hearts.
Su Ran didn’t pay attention to them; at that mont, her eyes were filled with a cold intensity. Just thinking about the pain her little daughter had endured filled her heart with great sorrow.
She turned to ask, "Mu Su, what is the Guo family being accused of?"
Her tone, as always, contained an endless chill.
Lian Musu moved slightly, "Mother, the official charge against them is the illegal trading of five hundred catties of salt, a cri sufficient to execute the masterminds and confiscate their property and exile them."
But the real reason remained unknown.
Hearing the conversation between the two, Lian Wanzhen couldn’t help but co closer, listening quietly, not interjecting. These matters were not his forte.
Su Ran asked again, "Is Guo Neng the mastermind?"
Lian Musu shook her head, her voice cold, "No, it was Guo Neng’s father and brother; Guo Neng himself is now in hiding."
Su Ran looked down and pondered, "So, if Guo Neng were captured, he wouldn’t be sentenced to death?"
She looked up again at Lian Musu, a strong hatred flashing in her eyes, "Mu Su, it’s not enough, far from enough. Your sister suffered so much, I will not be at peace in this life if Guo Neng does not die."
rely exile was not enough to quell the hatred in their hearts.
Her small daughter, so young, had faced such danger because of that vile cur, traveling a thousand miles to seek refuge. If she hadn’t encountered the kind escort master, she might not be alive today. Every ti she thought of this possibility, she wished she could tear him apart and flay him alive.
Moreover, given that cur’s wiles, he would probably not just surrender. He would surely try every ans to escape justice.
This was sothing they didn’t want to see at all.
Lian Musu said, "Mother is right, but..."
The current situation was unclear, and they didn’t have enough evidence to overturn the case, fearing it might backfire and implicate their own family instead.
Su Ran knew what he was thinking and raised her hand to interrupt, "Before leaving, Baobao handed over the evidence of Guo Neng’s cris to . Now that the Guo family has fallen, let’s give them another push."
Lian Musu was taken aback, then slowly smiled, his smile as bright as the starry sky.
It turned out that his younger brother had been prepared all along. It was perfect timing, just like finding a pillow when drowsy. That was wonderful.
No matter whether the Guo family was caught up in a court struggle or sothing else, presenting these additional charges now could be the final straw to crush Guo Neng.
He said warmly but firmly, "Whatever mother wishes to do, your son awaits your orders."
Lian Wanzhen didn’t understand the riddle, but he imdiately understood the notion of killing Guo Neng.
He clenched his fist and followed suit, "Mother, count in. Just give the order and I will risk my life to kill that cur."
Su Ran smiled warmly, her heart filled with warmth, "You are all my children; how could I bear to let you place yourselves in danger."
Lian Musu was stunned, "Mother, why..."
Wasn’t it him who should co forward, to take those pieces of evidence and impeach the Guo family’s cris?
The recent re-examination matter had just ended, and he had gained so reputation in the Capital, so it would be best if he were the one to co forward.
But with what his mother said, could it be that he was mistaken?
Just as Su Ran was about to say sothing, a voice interrupted from the side:
"Sister-in-law, this Guo family you are talking about, could they be the ones who hard you all back then?"
Turning her head, Su Ran noticed that at so point, those brothers, who had been teasing each other, had gradually quieted down and gathered around.
She nodded, her voice icy, "Exactly."
Lian Bingcheng’s expression beca hesitant as he asked, "Have they been raided?"
"Correct." Lian Musu took over the conversation, relayed the news he heard to Lian Bingcheng, then tentatively asked, "Could it be that Clan Uncle hasn’t heard this news?"
This news had spread throughout the Capital.
Lian Bingcheng shook his head; lately, he had been learning massage techniques to treat his wife’s backache, hoping to cure her chronic ailnt once and for all, so he hadn’t gone out much.
However, "The Internal Guard Bureau is?" He had never heard of it.
Seeing him shake his head, Lian Musu’s eyes flashed, confirming his guess that his Clan Uncle indeed didn’t know about the Imperial Heir’s incident.
He glanced unintentionally at his parents, his heart faintly worried that his mother wouldn’t be able to handle the news.
He explained to Lian Bingcheng, "The Internal Guard Bureau operates independently of the Ministry of Punishnt, serving His Majesty. Rarely taking action, it has a distinguished reputation within the court but remains very low-key among the folks, seldom appearing before the commoners in its own na. Even the residents of the Capital know little about it, so it’s normal for Clan Uncle in Yanqing Mansion not to know. However, this ti, their involvent just for five hundred catties of private salt is truly surprising."
This was what he couldn’t understand.
Could it be for his younger sister?
This thought flickered through his mind, and he imdiately dismissed it, perhaps influenced by his Clan Uncle’s earlier remarks; that’s why such an idea had erged.
But his Clan Uncle was completely unaware that the Guo family was the arch-criminal that had caused their family’s downfall, and his younger sister had forgotten the family matters; for His Majesty to step in on behalf of his sister was out of the question.
The Guo and Xue families were related by marriage, and with the Capital’s political scene being so unpredictable, the most likely scenario was a struggle within the imperial court. His Majesty’s intent was not on the wine, as the saying goes, but rather on— the Xue family!
This was the conclusion he had pondered over for a long ti at the Imperial Academy, and it was also the main reason he believed the Lian Family should not seek justice at this ti.
Since ancient tis, court struggles have involved a broad scope, and commoners like themselves should avoid it if possible. Still bearing a stigma and with no conclusive evidence, if they were to erge, they would be crushed to dust with a single roll.
Before he could pull his thoughts together, Lian Bingcheng, as if having realized sothing, suddenly beca excited, clapping his hands, "That’s it, it must be His Majesty personally intervening, surely His Majesty is taking up your cause, haha, His Majesty’s word is as heavy as nine tripods, his promise never fails !"
"What?" Taking up their cause?
The crowd was puzzled, all eyes turning to him.
"What did you say? What does that person... His Majesty have to do with this?" Lian Changhe didn’t understand.
At the ntion of His Majesty, he thought of his own little girl who had mysteriously beco soone else’s daughter and just as mystifyingly soone else’s wife... Ah, it rankled him!
Lian Bingcheng, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with a sparkle in his eyes, pointed out each person present, "Brother Changhe, sister-in-law, eldest nephew, second nephew, I fear I might know a thing or two about this matter!"
"Hmm?" The crowd looked at him, not understanding.
He cleared his throat and recounted the past events, starting with the encounter of his fool of a little brother, then the subsequent assault and rescue, followed by being protected by the white fatty to the Capital City, staying in a large mansion in the Capital, and finally the Emperor’s personal visit.
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