Pei Xiuyan's crimes are all listed in the white paper.
From the forcible tax increase, to the confiscation of several aristocratic families in Kyoto over the years, to the imprisonment of several confidants left behind by the Queen Mother, Pei Xiuyan's handiwork is behind everything.
The dirty things are clearly written in the white paper.
Pei Xiuyan held his white leather hand behind his back and walked around the leading scholar.
"Zhang Puyu, if I remember correctly, you are the second son of Zhang Qingman, the Minister of Punishment. You have just turned 20 this year and are not yet married. You have been tutored by Ye Jin in your homework."
Zhang Puyu didn't expect Pei Xiuyan to know him.
"Pei Gou, I am responsible for all my work. This matter has nothing to do with the Zhang family. If you have anything to do with me, come to me!"
Pei Xiuyan looked up to the sky and laughed.
He turned to the others, pointed at one of them and said:
"Yuan Dianju, you were a Jinshi in the fifth year of Deyuan Dynasty. You once served as magistrate of Pingcheng County. Because you couldn't stand the imperial court's increase in taxes and failed to plead for the people, you resigned in anger. Now you make a living by selling calligraphy and paintings. You have no wife or children. And a very sick grandmother.”
Yuan Dianju's face turned pale instantly when his name was called.
Pei Xiuyan pointed to another scholar and continued:
"Liu Zhu, your hometown is in Five Counties of Yangzhou. You failed to pass the examination in autumn last year. You have a three-year-old daughter at home, and you are currently living in Kyoto by your wife spinning cloth. Before you want to do justice for heaven, have you ever considered your wife and daughter at home?"
He listed each scholar's name and family background one by one. After finishing speaking, he said sharply:
"When I was dealing with the Ye family, I once said that anyone who pleads for the Ye family will be guilty of the same crime! It is such a pity that your family members, young and old, will be buried with you!"
The scholars present felt as if their muscles and bones had been ripped away.
Some of them were Ye Jin's disciples, and some were favored by Ye Jin. They relied on the justice in their hearts to avenge the Ye family, and never thought of retreat.
Now that Pei Xiuyan discovered the matter before it was completed and was charged with the same crime, a storm surged through his heart.
They are not afraid of death, but they are afraid of harming their families.
Zhang Puyu is the leader of this group of people, and he paid two yuan for these things.
He knew that he couldn't accomplish anything now, so he said to Pei Xiuyan: "I did everything alone, and they just obeyed my orders. Kill or chop them as you please, and let them live."
Pei Xiuyan looked at Zhang Puyu coldly, and found that his eyes were clear, neither humble nor arrogant, and not afraid of life and death. He had a bit of Ye Jin's legacy, and he couldn't help but praise him secretly in his heart.
He said with a joking face: "Oh? If I let them go, how can you guarantee that they won't bite me?"
Zhang Puyu looked at everyone and was stunned for a moment.
Pei Xiuyan was very interested in watching the fight between trapped animals.
"I am in a very good mood today. You kill yourself in front of them now, let them remember that they have shouldered your life, and swear in the name of Saint Kong that you will never pursue my case in the future. I will let them go. "
When everyone heard this, they were furious.
"Pei Gou, you have the ability to kill us! Threatening us with the youngest of the family and Zhang Puyu is not what a gentleman would do!"
Pei Xiuyan laughed loudly. "My hands are stained with blood, and I have never been a gentleman!"
Zhang Puyu felt even more guilty when he saw that everyone was willing to live and die with him. He misjudged Pei Xiuyan's ability and harmed everyone.
Now, he can only die to apologize.
He cupped his hands in front of everyone and said: "My colleagues, it was my recklessness that caused you trouble. Today I will atone for my sins. I hope you will be well in the future and don't be impulsive again!"
After speaking, he turned to Pei Xiuyan and said, "Pei Xiuyan, can you keep your word?"
"This king has always made promises worth a thousand pieces of gold!"
Zhang Puyu said: "Okay!" After saying this, he didn't hesitate to put the sharp sword on his neck, and blood spattered three feet on the spot.
He fell heavily to the ground, making a dull noise and raising a cloud of dust on the ground.
Everyone shouted, "Brother Puyu!"
Pei Xiuyan kicked Zhang Puyu on the ground. Seeing that there was no movement, he said with satisfaction:
"Did you all see it? Zhang Puyu died for you, and I kept my promise and let you go. You must also keep Zhang Puyu's promise and swear to Saint Kong!"
Everyone stood still.
Pei Xiuyan sneered: "What? You want revenge?"
"Instead of doing useless things here, you pedantic scholars should go back and obtain fame. In the future, if you are in a high position and you use other names to settle accounts with me, you will be worthy of Zhang Puyu's life!"
Some people threw down the white paper, knelt down with tears and swore, and finally kowtowed three times to Zhang Puyu's body, got up and left without hesitation.
Seeing this, others followed suit.
Pei Xiuyan is right. They are powerless and will be defeated without a fight. Only by holding a high position can we fight against this darkness and hegemony, restore the innocence of the Ye family, and restore the innocence of Dafenghai and Yanhe.
After everyone dispersed, Yan Tie hurriedly squatted on the ground and tapped Zhang Puyu's acupuncture points. He took out a bottle of medicinal powder from his arms and sprinkled it on Zhang Puyu's neck where he had cut himself.
Pei Xiuyan asked: "Can it hurt the root?"
Yan Qi replied: "I followed the prince's instructions and withdrew the sword a few inches. He just fainted and did not hurt his roots."
Pei Xiuyan nodded, and ordered Yan Che to burn all the white papers on the ground. Finally, he carefully cleaned up all traces, and then he and Yan Che left with Zhang Puyu.
Silence returned to the desolate suburbs again.
After a long time, a man in brocade clothes wearing a crown of jade slowly walked up to three unnamed tombstones, followed by a cold and charming maid holding a sword.
This person is none other than Pingyang Wang Nan Gongli.
He sighed at the tombstone: "Pei Xiuyan is so affectionate and righteous, how can I not give him a surprise? Xinu, please move all three tombs."
Xi Nu was startled for a moment, then said expressionlessly: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Nan Gongli smiled and asked, "Xi Nu, are you questioning my decision?"
Xinu shook her head slightly, "I don't dare."
Nan Gongli raised his head and looked at the sky. Dark clouds had blocked the sun at some point, and the gray clouds made the already cold sky even colder.
"I want to completely muddy the waters in Kyoto before I leave Kyoto."
※
The news that King Pei Xiuyan of the Qing Dynasty had turned into a beauty in anger at Lan Yue Pavilion quickly spread throughout the capital.
From now on, offending Ye Chuyan is equivalent to offending the Qing Palace.
When Hongying learned the news, she didn't dare to hide it and told Zhao Yujiao everything.
She thought that after Zhao Yujiao found out, she would get angry and take it all out on herself.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yujiao just smiled slightly and said nothing.
This made Hongying feel even more confused.
Ever since Ye Chuyan said goodbye to Wu Mu that day, it felt like a piece of her heart was missing. She had nightmares every night, always dreaming of Wu Mu's injured expression that day.
During the day, she could only vent her emotions by dancing like crazy with her sword.
On the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, Yan Pei sent the clothes made by Madam Mo to Jiangjiayuan. Bai Zhi was so surprised that she urged Ye Chuyan to try them on, and she was astonished on the spot.
It's just that Ye Chuyan's interest is weak. Bai Zhi doesn't know why and is very worried.
Pei Xiuyan has been staying at Honglu Temple every day for the past few days and has not returned home.
During this period, he ordered Yan Pei to send a message to Zhao Yujiao. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he took Ye Chuyan to the palace banquet and asked Zhao Yujiao to prepare and go there together.
Zhao Yujiao rejected Pei Xiuyan's proposal on the grounds that her broken leg had not healed and her identity was inappropriate.
This surprised Pei Xiuyan and deeply admired Zhao Yujiao's well-behaved and sensible nature.
The sun rises and sets, and soon it’s the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
