Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 161 Deception
There is a saying that it is easy to hide a sharp spear, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow.

Lai Shangrong has always cherished his life.

So, I arrived at the Yamen on the second day, finished handling the Yamen affairs, and got on the carriage to Shuntian Mansion.

Logically speaking, he has a good relationship with Qi Ning, the commander of the Jin Yiwei, but he has never seen Yin Jiayu Village in Shuntian Prefecture and should not look far away.

But after all, Jinyiwei is an authority directly under the emperor. Asking them to do things can easily arouse the emperor's suspicion.

As for Jia Yucun, no matter what his character is, he is at least smooth in dealing with things and well versed in the ways of being an official.

Moreover, this kind of case falls within the scope of Shuntian Mansion's responsibilities, so it is really appropriate.

The Department of State-owned Enterprises and Shuntian Mansion had overlaps in the review of cement management rights. Lai Shangrong declared himself an official position and was led to the side office.

After a while, I saw a man with a round waist, a thick back, a broad face and a square mouth, wearing a third-grade official uniform, walking in with a spring breeze on his face.

"Brother Lai has heard of his reputation for a long time!"

"Lord Futai, you are serious! I have taken the liberty to come here, what a disturbance!"

When Jia Yucun heard about Lai Shangrong's visit, he did not dare to neglect it. He had some ambitions when he passed the imperial examination, but the reality taught him a hard lesson.

Just because he didn't keep up with his colleagues, he was accused of being greedy and cruel.

Fortunately, with Lin Ruhai's recommendation in the same year, he could be reinstated.

Although Lai Shangrong is only a fifth-rank doctor, he is in the heart of the emperor. He was born as a Jinshi and became a doctor in charge within a year.

When he first took office, he originally wanted to make friends with Lai Shangrong, but Jia Zheng left Beijing and no one recommended him.

After all, he is a third-level official, so taking too much initiative would be a bit abrupt, but today's visit gave him this opportunity.

So he laughed and said, "Brother, what are you talking about? I originally planned to wait for the government official to finish his busy work for a while and trouble him to introduce me, so that I can express my gratitude to Brother Lai in person. I didn't expect that I would trouble Brother Lai to come to the door in person. What a sin!"

Lai Shangrong asked in confusion: "Thank you?"

Jia Yucun sighed: "Being an official in the capital is difficult! To be honest with you, I was very nervous when I took up the Shuntian Mansion for my brother. I knew the difficulties of being my brother, so I gave him the right to review the cement management rights. In this way, I got some Room to move.”

Lai Shangrong secretly thought, Jia Yucun's words really make people feel like a spring breeze, and he came to visit rashly today. He probably saw that he had something to ask for, so he first used the management right to get closer and give himself a step to ask for it. No wonder he can rise to the top.

Seeing this, he said enthusiastically: "They are all working for the imperial court. Brother Yucun, please don't find it troublesome!"

"Hahaha!" The two looked at each other and smiled.

Lai Shangrong went straight to the point and said, "Brother Yucun, I'm here today to ask for something!"

Jia Yucun patted his chest and said, "You and I, brothers, why are you so open-minded? As long as brothers can help, we will do our best!"

If you can help, you will do your best, but if you cannot help, you will naturally be helpless.

Lai Shangrong heard the meaning of the words and said with a smile: "I was at a banquet in Rong Mansion yesterday. The second wife and Baoyu suddenly went crazy. There were rumors in the mansion that they were possessed by evil spirits. Ma Daopo, who came into the mansion yesterday, was acting suspiciously and wanted to trouble my brother. Catch him for interrogation!"

After hearing this, Jia Yucun no longer had any doubts. This matter was not only harmless, but also beneficial to both public and private parties.

So he immediately asked where Ma Dao Po lived and called the Yamen servants to arrest Ma Dao Po.

Jia Yucun chatted with Lai Shangrong.

About an hour later, the Yamen servant reported that Ma Daopo had arrived.

Lai Shangrong then raised his hands to Jia Yucun and said, "I have a merciless request. This Ma Daopo is Baoyu's registered godmother. The family also wants to make it public. I'd like to trouble Brother Yucun to tie him up and prepare a quiet room." Let me ask first."

Jia Yucun hurriedly said: "It should be so!"

Then he ordered people to go down and prepare.

Lai Shangrong then followed the yamen servant to a quiet room, looked at the door and saw a strong Ma Daopo tied up inside, and then stepped in.

He said in a deep voice: "If you don't want to suffer, just tell me honestly how you and Aunt Zhao conspired to harm my wife and Baoyu!"

Ma Daopo originally wanted to resist, but when Lai Shangrong told Aunt Zhao, she was completely stunned.Then he poured out the bamboo tube and recounted what happened.

When Lai Shangrong heard that it was not some witchcraft technique, but the pills passed from the body poison, and that both pills were used on Mrs. Wang and Baoyu, he made up his mind.

Since it is not the unknown witchcraft, there is nothing to be afraid of.

He had no intention of seeking justice for Mrs. Wang and Baoyu. On the contrary, if Mrs. Wang had not wanted to act as a matchmaker for him, he would not have bothered to care about the life and death of their mother and son.

Now, of course, it’s a different matter.

As for Aunt Zhao, who told her to choose such a time, she can't blame him.

Lai Shangrong walked out of the quiet room with narrowed eyes and came to the side hall.

Jia Yucun stood up and asked, "How is it? Can I ask clearly?"

Lai Shangrong cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, brother Yucun! Brother, I have asked about the situation and obtained the antidote. When brother, I go back and ask Uncle Zheng, and then ask him to send someone over to discuss how to deal with it!"

Jia Yucun was in a good position, Lai Shangrong left Shuntian Mansion and rushed directly to Rong Mansion.

Jia Zheng, who was lying on the bed, saw Lai Shangrong looking a little ugly.

Although he did not witness the scene where Mrs. Wang was pressed yesterday, he has always kept a good face. From the rumors passed down by his servants, it is not difficult to hear that Lai Shangrong inevitably had contact with his wife.

"You...why are you here?"

Lai Shangrong just thought he was thinking about mother and son, took out the porcelain bottle and said with a smile: "Uncle Zheng, don't worry, this is the antidote for my wife and Baoyu."

Then he explained: "On the way back yesterday, my nephew heard from Yu Chuan that Ma Daopo was acting suspiciously when he entered the mansion yesterday. Today, he found Brother Yucun and took him to the government office for interrogation."

"What? What a thief!" Then he asked doubtfully: "Isn't she Baoyu's godmother?"

Lai Shangrong was waiting for this. He couldn't say he doubted Aunt Zhao as soon as he opened his mouth.

After all, even if Aunt Zhao was acting suspiciously, why would he pay attention to it? Therefore, Aunt Zhao could only rely on Ma Daopo's mouth to tell her story.

"According to my nephew's interrogation, Ma Daopo conspired with Aunt Zhao!"

"what?!"

Jia Zheng exclaimed. If his waist hadn't been weak, he would have almost sat up in shock. After regaining consciousness, he immediately asked: "Besides Xian Nephew and Yu Cun, does anyone else know about this?"

Lai Shangrong hurriedly said: "My nephew knows that Ma Daopo is Baoyu's godmother, so the interrogation was done alone, and even Yucun didn't participate!"

"Good! Good!"

In ancient times, favoring concubines and destroying wives was not only a serious crime, but was also despised by scholars.

He has always had the best face. Although this matter was not his fault, as long as it spreads, there will naturally be no gossip outside.

"I asked my nephew to help keep this matter secret. Now that the antidote has been obtained, it is better to reduce the big problem to a trivial matter. I will also send someone to Yucun to ask for it!"

Lai Shangrong just thought that he couldn't bear Aunt Zhao's death. After all, he just wanted to save Mrs. Wang as soon as possible. Since Jia Zheng didn't pursue the case, why should he bother himself.

Throw down the antidote and turn around to leave.

Little did he know that Jia Zheng heard that he was the only one who knew the inside story, so he had the idea of ​​​​hiding the matter.

Since Ma Taopo was Baoyu's godmother and there were already rumors of being possessed by evil spirits in the palace, she was afraid of attracting criticism that would be unfavorable to the imperial concubine, so she asked Jia Yucun to make the matter as minor as possible and only drive the person out of the capital.

After all, as long as the case is finalized, there must be a confession, and once Aunt Zhao is interrogated, there is nothing to hide.

In order to deceive himself and others, and so that he could completely disassociate himself from the incident once it happened, he pretended not to know anything about Aunt Zhao's involvement.

Of course, to nip things in the bud, Aunt Zhao's reputation as a concubine must be removed, so from then on, she was treated as a dead person and never entered the East Xiaoyuan again.

(End of this chapter)