Drive a RV and go farming in ancient times.

Chapter 354 Rescue
There are two charcoal pots in the luxuriously decorated flower hall. The best silver frost charcoal is burned in the pots. It is not only smoke-free, but also has a faint and pleasant fragrance. But at this moment, no matter how warm the room is, it is like spring. Yao Changyuan could not be made to relax. He was stiff, with a haggard face and a desolate heart.

However, in just a few days, he, a son of an official who had never experienced hardship, felt that the world was hot and cold.

Sitting on the soft couch, Mrs. Yao held a brocade handkerchief embroidered with orchids, wiped the red and swollen corners of her eyes, and said in a sad voice, "Yao Yao, please help your grandfather's family. Now, only you can help. Your father is helpless. The people he knows can't find a way to go to the palace to plead with the emperor, or even to meet the adults of the Ministry of Punishment. Your grandfather, oh oh, our room is not the only one in the family. He has so many things to think about, how can he be willing to risk it all? To run for your grandfather, mother, I can only count on you..."

As he spoke, tears flowed down again.

Meng Yao endured the impatience and disgust in his heart, but did not show any trace of it on his face. He thoughtfully handed over a cup of tea, "Mother, drink some water to moisten your throat. Your voice has become hoarse in the past few days. I feel really sorry for my daughter... "

Hearing this, Ms. Yao felt relieved, held her daughter's hand, and said many touching words with tears in her eyes.

Meng Yao smiled and listened.

For some reason, Yao Changyuan always felt uncomfortable when he looked at this scene of "deep love between mother and daughter". He claimed to know this sister-in-law, and she had extraordinary appearance and some talent. Otherwise, Meng Zhong would not have been attracted to her in the first place. Although Meng Zhonglou was a dandy, he was the direct son of the uncle's house, and his wife's family status was not too low. The Yao family got this good match because of his eldest sister. He has a good reputation, but his temperament is hard to describe.

Fortunately, she is not the eldest daughter-in-law, otherwise how could she survive?

She always cries when something happens, which is not the demeanor of a mistress and a royal wife, but for now, she has to be counted on to persuade Meng Yao.

In fact, he didn't want to admit that he was inexplicably afraid of this niece who was only five years old.

"Yao Yao, that's your grandpa. We are both prosperous and devastated. We can't just ignore him."

"But……"

Yes, I'm afraid. I can't explain the reason. I just don't want to have more contact with her. When my eyes meet, a chill will run through my heart. I want to escape even more than when I watch those Taoist priests catching ghosts at home.

"Yes, you have..." Mrs. Yao seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw, "Yao Yao, others can't do it, but you can do it. The emperor values ​​you. If you go and beg for mercy, for your sake, the emperor will definitely let your grandpa go. of."

Mrs. Yao opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, and turned to look at her daughter, hoping that she would take the initiative to return the banknote.

Yao was crying miserably, but it was just crying. He couldn't offer anything good that could impress her. Meng Yao felt disdainful in his heart, thinking that no wonder he was forced to jump into the lake by his father's concubine in his previous life. He had no brains. What real wife?
However, Yao Changyuan saw a way out and took out a delicate small box from his sleeve, "Yao Yao, this is a little thought from uncle. Uncle came in a hurry and didn't bring you any gifts. You can use it to buy beads and flowers to wear." ”

"Sister, Yaoyao..." he had to remind aloud, "my mother is ill and bedridden, and there is no one in charge of the house. My second uncle is also very ill and can't even take care of his business. My second aunt is busy taking care of him." , exhausted mentally and physically, my cousin has no one to look after him, he fell down and broke his head last night, the burned yard has not been repaired yet, and he is looking for a craftsman, but even after paying a high price, not many people are willing to come to the door, and all of this is... It’s because my father is in prison. If he doesn’t come back, the Yao family will collapse!”

If you want a horse to run, you have to give it grass, as it should be.

Yao Changyuan forced a smile and said, "Sister, don't worry, the family still has some surplus, so life is difficult? When my second uncle came to Beijing from Qingzhou, he brought some silver, which is enough for the whole family."

Although he said this, Meng Yao did not return the box, but accepted it calmly, and even opened it and took a look.

Meng Yao curled the corners of his mouth downwards and said nothing.

No matter how noble the husband's family is, a woman will still be in trouble without her natal family to rely on.

Meng Yao frowned, "Mom, it's not that my daughter doesn't want to help, it's my grandfather. How can I bear to see my grandfather suffer in prison? But, my grandfather did make a mistake. The emperor investigated him and protected the law. If I go to intercede, Isn’t it embarrassing for the emperor? My daughter, how can I have the dignity?”

Yao said, "In the long run, the whole yard of our house has been burned down, and there were thieves before. It's already difficult. What are you going to do with all this? We are all a family, aren't you just slapping me and Yaoyao in the face?"

"Uncle, you are too outspoken."

Yao's face turned pale when she heard this, and she held her daughter's little hand tightly, "Yao Yao, did you hear that? You must find a way to save your grandpa, otherwise, mother, how can mother survive?"

"But……"

"Sister, you don't need to say anything. This is my wish as an uncle. Yaoyao is willing to help her father go to the palace to intercede with the saint. Not to mention buying a few pearl flowers, I am also willing to give him a gold mountain."

She is not stupid. She knows that the banknote is a favor payment from her brother to her daughter. But we are all a family, so we should help, so how can we ask for money?

A thick stack of silver notes, she raised the corners of her lips reservedly, a trace of satisfaction flashed in her eyes, it was the Yao family who knew what they were interested in.

However, she was disappointed.

Meng Yao didn't even look at her. He got down from the soft couch, straightened the hem of his skirt slowly, and said calmly, "Mother, uncle, I will go to the palace to beg the emperor right away, even if it costs Yao'er's luck. Yaoer is also willing."

Hearing this, Yao Changyuan was immediately overjoyed, "Okay, okay, thank you, uncle, Yaoyao. I will go and drive you..."

Meng Yao declined politely, "There's no need to trouble uncle, you can just talk to your mother. Yao'er can go alone."

Yao Changyuan thought that the Meng family valued this niece, and had arranged the best guards and maids for her since she was named the county head, so she stopped insisting, "Then uncle is here, waiting for your good news."

Meng Yao nodded reservedly.

After a while, a gorgeous carriage came out of the gate of Uncle Pingyuan's Mansion in a high-profile manner and headed straight for the palace.

Several groups of people were watching every move of the Yao family in the dark. Yao Yuan entered Uncle Pingyuan's house, and Meng Yao went to the palace to meet the saint. These news soon reached the ears of some people.

Yao Changyuan went to ask Meng Yao for help, and Meng Yao went to plead with the emperor. It was not difficult to guess. It was even easy to guess what decision the emperor would make. Sure enough, after Meng Yao left the palace, there was a white-faced and beardless eunuch. Punishment Department, not long after, Yao Changjun walked out of the prison.

No punishment, no torture, only two interviews, and no shortage of food and drink. It was considered a very preferential treatment. However, after being imprisoned for a few days and seeing the light of day again, Yao Changjun's mentality was no longer what it used to be. After returning home, he fell down. Got off.

The Yao family was in a state of turmoil again.

Li Yunting also sent people to keep an eye on the Yao family, so he knew the news very timely. He knew it, which also meant that Xu Huaiyi knew it. When talking about this matter, neither of them had any surprise on their faces. They just sighed that the emperor was really worried. The Lord of Ping'an County valued him so much that he released Yao Changjun without even using a single soldier. He just opened his mouth and released Yao Changjun. He didn't even fine him any money, he just dismissed him from office.

Xu Huaiyi was a little unwilling and murmured in a low voice, "By doing this, the emperor put the court's laws in place? Can other civil and military ministers be convinced? Will anyone who makes a mistake in the future go to the Anping County Lord to ask for mercy and avoid disaster?"

Li Yunting said meaningfully, "The emperor was not like this before..."

When he was old and afraid of death, he valued Meng Yao's so-called ability to judge good and bad luck.

Xu Huaiyi's heart moved, and he understood his hint, and sighed depressedly, "Then there is nothing we can do."

Not to mention that they have not yet served as officials, even if they stand in the court, they dare not give advice. No matter how wise or powerful the emperor is, these things are taboo.

Li Yunting suddenly asked, "Do you feel relieved that the Yao family has ended up like this?" "Ah? Me? What can't I be relieved of? The Yao family has been revenged by evil ghosts. I have given up long ago, haha..." Xu Huaiyi He said with a clear face, "You don't still suspect that I'm the fish waiting to be baited, do you?"

Li Yunting said, "You are not, but someone is."

"Who?"

"I don't know yet. I only know that in the past few days since Yao Changjun was imprisoned, not many people asked for mercy, but there were several groups who bribed the jailers to drug Yao Changjun."

Xu Huaiyi's eyes widened, "What's wrong? What on earth did Yao Changjun do that makes people and gods angry? So many people want him dead?"

Li Yunting shook his head, "I'm also very curious about what he did to provoke so many people who want him to shut up completely."

"Are there any clues? Are all the people in the Criminal Department just doing it for free? There are several groups of people who don't know who is behind the scenes?" Xu Huaiyi found it unbelievable, "Wasn't it already prepared to invite you to the urn?"

Li Yunting twitched his lips and said, "If this were not the case, I am afraid that Yao Changjun would have been poisoned to death long ago, and how could he have survived until the Lord of Ping'an County interceded? Therefore, those people from the Punishment Department are still of some use."

It’s just that the ability is limited.

Xu Huaiyi didn't know what to say, and finally said gloomily, "Let's wait and see, maybe there will be other discoveries. You can't just lay it out from above. If you draw water from a bamboo basket, it will be all in vain, and nothing will be gained, right?"

There is no way to explain that to the emperor.

The next day, it was really rewarding.

In the morning, the emperor dealt with an official. He was a commander of the Wucheng Army and Horses Division. He was a fifth-rank official. His official rank was not high, but his position was relatively important. What was especially subtle was that Commander Zhu was the same as Xue from Dongcheng. The conductor makes people come and go more closely.

Moreover, not long after Commander Xue was imprisoned, he committed suicide without asking for any useful information.

The Minister of Punishment had a big headache. This was his dereliction of duty. After he reported to the emperor tremblingly, the emperor was naturally furious and made him kneel outside the imperial study room for two hours before he calmed down.

The Minister of Punishment was old and had knelt for so long. When he left, he almost couldn't walk. Even though he was in such pain, he still had to grit his teeth and go about his errands. He had to explain to the emperor who forced Commander Zhu to commit suicide.

I had laid out the plan before, lowered the hook, and several waves of fish came, but I was surprised to only catch one, Commander Zhu. Who would have thought that he committed suicide before he had time to dig deeper, and his efforts were completely ruined.

As for those fish that slipped through the net, they traced them afterwards but found no clues. Those jailers who were bribed seemed to take risks simply for money, which was simply puzzling.

While I was confused, I couldn't help but feel terrified. Who could do things so seamlessly?

Xu Huaiyi heard about these things from Sun Yu. At noon, the master and the apprentice sat together to drink tea and talk about government affairs.

"Huaiyi, what do you think?"

Sun Yu told him what was going on in the court. In addition to teaching him, it was more like listening to his thoughts.

Xu Huaiyi pondered and said, "You said that Commander Zhu who committed suicide had close contacts with Commander Xue in Dongcheng, and Commander Xue was the second master of Duke Xin's mansion and the uncle of the second prince, right?"

"Yes, it's more than that. Your aunt's husband is the commander of Xicheng. Although they are not close to Commander Zhu, they have some contacts. After all, they belong to the same yamen, so it is difficult to avoid them."

Xu Huaiyi was stunned for a moment. The legitimate daughter of the Sun family, Sun Yu's biological sister Sun Tao, was married to Zhang Yuheng, the eldest grandson of Duke An Guo. He considered and asked, "Which prince is closest to Duke An Guo?"

Sun Yu said, "They are not close, but there are always in-laws around the corner. Your master-uncle is an upright person, so you don't have to think too much about it."

Xu Huaiyi laughed and said, "That's good, hahaha. It seems that it is very likely that he is going to the Xue family."

"Second Prince?"

"Not necessarily, it may just be that they just want to muddy the water. Only in muddy water can you fish."

Sun Yu was thoughtful.

Xu Huaiyi pretended to be a gossip and asked, "Master, who do you think will send people to the prison to poison Yao Changjun one after another?"

Sun Yu shook his head, "It's hard to say. We don't have any clues yet. We finally caught Zhu Huan and committed suicide. For this reason, Mr. Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment knelt outside the imperial study room for two hours. If he had any way, he wouldn't do it." As for suffering this kind of thing, I really can’t catch the person behind it.”

"Then do you think there is a master behind the waves of poisoning people?"

Sun Yu said, "Now they all point to Zhu Huan, and Zhu Huan also confessed in the morning and admitted that he was the one who sent him."

Xu Huaiyi said "Huh?" "He took it all over?"

Sun Yu nodded, "I'm not sure if he is the scapegoat, but it must have something to do with him, because he clearly explained the process of how to bribe the jailers. Even if he is not the mastermind behind the scenes, he is still the handler."

"Then what's the reason for poisoning Yao Changjun?"

"The reason is that he also accepted bribes from Yao Changjun."

Xu Huaiyi sneered sarcastically, "Then there's no need to silence them. Just like Mr. Xi and Mr. Zuo did, just cry and complain in the main hall, and at most you'll be fined some money. Why take the risk to kill someone?"

Sun Yu said in a deep voice, "Yes, so this reason is just to listen. The Criminal Department originally wanted to continue the trial, but now that the person is dead, the clues have been cut off."

Xu Huaiyi sneered and said, "When a person dies, the clues may not be cut off. Whatever has been done will leave traces. It depends on whether the adults in the Ministry of Punishment can do anything, or whether the mastermind behind the scenes can stop it."

Sun Yu reminded meaningfully, "It's difficult. If the investigation reaches the end and the clues point to... then we can only leave it alone."

Xu Huaiyi understood what he was saying. If the clues pointed to several princes fighting for the position of crown prince, then the emperor would definitely not continue the trial. The family scandal should not be made public.

He had read those letters and original account books, and knew in his heart that the mastermind behind the scenes was probably the King of Chu. Whether it was the fire in Yao's yard or Yao Changjun being poisoned in prison, in the eyes of the King of Chu, the chess piece Yao Changjun was useless. , if he cannot withstand the interrogation of the Ministry of Justice and explains something, can the King of Chu stay out of the matter?

Silencing is inevitable, as long as he adds another fire.

The Anping County Lord asked the emperor for mercy and released Yao Changjun from prison. In fact, it was a bad move. It was much more dangerous outside than in prison.