Love Lock

Chapter 181 Recruiting from reality
After lunch, Lin Yuanshan felt dizzy and his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

After taking only two sips of tea, Zhao Qiao'er began nagging and urging him on.

"Yuanshan, this matter cannot be delayed. We must go and ask Manager Tang quickly."

He sighed and forced down the last mouthful of tea, which had gone cold and tasted bitter.

The sun outside was blazing, so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Lin Yuanshan rubbed his itchy nose and suddenly sneezed loudly, startling the sparrows on the roadside branches into flight.

Last night, Mr. Liu, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, was quite enthusiastic. After hearing his purpose, he immediately sent someone to call several fellow cloth merchants to discuss the matter together.

The result of the discussion was that Lin Yuanshan would first go to Manager Tang to ask if Jinxiufang had any other owners besides Young Master Wei.

After getting the information, we will then unite with all the cloth shop owners in the capital to go to Jinxiufang and discuss the procurement channels with the owner.

He stayed at the Chamber of Commerce until very late. He left in a hurry and forgot his umbrella, so he ran home in the rain. His thin summer shirt was soaked through, and he wasn't feeling well at all.

As you walk through the bustling crowds and turn the corner, you can see the gilded signboard of Jinxiufang in the distance, gleaming in the sunlight.

Lin Yuanshan squinted and saw Tang Xiaotong seeing a girl in a light blue dress off.

When the girl turned her head, the silver hairpin in her hair rippled with a faint halo of light. Manager Tang's gaze seemed to hold a variety of complex emotions, remaining fixed on the woman's back.

Finally seeing Manager Tang, Lin Yuanshan quickened his pace. But he wasn't so lucky; before he could even get close, Tang Xiaotong had already climbed into a blue cloth carriage.

"Manager Tang! Wait!" Lin Yuanshan shouted in a hoarse voice.

The vendor selling sugar figurines was calling out his wares, and the wonton stall worker was shouting, "Hot ones—" but his voice was instantly drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the street.

The wheels of the blue cloth carriage rolled over the bluestone road, and the rumbling sound gradually faded into the distance.

Lin Yuanshan hurriedly chased after him for a few steps, but his body weakened from the illness, and he had to support himself on his knees to catch his breath.

Just then, an unusual tremor came from the ground. Several black carriages sped towards them at the same time, the "Wei" character lanterns on their shafts swaying violently.

The lead driver brandished his whip, the tip cracking in the air.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

Lin Yuanshan hurriedly staggered back to the eaves of the pickle shop with the others, watching helplessly as the convoy kicked up clouds of dust.

The curtain of the last carriage was suddenly lifted, revealing half of a woman's face covered with thick powder, before quickly falling back down.

An old woman selling silk flowers on the street muttered, "Why have I been seeing the Wei family's carriages all the time these past few days? Their pomp and circumstance is even more impressive than that of the magistrate of the capital."

The carriages that had just passed by belonged to Wei Dabao and his family. After several days of bumpy travel, they finally arrived in the capital this afternoon.

Because Wei Dabao lived in Cangzhou, which was the farthest from the capital, he arrived in the capital after all the other branches of the Wei family had already arrived. He was the last to arrive.

"Two days later than scheduled," Wei Dabao muttered to himself, his stubby fingers unconsciously stroking his thick chin. "I wonder if the other rooms have all arrived yet."

“Master Wei,” a servant dressed in the attire of the Prime Minister’s residence had been waiting inside the city gate for some time, “I have come to guide you on the orders of the steward.”

Before the vermilion gates of the Prime Minister's residence, Wei Dabao straightened his clothes. The steward was already waiting at the gate, his wrinkled face revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Master Wei, you must have had a long journey." The steward bowed and said in a low voice, "The other households arrived three days ago, only your family is missing."

Wei Dabao's heart skipped a beat: "What exactly is going on in the case? My uncle's letter was vague..."

The steward looked around and lowered his voice: "More than a dozen people died in the Marquis of Champion's mansion overnight, including the Marquis himself. The clues point directly to the Wei family. His Majesty is furious and has ordered the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough investigation."

Wei Dabao stumbled and almost fell if the butler hadn't caught him in time.

He forced himself to remain calm, but couldn't hide the tremor in his voice: "This...this is absolutely impossible! The Wei family has no grudge against the Marquis of Champion's mansion..."

“Now we need to confront them and clarify the situation.” The butler sighed. “I urge Master Wei to report to the Dali Temple immediately. His Majesty has issued an edict that the entire Wei family is a suspect.”

While settling his family, Wei Dabao's wife tightly gripped his sleeve: "Master, this matter is strange, we..."

"Don't panic." Wei Dabao patted her hand impatiently, only to find his palms covered in cold sweat. "The innocent are innocent. His Majesty is discerning and will not wrong the innocent."

Before the gates of the Dali Temple, two rows of imperial guards stood solemnly, their swords and halberds gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Wei Dabao took a deep breath and handed over his visiting card.

Before long, an official dressed in a scarlet robe strode out.

"Wei Dabao of the Wei family of Cangzhou has come to report for questioning by imperial decree." Wei Dabao bowed deeply. Even the usually arrogant Wei Dabao dared not act presumptuously here.

"Please follow me, Master Wei." The official said expressionlessly, "His Majesty is about to arrive. Please wait in the hall for a moment, Master Wei."

As you pass through the many courtyards, the somber atmosphere grows stronger.

Upon arriving at the lobby, seeing the neatly arranged batons on both sides, Wei Dabao couldn't help but shiver in the sweltering heat. Waiting in such an environment made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sent someone to inform Emperor Jing, who immediately set out for the Court of Judicial Review. At the same time, he sent someone to the Marquis of Champion's residence to summon Princess Chang Le, the only person who had seen the chubby boy, to identify the suspect.

Several witnesses were brought to the court one after another, and all the members of the Wei family were also brought from the prison to the court.

They used to be arrogant and domineering, but now that they're involved in a murder case, they're terrified.

They were all ashen-faced, their silk clothes were wrinkled and wrapped around their bodies, and their hair was disheveled.

Old Madam Wei was still being supported by two old women, her gold-embroidered skirt trailing on the bluestone slab, covered with straw scraps brought from the prison.

Seeing that Wei Dabao was already waiting in the hall, everyone's eyes turned to him, some with curiosity, some with resentment, and some with hidden hostility.

"The Cangzhou lineage has finally arrived." An old man with white hair sneered. "They've kept us waiting."

Wei Dabao was about to explain when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the door. Immediately afterwards, a shrill voice pierced the hall:
"Your Majesty is here!"

Everyone immediately knelt down.

Emperor Jing, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, strode in, surrounded by his guards.

Wei Dabao pressed his forehead to the ground, and heard the thumping of boots, which finally stopped behind the table directly in front of him.

"Rise." Emperor Jing's voice was authoritative without being angry.

Wei Dabao cautiously looked up and saw Emperor Jing's solemn face, his brows revealing weariness and anger. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review stood bowing to the side, holding case files in his hands.

"Is the entire Wei clan present?" Emperor Jing asked.

"Your Majesty, everyone has arrived," replied Sun Wenlin, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, respectfully.

Emperor Jing's gaze swept across the crowd below the hall like lightning.

"The Marquis of Champion was my right-hand man, yet he was murdered. I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.
"Before the princess arrives," Emperor Jing said coldly, "I want each of you to think carefully about what exactly is the grudge between the Wei family and the Marquis of Champion's mansion."

Wei Dabao felt his back was soaked with cold sweat, even though he knew he hadn't done it and it had nothing to do with him.

But the Marquis of Champion's family were imperial relatives. Judging from Emperor Jing's resolute attitude, if things went wrong, even his entire clan would be executed, and he wouldn't be able to escape. He quietly glanced around and found that his clansmen had different expressions. Some were fearful, some were angry, and some... had an unfathomable glint in their eyes.

Princess Chang Le arrived soon after, surrounded by her servants and maids. She looked haggard and listless.

She walked in, her white mourning clothes dazzlingly white in the sunlight, her shadow falling across the ground.

The Prime Minister Wei, who was being supported, looked up and met her gaze for a moment before lowering his eyes again, his graying temples trembling slightly in the shadows.

As soon as Princess Chang Le entered, she glared angrily at the Wei clan members, wishing she could tear them apart immediately.

Emperor Jing had a seat prepared for her and then signaled to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to begin the trial.

"Bang!" The gavel slammed down heavily.

"All suspects, kneel down!"

As soon as the gavel struck, Wei Chengchao, that coward, buckled and fell to the ground, his forehead hitting the cold floor tiles with a dull thud.

He suddenly started wailing, "I'm innocent, Your Honor! I was admiring peonies with the Princess at the Agarwood Pavilion last month! It wasn't me, it wasn't me!"

His terrified voice was sharp, like a rooster being strangled, which drew laughter from the onlookers outside the hall.

"Silence! Silence!"

The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review slammed his gavel and shouted, and the hall gradually quieted down again.

To facilitate the identification of the murderer, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review ordered that lamps be lit in the main hall. The flickering candlelight illuminated the tense faces of the crowd, creating an alternating light and shadow.

A sense of oppression filled the air, making even breathing seem cautious.

"Snapped!"

The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review slammed his gavel down heavily, the crisp sound of the wooden instrument striking the table echoing throughout the hall.

"I will now recount the whole story of the case once again. If there is any inaccuracy, please point it out on the spot."

The hall fell silent. Princess Chang Le dug her fingertips into her palm, but the excruciating pain paled in comparison to the anguish in her heart.

That day, she rushed back to the Marquis of Champion's residence from the palace, only to find the entire backyard unrecognizable; she couldn't even find the bodies of her family members. Today, she vows not to rest until she catches the murderer.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review coughed lightly, his unhurried voice echoing throughout the hall.

"On the 25th of last month, at Princess Chang Le's birthday banquet, a plump member of the Wei family entered the mansion with a Wei family jade pendant. This person not only participated in the poetry competition at the banquet, but also won the princess's favor."

Princess Chang Le closed her eyes. Now that she thought about it, the poetry contest at the banquet that day was because her mother had taken a liking to that chubby little boy and had strongly persuaded her to participate.

Unexpectedly, this turned out to be the cause of inviting trouble into the house.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review continued, "Afterwards, the Marquis of Champion's mansion agreed to the marriage and sent someone to the Prime Minister's mansion to ask Prime Minister Wei to find a matchmaker to formally propose marriage."

He turned to Prime Minister Wei, who was kneeling beside him, and asked, "Prime Minister, is this true?"

Prime Minister Wei bowed respectfully, his brocade robe rustling softly. "Your Excellency, this is indeed the case. It was the steward from the Marquis's residence who came."

"However……"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review abruptly changed the subject, his voice suddenly becoming somber.

"Just as everyone in the Marquis of Champion's mansion was gathered together to discuss the marriage, the entire family was murdered. According to the testimony of the city gate guards, that night a plump member of the Wei family, escorted by the Prime Minister's guards, fled in panic from the south gate and headed straight for Liangzhou."

An uproar immediately erupted both in and outside the hall.

Princess Chang Le suddenly stood up and slowly walked towards the several plump young men kneeling in the front row. The rustling sound of her skirt brushing the ground was particularly clear in the silent hall.

“Lift your head.” Her voice was soft, but cold.

The first chubby boy looked up nervously, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead. Princess Chang Le stared at him for a moment, then suddenly reached out: "Where's your jade pendant?"

"Here, here." The chubby boy hurriedly took a piece of warm white jade from his waist, on which the Wei family's unique pattern was clearly engraved.

The princess took the jade pendant, ran her fingertips over the patterns on it, examined it closely in the candlelight, and finally shook her head: "Not this one."

She tossed the jade pendant back and turned to the second person. She repeated this process, eliminating five people in total.

The atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly heavy, as if an invisible net was tightening around it.

When the princess walked up to the sixth person—Wei Dabao, she suddenly stopped.

"What's your name?" she leaned slightly forward.

Wei Dabao's corpulent body trembled visibly, and his forehead slammed heavily onto the ground: "Replying to Your Highness, I am Wei Dabao, from a collateral branch of the Wei family..."

"Raise your head," the princess commanded.

Wei Dabao slowly raised his head and saw that all the clansmen had taken out their jade pendants. His fat, round face was covered with beads of sweat.

The princess carefully examined his face, then suddenly sneered, "That person may have a similar build to you, but his features are more refined."

Wei Dabao breathed a sigh of relief, but Princess Chang Le changed the subject, "But... where's your jade pendant?"

This question struck Wei Dabao like a bolt from the blue. He trembled violently, his face turning deathly pale. He instinctively clutched the spot on his waist where the jade pendant should have been hanging, his lips trembling but unable to utter a word.

"This princess is asking..."

Seeing his expression change, Princess Chang Le's voice suddenly rose, like a sharp sword being drawn in the silent courtroom, "Where is your jade pendant?!"

All eyes in the hall turned to Wei Dabao. The Minister of Justice narrowed his eyes, while Prime Minister Wei frowned.

The Wei family members kneeling beside him unconsciously moved to the side; in this life-or-death situation, they wanted to distance themselves from him.

"I...I..." Wei Dabao's forehead pressed against the ground, his voice barely audible, "My jade pendant...is...lost..."

"Lost?" Princess Chang Le's sneer deepened. "I remember your Wei family's ancestral precept: the jade pendant is one's life, the jade pendant is one's death. How dare you say it's lost?"

Prime Minister Wei suddenly stepped forward: "Princess, you are wise; there may be more to this than meets the eye."

"Prime Minister!" the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review interrupted sharply, "Please be careful with your words in court."

Princess Chang Le ignored them and grabbed Wei Dabao by the collar: "When did you lose it? Where did you lose it? Did you inform any of your elders in the clan?"

"Uh... oh..." Wei Dabao stammered, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Princess Chang Le pressed on, demanding, "Tell me! Where did you lose it?"

Wei Dabao's unusual behavior also attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review glanced at Emperor Jing and, seeing the emperor's grim face, quickly shouted angrily, "Speak! Why don't you confess the truth?"

Wei Dabao shuddered and finally told the truth.

"Yes, yes. My jade pendant... was lent to Han... Han Lei, the niece of the magistrate of Qingshui County."