Love Lock

Chapter 259 No one can argue
In just one day, two rumors were circulating in the capital's major restaurants, teahouses, taverns, and other places where people gathered.

One is that the King of Cangzhou did not plot a rebellion; the real culprit was someone else.

Another case involves Wei Chengchao, the manager of Jinxiufang, who colluded with Cao Xiong, the marshal of Beiguan, to secretly allow caravans to pass through and transport grain to the Turks from Yong'an City in Beiguan. Some people witnessed the number of caravans reaching over a hundred.

Not only in these crowded places, but even in the streets and alleys, people were whispering and talking amongst themselves.

Of course, the imperial guards were not to be underestimated. These rumors circulating in the city quickly reached Emperor Jing's ears in the palace, embellished and presented with great detail.

As the sun sets, twilight gradually paints the imperial city.

The afterglow of the setting sun slanted in through the carved window lattice of the imperial study, casting a half-light and half-shadow on Emperor Jing's ashen face.

His chest heaved violently with anger, and he clutched a secret report from his bodyguard tightly in his hand.

"Damn it!" Emperor Jing gritted his teeth, his eyes seemingly spitting fire. "Guards! Summon the Prime Minister and his son to the palace immediately."

"Yes! This old servant obeys!" Chief eunuch Li Zhongxin's eyebrows twitched, and he quickly bowed and went out to make the arrangements.

Just as Li Zhongxin was about to leave the imperial study, Emperor Jing's pupils contracted, and he suddenly remembered something and called him back.

"and many more!"

Li Zhongxin turned around and bowed: "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Emperor Jing's anger remained undiminished. "Summon Wei Dabao to the palace as well."

"Yes!" Li Zhongxin accepted the order and left.

……

The name "Huajianji" sounds like a brothel, but it was actually a famous entertainment venue in the capital.

Brothels were places of entertainment, specifically high-class brothels that primarily provided sexual and erotic services, but also offered singing and dancing performances. Their clientele consisted mainly of wealthy merchants, intellectuals, and officials, emphasizing "refined gatherings" and private social interactions.

Goulan, or entertainment venues, emerged in ancient China during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Primarily commercialized artistic performances, they resembled modern theaters. Their content mainly consisted of variety shows, storytelling, and puppet shows, making them important entertainment venues for the citizens.

The brothels were open to the public, and both men and women could watch them; they were not places of prostitution or sexual activity.

Wei Chengchao had just come out of the "Flower Gathering" brothel, his clothes still carrying the scent of the courtesans' rouge, and his face showing a hint of drunkenness.

He had his arm around the equally drunk son of Zhang Shiyang, the Minister of Works, with several personal servants following behind him.

I wonder if all these young noblemen are so heartless.

Zhang Shiyang was trapped by Zhao Zun in Cangzhou and forced to do hard labor. He disappeared for several months without a trace.

But his son continued to live a life of debauchery in the capital, seemingly without any concern.

Wei Chengchao laughed loudly, "Miss Liu's pipa playing today was superb; let's go again another day—"

"Young Master! Young Master!" A servant came running up breathlessly, interrupting Wei Chengchao, "Master wants you to return to the manor immediately, someone from the palace has arrived!"

Wei Chengchao sobered up considerably immediately, snapping his folding fan shut with a "snap," looking utterly bewildered. "The palace? What does the palace want with me?"

He has no official position or post, so why did His Majesty summon him?
"It's not just you, but also Young Master Da Bao. Master said His Majesty summoned both of you to the palace." The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead and lowered his voice. "The eunuch who delivered the decree didn't look too good."

Wei Chengchao's heart tightened. He exchanged a glance with Zhang Shiyang's son, who tactfully bowed and took his leave.

Wei Chengchao rolled his eyes, boarded the carriage impatiently, and his mind raced through the events of the past few days—

Could it be that the incident at the gambling den the other day reached the emperor's ears? Or was it that someone reported him to the emperor for trampling a farmer while riding a horse in the south of the city last month?

Back at the Prime Minister's residence, just as Wei Chengchao reached the entrance of the main hall, he heard his father's deep voice from inside: "Why does His Majesty suddenly want to see them?"

"Your Excellency, this servant is merely relaying the imperial decree and dares not speculate on His Majesty's intentions," a high-pitched voice replied. It was Eunuch Li from the palace.

Wei Chengchao straightened his clothes and strode into the hall. He saw his father, dressed in casual clothes, sitting in the main seat with a furrowed brow, while his cousin, Wei Dabao, stood to the side, his face pale.

Eunuch Li sat in a chair, holding a whisk and drinking tea, with two junior eunuchs standing behind him.

"Father," Wei Chengchao said, bowing, then turned to Eunuch Li, "Eunuch."

Prime Minister Wei looked up at his son, his gaze lingering for a moment on the rouge stain on his clothes, his brows furrowing even more: "Chengchao, go change into formal attire. His Majesty summons us to the palace immediately."

Wei Dabao rubbed his hands, his voice trembling: "Uncle, I am but a commoner, why does His Majesty..."

Wei Dabao had a bad feeling, and his heart was pounding.

He doesn't know which deity he offended, but this year has been incredibly unlucky for him, with everything going wrong. He not only lost all his money but also faced imprisonment twice. Now, the mere mention of "an official invitation" makes his legs go weak.

"What's the panic!" Prime Minister Wei interrupted in a deep voice. "Although you have no official rank, you are now a distant relative of the royal family. His Majesty must have a reason for summoning you. Perhaps His Majesty misses you and has summoned you to the palace to discuss family matters."

He turned to Eunuch Li, his tone softening, "Please wait a moment, sir, we'll change our clothes and come right away."

Eunuch Li nodded slightly: "Prime Minister, please hurry, His Majesty seems to be in a bad mood."

Fifteen minutes later, the three of them changed their clothes and gathered in front of the mansion gate.

Prime Minister Wei wore a purple official robe with a gold fish pouch at his waist, Wei Chengchao wore an indigo brocade robe, and Wei Dabao wore a blue long gown.

As dusk settled, the carriage slowly made its way toward the imperial city, the sound of its wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs particularly clear on the quiet streets.

Wei Chengchao hiccuped and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Father, why did His Majesty suddenly..."

"Shut up!" Prime Minister Wei glared sternly at his son, pointed outside the carriage, indicating that Li Zhongxin's carriage was right next to him.

Wei Chengchao had no choice but to shut up, his fingers nervously scratching his knee.

Through the gap in the carriage curtain, Wei Chengchao saw the outline of the imperial city gradually become clear in the twilight. The tall palace walls cast long shadows, like a giant beast opening its mouth, waiting to devour something.

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate. The three followed Li Zhongxin through the palace gates. Prime Minister Wei noticed that there seemed to be more guards in the palace than usual today, and they all looked solemn.

"Father..." Wei Chengchao was about to say something when Prime Minister Wei shook his head slightly.

Li Zhongxin led them to the outside of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and said in a low voice, "Please wait a moment while I inform the Emperor."

The palace doors were tightly shut, but one could faintly hear the crisp sound of porcelain clattering and Emperor Jing's suppressed anger coming from inside.

Wei Dabao's forehead was already covered in cold sweat, and Wei Chengchao couldn't help but swallow, his drunkenness completely gone.

Only Prime Minister Wei remained calm, his hands folded in front of his abdomen, his gaze lingering on the exquisite carvings on the palace gate.

A moment later, the palace doors opened, and Eunuch Li came out: "His Majesty summons Chancellor Wei, Wei Chengchao, and Wei Dabao to an audience."

The three men straightened their clothes and entered one by one.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was brightly lit. Emperor Jing stood with his back to them by the window, his figure casting a long shadow in the candlelight.

"Your subject Wei Mingde, along with his son Chengchao and nephew Dabao, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Wei Mingde knelt down first to pay his respects, followed quickly by Wei Chengchao and Wei Dabao. Although Emperor Jing was Prime Minister Wei's nephew, the distinction between ruler and subject was significant, and their relationship had undergone a qualitative change from the simple kinship of the past. Emperor Jing did not immediately tell them to rise, but instead scanned the three men from head to toe with his cold gaze.

The hall was eerily quiet; the only sound was the dripping of water from the water clock.

Emperor Jing slowly turned around, and Wei Chengchao happened to secretly raise his eyes, only to meet Emperor Jing's sharp, knife-like gaze, which frightened him so much that he immediately lowered his head.

Emperor Jing's face was ashen: "Rise, my dear minister."

His gaze swept over Wei Chengchao's head, finally settling on Prime Minister Wei. "I received an urgent report from the border today that there has been another disturbance at the northern pass."

"Ah?" Wei Mingde's expression turned serious: "Your Majesty, what's going on at the border again..."

"No rush." ​​Emperor Jing raised his hand to interrupt, then suddenly revealed a meaningful smile. "It's getting late. I've already ordered dinner to be prepared. Let's eat and talk."

He looked at Wei Chengchao and said, "I heard that Chengchao has been going to brothels to listen to music lately? The courtesans there are indeed quite good."

Wei Chengchao felt a chill run down his spine and quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty was just passing the time!"

"Amusement? Hmph!" Emperor Jing suddenly sneered, the tone abruptly changing, his voice not loud but like a thunderclap, "Do you know your crime?"

Wei Chengchao trembled, his forehead slamming heavily against the gold brick: "Your Majesty, I am foolish and do not know what Your Majesty is referring to..."

"You don't know?" Emperor Jing suddenly threw the secret report in his hand to the ground, the papers scattering with a rustling sound. "Then let me tell you! It's being said throughout the capital that your Jinxiufang caravan colluded with Marshal Cao Xiong of the Northern Pass to transport hundreds of cartloads of grain to the Turks!"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Wei was greatly alarmed. He hurriedly knelt down again, having just stood up, and looked directly at Emperor Jing: "Your Majesty is wise! This must be a frame-up by someone with malicious intent!"

He suddenly recalled that when he was dining with his colleagues at Tengyun Tower earlier that day, he seemed to have overheard people discussing that the King of Cangzhou was innocent and that the treason was actually committed by someone else.

He still remembered the time when the King of Cangzhou beat up Wei Chengchao at Tengyun Tower. At the time, he smiled contemptuously and didn't take it seriously. He never expected that the fire would now be burning his own people.

"Shut up!" Emperor Jing slammed his hand on the table, causing ink to splash from the inkstone. "I haven't even asked you yet!" He turned to Wei Chengchao, whose face was ashen. "Speak! Have any of the Jinxiufang caravans been to Beiguan?"

Wei Chengchao swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, Jinxiufang needs to do business, so the caravans naturally need to travel to various places. They should... have been to the north... but that was to purchase furs and medicinal herbs..."

"Buying furs?"

Emperor Jing sneered, his piercing gaze almost drilling a hole through Wei Chengchao's body. Suddenly, he grabbed an account book from the table and threw it at Wei Chengchao with a "thud!"

"These are the account books that I just ordered people to retrieve from Jinxiufang. Explain to me why Jinxiufang purchased less than a hundred furs from Beiguan last year, yet transported over a thousand shi of grain?"

The ledger landed on Wei Chengchao's shoulder. He caught it in a fluster, and when he opened it, his face turned ashen.

He was merely a nominal manager, casually strolling around Jinxiufang and Yuanyangzhai each day to make a brief appearance. He had no interest in looking at account books or caring where Jinxiufang sourced its goods.

"Still dare to argue!" Emperor Jing stood up, the hem of his dragon robe fluttering even without wind, using words to taunt him: "The secret guards have discovered that three merchant caravans under your name departed from Jingzhou last month, ostensibly to purchase goods, but in reality, they were fully loaded with grain..."

"Under my name?"

Wei Chengchao was startled and instantly realized that Han Lei was behind it all. This was Han Lei's real purpose in making him the listed landlord.

But this is a life-or-death question; he'll be at a disadvantage no matter what.

Han Lei is now the Princess Consort of Cangzhou. If he exposes Han Lei, then he is colluding with Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, to rebel.

However, if he does not implicate Han Lei, he will be accused of colluding with Cao Xiong, the marshal of the Beiguan garrison, and committing treason.

Wei Chengchao was temporarily at a stalemate.

He stole a glance at Emperor Jing, his body trembling, his mind racing as he tried to find a way out of the predicament.

At this moment, Wei Dabao suddenly coughed violently, as if he had choked on his own saliva.

Emperor Jing's sharp gaze immediately turned to him: "Wei Dabao, why are you coughing? Are you feeling guilty?"

"This humble subject dares not!" Wei Dabao kowtowed, "It's just...it's just..."

"But what?" Emperor Jing pressed on. "I've also heard that all the deserters from the Jingzhou mutiny fled to Cangzhou. Could it be that..." He deliberately drew out his words, "...are they all being housed in your residences?"

The usually composed Prime Minister Wei finally couldn't contain himself any longer: "Your Majesty! There must be some misunderstanding! Although my son and Wei Dabao may have some spoiled habits, they would never dare to collude with the enemy and betray the country!"

Emperor Jing narrowed his eyes: "Oh? Then Prime Minister, explain why it's such a coincidence? The deserters hid first, and the merchant caravan transported grain later. Both of these things are related to your Wei family?"

Emperor Jing was imposing, asking one question after another, making the atmosphere in the hall so tense that it was suffocating.

Wei Chengchao's brocade robe was soaked with cold sweat. He suddenly remembered something and said urgently, "Your Majesty! Those houses... those houses were all confiscated by Luo Hai, the magistrate of Qingshui County! My family is still staying at my uncle's house!"

"Was it really copied?"

Emperor Jing suddenly bent down and leaned close to Wei Dabao, staring at him face to face, his piercing gaze seeming to see right through him.

"Your home is in Cangzhou, and the grain that Cheng Chao transported was also delivered to the Turks through Cangzhou. A large number of deserters from Jingzhou went nowhere but to Cangzhou, and they all camped in your house. Tell me, is all of this a coincidence? Do you dare say that you and Cheng Chao did not collude?"

Emperor Jing's analysis was perfectly reasonable. Wei Chengchao and Wei Dabao exchanged a glance, utterly speechless.

"Speak!" Emperor Jing pressed aggressively.

Say?
What are you saying?

Wei Dabao is so wronged! Why does all the bad luck seem to befall him?

Wei Dabao collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling and unable to speak, while Wei Chengchao repeatedly cried out that he was innocent.

Upon seeing this, a resolute glint flashed in Prime Minister Wei's old eyes, and he suddenly kowtowed heavily.

"Your Majesty! This old minister is willing to stake his head on this matter; there must be something more to it! I implore Your Majesty to grant this old minister three days to thoroughly investigate and uncover the truth!"

Emperor Jing stared at this veteran of two reigns, his anger gradually turning into an unfathomable depth.

"Very well!" Emperor Jing took a deep breath. "Since the Prime Minister has given such a guarantee, we can be considered family. I will trust you. You may go back now! Prime Minister, you can investigate. I will also send people to investigate thoroughly. I hope your results will match mine."

"Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

After expressing their gratitude repeatedly, the three of them, feeling weak in the knees, helped each other leave the palace.

Emperor Jing watched their departing figures and narrowed his eyes.

Although he said he believed them, the seeds of doubt had already been sown.

Emperor Jing took a deep breath and slumped back down behind his desk.

He felt that being the emperor was really difficult!
Not only is God against him, but now even his own family is against him.

If you don't have the skills, don't take on the job.

If he had known, he wouldn't have bothered fighting for the throne. He would have been much more carefree as the King of Xuzhou!
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