"Giddyup!" On the official road leading to the local county town, horses' hooves thundered, kicking up clouds of dust.
After the Wei family in the capital learned that another branch of the Wei family had secretly colluded with Princess Yuanyang and her husband, to prevent them from reporting their crimes first, they decided to strike first. They planned to shift all their past misdeeds onto the other branch and then execute them all in the name of cleansing the family.
Chu Junyi and Li Xinyue, upon learning of this, led the officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture and the guards from the princess's mansion on a rapid eight - hundred - li journey!
One was going to arrest the Wei family members, leaving them no chance to catch their breath.
The other was going to gather the network of contacts left by the Wei family, not letting them go to waste.
Li Xinyue whipped her horse while quickly thinking about the subsequent arrangements. "You go and deal with the Wei family!"
"I'll gather the network of contacts left by the Wei family for you!"
Hearing this, Chu Junyi raised the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, wife, for your help!" Holding the horsewhip, he bowed to Li Xinyue in gratitude. The tenderness in his eyes made Li Xinyue's cheeks flush slightly.
Li Xinyue nodded. Then, after entering the local county town, she led Jing Bai and other guards towards the main hall of the Wei family.
Chu Junyi led the officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture straight ahead, heading for the old mansion of the Wei family.
Countless horses' hooves clattered on the ground, making the people on the street panic. They always felt that something big was about to happen to a certain family.
...
At this moment, in the old mansion of the Wei family, two forces were at a stand - off.
The Wei family in the capital, thinking that the other branch of the same clan had secretly worked for their political enemies and almost killed them, decided to cleanse the family.
The old clan leader of the Wei family was extremely dissatisfied. "I'm the clan leader. How dare you bypass me and impose family laws on us? You're rebelling!"
The Wei family in the capital brought up their official positions and argued that they should send this branch of the Wei family to the government, claiming to be upholding justice by punishing their own family.
The members of this branch of the Wei family, especially the old clan leader, were so angry that they almost fainted. "Didn't you instruct us to do this?
It was you who committed many evil deeds with the princess first. We were just following your orders.
Now that things have been exposed, you want to sacrifice us to save yourselves. It's not that easy!"
The Wei family in the capital tightened their gazes. Thinking about this, they were also full of anger. "You still have the nerve to say! Uncle, I call you uncle and have taken good care of your family.
When you worked for me, when did I ever treat you badly? Otherwise, do you think your two good - for - nothing sons could have become county magistrates?
And all my brothers and sisters.
We are of the same root. Why should we fight so fiercely against each other!
In the end, it was you who betrayed us and the whole family!"
"The Wei family was so glorious back then. Now we're just killing each other. Aren't you ashamed?"
Some other branches of the Wei family were convinced by the eldest master of the Wei family in the capital. They thought it seemed to make sense.
Fortunately, there were still a few sober - minded ones who stood up and retorted. "If we're talking about killing each other, wasn't it you, the eldest uncle, who started it first? Even if we didn't work for Princess Yuanyang and her husband, when things were exposed, you would still push us out as scapegoats.
Just like the Fu family before.
As long as you conduct a self - investigation before the court launches an investigation and turn yourself in as a tainted witness, you can avoid severe punishment. You've already planned your escape route. You just didn't expect us to get ahead of you, so you're furious!"
The other members of the Wei family were suddenly enlightened.
The eldest master of the Wei family felt guilty. "Wei Jingren, you're talking nonsense!"
"Whether the junior is talking nonsense or not, I believe all uncles and brothers know it well!"
So, after a heated argument, the two forces of the Wei family started to fight.
At this moment, the main gate of the Wei family was kicked open.
The chaotic crowd suddenly stopped and looked towards the door.
Chu Junyi led a group of officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture and immediately arrested the people without saying a word.
"The Wei family colluded with the princess to buy and sell official positions, pervert the law, and oppress the people. They are to be punished for multiple crimes. Take them away!"
"Lord Chu, how dare you! I'm a third - rank official. What right do you, a mere fourth - rank magistrate of the Jingzhao Prefecture, have to arrest me!"
Chu Junyi stared at him. His serious and handsome face cracked slightly, and then he burst out laughing. He lowered his head and coughed lightly to cover it up.
He dared to arrest the princess. Why would he be afraid of a third - rank official?
Moreover, the emperor had given him the right to break the power of the noble families. Even if his official rank was not high enough, the emperor would strongly support him.
Some people, no wonder they had been officials for most of their lives and were still only third - rank. Their brains just weren't good enough.
Chu Junyi turned around and looked at his arrogant old face. He couldn't help but tease him. "What a coincidence. I'm the magistrate of the Jingzhao Prefecture, in charge of all matters in the capital. Lord Wei is an official in the capital and also lives in the capital. He's a resident of the capital. So, do you think he's under my jurisdiction? Take him away!"
Lord Wei was extremely angry. He felt as if he had been mocked.
Chu Junyi stared at him. He knew it well!
"Thud!" The leader of the main hall of the Wei family was thrown in by Jing Bai like a broken sack.
The heavy fall was accompanied by the sound of broken bones, making all the brothers in the hall shudder.
Li Xinyue stepped over the leader, turned around, and sat on the leader's seat. She gently patted the armrest of the dragon - head chair and smiled.
"The Wei family has committed many evil deeds. Their crimes have been exposed, and they can no longer take care of you. I think you still have some value, so I'm here to recruit you.
You have three seconds to decide whether to follow me or not. Think for yourselves!"
"One!"
The brothers below, who still didn't know what was going on, looked at each other.
Who could tell them what had suddenly happened?
"Two!"
The brothers' hearts tightened. It was as if a thin thread was choking their necks, ready to twist off their heads at any time.
"Three!"
A group of people prostrated themselves on the ground, welcoming their new master!
Li Xinyue smiled in satisfaction. It seemed that they were all sensible people. It wouldn't take much effort to gather them, which saved a lot of trouble.
Since things here had been settled, she left the follow - up matters to Jing Bai and went to see Chu Junyi.
There were quite a few officials in the Wei family, and the highest - ranking one was one rank higher than him. She was afraid he would suffer.
However, when Li Xinyue rushed to the old mansion of the Wei family alone, the people in the mansion were either lying on the ground or leaning against the wall, gasping for breath.
Everyone had wounds of different sizes on their bodies, and their clothes were torn in many places.
Even Lord Wei, the third - rank official from the capital, was in a sorry state.
His official robe was torn in many places, and he had suffered serious internal injuries. At this moment, he was covering his chest and spitting out mouthfuls of blood. When he saw someone coming in, he barely raised his head. When he saw it was Li Xinyue, he almost died of anger.
These two husband and wife were not good people. Now that they were working together, he felt a chill down his spine.
Li Xinyue was amused by him. She lowered her head and looked into his old eyes that dared not show their anger. "Lord Wei, are you okay? Did the son - in - law hurt you? Do you want me to avenge you?"
Li Xinyue got up to look for Chu Junyi.
Chu Junyi's hair was just slightly messy, and there was some dust on his body. The long sword in his hand suddenly shone with a cold light.
He looked at Lord Wei and smiled. "Lord Wei, this is not right, is it? You ask my wife to support you. Then you might as well give your third - rank official position to my wife!"
Lord Wei was so angry that his chest hurt. "Lord Chu, if you want to kill or torture me, do as you please. Stop humiliating me!"