#74 - Prince Wei has been sentenced!
If the dispute between the Liu and Wei families some time ago was a storm, then the death of Liu Yuanshan shocked the entire court like an eighteen-level typhoon coupled with a ten-level earthquake.
Teahouses, taverns, brothels, academies... even farmers in the fields could wield their hoes while discussing this matter at length.
Some said that Wei Changtian's actions were outrageous and evil, scolding him for having no regard for the law, and that he should be immediately executed in public.
Some insiders praised him for "risking everything for a beauty", and praised him as a passionate and good man who dared to defy the world.
Of course, no matter how the people discussed it, it was just discussion after all.
The people who could truly decide Wei Changtian's fate were still standing in the court full of intrigue and deceit.
...
“Nonsense! The kidnapping case has not yet been concluded! Your Majesty! This matter is a conspiracy by the Wei family!”
"..."
The court had been arguing for ten full days about how to deal with the case of "Wei Changtian killing Prime Minister Liu".
The attitudes of the officials were roughly divided into three categories.
The first category, mainly composed of Liu faction officials, believed that this was a premeditated murder, and the entire Wei family was inseparable from it, and all of them must be severely punished.
The second category was mostly centrists, who didn't want to offend either side, and advocated acting in accordance with the law, a life for a life, and killing Wei Changtian to be done with it.
The third category was the Wei faction, which insisted that Wei Changtian's actions were revenge for the kidnapping incident, and insisted that the Liu family was at fault first, and although the revenge was inappropriate, it was excusable and should be given a light sentence.
The three voices were arguing endlessly, but overall, the second category had the loudest voice.
Moreover, Ning Yongnian actually preferred the second method of handling the situation.
The Wei family would definitely pay the price for this, but at this moment, the Wei family still held the Suspended Mirror Division, and had the Heavenly Luo Sect behind them, and it was not yet time to completely tear their faces apart.
Otherwise, if the Wei family fought back desperately, then that would be a real big trouble.
As for the Liu family... Liu Yuanshan's death undoubtedly greatly damaged the Liu family's vitality, but the foundation was still there, and it would not lead to the collapse of the tree and the scattering of monkeys. At most, it would only be reduced from the top of the three major families to the bottom.
In such a situation, coupled with the Xu family, who had always stayed out of the matter and watched the tigers fight... the situation of mutual restraint among the three major families could not be changed in a short period of time.
In this case, killing Wei Changtian was the most reasonable choice.
It was not only an explanation to the Liu family, but also in line with the ideas of most people, and at the same time, it would not push the Wei family too hard.
Ning Yongnian had basically made up his mind, but he still underestimated Wei Xianzhis determination to protect his son.
On September 19th, the iron gate on the third floor of the Wei family's "Martial Pavilion" was opened again.
In less than an hour, Ning Yongnian met a shriveled old man in the study, who had a strange temperament and was full of dangerous aura.
...
“Elder Wei!”
Facing Wei Zhaohai, the former commander of the Xuanjing Division who was trusted by the late emperor and had already entered the Second Rank realm, Ning Yongnian was not too surprised.
The old man was even more calm.
He glanced at the old eunuch standing behind Ning Yongnian, and then gently cupped his hands and said:
“This old minister, Wei Zhaohai, greets Your Majesty.”
“Senior Wei, you don’t need to be so polite, please sit down quickly.”
Ning Yongnian pointed to the chair beside him with a smile, but Wei Zhaohai remained motionless.
“Your Majesty, there is no need to sit. I only have a few words to say, and I will leave after I finish.”
“Elder Wei is here for your grandson, right?” Ning Yongnian asked.
“Yes.”
Wei Zhaohai did not deny it, nodded and said: “I have already heard about what my grandson has done, and he should have his head cut off.”
“However, the Wei family has only one heir, and Changtian has not yet had a son. If he dies...”
“Your Majesty, I can ignore other things, but I can never watch the Wei family die out like this!”
“This...”
After listening, Ning Yongnian immediately showed a bitter expression and said: “Elder Wei, aren’t you making things difficult for me?”
“If your grandson killed someone else, that would be fine, but he killed the current Prime Minister!”
“Hundreds of people in the Liu family, and tens of thousands of people in the court and the public, are waiting for me to give them an explanation. If I don’t kill him...”
“Your Majesty!”
Wei Zhaohai didn't want to listen to these nonsense, and interrupted directly: “What does the Wei family need to pay for this? Just tell me.”
“...”
Being interrupted, Ning Yongnian was not annoyed. After thinking for a moment, he slowly tentatively said: “Since Elder Wei is determined to protect Wei Changtian, then I can spare his life...”
“However... the Suspended Mirror Division has become bloated in recent years, and I think it can be appropriately reduced.”
“I understand.”
Wei Zhaohai was much more straightforward than Ning Yongnian. After hearing this, he did not hesitate and directly asked: “How much does Your Majesty want?”
“Not much, just two guards.”
“The Inner Guard and the Hua Ling Guard?”
“Yes.”
Ning Yongnian nodded and said frankly: “The Suspended Mirror Division will hand over two guards, and I can spare Wei Changtian’s life.”
Wei Zhaohai was silent for a while: “The Hua Ling Guard is the foundation of the Suspended Mirror Division for hundreds of years. Can Your Majesty change it?”
“No.”
“...”
...
Five days later.
Suspended Mirror Division, Willow Leaf Office.
Kong Changgui looked at Xu Qingwan, who appeared on time again, with a helpless expression.
“Supervisor Xu, how many times have I told you that robbing the execution ground is not child's play!”
“I am not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. If Lord Wei really wants me to rob the execution ground to save the young master, I will have no second thoughts!”
“But now the case has not yet been concluded, how can I possibly agree to such a thing in advance?”
“You should go back quickly. There must be spies from other families in the office. If these words are heard by others, the two of us may end up on the execution ground one step ahead of the young master...”
“...”
The bald man persuaded earnestly as usual, but Xu Qingwan was as stubborn as usual and just wouldn't leave.
She had been guarding Kong Changgui's place for seven or eight days, coming early and returning late every day, more punctual than going to work.
This was a helpless move.
Since Wei Changtian was locked up in the Criminal Department's prison, Xu Qingwan immediately ran to the gate of the Wei mansion with all the money she had saved and guarded it for three days.
As a result, she didn't see anyone.
Wei Xianzhi and Qin Caizhen were running around to save their son's life, trying to smooth things over.
Lu Jingyao was not thinking about tea or food every day, and locked herself in her room all day long.
No one paid attention to her, so Comrade Xiao Xu had to find a way by herself, and after thinking about it, she decided to rob the execution ground.
Even if she was stupid, she knew that she couldn't do this kind of thing alone, and the other colleagues, except for Zhou Cheng, were all hesitant, so she started the mode of "working" at Kong Changgui's place every day.
In fact, Xu Qingwan had already understood Kong Changgui's attitude, but she still came every day.
Because only in this way, her heart would not be so empty, and she would feel that she had done something.
Even if it was meaningless.
“...Supervisor Xu, don't be so pessimistic, the young master may not be sentenced to death...”
On the other side, Kong Changgui was still chattering, but he himself didn't quite believe what he said.
According to the information in the past few days, Wei Changtian was likely to die, at most there would be some difference in the method of execution.
Whether it was "death by a thousand cuts", or "dismemberment by five horses", or...
“News is here!!”
“Young Master Wei has been sentenced!!! Sentenced!!!”
Suddenly, a shout came from outside the window, and the voice seemed to carry some joy.
Xu Qingwan's face instantly turned pale, and she collapsed on the chair as if all her strength had been drained.
Kong Changgui's face darkened, and in the next second, he broke through the window and rushed out.
Immediately afterwards, his roar came through the big hole in the window.
“Young Master Wei has been sentenced, you are very happy, right?!!”
“Ah? Lord Kong, this, this is indeed a happy event!”
“Very good! Then I will make you even happier!!”
“Ah!! Lord Kong, what are you going to do?? You misunderstood me!!”
“Misunderstood? What misunderstanding?!”
“Young Master Wei, he, he was not sentenced to death!”
“What?! How was he sentenced?!”
“Glug...”
The person who shouted swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and then tremblingly said:
“He was exiled to the frontier, and he is not allowed to return to the capital for three years.”
