webnovelfull Chapter 358 The Threat of the King of Chess
Chapter 358 The Threat of the King of Chess
Chapter 358 The Threat of the King of Chess
Despite Shen Li's words, no one made a move. Instead, they advised, "Master, let's not fight anymore. It's better to avoid trouble. Let's release them."
"Shen Li, you dare hit me? Don't forget my father is your father's boss." Wu Zihao had no scruples whatsoever after learning Shen Li's identity.
"Threatening me?" Shen Li raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You talk too much nonsense." Peony then only lashed out at him.
Her whip was made of specially made cowhide with steel wire woven in. A full-force lash could break several ribs, and its lethality was no less than that of a sharp blade.
Even though she only used a fraction of her strength, the whip had already torn the luxurious brocade robe, leaving the skin ripped and bloody welts a shocking sight.
Wu Zihao screamed in agony. The others, having narrowly escaped death, kept their distance from him and dared not utter another word.
Shen Li is different from the other nobles in this area. She herself is a powerful figure, not to mention Gu Chang'an and the Shen family behind her.
Although Gu Chang'an is no longer in charge of the Dali Temple, his influence remains. Even their father has to keep his distance from him, let alone them.
These people were followed by servants, but few of them rode horses; most ran. By the time they reached this place, Wu Zihao had already been whipped.
Some servants stepped forward to stop them, while others secretly slipped out of the crowd.
"Miss," Lian Qiao stepped forward and asked, "Should we bring him back?"
Shen Li shook her head slightly.
Go ahead and report it if you want. Since she dared to take action, she's not afraid of making a big fuss about it; in fact, the bigger the fuss, the better.
She didn't want to fight, but the other party ran into her, so it's no wonder she couldn't let them get away with it.
After being hit more than a dozen times, Wu Zihao's body was covered in wounds. He was in so much pain that he could only groan on the ground. He didn't even have the strength to speak, let alone stand up.
Peony then stopped, her face neither flushed nor out of breath.
"Tie them up." Shen Li waved her hand, and immediately the villagers spontaneously took out ropes and tied the five people up tightly like livestock.
"Fellow villagers, don't rush. Eat first, and after you've eaten, we'll help deliver them to Shuntian Prefecture." Shen Li couldn't bear to waste the freshly steamed buns, so she turned to face the villagers with a smile.
The villagers had no appetite, but Shen Li insisted, so they obediently sat down and started distributing the steamed buns. Shen Li successfully got two more, and also received two bowls of soup.
Lian Qiao always felt that her young mistress wasn't really after the food, but rather deliberately stalling for time.
Are they waiting for Lord Gu to receive the news? But no one has gone to inform Lord Gu.
The servant boy from the Wu family quickly ran into the city, picked up a carriage from his shop, and headed towards the imperial city. The Inner Cabinet was located inside the Meridian Gate, and he met Wu Yong more than half an hour later.
Wu Yong was a man who sought to avoid mistakes rather than achieve merit, and he was always the most prudent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to remain in the position of Second Assistant Minister during the long period of Zhou Zhen's rule without taking sides.
After becoming the Grand Secretary, he adhered even more strictly to the principle of stability. When he saw the servant rushing over, he couldn't help but frown slightly: "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"
"Master, the young master was beaten while out for a spring outing, and it looks like he'll have to go to the authorities." The servant whispered in Wu Yong's ear, speaking in a very low and breathless voice.
"Why would someone be beaten while out for a spring outing?" Wu Yong was even more puzzled: "Who would dare to lay a hand on my son?"
He knew his son well. He had been spoiled by his mother since childhood, and when he was suppressed by Zhou Zhen, he had been too strict with him. As a result, the boy had become somewhat lawless after the Wu family gained power recently.
But all he did was gamble and horse racing, so he probably didn't have the guts to cause any big trouble.
The servant recounted what had happened, and Wu Yong's face turned deathly pale upon hearing it, his fingers trembling slightly.
He realized that he couldn't control the situation on his own.
He also knew that although the Shen family seemed to be in a subordinate position, they actually wielded enormous power. Even if he was in the wrong, he would still have to be somewhat wary of them, let alone his own son who was so terribly wrong.
"Quickly, send a message to King Yi." Wu Yong made the decision immediately.
The King of Chess has been trying to win over the Shen family and Gu Chang'an for a long time, and it seems that he has achieved some success. Now he only hopes that Shen Li can give the King of Chess face and not be as stubborn as her father, Shen Zizai.
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Hundreds of peasant men escorted several young men, who looked like noblemen and were covered in blood, down the road, attracting attention both inside and outside the city.
People on the roadside stopped to point and discuss. Some old farmers from other villages recognized the group and talked about how these people had trampled on their crops a few days ago.
It sounds like they've ruined more than one village, and these victims are spontaneously following behind, wanting to see what happens to these people.
As a result, the group grew larger and larger, eventually reaching nearly three hundred people by the time they entered the city.
Once inside the city, even more people recognized these men. They all knew that these were spoiled brats who had bullied many ordinary people. Hearing that they were to be sent to the yamen (government office), they all followed along.
After a day of handling government affairs, Prefect Cheng Sheng of Shuntian Prefecture was drinking tea in the second hall. The Biluochun tea, brewed with snow water stored in winter, was fragrant and refreshing, and its warmth seemed to sweep away the fatigue of the day.
"Master!" A bailiff rushed into the second hall, looking flustered. "Something has happened."
Cheng Sheng's good mood was ruined, and he looked quite displeased: "Take your time and talk slowly. What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and panicked?"
“Someone came to file a complaint, accompanied by more than 500 people. They were only two streets away from the yamen.”
"It's not a big deal if there are a lot of onlookers, as long as it doesn't involve power struggles at the top." Cheng Sheng didn't take it to heart when he heard that it was just a mob causing trouble, and continued to sip his fragrant tea.
"They are the daughter of Vice Minister Shen, Imperial Censor Shen Li, and the son of Chief Minister Wu." The yamen runner adjusted his breathing and spoke calmly.
"Pfft..." Cheng Sheng spat out a mouthful of tea, his usually mature and composed expression turning blank: "What?"
Although being an official in Shuntian Prefecture is difficult, as those who come to file complaints often have complicated relationships behind them, as long as one is cautious and impartial, the cases can be handled properly.
But the chief minister and the deputy chief minister are not only two formidable figures in themselves, but the forces behind them are also two opposing camps. If he offends either of them, his official career is over.
on the street.
The group slowly walked towards Shuntian Prefecture. When they were only one street away, a servant-like man suddenly appeared and stopped Shen Li.
The team was forced to stop.
"Lord Shen, may I speak to you in private?" the servant said in a low voice. "I am the advisor of Prince Yi's mansion. Please allow me to finish speaking."
Shen Li had been waiting for him, and immediately nodded: "Okay."
When the two reached the street, the servant-like man spoke up: "Lord Shen, this is just a small matter. Making a big fuss will not be good for anyone. Could you please give Prince Yi some face and let Young Master Wu off the hook? The Prince will surely reward you handsomely in the future."
"He trampled on my field and injured my people. You want me to let him go like this? Where will that leave my face?" Shen Li asked.
"Your Highness knows you are angry, but you have already punished him as he should, so please don't take this to the yamen."
"What I want is not revenge, but justice. Please step aside, sir."
The clerk not only refused to move aside, but also said in a deep voice, "Has Lord Shen not considered the consequences of taking this to the yamen? It could very well result in a lose-lose situation, a loss that outweighs the gain."
"Is the advisor threatening me?" Shen Li laughed.
"I wouldn't dare. I'm just advising you not to act impulsively. Wouldn't it be better for everyone to be amicable?"
Shen Li's smile grew even brighter, and her voice softened: "Then, clerk, give me some advice. There are so many people watching, how can I release them?"
The clerk's face lit up with joy, and he said, "That's easy. You can just point to any young master as the ringleader."
“A scapegoat.” Shen Li pondered for a moment and nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
The advisor breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Shen Li was indeed different from her father, a person who was easy to manipulate, and agreed with just a few words.
Shen Li then turned to the bound men and asked, "Which of you is willing to be Young Master Wu's scapegoat and become the main culprit in court?"
The advisor was dumbfounded. Was there any way to ask that question directly?
Was Shen Li doing it on purpose or was she just being silly?
The four shook their heads repeatedly; their father was not the prime minister, and they could not bear such a responsibility.
They weren't stupid; they knew it was the person who came to give Shen Li the idea, and that the person must be one of the King of Chess's men. For a moment, they felt a strong hatred for the King of Chess.
Along with hatred, there was also Wu Zihao standing in front of her.
Trying to make them take the blame is impossible.
"So, you four, tell me, who is the ringleader?" Shen Li asked.
"It was Brother Wu, Wu Zihao, who suggested taking us there."
"Correct."
The spoiled brat had no brains; in a moment of righteous indignation, he disregarded everything else.