Chapter 135 Zhao Duan: I think you are not accepting my toast, but drinking the penalty wine

Chapter 135 Zhao Duan: I think you are not accepting my toast, but drinking the penalty wine

Chapter 135 Zhao Duan: I think you are not accepting my toast, but drinking the penalty wine

"Yes!"

The driver responded, put the whip into his waist, and asked again:

"After finding the person, do you arrest him directly?"

He Zheng rubbed his mustache with his thumb, which was his habitual action when thinking. He shook his head and said:

"No need. Just make sure he's there. Don't make any noise. Then come out and wait. There are many people in there. Wait until he comes out and kidnap him for further questioning."

He kept Zhou Cheng's instructions in mind and tried his best to avoid alerting Zhao Duan in advance.

Watching his personal attendant walk towards the Jiaofangsi, the official in green robe tapped his knees lightly, his eyes drifting away:
After two days of investigation, he couldn't find any clues that Zhao Duan was having an affair behind the empress's back.

However, it was learned that this "Qin Qu" was the close follower of the Zhao thief. If they could pry open his mouth, there might be a breakthrough.

……

East City.

After leaving the teahouse, Zhao Duan and his party headed straight towards their target location.

As they got closer to the east side, the buildings on both sides of the street became visibly dilapidated.

Not surprisingly, if the capital is divided into four parts, it can be roughly summarized as follows:

The north is noble, the west is rich, the east is poor, and the south is bustling.

Dongcheng is the place with the most poor people.

Yes, even in the emperor's capital, the best place, there are still a large number of poor people.

"That Xue Xuan's private school is located right here?"

Zhao Duan lifted the car curtain and looked around curiously.

Haitang rode a horse, walking side by side with him on the side of the carriage, and said calmly:
"What else? Master Dong only saved her life, but what other options does a daughter of a convicted official have in the capital?
Besides, it is rare for women to teach, even nowadays, let alone a few years ago?

Only in Dongcheng, where many children cannot afford to go to good schools, are they willing to accept female teachers. Even so, most of the students she teaches are just beginners. "

I see, a private kindergarten... When Zhao Duan looked around, he saw a large yard in front of him. There seemed to be many children in it, so he asked curiously:
"Is that also a cram school?"

Haitang pouted:

"That's an orphanage, a kind of charity that takes in orphans. You don't know that, do you?"

Zhao Duan asked curiously, "Oh, is it funded by the government?"

"Yes, but the government's funding is not enough," Haitang sneered.
"The money allocated to the charity went through so many hands, and everyone got a little, so there wasn't much left.

East City is the poorest, and people starved to death in the past few years. But things have gotten better in recent years. I heard that a priest regularly makes private donations and feeds many orphans. "

Is there such a kind person?
Zhao Duan was a little surprised, and then asked curiously:

"You seem very familiar with these."

"Better than a pampered young man like you." Haitang rolled her eyes:

"Don't talk nonsense, just keep going forward and we'll be there soon. By the way, when we get there, don't say anything. Zhang Han and I will ask them so as not to scare them."

Maybe it was because she was framed as a spy that day and Zhao Duan shot her with a knife, Haitang spoke with sarcasm.

Am I that terrible... I suspect you are implying something.

"Haha, if you don't want to tell me, then don't tell me."

Lord Zhao is open-minded and does not bother with this little girl.

Mainly, he also knew that he was notorious among the people and was simply an image of a dissolute and vicious villain.

If Haitang could get information through nice words, he would not bother to do it.

……

……

Dongcheng, Zhongfang Street.

The locals all know that in Huajian Hutong on one side of the street, the third house with a big willow tree at the door is home to a lady.

The lady moved here more than ten years ago. When she first came, she was still a young girl, and she was only accompanied by an elderly couple.

It is said that she was a daughter of an official family who moved from the north city.

Because of a disaster, he ended up living in Zhongfang Street. The old couple around him were originally servants.

Early in the morning, some women from the neighborhood would bring their children here one after another, send them to the private school run by Mrs. Xue to study, and then take them back in the afternoon.

Some children who were nearby also ran over on their own.

Today is no exception.

After the sun rose, children came one after another. When they entered the yard, they would behave themselves and bow to the elegant woman standing in the yard, calling out:
"gentlemen."

Chirping, so lively.

Xue Xuan would then wear a female Confucian robe and nod to everyone with a smile.

She was only in her twenties, thin and frail, but her every move was filled with bookish air, which was rare in this neighborhood.

Maybe she was born with thin skin, and even when she was talking to people normally, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"Sir! These are the spring rolls my mother fried. She asked me to bring them specially for you!"

A cute little girl, about five or six years old, with pigtails, ran in from the door holding a small box.

He almost tripped when entering the door, and screamed, which scared Xue Xuan so much that he hurried to help him.

The little girl stood up on her own, with a silly smile on her face. She couldn't wait to hold up her lunch box as if offering a treasure, and shouted:
"Eat sir, eat sir!"

Because he was short, the box was so small that he could only barely reach Xue Xuan's chest when he lifted it.

The little girl tried to stand on tiptoe, but she just couldn't reach it.

Xue Xuan smiled gently, raised his hand and rubbed the girl's hair, took the lunch box, and asked softly with a smile:
"Mom fried a few, did you eat them?"

This girl was a little stupid and was relatively young among the group of children, so Xue Xuan took special care of her.

The girl counted carefully on her fingers:

"One, two, three...six. Mother fried six and said they were for the husband, so she wouldn't let my daughter eat any."

A slightly disappointed expression. Xue Xuan smiled, helped her tidy up her pigtails, and stuffed the lunch box back into her hands:

"The teacher will have class soon. Nana will save it for the teacher first and go to the school to recite the lessons. How about we eat together at noon? We can each have half."

The girl was very happy and ran happily into the house.

Before all the children arrive, they have to memorize the lessons on their own, and only when everyone is present will they attend class.

At this moment, the room was filled with the sound of children reading.

Xue Xuan stood up with a smile, and when he saw a few more children, the entrance became quiet.

"Miss, I'm going to the store to buy paper money and incense. Do you have any instructions?"

At this time, an old servant with gray hair came over and said in a low voice.

The old servant was carrying a bamboo basket. Although he was dressed simply, one could still vaguely see the demeanor that could only be cultivated in a wealthy family.

The smile on Xue Xuan's face slowly faded.

A trace of loneliness appeared in the eyes of this woman who had once been rich and powerful and had fallen to this point.

There was a moment of sadness on his face, and he forced a smile and whispered softly:
"Nothing to tell you. Uncle Fu, I always trust you to do things."

The old servant named Fu Bo smiled in relief:

"I can't remember it as clearly as when I was young. In two days, it will be the anniversary of the master's death.

I almost forgot to buy some wine last year. Fortunately, young lady, you remembered it. The master didn't care about money when he was alive. He only liked rice wine.

If I forget it again, in a few years, when I am old enough to leave, I will see the master and his wife and they will criticize me for not doing my job properly. "

Xue Xuan's eyes were slightly red, he forced a smile, and wanted to say something, but he was choked up.

Thirteen years have passed since the Xue family was wiped out. Xue Xuan, who had luckily escaped with his life that year, has grown up long ago.

The only two who did not leave, Mr. and Mrs. Fu, are already old.

The neighbors in Zhongfang Street only knew that Xue Xuan was originally a daughter of an official.

But they, who were of low status, did not know that this "Mrs. Xue", who was gentle but strong, well-educated and praised by everyone around her, was the only daughter of a fourth-rank official.

Not only did they not know, Xue Xuan himself was almost forgetting it.

Only on the family memorial day every year would she be forced to recall the tragic massacre of her family in the past.

Is there hatred in your heart?
Of course there is. It is a deep-rooted hatred and a blood feud.

But the enemy who caused Xue Lin to be imprisoned and the Xue family to be wiped out has risen step by step. Now he has become a big shot that she, an ant, cannot even see.

What can I do?

Xue Xuan could only wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, force a smile, and make himself forget the painful past.

However, at this moment, the sound of carriages and horse hooves was heard outside Huajian Lane.

Then, three uninvited guests appeared in the shadow of the big willow tree.

"Who are you looking for?" Uncle Fu asked in confusion and caution.

The people who came were naturally Zhao Duan and his two companions.

At this moment, he was also looking at this simple private school with curiosity. His gaze passed the old servant and fell on the bookish, thin-skinned, ruddy young lady behind him.

He immediately determined that this person was the descendant of Xue Lin.

There was no other reason. Even though she had been down and out for more than a decade, the temperament of a lady from a noble family that she had developed in her bones still made her stand out among this group of grassroots people.

The woman only stood there for a moment, and it was almost as if she had the five big words "My ancestors were rich" welded on her forehead.

"Ms. Xue, we meet again."

Haitang smiled and spoke.

She had come to the door a long time ago when she was investigating a case, but at that time she only briefly learned the situation and reported the name of the official from the imperial yamen.

Xue Xuan also recognized her, his expression changed slightly, and his eyes showed an imperceptible coldness and alienation:
"So it's the official who has arrived. I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person. I guess these two are also your friends?"

Mr. Official... Zhao Duan looked at Haitang with a strange expression.
You even accused me of scaring others, but you're not much better.

Haitang smiled and nodded:

"These two are my colleagues. They came to visit me today because they still want to learn more about the case of Master Xue Lin. Last time, they were delayed by something and left in a hurry, so they were unable to have a deep conversation, so..."

Xue Xuan didn't wait for her to finish, and shook his head and said respectfully:
"My father committed a serious crime, and I am lucky enough to survive. I am grateful to God. The government has already concluded the case, and the relevant documents must be there. If you want to know more, just go and check. I don't know what happened in the court."

Tsk, obviously she doesn't trust him... This is the normal reaction...

If you complain about being wronged when an official comes to question you, you are courting death.

Oh, the case back then was under the supervision of the late emperor, and it was decided by the current Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, Zhou Cheng.

If Xue Xuan dared to say that he was wronged and refused to accept the situation, wouldn't that mean that the late emperor was wrong? Was it also the Zhou Tingwei who was wrong?
Zhao Duan shook his head. Sure enough, things were not that smooth.

"Ms. Xue, you don't need to be so alert. My two colleagues and I have come here with no ill intentions..." Haitang was still trying to persuade her in a kind way.

Beside him, Zhang Han, who had a paralyzed face, also said in a deep voice:

"Ms. Xue, please cooperate with our investigation."

Done!

Zhao Duan wanted to cover his face.

Sure enough, no matter what the two said, Xue Xuan insisted on saying "my father is extremely evil" and refused to let anything out.

Now, Haitang and Zhang Han also felt it was difficult to deal with.

They couldn't just say that they were here to cause trouble for Zhou Cheng on the orders of His Majesty.

"Forget it, I'll do it."

At the side, Zhao Duan, who had not said a word since entering the courtyard, couldn't bear it anymore and spoke softly.

He stepped forward, glanced at the two of them, and shook his head.
"Are you always so gentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest when handling cases?"

He turned his head again and looked at Xue Xuan and Uncle Fu. His face had changed into a villain's face. He looked down at them with a condescending smile and said with a sneer:
"I think you guys are not going to accept my toast, so you have to drink the penalty wine!"

(End of this chapter)