TPATTHU Chapter 61
by VolareShen Zhejiang’s tone was neither heavy nor light.
After saying that, he belatedly realized that there were others present, and the roots of his ears couldn’t help but turn red.
Xiao Zhinian, on the other hand, was completely open and honest. Hearing him say this, he chuckled and kissed the top of Shen Zhejiang’s head: “Understood.”
Han Weiwei felt that her presence there was too intrusive, so without waiting for Xiao Zhinian to speak, she consciously withdrew.
Wang Xiuyi and Wang Chengming still had official business to attend to, so they dragged Yang Shihui away with them. Wang Chengming also dismissed the guarding soldiers behind the screen for the two of them, retreating to a farther place to stand guard.
The affectionate words had been spoken, and now it was time for serious matters.
Shen Zhejiang said, “I should have guessed that the master in Yang Shihui’s words, that man in black, is most likely Shen Wang from back then.”
Xiao Jing, the seventh son of the late Emperor, was granted land and made a prince at a young age, and was the most carefree of the princes.
“It’s hard to say, I’ve investigated the rebellion case from back then…”
This case involved Shen Zhejiang’s father, and Xiao Zhinian was afraid of stirring up Shen Zhejiang’s emotions, so he hesitated.
Shen Zhejiang lowered his eyes and said, “I know, you want to say that Shen Wang was also given the death sentence in the year the Shen family was executed.”
Xiao Zhinian knew that Shen Zhejiang would be sad to mention this, and gently stroked his shoulder: “Yes, so it’s not too late to catch the person first.”
Indeed, it was a little too early to draw conclusions now.
Shen Zhejiang opened his mouth and said, “Xiao Nian, what do you think of Shen Wang’s character?”
“In my memory, I didn’t have much contact with this imperial uncle, but I’ve seen him a few times. In my opinion, he should be considered a romantic and dissolute person.”
“How so?”
Xiao Zhinian said, “When I was by the Grand Empress Dowager’s side, I always heard the Grand Empress Dowager scolding him for spending his days in idleness and debauchery. He didn’t seem to care at all. He was scolded, but he still went his own way, infuriating the Grand Empress Dowager.”
Xiao Zhinian vaguely remembered that the harshest scolding was when the Grand Empress Dowager bestowed a marriage on Imperial Uncle Shen.
The one who was bestowed the marriage was the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites. Not only did Imperial Uncle Shen refuse to comply with the imperial decree, but he even ran to the gate of the Minister of Rites’ residence and ridiculed the unlucky eldest daughter from head to toe, and he himself was beaten and scolded for this. The Grand Emperor was so angry that he directly made him a prince and drove him to his territory to fend for himself.
A life of doing as he pleases.
Would such a person really be willing to confine himself to the small world of the palace?
Xiao Zhinian couldn’t think of a reason.
Shen Zhejiang couldn’t think of one either, and said, “I also saw Shen Wang when I was young. He was a talented man, but he had no intention of pursuing an official career. If that’s the case, why would he commit these rebellious acts now?”
Xiao Zhinian shrugged, indicating that he didn’t know either, and lowered his head to kiss the corner of Shen Zhejiang’s eye: “During this period, Teacher must take care of his health. Leave these matters to me, Teacher, don’t worry about them anymore.”
Shen Zhejiang wanted to say something more, hesitated for a moment, bit his lower lip, and then smiled lightly at Xiao Zhinian: “Okay.”
Although he said so, Shen Zhejiang couldn’t stop for a moment.
The mysteries were numerous.
The more chaotic it was, the more he wanted to sort it out.
First of all, whether that man in black was Shen Wang.
If so, how did Shen Wang escape the death penalty back then? It had been too long, and Shen Zhejiang couldn’t verify it.
Then, if it wasn’t him, who exactly was that man in black, plotting all this, for the sake of the vast empire?
Specifically, these were all Shen Zhejiang’s guesses, and a conclusion could only be drawn after the man in black was caught.
Secondly, Shen Zhejiang thought of his father. In the past, he always stood on the side of the Shen family, thinking from the perspective of being a descendant of the Shen family. Being in the midst of the situation, it was easy to be blinded.
After the Yang Shihui rebellion, he became more and more puzzled and couldn’t help but think, what was the reason that made these officials who had once been loyal to the court willing to risk their lives to support their so-called master?
If it was for fame and fortune, Shen Zhejiang thought, his father was the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet at the time, and he already possessed these external things, so why would he take the risk again?
No.
Soon, Shen Zhejiang recalled what Yang Shihui had said in prison –
“Occupying the magpie’s nest, that’s the correct way to call it. Xiao Zhinian, that position shouldn’t belong to you in the first place. Now it’s time to return it to its rightful owner.”
What does it mean?
Xiao Zhinian was the only blood relative of the late Emperor and the late Empress, which was an undeniable fact.
So what exactly did Yang Shihui’s words mean? Was it an excuse to deceive the world in order to usurp power for his master?
Since ancient times, rebels have always fabricated a seemingly reasonable statement for themselves, deceiving themselves and deceiving the world.
–
“Ah, who is this? How scary! Don’t look, let’s go, let’s go, if you look too much, you’ll have nightmares at night.”
“Look carefully, that’s the corrupt official Yang Shihui! Hahaha, he has this day too, karma is a cycle! He deserves it!”
“It really is him! Watch me throw him to death!”
A wave-like clamor came from the crowd gathered at the bottom of the city tower, reaching the ears of Yang Shihui, who was in a daze and on the verge of death.
He lowered his head and looked down, and found that a group of chattering people were gathered at his feet.
Feet?
Yang Shihui was stunned for a moment, his face panicked, and he made strange “woo woo” sounds with a cloth ball stuffed in his mouth.
The suspended body fell abruptly with his floundering movements.
When he fell to the ground, a circle of indignant people rushed up and punched and kicked him, but unfortunately his hands and feet were tied with coarse hemp ropes, and he couldn’t move at all, so he could only be beaten.
A pile of rotten vegetables were thrown randomly, making him look embarrassed, and a stone fell from somewhere, hitting Yang Shihui’s forehead and drawing blood.
At this moment, the coarse hemp rope tightened and contracted, and Yang Shihui was suddenly pulled into the air again, like a withered yellow leaf fluttering, lifeless.
“How is it? Is it fun?”
Wang Chengming appeared on the city tower, looking at the tottering Yang Shihui triumphantly, almost laughing out loud.
Yang Shihui couldn’t do anything, his eyes staring at him.
Wang Chengming clapped his hands and said, “You only have this last bit of use left, so enjoy it.”
After saying that, he turned to leave, but suddenly thought of something, and said again: “Oh, yes, my sister searched your mansion, and there was nothing but a sissy male prostitute. I want to ask you, where did you spend the silver you have embezzled over the years?”
As soon as Yang Shihui heard this, his eyes seemed to be mocking Wang Chengming, very disdainful, as if provoking Wang Chengming.
Wang Chengming grabbed his neck, with great strength, and shouted sternly: “What kind of eyes are those?!”
Yang Shihui naturally couldn’t answer him, he couldn’t breathe, and his old face was flushed, and his legs were tumbling like a fish tail.
“Heh!” Wang Chengming threw his hand away and snorted coldly, “If you dare to mess around, I’ll kill you now!”
As soon as the voice fell.
“Boom – Boom -!!”
Suddenly, the earth shook!