Fang Zilan's hand holding the handle of the umbrella trembled a little, "Why did Mrs. Ding report Lianniang now? Could it be that the Pei family wanted to throw a scapegoat out to protect Pei Pening?"
"The Jingzhao Yin Mansion is still interrogating, but I heard that the Ding family was forced into the Pei Mansion by Pei Pening. Thinking about it, I feel resentful in my heart." Chu Bin's voice was a little lower, "Xu Ding is also like the Lotus Lady. Normally, one would want to put Pei Pening to death, but one never thought that the murder of Lord Ju was deeply involved. Today, she is finally afraid and has no choice but to tell the truth."
"Really?" Fang Zilan raised her eyebrows and said noncommittally: "If this is the truth about the murder of Duke Jui, then the Pei family is a joke. Not to mention what will happen to Pei Pening and Pei Xiaoze, the Queen Mother in the palace is afraid It’s shameless to interfere in government affairs anymore.”
"If so, it might not be a good thing for us." Chu Bin calmed his expression, and Fang Zilan lowered his eyes and said: "After this incident, both the Pei family and the Ouyang family have been severely damaged, and there are not many left of the nine noble families. "
Her tone was filled with inexplicable sadness, and Chu Bin felt his heart tightening when he heard it, "Lan Lan, at least you..."
"What about me?" Fang Zilan suddenly interrupted him, raising the corners of his lips as if he was mocking himself, "You don't really think that I alone can call you a noble family, do you?"
Chu Bin was stunned for a moment and listened to her talk, "From the fall of the Shangguan family in the north, to the retreat of the Xiahou family in the southeast, to the decline of the Ouyang family in the capital, and the withering of the Pei family, the nine noble families now have only five surnames left. ”
"But even if I leave you alone, the Wang family in the north..." Chu Bin stopped mid-sentence.
Fang Zilan looked at him and said: "Master Wang Quanzhi is loyal, Master Wang Quanrui is cunning, the reason why the Wang family is in the position of public officials is just to check and balance. When Dajing was founded, the beauty of the nine public officials will no longer be there."
Chu Bin pursed his lips and said nothing. Fang Zilan handed the umbrella back to him, turned around and walked into the snow.
In the following days, the Jingzhao Yin Mansion stepped up the interrogation of Ouyang Zongrui, Pei Pening, Fang Zitong and Ding, and reorganized the entire case, and finally got the truth——
Lianniang, the maid of the Pei Mansion, had a grudge against Pei Pening's robbery, so she used the poison she purchased to kill the Duke of Jui, Pei Juqing, in an attempt to bring him down by framing him. During this period, Fang Zitong was suspected of injuring Pei Juiqing with a sleeve arrow. Ouyang Zongrui took advantage of the opportunity to fabricate an incident involving an improved crossbow and framed Ouyang Zirou, causing her broken hand and serious injury.
Pei Pening's concubine Ding accidentally encountered Lien Niang and was poisoned, but she and Lien Niang had the same problem. She had suffered from Pei Pening's torture for a long time, so she hid the matter until more and more people were involved. I was so scared that I couldn’t help but stand up...
Fang Zilan was a little sad when she heard Xiao Xuan'er come to report. She was silent for a long time and then asked: "Even though more and more people are involved, it has never been related to Ding. Why is she afraid?"
"There are differences between Mrs. Ding and Lianniang. Niang Li resents Miss Fang for turning a blind eye to what happened to her, but Mrs. Ding has received a lot of favors from Dongxue who is beside Miss Fang." Xiao Xuan'er explained: "Ding When she heard about Dongxue's death, she wanted to come forward, but was stopped by Lien Niang. Lien Niang told her that once she came forward, she would not be able to avoid being punished."
"Lianniang's words are quite right." Fang Zilan raised her hand and frowned slightly, "But Ms. Ding finally stood up."
"Yes." Xiao Xuan'er sighed softly, and Fang Zilan said thoughtfully: "I still have one thing that I don't understand. Why did Lian Niang poison Duke Gui? Since it was all about setting up the blame, the target of the poison should not be important. , if she wanted to attack Mrs. Pei, it might be easier, but why did she choose Duke Jun?"
Xiao Xuan'er hesitated for a moment, then changed her voice and said, "I wonder, Mr. Fang, where does Mr. Guo Guo's title come from?"
"It's based on the character "璒" in his name." Fang Zilan answered quickly, and Xiao Xuan'er nodded slightly, "This is the first time in the capital. Master Fang, do you know why?"
Fang Zilan was stunned. She had never thought about this problem. The youngest Gongqing family head in Dajing is titled by his name. There is no reason why Pei Juanqing can have all this.
"Duke Guo Guo was not Mrs. Pei's biological child. His mother was originally the daughter of the prince of the previous dynasty, but she fell in love with the head of the Pei family who was married at the time. At that time, the Pei family was still unknown, and was inconspicuous in the capital where there were many wealthy families. ." Xiao Xuan'er said, with an expression that seemed to be reminiscing, but more like regret, "The previous dynasty was in turmoil. In order to seek glory for the family, the head of the Pei family became rebellious and followed the Li family, which was the most popular at the time."
Fang Zilan frowned, "But the Li family was in the north at that time, not in the capital. Could it be that..."
She didn't say any more, and Xiao Xuan'er said softly: "Master Fang guessed right, that's when the Pei family's heirs became few and far between. The head of the Pei family dedicated his sister to the Li family, in exchange for a place in marriage. However, before How could the tyrannical ruler of the dynasty tolerate such a blatant betrayal? If Duke Jun’s mother hadn’t married and tried to protect the Pei family, I’m afraid there would be no Pei family in the capital today.”
"Later, the Li family came to the capital and Emperor Tai'an ascended the throne. As the founding hero of the country, the Pei family naturally became one of the nine great ministers. The sister of the Pei family head was granted the title of empress, and is now the Empress Dowager." Xiao Xuan'er. He lowered his eyes and said: "At that time, the capital was first established and was not yet stable. It happened that Baiyue General Xia Yunzhao led the Xia family army to surrender. In order to win people's hearts, Emperor Tai'an married General Xia Yunzhao's sister, Concubine Yu. However, the remnants of the previous dynasty still refused to give up. , in an attempt to assassinate Concubine Yu and sow discord between the two parties, but Duke Guo Guo’s mother came out at that time and died protecting Concubine Yu. "
Fang Zilan reacted, "So the reason why Duke Jun is Duke Jun is because his mother sacrificed her life to save Concubine Yu?"
"You can say that." Xiao Xuan'er nodded, "Originally, General Xia Yunzhao asked Concubine Yu to be on an equal footing with Queen Pei, but nothing was done because of this. Emperor Tai'an even directly changed the title of Pei's Duke to Juan, forcing him to The head of the De Pei family has no choice but to appoint Duke Jun as the next head of the family."
She paused for a moment, "After Duke Jui took over, he worked conscientiously and was impeccable in his official duties. However, because of his mother's death, he had a deep prejudice against women in the world. He believed that they were weak and incompetent, or even had no independent opinions, and could be reduced to poverty at any time. As a victim. The whole Pei family is like this, so he has always turned a blind eye to Pei Pening's behavior, but he didn't expect that letting him go will cost his own life. "
"Poor people must be hateful." Fang Zilan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xiao Xuan'er, "Without Lianniang, there would be other women. Maybe it's Miss Fang Er, maybe it's other people who can't bear it..."
"Master Fang, do you think Mr. Guo Guo deserves it?" Xiao Xuan'er couldn't help but ask. Fang Zilan casually put the teapot on the table, "People, most of them will lose to those they disdain the most, but this is the case. It's cheaper. Pei Xiaoze, among such a big Pei family, he is the only one who looks innocent."
Xiao Xuan'er took a sip of tea and said solemnly: "But if Pei Xiaoze had married Lianniang early in the morning and was famous and distinguished, Pei Pening would not dare to attack his sister-in-law no matter how lustful he was."
"This is the most ridiculous thing." Fang Zilan straightened her sleeves and said coolly: "The initiator actually became the beneficiary."
