At the gate of Pei Ji's Duke Wei's mansion, a carriage slowly drove up. The driver was an old man with gray hair and a stooped body.
"Wei Guogong's residence, the rest of the people are waiting to stay away quickly!" The guard at the door stepped forward to drive them away.
The old man sneered, "What a bunch of arrogant dog slaves. Pei Shangshu has resigned and gone into seclusion. Where does your confidence come from?"
A handsome young man in luxurious clothes came out of the carriage. He said with a gentle smile: "A dog is used to taking advantage of others. He thinks he is also superior to others. Mr. Wang, why bother talking nonsense with a bunch of losers."
"What the Prince Consort said is absolutely true. Please wait a moment while I go call the door."
After speaking, the old man stepped forward and said loudly: "Go and tell Wei Guogong that Mr. Xiao Xiao, the Yushitai, is here to visit."
There is an air of calmness and authority in his words.
But this seemed to be of no use to the guards who were domineering all day long. Some of the blind people even taunted loudly: "Old man, if you want to meet my master, you have to submit your name card three days in advance. Mr. Xiao Xiao, Yushitai? No." I’ve heard that even if Wei Zheng, the chief official of the Yushitai, comes, he must follow the rules of our Pei family.”
... Xiao Rui was amused. These people were so ignorant. Who dared to call the man in front of him an old man?
The old man shouted angrily: "You bastard! Let Pei Ji come out and see me."
As he spoke, he raised a shining gold medal.
All the servants were stunned for a moment, and then they all knelt down on the ground. They were kicked by Xiao Rui, and then some people knew it and rushed into the house to report the news.
Not long after, the central door of Wei Guogong's mansion opened wide, and Pei Ji went out to greet him in person. After seeing the old man, he came up with a smile on his face and said, "Oh, the prince is here, and he is not welcomed from afar. A bunch of servants are ignorant, don't be like them." , please come inside."
Lao Wang sneered: "Prime Minister Pei, you group of domestic slaves have such great official power."
"Where are you talking? Come here, get rid of these short-sighted people and deduct one month's interest from each person."
After giving the order, Pei Ji whispered: "My lord, what are your orders from the Emperor? Please come in."
Lao Wang lamented that Pei Ji, who had been in a high position for a long time, didn't take others seriously. His punishment was perfunctory, but he still didn't take me, Lao Wang, seriously.
Who says it's not? Pei Ji is the prime minister, the prime minister who leads the government. Even if you are the emperor's personal eunuch, you are still a eunuch slave who is not allowed to interfere in politics. No one respects you as a human being, but respects the brand in your hand and the favor from above.
Old Wang shook his head and turned aside to let Xiao Rui out. "Today, I am here to help the Prince Consort lead the way on the orders of the Supreme Emperor."
"Prince-in-law, this is the Duke of Wei, Pei Ji. If you have any questions, please talk to him in detail. I'll hold the horse here and wait for you."
His attitude was extremely humble, which surprised Pei Ji and thought to himself, who is this guy? How could he be allowed to serve as the personal servant of the Supreme Emperor?
Xiao Rui smiled and cupped his hands and said: "Pei Shangshu, Xiao Rui, the sixth-rank chief censor of the Imperial Censorship Station."
"Who? Xiao Rui? You..."
Pei Jing was about to have a seizure, but when he saw Lao Wang next to him, he calmed down instantly. Understand, the Supreme Emperor asked the king's servant to lead the way, clearly saying: I am covering Xiao Rui.
At this moment, Pei Ji felt extremely aggrieved, His Majesty, how could you do this? Xiao Rui is our enemy!
"What? Pei Shangshu doesn't welcome you? All right, Mr. Wang, let's go back and tell Grandpa Huang that I'll try my best." Xiao Rui turned around and left.
What, what have you tried your best? What did you come to see me for? Pei Ji was confused.
But with the face of the Supreme Emperor, he did not dare not to give Xiao Rui face, and quickly stepped forward to apologize.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Xiao Yushi please give me a favor, please give me a favor."
Lao Wang said in a neutral tone: "I'm just a driving slave. I can't get to the main entrance, so I stay here to watch the car."
Xiao Rui took Lao Wang's hand generously: "Let's go, Lao Wang, I heard that Pei Shangshu has good tea at home, we have to try it. Carriages and other things, Pei Shangshu will not let the horses starve."
Thanks to Xiao Rui's promotion, Lao Wang stopped holding court, got off the donkey, and followed Xiao Rui humbly, one step behind. Pei Ji quickly waved his hand and asked someone to take care of the carriage and feed it with concentrated feed.
Coming to the living room, Pei Ji looked at the two people drinking tea with some anxiety.
Xiao Rui was too lazy to argue with him, and directly handed over a stack of documents, "Let's take a look, they are all looking for you. Although you claimed to be ill and have not been in court for many days, looking at these documents, you have not been idle for a moment."
Pei Ji took it and looked through it in confusion. After a while, his face changed, his mouth was a little dry, and he said in a vain tone: "This is slander, slander..."
"Oh? Feng Deyi said the same thing before. How about taking the medicine according to the prescription and asking the Ministry of Punishment and the Yushitai to search for it?" Xiao Rui said jokingly.
Pei Ji slammed the table and said, "Xiao Rui, you are going too far! It's not enough to kill Feng Deyi. Do you want to kill me too? Even your father Xiao Yu doesn't dare to talk to me like this."
"Killing? Why do you say this? Force Feng Deyi to death? What a joke, Feng Deyi knew that he was guilty and committed suicide in fear of crime. As for my father? Haha, that is the relationship between colleagues, what do you have to do with me? I am Xiao Rui is not following my father’s orders.”
Lao Wang, the chamberlain, coughed lightly but said nothing.
Pei Ji calmed down slightly. He wanted to ask, wasn't it that the Emperor was dissatisfied with this arrogant and domineering grandson-in-law? Why support him? Could it be that the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty...
hiss……
Pei Ji suddenly had a bad idea.
Xiao Rui reminded: "Pei Shangshu, this is just a petition, but I, Xiao Rui, never give empty words. The evidence is conclusive, and none of your family has been wronged. If you want to see the evidence, I can ask the people from Yushitai to send it over. However, Well, if that’s the case, haha.”
The meaning is obvious. If things are done in a business-like manner, then Feng Deyi will serve as a lesson for you.
Pei Ji was also trembling a little and said: "I have resigned. Your Majesty allows me to retire and return to my hometown. Xiao Rui, my son, you...you..."
Xiao Rui sat down calmly and winked at Pei Ji, telling him to step back.
"Resigning from office and returning to old age does not mean that all your sins have been wiped out. However, the Supreme Emperor is interceding for you. I think that you have been with the emperor for many years and have contributed to the founding of the Tang Dynasty. That's why I have gone through this privately today. Otherwise , you go out and ask around, who have I, Xiao Rui, asked about personal affairs?"
Li Xiaogong: Really? You seemed to be talking to me the same way at that time.
Pei Ji sat down helplessly, remained silent for a long time, and then asked, "Tell me, what do you want to do with me?"
He already understood that Xiao Rui wanted to kill him, but the Supreme Emperor was merciful. Since he was merciful, he would not kill anyone, at least he would not destroy the family.
Xiao Rui said in a gentle tone: "Simple, these papers are not many, only a dozen or so. You are still a good person, and the son you raised is much better than Feng Yandao. In addition to being arrogant and domineering, you are not causing harm to the people." many."
"The Yushitai has compiled a list of all the victims. You have to go door to door, pay compensation according to the price, and pay a certain amount of spiritual compensation. Not much..."
Before he finished speaking, Pei Ji rushed to answer: "No problem, we will accept the compensation regardless of the amount."
"Okay! Pei Shangshu is grand. With this pattern, he is worthy of being a prime minister. Unlike Feng Deyi, the common people refused to repent and ended up making trouble until the end of the night. You don't have to pay much this time, fifty thousand taels of silver. ." Xiao Rui patted his hands and praised.
Wait a minute...how much? Fifty thousand taels? you you……
"Xiao Rui, are you blackmailing me?"
"How can this be called extortion? This is clearly a threat!"
