The beginning of the dossier reads:
'The Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate accepted the order of the prefect to investigate and handle the case. Everything is settled, and there is a secretary to keep it sealed. ...'
The criminal in this case was Li Jia, a servant in the same Lu family. Because he had a rift with the same company, he stole five taels of silver from his family in order to pay for the assassins. ... After detailed investigation, it was found that this case had nothing to do with Lu Song and Zi Ju. It was committed by one person. He was convicted of homicide and should be executed according to law. The words for filing the lawsuit are as follows:...'
Wei Huai only glanced at it a few times and then looked away. Yang Huaisheng also sighed, only Xia Yuanlong was still watching carefully.
"It was clearly the Lu family who committed the crime, but they found a scapegoat, and the Procuratorate still believed it!" Yang Huaisheng said through gritted teeth.
"The Lu family must have taken care of the Metropolitan Procuratorate... It probably cost a lot of money." Wei Huai lay down again.
"No wonder they are so unscrupulous and bold, and dare to assassinate the Imperial Academy's sacrificial wine!" Yang Huaisheng sighed.
"They were not able to get out of this case all by themselves." Xia Yuanlong closed the file and said.
"Who else?"
"Of course Prince Wan is backing him. Think about it, no matter how powerful the Lu family is, it can't overwhelm the prince who is personally conferred by the imperial court. Without the prince's nod, how can this matter be covered up? So assassinating Wei Brother’s matter must have been acquiesced by Wan Heshun.”
"As a high-ranking official, he still does such despicable and shameless things and engages in such conspiracies. It is really despicable!" Yang Huaisheng couldn't help but cursed.
"After all, our new policy can really drive these people into panic. It's better to be careful in the future." Xia Yuanlong said facing Wei Huai.
"Are you in a hurry?" Wei Huai suddenly spoke with a sneer, "I think they rounded us up, fed us bones, and raised us like dogs!"
"What do you mean by this?" Yang and Xia asked together. "You have only seen the government giving in step by step while we are advancing triumphantly; but now that this incident has occurred, I understand that these reform policies are in name only and have no implementation at all... They are deceiving us with the implementation of new laws, and we are still complacent. What fun!”
The two of them seemed to be awakened by a violent thunder, their minds went blank for an instant, and a chilling chill rose from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
"Then... wouldn't it..." Yang Huaisheng still couldn't believe Wei Huai's explanation, and he was still at a loss.
"I don't want to say it, but this is the situation: We have spent so much energy in the past, but in the end, the academy has achieved nothing except gaining the support of the people." Wei Huai slowly and heavily placed the tea cup on the table, thinking for a long time. Words, as if lost.
"Then what reforms are there, what kind of academies should we open..." Yang Huaisheng tugged on his sleeves, feeling extremely disappointed in his heart.
They both started to sit sullenly. The weather suddenly turned gloomy, with dark clouds covering the surrounding areas, and a few drops of rain falling, solidifying the gloomy atmosphere.
Not so with Xia Yuanlong. He stood outside the eaves, raindrops streaking across his resolute face. He faced the two people and was the first to break the tranquility:
"Even if we accomplish nothing, we must go on this road to the end! They go to great lengths to obey us, that is their fear! There are thousands of people behind us, and they look at us like gods. That's it. , why should we be depressed at this moment?" He paced back and forth a few times, "Brother Jimin is right. Our reforms are just scratching the surface and can't touch a single hair of theirs. So now let's go to Guangsi Forum! Let's The common people called out, gathered all the literati and Confucian scholars in Nanjing, and directly asked Wan Heshun to implement the academy system in Nanjing."
His gaze was like a torch in the cold drizzle, as if a sparkling flame had been lit: "Let them see, our pride cannot be treated like a dog!"
His shouts were particularly loud, shaking the heavens and the earth.
Wei Huai's mood was still at the bottom, but Yang Huaisheng had regained his ambition. He might have forgotten about the academy system at this moment, so he stood up and pulled Wei Huai: "Go to Guangsi Altar! Let's gather the people!"
"Wait a minute," Wei Huai waved his hand, "This is just a futile effort."
Xia Yuanlong looked at him suspiciously.
"How do you call it futile? Brother Ji Minxian, this is really important..." Yang Huaisheng pushed Wei Huai and persuaded.
Xia Yuanlong walked to the recliner, pushed away Yang Huai's rope, and looked at Wei Huai with sharp eyes: "Are you going to abandon us all? Don't forget why we got together! What you did is not only equivalent to You have given up your choice and deviated from your ambition!"
Wei Huai didn't answer.
"The people all over the world are looking at you, hoping that you can do something! The people took your boat to cross the middle stream, but you threw them all into the river and watched them struggle... You are such a person !"
He slowly raised his head and looked at the sincere eyes of the two of them for a while. Thinking of Wan Heshun's hypocritical smile, he clenched his hands into fists and gritted his teeth and said, "Well said! No matter what, I will keep it safe." Peace for the people!" He held up his chair and said, "Bring your crutches... to the Guangsi Altar!"
The rain came unreasonably heavy. Wei Huai stood in the center of Guangsi Altar, scanning the crowd holding various oil-paper umbrellas and crowding on the street. There was no end in sight to the crowds on all sides. Although his hair was disheveled due to the cold rain, his enthusiasm could not be suppressed when he saw so many people who admired him and looked forward to him.
"Common people! My reform is nothing more than relying on an academy system. This system does not exist today, which means that the Lu family controls the government and the strategy of limiting the wealthy families is in vain! I believe that the princes of Wanjun will not turn a blind eye, so I want to bring everyone to see the prince. Please implement the academy system together!" After Wei Huai shouted, Xia Yuanlong continued: "Let's go!"
As usual, there were huge crowds of people, which could almost overwhelm the momentum of Nanjing and swept in from all directions. Although Wan Heshun was not in the mansion at this time, he could still hear the deafening shouts while sitting in the carriage.
"Prince!"
Before Wan Heshun knew what the situation was, the groom quickly pulled the three horses with the reins. The car suddenly splashed large amounts of mud and water and stopped on the street.
"King Wanjun!" Wei Huai led the crowd in the way, not afraid of the majestic behemoth. In front of the golden embroidered curtain, they all put down their oil umbrellas and knelt down in the rain.
Wei Huai slowly took out a memorial book from his sleeve, moved forward three steps, and raised it above his head, leaving the stack of memorial books to be damaged by the wind and rain.
The groom looked inside the curtains, but there was no sound coming from inside.
"It's written in the memorial, just listen to me. But I have to make my ambition clear to you first..." Wei Huai was soaked to the skin, but he still shouted in his powerful voice:
"I would like to ask Prince Wan to establish the institution of academies without any delay. If you have the slightest scruples about me, please listen to what I have to say: I will take care of my people and wish Qingming to the country, and I will live up to the king's kindness!"
After saying that, he kowtowed deeply.
