After finding the evidence, Wei Shichu did not personally report Zhao Yiran. Instead, he found several survivors in the disaster area, told them the truth, and asked them to go to Beijing to file a complaint as victims.
All the family members of these people died in the flood: they were submerged in the water, and they were finally rescued, but they could not wait for rescue. They were hungry and sick, and they died like this. Therefore, they knew that their families had a chance to survive. , but died because someone embezzled disaster relief funds and could not wait for the relief food and medicinal materials they should have. They hated the culprit. When they learned that there was a chance to take revenge, they naturally agreed without hesitation.
Therefore, Zhao Yiran, who was enjoying the service of his lovely wife and concubines at home and the joy of having children at his knees, was dragged out of the gentle village by the people of Dali Temple without any psychological preparation.
He was furious, yelling why he was being arrested and whether he knew his identity. When he tried to use his identity to suppress others, he did not get the preferential treatment he imagined. The people in Dali Temple treated him with contempt and ridicule. Obviously, they did not understand him at all. Maybe give him face.
When Zhao Yiran discovered this, his heart suddenly became cold. As a member of the officialdom, how could he not understand that the attitude of these people towards him was determined by their superiors? Since they can be rude to a third-grade official like themselves, it means that the matter is serious, so serious that they are not afraid of turning around and retaliating against them in the future...
Zhao Yiran's heart felt like a heavy boulder was pressing down on him, and he quickly recalled in his mind where he had been caught...
Before he could recall it, the rest of the family was also taken away, including the women and children. Where had Zhao Yiran's wives and concubines ever seen such a scene? They cried endlessly in fear, hoping that Zhao Yiran would support them, but they didn't know that Zhao Yiran had too much time to take care of himself.
"At the beginning of the year, all the Zhao family were arrested and thrown into prison. Do you know about this?" The fifth master asked Wei Shichu with a solemn expression. He called Zhao Yiran's family the Zhao family.
Wei Shichu nodded and said, "The matter has caused quite a stir. Of course I heard about it. It was said that Zhao Yiran colluded with the previous fifth prince to embezzle disaster relief money when he was working as an errand in the Ministry of Household Affairs. Now someone has come to report him."
She planned this matter with her own hands, and she knew it better than anyone else.
The Fifth Master sighed and said, "He even greedy for disaster relief money. I didn't expect Zhao Yiran to be so greedy and cruel. I just hope that their family's affairs will not involve us."
"Of course it won't be implicated on us. We are not from the same family as them. Although the crime of corruption is serious, it is not enough to punish the entire clan. Zhao Lue has been adopted a long time ago, and I am no longer Zhao Yiran's. Concubine, their sins are not comparable to ours."
Wei Shichu calmly comforted the fifth prince.
After listening to her words, the Fifth Master felt relieved, and then he remembered the scene where he went to the Zhao Mansion to cry, but was treated impatiently by Zhao Yiran and his father and brother, so he sarcastically said: "Zhao Yiran would never have imagined that he would now be like this." Is he imprisoned? He really deserves it. My grandson saved his life, but I didn’t expect that he would still die. It’s really God’s will, but it’s a pity for my grandson..."
The fifth master choked up again as he spoke, and Wei Shichu quickly comforted him: "Grandpa, isn't Zhao Yiran's retribution coming now? My brother will definitely be very happy when he finds out, and he will not want to see you sad, grandpa." Wu Taiye said. The grandfather's grandson was younger than Wei Shichu, so Wei Shichu called him his younger brother.
Wei Shichu quickly brought Zhao Lue out again, and finally made the old man feel better.
The evidence investigated by Wei Shichu was sufficient and accurate, so Zhao Yiran's crime was quickly confirmed. However, the emperor learned that he had secretly supported his enemies, but pretended to be so good on the surface. He felt that he had been fooled, so he treated Zhao Yiran even more. I was angry, so I asked Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation of the Zhao family.
This investigation revealed some of the bad things that Mr. Zhao did when he was the chief minister, as well as the bad things that Zhao Yiran's eldest brother, third brother, fourth brother, relatives or subordinates did to bully others.
It could have been a first-class official family in the capital, but the hands of the family members could not be very clean. Therefore, the Zhao family made sure to check every one. None of the men in charge of the Zhao family could escape. Even some of the women, relatives and capable people in the house could not escape. All servants are guilty...
After reading the investigation results, the emperor laughed angrily and ordered them not to be spared lightly, so Zhao Yiran and his brother were beheaded in public. Because the old man had been the chief minister, he gave him the last dignity and did not let him go to jail, but other prisoners Those who are guilty cannot be spared lightly. Those who are sentenced are sentenced, and those who are sentenced to exile are exiled...
The women and children who had not committed any crime had to be exiled to other places for several years.
When Zhao Yiran's wives and concubines in prison learned about the result, they immediately collapsed and angrily accused and cursed each other. Even Zhao Yiran cursed, saying that it was him who had harmed them...
And one of Zhao Yiran's concubines suddenly said regretfully: "Why wasn't my child adopted out? If he had been adopted out, he wouldn't have to suffer this kind of pain now..."
Her words suddenly hit everyone like a thunderbolt from the blue. It turned out that one person was able to survive! That is Zhao Lue who was adopted!
Yes, if it was his son who was adopted out, then it would be his son who would be fine.
They tried hard to push Zhao Lue out to be adopted by someone else, but now, it was Zhao Lue who was adopted and became an outsider who was not implicated and could still live a good life. How could they be willing to accept this?
"Yes! There is Zhao Lue! He is also Zhao Yiran's son. Why hasn't he been arrested? Officer, hurry up and arrest Zhao Yiran. Go and arrest him..." Zhao Yiran's first wife, Mrs. Chen, seemed crazy. She shouted at the jailer that she was going crazy after enduring this blow, especially when she realized that Zhao Lue, a bastard whom she had never looked up to, was still able to be the eldest young master, and her two legitimate sons were from now on. But he would fall into the mud and be exiled with them... She couldn't bear it anymore, so she wanted to catch Zhao Lue and die together.
When the jailer heard what she said, he sneered: "Bah! Crazy woman, don't think that I don't know that he is the unloved bastard adopted by you. He was adopted long ago and he is less than three years old. Your Majesty is merciful." , we will not involve irrelevant people. So what if you are unwilling? Human destiny is impermanent."
Mrs. Chen, who was already regretful and jealous, screamed and fainted when she heard what the jailer said.
The others understood that Zhao Lue could not be implicated, and they felt resentful, hateful and regretful, but they were helpless. Who made them do too much in the first place? It is said that blessings and misfortunes depend on each other. At first, they thought that being adopted was a terrible news, so they worked together to push Zhao Lue out. However, they did not expect that it was precisely this that allowed Zhao Lue to escape from the quagmire of the Zhao family and survive.
(End of chapter)
