flstandardbreds Chapter 156 Begins with Punishment
Chapter 156 Begins with Punishment
Granny Lai finally breathed a deep sigh of relief. Fortunately, the second son was honest and kind-hearted, and the Lai family still had one member.
Jia Daishan said:
"Let's go."
After walking a few steps, Granny Lai couldn't help but ask:
"Your Excellency, what should be done with that wretched child of mine?"
Jia Daihua glanced at Granny Lai.
"How to judge and how to conduct the trial is the government's business. Lai Er will be here soon."
As soon as these words were spoken, Granny Lai understood that she was definitely not going to be able to save her eldest son and daughter-in-law.
Granny Lai continued:
"Lord Duke, this was all done by the couple, and has nothing to do with my grandson, is that alright?"
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Jia Daihua chuckle as he looked at her and said:
"I'm afraid it's just that Granny Lai is old and forgetful. This matter should be judged by the government. What's the use of you telling us brothers?"
"How could a servant do such a thing? I don't believe him. The things he embezzled, the money he took—your grandson didn't enjoy them, and neither did you, the matriarch."
Granny Lai had never been so humiliated; she felt like she wanted to disappear into the ground. She knew this, but she never imagined that her son and daughter-in-law would be so audacious.
With so many guards leading a large group of people, they arrived at the Dali Temple just as dawn was breaking. The guards at the entrance of the Dali Temple, who were initially a little sleepy, immediately perked up when they saw so many people coming.
What's going on? The guards rushed forward, and one of them showed the Rongguo Mansion's official token. The guards from the Dali Temple immediately bowed respectfully.
"What's going on here?"
What could have happened that alarmed the great Duke Rong?
After the guards explained their purpose, the guards at the entrance of Dali Temple all had a headache.
If you ask what kind of work is hard to do, doing it right under the emperor's nose is the hardest.
In this important capital city, you could smash a brick and find seven or eight officials. Add to that the connections with the imperial relatives and other powerful figures, and it's a real headache.
Today's visitor is once again the Duke of Rong, a highly sought-after figure in the capital and deeply favored by the Emperor.
The guard bowed, told the attendant to wait a moment, and rushed inside. He needed to tell the lord immediately; this was a tricky matter.
The guards left at the gate waited with them. They had thought they could rest after nightfall, but who knew that a big event was about to happen and they would have to watch such a big show.
Wang Shaoqing of the Court of Judicial Review stayed up all night yesterday, reviewing case files. There's a case that's been troubling him for a long time with no leads.
Having finally gotten some clues today, I started checking the case files overnight.
Hearing hurried footsteps outside, Wang Shaoqing looked up and said:
"What are you rushing to do?"
The guard quickly explained the situation, and upon hearing it, Wang Shaoqing immediately stood up.
"Let's go, hurry up."
When Wang Shaoqing arrived at the door, Jia Daihua and Jia Daishan also dismounted.
Wang Shaoqing quickly walked up to the two men and bowed.
After the ceremony, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review leaned closer and whispered:
"My lords, if this matter blows up, it will damage our reputation. Why don't you take the person back and deal with it yourselves?"
"These are servants who have signed a contract with no future. You two can handle it as you see fit."
Jia Daishan smiled and said:
“It’s not that we brothers have caused trouble for Lord Wang, but that the servant’s mistake is not as simple as just embezzling money.”
Upon hearing this, Lord Wang's headache worsened. He glanced around; it was just beginning to lighten, and there were already pedestrians on the street looking in their direction.
"Then let's bring them all in first. Please, both Dukes."
Wang Shaoqing let the two dukes go in first, and then waved his hand to let the others enter the main hall of the yamen.
Wang Shaoqing was at a loss for what to do, so Jia Daishan said to him:
"Lord Wang, proceed with the trial as you see fit. We'll just watch from the sidelines."
Wang Shaoqing thought to himself, "This means they've entrusted me with this task; there must be some hidden reason behind it."
Nodding, the normal procedure began. It was only when they learned that the couple kneeling below had not only embezzled their master's property but also stolen imperial gifts and even tried to sell them.
Even worse, he engaged in various shady dealings within the mansion, accepting bribes and using the Duke's name to get things done.
One thing after another, one incident after another, left Wang Shaoqing dumbfounded. This was truly courting death! Did they have a death wish?
It's obvious why the Duke reported it to the authorities; it shows the Duke's family's stance.
Wang Shaoqing calculated that there weren't enough heads to chop off.
Lai Er, supporting Lai Momo, stood by and listened to these events. Lai Momo was already heartbroken.
Lai Er looked at his elder brother and sister-in-law in shock. So this was what his brother had always said about him being a coward. Brother and sister-in-law, did you do this?
It's one thing to be greedy for some money, but how dare you do such deadly things?
Lai Da and Lai Da's family now know they are doomed, but they dare not move, hoping that their sincere apology will save their son's life.
Lai Da's son, Lai Shangrong, was also ashen-faced. Before this day, he was the most promising young master of the Lai family, surrounded by beauties, studying hard, and just waiting to donate an official position in the future.
Once he became an official, he planned to change the Lai family's appearance, but everything changed overnight. His father and mother suddenly became like this, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to save his life either.
Lingmiao couldn't understand it at all. She had only just learned that her mother wanted to marry her off to the man who had beaten his wife to death.
Later, the matriarch found out and saved her, saying she would not be allowed to marry. She was happy for only one day, but today she is kneeling in front of this hall.
Lingmiao glared fiercely at Lai Da and Lai Da's family. She had never enjoyed a good life, yet she was to go to the Yellow Springs with them. She was not convinced!
Granny Lai was extremely anxious, but she dared not speak. At this point, it was no longer a matter of saving face or maintaining decorum.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review observed the expressions of the two Dukes and quickly clarified the situation.
They asked the men below if they confessed their crimes. Lai Da kowtowed to Jia Daihua and Jia Daishan, saying:
"Your Excellency, I am entirely at fault, and my child has nothing to do with it. I only beg Your Excellency to have mercy and spare my child's life!"
"And my mother is old, this matter has nothing to do with her. I beg you two dukes, for the sake of what happened before, please spare my mother!"
Granny Lai covered her mouth and couldn't help but cry, and Lai Er's eyes were also full of tears.
Jia Daishan remained silent, while the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review glanced at him and said:
If only I had known then what I know now, I wouldn't have done it in the first place.
When you were doing this, why didn't you think of your elderly mother and children? Now you suddenly remember them.
Lai Dajia silently shed tears, and then, also crying, said:
"It's all our fault, no matter what. My son doesn't know anything!"
Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review:
"Since you two have confessed, what do you think, Your Excellency, would like to do?"
Before he could speak, Jia Daihua interrupted:
"There's no need to ask our opinions; just follow the law."