Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 412 Scheming
Xia Ziqiao, unable to contain his excitement, waved to the yamen runner beside him.

The constables immediately moved closer.

Xia Ziqiao said in a low voice, "Go and get me some wine."

The constable smiled obsequiously, "Young master, why don't you wait a little longer? It's not time to close the office yet, and there will inevitably be more people coming and going. If someone notices..."

"What are you afraid of?" Xia Ziqiao's face immediately darkened. "You use a water bag to carry it, who will know? This house isn't going to let just anyone barge in. If you do it well, you'll get your reward."

Seeing this, the constable dared not persuade him any further and could only bow and say, "Then... I'll go now."

Xia Ziqiao waved his hand: "Don't forget to tell Weng Yi that I definitely have to go home tonight."

The constable responded again, then turned and ran out.

"Erlang," Xia Ziqiao patted the person next to him, "You've been standing for so long, come and rest for a bit."

Xie Chengrang didn't move; instead, he narrowed his eyes.

In the corner, two old yamen runners were slacking off. They had prepared some food and were chatting as they ate. But just now, they exchanged a few words with the yamen runners who came running over, then packed up their food and left in a hurry.

The old yamen runners were the best at reading the wind; they'd all left, something must have happened.

Xie Chengrang felt a tightness in his chest. He turned to look at Xia Ziqiao and said, "I'll go to the prison and ask. If we can leave, we should take you away as soon as possible. It's getting colder and colder, and you can't afford to get cold with your injuries."

Xia Ziqiao felt a warmth in his heart. It was thanks to Erlang's help that he could have suffered even more today.

Xie Chengrang didn't delay and strode outside.

Leaving the courtyard, Xie Chengrang's expression became even more serious. He first cautiously looked around, then strode towards the prison. There were quite a few people coming and going, which was not surprising, as there were already many suspects being escorted in this case, and the yamen runners and clerks were inevitably busy handling the affairs.

But he saw soldiers among them.

Xie Chengrang stopped and hid in a corner. Immediately afterward, he saw a group of people coming towards him. The yamen runners from the Ministry of Justice made way for them. The next moment, Xie Chengrang saw two figures at the prison exit. One was Xu Huaiyi, and the other was Cai Zheng, an official from the Court of Judicial Review. He had seen Cai Zheng at the banquet.

Sure enough, something happened.

Xie Chengrang went to the prison not for Xia Ziqiao, but simply to find an excuse to go out alone.

Seeing that the situation was not right, and that it would be too troublesome to persuade Xia Ziqiao, and that Xia Ziqiao's mobility issues would be a burden, he had no choice but to leave Xia Ziqiao behind.

Xie Chengrang held his breath and hid well, watching as Xu Huaiyi and Cai Zheng headed straight for the small courtyard, indeed for Xia Ziqiao.

Once everyone had gone far away, Xie Chengrang came out and hurried towards the prison. There must be empty cells in the prison; as long as he went in, he wouldn't be put in the spotlight.

……

Xia Ziqiao popped a piece of dried fruit into his mouth, then closed his eyes to rest listlessly. He vaguely heard footsteps and lazily called out, "Finally back..." He raised his eyes as he spoke, then his voice stopped abruptly.

Xia Ziqiao frowned, staring at Xu Huaiyi as if in disbelief.

Wasn't Xu Huaiyi locked up? How come he's standing in front of him again?
Xu Huaiyi didn't speak, and Cai Zheng looked at the food on the table.

“Xia Wulang, you’re living a very comfortable life. It’s rare to have such a sheltered place behind the Ministry of Justice’s prison,” Cai Zheng said with a smile. “It seems I should also talk to the Dali Temple. The duty room can’t just have a charcoal brazier.”

Xia Ziqiao wanted to speak, but just as she sat up, she saw Cai Zheng say sternly, "A suspect, actually got out of jail and is lying here eating and drinking."

"How can the laws of the Great Liang make such a blunder?"

Upon seeing this, the yamen runners in the courtyard knelt on the ground: "Sir, this was ordered by Lord Weng, and it has nothing to do with us." Xia Ziqiao was startled by the scene before him and it took him a while to come to his senses. He looked at Cai Zheng: "This case has nothing to do with us. We were just traveling on the Bian River on the Zhou family's boat when we happened to meet Steward Li. Lord Weng inquired about the case and then asked me to come and apply medicine to the wounds."

Xia Ziqiao, though pampered by his usual life, was not stupid. Seeing this situation, he naturally guessed that something had gone wrong and dared not intimidate others with his arrogance. However, Cai Zheng was clearly not going to let him off the hook, so he ordered the yamen runners and guards: "Take Fifth Young Master Xia to the Dali Temple safely, and take everything in this house with you, so that Fifth Young Master will not suffer any injustice."

Xia Ziqiao's expression immediately changed.

If this were to become known, it would likely implicate her father. Thinking this, Xia Ziqiao disregarded the pain in her buttocks and hurriedly got up: "I am not an official of the imperial court, and besides, this case doesn't involve much. Why should I go to the Dali Temple?"

Cai Zheng smiled enigmatically. Xia Shangshu's youngest son was truly spoiled. If his elder brother were here, he certainly wouldn't have asked such a question.

"Or, shall Xia Wulang go and ask the Emperor?"

Xia Ziqiao felt a chill run down his spine. He wanted to speak again to persuade the two men to make an exception, but he knew it would be useless. These two men might be after the Xia family and wanted to use him to drag his father down with them. How could he let them go with just a few words?

Xu Huaiyi looked into the room: "Where is Xie Chengrang?"

Xia Ziqiao felt a surge of relief; thankfully Xie Erlang had left, otherwise he would have been implicated.

Xia Ziqiao said, "I was sent here to treat my injuries, while Xie Erlang is naturally in prison." Since something happened at this time, he would naturally take full responsibility.

Cai Zheng frowned. They clearly hadn't seen Xie Chengrang in the prison. He glanced at the yamen runner beside him, who understood and quickly sent someone to check the prison.

Cai Zheng and Xu Huaiyi did not delay and had soldiers escort Xia Ziqiao to the Dali Temple.

The two guards didn't delay and escorted Xia Ziqiao out, along with a group of clerks and yamen runners.

Upon seeing Xia Ziqiao, the clerk stepped forward and whispered, "Fifth Master, please be patient for now and do not resist any further. This case has blown up... I've heard that it involves the Cining Palace..."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ziqiao shuddered and froze.

How did the Cining Palace incident end up in front of the Empress Dowager?

No wonder the Dali Temple took over the case.

How could he have imagined that watching the Zhou and Guo family fleets fight on the Bian River would escalate to this point?
If only I had known, I should have asked about it on the Bian River before letting the Zhou family's fleet make a move.

Even if he was taken to the Ministry of Justice, he should have explained the whole story to Xu Huaiyi as soon as possible.

One wrong step leads to another, bringing a whole host of trouble. Now, if he says he has nothing to do with this, probably no one will easily believe him.

……

the other side.

Cai Zheng looked at the bailiff: "Is he really in prison?"

The constable nodded: "I don't know when he went back. He even asked the clerk for paper and pen, wanting to write down everything that happened today as documentary evidence."

Cai Zheng dismissed the yamen runners and looked at Xu Huaiyi: "The young master of the Xie family does have some cunning."

Xia Ziqiao was intentionally protecting Xie Chengrang, and since they hadn't caught him red-handed, the documents we submitted could only emphasize Xia Ziqiao.

Xu Huaiyi said, "If he really is related to the demonic sect, he can't escape it. We can take his documents immediately."

If Xie Chengrang tells the truth, it will contradict the testimony that Weng Yi obtained, thus confirming Weng Yi's guilt.

There will be more at night