Sun Yongcheng stayed in Qingping County for more than half a month, sorted out the county order Li Weiwei's corruption, bribery, wealth and murder, and escorted a group of criminals back to the capital after Emperor Ming received the order. According to the practice of officialdom, it is necessary to communicate with higher-level officials before or after the investigation of similar cases, and Sun Yongcheng was worried about startling the snake, so he has not known the prefect of Hoi An Lu. The prefect of Anlu also knew about it, and did not interfere in the process of Sun Yongcheng's trial in order to avoid suspicion. So, until now, the Anlu prefect doesn't seem to know that any officials under his rule have been investigated. Therefore, this time to send Li Weiwei back to Beijing, Sun Yongcheng decided to make a detour to Anlu Mansion and the prefect Zhou Wudao to clarify the situation and avoid forming grudges that are difficult to resolve.

On a morning in the early summer of the twenty-fourth year of Jianping, the sun had risen very high, and the light rain that had fallen last night was transpired by the sunlight and caused the heat to rise. A rather large team walked slowly on the official road from Qingping County to Anlu Mansion, looking like a long dragon from a distance. Take a closer look, there are dozens of officials in front of them, some people are playing the royal flag, Shandong Daoyu Shisun, evasion and other signs, and some people are banging on the gong nine times; Later, there was a green tweed sedan chair carried by four people, and the sedan chair driver took the time to wipe the sweat from his forehead while stepping on heavy steps; Finally, dozens of officials escorted three prisoner vans and nearly a dozen prisoners wearing wooden shackles and chains on foot.

Near noon, Sun Yongcheng, who was sitting in a sedan chair, ordered to stop in the shade on the side of the road and rest for an hour. The sedan chair was stopped, and immediately a serving family member brought a chair and a small table, and then made a pot of tea. Sun Yongcheng sat on the chair, took a sip of his teacup, and looked at the looming mountains and the dense woods around him, because the irritability caused by the humid and stuffy air was also reduced a lot. At this time, the official who was in charge of exploring the road in front came over and said: "My lord, the first twenty miles will be to Anlu Mansion, and Lord Zhou, the prefect of Anlu, has already sent Master Huang and Master Qian to wait in front. ”

Sun Yongcheng put down the teacup and nodded, secretly thinking to himself: "It seems that Zhou Wudao, the prefect of Anlu, is still a little dissatisfied with this official!" It's no wonder that no matter which of Shangguan's subordinates is arrested quietly, but he is kept in the dark, it is estimated that he will be a little unhappy. Thinking of this, he shook his head and smiled bitterly, laughing at himself a few words by the way. It's hard to be an official! If you want to do everything, it will always be difficult to maintain your body and mind in the end. I have long understood, but it is precisely because I understand it too well that I have not been able to rise over the years, so I can only circle in the Yushitai. Maybe I'm going to die in the Imperial Observatory in this life! ”

As night fell, Sun Yongcheng and his entourage lived in the post station under the guidance of Master Qian. After putting a cadre of prisoners in prison and handling relevant affairs, Huang Bingwen and Master Qian, the Tongzhi of Anlu Mansion, said goodbye to Sun Yong. Master Qian said: "Master Sun, Lord Zhou, the prefect of the Mansion, has been in poor health these days, and he couldn't go to greet him today, please forgive me!" Lord Zhou explained that he would come to see Lord Sun when he could get up tomorrow. After listening to Huang Bingwen next to him, he smiled and nodded. Although he has a lot of disagreements with the prefect Zhou Wudao on weekdays, he will not take the opportunity to play in this situation.

Sun Yongcheng hurriedly said: "Lord Zhou, take care of your body." All things in Anlu Mansion are cumbersome, and they all depend on the deployment of Lord Zhou. As a latecomer, this official should take the initiative to meet his seniors. He knew that Zhou Wudao was a jinshi in the first year of Jianping, so he said that he was the last to learn and the latter to advance, trying to eliminate the other party's mustard through the mouth of Master Qian.

Sure enough, the smile on Master Qian's face deepened after hearing this, and he hurriedly praised Sun Yongcheng, and then conveyed the meaning of the prefect that Lord Sun could order at any time if he had something, and Anlu Mansion would definitely cooperate.

When Master Qian returned to the backyard of the mansion, it was already the end of the day, and he knew that the proprietor must still be waiting for news, so he hurriedly walked towards the study where the lights were still on.

Zhou Wudao was sitting at the desk holding a book and reading, and asked without raising his head: "What did Sun Yongcheng, the imperial history of Shandong Dao, say?" ”

"Back to the proprietor, Lord Sun didn't say anything special, but just said that he would go backward after learning, and asked his subordinates to tell him to take care of his health." While thinking about the wording, Master Qian tried his best to restore the situation at that time. "The proprietor, judging from the following, Lord Sun put his posture very low, he should know that it was a bit reckless to deal with the affairs of Qingping County, so he came here this time to clear up the misunderstanding."

"Oh? It doesn't seem to be a Beacon Hill-esque figure either. Zhou Wudao put down the book in his hand and said with interest. He has been an official for more than 20 years, and he has seen all kinds of officials, but he does not want to provoke "Beacon Hill". This kind of person is like a stone in a pit - smelly and hard, not only does he not admit death and make people unable to get off the stage, but he also has no desire and no desire for people to grasp. If you really want to meet such a colleague, you will be stuck in your throat, unable to spit out or swallow.

Master Qian thought about today's contact with Yushi Sun Yongcheng, and said slowly: "My subordinates also think so, Master Sun seems to be a skilled person, and it is not difficult to get along with. ”

Zhou Wudao thought about it, suddenly frowned, and ordered: "Well, there is one more thing that you need to do." Li Weiwei is imprisoned in the government prison, you go over to probe his mouth, and tell him that since he has been planted, he should be honest, and this official can take care of his family for him. ”

"Yes, proprietor. Subordinates know how to deal with it. After Master Qian finished speaking, he withdrew from the study, walked out of the backyard slowly, and after thinking clearly about what to say to Li Weiwei, he hurried to the government prison. When he arrived near the government prison, Master Qian first asked the cell boss to call out. "What happened to the guards who came with Lord Goshi?"

Liu Datao, the cell leader who was thin and small, had two moustaches, and had a very obscene smile, said flatteringly: "Master Qian, don't worry! Those errands have long since been overthrown by the villains. The jailers under the villain were all quite enthusiastic, and the gods couldn't hold on to ten bowls of eight bowls of sorghum wine. Don't look at this person's flattery in front of Master Qian, he is also famous in front of the prisoners, and he scrapes the money to make the prisoners feel that it is better to die early, so it is called "leaving cloth strips", that is, the profane pants will be cut off two feet.

Master Qian nodded and followed the cell boss Liu Datao into the prison, and sure enough, he saw a few errand servants lying on the wine table and the ground, and the remaining few were also drunk. "You stay here with a few of them, and don't let anyone in."

"Yes, Master Qian, don't worry." Liu Datao was not surprised by this situation, and immediately beckoned several other jailers who were not drunk to continue drinking.

Master Qian walked to the innermost part of the cell, and saw that Li Weiwei, who was the main prisoner, was locked up alone in Tianzi No. 1 room, and there were no other prisoners around. Li Weiwei turned sideways and glanced at Master Qian as if he was not surprised, and then turned his body inside without speaking.

"Li Weiwei, do you have anything to say?" Master Qian said softly.

After a while, there was a voice of voice in the cell. "Master Qian, I should ask you this sentence. Does Lord Zhou have anything to explain? ”

"Since you have planted it, you must be honest and don't talk nonsense, so as not to disturb others."

Li Weiwei let out a hehe laugh, and then said, "Master Qian, did Lord Zhou let you say this?" If nothing else, I'm going to rest. ”

Seeing that Li Weiwei was not on the road, Master Qian said gloomily: "Li Weiwei, don't you still know your situation?" Even if you don't think about yourself, think about your family. ”

Li Weiwei stood up when he heard this, and said in a dumb voice: "What situation do you make me clear?" In the past few years, my filial piety to Lord Zhou has not been less than a penny of silver every year. Now that I've had an accident, he's ready to get rid of it? How can there be such a good thing in the world! ”

Master Qian suddenly became angry, and said hatefully: "Li Weiwei, the thing you committed is too big, and Lord Zhou can't protect you." If you keep your mouth shut, your family will be happy and healthy for the rest of your life. Besides, even if you can't control your mouth, how many drops of dirty water can you pour on Lord Zhou? I advise you not to be ignorant. ”

Li Weiwei laughed and said casually, "Oh, is it? I forgot to tell you that I have a habit of keeping accounts every time I give a gift to someone. If someone else sees it, it will be too bad! After speaking, he no longer looked at Master Qian's angry face, and directly lay down and fell asleep, completely ignoring whether anyone would have sleepless nights tonight.