Early in the morning, when it was still bright, the Wu family's carriage came to pick it up, and the Zhuang family packed up early and sat in the gatehouse, waiting for the Wu family's carriage.

Seeing the Wu family's carriage stopped in front of the door, Zhuang hurriedly urged, "Quick, take all the plasters, where is the food box?" What about the wine, is it filled with wine? ”

"It's all packed." The maid on the side helped Zhuang to get into the carriage and said respectfully.

Second Master Wu looked at the Zhuang family helplessly, and said in a somewhat heavy tone: "Sister-in-law, how can you not say hello to your family if you want to come to the capital!" In case you make a mistake, how do you want me to explain it to my eldest brother? ”

The Zhuang family has always been the image of a well-behaved grandmother, but now she has done this incredible thing, "Second brother, I am also forced to 。。。。。。 Zhuang lifted the curtain and said in a somewhat sorry tone, "I'm sorry for your trouble." ”

"I can understand your feelings, fortunately, sister-in-law, you arrived in Beijing safely, it's okay, meet your eldest brother, you can rest assured." Second Master Wu comforted the Zhuang family, and seeing that everything was ready, he raised his hand and motioned for the groom to set off.

Passing through the bustling street market in the capital, the streets are crowded with pedestrians, monkey shows, rouge gouache sellers, all kinds of shouting sounds, the sound of carriages and horses into the carriage, Zhuang just pinched the handkerchief, hoping that the carriage could go faster, and I can't wait to see the master immediately.

The more the carriage went inside, the more sparsely pedestrians became, and the sparsely walked were patrolling officers, and Zhuang's mood became heavy, tightly twisting the veil, and the uneasy mood permeated the carriage.

The carriage of the Wu family stopped and walked, bypassing the official road, and after a while, they came to the door of the prison of the Criminal Department, Zhuang put on a hat, and the second master of Wu stepped forward to stuff a bag of silver into the messenger guarding the prison, and flattered: "We are here to see Wu Boyong, this is a letter from Master Li, the waiter of the Criminal Department, the little brother is convenient, this is not a respect, please and your brothers take it to buy some wine to drink." ”

The messenger swept the silver taels, quietly stuffed them into his sleeves, and signaled for release, "Go in, at most a stick of incense." ”

"Thank you, thank you." Second Master Wu thanked him, and Zhuang hurriedly followed.

I went all the way down into the prison, and the more I went inside, the more dim the candle flame became, and there was a shouting and scolding sound from the deep prison, and the dull sound of sticks was mixed with the slightest moan, "I was wronged。。。。。 I'm going out。。。。。。 ”

Hearing Zhuang's heart palpitations, he didn't dare to make a sound, the jailer took Zhuang and his party all the way down to the innermost cell door, knocked on the prison door, "Wu Boyong, someone came to see you." There was no reaction in the prison, and the jailer turned his head to Wu Erye and said, "If you have anything to say, hurry up." ”

Second Master Wu's face turned pale, and he said continuously, "Yes, yes。。。。。。 ”

"Old man。。。。。。"

"Big Brother 。。。。。。" Zhuang and Wu Erye shouted anxiously inside.

In the cell, Wu Boyong sat on the ground with his back to the cell door, looking at the narrow and small light-through window, and slowly turned his head when he heard the voice.

Zhuang was taken aback, she had never seen such a Wu Boyong, the former master of the Wu family was gentle and elegant, and heroic. Now his hair is disheveled, his face is haggard, and his eyes are blank, like a walking corpse!

Zhuang cried bitterly, "Master, master, what's wrong with you?" These people, they tortured you?! ”

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law! Don't cry, say it's important. Seeing this, Second Master Wu hurriedly looked around and helped the Zhuang family, for fear of alarming the jailer.

Zhuang Shi endured his sorrow, opened the food box, and trembled into the prison door, "Master, the top layer of the food box is your favorite side dishes, as well as our Yangzhou five elixir, and at the bottom of the food box are some plasters", and opened the baggage, took out the clothes and handed them in, "This is a change of clothes." ”

Wu Boyong didn't react, and he didn't reach out to take it, so he let Zhuang put the food box on the dirty muddy floor.

"Master, for the sake of the Wu family, for me, for Yuan Niang, you have to live, lord, you can't be discouraged。。。。。。" Seeing Wu Boyong's somewhat stupid appearance, Zhuang slammed on the cell door, wanting Wu Boyong to take a look at her.

Hearing the words Yuan Niang, Wu Boyong seemed to have a little vitality, and silently shed tears, "My Yuan Niang, I should be able to call my father。。。。。。 It's a pity that my father can't grow up with her, and I can't see the day when Yuan Niang gets married. Wu Boyong opened the wine, raised the wine jug and drank it all.

"Big brother, we will find a way to get you out, don't worry. Brother Zhuang has already gone to do something. Second Master Wu watched the high-spirited eldest brother in the past become what he is today, and quietly wiped away his tears.

"It's useless, don't waste it, from the day I was imprisoned, I knew exactly what was going to happen to me." Wu Boyong said hatefully, "These bloodsuckers won't let go if they don't squeeze our Wu family clean." ”

"No, I'll figure it out, big brother! I have already made it clear that the two Huai salt transport envoys are willing to sacrifice the Wu family's property. Second Master Wu gritted his teeth, "If they are just asking for money, then give it to them!" The life of ordinary people can be lived by our family. ”

Wu Boyong laughed at the second brother for being so simple-minded, and shook his head, "If it's as simple as just asking for money, I will immediately donate all the family property in the middle court to buy my life without saying a word, it's much simpler, I'm afraid that others want more than you think." ”

There is also a speculation that Wu Boyong did not dare to tell the second brother, but he was afraid that the adults in the imperial court wanted the Wu family to be their money bag, which was inexhaustible。。。。。。

Wu Boyong looked at Second Master Wu worriedly, grabbed the prison door tightly with both hands, and whispered in a low voice, "Second brother, you leave Yangzhou with the whole family, the farther away the better, don't be a salt merchant anymore, don't deal with the government anymore." Let's go, leave me alone, and go as far as possible. ”

Second Master Wu looked at Wu Boyong in horror, he couldn't believe it, did he want him to leave behind the Wu family's century-old reputation? Big brother, what's wrong? The Wu family has been working hard for generations, and it is not easy for them to develop from a salt dealer to today's Lianghuai salt industry general merchant.

If he really did this, how could he be worthy of the ancestors of the Wu family, and how could he be worthy of his father! The foundation of the Wu family cannot be defeated in his hands!

Seeing the second brother's hesitation, Wu Boyong said eagerly, "It's important to save your life, I'm just afraid that the Wu family's century-old foundation will not be defeated by you and me in the end, but will change the surname of someone else, do you understand?!" You are my own brother, I would rather die than be someone else's puppet! ”

Second Master Wu was a little stunned when he heard this, how could the Wu family have someone else's surname, and comforted, "Big brother, don't think nonsense, it's not the first time I've done business, how could I be someone else's puppet." Rest assured, we will get you out. ”

The jailer on the side knocked on the cell door and urged, "It's time, let's go." ”

Zhuang hurriedly instructed: "Master, you must take care of yourself." We'll definitely figure it out. Putting on the hat, the Zhuang family followed closely behind Second Master Wu, looking back as he walked.

Wu Boyong pulled the cell door with both hands, looking at the Zhuang family and his party going farther and farther, with a heavy heart, it seemed that the second brother did not take his words to heart, so he could only resign himself to fate.