The next day, the early morning sun shone through the thin clouds on the roof of the Huang family's mansion, but it could not dispel the atmosphere of sadness.

The Huang family was holding a funeral ceremony, white strips of cloth fluttering in the wind, and the sound of bleak music echoed in the air.

The eldest lady stood in front of the mourning hall, her face solemn and cold.

Beside her, several concubines were dressed in plain clothes, their faces haggard, and tears kept falling like beads with broken threads.

"Today, you will leave with the master. It's a family tradition, and it's your honor. The eldest lady's voice was as cold as frost, without the slightest pity.

"Nope! We don't want to die! A concubine cried, her voice full of despair, "Please, eldest lady, let us live!" ”

The other concubines also echoed, and their voices of pleading echoed in the mourning hall, but the eldest lady's expression was not moved in the slightest.

At this moment, the county commander hurried in with a group of people.

The sound of their footsteps echoed in the silence of the morning, as if to challenge the sad scene.

The county commander's eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and he walked straight to the eldest lady and said loudly, "Stop!" The prime minister has an order that no living people are allowed to be buried! It's against the law! ”

The eldest lady's face instantly turned pale, and she looked at the county order in disbelief.

"The master has already taken care of it, why would you object?"

"I am a county magistrate, and I must uphold the dignity of national law!" The voice of the county order was sonorous and powerful, "No matter who it is, you can't disobey the prime minister's order!" ”

At this time, the atmosphere in the mourning hall became tense, and people began to talk about each other.

Some people expressed dissatisfaction with the eldest lady's approach, thinking that she was too cruel; There are also people who applaud the courage and justice of the prefectural order.

The county commander turned to face everyone, and his voice was clear and loud, "Fellow villagers, it is an extremely cruel and inhumane act to accompany the living to be buried. ”

The eldest lady's lips trembled slightly, she obviously did not expect such a change.

She cursed in her heart. This county magistrate accepted the master's things, and actually came to meddle again.

She still tried to argue: "This is our Huang family's family matter, and you have no right to interfere!" ”

"Family affairs cannot go beyond the boundaries of the law!" The county magistrate did not flinch, "I am here today to uphold fairness and justice." ”

"If you have to stop it, I'd rather die here!" The eldest lady said through gritted teeth.

The county magistrate looked at the eldest lady coldly.

"Then you're going to die. You keep saying it's a family tradition, so why don't you go to the funeral yourself? ”

The eldest lady's body trembled slightly, and her tears kept rolling down.

"This ...... It's different......"

"What's the difference?" The voice of the prefectural magistrate became more and more severe, "How cruel and selfish it is that you want to deprive others of their lives for the sake of so-called traditions!" ”

At this time, there was silence in the mourning hall, and everyone was shocked by the words of the county order. They began to wonder if this so-called family tradition was really worth upholding.

"But you received the money from the Huang family, and you once promised the master." The eldest lady said.

At this time, the county magistrate asked his subordinates to bring a box.

"I didn't touch the money your lord gave me. I'll give it back to you now. ”

Jokes, compared to being punished by the joke, this money can't stand anything.

The Great Lady's cry echoed in the air, and her heart was full of contradictions and pain.

The eldest lady looked at the county order with a puzzled face and asked, "What the hell is going on?" Why did you suddenly change your mind? ”

The prefectural commander was silent for a moment, and his eyes turned to the door.

At this moment, a figure slowly walked in.

Xi Yu is dressed in gorgeous costumes and has an extraordinary temperament.

He smiled and showed the token to everyone, solemnly announcing, "I am the prime minister." ”

The Huang family was taken aback, they never expected that the prime minister himself would come.

Seeing this, one of the concubines hurriedly came to Xi Yu and begged with tears in her eyes: "Prime Minister, please be the master of the little girl!" ”

Xi Yu looked at her gently and comforted: "Don't worry, since I am here, I will definitely uphold justice for you." ”

The eldest lady didn't expect Prime Minister Xi Yu to come here in person, her face became very ugly, and she secretly panicked in her heart.

Prime Minister Xi Yu looked around, his eyes serious and determined. He said: "The bad habit of burying the living with them has long been out of fashion. Life is precious, how can it be easily taken away? I am here to put an end to this absurdity. ”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the eldest lady realized that her actions had caused public outrage.

She bowed her head and remained silent, her heart full of remorse.

Prime Minister Xi Yu continued: "From now on, the Huang family should abandon this bad habit, respect life, and follow the law. He looked at the eldest lady, "I hope you will understand that tradition is not immutable. ”

The Grand Lady nodded silently, knowing that she could no longer hold on to her original thoughts.

The arrival of Xi Yu not only changed the fate of the Huang family, but also made them understand the importance of justice and fairness.

Under the auspices of Xi Yu, the funeral ceremony of the Huang family was restarted. There is no tragedy of burial without the living.

This story spread throughout the county, and people praised the wisdom and courage of Prime Minister Xi Yu.

His actions not only saved innocent lives, but also made people see a good official who really thinks about the people.

The county order was in a cold sweat.

Xi Yu and the county magistrate stood in the courtyard and talked solemnly.

Xi Yu looked at the county order with sharp eyes, and said in a firm tone: "County order, the assassin Chen Dagang is still detained in your home. You must hurry up and judge, and I will personally supervise it. ”

The prefectural commander replied respectfully: "Yes, Prime Minister." Xia Guan immediately began to deal with the matter. ”

The county commander turned around and hurried away, Xi Yu quietly looked at his back, and his heart was full of thoughts.

In the hall of the county order, Chen Dagang was brought up. His expression was firm, and he looked at the county order without fear.

The county magistrate patted the shocked wood and said sharply: "Chen Dagang, are you guilty?" ”

Because now there is Xi Yu to support himself, so he is bolder.

Chen Dagang straightened up and replied loudly: "This matter has nothing to do with me!" I was wronged! ”

The county magistrate sneered.

"Humph! The evidence is conclusive, and you still want to deny it? Come on, serve on a large scale".

A hint of anger flashed in Chen Dagang's eyes.

"Torture is not allowed! This is a wronged good man! ”

The prefectural order's face turned gloomy, and he slapped the table hard.

"Bold! Dare to be hard-mouthed! Someone is coming, and the punishment is waiting! ”

At this time, Xi Yu walked into the hall. His presence made everyone nervous.

"Let's call out the witness first." Said jokingly.

The prefectural order then temporarily stopped the use of torture.

Quickly let the killer out.

After a while, the killer appeared.

He immediately knelt down, and his body was already a little better.

The county magistrate then asked: "Do you say that Chen Dagang ordered you to kill the prime minister?" ”

The killer was adamant, and said in a firm tone: "My lord, this is the case, Chen Dagang did hire us to assassinate Prime Minister Xi Yu. ”

Chen Dagang played a scoundrel, he shouted loudly.

"This witness was arranged by the county order, and it doesn't count at all! If you have the ability, you can come up with other evidence! ”

The prefectural commander's face became very ugly.

He glared at Chen Dagang angrily, "You dare to slander this official!" ”

Prime Minister Xi Yu frowned, and he fell into deep thought.

The testimony of this killer, while important, is indeed unconvincing if it is not supported by other evidence.

At this moment, a servant hurriedly walked in, holding a mysterious letter in his hand.

He handed the letter to the prefectural magistrate and said, "My lord, this is a letter I just received, and it seems to be related to this case. ”

The prefectural order opened the letter and read it carefully.

His face gradually became serious, and finally he handed the letter to Prime Minister Xi Yu.

"Prime Minister, take a look."

Xi Yu took the letter, and after reading it, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He looked at Chen Dagang and said in a dignified tone: "Chen Dagang, is the content in this letter related to you?" ”

Chen Dagang's face instantly turned pale, and his body began to tremble.

"This ...... This ......"

Xi Yu said coldly: "The evidence is conclusive, what else do you have to say?" ”

Chen Dagang knew that he could no longer deny it, and he collapsed to the ground, reluctantly admitting his crime.

Prime Minister Xi Yu turned to the county order and said: "A fair trial will not be tolerated." ”

The prefectural commander replied respectfully: "Yes, Prime Minister." ”

It turned out that the letter was a letter written by Liu Long and Chen Dagang to each other.

Although the letters were burned by Chen Dagang this time, the previous letters were preserved.

Xi Yu had already ordered the secret guards to search Chen Dagang's house, and finally found these key evidence. Today, the Dark Guard handed over the letter as a stranger.

In the face of such ironclad evidence, Chen Dagang finally admitted his crime.

He confessed that he and Liu Long had always exchanged letters, because the two were relatives, and Liu Long promised to give him glory and wealth after the matter was completed.

And he always believes that the country must be ruled by the royal people, and Xi Yu's current behavior is simply a chaotic minister and thief.

Xi Yu listened to Chen Dagang's words, and his brows furrowed slightly.

He knows that this kind of thinking is deeply ingrained in the minds of some people.

But his mission is for the benefit of the people, not for personal power struggles.

He looked at Chen Dagang firmly and said: "What I did was not for my own selfishness, but for the sake of the common people in the world. ”

Chen Dagang snorted coldly.

"You're a strong word! Rebellious ministers and thieves will eventually be punished! ”

At this time, the county magistrate interjected: "What the prime minister said is reasonable. Now that the country is in turmoil and the people are struggling to make a living, what we need is a capable person to save this troubled world. ”

Xi Yu's eyes were firm, and he waved his hand to interrupt the words of the county order.

"Needless to say, just sentence according to the law."

The county magistrate replied respectfully: "Yes, Prime Minister." ”

He turned to face Chen Dagang in the hall and announced the verdict loudly.

"Chen Dagang, you hired a murderer, and the crime is extremely heinous. This official sentenced you to the crime of killing your head in accordance with the law! ”

Chen Dagang's face turned pale, and his body trembled involuntarily.

He never imagined that his momentary greed would be exchanged for such a severe punishment.

Xi Yu looked at Chen Dagang and said to the county order: "The judgment will be executed as soon as possible to correct the law of the country." ”

The county commander nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, Prime Minister. The lower officials will arrange it as soon as possible. ”

As Chen Dagang was taken away, the hall fell silent.

Xi Yu decided to continue on the road, and Xiao Cui accompanied him.

The prefectural commander came in person, with a humble smile on his face and a beautiful gift in his hand.

He walked up to Xi Yu, bowed down and said, "Prime Minister, I have been slacking off before, please forgive me." This is a small heart, and it should be my gift of reparation. ”

Xi Yu looked at the county order, shook his head, and said firmly, "I don't need any gifts." As long as you are a good official in this county and work for the well-being of the people, it will be the greatest reward for me. ”

There was a hint of embarrassment on the prefectural order's face, but he quickly regained his smile.

"Yes, the prime minister has taught him a lesson. The subordinate will definitely keep your teachings in mind and be a competent official. ”

Xi Yu nodded.

"I hope you can do what you say."

After speaking, Xi Yu turned around and rode on a horse to continue the journey, and Xiaocui sat on the horse's back.

Xiao Cui asked curiously, "Prime Minister, where are we going next?" ”

Xi Yu replied with a smile: "We are going to Jiangnan and take Wu Guotai to Youzhou." ”

Xiao Cui nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes.

Gangnam, that is a place full of poetry and beauty.

They walked along a winding path lined with lush trees.

A gentle breeze brushes their faces, bringing a burst of fresh air.

Xi Yu tilted his head slightly, feeling the touch of the breeze.

He said softly: "Xiaocui, the land south of the Yangtze River, the scenery is picturesque. We are here not only to pick up Wu Guotai, but also to see that beautiful land. ”

Xiao Cui smiled and said, "My lord, I believe this trip to Jiangnan will be very interesting." ”

Xi Yu's heart swelled with a firm determination, he remembered what Liu Long had done, and understood that he must eradicate this cancer that threatened the country.

At the same time, he also knew very well that in this world of power and strife, there must be other people with bad intentions who tried to kill him.

He gritted his teeth secretly, and his eyes flashed with determination.

"Liu Long, your evil deeds won't succeed for long. I will bring you to justice and bring you to justice. Xi Yu's inner voice revealed unquestionable determination.

"And those enemies who are hiding in the shadows, I will find you one by one and make you pay for your crimes."

In Jiangnan, Wu Guotai's room was filled with a faint fragrance of Buddha. Wu Guotai sat on the couch, holding Buddhist beads, and his eyes revealed a trace of worry.

"Sun Ce, my son." Wu Guotai called softly.

Sun Ce asked, "Mother, what are you calling me?" ”

Wu Guotai smiled slightly.

"I just want to ask, did Sun Quan write a letter here? How has he been? ”

Sun Ce's expression was slightly gloomy.

"Mother, the child did not receive Sun Quan's letter. No news is the best news, though, and he's definitely doing well, so you don't have to worry. ”

Wu Guotai sighed.

"Well, I hope he's doing well."

Sun Ce held Wu Guotai's hand.

"Mother, don't worry. I will send someone to inquire about Sun Quan's news, and I will let you know as soon as I have any news. ”

Wu Guotai smiled slightly.

"I want to go to Youzhou to see Sun Shangxiang, I hope you can arrange it."

Sun Ce's expression was slightly gloomy.

"Mother, you are too old to travel long distances. Moreover, Youzhou is a long way to go, and you may encounter many dangers along the way. ”

Wu Guotai's face changed.

"I miss my daughter very much, if you don't arrange it, it will be unfilial to me!"

Sun Ce's heart ached, he knew his mother's feelings for Sun Shangxiang, but he was also worried that his mother's body couldn't stand the long journey.

"Mother, please rest assured, I will arrange it immediately." Sun Ce decided to fulfill his mother's wish.

Wu Guotai had a relieved smile on his face.

"Okay, okay, then you can step down."

Sun Ce got up, took a deep look at Wu Guotai, and then turned around and left the room.

Outside, the sun was shining, but Sun Ce's heart was heavy.

He knew that this trip to Youzhou might be difficult, but for the sake of his mother, he had to do it.

Sun Ce called Zhuge Jin and asked him to escort Wu Guotai to Youzhou, and Zhuge Jin could also get together with Zhuge Liang by the way.

When Zhuge Jin heard this, he hesitated a little.

He was willing to go over, after all, it was a rare thing to be able to get together with his younger brother Zhuge Liang.

But can Wu Guotai's body stand it?

"Lord, Wu Guotai's body ......," Zhuge Jin couldn't help but speak.

Sun Ce sighed.

"I thought the same thing, but the mother insisted on seeing her daughter. She said she missed Sun Shangxiang and hoped to see her with her own eyes. ”

Zhuge Jin understood Sun Ce's distress, and he knew that Sun Ce was not willing to let Wu Guotai take risks, but he couldn't go against his mother's wishes.

"Okay, my subordinates will do their best to protect Wu Guotai's safety." Zhuge Jin finally agreed.

Sun Ce nodded.

"I'm relieved to have you there. You get ready, and you'll leave tomorrow. ”

Zhuge Jin got up and left, and began to prepare for tomorrow's trip.

Zhuge Jin was also very happy, taking this opportunity to get together with Zhuge Liang, which really made him very happy.

After a while, Sun Ce came to Wu Guotai's room again and said that arrangements had been made.

Tomorrow, let Zhuge Jin take someone to escort his mother to Youzhou.

Wu Guotai said that he was very happy.

"Zhuge Jin is very steady, and I am also very happy to be escorted by him."

Sun Ce smiled slightly.

"Mother, he is indeed a reliable person, and I am relieved to have him by your side this time."

"Mother, do you have any other requests?" Sun Ce asked.

Wu Guotai thought about it.

"No, you've got it all right. As long as I can see Sun Shangxiang, I will be satisfied. ”

"Mother, rest early. I'll have to get up early tomorrow and hurry. ”

Sun Ce exited the room.

Wu Guotai immediately moved the Buddha beads in his hand and began to ask the Buddha to bless him with all the best in his actions tomorrow.

In the room, the smell of incense permeated, and Wu Guotai knelt in front of the Buddha statue, clasped her hands together, and prayed sincerely.

Her eyes were closed, words were in her mouth, and the beads turned gently in her hands, making a crisp sound.

"O Buddha, please bless us with all the best for tomorrow's journey. So that I can reach Youzhou safely and meet my daughter Sun Shangxiang. Wu Guotai's voice was full of earnestness and expectation.

Sun Ce didn't go far, and he also knew that his mother was praying to God and worshiping Buddha, and he also hoped that tomorrow, everything would be smooth for his mother. (End of chapter)