Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 202 Xiao's Importance

Li Ji walked closer quietly.

Looking up, he found that the two parties in the confrontation were Di Renjie, the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, and Xiao Rui of the Lanling Xiao family.

"Shaoqing Di, for gathering a crowd to fight, you should be imprisoned in Wannian County for three days at most. Now it has been brought to the Dali Temple, and not only has he been detained for the fourth day, may I ask which law of our Tang Dynasty is this?" Xiao Rui asked with a serious face.

"This is not an ordinary fight. Two people died. Naturally, we have to be more cautious." The answer came from Li Yuanfang who was beside Di Renjie.

Xiao Rui said sternly, "The one who died was a servant of my Xiao Mansion. My Xiao Mansion didn't pursue the matter, so why are you so persistent in pursuing him?"

Xiao Rui was the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, with the same rank as Ren Yaxiang, and one level higher than Di Renjie.

Di Renjie didn't want to offend him too much, so he coughed and said, "Xiao Siqing, the current situation is that someone else has accused Xiao Shu, so he can't be released for the time being."

Xiao Rui said, "I know you're talking about that Suzhou guy. Let me ask you, does he have any evidence to prove he's accusing someone from the Xiao family?"

Di Renjie said in a deep voice: "This involves the details of the case, please forgive me for not being able to tell you!"

Xiao Rui said coldly, "If there's no evidence, then it's just empty talk. You're imprisoning someone in Dali Prison based on just a few words. Is this how you handle cases?"

Di Renjie lowered his head and said nothing.

Xiao Rui laughed in anger and said, "Di Renjie, are you relying on the favor of the Saint to make things difficult for my Xiao family?"

Di Renjie said, "I have absolutely no intention of making things difficult for the Xiao family."

Xiao Rui said, "Then show me the evidence. As long as you have the evidence, I will not interfere with whatever you want to do with Xiao Shu. Is this request not too much?"

Di Renjie fell silent again.

Xiao Rui took a breath and said, "How about this? Let me meet that Suzhou guy. I want to have a few words with him face to face. Is that okay?"

Di Renjie said, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you see him for the time being."

Xiao Rui said angrily, "Di Renjie, how can you convince others by handling cases like this?"

Di Renjie bowed and said, "Xiao Siqing, please go back for now. The innocent will be innocent. As long as Xiao Shu is truly innocent, why are you so nervous?"

Xiao Rui shouted angrily, "You arrested someone from my Xiao clan for no reason. You even stepped on my face, and yet you're asking me why I'm so nervous?"

Di Renjie bowed deeply and said, "If there are any mistakes or omissions in this case, I will personally go to the Xiao Mansion to apologize in the future!"

Xiao Rui stared at him for a long time, then he sneered and said, "Di Renjie, things are unpredictable, let's just wait and see." He strode away with his men.

After he and his men walked away, Li Yuanfang snorted, "This case is really frustrating. Di Shaoqing, do those Suzhou people really have no evidence?"

Di Renjie said, "Yes."

Li Yuanfang was stunned and asked, "Then why didn't you tell Xiao Rui just now?"

Di Renjie whispered, "This case is extremely complicated. If Xiao Rui knew he had evidence, I'm worried something might happen."

Li Yuanfang's heart trembled, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you afraid that they will kill you to silence you?"

Di Renjie was about to answer when he suddenly turned his head and looked at Li Ji in the corridor.

Di Renjie had met Li Ji before, so he quickly walked over and bowed, saying, "I am Di Renjie, your humble servant, greeting the King of Wu."

Li Ji quickly returned the greeting and said, "You don't have to be so polite, Mr. Di. I'm here to see Li Jingye. I wonder if you can let me in?"

Di Renjie said, "Of course, Your Highness, please."

In the evening, the cold wind blew, and the dead branches outside the Xin Mansion swayed in the wind.

A carriage arrived outside Xin's mansion in the moonlight. Xiao Siye got off the carriage and went outside the door to deliver the message.

After a while, he was invited in and taken to the study in Xin Mansion.

As soon as he entered the room, he could smell the aroma of tea. Xin Maojiang was sitting behind a low table, making tea and waiting for him.

"Minister Xiao, please take a seat."

Xiao Siye sat down on the mat opposite him, silently watching him make tea, and sighed deeply.

General Xin Mao laughed and asked, "Why is Minister Xiao sighing?"

Xiao Siye said softly, "Every time I come here, Prime Minister Xin always looks relaxed and at ease. I feel both envious and a little apologetic."

General Xin Mao was silent for a long time, then sighed softly and said, "Minister Xiao, you are too kind. I, Xin, also have ambitions in my heart, but it is difficult to realize them, so I have to take a break."

After a pause, he asked, "Minister Xiao just mentioned apology. I wonder where to start?" and handed over a cup of brewed tea.

Xiao Siye took the teacup, held it in his palm, and said slowly, "I dare not hide it from you. I came to see you this time because I have something to ask of you."

Xin Mao blew the hot air from the cup and said lightly: "Is it about Xiao Shu's matter?" "You heard about it too?" Xiao Siye looked up at him.

Xin Maojiang smiled and said, "After all, I served as the Minister of Justice at the Dali Temple for several years. How could I not know about such a big incident at the Dali Temple?"

Xiao Siye gave a wry smile and said, "Xiao Rui acted recklessly. I was unable to restrain him, and I feel deeply ashamed."

General Xin Mao said slowly, "Minister Xiao, do you know that his actions will only make people more suspicious of the murder case in Shijiazhuang?"

Xiao Siye hurriedly said, "Prime Minister Xin, the incident at Shijiazhuang was indeed a tragedy, but it was not caused by my Xiao family."

"Oh, how did you know?"

Xiao Siye said solemnly, "I have served on the frontier for a long time, so I don't know much about the affairs of my clan. However, I have asked five elders, all of whom are highly respected. They have personally assured me that this was not the work of the Xiao family."

General Xin Mao said, "So, it's all groundless?"

Xiao Siye sighed, "It's because the Shi Family Manor's land happened to be sandwiched between two plots of land owned by my Xiao family. Afterwards, those lands were bought by the Xiao family, and some people with bad intentions said that those thieves were people hired by the Xiao family to impersonate them."

Xin Maojiang took a sip of tea and said nothing.

"You don't believe me?" Xiao Siye said in a deep voice.

General Xin Mao slowly said, "Minister Xiao, let me propose a hypothesis. If this incident was truly committed by a reckless individual within the Xiao clan, what would be the consequences?"

Xiao Siye was stunned for a moment, his face pale, and said, "Hundreds of lives have been lost. If this is confirmed, I'm afraid the Xiao family will be finished."

General Xin Mao said in a low voice, "If you were an elder of the Xiao clan, would you admit this?"

Xiao Siye lowered his head and said nothing.

After a long moment, he finally raised his head, stared at General Xin Mao, and said, "Prime Minister Xin, I know this request may be a bit excessive, but I still ask you to lend a helping hand to the Xiao family!"

General Xin Mao smiled bitterly and said, "As the head of the Xiao clan, I don't blame you for making this choice. But I'm no longer the Supreme Court Justice. How can I help you?"

Xiao Siye said in a deep voice, "Please ask Prime Minister Xin to help me lobby Di Renjie and ask him to show some mercy."

General Xin Mao said slowly, "I know Di Renjie's character very well. He never takes personal feelings into account when doing things. I'm afraid it will be difficult to persuade him successfully."

"Go ahead and persuade him. Xiao still has some follow-up measures. Ask him to let this go."

Xin Maojiang was silent for a long time, took a deep breath, and said, "Okay, then I'll go for you."

Since Di Renjie started investigating Xiao Shu, he has encountered many obstacles. Not only did the Ministry of Justice make things difficult for him, but people from the two provinces also came and secretly put pressure on him.

Even his immediate superior, Ren Yaxiang, had an ambiguous attitude and was unwilling to get involved in the Xiao family's affairs.

The officials in the Dali Temple also kept their distance from him, intentionally or unintentionally. As long as it involved Xiao Shu's affairs, the temple secretary and the temple director would all stay away and were unwilling to have any connection with him.

There was only Li Yuanfang by his side who silently supported him.

This was not the first time Di Renjie tried a major case.

However, what was different from the past was that he always had the emperor's support behind him, so he could move forward unhindered and get straight to the heart of the case.

This time, no one supported him, and he finally felt the weight of the aristocratic family.

"Shaoqing Di, why don't you report this matter to His Majesty?" Shaoqing's son, Li Yuanfang, looked at the dazed Di Renjie and persuaded him.

Di Renjie shook his head and said, "This case was not personally commissioned by His Majesty. It is just an ordinary case in the Dali Temple. According to the regulations, even if it is reported to the Supreme Court, it should be handled by the Minister of the Temple, Ren. I do not have that authority."

Li Yuanfang frowned and said, "Xiao Siye is the Minister of War, and Xiao Rui is the Minister of the Imperial Household. If we just rely on you and me, I'm afraid it will be difficult to investigate further."

Di Renjie said solemnly, "They can only hinder the process and will never dare to interfere with the Dali Temple's right to adjudicate cases. Keep investigating and you will eventually find the truth."

Li Yuanfang said, "You said the clues Shi Ming provided were not enough. Why don't I go to Suzhou myself? I'll definitely be able to find some more clues."

Di Renjie pondered in silence.

It has been several years since the case was solved, and with the power of the Xiao family, it is very likely that all clues have been cut off.

If we want to make a breakthrough right now, the best choice is Xiao Shu. We have to try to trick him into speaking.

"Yuan Fang, let's go see Xiao Shu again."

"it is good."

The two men left the Shaoqing Yamen and headed towards the Dali Prison.

As they were walking, Yuan Si Cheng came quickly from the distant corridor, bowed to Di Renjie, and said with a smile: "Di Shaoqing, Prime Minister Xin is here to inspect the Dali Temple. I want you to go over and see him."

Di Renjie's heart trembled, and he bowed and said, "Yes."

(End of this chapter)