RPAGF Chapter 302 Preparing to Return to the Capital
Chapter 302 Preparing to Return to the Capital
The suffering that Wei Jianye brought to the people after ascending the throne was far more than this.
One month later
Wei Jianning was sitting inside the hall drinking tea, and Lan Zhi was taking a patient's pulse when Nie Yuan rushed in and shouted:
"Sir, something happened."
Wei Jianning's brows furrowed instantly, and he asked:
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"
"Lord Han... Lord Han's home has been raided, and his entire family is to be taken to the capital for trial. They are already on the prison cart."
"what?"
Wei Jianning stood up from his seat, looking at Nie Yuan with a face full of astonishment.
"Who came to search our house? What crime has Lord Han committed?"
"People from the capital heard that the Emperor had decreed that all county magistrates who hadn't raised enough silver for the court's allocation were to be escorted to the capital for trial, and that new magistrates had already taken office..."
Yuan Tianxiong, who was selling medicine over there, strode over, waving his arms and angrily shouting:
"His Majesty clearly intends to carry out a major reshuffle in the Northern Wei Kingdom. I didn't expect him to even spare a minor county magistrate. And regardless of whether the previous magistrate was honest or corrupt, he is truly ruthless in his actions."
At this moment, several patients who had come to buy medicine gathered around and angrily echoed their sentiments:
"This damned emperor not only makes life impossible for us common people, but he even targets a good official like Lord Han!"
"Yes! Since Lord Han came to Quancheng, he has never made things difficult for the people. Some families couldn't pay their taxes, so he paid for them out of his own pocket. Some families didn't have enough to eat, so he gave them the food he had saved. He is a good official who serves the people. Why should the court punish him without cause? That dog emperor, that tyrant..."
Seeing this, another person quickly spoke up to stop them.
"What you two have said is something that everyone in Quancheng and even the entire Northern Wei Kingdom wants to say, but no one dares to utter it. You must be careful what you say!"
"Ugh!"
After shaking their heads and sighing, those people said one after another:
"Let's go, let's see Lord Han off!"
As they talked, the group left Ning's Medical Clinic together. Wei Jianning, however, seemed not to have reacted and stared blankly at their backs, unsure of what to say.
Lan Zhi took out a veiled hat from inside and handed it to him.
"My lord, go and see Lord Han off. After all, we have known each other for a while."
Unsure of who the person from the capital was, she took out her veil and put it on to avoid being recognized, and then looked for Wei Jianning.
Wei Jianning took the veil from her hand, put it on as he walked outside, his eyes filled with anger and his heart with hatred.
Lan Zhi followed beside him, reminding him as they walked:
"My lord, please don't get excited later. If our identities are exposed, it won't do us any good."
"I know that if I, Ning Jianwei, want to become like Wei Jianning, I must tear the sky down in the Northern Wei Kingdom."
From his expression, Lan Zhi sensed that their peaceful days were coming to an end.
When they arrived at the government office, they saw Lord Han, his wife, and their teenage children locked in a prison cart. Many people from the surrounding area saw them off and brought them food and drink, but the guards from the capital impatiently drove them away.
"Make way, we should get going."
"Get out of the way, get out of the way!"
Seeing the prison cart about to leave, Wei Jianning snatched two steamed buns from the people around him, quickly walked to the cart, and while stuffing the buns into Lord Han's hand, whispered:
"Lord Han."
When Lord Han saw him, he sighed helplessly.
"Manager Ning, I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Quancheng from now on. You all... are you alright?"
He leaned closer to the prison van and whispered a reminder.
"Lord Han, remember what I said, live well, and there will always be someone to support you."
Lord Han laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Don't try to comfort me. I'm not the only one being escorted to the capital this time. Who can stand up for us? Unless a god descends to earth. Besides, the Emperor went to such lengths to bring us to the capital; he must be trying to make an example of us, to deter the people of Northern Wei from underestimating imperial authority. I'm prepared to die this time, but I pity my child..."
As he spoke, his eyes welled with tears as he looked at his daughter, who was sitting in the prison cart crying. He gritted his teeth in hatred, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.
At that moment, a voice suddenly flashed through Wei Jianning's mind:
Wei Jianning, if you continue to live in anonymity, you're just a coward who can't face reality. The people of Northern Wei need you to save them.
At that moment, as if he had made up his mind, he glanced at Lord Han one last time, said "Take care" to him, turned around, walked through the crowd, and strode away.
The two of them arrived at an open space. He stopped and watched the prison cart carrying Lord Han and his family slowly drive away, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to Lan Zhi.
"Can I continue living like this, in a daze?"
Lan Zhi looked blankly at the pitiful Han family and shook her head.
"No, the people have no choice but to rebel when the officials force them to. Even if you weren't surnamed Wei, given your character, you can't just sit idly by and do nothing about this."
"I understand. Let's go home."
Wei Jianning firmly took Lan Zhi's hand and walked on the land where they had lived for five years. Although they were reluctant to leave, they both knew that it was time for them to go.
When he returned home, he told his family about his thoughts. Everyone remained silent because they had all seen and understood what the emperor had done since his ascension to the throne. If no one stepped forward to stop the emperor, the Northern Wei Kingdom would be doomed.
Everyone quietly went to pack their things. Zhuangzhuang sat in Lanzhi's lap, constantly asking questions.
"Mom, are we moving? Where are we going?"
"Go to a place that is unfamiliar to you, but your father and mother know it very well."
"Is it nice there? Are there any fun things to do?"
"Yes, there is your eldest uncle, and two younger uncles."
"But why don't you let your uncle come find us? We're perfectly fine here, why do we need to move?"
This question made Lan Zhi fall into deep thought.
Yes, who wants to move things around all the time?
But what can be done?
She will wholeheartedly support whatever Wei Jianning wants to do, regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
They handed over the pharmacy to Qin Yong, their partner of five years, and then sold the courtyard at a low price in three days. After that, they hired two carriages and set off.
During this time, Lan Zhi wrote a letter to King Huo Jinzhou of Tianwu Kingdom, explaining Mao Mao's situation to him, and also telling him about her and Wei Jianning's predicament.
She believed that, given Hawking's personality, he wouldn't ignore this.
It took them ten days to reach Xingcheng. Wei Jianning immediately decided to stay there for one night and find the young man who had given them the information, so as to at least thank him.
It was noon, and the streets of Xingcheng were bustling with people. Wu Tianxiong curiously stood on tiptoe to look, and Wei Jianning simply said:
"Boss Yuan, go check what's going on up ahead?"