Five, the story

"I will help you with that." Li Fei removed the tied rice paper from around her neck, her voice trembling slightly. Qing Tong stared at him blankly, then suddenly broke into a radiant smile, as beautiful as spring flowers in bloom. "Alright!" She stuffed the charcoal basket into Li Fei's hands, took the rice paper back for herself, and said with a smile, "If you want to carry something, take this heavy one. I live quite far away, so don't complain about it being tiring!"

Upon seeing her, Xiao Zengzi let out a sigh of relief and said: "Your Highness, it is nothing, I was just talking about a few matters concerning my hometown"

This is hardly a statement! He whispered, "No, that young man is merely a ruffian from the rivers and lakes, and he usually behaves quite arrogantly. The villagers are quite puzzled by his actions."

Li Fei smiled: "I am not afraid of you seeing it; if other princes were to see it, it would ultimately be inappropriate"

As Li Fei was speaking here, the Crown Prince suddenly shouted: "Li Fei, I haven't seen you for a long time, what are you doing here?" Li Fei replied, "Your Highness, the Princess has something to ask me."

Regarding the matter of the non-justice: "In the past, my uncle once showed me the records from the Ministry of Justice concerning this issue, so I knew immediately that it was indeed a real event, but this matter has since been suppressed and classified as a confidential file. Little Zengzi, you should not mention this to others in the future, lest you attract trouble." After saying this, he turned to leave

Wow! Five thousand taels, that's a lot of money! Qing Tong looked at Li Fei's tightly furrowed brows and silently prayed that Ren Ping Sheng would never be found by anyone

On this day of class, she inevitably became somewhat distracted. As usual, the Crown Prince left first after class, followed by the other princes. Li Fei followed the Crown Prince, while Qing Tong was still the last to leave.

She was greatly embarrassed, her eyes even turning red, as she struggled to say: "I, I, I... I was just playing with it"

The name is quite ostentatious, it is called Ren Pingsheng! Although the case files have been suppressed, he remains a wanted criminal in our Great Garden, with a bounty of five thousand taels for his capture

Li Fei looked back at her hesitantly, her green eyes flushed with redness, and pleaded, "Li Fei, please tell me. If you don't, I definitely won't be able to sleep tonight!" She added softly, "I know you are the best."

The widow, in a state of anxiety and helplessness, leans against the door while holding her grandchild, releasing her sorrowful cries.

Speaking of this, Qing Tong recalled the unfinished story and quietly asked: "Li Fei, did that boy with the surname Ren end up being beheaded?"

Qiming retorted: "It's just singing a song, anyone can sing, and it cannot be said to be true."

The proposal for execution after autumn has been heard, and the sound of weeping echoes throughout the countryside

The entire city came out to watch, and the magistrate, who had lost face, resigned. The subsequent county magistrates were all cautious and did not dare to make the slightest mistake. From then on, every magistrate became a diligent and benevolent official.

She has been attending classes for over a month, and the items she has collected are no longer limited to charcoal. Without her saying a word, the young eunuch has already gathered the remaining ink from each prince's inkstone and poured it little by little into the small pot brought by Qing Tong. This tin pot is large in the belly and small at the mouth, with very exquisite patterns, and it is unknown from which palace it was discarded after being used for the game of throwing pots and drinking. It is in good condition and was simply thrown away. This is something that Qing Tong particularly likes, as it is just right for her to use to hold ink, being large and not easily spilled. This tin pot is large in the belly and small at the mouth, with very exquisite patterns, and it is unknown from which palace it was discarded after being used for the game of throwing pots and drinking. It is in good condition and was simply thrown away. This is something that Qing Tong particularly likes, as it is just right for her to use to hold ink, being large and not easily spilled

Where can Qing Tong wait? She kept pleading: "Just say one thing, what happened to the young man? Is he a court official in disguise on a tour? Did he ask the Emperor to kill Young Master Wu with a sword? How are Granny Li and her little granddaughter doing now?"

The last four characters have become more orderly, suggesting that Li Fei's mood had calmed down when he wrote this. However, Qing Tong prefers the earlier, more dynamic cursive style, especially the character "泣" in the phrase "一轮血洒泣残阳," which he wrote as if blood and tears were truly dripping down. Li Fei, who is as refined as autumn waters and spring breezes, also has moments of excitement!

The messenger is about to depart, and the villagers are alarmed, with households weeping and the sound of dogs mourning.

Qing Tong picked up the piece of snow-white rice paper and saw that it was inscribed with elegant small regular script:

The emotions of separation are indeed difficult to calm in a short time: "Princess!" he said, "Do not be sad, for I too endured great hardships in my childhood, until I was taken in by my uncle..."

Qingtong usually arrives very early every day, and all the little eunuchs in the school are very fond of her. Qingtong is naturally playful, and within a few days, she became quite familiar with these servants. One day, she saw Xiao Zengzi talking to a few others, his voice choked with emotion, appearing very excited. Curiously, she leaned over and asked, "Zeng Yuan, what’s wrong with you?"

"You ... ... " Suddenly, an extremely surprised voice came from above her head. Qing Tong, holding her spoils, was about to leave when she heard the voice and looked up, only to see Li Fei standing at the door, looking at her with a face full of astonishment. At that moment, she was holding a charcoal basket in her hands, a piece of paper hanging around her neck, and a pot tucked at her waist, looking just like a scavenger.

Suddenly, there appeared a young man from the Ren family, a generous and righteous youth with a passionate spirit

What do the elderly and the young rely on? They rely on the meager fields that produce beans and grains

The neighbors are in distress and cannot be persuaded, even the stone man appears desolate

No. Li Fei's expression was somewhat strange, and he whispered, "This is the reason why this case was suppressed as a confidential file. The young man with the surname Ren disappeared the day after he was imprisoned, and Young Master Wu was killed in prison, his abdomen cut open, dying a tragic death. It turns out he turned himself in just to kill Young Master Wu in prison! The next morning, when the county magistrate was discovered, he was found tightly bound by a curtain and hanging outside the court, with Young Master Wu's boot stuck to his mouth, and a long note hanging from his neck that read, 'If you like to curry favor with the wealthy... then enjoy it to the fullest!'"

Since then, as long as there was an opportunity, he would always help Qing Tong carry things. Qing Tong no longer declined and directly handed him the heaviest items, chatting and laughing all the way back. For her, this experience at the university was truly delightful. This exuberant youth was indeed wonderful!

Qiming said: "Princess, look, what he said is just like reciting poetry, which is why I said it is a story. He usually reads a few books; I know he has a bit of knowledge! How could he speak so eloquently? Moreover, he has been away from home for several years, and he only heard someone mention that this is a matter from his hometown, so he just talks nonsense, wanting to share it with everyone he meets, crying every time he tells it. There are many people with the surname Li in the world, and Panggezhuang may not be the only place from your hometown."

Li Fei looked at her, his brows raised and eyes bright, full of spirit, indeed showing no signs of self-pity or sorrow; it seemed he was the one being pedantic. He couldn't help but gaze at Qing Tong with admiration. Noticing his gaze, Qing Tong felt a bit shy and changed the subject, saying: "By the way, Li Fei, why did you come back alone? What about that little follower of the Crown Prince?"

Leaving aside the silence, he is the crown prince's companion. If anyone is a sycophant, it would be him! After a brief pause, he said: "I told His Highness that I forgot something at the Taixue, and His Highness asked me to go find it myself. He went to play in the Western Garden first."

Qing Tong felt her hair stand on end and angrily exclaimed, "This... openly committing murder, is there really no one to take care of it from the local authorities?"

The one with the blue eyes stuck out their tongue, hesitated to speak, and after a while could not help but ask: "What is the name of the person with the surname Ren?"

"It’s not a story!" Zeng Yuan was angry. "It’s true, I saw that old lady Li when I was very young, and my brother even played with her grandson!" They argued for a few more moments, and only then did Qing Tong slowly understand the situation.

All within the four seas are but children, yet why should the righteous hero alone be the one from the Ren family

The skull was presented upside down, causing the high-ranking officials to change color and the low-ranking officials to hurry

Zeng Yuan urgently said: "It is true, Granny Li's two sons are both skilled stonemasons, and the wealthy family with the surname Wu has one grandson and one granddaughter. What are the odds that they would all meet like this? It is true!" At this time, several princes had already arrived, but they, feeling superior due to their status, were unwilling to approach and listen to a few young eunuchs speak. Young Zeng, seeing more people around, did not dare to raise his voice, yet his expression remained stubborn, with tears welling up in his eyes, still insisting: "It is true."

Qing Tong stopped him and smiled, saying: "What is the point of saying all this? Have you never suffered any hardships, or have you always lived in luxury, that you cannot help me fetch something?"

Despite a small incident, she felt immensely joyful on this journey without Li Fei, especially when she caught sight of the shadow of Gan Zhi Palace in the distance. Hua Jia was waiting on the road, as she did every day at this time, to help Qing Tong carry things. Suddenly, she noticed a young boy and curiously kept observing Li Fei. Qing Tong handed over the lighter items like paper and ink to Hua Jia and took the charcoal basket for herself, expressing her gratitude to him.

Li Fei frowned and said, "There are laws of the court in place. If everyone acted on their own whims like him, would it not lead to chaos? Young Master Wu certainly deserves punishment, but it cannot be left to him to take action. This brutal and savage ruffian will surely be captured and brought to justice when the opportunity arises, and he will face the full extent of the law"

Poor Granny Li's two sons also died in the river. That Young Master Wu committed murder, yet the county magistrate has been slow to apprehend him. Granny Li's young grandson, full of youthful vigor, ran to the Wu family's door and scolded them harshly. Young Master Wu came out and said: 'If you want to report me, go find the King of Hell, I will wait for you, you little beast!' He grabbed the boy and threw him onto the stone lion... Poor child Fang Jiuling, his head struck the stone steps and turned red.

The handwriting at the back gradually became illegible, indicating that Li Fei's emotions were becoming agitated.

Half of the white silk mourns the mountain moon, while a round of blood spills weeping over the waning sun

Old Lady Li is very pitiable, nearly sixty years old, and can hardly wield a hoe in a day. Her granddaughter and grandson are still young and cannot be of much help. Whenever a neighbor encounters her working in the fields, they will lend a hand. Princess, you do not know, if there is no food harvested from the fields, one can only watch helplessly as the family starves to death. It is for this reason that the servant entered the palace

Qing Tong felt a tingling sensation in her heart, as if small hands were grasping it. Although she did not speak, her pair of eyes was so captivatingly fixed on Li Fei that it made it impossible for him to refuse her. This gaze caused Li Fei's heart to skip a beat; he had no time to think it over. He quickly took out a piece of paper from his pocket and stuffed it into her hand, saying: "I wrote this after listening to a piece yesterday, and I've only completed half of it. Please take a look, and make sure to return it to me, remember..." Before he could finish his sentence, he had already followed the Crown Prince away.

I only heard about it yesterday as well. I gave some silver to the young girl who was singing and sent her on her way

We, the ministers, should be like them, rising with determination to uphold the principles of governance

"Li Fei! Hurry over here, what are you still chattering about with her!" The Crown Prince called out from the side.

Given that the situation is as such, why must one seek to cover it up? A life of hardship is not a fault, at least in the heart of Qing Tong, it never has been

Another young eunuch collected a piece of used rice paper. The students in the Imperial Academy uniformly used the Snowflake Ice Heart White Jade version from Chengxin Hall, which had a fine, lustrous texture that could hold ink well, was not transparent or smudged, and did not deform when wet, with characters written on it appearing deep black and shiny. Qing Tong was diligently practicing her calligraphy, and these papers could still be fully utilized; after use, they could even be burned to patch windows, so she was reluctant to simply throw them away. Today, she also found a purple weasel hair brush made of Xiangfei bamboo that the Nineteenth Prince had discarded. The tip of the brush was slightly frayed, but it was far from being worn out, making it quite a good haul.

Do not say he drowned; alas, his household guards are all skilled in martial arts. In a single bout, they pushed thirty to forty craftsmen off the bridge into the river, and more than half of them... drowned alive

Qing Tong was momentarily taken aback; he thought he should quickly retrieve that poem, which is why he claimed to have forgotten something. Qing Tong took out the jade tablet from his bosom and handed it to Li Fei, smiling as he said: "It would be of no use to take it back; I have already memorized it. You still have leverage over me."

Wait! Qing Tong chased after and said, "Li, Li Fei... wait a moment, please tell me why you had to suppress it. Did that guy with the surname Wu end up facing justice, or is he still living well?"

In Panggezhuang, located to the east of Lixian County, a woman tragically lost her life during the Women's Day festival.

A young man passing through Lixian heard about this matter and rushed to Panggezhuang overnight, just in time to see the yamen runners trying to drive away Granny Li. He stepped forward to dissuade them. The yamen runners, seeing that he was merely a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth, and having received benefits from Lord Wu, paid him no mind.

"Young Master Wu has died, but not by execution," Li Fei whispered. "After her grandson's death, Granny Li sought help everywhere, but the county office insisted that she pay grain for her son's unfinished corvée labor. With no heart left to farm, she could not pay, and her land and house were seized. They even forced her and her grandson out of their home overnight"

These two individuals can still be considered youths; however, living in the grand dyeing vat of the court, they faintly sense the treachery of politics. Even if they cannot articulate what is wrong, they will naturally try to avoid it as much as possible. Yet, Li Fei does not fear her knowing, and Qing Tong feels a warm current flowing through her limbs and bones, bringing immense comfort

Another young eunuch named Qi Ming, who was usually quite talkative, interjected: "What’s there to be afraid of telling the princess? Princess, yesterday, little Zengzi followed his master to buy supplies and heard a story, and when he came back, he cried for half the night"

With a fierce brow and sword in hand, I venture into the wilderness, akin to the ancient Jing Ke heading towards the land of Qin

Qing Tong angrily said: "What are you stopping him for? He should be allowed to pass when the bridge is not repaired. Let this guy drown!"

Reluctantly agreeing, Li Fei was tense as he followed him, as if being pulled by a string, continuously asking: "What happened next? What happened next?"

What! The blue-eyed individual clenched their fists tightly

Feeling awkward as she was being pursued so closely, he said: "Let's talk about it tomorrow"

The five riders in yellow garments gracefully soar, their imposing presence dominating the fields and the houses.

The wise remain unmoved in the face of the glinting blade, while heads roll and blood splatters against the wall

Although Li Fei was still an uncrowned youth, he felt some trepidation in the presence of the emperor's concubines. Thus, he bid farewell here and went to the Western Garden to find the Crown Prince. From a distance, Hua Jian glanced at Li Fei, leaned close to Qing Tong's ear, and whispered something. Qing Tong then laughed and chased after her, playfully hitting her. The sound of laughter mingled with the crunching of snow underfoot, and the young girl soon ran far away.

I, Ren Zichang, sigh deeply, tossing and turning in the middle of the night, pushing my pillow and wandering restlessly

Zeng Yuandao: "This time, public outrage could not be endured any longer, and Young Master Wu was summoned to the county office. However, he was well-fed and well-treated in prison every day, and sometimes he would even call for courtesans to sing. After waiting for two months, the verdict finally came down, stating it was an accidental injury, and he was only sentenced to three months of imprisonment"

Taizi Dao: "What is there to reason with her? Does she still consider herself a proper master? Li Fei, come here, no need to waste words with her."

Old Lady Li fainted on the spot, crying uncontrollably. Young Master Wu, in the court, made a harsh declaration to her and her granddaughter, stating that the day he emerged would be their death day, displaying an extremely arrogant demeanor. Alas! Is there a red sun in the heavens? When will my grievances be avenged... He spoke while weeping, already in a complete state of distress.

Zeng Yuan's hometown is not particularly small; it is a village by the canal called Panggezhuang. In the town, there is a widow, Mrs. Li, who has maintained her chastity for over forty years. Both of her sons possess the craft of stone carving and have been conscripted by the county office to work on the construction of a hundred-zhang bridge. Only this old woman remains, tending to two mu of thin fields with her twelve-year-old granddaughter and her nine-year-old grandson to make a living

Ah?! Qing Tong suddenly jumped up, her cheeks flushed with anger.

He speaks the truth. The group all looked up and saw Li Fei approaching, saying, "This incident happened more than six months ago, and it has been turned into a little song. I have also heard 'Thirty-four people fell into the water, two brothers drowned to death.' Perhaps what you heard was someone else singing it, which is why it rhymes so well."

She had not heard any sound for half a day, and in a flurry, she looked up to see a distinct glimmer in Li Fei's eyes. At that moment, it felt as if her heart had been struck by a heavy hammer, and she sensed a wave of warmth rising from her lower abdomen. She chuckled awkwardly and said, "It's nothing... I, I just find it amusing, I... I can take it or leave it."

Good! Qing Tong clapped her hands in delight, "How satisfying! Such wicked people deserve their comeuppance. This Ren is a hero!"

Xiao Zengzi's eyes turned red, and he sniffed his nose before continuing: "On the day the bridge was completed, there were still about a hundred craftsmen at the bridgehead making the final touches. In the county town of Lixian, there was a wealthy man with the surname Wu, whose son had practiced martial arts since childhood and was said to be quite skilled. One day, after hunting, Young Master Wu wanted to cross the bridge but, seeing the crowd, ordered his servants to drive them away. One craftsman said that the bridge was not yet fully completed and would not be passable until tomorrow. Young Master Wu became furious and said, 'You dog servants can go on the bridge, but I cannot?' He then directly ordered his men to beat him."

"Yes, I heard it yesterday. Have you heard it too, my lord? I know it must be true." Xiao Zengzi looked at Li Fei with great gratitude. In fact, although Li Fei, the crown prince's companion, received a salary equivalent to the sixth rank, he did not hold an actual position. Xiao Zengzi did not need to address this thirteen-year-old boy as 'my lord'.

This is not difficult to understand; it tells of a man with the surname Ren who killed a tax collector and then turned himself in. Qing Tong imagined him holding a bloodied long sword in one hand and throwing five severed heads onto the official's desk with the other, which was indeed thrilling. Li Fei felt that he should be sentenced to death, yet he envied his bravery, even saying: "We, as ministers, should be like him, rising up to uphold the integrity of the court." This statement was somewhat bold, and no wonder he repeatedly said before leaving, "You must return it to me, you must return it to me." Qing Tong was both stirred by the news he had just heard and secretly pleased by Li Fei's trust in him.