AWB Chapter 880 Striking the Drum of Appeal Again
Chapter 880 Striking the Drum of Appeal Again
The Duke of Sheng was a military general, and the Sheng family kept more than a hundred secret guards under the guise of protecting him.
Although these people are usually responsible for the safety of the entire Duke Sheng's mansion, they only obey the Duke Sheng's orders and are quite skilled, far surpassing ordinary guards.
Duke Sheng was unaware of the extent of Sheng Junyi's martial arts prowess, but if these hundred-plus people couldn't stop him, the consequences... Duke Sheng dared not even imagine.
In an instant, all the guards of the Duke of Sheng's mansion were mobilized, which naturally alerted the people in the mansion.
The person in charge of the household now is the fourth young mistress, Song Yunniang. As soon as there was a commotion in the mansion, she got dressed and got up. Before she could even ask what was going on, a servant rushed in to report, "Young mistress, it's an order from the Duke. It seems like he's chasing after someone!"
"What?" Song Yunniang was startled. She hurriedly asked, "Has a thief broken into the house? Does the Duke have any other instructions?"
The servant hurriedly shook his head: "This servant stopped the person and asked, but the Duke didn't say anything, only that he wanted to stop the person."
Song Yunniang couldn't help but panic and nudged her husband, "Husband, why don't you go ask your father-in-law? He's mobilized all the guards in the manor, but he hasn't made any arrangements for the household. Could something serious have happened?"
The fourth young master, Sheng Junshu, was still a little groggy from just waking up, but he was startled awake by these words. He hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Father always keeps his word. If I go over and ask now, he will definitely scold me. You'd better not get involved. He won't let us know about this kind of thing anyway. Just tell someone to tell the servants to be careful not to wander around and not to hurt anyone accidentally."
Song Yunniang had a feeling that things might not be so simple, but she could understand. Her husband was just a son of a concubine and was not valued in the household. The Duke rarely summoned him. Even this year, when her husband passed the imperial examination and entered the Hanlin Academy, her father-in-law only gave him a few words of encouragement and did not take it seriously.
Although she is currently in charge of the household affairs of the Duke's mansion, it is only a temporary arrangement.
Even if something truly important happens in the Duke's mansion, it's not their place to discuss it with the couple.
Thinking this through, Song Yunniang quickly came to a conclusion and hurriedly gave orders to her subordinates to be more vigilant and stay in their own courtyards, lest they suffer an undeserved disaster from the indiscriminate attacks of swords.
The servant, having received the order, hurriedly went out.
Sheng Junshu glanced at the somewhat anxious Song Yunniang and comforted her in a low voice: "Don't worry too much. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has been reinstated, he will definitely be the one in charge of this mansion in the future. When he returns to the capital, I will ask him to help me find a post outside the capital, so you won't have to worry so much."
Song Yunniang nodded. She was also lucky. No matter what, her husband was promising. Although he wasn't good at scheming and was a bit timid, he was kind-hearted, which was better than anything else. She was already marrying up, and she couldn't have it all.
Even so, she was now in charge of the household affairs of the Duke's mansion, and if something happened, she dared not close her eyes again. She could only pray that nothing unexpected would happen, and she even specially instructed people to guard the old lady's courtyard so that no one could take advantage of the chaos to disturb her.
She kept a close eye on the movements outside. Although Sheng Junshu was just a scholar, he came from a military family and had a sword with him, guarding the hall just in case.
She didn't know how much time had passed, maybe half an hour, maybe less. Faint screams could be heard from outside from time to time. She couldn't help but get up anxiously, then sat back down. Fortunately, the noise outside finally stopped.
She nervously watched the doorway. After about fifteen minutes, a servant rushed in, and Song Yunniang quickly asked, "How is it? Have they caught him?"
The servant looked at Song Yunniang, then at the Fourth Young Master, and for a moment didn't know how to respond.
It was Sheng Junshu who spoke first: "Speak."
The servant hurriedly replied, "We've found out. The person the Duke ordered to be arrested is the Second Young Master."
"What?" Sheng Junshu was stunned. He asked anxiously, "Is Second Brother alright?"
He had studied at the same academy as his second brother for many years. Although he often had to help his brother with his homework and cover for him, thanks to his brother's protection, he was practically untouchable at the academy. Among the sons of noble families, competition and friction were inevitable, and he was truly fortunate to be able to concentrate on his studies thanks to his second brother. While their relationship wasn't exactly close, it was still quite good, and he naturally instinctively cared for his second brother first.
"The second young master single-handedly took on all the guards of the manor, and he has already escaped," the servant replied.
Sheng Junshu quickly breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good."
He realized his mistake after he finished speaking and quickly shut his mouth.
Song Yunniang was quite shocked. She knew a little about the level of the guards in the mansion. If more than a hundred people couldn't capture the second young master, just how powerful must this second young master be?
But now is not the time to ask that.
Song Yunniang asked, "What are the Duke's plans?"
The servant shook his head. "Most of the guards are injured, so chasing after them is impossible. The Duke's courtyard gates are tightly shut, and no one dares to go over. The steward is also waiting outside the courtyard."
After hearing the servant's reply, Song Yunniang had a better understanding of the situation. She knew that the affairs between the Duke and his son were not her concern, so she gave the order: "Have everyone stay in the courtyard and not go out or ask any questions. Have the pharmacy prepare the wound medicine. Before the Duke gives any further instructions, do not ask any other questions."
The servant, having received the order, hurriedly went out.
Song Yunniang looked at Sheng Junshu again, and asked hesitantly, "Husband, this..."
Sheng Junshu shook his head: "Go to sleep."
Song Yunniang stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Who could possibly sleep like this?
Sheng Junshu: "Don't worry, if anything happens to Second Brother, we won't be implicated."
Song Yunniang: "..."
Sheng Junshu muttered to himself, "I just don't know what my second brother did to drive Father to this point."
……
However, he found out the next morning.
Sheng Junyi, along with the patriarch of the Sheng clan, struck the Dengwen Drum.
The Dengwen Drum was beaten for two consecutive days, which alarmed the entire capital.
Today was not originally a grand court assembly, but yesterday His Majesty issued an edict ordering the Crown Prince to lead troops on a northern expedition. Naturally, matters concerning the northern expedition still need to be discussed, such as provisions and troop deployment. Time is of the essence, and a decision must be made as soon as possible.
But before the Northern Expedition could even be discussed, the Dengwen Drum sounded again.
Anyone who strikes the drum to appeal will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane.
Sheng Junyi, covered in blood after being struck thirty times, stepped into the Taiji Hall.
"This humble subject respectfully greets Your Majesty."
Sheng Junyi knelt on the ground, holding up the several old letters with both hands.
"This humble citizen accuses Duke Sheng Qishen of forging letters, fabricating evidence, and falsely accusing Prince Rong Che of colluding with the enemy. I beg Your Majesty to make a wise judgment."