Chapter 2580 - 2554: Fighting Over Water

Yin Huo took a sip of tea and said, "The Prince of Hejian didn’t do anything. It’s just that one of his estate managers and one from the Zheng family fought over water, resulting in the death of seven people. Coincidentally, all seven were from the Zheng family’s side, among which five were tenants and two were intermediaries following the Chief to mediate."

Manbao: "...It’s been raining for three days now, surely there’s no shortage of water in the fields."

Yin Huo: "This happened four days ago. County Magistrate Guo had actually concluded the trial, but the Zheng family’s estate manager was dissatisfied and brought people to fight with the estate manager from the Prince of Hejian’s family again today. The outcome was that the Zheng family’s Second Young Master, who was preparing to take the imperial examination this year, wanted to check on the estate and tenants because of the incident four days ago..."

Bai Shan and Manbao were startled, "Did he die?"

Yin Huo shook his head, "He’s not dead, but seriously injured. My father personally led people to rescue him and sent him directly to the palace for treatment. As of now, we still don’t know his survival."

Yin Huo said, "This Young Master Zheng is the second son of the direct lineage from the eldest house and has been well-versed in poetry and books since childhood. He is quite famous in the Xingyang area, his brother is raised as the clan leader."

Unlike small families like the Bai Family in Longzhou, large clans like the Zheng Family not only focus on nurturing their descendants to enter the imperial court but also support the family.

Obviously, this Zheng Erlang is a disciple specially cultivated by the Zheng Family.

Manbao asked, "Where is he injured?"

"His head," Yin Huo looked at Manbao and said, "I think you shouldn’t have come back from Pu Village; why not leave the capital for a while?"

Manbao was taken aback, thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

Evading trouble is not her style.

Bai Shan also thought it couldn’t be avoided; if not, the matter remains between the Li Family and the Zheng Family. But once avoided, it really involves Manbao.

After pondering for a while, Yin Huo nodded, "You’re right," he said to Manbao, "Then you should head home. If the Imperial Hospital is looking for you, they should be at your house by now."

Bai Shan and Manbao hurried home, the house was quiet, and no one was there. The doorkeeper said no one had come looking, so they breathed a sigh of relief and held hands, ready to go rest.

But then they heard the sound of galloping hooves, the sound was audible even through the door, so they stopped in their tracks.

The palace urgently summoned Zhou Man into the palace.

Manbao didn’t even have time to change into official attire and followed the people into the palace.

Bai Shan thought for a moment, and simply decided to work overtime at the Hanlin Academy, and take the opportunity to visit Bai Erlang in the palace.

Zheng Erlang is lying in the Eastern Palace.

Yin Li had encountered the person urgently heading to the county office to report while leading a training with the Imperial Guard, which is when he learned that the two estates had a brawl.

Originally, this did not concern him; although he was the capital prefect, it was impossible for him to intervene in such a minor matter beyond the county magistrate’s authority.

But upon hearing the Zheng Family’s second son got involved and was struck on the head, and the other party participating in the fight was the estate manager of the Prince of Hejian, he immediately sensed something was off, took people to quell the brawl, and seized Zheng Erlang out, directly sending him to the palace for treatment.

It was seized because the estate manager of the Prince’s family did not know Zheng Erlang, and the estate manager who knew Zheng Erlang’s identity was engrossed in the fight, even though he had snatched Zheng Erlang out from under the clubs, he neither called a doctor nor took him out of the danger zone...

When Yin Li appeared, the opposing party even tried to hold the person hostage, looking distrustful like the capital prefecture was plotting harm.

Yin Li didn’t bother talking nonsense with them, directly instructed the Imperial Guard to arrest all present, seized Zheng Erlang, and sent him to the palace.

It made such a stir because Zheng Erlang was seriously injured, though he just lightly touched, he was sure his skull had caved in.

In such a situation, the chances of survival are slim.

Thus, Yin Li sent the person into the palace while simultaneously instructing the Imperial Guard to invite members of the Zheng Family, Ms. Lu, Ms. Wang, Ms. Cui, and Li Clan in the capital into the palace.

Even if the person genuinely dies, there should at least be witnesses, at least letting the Zheng Family know they tried their best to save him.

The emperor has not had a good relationship with the noble families for the past few years, Yin Li didn’t want the noble families to seize this opportunity to attack the emperor.

Naturally, the Prince of Hejian knew this too.

As the emperor’s cousin, he was deeply trusted by the emperor, so upon receiving the news, he immediately instructed people to control the estates and knelt in Taiji Hall pleading for a death sentence.

Wei Zhi was urgently summoned to the palace and had already learned the events en route, he first inquired, "How is the injury of the Zheng Family’s second young master?"

The guards could only respond, "I do not know, but he was covered in blood upon arrival at the palace."

Wei Zhi knew it was not looking good; otherwise, steady Yin Li wouldn’t have sent him directly to the palace.

He sighed, closing his eyes briefly; how did it coincidentally happen at this time?

The emperor sat silently on the dragon chair, gazing deeply with the Prince of Hejian kneeling below, while on a nearby low chair, Zheng Wang sat collapsed, covering his face with his sleeves, crying softly.

Being in the capital, Lord Tang and several others who rushed over first were surrounding him, comforting him, although their expressions were also stern.

Gu Zhong quietly came in from outside, first reporting, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wei has arrived."

The emperor’s eyes shone slightly, nodded firmly, signaling to invite him in.

Wei Zhi entered; as he was about to inquire in detail, an attendant came in quietly and spoke to Gu Zhong.

Gu Zhong glanced at the emperor, and eventually stepped forward softly, "Your Majesty..."

The emperor suddenly raised his voice, "Speak openly in front of the ministers. What’s the secrecy?"

Gu Zhong immediately fell to his knees, bowing his head to the floor, reporting, "Your Majesty, Eastern Palace reports that Young Master Zheng is not doing well..."

The emperor stood abruptly and walked directly outside.

Wei Zhi quickly followed, others paused for a moment before rushing after; the Prince of Hejian having knelt for quite some time stumbled as he stood up, the nimble Gu Zhong helped him a bit, and they hurriedly chased after the emperor.

The emperor reached the Eastern Palace; the Crown Prince received the group inside, but all they could do was glance at Zheng Erlang, the crowding was hindering the doctors, so they stepped back outside.

The emperor noticed Director Xiao and Imperial Doctor Liu were amongst others present but not Zhou Man, he asked, "Where is Zhou Man?"

Wei Zhi lowered his eyes silently, so the Imperial Hospital reported, "Lord Zhou was granted field leave."

"What’s this talk of field leave at this time? Fetch her."

Immediately, someone complied and went.

Manbao arrived with urgent haste, thus not delayed, indeed because of the emperor’s order, she was allowed to ride directly to the Eastern Palace gate before dismounting.

She jogged inside with the welcome, first seeing the emperor, then the following ministers, truly a grand occasion, akin to the time the empress dowager was ill.

The emperor waved off her greeting, pointed inside, "The person is in there, quickly go see him."

Manbao then went inside.