Chapter 268: Miracle from Heaven
.Li Lao Si shook his head and recounted the events of that time, saying, "Although the Guo family's actions are unpleasant, it would be a shame to leave those books abandoned in the mountains. Besides...People kept coming forward, then shaking their heads and stepping back, it was clear that Wang, the official, was not looking for the same person they were.
Those who had ulterior motives, seeking to profit from the royal treasury by causing chaos, now dare not impersonate others.
Besides, Wang Yuanwai was already suffering enough. They couldn't bear to deceive him again!
Mr. Wang was deeply disappointed, and everyone else sighed with pity.
The magistrate frowned and, taking the warrant, was about to interrogate Wang E.
Just then, a woman whispered, "You're the eldest son of the Li family, aren't you I think your name is... Zhen Sheng"
Mr. Wang suddenly turned around, and the crowd gasped and dispersed, making way for the woman who had been speaking.
The woman looked very old and dressed like a servant. She seemed nervous to be the center of attention all of a sudden.
Wang Yuanwai bowed deeply, forcing down his excitement as he asked, "Madam, do you know me"
The woman nodded, “I think I know you. My hometown is outside the pass, and there’s a Li family in the next village over. Their son passed the imperial examination and went to study elsewhere, never returning. I wasn’t close with their family, but during their celebratory banquet, I saw him from afar a few times. But that scholar seemed much younger than you!”
"Well, that goes without saying, those were over a decade ago, of course I was younger then!"
"Li Zhensheng Is Wang Yuanwai's real name Li Zhensheng"
The onlookers babbled and argued, making the woman increasingly anxious, afraid that people would think she was lying. She blurted out, “I saw it with my own eyes! If you don't believe me, go find the Li family and ask them. The Li family fled to the south during the famine, and I even saw them a few days ago!”
"What The Li family is nearby, then we must ask them!" the onlookers cried out.
Wang Yuanwai was also a little excited, turned around and knelt down, "Please punish me, sir, I want to know if I am Li Zhensheng"
Wang E had already been frightened to the point of collapse. She hadn't expected to be recognized.
The guards, faces grim, were about to step forward when Wang E began to wail in a high-pitched voice, “Don’t hit me, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you! It was Li Zhensheng, woooooo, I only know this name, the rest… my father refuses to say!”
"Aha, found it! Found it!"
"Oh, it's really Li Zhensheng!"
"Wonderful, thank goodness! Lord has blessed Wang the Official to finally return to his ancestral home!"
All the people cheered with joy, so happy they couldn't help but embrace each other.
Wang Yuanwai was so overjoyed that he wept. He looked at the magistrate, wanting to say something, but no sound came out of his throat.
The magistrate immediately summoned the woman forward and asked, "Tell me clearly, where did you see the Li family Can you bring them here now"
"Yes, yes!" the woman nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
She was as if she had accomplished a great feat, excitedly waving her hands and pointing outside the city, "The Li family is at Suijin Beach outside the city, in the Onsen Valley. I met them when I was serving my master on a trip, I never expected that I would actually help find their eldest!"
The magistrate did not blame the woman for her disrespect. He loudly ordered his officers to ride quickly and find Li's family.
All the people were eagerly anticipating it and discussing it excitedly.
"This is even more exciting than a play, they actually found Wang Yuanwai's family!"
"Yes, yes, maybe heaven can't stand it anymore and is showing mercy."
But some people also wondered, "With such a big event happening to the Wang family, why hasn't anyone come to take a look"
"Maybe he was afraid of getting involved..."
"They're all from the same family, snakes and rats in a nest, not one good thing among them!"
Across the street, at the other tea house, it was just as bustling with people.
The distinguished guest in the largest private room knocked lightly on the fan in their hand and said with a smile, "Ruijin Beach, the Li family This is too coincidental..."
After some thought, he ordered his attendant, "Go and inquire, has there been any movement from Lord Hou's side recently"
The attendant bowed respectfully and withdrew.
After just a few moments, the attendant returned and whispered, "The people from Lord Hou's side provided the Dali Temple with a lead. It seems the assassin once hid in a villa belonging to the Wang family. The members of the Wang family have already been summoned by the Dali Temple for questioning."
“No wonder!” The noble smiled as she sipped her tea and instructed, “This is to prevent that old fox Wang Bo Wei from interfering. I’m afraid this play was rehearsed long ago. Well, my cousin is happy to protect him, let him. These Jiangnan families are arrogant on a daily basis, a warning example won't hurt.”
The attendant dared not reply, bowing silently and retreating to the corner.
At this moment, a group of officers rode in on horseback bringing a middle-aged man. The common people parted ways to make room for them.
This man was Li Family's second son.
He looked confused and panicked, he went onto the platform, forcing himself to appear calm as he bowed. "Your Honor, my name is Li Yusheng, a commoner. I came into town today to buy things, but halfway there I was arrested. I truly don't know what wrong I have done"
Only then did everyone realize why the constables had arrived so quickly; they had been contacted halfway there.
The magistrate waved his hand, gesturing for him to look at Wang Yuanwai, whose face was filled with anticipation. "Do you recognize this man"
Li Lao Er was baffled, he turned his head to look and froze.
For a long while, he suddenly rushed over with a roar and tightly hugged Wang Yuanwai, weeping bitterly, "Big brother, are you my big brother Wow, big brother, where did you go You've been gone for ten years. Mom is so heartbroken she's about to go blind! How could you just appear now! We looked everywhere for you, but couldn't find you, Big brother, big brother!"
The magistrate was also anxious. He banged the gavel and pressed, "Li Yusheng, what evidence do you have to say this man is your brother"
“He’s my big brother! How could I not know him” Li Laoer, fearing that someone else would take his brother away, tightly grasped Wang Yuanwai’s arm and cried out in a panic, “My brother has a birthmark on his lower back, about the size of a copper coin, and there’s also a scar from when we were little. I got it while climbing a tree with him!”
As he spoke, he pulled at Wang Yuanwai's clothes, and sure enough, the scars and birthmarks were there.
The magistrate couldn't help but stand up, and the people also surged forward with all their might, wanting to get a clear view.
"Oh, there's indeed a birthmark!"
"What a family!"
"Wang Yuanwai is Li Zhensheng!"
"Wang Yuanwai has found his family members!"
"God has opened his eyes, he has!"
"Didn't those people from Broken Gold Beach come fleeing from the north Wang Yuanwai was also injured on Broken Gold Beach, wasn't he No one would believe it if it weren't for heaven opening its eyes! It's unbelievable that a family separated by thousands of miles could reunite here!"
"Mr. Wang, you don't have to be a lonely ghost!"
The people shouted, laughed, and cried out loud.
On the public platform, Li La Er and Wang Yuanwai were also holding each other, sobbing loudly.
The guards turned their heads and wiped away tears silently. Seeing Wang E tremble and trying to hide, they kicked her hard.
Wang E rolled down the steps, landing not far from the crowd of commoners.
I don't know which woman buying vegetables it was, but the first one grabbed a red sweet potato from the basket and threw it.
"Poisonous woman! I'll kill you, for being wicked and scheming. You miscalculated, didn't you Old Master Wang has finally found his way home!"
"Yes, kill her! Such a poisoness woman is a danger to everyone alive!"
"Beat her, beat her!"
For a moment, vegetables, sweet potatoes, eggs, and even snacks like fruit were used as weapons, all hurled at Wang E. The pain was unbearable, causing her to cover her head and run around frantically.
Someone lost their temper and started throwing stones again. One hit Wang E right on the head, leaving her with blood flowing freely.
At this point, Li Lao Er also heard the whole story from Wang Yuan Wai's mouth. He glared at his bloodshot eyes, knelt down to the magistrate and kowtowed repeatedly, "My lord, please take care of the Li family for me, avenge my elder brother, I want to bring him and his nephew home, recognize their ancestors and return to their clan!"
The magistrate nodded, called for the officer to drag Wang E back, and declared loudly, "In the case of Wang Qiang forcing a scholar into marriage as his concubine, the evidence is now conclusive, and judgment will be passed in court! The crime committed by Wang E's father, assaulting people, killing, and covering it up, is heinous. He deserves to be beheaded and publicly displayed as a warning, but since he has already passed away, the responsibility falls on his accomplice, Queen Wang E. She is sentenced to thirty lashes and exile to the southwestern border, where she will serve twenty years of hard labor.
“Wang E’s two sons and the entire Wang family fortune were inherited by Li Zhen, the victim. Permission was granted for the three of them to change their household registration and return to their ancestral home. Additionally, Wang Zhong, who aided and abetted tyranny and caused harm, was sentenced to thirty lashes with a stick and exile to the southwestern borderlands, where he would serve twenty years of forced labor. The sons of two households in Da Huai Shu Village had injured someone before being silenced afterwards. Their crimes canceled each other out, so they were not prosecuted.”
Here are three more chapters~y couldn't help but share all the happy news in the world.In fact, the Li family has never been overly ostentatious.But this morning, as soon as we opened the doors, guests kept coming non-stop. Both...