CHAPTER 191: CHAPTER 191: ZHAO CHUN GETS ARRESTED

191 Zhao Chun Arrested

Zhao Chun had been arrested by the constables!

The entire Zhao Clan was dumbfounded.

They had all thought the constables were bringing Zhao Chun some New Year’s gift.

They never expected such a swift reversal.

The head constable waved his hand, declaring, "Zhao Chun of the Zhao Clan is suspected of deceiving the Emperor! Arrest him!"

Before anyone could react, a cangue was fastened around Zhao Chun’s neck.

"Take him away!"

Upon that order, Zhao Chun was dragged away by the constables.

Zhao Chun was scared out of his wits. As the constables dragged him away, he looked back in panic, shouting to Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Wang, "Dad, Mom, save me!"

Mrs. Wang and her daughter-in-law, Xiao Wang, were also panic-stricken. Their anguished cries rose one after another, seeming to echo through the sky.

Mrs. Wang cried, "My son! Oh, my son, what’s happening? Sir, there must be some misunderstanding..."

Xiao Wang supported Mrs. Wang, while Zhao Qiu supported Mr. Zhao. They stumbled out after them, tearfully calling out to Zhao Chun.

Zhao Ji, Zhao Cai, and Zhao Yun were also shocked and followed their mother out, weeping.

They chased them to the village entrance before clan members, summoned by the Clan Chief, managed to pull them back.

"Oh, heavens! What is happening? My son, if something happens to you, how will I go on..."

Mrs. Wang’s heart-wrenching cries continued.

The elderly Clan Chief’s body trembled as he anxiously asked Mr. Zhao’s family what had happened.

Mrs. Wang and Xiao Wang were too overcome with tears to utter a single word.

Mr. Zhao was completely unaware of what his son had done, so naturally, he couldn’t answer either.

As for Zhao Qiu, his wife’s pregnancy was well along. Since moving out of the family home, all his attention had been on her. He simply wanted to live his own peaceful life and had no idea what his third elder brother had been up to.

Today was the first day of the New Year, an important day for paying homage to the ancestors, yet such a major incident had occurred.

The Clan Chief and the clan elders were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, unable to sit or stand still.

Other clan members were also murmuring amongst themselves.

Just then, a clear-headed person remarked, "I... I’ve heard that deceiving the Emperor is a capital offense! And if the crime is severe enough, it can lead to the extermination of the nine degrees of kinship!"

At these words, Mrs. Wang’s and Xiao Wang’s wails became even more miserable.

Zhao Cai, Zhao Yun, and Zhao Ji were also scared witless, crying with their eyes squeezed shut.

The other clan members began to feel a growing sense of dread, terrified they might be implicated.

Zhao Dong’s family was also utterly amazed. They hadn’t even left yet and already witnessed such a spectacle.

Zhao Dong was quite curious. How powerful was this Zhao Chun? Could he really deceive the Emperor?

Just as everyone was gripped by fear, a horse carriage slowly stopped in front of the Ancestral Hall. A middle-aged man in a dark gray, silk-padded long robe stepped down.

This man was none other than Wang Fuhai, the shopkeeper of Guang Ju Restaurant.

Zhao Dong was startled and immediately went to greet him with a smile.

"Brother Zhao!"

Wang Fuhai looked radiant, clearly having prospered recently.

He laughed heartily and strode towards Zhao Dong. Patting Zhao Dong’s shoulders heavily, he smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, I’ve come to offer you belated New Year greetings!"

Zhao Dong hadn’t expected Wang Fuhai to visit on the first day of the New Year and was overjoyed. Clasping his fists, he asked excitedly, "Brother Wang, what wind has blown you here?"

"HAHAHA."

Wang Fuhai couldn’t contain his excitement and joked, "Does there need to be a wind for me to come and pay my New Year respects?"

Then, looking at the surrounding villagers, he asked curiously, "Hasn’t your ancestral worship ceremony begun yet?"

Upon arriving at the village, he had gone straight to Zhao Dong’s Residence, only to find the main gate locked.

A kind villager informed him that Zhao Dong was at the Ancestral Hall for the ancestral worship, so he had hurried over in his horse carriage.

Zhao Dong said helplessly, "There’s been an incident. Zhao Chun was just arrested by the yamen runners for deceiving the Emperor. Everyone’s on edge right now."

At that moment, some clan members noticed Wang Fuhai’s arrival.

Among them was Zhao Shitou, who had seen Wang Fuhai before and knew he was associated with several important figures.

Thus, prompted by suggestive glances from other clan members, he walked over, smiled, and said, "Brother Dong, apologies for the interruption."

"This Shopkeeper Wang is a resourceful man. I’d like to ask him if he knows about Zhao Chun’s situation. Is it serious? Will it implicate us other clan members?"

His three consecutive questions voiced the concerns of everyone present.

Wang Fuhai glanced at Zhao Shitou. He recalled meeting this man at Zhao Dong’s residence before. Thinking he might be one of Zhao Dong’s kinsmen, he decided to reveal a bit more.

He smiled and said, "I don’t know the full details, but on my way here, I did hear some tidbits. This Zhao Chun presented a batch of vegetables to Landlord Qin, claiming they were exceptionally crisp, delicious, and top-grade."

"Landlord Qin, upon receiving the vegetables, gifted them to influential figures in the Capital City. After changing hands a few times, they eventually reached the Emperor’s nephew, His Highness Prince Chu."

"His Highness Prince Chu has always been known for his filial piety. So, upon receiving such fine items, he naturally thought of the Emperor. Thus, he presented them to the Emperor during the New Year’s Eve imperial banquet at the Imperial Palace."

"This should have been a joyous occasion. Unfortunately, His Highness Prince Liang had also acquired some delicious vegetables and likewise presented them to the Emperor."

"When the two batches were compared, the Emperor discovered that the vegetables Prince Chu had presented didn’t taste right. They seemed to be counterfeit—just ordinary vegetables, and their quality and appearance were even worse than common produce."

"This, naturally, angered both His Highness Prince Chu and the Emperor. An investigation was launched, and the trail led back to Zhao Chun."

As Wang Fuhai spoke, all the clan members present pricked up their ears.

Those clan members nearby heard everything clearly. However, most of them were from poor families.

They wouldn’t normally pay attention to expensive items like medicinal vegetables, so they were all bewildered. Though they understood each word, the overall meaning eluded them.

Aren’t vegetables just vegetables? How could there be a difference between real and fake?

They felt something was strange but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

They didn’t stop to think why Prince Chu and Prince Liang would present mere vegetables to the Emperor instead of rare treasures.

Their main concern right now was whether Zhao Chun’s crime would affect them.

After hearing Shi Tou’s anxious inquiry, Wang Fuhai chuckled. "Don’t worry, it won’t implicate you. At most, Zhao Chun will receive a beating with the rod and serve a few years in prison before being released. It won’t affect the other clan members."

The surrounding clan members instantly breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Hearing it wasn’t a capital offense, Mr. Zhao’s family also breathed a small sigh of relief.

After crying for a while, Xiao Wang seemed to realize something. She glared furiously at Sun Mei, then lunged forward to strike her, shouting, "Liar!"

Zhao Dong rushed over just in time to shield Sun Mei. Failing to strike her, Xiao Wang burst into tears and screamed, "Clan Chief, it was Brother! It was Brother’s family who deceived me! They’re the ones who harmed my husband!"

Everyone was aghast, their gazes turning towards Zhao Dong.

Sun Mei’s face turned cold. "Hey, watch what you’re saying! Who harmed your husband?"

At this, the Clan Chief’s expression turned grave. He looked at Zhao Dong’s family, then at Xiao Wang, and asked, "What is going on?"