About an hour later, Zhao Hongrun, with only two clan guards, Shen Yu and Lu Mu, was taken to the clan mansion by his cousin Zhao Hongmin's carriage.
The Zongfu in front of me is still the Zongfu in my memory. It seems that there is no change at all from two years ago.
What has changed is Zhao Hongrun's mentality.
"Cousin Hongrun."
Seeing Zhao Hongrun actually standing in front of the Zongfu gate with his hands behind his back and looking around, Zhao Hongmin couldn't help but be a little surprised.
Because in his impression, all the royal children who were invited to the palace by the clan for committing crimes were all cautious and well-behaved when they arrived here. Even Hongli, who was the crown prince of the East Palace, was invited by the Wei Dynasty for committing crimes a few years ago. When the emperor was sent to the clan's mansion as punishment, he also entered and exited with his head lowered.
Including Zhao Hongrun two years ago.
Zhao Hongmin still remembered that two years ago, when he was ordered to arrest the cousin in front of him in the fireworks field at Fangfang Waterside Pavilion in the city, although the cousin looked calm at the time, with his eyesight, he could still see that the cousin was I didn't feel confident at the time, so I just pretended to be calm.
And wait until last year, when Zhao Hongrun had a conflict with Zhao Chengxiu, the prince of Yuanyang Prince, at a waterside pavilion, it was he, Zhao Hongmin, who took the clan's clan guard Yu Linlang to arrest him.
At that time, Zhao Hongmin had vaguely felt that Zhao Hongrun was not as afraid of the clan as he had been before.
But now, this cousin was summoned by the Zong Mansion for the third time, but he seemed to have no fear of the Zong Mansion. He actually did not enter the house immediately. Instead, he stood outside the Zong Mansion and looked at the door leisurely. After decorating, Zhao Hongmin secretly admired his calmness.
But admiration is still admiration, Zhao Hongmin still had to step forward to urge the cousin in front of him, because he knew very well who summoned Zhao Hongrun this time. Even his father, Zongfu Zongzheng Zhao Yuanyan, and Prince Yan had to stand aside obediently. Several clan elders.
"Cousin Hongrun, let's hurry into the mansion... If anyone sees you deliberately delaying here, they will report it to the mansion, which may be detrimental to you."
Zhao Hongmin reminded in a low voice.
"..." Upon hearing this, Zhao Hongrun glanced at his cousin and asked with a faint smile: "Isn't it the second uncle who asked me to come here this time?"
The second uncle he refers to is Zhao Hongmin's father, Zongfu Zongzheng Zhao Yuanyan.
Zhao Hongmin glanced at the accompanying group of Zongwei Yu Linlang, and said vaguely: "My cousin, you will know about this after you enter the mansion."
After saying that, when he turned around, he nodded calmly towards Zhao Hongrun as a hint.
Zhao Hongrun understood it at a glance. After all, there were only a few people in the clan who could control Zong Zheng, Zhao Yuanyan and his son.
It seems like today will be very dangerous...
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Hongrun, urged by his cousin Zhao Hongmin, finally walked towards the house.
The Zongfu is euphemistically called the home of any member of the royal or public clan named Ji, but in fact, not many children named Ji are willing to come here unless they have other agendas. After all, the Zongfu's job structure is like It is the Ministry of Punishment of the imperial court, but it only punishes the children surnamed Ji that the Ministry of Punishment has no right to interrogate.
The prince commits the same crime as the common people? That is just a trick thrown by the court and the Ministry of Punishment to deceive the people. The real cruel reality is that members of the royal family are exempt from the death penalty. Simply put, if a child surnamed Ji commits a crime, as long as he is not He will not be sentenced to death for rebelling, seeking the country, or deceiving the emperor. Even if the public resentment is overwhelming, at most he will be imprisoned for life and push someone around him as a scapegoat to calm the public resentment.
The only person responsible for imprisoning this child named Ji is the Zongfu. Apart from this, no other force or government office has the right to imprison this child named Ji.
It is precisely because of this that the children of the royal family surnamed Ji in the Wei Kingdom are still quite afraid of the clan. After all, although there is no danger of death, they will be imprisoned for life, which is very difficult for a child of the royal family who could have enjoyed all the glory and wealth.
In other words, it is definitely no less painful than death.
Therefore, none of the disciples named Ji who had committed crimes and were brought to the clan were well-behaved, honest, and full of words such as "I will change my ways". Like Zhao Hongrun, he walked in with his hands behind his back and his head held high.
I'm afraid this is really the first one in the clan.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongmin couldn't help but whisper to persuade Zhao Hongrun to put away his pride, after all, he was in the clan mansion.
Unfortunately, Zhao Hongrun politely refused the reminder from his cousin Zhao Hongmin and said resolutely: "I don't think I was caught in the clan because I committed a crime. Why can't I hold my head high?... I have a clear conscience!"
Zhao Hongmin wanted to persuade him again, but seeing Zhao Hongrun's resolute attitude, he had no choice but to give up. He could only hint Zhao Hongrun in a low voice to try to be tactful when speaking later and not to conflict with those people.
Zhao Hongrun sneered and said nothing.
After walking along the corridor and turning around the front hall, passing Zongwei Yulinlang's training ground, and passing several gardens, Zhao Hongrun was taken by Zhao Hongmin to a large house deep in the mansion.
At this time, Zhao Hongmin stopped, raised his hand and pointed to the house, saying: "Cousin, I can only bring you here. Cousin Hongrun, please come in... Remember, don't be rash." After that, he said to Shen Yu
I also said a few words to Lu Mu and the other two, to the general effect that they should stop there.
Shen Yu and Lu Mu were somewhat reluctant. After all, in the past, there would always be at least one clan guard guarding Zhao Hongrun around him. Even when Zhao Hongrun was having sex with Miss Su or Miss Su, they would leave one person outside the house.
Guard, after all, it is Zongwei's duty to ensure the safety of His Highness.
But this is the clan that raised them since childhood, and the rules are very strict. Even if they are reluctant, they can only obey orders.
"Your Highness, the two humble men are waiting here. If Your Highness has anything... well, if you need anything, just call us."
Shen Yu hinted to Zhao Hongrun.
Obviously, between the clan that raised them and the person they were currently loyal to, Shen Yu and Lu Mu chose the latter.
Of course, this is not a criticism. After all, if you don't even have this awareness, you are not worthy of being a Zongwei beside the prince.
But his suggestive words made Zhao Hongmin smile bitterly.
"It doesn't matter, I can handle it."
Looking at Shen Yu and Lu Mu's expressions of "I'm willing to risk everything", Zhao Hongrun was a little amused. After comforting them for a few words, he walked into the big house.
At this time, the room had already learned about Zhao Hongrun's arrival. A Zongwei Yu Linlang came out of the inner hall and said respectfully: "Your Highness, Prince Su, please come with your humble duty."
Zhao Hongrun nodded and followed the Zongwei Yu Linlang to the inner hall.
As soon as he entered the inner hall, his eyes narrowed subconsciously because he saw several people sitting in the seats on both sides of the inner hall.
There are four people seated on the east side and four people seated on the west side, a total of eight people. Judging from their appearance, they are all two rounds older than Zhao Hongrun. Note: Wheel generally refers to the zodiac sign, which lasts twelve years.
This means that these people are most likely Zhao Hongrun's elders.
But what surprised Zhao Hongrun was that his chief at the east side saw his second uncle Zhao Yuanyan.
This is the only one he is familiar with among the eight elders.
What surprised Zhao Hongrun even more was that his second uncle, Zhao Yuanyan, except for opening his eyes to glance at him when he entered the inner hall, he always kept his eyes closed and rested, as if he was an outsider.
"Sit down."
In the east seat, under Zhao Yuanyan, an old man who was probably more than two rounds older than Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth and said lightly.
As soon as he finished speaking, a Zongwei Yu Linlang took out a mattress and placed it in the center of the inner hall near the door.
What is this? Do you need to be interrogated?
Zhao Hongrun frowned slightly and looked deeply at the old man. He saw that the old man's hair was obviously gray. According to Zhao Hongrun's preliminary judgment, he was probably older than his second uncle Zhao Yuanyan, but the old man's momentum when he spoke was very strong.
It is a kind of aura of a superior person that can only be gradually developed by staying in a high position for a long time.
"Sit!" The old man frowned when he saw Zhao Hongrun standing still, and said again.
The tone is almost commanding.
Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun felt increasingly unhappy. At this moment, Zhao Yuanyan opened his eyes and glanced at Zhao Hongrun, and lowered his eyelids, as if to hint the latter to sit down.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun sat down, sitting in the same posture as the eight people in the hall, all kneeling.
Although he hated others speaking to him in such a commanding tone, Zhao Hongrun still had to give his second uncle Zhao Yuanyan's face. After all, his second uncle had defended him in the previous two episodes.
Of course, after kneeling down and sitting down, Zhao Hongrun still looked at the old man over there and cursed the old man in his heart.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, the old man spoke: "Thank you for sitting down?"
"What?" Zhao Hongrun didn't seem to hear clearly.
Seeing this, the old man's old-fashioned face became even more unhappy, and he said coldly: "Thank you for sitting down!... Didn't the etiquette officer teach you?!"
…
Zhao Hongrun narrowed his eyes, but finally endured it, bowed his hands and said, "Junior Hongrun, thank you, Elder Zong, for sitting down."
"Well." The old man nodded with some satisfaction, and casually said to the two old men of similar age who were standing next to him: "Yuan Si has neglected to discipline this son..."
The two old men looked at Zhao Hongrun with different expressions after hearing this. One of them nodded in agreement, while the other smiled and praised: "However, this son's talent and virtue...no one in this generation can match him."
"So what?" The first old man snorted coldly.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun became increasingly unhappy.
At this moment, Zhao Yuanyan opened his eyes and interrupted very abruptly: "Hongrun, these three are your third uncle, cousin uncle, and younger uncle."
What the hell!
Zhao Hongrun was slightly shocked. Although he had already had a premonition, Zhao Yuanyan's introduction still shocked him.
Uncle... he is two generations older than him!
And there were three of them at the same time.
According to the Wei people's custom of sixty years and one year, these three are probably the only three old people left in the clan, right?
It seems that the Sanchuan incident really had a big impact... It actually caused the explosion of these old antiques who usually never leave the house.
Even Zhao Hongrun felt a little uneasy at this moment. He cupped his hands and bowed respectfully: "Hongrun, I have met my third uncle, my cousin, and my younger uncle."
"Humph, you should remember some etiquette." The third uncle, the old man who just asked Zhao Hongrun to thank Zhao Hongrun, said lightly when he saw this.
Beneath him, the cousin looked at Zhao Hongrun indifferently and just nodded without commenting.
Only the uncle who had praised Zhao Hongrun just now nodded with a smile, beckoned and said: "Hongrun, don't be formal. We three old guys invite you here this time. We hope that you two can have a frank talk."
…”
both sides?
Zhao Hongrun was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously looked at the four people in the seats on the west side.