“Ahhhhh——!!”
Even if Brother Qian rode faster and simply abandoned the carriage after leaving the city, and the two of them rode a horse together, when they arrived at Puji Temple, they could only hear sad wailing coming from the backyard.
Di Jin stopped, Brother Qian rushed over immediately, and then there was one more person wailing.
Some monks were already alerted, and the rooms lit up, and then four or five people came out to check.
Di Jin came forward to greet him: "I am the former investigating officer of Kaifeng Government Office. I apologize for disturbing everyone. Please go back to your room!"
The monks looked at each other, vaguely seemed to understand something, lowered their heads and turned back.
But a few young novices hesitated and came over, clasped their hands and bowed: "Master, can you let the old monk in the backyard go? He is not a bad person. He is here to treat us!"
Di Jin's heart trembled and he touched their heads: "I know, I know, he is not a bad person, go back..."
The young novice then reluctantly returned to his room.
Di Jin stood quietly in the temple for half an hour before the sound of footsteps slowly came.
Brother Qian supported Wu Jing and stumbled out. When he was in front of him, Wu Jing fell to the ground, retched in pain, and said intermittently: "It's me...I didn't listen to the young master...I just came to see you." Master...if I don't come...he won't die...he won't die..."
Di Jin waited until he calmed down a little and said, "How did you know that Master is here?"
Wu Jingdao: "Someone told me outside the window that Master said that the Beggar Gang had been forcing him and almost arrested him into Wuyou Cave. Later, he escaped to this temple, but he was still discovered. That person must be a beggar. From the Erbang..."
Di Jin said: "In that case, it is better for you to come here to see the master for the last time than for those thieves to come here to disturb him and make him have no peace before his death."
While watching the yamen take away the urn, Di Jin noticed that there seemed to be a hint of relief in the old monk's eyebrows. Then he asked the young novice monk in the temple and immediately realized that this person was most likely Sun Hong.
In just three years, the other party had grown so old. Di Jin did not want to disturb him and let him spend the last stage of his life. Unexpectedly, there was a thief secretly unwilling to let it go.
If this is the case, Wu Jing's arrival here is a mistake. It is better to be sent off by his disciple than to fall into the worry-free cave.
Di Jin also wanted to ask in detail what Sun Hong said to this disciple before he died, but knowing that it was not the time now, he said to the two of them: "You go and collect the master's body first, and any Don't believe anyone's words, that courtyard is no longer safe, find another stronghold, and then come to Laoqiao Lane to find me after you've settled in."
Wu Jing was speechless. Brother Qian wiped his tears and said, "Yes!"
"Since I am investigating this case, I will make the criminal pay the price!"
Di Jin did not say any words such as condolences and resignation. He said the last sentence and turned to leave.
When I got home and lay on the bed, I felt a little uneasy and couldn't fall asleep.
After thinking for a long time, the sharp look in his eyes disappeared. He already had a comprehensive plan on how to convict the consort next, and then he slowly closed his eyes.
There is no point in talking nonsense, let the princess also express her condolences!
…
"Shilin!"
In the early morning of the next day, just as he was having breakfast at the dining table, a figure walked in with a high head, which made Di Jin smile slightly: "Mingyuan, let's eat together!"
"Ha! Otherwise, why would I come here so early in the morning?"
The visitor was none other than Gongsun Ce. He sat down unceremoniously, picked up the steamed cake and ate it.
Di Jin also continued to chew slowly.
The two of them finished eating almost at the same time. Gongsun Ce wiped his mouth gracefully and then said: "These few days have passed. Does Shilin already know the truth of the case?"
Di Jin said: "You are indeed able to keep your composure this time."
It’s a long story these past few days, but for a person of Gongsun Ce’s character, after identifying three suspects on the day of the autopsy, he suppressed his curiosity, returned home to review and prepare for the exam, and no longer cared about further developments. It is really valuable.
The shock of solving the test did make him calmer. Di Jin was naturally happy for him, and then recounted the progress of the case.
The atmosphere in the hall became quiet. Gongsun Ce's face darkened after hearing half of it. At the end, it became even more clouded, and he did not hide his thunderous anger: "Which powerful people are they specifically?"
Di Jin said: "Based on the clues obtained so far, the culprit should be Li Zunxu, the consort of the eldest princess of the country of Hebei."
Gongsun Ce frowned: "Where are the others? Don't just talk about him!"
Di Jin said: "He is the chief culprit!"
Gongsun Ce immediately understood what he meant and stood up angrily: "Doesn't this encourage the arrogance of those thieves? I don't believe such a thing. Li Zunxu is so selfless that he can fight alone. When he took action to harm the official Yuan Hongjing, he must have passed with the others. Anger, and finally work together to suppress the case! Huh, Lu Yijian deliberately left the case unresolved, I'm afraid these people are secretly thinking of him! This person is also one of the murderers! "
Di Jin said calmly: "If such a result is reported, the murderer of this case will only become one person in the end, and that is the deceased Sun Hong!"
"The imperial court will soon re-investigate and find that Sun Hong faked his death to escape. In order to fear being discovered, he killed the former Kaifeng official Yuan Hongjing. The scribe who slandered Yuan Hongjing and burned the case files will probably have one more child. Sun Hong just saved it. The benefactor of his child, everything was a series of murders committed by this extremely vicious monk. Fortunately, he has committed suicide out of fear of crime..."
"As for those noble people in Taipingfang, some will go out to see the military state, while others will stay at home and think about their mistakes. Even these will not happen. After half a year, or perhaps even shorter time, this case will be forgotten in the memory of the people in the capital. middle……"
Gongsun Ce's expression suddenly changed: "This is obviously full of loopholes!"
Di Jin looked at him quietly.
Gongsun Ce couldn't speak anymore and sat down slowly, his face extremely ugly.
Di Jintui said sincerely: "Mingyuan, we all hope that the truth can be fully disclosed to the public, but this is the way of the world. This dynasty is already good. In the previous dynasty, you let those high-ranking nobles take the blame? The Eight Councils can openly exempt all punishment! Now! The evil deeds of these powerful people will be recorded for now, but those who are unscrupulous will definitely not learn the lesson, and it will not be long before they are committed in our hands. The key is when that day comes, do we have the ability to bring them to justice?"
Gongsun Ce took a deep breath and rationally told him that this was indeed the most likely way to achieve it now, but it was difficult to accept it. He said dullly: "You have the final say on the case you have discovered!"
Di Jin cupped his hands: "Thank you Mingyuan for your support. Telling you this actually makes me feel a lot better!"
"Forget it! Forget it!" Gongsun Ce waved his hand and said, "But let's agree. After all, I did my part. Don't fool me. That prince-in-law Li Zunxu must be punished. And It’s not just a matter of being demoted to protect the eight opinions!”
The eight-discussion system is a privileged system stipulated in the ancient criminal law that crimes against eight categories of people must be handed over to the emperor for adjudication. It originated from Bapi in the Western Zhou Dynasty and was officially entered into the law for the first time in Cao Wei's "New Law".
Discuss relatives, discuss old friends, discuss virtues, discuss abilities, discuss merits, discuss nobles, discuss diligence, discuss guests, so to speak. Even if you commit a heinous felony, it depends on the situation and you can be exempted to a certain extent.
Of course, it also depends on the decision of the emperor or the top people in power. Some people just need to change their way of death, some still have to be exiled, and some can just let it go.
This is a naked defense of the privileges of aristocratic bureaucrats. Therefore, when Diao Guangdou refutes Song Ci in "The Punishment of the Song Dynasty", he should not say that the king's law is the law of the royal family. Instead, he should directly bring out the Eight Council System and fight with the law. Torah.
What was it that later had a strong impact on this system and even made it almost exist in name only? I am also very familiar with Jinyiwei, Dongchang, and Xichang!
Since these secret services became popular, the relationship between the monarch and his ministers has no longer been the mutual restraint of power as before. The ministers have completely become slaves of the imperial power. The life and death of civil and military officials are all at the emperor's whim. The so-called eight-discuss system has naturally become It was just empty talk.
Of course, that does not bring fairness, it will only create greater injustice.
Therefore, what Di Jin said before was indeed true. When the high families were rampant in the former Tang Dynasty, the children of the aristocratic families might die due to political struggles. For example, Wu Zetian killed many children of the aristocratic families, but that was not to suppress the aristocratic families, but to suppress them and not listen. The aristocratic family that she said still treated those who relied on her with utmost honor and favor, and they could do evil things at will.
In comparison, in the early and middle periods of the Northern Song Dynasty, justice, justice, good and evil, loyalty and treachery were at least the principles that the government and the public should follow. Even on the surface, there were still many injustices behind the scenes. This was not easy. Change to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. , that means not even installing it.
So Di Jin already had a specific plan to implement: "I'm going to visit Privy Councilor Zhang's house first."
Gongsun Ce asked curiously: "Let him support the fight against the consort?"
"No!" Di Jin smiled and shook his head: "Privy Zhang will not directly come forward to embarrass the consort, but his grandson Zhang Zongshun is quite popular in the Imperial College. He was the one who recommended me to investigate the case before, and now it is time for me to come out to investigate the case. This chivalrous and courageous student came forward to support our righteous actions!"
Gongsun Ce finally smiled: "This is a wonderful statement!"
…
"Ouch - ouch -" "Sir, my grandson knows that he is wrong!" "Ouch - ouch -"
Waves of rhythmic moans came from the room. Zhang Zongshun was lying on the bed, with a miserable expression and a sincere tone.
That day Zhang Qi was furious and dealt with him according to the family law. Naturally, his servants did not dare to beat him to the point of injury like the killing stick in the yamen. But the boss knew his temper well. If he just did If they act like this, not only will they be unlucky, but Zhang Zongshun will be even worse off later, so flesh and blood injuries are inevitable.
So for three days, Zhang Zongshun couldn't get out of bed.
Zhang Qi was very satisfied and felt that this was in line with his strict discipline for his descendants. However, if he stood in front of Zhang Zongshun and observed it for a period of time, he would find that his grandson's eyes were rolling around, and his face looked more like pain than pain. Is there any nervousness about passing the test?
Finally, when his throat was about to become hoarse, he shut his mouth suddenly and glanced at the maid guarding the bed.
The maid understood this and walked out quietly. After a while, she came back and said in a low voice: "Master, the steward sent by the boss is gone!"
"This level has finally been passed!" Zhang Zongshun breathed a sigh of relief, and subconsciously wanted to turn over, but suddenly grinned: "Hey! The beating this time was much harder than the last time, and it's all because of that hateful Di Come in... hiss!"
The maid didn't dare to answer, but she quickly listened, her face changed, and she made a shushing expression.
"Ouch - Ouch -"
Zhang Zongshun reacted very quickly. He immediately realized something was wrong and shouted again.
"Qi Lang has suffered this time!" Soon Zhang Qi's old personal servant came in, first expressed concern, and then whispered: "Qi Lang, go to the hall quickly. The boss has a guest and wants you to accompany him."
Zhang Zongshun was a little strange and laughed dryly: "Master, you don't need me, an injured junior, to come forward when you treat guests, right?"
The old personal servant's tone became serious: "The guest I'm seeing is Di Jieyuan, Qi Lang, don't refuse, go to the hall to keep me company!"
"It's him again?"
Zhang Zongshun screamed and almost jumped up, tears bursting out of his eyes. This time it was true grievance. He wanted to cover his head in the quilt: "Can't I never embarrass him again? Please, let this Mr. Jie Yuang go." Bar!"
