Outside the Chang'an County government office, people gathered around. Most of them were Mr. Liu's neighbors, and the other half just came to watch the fun.
In the lobby of the county government, scholars and monks stood on both sides. The knees of the people in the Tang Dynasty were not that soft, so most of the etiquette involved bowing hands instead of kneeling. Only very rarely did it require bowing down.
Snapped! quiet!
The county magistrate was in shock, and the onlookers, both sides of the hall, the government officials on both sides, and the spectators all fell silent.
At this moment, a shout came from outside the door, "The champion has arrived."
Champion? Everyone looked towards the gate of the county government, and the people made way one after another. The Xiao Rui brothers strode in.
The county magistrate hurriedly stood up and went out to greet him, "I respectfully greet the Marquis. I didn't know that the Marquis was coming, so I missed the opportunity to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me."
Xiao Rui cupped his hands and said, "No need to be polite. I heard that a major case happened in Chang'an today, so I brought my younger brother with me to broaden my horizons. Chang'an County will not interfere with your investigation of the case, right?"
The predecessor of the county magistrate, Liu Rengui, was promoted to the sixth rank of the Yushitai by Xiao Rui. He was the Chang'an county magistrate appointed by the emperor. Of course he knew Xiao Rui's ability. He respectfully said: "Master Hou, where are you talking? Can you come? , I wish for you. You are known to the whole of Chang'an, the famous Qingtian Censor, and with you sitting next to me and listening, I will feel more confident."
"Come here, show the Marquis and Young Master their seats."
Soon a yamen servant actively moved the seats. Xiao Rui and Xiao Yue sat generously next to them. The county magistrate bowed his head slightly.
"Master Marquis, look, can we start?"
Xiao Rui glanced around, pointed at the people in the distance and said, "Are there usually so many people watching when cases are tried?"
The county magistrate replied: "That's not true. Usually there are not many people. Most of these people are the neighbors of the defendant Mr. Liu, and they may be witnesses."
Xiao Rui nodded: "Then don't stand so far away. Let the people come in. Just outside the courtroom, the distance is closer, and the people can also experience the fairness and justice of our yamen in judging cases. Chang'an County, the county magistrate is Officials who are the parents of the people must be close to the people. The distance is too far and they cannot be separated from the people."
The county magistrate hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Thank you so much, Mr. Marquis, for your advice. I will definitely keep it in mind and will not dare to forget it. Anyone coming, please come in in an orderly manner and witness my decision in the case outside the court."
People swarmed in and were kept out of the court hall by the government officials until order was stabilized.
The county magistrate was stunned and said, "The plaintiff, Monk Kong Kong, why you are suing me, tell me from the beginning."
Monk Kong Kong, who was beaten with a bruised nose and face, resisted the pain at the corner of his mouth and said: "The poor monk Kong Xin is the abbot of Yuandeng Temple in the southwest of the city. Today, Mr. Liu led a group of people and destroyed my temple without any explanation. , beat me so hard that I was covered with scars, please ask the county magistrate to make the decision."
Mr. Liu? Xiao Ruixin said, is this guy quite polite?
The Chang'an County Magistrate turned to Mr. Liu and asked, "Defendant Liu Jinyuan, does this matter?"
Liu Gongzi complained sadly: "Reporting to the county magistrate, it is indeed true. I led the people to smash Yuandeng Temple, and I also beat Monk Kongxin with my own hands. Just because this monk had a vicious mind, he took advantage of my father's serious illness. , defrauded me of all my family property, and asked the county magistrate to make decisions for the common people."
Um? Make the decision for you? You are the defendant.
The county magistrate looked at Monk Kong Kong and said, "Monk, is this possible? Then you are being beaten for fraud, and the thief is crying out to catch the thief? You should be the defendant."
Monk Kongxin said with a face full of pain and grievance: "Amitabha, magistrate, what's the matter? His father was seriously ill. He came to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. He voluntarily donated half of his family property as incense money to help his father cure his illness. Later, his father He died after treatment failed, and you blame us? We didn't force him to rob him."
Liu Jinyuan was so angry that he went up and grabbed the other person's neck, "Bald Donkey, aren't you? You defrauded me of half of my family property. You said that I was dishonest and deceitful. You said that my father had done evil things and suffered a loss in his previous life. Half of the family property is not enough." Atone for my sins, and then ask me to go to Shanlian Temple and donate the other half of my family property. Later I found out that it turns out that your Yuandeng Temple and Shanlian Temple are basically the same group and have colluded to defraud money."
ah? What's going on behind the scenes? The county magistrate was entranced for a moment and froze on the spot. Even the government officials were caught up in wonderful associations.
Xiao Rui coughed lightly and said, "Chang'an County, if we don't pull away from each other, the monk will be strangled to death."
Soon, a group of government officials stepped forward to pull the two away.
The Chang'an County Magistrate pondered: "Since this matter also involves Shanlian Temple, please call the abbot of Shanlian Temple. Is what the plaintiff Monk Kongxin said just now, Liu Jinyuan, true?"
Monk Kongxin explained: "Amitabha, the county magistrate, is a slanderous person. The Buddha saved the world with compassion and saved all sentient beings. His father was ill, and he came to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. As long as he was sincere, the Buddha would definitely bless him with a long and safe life. Now his father has died of illness. , the Buddha has not appeared, it is clear that his intentions are not sincere, and there are hidden sins that have not been atonement, who can blame him?"
The county magistrate asked: "Then how do you explain that you are not defrauding people of their money?"
The monk shouted that he was wronged, "Master County Magistrate, although our Yuandeng Temple is small, it still has pilgrims. So many pilgrims come to worship the Buddha, donate incense money, burn incense and pray for blessings, all on their own volition. But there is really no one." You donated the money and then took it back from the merit box. Only Mr. Liu is the first of his kind. By praying for salvation in front of the Buddha, are you making a deal with the Buddha?"
"What kind of existence is Buddha? He is an omniscient and omnipotent god. With your yellow and white things, you are worthy of trading with Buddha? If you want to get the blessing of Buddha, you can only worship sincerely. Who knows what your father did during his lifetime? Unspeakable evil deeds? It's all about karma on the death bed. If you keep pestering me like this, you are still doing evil, and you won't end well in the end."
Liu Jinyuan said angrily: "Bald donkey, you dare to threaten me? I am not afraid of any retribution. Buddha is just a trick you use to deceive people. If there really is such an omnipotent god, the first one should be Kill you lying bastards like you."
"County Magistrate, my father has been wronged! My father has accumulated virtues and done good deeds throughout his life. He often eats fasts and chants Buddha's name, but he is killed by these bald donkeys at the end of his life. At this time, he is still slandering my father's reputation and is still endangering the common people. Please ask the county magistrate Make decisions for the people!"
The people watching all started shouting, "Yes, this monk is hateful! Although Rich Man Liu made his fortune as a merchant, he is a good man, not a profit-seeking businessman. He is always very kind to our neighbors and pays for anyone who has trouble." How could such a good man be guilty of such a good thing if he tried to help? It is clearly this monk who is slandering Mr. Liu."
The Chang'an County Magistrate patted the prison wall and said, "Silence! That monk, how dare you blatantly threaten and curse the defendant in court? Is this unreasonable? Come here, drag him down and slap him ten times."
"Got the order!"
Monk Kongxin panicked, "Wait a minute, I didn't, I'm not. That's recorded in Buddhist scriptures. Evil must be punished. I didn't say it. It was Buddha... County magistrate, Buddha is a god. You are offending the god by doing this." .”
Um...this! Wait.
The county magistrate hesitated. Not everyone in this era believed in ghosts and gods, but everyone knew how to fear them.
So the Chang'an County Magistrate turned to look at Xiao Rui, who was listening, hoping that this world-famous champion could give him some advice.
