July is on fire.
The remaining heat is gradually dissipating and retreating as the summer Mars moves westward. The weather is finally getting cooler.
In the east hall of Tai Chi Hall, Emperor Cao Rui looked gloomy at the moment, as if he had great anger in his heart, but had nowhere to vent it.
Under the jade steps of Danqi, General Cao Shuang of the Military Guard, his face was as sinking as water at this moment, and he was thoughtful. After a while, Cao Shuang had made up his mind and then said:
"Your Majesty is saying that Wang Li, the former governor of Hanoi County, committed suicide in a prison because he was afraid of punishment?"
Cao Shuang's tone was full of doubts and confusion. He understood that although Wang Li returned to the capital after surrendering in Hanoi, he had testified against Sima Xun, the prime minister of Honglu Temple, but this did not mean that All the culprits have been identified. This horse theft case has been going on for a long time. Wang Li has not yet fully recalled all the officials and clues involved in the case. Yousi has not yet sentenced him. How could he, who was praying for leniency, commit suicide in fear of crime at this time?
At this important juncture, Wang Li died like this! If he said that no one was doing anything secretly, he would never believe it. However, now that Wang Li is dead, I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult to investigate this matter further.
"Uncle Zhao." Cao Rui turned his back to Cao Shuang and stood on the steps, staring at the majestic blue dragon painted on the wall.
Although his voice was clear and soft, it naturally carried a kind of intimidating majesty. The emperor clenched his fists. He understood that this kind of case could not be handed over to an institution like Dali Temple to handle, and he wanted to find out what was going on behind the scenes. People, then we have to use behind-the-scenes means to solve it secretly.
Although the school affairs office is effective, this matter is of great importance, and Cao Rui obviously does not trust the school affairs office.
He turned around, looked at the steady and cautious young friend at the foot of the stairs, and said:
"I know you are always cautious. This time, I want you to investigate this matter secretly. It is best to help me find this daring person. I hope you can investigate the case as soon as possible and meet my expectations."
"I will definitely live up to your majesty's high expectations!" Cao Shuang replied, but in his heart, he thought that this case could just be handed over to a boy like Xi to practice his skills.
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In the sky prison, the faint firelight contrasted with the darkness, creating a strange and gloomy atmosphere. This place may not necessarily be considered the most secure place in the world, but it would not be easy for ordinary people to escape or sneak into this place.
"General Qi, this... hiccup... is the prison cell of Dihao." Under the leadership of an old jailer smelling of alcohol, Cao Xi came to the prison where he was originally held. Wang Li's cell.
Originally, this was a task given by His Majesty to the eldest brother, but the eldest brother decided to leave it to himself. He even said that this was a task that he had reserved exclusively for himself to practice. It was all for his own good! Only a ghost would believe what his eldest brother said. Cao Xi felt that it was obviously his eldest brother's laziness that made him hand over the case to him. But what can I do? Cao Xi could only helplessly curse like this.
Heaven, earth, Xuan, Huang, Yu, Zhou, Hong and Huang. This heavenly prison is divided into four levels and eight sections. From heaven to hell, the more serious the crime and the higher the authority, the further back the people will be arranged.
However, the first four floors generally hold more prisoners, and among the first four floors, the heaven and earth departments hold the most prisoners.
As for the Huangzi name at the back, Cao Xi had never thought about it, nor could he think of anyone who was qualified to be imprisoned here.
"General, this cell with a cell name... hiccup... usually imprisons local state and county officials who have committed crimes, while court officials who have committed crimes are usually imprisoned in a cell with a cell name of Xuan." , By the way, sir, not long ago, Sima Xun, who was imprisoned... hiccup..., was imprisoned in the Xuanbu. Oh, I am so confused about such a humble position. These gentlemen, let go You are a good official and you have to come to this prison...hiccup...suffering a lot, just like this Lord Wang Liwang, even his life is on the line here. , I, little old man, would like to go out and become an official who can see the light of day, but I have no chance, alas..."
The old jailer let out a long sigh and yawned while belching wine. He was usually bored in this prison, but now that he finally had someone to talk to, he naturally wanted to talk to him.
"Is this the place where Wang Li was imprisoned during his lifetime?" Cao Xi carefully observed the cell numbered eighteen, and saw that although the cell was dark and dark, it was not very small. Wang Li was also a scholar from Xiaolian. He likes cleanliness, and now even the cell he once lived in is kept quite clean and tidy. However, since the cell had not been occupied and cleaned for two days, the bed in the room was already covered with a thin layer of dust.
"That's right." The old jailer rubbed his drunken eyes, and after confirming again, he was sure that there was no mistake: "Eighteenth of the earth, that's right here."
"Are you sure that Wang Li did commit suicide?" Cao Xi still had a suspicious expression on his face.
"It's absolutely true, General. Not to mention that the defense of the prison is... hiccup... tight and difficult to get in and out. Even in his humble position, I asked my boss to check Wang Li's body. There was no sign of poisoning. It's true. He died of suicide."
Cao Xi continued to observe everything in the cell while asking carefully:
"Then, has any suspicious person visited the cell in the past few days?"
"When officials like these enter prison, it is common for their relatives and friends to come to visit them. You... hiccup... as you just said, there are no suspicious figures and low-level positions. Note, but in the past two days, a young master who claimed to be a disciple of Wang Li's former official did come to visit."
When Cao Xi heard this, he frowned and continued to ask:
"Is this person registered?"
"Yes!" The old jailer said very proudly: "Yes, yes, of course there is. This is a matter that I personally take charge of. I can't go wrong. Please wait a moment, I will go and give it to you... burp... ...Look for it.”
Not long after, the old jailer came over with a registration list in his hand.
"In the fourth year of Taihe in the Wei Dynasty, in the sixth month of summer, at Bingchen day, Jiang... Hi... Jun went into prison and visited Wang Li, the eighteenth king of Dizi. He came out before the time came. Nuo. , it is clearly written in black and white on the paper, would you like to take a look for yourself?"
Jiang Gejun? Hearing the old jailer read out the name, Cao Xi was confused. When he took the register and checked it in person, his eyes stopped on the word 'Jiang Jun', and then he realized that it was Jiang Jun.
"It turns out that he is the eldest son of Lord Jiang Ji, the Marquis of Guannei and the Central Protector..." Cao Xi murmured to himself, thoughtfully.
"By the way, General, there is one more thing." The old jailer seemed to suddenly remember something and took out something from his arms: "I suddenly remembered that after Wang Li died, in his hand... hiccup. ..... I clutched the hairpin tightly. I thought it was nothing unusual. Seeing that it was worth two yuan, I kept it myself. I originally planned to exchange it for wine, but since the general is here today Investigate the case, General, take a look, I wonder if it will be of any use to you... hiccup..."
Cao Xi took the hairpin and looked at it for a while. It was a bead hairpin for women. Why was Wang Li holding this bead hairpin in his hand before he died? What did he want to express...
After Cao Xi thought for a long time, he suddenly said with enlightenment: "I understand!"
He took out a few taels of broken silver from his money bag and handed it to the old jailer. He then said, "This hairpin is of great use to me. Sell it to me. In addition, take me to the Tianzihao cell. I want to see that hairpin." The second gang leader of the Soochow Haisha Gang."
"Okay!" When the old jailer saw the white money, his drunken eyes suddenly brightened up. Now he had half a year's worth of drinking money. He happily put the money into his sleeves and happily led Cao Xi to the Tianzihao cell.
Not long after, the two came to cell No. 7 in Tianzi.
As soon as Cao Xi approached the cell, he felt a wave of filthy smell blowing towards his face. The filthy smell made Cao Xi cover his face with his hands, almost making him sick.
And the arrested second leader of the Haisha Gang, a muscular man with a beard on his face, was currently wearing iron chains, sitting cross-legged on the thatch, chewing on the moldy prison food.
The moment Cao Xi entered the cell, he was keenly aware that a pair of wild wolf-like eyes were projected towards him.
"It's you...it's you..." As soon as the second leader of the Sea Shark Gang saw Cao Xi, he immediately began to roar. His voice was low and hoarse, like an angry and thirsty animal. A fierce beast was roaring in a low voice.
"Do you know, you have been sentenced to Ling Chi!" Although Cao Xi felt a little fear in his heart, he did not lose his composure. Without further words, he just threw this sentence away coldly.
After hearing this, the second leader of the Haisha Gang suddenly turned pale. If he wanted to die happily, it would be fine, but who would suffer this kind of Lingchi torture? If that were the case , it would be better for him to hit his head to death now than to suffer the pain of being cut into pieces by a thousand cuts.
"However, as long as you are willing to answer the questions I am going to ask seriously, I can guarantee that you will die happily." Cao Xi looked at the man's cold and vicious eyes and put forward his conditions in an understatement.
The second leader of the Haisha Gang hesitated for a moment. He understood that confessing at this time was his only chance to reduce his punishment. Moreover, it was better to have a few more people buried with him before he died than to go to hell alone.
"Okay! I promise you! But don't forget your promise to me, otherwise, even if I die and turn into a ghost, I won't let you go!"
"Very good." Cao Xi smiled and took out the pearl hairpin from his sleeve: "Then do you recognize this?"
The second leader of the Haisha Gang squinted his eyes and carefully looked at the hairpin in Cao Xi's hand, and sneered: "Of course I recognize it, why don't I recognize it? This hairpin was worn by the Hanoi County Sheriff, Wang Li's aunt!"
"Wang Li's wife?" As if his inner thoughts were confirmed, Cao Xi immediately continued to ask: "Then how do you recognize it?"
"Of course I recognize it. How could I not recognize it? Our brothers have been in Hanoi for several years and dealt with Wang Li every day. Wang Li was poor and only bought this decent pearl hairpin for his wife. The Hanoi County Sheriff, originally He is diligent and loves the people, but unfortunately, he is too attached to his family, so he is held hostage by our elder brother."
"You mean, this hairpin was the one you used to threaten Wang Li?"
"That's right, you're absolutely right." The second leader of the Haisha Gang stretched himself beautifully and yawned, causing the chains to rattle. He continued: "However, I still don't Understand that Wang Li’s family members are not involved in the case. Logically speaking, shouldn’t they be staying at Wang Li’s residence in Hanoi County now? How come this hairpin is in your hands?”
"Wang Li committed suicide in prison, did you know?"
"What!" The second leader of the Haisha Gang has been in prison, and no one has talked to him, so he has no way of knowing many things. He originally thought that the accomplices in the court would find a way to rescue them, but he had no idea. Thinking that those people would actually kill Wang Li and silence him, does this mean that he might also be killed by them? Fortunately, he was a bandit from Soochow and had no relatives or friends in Luoyang. Those people had no reason or excuse to visit him and approach him, so he escaped a disaster! The body of the second leader of the Sea Shark Gang was trembling slightly, so much so that the chains on his body creaked slightly. He is not afraid of death, but he hates being betrayed!
Since you are ruthless, don't blame me for being unjust!
"The accomplices in the court, as well as the Central Guards and the Marquis of Guan Nei, Jiang Ji. As for the evidence, I don't have it. You can check it yourself!"
"Very good." Cao Xi's thoughts were finally confirmed. It's just that Jiang Ji, the Marquis of Guan Nei, has always been cautious, so I'm afraid it's hard to get a handle on him. To expose his true colors, I am afraid that the only way to do it is through his son Jiang Jun. As long as Jiang Jun knows the general situation and is willing to surrender, then Jiang Ji's crime will be confirmed. He looked at the people in the prison and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely do what I promised you."
