Han Changmu raised his eyebrows slightly. Zheng Binyuan was able to secure his position as magistrate of Wannian County. He could play both sides without offending anyone. He still had his merits.
After walking through this section of the brightly lit corridor, there was a dim light at the end of the corridor. A doorway as high as a person was opened in the wall. The iron gate was closed with a cold lock.
Han Changmu walked over slowly, stood in front of the door, and looked at everything inside quietly.
Although it is said to be a single cell, the conditions are not much different from other multi-person cells, except that there are fewer people in it.
There was a thin layer of withered yellow straw on one end of the cell, and a stained bucket on the other end. Other than that, there was no other object.
At this time, a man with an honest expression was sitting on the withered straw. His back was to the iron gate and he was facing the rugged wall, quite as if he was facing the wall and thinking about his own past.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, his body moved slightly, but he stubbornly did not turn around.
Han Changmu pursed his lower lip and said quietly: "Zhang Yan."
Zhang Yan didn't look back and said stubbornly: "I didn't kill anyone. No matter how you humiliate me, I will never plead guilty."
Han Changmu curled his lips and smiled: "Zhang Yan, I am the director of the Internal Security Department. Because Xia Yuanji is related to the case being investigated by the Internal Security Department, Wannian County has handed over your and Xia Yuanji's murder case to the internal security department. manage."
fo
Zhang Yan's figure was shaken violently, and he turned around with a heartbroken expression.
He originally thought that being involved in a murder case, being imprisoned in Wannian County's jail, and having his future ruined would be the worst thing that could happen, but he didn't expect that there would be even worse things waiting for him.
Department of Internal Health, that's the Department of Internal Health. If you go in, can you still come out alive?
He was locked up in the cell all night, and except for the green stubble that appeared around his lips, he didn't feel too haggard and depressed. After all, he firmly believed that sooner or later he would walk out of this cell innocently.
But now, when he heard the words "Ministry of Internal Affairs", his belief collapsed.
His breath suddenly became weak, and his energy seemed to have been drained.
He slumped on the withered straw and muttered at the corner of his lips: "Nei, Nei, Department of Internal Health."
Seeing this scene, Zheng Binyuan sighed.
The prison head standing nearby sighed silently. The word "Internal Health Department" is really comparable to the Palace of Hell. When he came in last night, he was still a tough-tongued man. Look now, he has become a boiled soup.
Han Changmu didn't say another word and raised his chin towards Meng Suigai.
Zheng Binyuan hurriedly asked the cell leader next to him to open the cell door. There was a loud crash, and Meng Suige walked into the cell with his head held high and said coldly to Zhang Yan: "Zhang Yan, come with me."
Zhang Yan moved his lips, and the word "no" seemed to be stuck between his lips and teeth, and he couldn't say it even though he tried his best.
He stood up with difficulty and followed Meng Suige out of the dark cell. The light suddenly shone in and he quickly raised his hands to cover his eyes.
The group of people walked out very quickly, and the movement back and forth had already alarmed the people in the cells on both sides.
They all gathered in front of the iron gate with unkempt appearance. They all heard what they just said and knew that the two people who came to take Zhang Yan away were from the Internal Security Department.
I couldn't help but sigh and shake my head with emotion.
"Hey, you said you could come out alive after entering the Department of Internal Security?"
"It's hard to say. You probably won't survive if you go in, but he should be able to."
"Why does he have one more leg than others?"
"I heard that he is a tribute scholar and just passed the provincial examination this year."
"What's wrong with the Gongshi? There are not many Gongshi killed by the Internal Guard."
Along the way, the more Zhang Yan listened, the more desperate he became. He desperately wanted to hit her to death, but thinking about Zhang Di who was still outside, how frightened she was, and how she was running to save her, he didn't dare to die casually.
After walking out of the prison, the crisp air and bright sunshine suddenly hit him. Zhang Yan squinted his eyes as if he had been given a new lease of life, and an idea came to his mind. He wanted to live, and he wanted to live with all his strength.
After snatching Zhang Yan from the hands of the Prince of Annan County, everything went very smoothly. Zheng Binyuan and Yu Qing had long wanted to throw this murder case away. Handing over the relevant files and Xia Yuanji's body was simply a matter of course. Without hesitation.
Han Changmu finished all these things with just a cup of tea, and escorted Zhang Yan out of the Wannian County Government Office.
Zhang Yan was blindfolded and sent to the Department of Internal Health. In the darkness, people's fears will be infinitely magnified. Not long after he walked out of the Wannian County Government Office, he had already thought of no less than 180 ways to die, each of which was horrific. .
Then the opaque black cloth was suddenly pulled off his face. He was unable to recover from the tragic death in time, and looked around in a daze.
He was in a small room. The closed windows were covered with thin clear paper. The sunlight shone diagonally into the room through the transparent paper, sifting on the ground one by one. It lived up to the bright and dazzling outside and added to the beauty of the room. A bit desolate.
There was a fire bed set up on one side of the room. It was cool at this time of year. A burnt yellow aged bamboo mat was spread on it. Thin quilts and pillows were neatly placed on the corners of the bed. Although they were extremely old, they were well taken care of. clean.
There is a bookcase and a bed next to the Kang. The bookcase is complete with pen, ink, paper, inkstone and lamp, but there are no books.
The Gong bucket was placed behind the door without exception, but it was washed clean and had plant ash in it, so it didn't have much of an odor.
The whole room was neatly tidied, and even the cracked blue bricks were polished and polished.
Zhang Yan couldn't help but sigh, although the Internal Health Department is a place that cannibalizes people, this place where people are detained before cannibalism is really not comparable to Wannian County Prison.
There was no need for Han Changmu to personally interrogate criminals like Zhang Yan, but who knew that he was the person Xie Mengxia wanted to protect? Han Changmu could only do everything by himself, lest anything go wrong in the process and his efforts would be ruined.
He stood at the door and watched Zhang Yan look at the room one by one. Finally he breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but smile. With the naivety of a scholar, he said calmly: "You won't think that this is the person detained by the Internal Security Department. A cell, right?”
Zhang Yan didn't notice that Han Changmu hadn't left at all. When he heard the voice, he was startled and almost sat down on the ground. He turned around with an embarrassed look on his face: "Si, Mr. Si Shi."
Han Changmu stepped across the threshold in one step, walked into the room, and said to himself: "Most of the prisoners detained in the Internal Security Department are extremely evil people. They are not worthy of such a house."
It turned out that this was not the cell of the Department of Internal Health. No wonder, he said, how could the Department of Internal Health, which had always been so vicious, be so kind in a place where prisoners were held?
Zhang Yan's calmed down heart suddenly became high again, and he looked at Han Changmu warily: "What does this mean, Sir?"
This was the second time that Han Changmu saw such deep vigilance. The first time was on Yao Yao's face. He couldn't help but smile playfully: "You will know what I mean if you stay here for a few more days."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan immediately panicked. If he stayed for a few more days, wouldn't it mean that he would miss the palace examination? He had suffered ten years of hard work, but he could not help but suffer, but in the end he was in vain.
He begged with a white face: "Your Excellency, I cannot do that. There is still a palace examination coming up, so I..."
As soon as he was halfway through speaking, he was frightened by Han Changmu's sarcastic gaze and flinched, and he swallowed the rest of his words abruptly.
Yes, he is still guilty now. Let alone take part in the palace examination, even if he has just passed the exam, he may not be able to keep his status as a tribute.
Unable to clear his name, the imperial examination was just a luxury for him.
The most important thing at the moment was to clear his name. He raised his head and saw Han Changmu's face that was reserved for strangers.
Zhang Yan's heart skipped a beat. This person took him out of Wannian County and brought him to the Department of Internal Health. He didn't put him in a cell. He seemed to have some trust in him. So, could this person be able to replace him? He was cleared of wrongdoing.
He suddenly knelt down on the ground, kowtowed, and said word by word: "I am unjustly accused. I beg you, Sir, to see clearly!"
Han Changmu smiled faintly.
This man was very thoughtful, and he quickly figured out who to ask for and whom to ask for.
The smile on Han Changmu's face became more and more unfathomable, and he casually took two steps with his hands behind his back: "Why should I help you?"
Zhang Yan's heart sank, yes, why should you help him? Han Changmu is in a high position and comes from a distinguished family, but he is just a down-and-out tribute scholar. Even if he is successful in becoming a Jinshi, a person with no foundation like him will be floating in the officialdom with no future. It’s really unclear.
Han Changmu really had no reason to help him.
What's the point of helping him? Is he a down-and-out tribute soldier with an uncertain future? Is he going to drown in the ups and downs of the official world if he is not careful?
Even though he was very knowledgeable and could see things very clearly, Han Changmu was the only life-saving straw he could think of, and he had no other choice.
With no way to appeal, Zhang Yan suddenly became a little more resourceful. He thought of the disputes between Han Jiajun and the royal family in Prince Han's palace. He couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. He said slowly and uneasily but sincerely: "Presumably, Commander-in-Chief Your Excellency, you have heard of the four words "high achievements shake the master".
After he finished speaking, he looked at Han Changmu openly, as if he was selfless in his heart and just said a simple sentence without any deep meaning.
But his heart was not as calm as his face. Huge waves were rising up and down, his heart was pounding, and he almost jumped out of his chest.
His gamble can be said to have cut off his retreat. If he wins, he will have a bright future, but if he loses, he will have no way out.
Han Changmu squinted his eyes. It seemed that people's potential was endless, and Zhang Yan was not as honest and dull as he seemed on the surface. In order to find a way out for Bo, he could actually be brave enough to even say such treasonous words. Dare to speak out.
This is the intention to put oneself to death and survive.
Han Changmu pursed his lips and said indifferently: "Oh, according to what you said, how should I and Prince Han's Mansion deal with myself?"
Zhang Yan didn't expect Han Changmu to ask this question at all. Although he was not lacking in vision and courage, it was the first time he answered like this. He was uneasy and hesitated to speak, without the calmness and magnanimity he had just now: "I thought, Sir Nowadays, you are very smart to keep a low profile and bide your time."
"Hide your capabilities and bide your time?" Han Changmu laughed out loud: "Do you think I am hiding my capabilities and biding my time?"
Zhang Yan didn't know what he said wrongly, but it actually made Han Changmu laugh, and he felt even more uneasy. After thinking about it for a long time, he said: "Your Excellency, you are dedicated to the public service and work conscientiously. This is how you keep a low profile and bide your time."
Han Changmu suddenly realized that his understanding of "keeping a low profile and keeping a low profile" was different from Zhang Yan's understanding. He thought that "keeping a low profile and keeping a low profile" was a dandy and absurd, while Zhang Yan thought that "keeping a low profile and keeping a low profile" was about running errands.
He pursed his lips and was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed out loud: "You are indeed different from ordinary people, but whether I am keeping a low profile and biding my time, or whether my achievements are great and my master is shocked, what does it have to do with you?"
Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, and heard a hint of relief from Han Changmu's words, and he hurriedly said sincerely: "Your Majesty, Sir, has just entered the capital. As your wings grow, you will be able to do whatever you want. I am not talented, but I am willing to serve you as a dog and horse." It’s hard work.”
Hearing this, Han Changmu couldn't help but want to laugh. Forty-eight tributes from a provincial examination were coming to work as cattle and horses for him. If he still hesitated, wouldn't he be pretending to be ignorant?
He raised his eyelids and said calmly: "You are so sincere. If I don't give you a hand, wouldn't it seem that I am heartless." He paused slightly and watched Zhang Yan relax in relief. He pursed his lips and said calmly: "Please tell me in detail what happened on the day of the accident."
As he said that, Han Changmu lifted up his clothes, sat on the bed, opened the file he had brought back from Wannian County, twirled the corners of the pages with his fingertips, and said slowly: "Remember it carefully. If you hide something, don't blame me for not telling you." save you."
Zhang Yan trembled: "I don't dare."
Bright sunlight enters through the window, and the light is diffused between the window lattice.
The room was as quiet as water inside and outside. Meng Suigai leaned against the door, lowered his head, and counted the ants that quickly crawled past his feet out of boredom.
The situation on the day of the accident was something Zhang Yan had never experienced in his life. After a whole night, the memory was not vague at all, but was as clear as if it were engraved on Zhang Yan's heart. Not to mention forgetting, even the details were forgotten. Remember it clearly.
But he couldn't figure it out. He was just a useless poor scholar. Why did this happen to him? What good could come from framing him?
Zhang Yan took a deep breath, calmed down, and said eagerly: "The results were released yesterday. After reading the yellow list, I returned to Zhaoguofang from Gongyuan. In the afternoon, I went to Qujiang with a few friends to study. At dusk After leaving, as soon as I arrived at the Dongfang Gate of Zhaoguofang, I met Brother Xia's young man. He said that Brother Xia had invited me, and I had no doubt that he was there, so I went with him. Who knew that as soon as I arrived at the door, I was greeted by someone? I was hit from behind and fell unconscious on the ground. When I woke up, it was already dark. I was lying at the door of the yard I rented, with a sticky knife in my hand and a knife on my body. It was also sticky. I got up and looked through the light from the door. I found that there was blood on the knife, body and hands. I was very scared. I didn’t know what had happened. Before I could figure it out, what would happen? The yamen officer of Nian County locked me up and put me in jail. It was only then that I found out that Brother Xia was dead, or he died under my sword. However," he choked up as he spoke, "but I was really wronged. , I’ve never done anything.”
Han Changmu did not question Zhang Yan's words. He just slowly turned the dossier page by page, compared Zhang Yan's words with the records in the dossier, and asked lightly without raising his head: "You mean, you didn't see it at all." Xia Yuanji?"
"Yes, yes." Zhang Yan nodded eagerly: "I was knocked unconscious when I was at the door. I didn't even go in. I didn't even see where Brother Xia was."
Han Changmu's hand while flipping through the file paused, and his eyes glanced slightly coldly at the line of neat regular script.
This page records the situation in the house at the time of the crime.
According to the records, Xia Yuanji was lying on the ground with his head facing the door and his feet pointed at the earthen kang. Blood flowed out from under his body and just reached the door. It was blocked by the threshold and pooled into a A shallow pool of blood could just cover the upper of the shoe.
Judging from the posture of falling to the ground, it seems that Xia Yuanji heard something and walked towards the door. Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened the door, he was stabbed in the vital part face to face, and then he lay on the ground and died. .
And there was a pair of footprints printed in the large pool of blood. The left foot was an inch behind the right foot, and every trace of the pattern on the sole was clearly distinguishable.
Seeing this, Han Changmu's face darkened slightly and his eyes narrowed coldly.
If he walked into the house first, and then killed people, and the blood spread on the ground, then the footprints on the ground would not be so clearly visible, and would only be a vague shadow. But the footprints that are so clear now must be It was caused by stepping on the blood when it was half dry.
Han Changmu raised his eyebrows slightly, feeling vaguely suspicious in his heart.
He did not speak, and Zhang Yan did not dare to continue speaking. He only stared at Han Changmu's stopped hand uneasily.
After a moment of silence, Han Changmu began to flip through the files again, and continued reading in silence.
It is written in the file that when Zhang Yan was caught, there were large splatters of blood on his face and clothes. His right hand and arm were covered with blood. The short knife was in his hand, and he had a pair of gray-blue shoes on his feet. The upper part of the shoes was also splattered with little bits of blood, and the soles were stained with a thin layer of blood. The blood on the soles was unevenly distributed, with more blood in some places and less in others.
Han Changmu admired in his heart. Putting aside how smooth and accommodating Zheng Binyuan was, just looking at the detailed and accurate records in Wannian County files, we knew that he was experienced and meticulous in dealing with things, and that he was an impartial and upright person.
Han Changmu continued to read down, and when he turned a page, it was clearly written in the file that after comparison, the blood-stained shoes on Zhang Yan's feet matched the footprints left in the pool of blood.
He looked like a murderer who had just killed someone and was running away like crazy.
But there are still loopholes here.
Xia Yuanji's fatal wound was in the abdomen. The knife was inserted into the lower abdomen and then pulled out. He was killed with one knife. The blood spattered out, which would indeed splash on the murderer's clothes, but his wound was in the lower abdomen, and the murder weapon was a three-inch long knife. With a short blade, he stabbed someone at such a close distance and drew the knife. The blood in his lower abdomen spattered out. It could only be the murderer's abdomen, or at most the clothes on his chest. How could it be splashed on Zhang Yan's face.
If it is said that after Zhang Yan killed the person, he wiped his face with his right hand and wiped the blood from his hand on his face, then why was he still holding a knife in his hand when he was caught?
The biggest doubt is that there are only a pair of footprints of Zhang Yan walking into the house in the pool of blood, but there are no footprints of Zhang Yan walking out.
How did he come out? Could it be that he flew out?
Even if it flies out, there should be a turning movement.
As for Xia Yuanji's boy, the file states that his whereabouts are unknown.
Han Changmu slowly raised his head and asked calmly: "When you arrived at the door, did you see anyone in the house?"
Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment: "The door was ajar at that time, and I didn't see anyone in the room."
Han Changmu asked another question: "Do you think there is anyone in the house, or rather, how many people are there?"
Zhang Yan was even more stunned: "Brother Xia went to Beijing to take the exam, and he only brought a boy with him. The boy was behind me at the time, so Brother Xia must be the only one in the room."
Han Changmu was surprised by Zhang Yan's innocence, and sighed with frustration and helplessness: "Did you see that boy before you fainted?"
Zhang Yan shook his head blankly: "No, the blow with the stick was too sudden. I didn't react at all. I didn't see anything. When I woke up, I was already at the door of the rental yard."
This is someone who doesn't know anything about it. It's no wonder that the people in Annan County Prince's Palace are so confident. It's even more no wonder that Zheng Binyuan had to lock up Zhang Yan even though he knew that there was something fishy about this case.
In such a situation, everyone would think that the murderer is Zhang Yan.
Han Changmu pursed his thin lips tightly and gave a speechless bitter smile. Knowing that he could not ask anything else from Zhang Yan, he stood up, took the file and sighed: "Okay. You will stay here temporarily for the next few days."
After saying that, he walked out quickly, opened the door, and the sunshine poured in. He walked into the sunshine.
Zhang Yan looked at Han Changmu in the sunshine and felt particularly at ease. At the same time, he felt at ease, but at the same time he had endless questions in his heart.
"Master Secretary!" Zhang Yan suddenly spoke and stopped Han Changmu.
Han Changmu turned around slightly: "Why, what did you remember again?"
"No," Zhang Yan shook his head: "I would like to ask, why does Sir Shi want to help me?"
Han Changmu laughed: "Didn't you say so yourself, are you willing to do your best for me?"
Zhang Yan choked, his cheeks were slightly red, and he was a little embarrassed. Those were just his urgent words. Although they were sincere, he knew himself. Now he is just a tribute scholar with an uncertain future, and he has just touched a Jinshi. On the other hand, he didn't think that with his status, he could give Han Changmu some help, and Han Changmu could help him with this dispensable help and work tirelessly to clear his grievances.
Seeing Zhang Yan's awkward silence, Han Changmu raised his eyebrows slightly. He couldn't bear it, but he had to tell the truth: "This matter is what His Highness the King of Han wants. Zhang Di entered the Han Dynasty as a concubine, and you also Even if you have something to do with Prince Han’s palace, it’s reasonable for Prince Han to ask about your affairs.”
These words were like a thunderbolt from the blue, leaving Zhang Yan stunned.
He was stunned for a long time, and then he murmured in disbelief: "Adi, the King of Han, the concubine of the King of Han." He paused, then suddenly remembered something, and shouted frantically: "This is impossible, Impossible, a self-respecting and easy-going girl like Adi cannot be willing to be a concubine!!"
