The candlelight in the official residence was bright. Cao Jiwen, the judge of Jingzhao Mansion, picked up the lawsuit on the table, glanced at it, and put it on the candlelight.
The flames quickly rose and engulfed it into ashes, leaving only a wisp of smoke.
Ji Wen's eyes flashed with contempt and he asked, "Has Liu Ji written the new paper?"
In the candlelight, you can see that he is wearing a blue official robe, as is the Wannian County Lieutenant in front of him. But he was sitting, while Wannian County Lieutenant was standing with his waist bent.
"Not only did he write it, he also wrote it with great literary grace and righteousness."
Ji Wen asked again: "Have you taught him all the principles that should be taught?"
"Yes, he is willing to draw a clear line between himself and the East Palace."
"Cartilage." Ji Wen chuckled and asked, "Where's the evidence?"
"Yes, Liu Ji listed countless people who received his generous bribes. They were all given gifts in return in his study. There is all the evidence! It's just that his family lives in Chang'an County, and it's hard for the lower officials to send people to get them."
Ji Wen took his time, took a sip of tea, and called out the door: "Xin Twelve."
A tall man with a beard dressed as a domestic servant and tall eyebrows and deep eyes came in immediately.
Ji Wen asked: "Has the Chang'an County Magistrate not arrived yet?"
Xin Twelve responded: "Go back to Alang, he sent someone to tell you that he was delayed."
"Why?"
Ji Wen was immediately displeased and his face turned cold.
Xin Twelve said: "Because the documents had not arrived before, the county captain Yan Zhenqing refused to accommodate. He was more than half an hour late before he was able to send people to Liu Ji's house."
"waste……"
Suddenly, there were rapid footsteps outside the door.
"Alang, Wanghuo Tower reports that Liu Ji's house is on fire!"
"What?!"
Ji Wen was stunned for a moment and then stood up suddenly, his eyes full of surprise, and then said to himself: "The reaction was so fast? Impossible, impossible."
He thought for a while and then waved Xin Twelve forward again to give instructions.
"Donggong has intervened to destroy the evidence, but this matter is also evidence directly pointing to Donggong. You can use my talisman to investigate and investigate carefully."
"Here."
"And you." Ji Wen turned to Wannian County Lieutenant again and said, "Hurry up and investigate Du Zhai in Pingfang. If the East Palace can get the news so quickly, it must be someone from Du Zhai who reported the news..."
"Here."
~~
There was originally a Fajueni Temple in the southeast corner of Dunyifang. In the second year of Kaiyuan, it was merged into the Zishani Temple. The temple is quite large.
In the night, the knock on the door has been ringing for a while.
The little nun came over in robes and asked through the door, "Who is visiting me at night?"
"Is that Master Jingyin inside? It's me."
Jingyin recognized Du Wei's voice, opened the back door and asked, "Why are you coming here at this time?"
"The house is flooded." Du Wei said, "My husband is not here. I am afraid that the fire will spread to my house. I want to stay in your temple for a night and leave after the curfew is over. Can that be okay?"
Jingyin took a peek and saw two men standing behind her, and couldn't help but hesitate.
"Just a woodshed is enough." Du Wei added.
"Okay, madam, please come in, don't disturb the master."
When the handsome young man at the end was also let into the nunnery, Jingyin felt so ashamed that he silently recited two lines of Buddhist scriptures, quietly bolted the door, and led the five of them into the most secluded small room.
"The two male donors can stay here. Madam, please come with me."
"No need to bother, my two brothers and I will spend the night together." Du Wei stepped forward and held Jingyin's hand, and whispered: "Thank you very much for tonight. I will never forget your kindness."
"Ma'am, you're welcome."
Jingyin was afraid of being punished, so she responded and left quickly.
Liu Shang finally couldn't help crying and cried: "My lady... the house was burned down... all those things were bought with my dowry..."
"Silence." Du Wei scolded: "Do you know what will happen if those charges are covered up?! The lessons learned from Webster's mistakes are still before our eyes. There are still people from your clan who have died naked in the palace. Are you still reluctant to part with some foreign objects?"
Liu Shang was so frightened by the word "die naked" that he didn't dare to speak, so he could only sob softly.
Du Wei turned back to look at Xue Bai and asked softly: "Will the fire burn the neighbors?"
"No, the official has already entered the door and will definitely put out the fire quickly."
"Give me the object you found."
"Okay." Xue Bai took out the paper ball and put it in Du Wei's hand.
There were no candles lit in the room, only a thin ray of moonlight.
Du Wei took two steps, spread out the paper ball, laid it on the window and looked at it. She folded it carefully. She originally wanted to put it in her purse, but then she turned around and put it away close to her body.
When she turned around again, she seemed a little relieved.
Du Wulang asked in a low voice: "What is that? Can you save grandpa?"
"Mr. Lang went to the Wannian County Government Office to sue Grandpa..."
In the middle of Du Mei's words, Du Wulang was shocked and said: "Did the eldest brother-in-law sue?"
"This draft only says that grandpa broke up the marriage."
"Can you still sue like this?"
Du Wei said: "According to Tang law, 'two people are willing to divorce', and I can't force him to reconcile."
Liu Shan was still crying and muttered: "He just doesn't want to lose his identity as the prince's brother-in-law."
After hearing this sentence, Du Wei felt depressed.
She was silent for a while and asked: "Xue Bai, are you the Xue family from Hedong?"
"I've lost my memory and can't remember."
"What do you think of this letter?"
"I don't know much about Liu Lang's son-in-law and the Du family." Xue Bai asked, "What do you think?"
Du Wei didn't pay attention to his tone. She couldn't see each other clearly in the dark, which made her ignore his age and regard him as a negotiable object.
"My grandfather never had bad relations with others, and he rarely interacted with others. If anyone sued my grandfather, it was probably Mr. Lang. He first wrote this letter, but then he became angry, rubbed it, and changed the complaint to 'false claim' Is this a prophecy to construct the East Palace and criticize Chengyu? The son-in-law's accusation against his father-in-law is the most favorable evidence in itself, so Jingzhao Mansion dared to arrest him immediately."
Xue Bai said: "Some words have been modified in the draft. I think the meaning is that the tone should have softened after the modification?"
"Um."
"In other words, Liu Langshu's anger should have subsided a little during the process of writing the petition?"
"That's right."
"Then he shouldn't accuse the Du family of treason." Xue Bai said: "I didn't find any other drafts in the study. I think he copied this draft."
Du Wei's expression changed and she asked, "You mean, Lang Jun changed his mind after he arrived at the Wannian County Government Office?"
Xue Bai asked: "Suppose someone knows that Liu Lang's son-in-law is at odds with the Du family and uses coercion and inducement. Can he be allowed to falsely accuse the Du family?"
"able."
Du Wei didn't think too much and spit out this word immediately.
Her voice was a little sad as she sighed: "This must be the case."
"If our guess is correct, as long as we give this draft to the prince, we can prove that the Du family has been framed?"
Du Wei thought for a moment, nodded slowly, and said, "Yes."
Du Wulang and Qinglan were both happy and said: "That's great."
Xue Bai asked: "What are the lessons learned from Webster's mistakes?"
Du Wei said: "I don't know the inside story very well. I only know that the crown prince's surname is Wei, and her brother Wei Jian is a minister of the imperial court. On the Lantern Festival of the first month of this year, the prince met Wei Jian by chance when he was traveling, and that night Wei Jian met him again. The commander-in-chief of the Border Town, Huangfu Weiming, met for a night outing. Therefore, someone in the court accused them of "having secret contacts with each other in order to establish a crown prince together."
"Just because we met by chance on the street during the Lantern Festival?"
"One is the prince's brother-in-law, and the other is the Commander-in-Chief of Bian Zhen. Their private interactions will inevitably make the saint jealous." Du Wei whispered: "The prince's situation has never been good."
Xue Bai silently experienced an emperor's suspicion of his son from the major case caused by this chance encounter, and finally asked: "What next?"
"Wei Jian was demoted and Huangfu Weiming handed over the military power. This matter should have passed as it was. However, the Wei brothers wrote a letter to express their grievances, which aroused the sage's anger. The court was greatly implicated, and countless people died. The prince had no choice but to use 'discord of friendship' with him. Crown Princess Wei made peace with Li and asked her to become a nun, so she managed to survive."
At this point, Du Wei's voice trembled slightly, and she added: "This case happened at the beginning of the year, but people are still being forced to death. Grandpa is afraid of following in Wei Jian's footsteps, so he has always been cautious. Mr. Pianlang has always had a bad temper. change."
Xue Bai asked: "Last time the prince chose to reconcile with Wei Shi? What about this time?"
"Although the second sister is just Liangdi, she has a very good relationship with the prince."
Xue Bai hesitated for a moment, moved closer, and asked in a low voice: "Is the prince reliable?"
Du Wei said: "Don't worry, the prince is very reliable."
Xue Bai thought for a while, and now he had no other option but to ask the prince for help.
During the rare moment of silence, Du Wulang sighed with emotion: "Hey, you are actually so capable?"
Xue Bai just pretended that he didn't know who he was asking and didn't answer in silence.
The night was getting quieter, so the five of them huddled in this small room and rested all night.
At five o'clock in the morning, the street drums sounded, and the gates of Chang'an city and various squares opened one after another...
~~
Today's emperor strictly prohibited the royal family's heirs from participating in government affairs, so they built large mansions in Yongxingfang and Xingningfang in the northeast corner of Chang'an City, allowing the princes to live in separate houses for close care and strict training. They were called "Ten Prince's Houses".
Even the prince does not live in the East Palace to avoid too much contact with the officials of the East Palace. He only has a separate courtyard in the ten princes' residences where carriages and horses can travel.
early morning.
Children chased Sui under the willow trees on the street, singing songs.
"The jasper is as high as a tree, with thousands of green silk ribbons hanging down. I don't know who cut out the thin leaves. The spring breeze in February is like scissors."
A mule cart came from the south and passed through the cross street of Yongxingfang.
In the carriage, Qinglan said: "The prince's residence can be entered from the second alley in front..."
"I know that man." Du Wulang was looking out from the gap in the car curtain when he suddenly whispered, "He was there when Ji Dalang killed Duan Yan."
"Which one?"
"Among the group of people sitting under the flags in the tea shop, the one with prominent brow bones, deep eye sockets, and a face full of curly beards."
"I've seen them too." Liu Zhan said in surprise: "After Wulang's accident, they were hanging out outside our house."
Xue Bai observed for a while and said: "They are watching."
"Come to catch us?" Du Wulang asked, "What should we do?"
"..."
Xin Twelve sat outside the tea shop, scanning the streets with sharp eyes, following a mule cart as it walked away.
Last night, Wannian County Lieutenant went to Du's house to check. According to the register, he found that Du Wulang and a maid were missing. When the news came, he already knew who he was looking for.
A man dressed as a beggar came up and whispered: "The prince's honor guard left through the side door."
"Put it on and see clearly where he is going." Xin Twelve called two more people and said, "You guys should go too. Once you see the prince meeting someone, report it to Alang immediately."
"yes."
Arrangements were made here. On the other side of the long street, a handsome young gentleman came with his maid Shi Shi Ranran. They turned into the alley and went in the direction of the Prince's Courtyard.
"Someone passed by."
Xin Twelve squinted his eyes slightly, shook his head, and said: "He is neither Du Wulang nor a lackey of the East Palace."
"Then still take it?"
"Look again."
Xin Twelve could see that the young man was wearing a bright fox fur coat and walked calmly. He was obviously from a wealthy family.
He came looking for evidence, but he offended the nobles in Chang'an City unnecessarily.
In sight, the young man stood with his hands behind his back, while the maid talked to the guard and handed the concierge a jade pendant.
After a while, the porter came back with the jade pendant, returned his hands, and invited him in.
"He went in?"
"If the prince is not here, who can he see?"
"Du Liangdi, how dare anyone dare to meet Du Liangdi?"
"what to do?"
"Just follow him when he comes out. It would be better not to come out." Xin Twelve then thought about it and sneered: "No one can escape if they are involved in the Du Youlin case... Also, the mule cart just now Where? Go find it."
~~
The prince's residence looks very simple. There are no flowers or trees in the courtyard, and there is an empty sandy area.
Xue Bai and Qing Lan waited in the front yard for a while, and a maid trotted over.
"Qushui." Qinglan called with a tearful tone.
"What happened?" Qu Shui asked anxiously, but before Qinglan could answer, he led them inside, "Second Mother wants to see you...over here."
Xue Bai and Qing Lan took off their shoes, and she led them through the corridor, and finally sat down in a small side hall.
"Wait a moment, the second mother will be here soon."
"Thank you."
Xue Bai looked at Qushui and ran away in a hurry, and asked Qinglan in a low voice: "Caiyun Qinglan, drinking Qushui?"
"Well, Liu Shang and Qushui are maids born into the family, while Caiyun and I were sold to the Du family when we were young."
It was inconvenient to ask more questions at this time, so Xue Bai glanced at the furnishings in the side hall, then knelt down like Du Wulang did when he occasionally studied, with his waist straight, his hands on his legs, and his eyes level.
Qing Lan didn't know what to do since the accident. She had long lost her maid-like demeanor and stood by the door waiting anxiously.
Not long after, someone came over from the corridor, and she quickly saluted.
"This slave has met Er Niang."
Hearing the commotion, Xue Bai turned around and saw a lady in full dress entering the side hall. She had tall clouds and a hairpin on her temples. She was wearing a silk shirt and her neck and chest were exposed in the cold weather. A piece of white greasy.
She has a graceful figure. She is plump where she should be, but she does not lose her figure. She has just the right curves.
It wasn't until Xue Bai met Prince Liangdi and Du Erniang that he realized the beauty of this Tang Dynasty robe and skirt, half covered with snow.
Thinking again of what Aunt Du said, "The second mother and the prince have a good relationship", he nodded slightly.
She only hoped that the prince would still be willing to protect the Du family for her.
