Jiangning Mansion Office, Yaqian Street.
At this time, there was a huge crowd, and the Jingshan Pavilion and Shenming Pavilion next to the gate of the government office were crowded with people.
The sage once said: I am a human being who hears lawsuits, and I will definitely make sure there are no lawsuits.
Confucianism believes that the absence of lawsuits is the ideal state of society. The fewer lawsuits, it means that the local customs are simple and the people are easy to govern.
If any sour scholar saw the crowded scene in front of the Jiangning Mansion Gate today, they would inevitably lament that the world is declining and people's hearts are not as old as they used to be.
However, the people of Jiangning who gathered in front of the gate of the government office at this time were not the victims and defendants who came to file a lawsuit, but the good people who came to watch the excitement after hearing the news.
And the reason why there are so many people watching is because what the government office is trying today is extraordinary.
Three days ago, Sun Zhigao, a student from Youyang County, took advantage of the dark night and high winds to sneak into the Liu family courtyard and steal jewelry, calligraphy and paintings worth about one thousand taels of silver. When he escaped over the wall, he was caught on the spot by the owner of the house.
Of course, this is only the official statement, and there is another version circulating in the market:
Sun Zhigao had an affair with Song Xi'er, the concubine of Governor Liu Xun. The two had a passionate affair and often had private meetings in the courtyard where Song Xi'er lived. Three days ago, Sun Zhigao climbed over the wall to meet his lover in the middle of the night, but was caught by Governor Liu's men and caught.
Of the two versions, the people naturally preferred the latter. The internal scandal involving a provincial governor was really exciting to think about.
At this time, the prefect Shen Du had already gone to the hall to ask questions. The government officials were holding water and fire sticks and shouting authority. Sun Zhigao, who looked haggard, was escorted into the hall with his hands and feet shackled.
Facing the intense questioning in the hall, Sun Zhigao didn't say a word. He just stood there with his head drooped and his eyes full of despair.
After he was taken to the government office by the Liu family, he had been interrogated several times and told what he knew about the cause and effect.
But after the government sent people to inquire, they found that Dong Lihua had no maid named Ming'er at all. Dong Lihua had never even seen Sun Zhigao, let alone had a tryst with him.
In this way, Sun Zhigao's self-defense was all lies, but the fact that he broke into someone's house at night was confirmed by the testimony of many servants and servants of the Liu family.
As for the stolen goods obtained through the theft, although the Liu family deliberately framed them, with the confession signed by Sun Zhigao himself, he did not steal them.
Sun Zhigao broke into a house and committed a theft. The circumstances were clear and clear. There were all witnesses and material evidence. The government's trial was just a one-step process. After Shen Du finished asking questions, he wrote down the verdict.
"Sun Zhigao broke into a house and stole some jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, worth about a thousand taels of silver. He doesn't know etiquette, justice and shame. He is in vain to be a student member of the county. He has a hundred sticks and a wandering of three thousand miles!"
After reading the verdict, Shen Du took out another official letter from his sleeve: "Sun Zhigao, this is the official document from Jiangnan Academic Affairs to expel you from your reputation as a scholar. From now on, you will be just a commoner. When you see an official, you must worship. It is inevitable. penalty!"
After saying that, Shen Du threw the order on the ground and shouted: "One hundred sticks, give me a hard beating!"
In the court, two burly government officials swiped water and fire sticks at Sun Zhigao's feet. Sun Zhigao fell to the ground before he could react.
The two government officials swung water and fire sticks and hit Sun Zhigao one after another, causing blood and flesh to fly everywhere.
After only twenty strikes from a hundred sticks, Sun Zhigao had already passed out. Shen Du finally signaled the yamen servant to stop and said to Master Xing Ming on the side: "Bring the prisoner into prison."
Sun Zhigao's legs were both broken at this time, and he was dragged away by two government officials. His legs were dragged crookedly on the ground, leaving a long bloody trail.
"My son!"
There was a cry of sorrow outside the door, and an old woman rushed out of the crowd and rushed towards the dying Sun Zhigao. It was Sun's mother.
Shen Du, who was in the hall, slapped the hall and shouted: "Anyone who disturbs the court again will be whipped ten times and expelled from the hall."
At that moment, several government officials pushed Sun's mother away. Sun's mother sat on the ground and cried, but she did not dare to go any further. She could only watch Sun Zhigao being dragged down.
After the interrogation and withdrawal, Sun's mother was kicked out of the government office. She stood at the gate wiping tears and refused to leave for a long time.
The gatekeeper was so annoyed that he reminded him: Your son will be exiled soon. Instead of standing here crying, it is better to quickly find a way to clear the way to prevent your son from dying on the way to exile.
After some explanations from the yamen, Sun’s mother finally understood that being exiled was not just about living in a different place, but also the possibility of death!
However, it is not completely impossible. According to the rules, exile can be replaced by two years' imprisonment.
Unlike later generations, there was basically no punishment such as imprisonment in Dazhou, and prisoners were only held temporarily and could not be locked up for many years.
The reason is that the food reserves are limited at this time, and the people are hungry and full. How can they keep the prisoners in prison and eat and drink for free?
In that case, wouldn't going to jail become a good job and everyone would be rushing to go to jail?
Of course, there are compromises.
The government does not care about food, so the prisoner can still solve the problem on his own, that is, go to jail at his own expense. Although he still does not have personal freedom, he can at least avoid the pain of exile.
However, it is difficult for ordinary people to get this kind of treatment. Only those who are rich and powerful can smooth things over and open up the government network.
Sun's mother received the guidance from the yamen servant and finally stopped doing useless work at the yamen gate. She wiped away her tears and returned home, preparing to ask her daughter-in-law Sheng Shulan for money.
But when I got home, I discovered that Sheng Shulan had already returned to her parents' home to visit her parents. Sun's mother ran to Sheng's house to look for someone, but she didn't see Sheng Shulan. It was her in-law Sheng Wei who came out to talk to her.
When Sheng Wei heard Sun's mother's request for the Sheng family to pay for Sun Zhigao, she sneered and took out a piece of complaint.
Sun's mother was illiterate, so Sheng Wei read it to her word for word. It turned out that this was a complaint asking Sheng Shulan and Sun Zhigao to reconcile. The complaint listed the grievances Sheng Shulan suffered after marrying into the Sun family, and Sun Zhigao's grievances. All kinds of evil deeds committed by Zhigao mother and son.
The grandma's mother had spent all these years on Sheng Shulan's dowry for food and clothing, and she had long been used to enjoying it. Naturally, she would not agree to the divorce. Instead, she criticized Sheng Shulan and made a fuss about Sheng Shulan's lack of money after marrying into the Sun family all these years.
Sheng Wei didn't argue with her, and just said that if there was no reconciliation, he would not pay for Sun Zhigao's settlement and let Sun Zhigao die on the road to exile.
Seeing Sheng Wei's resolute attitude, Sun's mother knew that he had made up his mind to break up with the Sun family. However, because of Sheng Shulan's dowry, Sun's mother still refused to show any timidity on her face, and the two broke up unhappy.
Not long after, news came from the Yamen that Sun Zhigao would be exiled to Qiongzhou, a bitter cold place in the near future. Sun's mother panicked and hurried to Sheng's house and agreed to Sheng Wei's request.
A few days later, Sun's mother took He Lishu to visit the prisoner. She cried and explained to Sun Zhigao the current situation of their mother and son.
Although Sun Zhigao was full of reluctance, he also understood that the situation was stronger than the person, so he could only sign and sign with regret, agreeing to reconcile with Sheng Shulan.
Sheng Wei got what he wanted, and finally agreed to come forward to find the prefect Shen Du, and changed Sun Zhigao's three thousand miles of exile to two years in prison.
At this point, Sheng Shulan successfully reconciled with Sun Zhigao, recovered all her dowry, and could start a new life.
Sun Zhigao not only lost his most proud reputation as a scholar, but also had to spend two years in prison. Even if he was released after two years, without Sheng Shulan's dowry, the mother and son could only return to their previous life of poverty.
