After Li Zhiyun finished chatting with Liu Hong about business matters, he went to the back house to find Liu Yinglian. After the two met and chatted for a while, Li Zhiyun said: "I am going to Qizhou to investigate the case, and your father will go with me." Liu Yinglian glanced at him, pursed her lips and smiled and said: "Do you want me to come with you? Are you going together?" Li Zhiyun nodded with a silly smile.
The reason why Li Zhiyun asked Liu Yinglian to go to Qizhou with him was because the case of rebellion by the governor was a difficult nut to crack. Liu Yinglian is talented and quick-responsive. If he encounters any difficulties, it would be nice to have someone to give him advice.
After convincing Liu Yinglian, Li Zhiyun asked his men to prepare for departure. As usual, the Marriage Affairs Office and the House of Accountant assigned him more than a hundred guards as a guard of honor and protection for the prince. Li Zhiyun brought Aunt Ying with him so that she could keep Liu Yinglian company.
Early the next morning, Li Zhiyun led his troops and left the Chu Palace. After they met up with Liu Hong, his daughter and others at the gate of Guanghua Gate, the team left Chang'an City and headed towards Qizhou along the official road.
The large group of people walked for half a day, and the sun climbed above their heads. Everyone stopped by the road to rest and prepare to have lunch. A servant spread a rug on the grass and placed various foods. Li Zhiyun, Liu Yinglian, Ying Gu and others sat around, eating and chatting.
They ate for a while, and Li Zhiyun saw a guard leading a woman in white over. He took a closer look, hey, isn't that Miss Dou? Li Zhiyun now knows that her surname is Dou.
Li Zhiyun quickly stood up and went to greet him, surprised: "Miss Dou, why are you here?" Miss Dou said with a blessing, her pretty face was red: "King Chu, I heard that the emperor sent you to Qizhou to investigate my father's case. , I rushed here in a hurry. Fortunately, I finally caught up with you."
Li Zhiyun nodded and asked with concern: "Have you eaten?" Miss Dou shook her head. Li Zhiyun smiled and said: "It's just right, then come and eat with us." After that, he brought Miss Dou over and introduced her to Liu Yinglian and Aunt Ying.
Aunt Ying was very enthusiastic and quickly invited Miss Dou to sit down for dinner and brought her a lot of delicious food. Ms. Dou was a little restrained at first, but as she gradually became familiar with everyone, she began to talk and laugh freely. After eating, everyone stood up. Li Zhiyun asked: "Miss Dou, how did you catch up with us?"
"I hired a carriage. However, the carriage has already returned to Chang'an."
"Well, you and Aunt Ying can ride in a carriage. It's just a good companion."
Aunt Ying agreed, took Miss Dou's arm and walked away. Li Zhiyun watched them walk to the carriage before looking away. He found Liu Yinglian standing next to him, squinting at him, and he couldn't help but feel guilty.
"Tell me, are you rushing to Qizhou to handle the case because of her?" Liu Yinglian's eyes were blazing.
"There, I was ordered to investigate the case." Li Zhiyun denied it.
"Dishonest." Liu Yinglian said and pinched his arm hard.
Li Zhiyun yelled exaggeratedly and said, "Why are you using so much force?" Liu Yinglian glared at him and said, "Who told you not to tell the truth? I thought your strength was too weak." After that, she wanted to pinch him again. Li Zhiyun quickly avoided...
The team continued to move forward, staying overnight at Xiaoxing along the way, and arrived at Qizhou City more than ten days later. After entering the city, everyone found the post house and settled down.
After walking on the road for more than ten days, everyone was exhausted, so Li Zhiyun decided to give everyone a day off. He rested in the post house for a long time. In the afternoon, he walked around the streets with Liu Hong and several shopkeepers, looking for several houses to run banks, inns and wineries. Negotiate rental arrangements.
Early the next morning, Li Zhiyun took Zhang Zheng, Cai Hu and several guards to the Yamen of the state capital. After the yamen officer at the door went in to report, soon an official came out. He is about thirty years old, of medium build, fair-skinned, and wearing a blue official uniform. The official clasped his hands and said, "His Royal Highness the King of Chu is here. I am sorry that I am not able to welcome you. I hope that Your Highness will forgive me!"
"you are?"
"Shi Huang Renjie, the governor of Xiaguanqi."
"It turns out to be Huang Changshi. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you." Li Zhiyun quickly returned the courtesy.
Huang Renjie had a flattering smile on his face and said: "Your Majesty, Xiaguan has received an official document from the court a few days ago, saying that the emperor will send you to investigate Dou Jing's case. Xiaguan has been waiting at the Yamen these days. I don’t dare to leave either. My lord, please—!”
Huang Renjie welcomed Li Zhiyun and others into the lobby, gave up his seat and ordered the servants to make tea. After Li Zhiyun sat down on a Taishi chair, he looked at the other party and said, "Huang Changshi, please sit down too. Let's stop chatting and get to the point. Please talk to me about the case of Dou Jing's rebellion."
Huang Renjie sat down opposite and said: "This case is actually very simple. About three months ago, someone from the state government reported to the official, saying that the governor Dou Jing wanted to rebel, and also produced a letter. The official took a look The letter was indeed Dou Jing's handwriting, so he did not hesitate to report it to the court immediately. The court sent three officials to investigate the case, but Dou Jing flatly denied that he wanted to rebel and insisted that the letter was not written by him. . Therefore, the case has been delayed since now and has been unable to be concluded." After hearing this, Li Zhiyun nodded and said, "Who reported Dou Jing for treason?"
"It's Zhang Gui, the chief registrar of this state."
"That letter was also given to you by him?"
"right."
Li Zhiyun thought for a moment and said, "Huang Changshi, where is Dou Lian now?"
"Still in jail."
"Can I, the king, see him?"
"Of course." Huang Renjie said and stood up, making a "please" gesture.
Li Zhiyun also stood up and followed Huang Renjie out of the lobby. The group of people arrived at the prison of the state government office. The prison chief opened the door of the prison and everyone walked in. They walked along the dark corridor to a cell. Huang Renjie asked someone to open the cell door, and then said: "Your Majesty, please."
Li Zhiyun took the lead and walked in. The cell was not big, about seven or eight square meters. The light inside was not very good because the bars were too small and too high from the ground. After Li Zhiyun's eyes adjusted to the light in the room, he found a wooden bed placed against the corner with some straw on it, and a person sitting on the edge of the bed. His hair was disheveled, his wrists and ankles were wrought iron shackles, and he was wearing a gray-white prison uniform. There were blood marks left by whips on his chest and shoulders, obviously from torture. At this moment, he was looking up at the group of uninvited guests with a surprised look on his face.
Huang Renjie, who was following Li Zhiyun, said sternly: "Dou Jing, stand up quickly! This is the King of Chu. The emperor sent him to investigate your case." Upon hearing this, Dou Jing struggled to stand up and cast his gaze. to Li Zhiyun's face.
Li Zhiyun looked at him and said in a soft voice: "Are you Dou Jing, the governor of Qizhou?" Dou Jing did not speak, but nodded slightly. Li Zhiyun turned to Huang Renjie and said, "Huang Changshi, take off his shackles." Upon hearing this, Huang Renjie hurriedly said, "My lord, he is a felon in the imperial court and must be shackled according to regulations."
"The cell door is heavy and he can't escape. Open it!" Li Zhiyun raised his voice.
Huang Renjie had no choice but to wave his hand. The prison guard on the side walked forward with a bunch of keys, opened and took off Dou Jing's handcuffs and shackles. With the shackles off, Dou Jing obviously felt a lot more relaxed and slowly moved his wrists.
"Dou Jing, since you surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, why did you want to rebel again?" Li Zhiyun stared at him and asked.
"I have never rebelled."
Li Zhiyun took out the letter from his sleeve and handed it to him, asking: "Did you write this letter?" Dou Jing took the letter, looked at it in the light, and then returned the letter to Li Zhiyun and said: " No." It was obvious that he was familiar with this letter. Obviously, the officials who came to investigate the case had shown him the letter many times.
Li Zhiyun took the letter, folded it and put it into his sleeve, saying, "But Huang Changshi said that it was your handwriting." Dou Jing said calmly, "It's my handwriting, but this letter The letter was not written by me." Li Zhiyun frowned and said, "What do you mean, this letter was forged by someone else?" Dou Jing shook her head and said, "I don't know that."
After everyone left the prison, Huang Renjie followed Li Zhiyun and said, "My lord, did you see it? He refuses to admit guilt. It's written in black and white, and he still wants to deny it!" Li Zhiyun said nothing. After a moment of silence, he said, "Huang Chang Shi, ask someone to give him a quilt later." Huang Renjie agreed.
After Li Zhiyun returned to the lobby, he sat down and took a sip of tea. He put the tea cup down and said, "Huang Changshi, go and call Zhang Gui, the chief registrar. I want to see him." Huang Renjie agreed, turned around and went out. .
Li Zhiyun and Zhang Zheng were sitting in the lobby drinking tea and waiting. After a while, Huang Renjie hurried back and said apologetically: "Your Majesty, it's unfortunate. Zhang Gui was ill today and didn't come to the Yamen to order." Li Zhiyun looked at him and said, "You mean Zhang Gui asked for sick leave?" Huang Renjie nodded and said, "Yes. My lord, let's do this. I will send you to the post later and ask him to go to the post house to see you." Li Zhiyun frowned. , shook his head and said: "No, I must see him today." After that, he stood up and said: "Huang Changshi, lead the way, let's go to his house!" Huang Renjie had no choice but to say: "Then All right."
