Once Yao made up his mind, some things went very quickly. In fact, she had already been prepared, but she had been hesitating before, so she didn't do it for a long time. Now that she is sure that her son has lost the Cai family, a good relative, she is full of hatred, and her previous worries have been put aside.

In late March, the aggravated condition of the eldest lady of the Xu family had just improved, and the Xu family ushered in bad news.

When a small official of the Criminal Department was drinking with someone, he accidentally leaked his mouth, revealing that when Master Xu was a small man in the Criminal Department, he had participated in the trial of a big case, and he made a big mistake at that time.

The prisoner on trial that day did not admit his guilt, so he fainted because he could not bear the torture, but the criminal department was facing great pressure, and the then criminal department Shangshu ordered his subordinates to find out the results of the trial within three days, otherwise they would punish their incompetent subordinates. That day was the last day of the three-day period, and Master Xu and his two colleagues interrogated together, feeling that the evidence was obviously sufficient, and the facts of the case were clear and clear, and even everyone knew who the person who instructed him was, but because the prisoner was unwilling to admit his guilt and said the key testimony of the instigator behind the testimony, it fell into a deadlock. Unwillingly, after discussing privately with two colleagues, Master Xu grabbed the hands of the unconscious prisoners, pressed their handprints on the confessions they had written, and a small official who was good at imitating handwriting at the scene forged the prisoner's signature and seal the confession.

By the time the prisoner woke up from his coma and wanted to cry out, it was too late. The case was quickly closed, and those behind the scenes were quickly arrested, and before the outcome of the trial, he committed suicide in prison. The offender shall be beheaded according to the law. The file of the case was put on file, and Master Xu and others, who had made meritorious contributions, were also praised by the then secretary of the Criminal Department, and then they rose to prominence, and there was no need to mention it again.

However, just a few months ago, an official who had been out of exile for many years and had finally been transferred back to Beijing inadvertently revealed that on the night when the so-called mastermind had secretly met with the criminal and ordered him to commit the murder, the official had met the former in a secluded place while fishing. Judging from the location, if the official met the real master, then the so-called mastermind behind the scenes could not have had a secret meeting with the prisoner on the same night. The official had been out of the border city for many years shortly after this chance encounter, and had never returned to Beijing, and he did not know what major case the passer-by had met by chance. When he said it, he didn't take it seriously. Although some people with good deeds linked the two theories and thought that it was likely to be an unjust case, most people still felt that the official had misremembered the day and did not take it to heart. Even the official himself went from insisting that he was not mistaken, and slowly changed his attitude, feeling that he might really have made the wrong date, let alone others.

But that's no longer the case. The so-called confession was forged by Master Xu and others, and the case may really be an unjust case! The dead man died in vain, and he was still burdened with stigma. That person is not unknown, there are still huge clans, and there are still clansmen who have been promoted by imperial examinations and entered the court as officials. They used to regard that person as a disgrace to their family, and they always wanted to wash away this shame, but now if it can be proved that the person was wronged, then their family can immediately clear their name and regain their innocence!

A vigorous reversal of the case began in this way. Most of the witnesses at that time were still alive, the files were complete, and even most of the case-handling personnel were still serving in the ministry. One of the officials who had participated in the forgery of the confession could not bear the pressure and admitted to his boss that the matter was true, and Mr. Xu and the other official who participated in the forgery immediately became in a difficult situation.

Master Xu's health is actually not very good, and recently because his wife is seriously ill, he has become a lot haggard. Now that he has been hit by such a major blow again, the whole person has lost weight twice, and his face has been thin and out of shape.

Although the family of the unjustly deceased person clamored for overturning the case and punishing the officials who had derelict their duties, they really wanted to be investigated, and the people involved were too wide. In that case, there was really only one confession, and other evidence proved the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes, and the result was recognized by almost everyone. Master Xu still feels that he has not wronged anyone, at most he is just doing things in a hurry. He felt that this case could not be overturned at all, and he could not say that the guilty person was innocent just because he had forged a picture of the prisoner.

Master Xu insisted on his opinion, but the third former colleague who participated in the forgery operation was suffering from rumors, couldn't think about it for a while, and regretted it in his heart, so he jumped into the lake in the back garden of his home. Although the person was rescued, he also fell seriously ill because of the cold, and his vitality was greatly damaged. Within two days, I heard that the first old colleague who had confessed to his guilt had been dismissed from his post and had returned to his hometown with his family. Although his net worth and life have not been affected, his reputation has been greatly reduced this time, and he is afraid that the future will not be easy.

It was only at this time that Master Xu began to worry about himself. At the same time, several people who made the same decision, one was dismissed, the other was seriously ill, and there was also gossip in the ministry, saying that this person was estimated to have to suspend his career by telling him about illness, so that he could maintain a decent position and not have to wait for the order of dismissal from above. Master Xu didn't know what to do, and even the officials who had participated in it were expelled from the Criminal Department, so could it be that he also wanted to leave? The matter of overturning the case is estimated to be a loud thunder and a small raindrop, after all, it is a case that has been approved by the whole Criminal Department, and if the case is overturned, the face of the Criminal Department will be lost. How could it be that because of a few drunken nonsense from a small official, everyone would be embarrassed?

However, the fact that the Criminal Department does not publicize it to the outside world does not mean that it will not deal with the wrongdoers internally. Everyone else has been retributed, if Master Xu doesn't say anything, if Lord Shangshu doesn't like him and dismisses him, what will he do? At that time, even the old face of the Xu family for several lifetimes will be lost!

However, if you find an excuse to do this, even if you can maintain your dignity for a while, the prestige and power of the Xu family will plummet. Second Master Xu, Uncle Xu, and Second Master Xu's uncle and nephew are either low-grade petty officials, or they have never entered the ranks. Without the support of Master Xu's official position, how could the Xu family gain a foothold in the circle of high-ranking officials in the capital? Xu Zheng had not even participated in the examination, Xu Rong had not even taken the examination for showing off his talents, and the girls had never officially married. Even if there is the in-laws of the Chengenhou Mansion to support them, the Xu family will be greatly damaged. Just like the second room of the Qin family, although the family has been separated, it is also a real relative, the queen's nephew. It's just that Qin Bofu has lost his official position, and now it's only been less than three months, and even the Xue family, who has always relied on them, has the courage to call out to them.

Master Xu was unwilling to let his family fall into such a situation.

And then there are some things that he can't escape if he doesn't want to.

The news that Master Xu had wrongly judged the unjust case quickly spread among the government and the opposition. The people of the so-called wronged man proclaimed this matter everywhere, to avenge the deceased. Even the family members of another co-defendant who lived a little far away from Beijing also jumped out and said that his family had also died unjustly and had been beaten into a confession. Master Xu's reputation was ruined, and the more he denied that he was wrong, the more others criticized him. Many people feel that he is too thick-skinned, has an improper character, and has clearly done something wrong, but he has not yet had the courage to admit it. Even the two officials who made big mistakes with him at that time bravely admitted their mistakes and resigned from their official positions as a sign of remorse. Master Xu refused to admit his mistake for a long time, and it was clearly the right to love the stack!

As soon as April began, the scandal of Master Xu was already well known in Beijing, and even Xu Zheng began to be affected. Several talented people who were good friends with him in the past were faintly alienated from him, and one of the teachers who had the best friendship with him privately persuaded him to go home and persuade his grandfather not to be stubborn anymore, to resign early, and to be a repentant, so as to protect the reputation of the Xu family. Although the discussion outside will not be good for a while, but after a few years, things will change, and the Xu family still has a younger generation, and there is still a chance to make a comeback. But if Master Xu loses even his official body and dignity, how much ability does Xu Zheng have alone to re-prop up the lintel of the Xu family? I am afraid that his grandfather's scandal alone will be enough to ruin the future of a young man.

Master Xu had nothing to do, and he even went to the Chengenhou Mansion to discuss with his sister. But what can the Chengenhou Mansion do to help him with this kind of thing? If you go to ask Yongjiahou Qin Bai, Qin Bai doesn't have much affection for the Xu family, and he is willing to be happy or not, and when it comes to the case of the year, Qin Bai is also quite complaining about Master Xu's approach, and I am afraid that he will not help him.

Master Xu finally reluctantly took the fold, claiming that he was old and begged to be old. The emperor didn't know if he had heard of anything, so he simply agreed to him. When he stepped out of the gate of the imperial city, he looked back at the majestic palace behind him, remembered his ambitions, and then looked at his current downfall, and the whole person seemed to be soaked in ice water, and it was cold.

Master Xu fell ill when he returned home. The Xu family was in a mess. Everyone was terrified and didn't know what to do next.

Xu Shi, who got the news, hurriedly sent a post and invited the imperial doctor to come to the door to treat Master Xu, and he also sent his henchmen to visit his brother, and made it clear that he would come over in person another day.

Uncle Xu took leave from the yamen, and while avoiding rumors, he went home to take care of his sick father.

As for Grandma Xu, she is responsible for taking care of her mother-in-law, Mrs. Xu. Lu Shanxiang, the eldest lady who just came to the Xu family, can't stay slow. She had to let her two daughters beat her up.

Second Master Xu took his son to deal with the guests from all walks of life who came to visit the patient every day.

Xu Er's grandmother ended the captivity ahead of schedule and "kindly" helped Yu Ju to preside over the feed.

Xu Rong also knew a lot of friends on weekdays, so he went out to find out the news everywhere. Although Master Xu has already resigned from the old man, if the Criminal Department really decides to overturn the case, the impact will be the greatest, and he has to inquire a little more clearly.

Only Xu Zheng couldn't help anything except being helpless.

He lived to be twenty years old this year, and for the first time in his heart he was confused about his future.