On the seventh day of the first month of June, the Yongchang Emperor was shrouded in heavy rain, the two stone lions in front of the Dali Temple were washed clean by the rain, and they looked at the officials who got off the sedan chair and dismounted in front of the door energetically.

The Son of Heaven has a will, and today Dali Temple has concluded the fraud case of the Jiangnan Transfer Division, and the Criminal Department, the Yushitai, and the Secret Guard sent people to listen. Huang Ping, the imperial historian, told the Son of Heaven early to listen to the case, after all, the matter involved Cheng Lu Congming in the imperial history, and he went to sit in the town to support the field. Wu Huaren, the secretary of the Criminal Department, sent the squire Lu Jijing to go, and he still went to the Zichen Hall to discuss the matter, but Shi Fangzhen sent him to listen in person. Feng Zhong originally sent a famous Zhenfu to listen to the case, but when he learned that the Son of Heaven asked Wu Shangshu not to go to Dali Temple to listen to the case, he couldn't sit still, and braved the heavy rain to sit in a sedan chair and came to Dali Temple.

Shi Fangzhen's move made the important ministers in the Zichen Palace feel worried, the Son of Heaven attaches so much importance to the case of the Jiangnan Transfer Division, and sent the head of the "Three Law Divisions" to personally try the case, which is unprecedented attention, I don't know how many people will be implicated in this lawsuit. Others are better, the Ministry of Industry Shangshu Ning Ze is a little restless, the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry belongs to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry, although he was promoted to the Ministry of Industry not long ago, but when he was a waiter, he did not take the benefits of the two transfer divisions, such as today's strict inspection, will the board fall on him, and the position of the Shangshu who has not yet sat on the butt will be removed. During the entire court meeting, Ning Ze was distracted and in a trance.

Just after the hour, Chang Yuchao and others were escorted to the lobby. Chang Yuchao saw the three people sitting behind the public case, in addition to Lu Liangzhen, the secretary of Dali Temple who asked the case a few days ago, he also recognized Wu Huaren, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and the other sat next to them, it is estimated that it is Huang Sheng, the imperial historian, there is a curtain hanging behind the public case, and there are still people in the shadows, Chang Yuchao thought about it for a while, guessing that it may be a palace figure sent by the Son of Heaven, Chang Yuchao was bitter in his heart, the Son of Heaven attaches so much importance to this case, I am afraid that the fate of himself and others will not be good.

The evidence is conclusive, especially when Chang Yuchao heard that the outer house in Huaiyuan County, Pingzhou was raided, he was so sad that he bowed his head and confessed, Wan Huaixing, Duan Shuang and others saw that he had confessed, so they had to follow and confess. Lu Liangzhen discussed with Huang Sheng and Wu Huaren for a while, and began to announce the verdict, in fact, everyone knew that Chang Yuchao and others had already made a conclusion, and it was impossible to escape the word.

According to the "Da Zheng Law", Chang Yuchao was sentenced to beheading, confiscated his family property, and his concubines and children were confiscated as slaves; Wan Huaixing...... imprisoned and confiscated; Duan Shuang...... imprisoned and confiscated; Zou Sujie was corrupt and perverted the law, bought murder, beheaded, and confiscated family property......"

Zou Sujie, who was kneeling behind Chang Yuchao, originally heard that Wan Huaixing and Duan Shuang were sentenced to prison and beheading, and there was a slim hope in her heart, her biggest thing was also to be beheaded, as long as she didn't die at that time, she might have a chance to spend money in the future, not to mention that the crown princess was about to give birth, maybe it wouldn't be long before there would be an amnesty. How do you know that when a chopping word came out of Lu Liangzhen's mouth, Zou Sujie suddenly collapsed to the ground, and then Qiu Guangming was sentenced to beheading, and he didn't hear it at all, his head was only buzzing, he just acted according to orders, why did he blame himself for buying murder, it was really unfair. Besides, Lu Congming took 60,000 taels of silver and promised to help him avoid the death penalty, and now he is sitting aside to listen to the trial, but he is going to die in Huangquan, Zou Sujie only feels full of resentment, and he has to pull some cushions if he wants to die, why are those who have taken the benefits at ease, but they have two heads.

"My lord, it's wronged, the criminal official just acted on orders, and it was Chang Yuchao's order to let Ye Yanguang kill people, and the subordinate was a subordinate and had to obey." Zou Sujie shouted.

"Quiet, how can you be presumptuous in the public court, come here, pull Zou Sujie down and take the twenty boards seriously." Lu Liang really shouted angrily.

Zou Sujie already knew that the death penalty was inevitable, and without waiting for the official to pull him down to be punished, he shouted at Lu Congming, who was sitting on the side: "Lord Lu, you accepted my 60,000 taels of silver, why didn't you say a word?" ”

There was a thunderclap, and everyone in the hall was shocked. One sentence set off a monstrous wave, Lu Congming stood up in fright, pointed at Zou Sujie with a trembling finger and said: "Zou Sujie, don't spew blood and bite indiscriminately." "I was terrified in my heart, and if I didn't do well, my net worth and life would be ruined by the 60,000 taels of silver.

Chang Yuchao learned that he was not only going to die, his family was being copied, and his family was also being implicated, so he also let it go, and said loudly: "Lord Lu, you accepted the money and promised to ensure that I would not die, why did you not say a word as a guest today." Lord Lu, the criminal officer should report Lu Jialin, the former secretary of the Ministry of Works, and Shi Aiwei, the assassin of Duanzhou, ......"

Lu Liangzhen was so frightened that cold sweat flowed straight down, and he was shocked and screamed, and roared again and again: "Shut up, shut up, don't talk nonsense, come and someone block their mouths and take them down." "Lu Liang is really afraid, if Chang Yuchao and Zou Sujie are allowed to talk nonsense in the court, how many people will not be involved, even if they are investigated and punished according to the law, it will inevitably lead to a big prison, and he will definitely be named a cool official in the history books in the future.

Huang Ping heard Zou Sujie say that Lu Congming received 60,000 taels of silver, and immediately knew that this matter was true, and the words "surviving" immediately collapsed, and Lu Congming couldn't stay. Huang Ping was extremely annoyed, and glared at Lu Congming, who was shaking, this person didn't know anything, the Son of Heaven sent him to investigate the case for Qincha and actually dared to accept bribes, isn't this looking for death? I have to find an opportunity to warn him, so that he does not implicate himself, especially not to affect King Chu'an.

Among the three, Wu Huaren is the most calm, he has no involvement in the Hegong case, as the secretary of the Criminal Department, he knows a little bit of Hegong's maladministration, this time the Son of Heaven is determined to investigate, it seems that the two transfer divisions do not have ten heads can not be explained. The principle above the officialdom is that officials protect each other and be officials, Wu Huaren doesn't say a word, everyone is in danger now, if he speaks out, maybe he will be regarded as a disadvantage.

He didn't speak, someone spoke, and Feng Zhong walked out of it. Don't look at Huang Ping, Wu Huaren, and Lu Liangzhen are all top masters of the third grade, they don't dare to slack off in front of this secret guard supervisor from the third grade, and stand up to greet each other.

Feng Zhong glanced at Chang Yuchao and the others who were crying in the hall, and said with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid that this case can't be asked, our family has been ordered by the emperor, so let's go back to the palace to play the Ming Sheng." Lord Lu, Lord Huang, Lord Wu, you should discuss, why don't you ask more clearly before entering the palace. ”

Feng Zhong left, Lu Liangzhen, Huang Ping, and Wu Huaren looked at each other, the officialdom catastrophe had come, looking at Chang Yuchao and Zou Sujie's appearance, I couldn't wait to pull everyone into the water. The incident happened in the yamen of Dali Temple, Lu Liangzhen, as a landlord, could not help but speak, and said with a wry smile: "Lord Huang, Lord Wu, do you continue to ask or report to the Son of Heaven?" ”

Huang Ping said: "This matter involves Yushitai, Huang should avoid suspicion, so he went to ask the Son of Heaven for his guilt and took his leave first." Huang Ping braved the heavy rain and walked behind Feng Zhong, the carriage drove out of Dali Temple not far away, Huang Ping lifted the curtain, the torrential rain rushed in, fell on his face, and instantly glued his well-groomed beard into a piece.

The car was flanked by his cronies, and there was no need to make a sound, and immediately someone urged him to come close to the window and bend down to obey the order. Huang Ping gave a few short explanations, put down the curtain, and when the car turned towards the imperial city, the guard quietly left the brigade and galloped towards the Chu'an Palace.

Huang Ping left, Lu Liang was really a little anxious, grabbed Wu Huaren and said: "Wu Shangshu, you can't just leave, if you leave now, Lu will follow you into the palace to face the saint." ”

Wu Huaren smiled bitterly: "Lord Lu let go, Wu will not leave." ”

Turning his head to catch a glimpse of Lu Congming, who was like a clay sculpture in the rain, Wu Huaren reminded softly: "Lord Lu, no matter whether what Zou Sujie said is true or not, Lu Zhongcheng should not stay in the lobby anymore, let people invite him down first." ”

Lu Congming woke up, knelt in front of the two of them with a "plop", and lamented: "Two adults, Zou Sujie spewed blood from his mouth, slandered the officials, and hoped that the two adults would make decisions for me." ”

Thinking that Lu Congming has bitten like a mad dog in the court in the past two years, Lu Liangzhen and Wu Huaren are a little relieved in their hearts, you also have today. Lu Liangzhen said with a cold face: "Lu Zhongcheng, whether it is true or false, Lu will ask clearly, if Zou Sujie complains that he will return Lu Zhongcheng's innocence, Lord Lu, please rest assured to go down and rest and wait for news." ”

A servant took Lu Congming back to the guest house where he had stayed in the past few days, Lu Congming was as anxious as an ant on a hot nest, and just stepped out of the door, the guard guarding the door stopped him and said: "My lord, Lord Lu has ordered, please stay in the house, and you are not allowed to take a step out of the door." ”

Lu Congming was anxious to find someone to go home to deliver the letter, and asked his wife to hide the 60,000 taels of silver tickets, if they were searched out by the secret guards, everything would be over. Burning his eyebrows, Lu Congming raised his official authority and shouted: "Bold, this official is the middle of the imperial history, what right does Dali Temple have to take care of this official, don't let me dodge, this official is going to the lobby to see Lord Lu, if you delay the official's major affairs, be careful of your dog's life." ”

The guard who stopped him said without being arrogant or humble: "My lord, the small ones are just acting on orders, you adults have a large number, don't be embarrassed by the small ones, please go back." ”

Lu Congming rolled his eyes, retreated to the house, and ordered: "The official is thirsty, let someone bring tea." ”

The effort is not big, there is a servant carrying tea into the house, taking advantage of the servant's hand to hand over the tea, Lu Congming stuffed the silver ticket that had been prepared into the hand of the servant, and said in a low voice: "This brother, please come to my house to deliver a letter, just say that the fruit I brought from the south should not stay for a long time, eat it early to avoid spoilage." ”

The official put away the silver ticket and went out with the tray, Lu Congming's flustered heart calmed down a little, took a sip of tea, but was scalded by the hot tea. With a "dang" sound, the teacup smashed to the ground and shattered.

The silver ticket carrying Lu Congming's hope was sent to Lu Liangzhen by the officer, and Lu Liangzhen held up the silver ticket with a denomination of five hundred taels and said to Wu Huaren: "Li Ling Zhi is dizzy, Lu Congming actually wants to bribe the official to send him a letter, it seems that what Zou Sujie said is true." Lord Wu, with this silver ticket, you and I should enter the palace earlier to show the Son of Heaven, the stakes are very high, so please ask the Son of Heaven to show it. ”