Qi Ning smiled and said, "I heard that Chu Shilang has been busy, so I came over to take a look." ”

Chu Mingwei said respectfully: "The lower officials failed to come out to greet him, and invited Hou Ye Haihan." It's just that in the past two days, Xia Guan has been reviewing the file, hoping to find some clues from it. ”

"Clues?" Qi Ning said: "What's the clue? ”

Chu Mingwei raised his hand and said, "Master Hou, the house is quiet, why don't you come into the house and talk?" Then he commanded, "Don't you want to see the tea?" ”

Someone immediately went to pour tea, but Chu Mingwei led Qi Ning to the inner room, and after inviting Qi Ning to sit down, Chu Mingwei said: "Master Hou doesn't know, after the King of Huainan rebelled, someone sent a list to the Criminal Department, reporting that those people were the remnants of the King of Huainan. He turned around and went to the table, took a letter and presented it to Qi Ning: "Master Hou, please take a look!" ”

Qi Ning took the letter, and at this time, the tea was served, Chu Mingwei took it, and put it in Qi Ning's hand, Qi Ning glanced at it a few times, and Dou Kui was the first to be in the list, that is, even the name of Wuxiang Hou Su Yu was among them.

"Who sent this?" Qi Ning handed the letter back to Chu Mingwei.

Chu Mingwei took it and put it back on the table, then came over and said: "This is an anonymous report, who did it, the lower officials don't know." However, along with this list, there is still a lot of evidence, which was wrapped in a package and thrown in front of the gate of the Criminal Department. ”

"Oh?" Qi Ning remained silent: "Whose evidence is it?" ”

"If the evidence is credible, at least seven or eight people on this list could be sentenced to death." Chu Mingwei said softly: "But there is only physical evidence, no witnesses, so we have to investigate carefully." Among these evidences, several cases were originally experienced by the Criminal Department, and the report proved that there were those officials behind these cases, so the lower officials reviewed the relevant case files that had happened before to see if they could find clues from them. ”

Only then did Qi Ning understand: "I see, what can Chu Shilang find out?" ”

"Under investigation." Chu Mingwei said softly: "Originally, the investigation of the case of King Huainan's rebellion was handled by Lord Daxi, but ......! With a slight smile, he continued: "At present, it is handled by the lower officials, and the lower officials don't know what to do, but fortunately, the emperor has ordered that the Hou Ye come to take charge of the Criminal Department, and everything is up to the Hou Ye to decide." ”

Qi Ning saw that Chu Mingwei was kind when he spoke, but it was not disgusting, he didn't know much about this person, today he came to the Criminal Department to take up his post, and the officials of the Criminal Department were very cold, but Qi Ning didn't know if it was because of Chu Mingwei's orders, or the officials of the Criminal Department spontaneously showed rudeness and indifference to him.

"Since Chu Shilang is investigating this case, there is no need to transfer it to others." Qi Ning picked up the teacup and said with a smile: "Although this official has received the emperor's favor and came to the director of the Criminal Department, he is not familiar with the Criminal Department when he first arrives. Chu Shilang is an old man from the Criminal Department, and he will ask for more advice on everything in the future. ”

"How dare you, Hou Ye is serious." Chu Mingwei immediately said: "Hou Ye is young and promising, if it weren't for this, the emperor would not have entrusted such a heavy burden to Hou Ye's shoulders." After a deep groan, he said in a low voice: "Hou Ye has orders, and the lower officials will naturally do their best, but they are just ...... There are not a few officials involved in this matter, and some officials are still important ministers in the court. ”

When Qi Ning heard this, he immediately knew what Chu Mingwei meant.

Tracking down the case of King Huainan is extraordinary, and if you are not careful, it will set off a shocking case and shake the dynasty, but everyone knows that the Sima family wants to take this opportunity to eliminate dissidents.

Although the court and the central government all knew that Qi Ning seemed to want to protect the remnants of the Huainan King, many people still had doubts about whether Qi Ning really wanted to fight the Sima family to the end in this matter.

Now that Qi Ning is in charge of the Criminal Department, his attitude towards this case also shows Qi Ning's true thoughts, Chu Mingwei seems to ask casually, but he is actually testing Qi Ning's final decision.

Qi Ning naturally knew this, smiled slightly, and said, "This official doesn't know the details of this case, and he doesn't have any instructions. However, the court has a law, and the emperor has a will, if it can really be found out that someone is involved in the rebellion of King Huainan, it will naturally be severely punished. He blew the tea foam and said with a smile: "But if the evidence is insufficient, then you must not act rashly, after all, the Criminal Department is in charge of the death penalty, which is not trivial, if there is really an unjust, false and wrongful case under the hands of this official, wouldn't it make the world laugh?" ”

"What Master Hou said is extremely true." Chu Mingwei said very respectfully: "Fairness and honesty, this is the way to handle cases." He sighed lightly: "If we keep these words, there will be no unjust cases in our criminal department......!" ”

"Unjust?" Qi Ning's expression froze: "Chu Shilang, could it be that there have been many unjust cases in our criminal department?" ”

Chu Mingwei reacted and hurriedly said: "No, no, Hou Ye, the lower official means that as long as we keep Hou Ye's reasoning, there will be no unjust cases in our criminal department, and there is no other meaning." ”

Seeing Chu Mingwei's strange eyes, Qi Ning didn't ask, nodded slightly, and said, "This official came over today, I wanted to meet everyone, but seeing that everyone was busy at hand, it was not easy to gather everyone." After a pause, he asked, "When will Da Xichong be able to return to the Yamen?" ”

"The lower officials have visited, and Lord Daxi's injuries have not healed yet, but he will be able to recover as usual after recuperating for a while." Chu Mingwei said: "It's just a month, it shouldn't be able to do anything." ”

Qi Ning said: "You find someone to send a message to Da Xichong, three days later, the official will order in the yamen, no one is allowed to be absent, even if it is carried at that time, let people carry him over." ”

"Huh?" Chu Mingwei was stunned, but still said respectfully: "The lower official will definitely send someone to pass the word." ”

"Okay, Chu Shilang should be on an errand." Qi Ning got up and said with a smile: "Since you are all busy, this official will not be here to cause trouble for you." "Don't talk nonsense, turn around and leave, Chu Mingwei was stunned for a moment, but quickly followed behind and sent Qi Ning out.

Qi Ning just went to the Criminal Department today to take a look at the situation, and the reaction of the officials of the Criminal Department was also beyond Qi Ning's expectations.

He thought that when he went to the Criminal Department, those officials would at least be respectful to him on face, even if they were not warmly welcomed, but now it seems that he thinks things too simply.

Not to mention that he has no foundation in the Criminal Department, even the Jinyi Qi family, and his influence in the Criminal Department is also minimal, and the power of the Jinyi Qi family has never infiltrated into the yamen of the Criminal Department, and for the officials of the Criminal Department, Qi Ning is a stranger, and he is not in the Criminal Department system at all.

Qi Ning knew that the connections of the Criminal Department were intertwined, and although he was a marquis, he wanted to be able to easily control the Criminal Department in the name of the Marquis, which was also wishful thinking.

When I returned to the Hou Mansion, I saw a carriage parked outside the door, as soon as I entered the mansion, I met the third old lady of the Han family, the fat sixth master Qi Song followed the side, and the Han manager accompanied him to send him out, and when he saw Qi Ning coming back, Qi Song's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said: "Master Hou, you are back." The government said that you went to the yamen of the criminal department, and we thought you would not come back until night, so we .....! ”

The marriage between Qi Ning and Ximen Zhan Ying eased the relationship between the Jinyi Marquis Mansion and the Qi clan a little.

The brothers of the Qi family are in the Qi clan, but they also made up 10,000 taels of silver for Qi Ning, plus the third old lady has been running to Ximen's house for Qi Ning's marriage for a while, although Qi Ning knows that they are nothing more than a heart of inflammation, but after all, they have done something for themselves, but it is not as cold as before, before the wedding, there are always many things to let these people help, and said with a smile: "The third old lady is here?" There was nothing going on in the yamen, so I came back early. ”

The third old lady still tilted his head slightly, even though he had already compromised with Qi Ning in his heart, he still put on the posture of an elder on his face: "If you have an errand, you should do it well, and you must not be negligent." ”

Qi Ning smiled slightly, Qi Song seemed to feel that it was a little inappropriate for the old man to say this to Qi Ning at this time, and said with a smile: "Master Hou, my father came here today to talk to you, the wedding date has been set." My father asked someone to see the date, and he agreed with the gods that the date would be set on the eighth day of the ninth month. ”

"The eighth day of September?" Qi Ning calculated for a moment and said, "There is still more than a month to go." ”

"It was the best time, not as hot as it is now." Qi Song said with a smile: "The eagle flies in September, the sky is high and refreshing, it is a good season, and there is enough time left for us to prepare well." Although the marriage will not be extravagant and wasteful, but after all, our Qi family is a famous family, and the face that should be asked is still needed, and there are some exquisite places, we can't be sloppy. ”

Qi Ning said with a smile: "This is the seniors and brothers in the Lao clan. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I can't take out any expenses you want, so you can just go to the account office and withdraw them." ”

The third old lady didn't say much, just walked up, Qi Song followed a few steps, but still stopped, turned around and walked in front of Qi Ning, and said with a flattering smile: "Master Hou, I want to ask you for help over a little matter." ”

"What's the matter? The sixth uncle doesn't have to be so polite. ”

When Qi Song heard Qi Ning call him "Sixth Uncle", he smiled and said, "Yes, yes, my own family, I'm not welcome." That's the case, aren't you now the secretary of the criminal department? Look at it, what are the vacant positions in the yamen, and the sixth uncle thinks that if there is a suitable errand, can I also go to the criminal department to run errands? ”

Qi Ning said: "You want to go to the Criminal Department as an errand?" ”

"Actually, I've always wanted to find an errand." Qi Song sighed: "But there has been no way. He lowered his voice and said, "If Master Hou can arrange an envoy for the sixth uncle in the criminal department, the sixth uncle can still take out the necessary expenses." ”

Qi Ning knew that when the old marquis of Jinyi and Qi Jing were alive, although they both held great power, they still didn't have to promote the people in their own clan, and even today, few of the Qin Huai Legion were the children of the Qi family.

Qi Song's talent is mediocre, and when Qi Jing is alive, it is also wishful thinking to want to be promoted by Qi Jing.

Qi Ning smiled and said: "I really don't know if there is a suitable mission in the Criminal Department, but does the sixth uncle know how to judge the case by criminal name?" ”

"This .....!" Qi Song smiled embarrassedly: "Sixth Uncle doesn't understand that, but the Yamen of the Criminal Department is so big, and not everyone needs to understand this, there are always some errands that don't need to be interrogated." Yes, doesn't the Criminal Department often arrest people? Why don't you let Uncle Six take soldiers to arrest criminals, Uncle Six thinks it's quite appropriate? ”

Qi Ning was disdainful, secretly thinking that even if he led troops to arrest people, it would take a good kung fu to succeed, but he didn't say anything, and said with a smile: "I can't promise you now, but just remember this matter, if there is really an errand that suits you, then call you over to be on an errand." ”

Qi Song was even more overjoyed, and said with a smile: "Okay, good, then the sixth uncle is waiting for your good news." Master Hou, don't worry, this marriage, the sixth uncle kept you beautiful and decent, so that everyone can't find fault with it. He didn't say much, and left happily.