In the third year of Zhenguan, on June 23, the third day of Lu Xin's arrival in Chang'an City.

On this day, there was a hazy drizzle in the sky, and the entire Jingshi was shrouded in a mist, looming. Perhaps it is the turmoil of the past few days, and there are no people on the streets of Chang'an City. Even the shops that used to have a booming business have their doors closed.

However, the institutions of the imperial court are still operating normally. No matter how chaotic Chang'an is, the three provinces and six departments, the nine temples and five prisons, the Yushitai, the Yongzhou Mansion and other yamen all operate freely and are as stable as a rock. This is the face of the Tang Dynasty, and it is the guarantee for the people of the world to live in peace.

The country is picturesque, but without a stable imperial court, it can only be a beacon fire.

Dali Temple, one of the nine temples of the imperial court. After Lu Xin was escorted into Dali Temple, he went directly into the dungeon. It is an unusually enclosed space, located more than ten meters underground. The dungeon is very large, but there is only one entrance and exit, and it is heavily guarded. After the prisoner enters the dungeon, even if there are comrades, it is impossible to attack and rescue them from the outside.

Lu Xin was imprisoned directly south of the dungeon, and there were thirty-six large and small cells in this area. Most of the prisoners are masters of the rivers and lakes. In fact, as a supreme court that only handles criminal cases in Jingshi and the surrounding areas, the scope of its powers is not large. Most of the cases in the state capitals are handled on their own. Unless there is a major homicide case, or the state capital has imposed a death penalty, it will be reported by the local government to the Dali Temple for verification.

However, since Li Shimin's accession to the throne, the power of Dali Temple has begun to grow. In some places, thorny cases, or cases that alarmed the emperor, will be investigated by Dali Temple. When someone is caught and convicted, it will be submitted to the Criminal Department for approval. Larger cases will be tried by the three divisions. That is to say, today's Dali Temple has become a powerful military institution in disguise, rather than a yamen only responsible for judging cases.

"Young man, you can actually enter the dungeon of Dali Temple at your age, it seems that you committed something in Chang'an City, right?"

"I didn't speak all night, I woke up from sleep, and I still pretended to be dumb? Hmph, Lao Tzu has been in this cell for nine years, and finally someone who can talk is actually a mute! It's boring, it's boring. ”

Lu Xin sat on the straw mat in the cell, his eyes closed, and he didn't say a word. In the cell on his left, there was a bearded man leaning against the wall, his hands pillowed, his legs crossed, and he kept talking. Judging by this person's age, he should be in his early forties. Although he couldn't see his face clearly, his bright eyes were always full of fierceness.

"You've been here for nine years?"

Lu Xin suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the strong man a little strangely. The people detained in Dali Temple should be the current felons, even if the cases are backlogged for some reason, they should be handed over to the Criminal Department for quick disposal. If it is an unjust case, either the person will be released or returned to the locality. It is indeed a little strange to be locked up in Dali Temple for nine years.

"Yo! Can you talk? Yes, nine years, a full nine springs, summers, autumns and winters. I've forgotten what the world is like out there. ”

"Hmph, since you have committed a crime, why didn't Dali Temple interrogate you? Or do you refuse to plead guilty? ”

"You kid knows a fart!"

The strong man shouted violently, and the sound was like spring thunder. I saw him turn his head slowly, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, and there was some mockery in his eyes.

"My case, Dali Temple does not dare to try it, and the Criminal Department does not want to try it. As the saying goes, if I open my mouth, a certain big man in the court will not be able to sit still. ”

"Oh? So, are you going to die in this dungeon? ”

"Hahahaha, let's die. Now that the world has returned to the Tang Dynasty, those old people of the year, died, hidden, and lost. Even if you go out, you can't win the world anymore. As a man, you can't make contributions, what's the point of looking at other people's countries? It's not as clean as this dungeon, and you don't have to worry about eating and drinking. ”

"Hmph, weird talk!"

Lu Xin sneered and closed his eyes again. The strong man's words reminded him of Lu Tingfang. Both of them regard making achievements as the biggest goal in life, or even the only goal, which annoys him. A person who always dreams of competing for the world is dangerous after all.

"Young man, you don't have the ability to laugh at me. Now that you're here, don't even think about going out. Let's figure out how we can stay here for a few more days. The day you go out, maybe it's your time of death, hahahaha......"

The strong man laughed so eerily that after laughing, he fell asleep and soon began to snore. Lu Xin's brows were tightly locked, and the words of the strong man were disgusting, but they had to make him think deeply.

At the beginning of Zhenguan, it was when Li Shimin was in his prime, and the momentum of the Tang Dynasty court, like the spring bamboo shoots that rose from the ground, was the most prosperous period. Anyone who dares to oppose the imperial court is an enemy of Li Shimin, and he will never end well. Although Lu Xin has never really done anything to damage the Tang Dynasty, since ancient times, there is no excuse for the crime he wants to add. If he offends the Imperial Temple, it is equivalent to offending the entire Yin-Yang Temple. As long as someone blows a gust of wind in the emperor's ear, it is easy to press the last charge of rebellion.

"The master doesn't know when he will come out, in case Dali Temple is indiscriminate and listens to the one-sided words of the Imperial Temple, I am afraid that the charge of rebellion will be confirmed. But if the trial is carried out according to the normal procedures, then Wang Quanyi is dead, and there is no human or material evidence in the Xuanzhou temple breaking case, and I will definitely be innocent. Alas, I hope this Dali Siqing is a good official. Otherwise......"

Lu Xin looked up at the narrow window in the distance, his face solemn. What he fears most now is not that he is in prison. But once the court has no way and convicts itself, Yue Buhei and the Yang sisters are afraid that they will do radical things. Especially Na Yangqin, who is simple-minded and does things exactly according to his own preferences. If you rob the dungeon or the Dharma field, things will be a big problem. When the time comes, the imperial court will spill its anger on Miao Jiang, and countless people will die.

Although Lu Xin's face was always expressionless, he was still very worried in his heart. I sat upright until about noon, when an official came to deliver food outside the cell. Look at the line, it should be the head catcher of Dali Temple.

"Eat, eat. After eating enough, it is good to hit the road. Boy, don't play dead, come over for dinner. ”

The food brought by the head catcher was very rich, two meat and three vegetables, including chicken and fish, which was obviously not food for the prisoners. Lu Xin didn't open his eyes when he heard this, but the strong man on the side turned over from his sleep.

"There is wine and meat, he doesn't eat this rice, I will eat it!"

The strong man smiled strangely, and rushed forward to reach out for the food to eat. Seeing this, the head catcher hurriedly pulled out a big knife from his waist.

"This is eaten by the dead, if you don't want to die, get out of the way."

"Hey, hey, hey, there's a big grumpy. But I've never seen you before. Not a jailer, but also a strange face. Official, I think you recognize him, right? ”

The strong man stretched out his hand back to the prison and did not leave, but turned his back and looked at Lu Xin with a sly smile. When the catcher heard this, his face changed slightly, and he stopped talking for a while.

"Don't worry, looking at this kid's face, he is not a short-lived ghost. You talk about yours, I drink my wine, I eat my food, and the two have nothing to do with each other. This deal is not a loss to you, is it? ”

"Since you're greedy, it's okay to share some of this meal with you, let's go, go and eat on the side."

The head catcher personally delivered the dishes and chopsticks to the strong man, and moved the dishes to a distance. The strong man laughed strangely, stopped talking, and went to drink and eat food on his own. At the same time, Lu Xin opened his eyes from the meditation.

"Didn't you say it was for the dead? Fox, you're cursing me. ”

"Hmph, it's nice to come and see you. Dali Temple investigates and handles serious cases and important cases. If you enter here, you will lose half your life. You, you, like that stinky reader, make trouble for me. ”

"Well, it's a matter of life and death, so there's no time to laugh. You came just in time, there is a wealthy merchant named Qian Hai in Huaiyuan Fang in Chang'an West City. If you go to find him, you will say that I have been wronged and am now being detained in the dungeon of Dali Temple. This person should have a way to save me. Even if you can't get rid of your sin, you won't be framed to death! ”

"Qian Hai? Okay, I remember. But Xiao Xin, you offended the Imperial Temple, and I'm afraid this matter can't be solved with silver. In case that Qian Hai can't save you, the two sisters Yangxiu and I have thought about it. Hijacking a prisoner's car, or robbing a law field, will definitely take you out of Chang'an. ”

"No, don't. In short, no matter what the outcome is, you can't be an enemy of the Tang Dynasty. ”

Hearing that the moon was not dark and really had the idea of robbing the law field, Lu Xin's face changed suddenly. But before he could finish his words, he saw a black beetle suddenly crawl out of Yuebu's ears and land on his shoulder. Immediately, Yue Buhei's eyes locked and he quickly stood up.

"Yang Xiu said, the people from the Imperial Temple are here, they should be here to interrogate you. Xiao Xin, I have to go, this Gu worm can transmit sound within ten miles. You put him in your ears, and we're out there. ”

After Yue Buhei handed over the insect to Lu Xin, he hurried out of the dungeon. At this time, the strong man on the side also ate almost all the wine and food. I saw him burp and lie down with a red face.

"I thought it was a disguise technique, but I didn't expect that this friend of yours is also proficient in change. This, but only demons have the ability. ”

"Did you hear all that you just said?"

Lu Xin's eyes were cold, and he looked to the left sharply. The words of the strong man are really terrifying. A person who can see the art of changing the moon without darkness is not trivial. Obviously, the strong man in front of him is also an onmyoji nine times out of ten.

"I didn't hear it all. But...... After drinking your wine, we are also acquainted. If anyone who comes later wants to kill you, I may save your life. ”

When the strong man said this, he laughed, and in a blink of an eye he fell asleep again, and his snoring was earth-shattering. Lu Xin wanted to continue asking, but there was a large sound of heavy footsteps in his ears.