Beijing City, the prison of the Criminal Department, the prison of the Tianzi prison.

As a prison whose reputation in the world is only under the Jinyi Guard's edict, this prison under the Criminal Department can be regarded as a terrifying place. However, the standard here is higher than that of the Imperial Prison, and ordinary prisoners cannot enter at all.

The prison is divided into four prisons, according to the identity and crime of the criminal, in order, the first three cells can only be put into the court officials, or prisoners who have committed major crimes such as rebellion, and only in the yellow cell will some ordinary people who have committed serious crimes be imprisoned.

However, the high standard of the cell does not mean that the environment here is better than that of other places. On the contrary, the environment of this prison is even worse than that of ordinary prefecture and county prisons, where there is no sunlight all year round, it is extremely humid and cold, there are many snakes, insects, rats and ants, and the air is filled with the smell of blood, feces and urine, and the strange smell of rotting and suppurating wounds...... The smell is so mixed together that anyone who enters it will want to cut their noses.

The situation in the Tianzi No. 5 room where Lu Zhen was imprisoned was not much better, in the small five-foot-square prison, there was only a pile of hay, even if it was a bed, and there was nothing else, not even a half-bed.

Lu Zhen was now sitting on this pile of hay, his back against the cold, thick wall of rock, closing his eyes and thinking about something.

It had been almost three days since he was thrown into prison, and because the criminal department had specially taken care of him, he had not even seen an outsider. Not to mention the subordinates in Jinyiwei, even his wife and family are not allowed to enter the cell to visit, and the reason for this is also very sufficient, as a felony who has not yet pleaded guilty, he has to prevent him from passing on the news and colluding with the people involved.

Not only can I not see my family and subordinates, but the daily food is also extremely simple, and it can even be regarded as bad. There is only half a bowl of water for each meal, a rancid steamed bun or nest head, and this alone is only two meals a day, which can't fill his stomach at all, but just keeps him from dying of thirst and starvation.

The only good news was that in the past few days, the cell head jailer in the prison did not dare to torture him. In fact, Lu Zhen also knew that they didn't do anything too out of the ordinary because they were afraid of their identity as the commander of the Jinyi Guard, otherwise once things repeated, they would be the ones who died.

But even so, as time went by, Lu Jin's heart became more and more heavy.

It stands to reason that after he was taken away by the Criminal Department, the brothers of Jinyiwei have done their best to find clues to rehabilitate themselves. And with Yang Zhen's ability, no matter how deep this case is hidden, at least there is a way to find some flaws to exonerate themselves. But it's been three days, why haven't they moved at all?

What makes people's hearts even more unsettling is the ignorance of everything outside. Lu Zhen had cut off all contact with the outside world after being thrown into the prison, and he did not know what the attitude of the Manchu officials was on this matter, let alone what kind of thoughts the emperor would have after learning about it.

The latter, in particular, is even more confusing. Why didn't the Son of Heaven even send a eunuch to the Criminal Department to ask about the crime, did he really believe that he was cheating, so he ignored it? If that's the case, then the trick he laid out before will be completely useless.

While he was thinking, a sound of footsteps suddenly came from far and near, disturbing his thoughts slightly. Although he completely lost the concept of time after being imprisoned in the prison, he can still grasp the interval between food deliveries, and now there should be some time before the next meal, why is someone coming?

Confused, a slightly familiar voice came from outside: "Is Lord Lu still used to being here?" The tone was full of ridicule.

Lu Zhen slowly opened his eyes, and by the light of the flickering torches outside, he saw the appearance of the person standing in front of the cell door clearly: "Lord Liu! "That person is Liu Muqing, the criminal department who always targeted him during the previous court trial.

Liu Muqing looked at him with a sneer: "In the past, I heard people mention Lord Lu, saying that you are a bold person and an official, but now I have to believe it when I see you sitting here so indifferently." ”

"Hmph......" Hearing the other party's mockery, Lu Jin could only snort coldly and ignored it.

Liu Muqing, who noticed that he had touched a soft nail, was not annoyed, but just looked Lu Zhen up and down: "Lord Lu, you may not know your situation because you have cut off contact with the outside world, right?" Then let the official tell you, now the people of Manchuria, especially those who are scholars, have regarded you as a traitor who has brought disaster to the country and the people, and many people have petitioned for the court, hoping that the court will condemn you to death and kill you to make the people angry. Many officials in the DPRK and China have also impeached you, but those who were originally attached to you did not dare to speak out at all.

"In addition, Jin Yiwei's side has done a lot of things to help you exonerate, and even dared to snatch the witness of my criminal department. It's a pity that these actions of theirs not only can't help you, but instead confirm your crimes, and now even Your Majesty hates you deeply, and maybe soon, the will to kill you will be issued! ”

Listening to these words, and reflecting his previous conjectures, Lu Jin's body couldn't help but tremble, and his face changed slightly. And all these changes naturally fell into Liu Muqing's eyes, which made his spirit suddenly lift, and he continued to exert pressure: "In a word, Lu Jin, you have now become a public enemy of the government and the opposition, and no one can help you clear your name of stealing and leaking the exam questions!" ”

Lu Zhen was silent for a while, then he raised his head and looked at Liu Muqing outside the prison door: "You suddenly came to the prison and endured the disgusting smell here just to tell me this, so that you can see my desperate appearance?" ”

"This official is not so naïve, I came here today just to help Lord Lu." Only then did Liu Muqing express his intentions.

"Help me? How could you, Lord Liu, have such a good heart? Lu Zhen smiled, but there were three points of disdain in this smile, and seven points of caution. He had personally felt the other party's hostility towards him that day, how could it be possible for such a change to occur in a few days?

"After all, you and I are colleagues, Lord Lu, you have indeed made a lot of contributions to my Ming Dynasty before, how can this official not save him when he dies?" Liu Muqing said very sincerely, as if he couldn't see Lu Jin's face at all.

Seeing that Lu Zhen was silent, he continued: "Actually, Lord Lu, have you thought about it, is the crime on your body really so serious, to the point that people fall to the ground and everyone shouts to kill?" This official is in the Criminal Department, and he still has some understanding of my Ming law, although this imperial examination fraud is a serious crime, but it is not a crime to death, at most it is to be exempted from official exile.

"Lord Lu, have you ever wondered why the officials and people in the capital are so strict with you now? In fact, it's not because this case has been dragged on and it is difficult to reach a conclusion? As long as you admit the crime, our criminal department will immediately decide the case, and then consider all your previous achievements, maybe this seemingly serious crime will only let you quit your official position and return to your hometown in the end. Lord Lu, I think you should know much more about the pros and cons than I do, right? As he spoke, he looked at the prisoner in the cell with some expectation, waiting for the other party's reaction.

Lu Zhen sat there with an indifferent face, and after a while, he said in the same flat tone: "I'm afraid this is the purpose of your visit, Lord Liu, right?" I just hope that I can confess to the crime of fraud! ”

"This official does not deny that he has such a little selfishness, but he is more concerned about you, Lord Lu. You should know how unfavorable the current situation between the government and the opposition is for you, even in the yamen of my criminal department, there are many people who hate you deeply. So if you make concessions at this time, it will be a good thing for you and our criminal department. I also hope that Lord Lu, you can understand the kindness of this official! Moreover, as long as you admit to the crime, our criminal department can also reduce the charge against you, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds? ”

After hearing him finish speaking, the corners of Lu Jin's mouth hooked, and a smile suddenly appeared: "Lord Liu is really far-sighted." ”

These words made Liu Muqing think that he was moved, so he said: "This official has already said that this is good for you and me, Lord Lu, it would be best if you can figure it out." I have a confession here, as long as you draw and admit what is written above, the rest will be left to the magistrate. So saying, he took out a book from his wide sleeve and handed it through the gap in the wooden bar to the cell.

But Lu Zhen inside didn't move at all, and the smile on his face became full of ridicule: "When I say that you are far-sighted, I mean that you have the ability to say these nonsense words, do you think I will believe you?" As early as the court trial, you wanted to detain me for fraud, will you be kind enough to help me? Is it true that Lu Zhen is a three-year-old child? ”

Not to mention Lu Jin, as long as you are a person with a little knowledge, you also know that there is a confession in this prison. Often, people use excuses such as thinking about you and mitigating your guilt to induce innocent suspects to confess to serious crimes. Then when the matter is settled, the other party is really hard to argue, and there is only a dead end.

That's why there will be such a saying in later generations - confess leniently, sit in prison; Resist strictness and go home for the New Year......

Lu Jindu has been in the officialdom for so many years, how could this little trick fool him?

was exposed to his face with his intentions, which made Liu Muqing's face finally sink: "Lu Jin, don't you toast and don't eat and drink, is there really no way for me to take you from the Criminal Department?" Although this prison is not as good as the edict prison, the methods here are not something you can afford! ”

"Hah...... How many times have I Lu Zhen almost died and survived, in the knife and in the fire, is it still scared? Lu Zhen replied with a sneer: "If the people in this prison are not afraid of ten times and a hundred times the revenge afterwards, they can try!" "At this point, there is no need to hold back, Lu Zhen directly threatened.

And the effect of these words was obvious, and the jailers who wanted to step forward to help Liu Muqing scare him for a few words immediately shrank back......