At this moment, Xue Shao had been sitting in the main hall of the yamen of the pastoral courtyard for a whole hour.

He drank three cups of tea, ate two plates of dim sum, and even used a mutton noodle soup to kill the night.

At this time, Xue Shao was completely impatient and shouted, "What about people? Come!! ”

A slightly chubby man in his thirties and forties hurriedly ran over, not tall, not good-looking, wearing a cyan official uniform of an eight-rank official, and bowed to Xue Shao: "Xiaguan, the judge of the pastoral court, Zhang Zhimo, has seen the horse." I don't know what the horses command? ”

The "judge" in the Tang Dynasty was not an official name, but a temporary position assigned by the emperor to the ministers, who selected middle and lower-level officials to assist them. There are many judges under Suo Yuanli's subordinates who are promoted by the pastoral court to assist him in judging cases and adjudicating matters, and they are all temporary judicial officials.

"Judge Zhang, let me ask you-what about Suo Yuanli? I've been waiting all hours, why haven't I seen anyone yet? Xue Shao said angrily, "In the past, I have never waited so long to enter the palace to face the saint or ask to see the queen mother!" How old is he Suo Yuanli, and how dare he hold it up like this?! ”

Since Zhang Zhimo came to the pastoral court as a judge, of course he has the minimum "cool official quality" - bold as a fighting heart, except for the queen mother.

But this does not mean that Zhang Zhimo is "stupid", he knows in his heart that now Suo Yuanli himself and many old judges have hidden themselves and will not accept Xue Shao's stubble. Only he, the new unlucky guy, would be pushed out and hit Xue Shao's knife edge.

Therefore, Zhang Zhimo was not as arrogant and domineering as he did with ordinary pastoral prisoners, but replied to Xue Shao quite politely, "Don't be angry." Suo Tui was ordered to go out yesterday to investigate a major case, but has not returned. If the colt is looking for him, he may as well ...... Come back another day? ”

Xue Shao's expression was really crying and laughing, "Are you stupid, or am I stupid?" ”

Zhang Zhimo was stunned for a moment, "This ...... The lower officials are stupid, the lower officials are stupid! ”

"That's right, you're stupid!" Xue Shao was really angry at this time, "I'm a criminal who came to surrender for trial, you should quickly arrest me and try me." But you're telling me to come back another day? Could it be that your pastoral house is a brothel, and the girl I like is not there, so I have to visit another day? ”

"Hahaha!"

There were two people laughing, Xue Shao's left and right door gods. But the laughter of these two people was as loud as the voices of a group of people. Zhang Zhimo, who was nearby, had to cover his ears sideways, otherwise the eardrums would be shattered.

"Shut up!" Xue Shao shouted, "This is the judicial center of the imperial court yamen, and you can laugh?" ”

"Yes!" Niu Ben and Duan Feng hurriedly clenched their fists and confessed, and at the same time silenced.

"Go back, you all go back!" Xue Shao waved his hand impatiently, "I'm a criminal on trial now, where can I bring my entourage?" ”

"That's not going to work." Duan Feng refused, and at the same time glared at Zhang Zhimo angrily, "What if someone wants to lynch the young marshal?" ”

"That's it, I'm not leaving!" Niu Ben yelled, and at the same time glared at Zhang Zhimo.

Zhang Zhimo was stunned by these two fierce tigers on the battlefield, his legs trembled, and his face was a little pale, like a little white rabbit who accidentally jumped into the mouth of a hungry wolf.

Xue Shao slapped the table and shouted angrily: "If you don't leave, I will cut off the legs of the two of you!" ”

Duan Feng and Niu Ben had to grit their teeth and clench their fists, then turned around and strode away.

"Okay, they're gone." Xue Shao smiled and beckoned to Zhang Zhimo, "Come, come and judge me!" Hurry up and ascend to the hall - all the bad people under your command are called! ”

Zhang Zhimo was stunned in place and scratched his head with a wry smile, you said that the trial should be tried? …… There are strange things every year, only this year. Who has ever seen a prisoner more anxious to open a court than a judge?

After all, Zhang Zhimo is different from cool officials like Suo Yuanli who rely on opportunism and whistleblowing, he himself is a Jinshi and can be regarded as a person in the "system". He knew too well the details of Xue Shao, where he came from, and his relationship with the Queen Mother. In other words, Suo Yuanli doesn't dare to come to pick up the stubble now probably because he hasn't gotten the permission of the Queen Mother yet, and he doesn't dare to interrogate indiscriminately without permission. And even if Zhang Zhimo knew that Xue Shao was really thrown into the pastoral prison because of his downfall, he would not do too much of it - even if Xue Shao was really gone, wouldn't he still have a princess wife, a lot of robes and friends, and such a powerful family as the Xue family in Fenyin?

Now Zhang Zhimo himself feels that Suo Yuanli's owner sent him to "receive" Xue Shao for this reason. In other words, if it was another "ignorant" judge, he would first use a few heavy punishments against Xue Shao, and the matter would really be out of control.

"Don't take the official to find fun." Zhang Zhimo clenched his fists and shook them repeatedly, almost begging Xue Shao, "This ...... Who would dare to judge you? ”

"Nonsense!" Xue Shao scolded angrily, righteous and stern, "You are an official of the imperial court and a judicial official of the state, how can you say such nonsense!" ”

"This ......" Zhang Zhimo smiled bitterly, and almost had a black line on his head.

Xue Shao continued to speak solemnly, "That's right, I am a relative of the emperor and an important minister. But the prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people, and since someone has reported and exposed me, I must be tried according to the law. If you, the judge, do not try me, you will be guilty of dereliction of duty. Do you know what the consequences will be? ”

"Know, know, the lower officials know." Zhang Zhimo's expression was about to cry, "In recent days, Xia Guan has personally tried many dereliction of duty criminals. ”

"That's right!" Xue Shao smiled and said, "Don't talk nonsense, hurry up and ask the case!" ”

Zhang Zhimo scratched his head, now Suo Yuanli doesn't dare to come and ask in person, if I am promoted to this hall, won't it be a clear death?

"Shengtang, you don't have to, right?" Zhang Zhimo said cautiously, "Since the colt took the initiative to surrender, everything can be simple...... Xia Guan accompanied the horse to drink tea, how about chatting casually? ”

"Be serious!" Xue Shao was furious, "As a judicial official, you actually asked people to drink tea and chat, is this called a trial?" ――What is the 'prison guard' you use to interrogate prisoners? ”

"It's just, it's ......" Zhang Zhimo dared to answer, and his mouth squeaked vigorously.

"Don't spit it out, take it out and let me play with it!" Xue Shao waved his hand, "Go!" ”

Zhang Zhimo really couldn't cry, and he threw his hands together, "Concubine, Xue Concubine, my Grandpa Xue, that prison guard is not fun at all, and besides, I can't take it!" ”

Xue Shao blinked, "Then I'll go over by myself, okay?" ”

"No, no!" Zhang Zhimo waved his hand vigorously.

"This doesn't work, that doesn't work, do you still want to do it, judge?" Xue Shao angrily pointed at Zhang Zhimo, "You are derelict in your duties!" ”

"Okay, go, go!" Zhang Zhimo had no choice but to defeat the battle and compromise, "Let the lower officials take the horses to take a look." ”

"Let's go!"

Xue Shaoxing rushed to the front, and Zhang Zhimo wiped his cold sweat and followed behind, "Donkey, turn left in front." ”

It's here.

Xue Shao saw a low cell, or a cage that was more suitable. It is too narrow for people to lie down and too short to stand up, so they can only curl up. In addition, except for a few small holes, the ventilation cell is almost completely enclosed, and the prisoners who are locked in it are eating, drinking, and lazing, so it is full of filth and stench, and it is too dirty.

Xue Shao nodded in admiration, "Good thing, creative." ”

"Pony, let's go!" Zhang Zhimo covered his mouth and nose and persuaded again and again.

"No! Now that I'm here, I'm going to have to try. Xue Shao said seriously, "Otherwise, my life will be incomplete." ”

"Huh?" Zhang Zhimo was dumbfounded.

Xue Shao tore open a cage with no one and was about to get in, my obedient man was really stinky, he hurriedly retreated again, "It's too stinky, change it!" ”

Zhang Zhimo was really speechless, "Donkeys, the prisoners are like this." ”

"Won't you clean it then?" Xue Shao said angrily, "If the officials of the imperial court are all superficial and perfunctory like you, the country will be ruined!" ”

"Okay, clean up, the lower official will clean it himself!" Zhang Zhimo had no choice but to admit that he was unlucky, and obediently picked up the broom bucket and got busy.

"It's cleaned up." After Zhang Zhimo finished getting it, he asked Xue Shao, "Please look at the horse, how is this going?" ”

"Well, that's good." Xue Shao nodded and smiled, "I'll go in and try it!" ”

Zhang Zhimo didn't bother to talk nonsense, "Please!" ”

Xue Shao got in, and he could only squat. looked at Zhang Zhimo outside through the small hole, "You have to lock it!" What if I run away? ”

"This, Xia Guan really doesn't dare!" Zhang Zhimo also knew the severity, so he sternly refused, "If the horse wants to run, then run quickly!" If you run away, it will be easy for the lower officials. ”

"You unconscious! I know that I don't do practical things for nothing! Xue Shao scolded angrily a few times, and Zhang Zhimo didn't talk to him, just waited outside.

After a while, Xue Shao felt bored, so he said, "I heard that the prison guards still have to beat gongs and drums to prevent prisoners from falling asleep. Now I'm sleepy, you hurry up and grab something and knock it. ”

Zhang Zhimo was stunned for a long time, and then rubbed his face back and forth with his hands, "God, what kind of sin have I made?" ”

"Stop screaming, go get something!"

"Yes, the lower official will go and get ......"

Half an hour later, Zhang Zhimo came with a gong, stood outside the prison cell like a mourning filial piety, and said to Xue Shao: "Xue Concubine, can the next official be knocked?" ”

"Knock, hurry! I'm sleepy. ”

"Dangdangdang", Zhang Zhimo knocked lightly three times.

"It didn't work!" Xue Shao shouted inside, "I'm still sleepy." ”

"Dangdangdang-" Zhang Zhimo was also quite hard, knocking heavily four or five times in a row.

"Oops, I'm deaf!!"

Zhang Zhimo was so frightened that the gongs were thrown to the ground, and he hurriedly opened the prison door, "Xue Yuma, what's wrong with you?" - Hurry, get out! ”

Xue Shao covered his ears with his hands and his expression was very painful, Zhang Zhimo was completely dumbfounded, "It's over, it's all over!" ”

Unexpectedly, Xue Shao slowly let go of his ears and smiled, "It's okay, it's okay!" ”

Zhang Zhimo's whole body relaxed, and he suddenly sat down, "Grandpa Xue, you can be regarded as scared to death for me!" ”

Xue Shao stepped forward and squatted at the door of the cell with a smile, "Judge Zhang, as a jinshi, don't you know the rhythm of music?" ”

"This ......" Zhang Zhimo didn't know why Xue Shao was a little asked, and replied cautiously with his fingers, "Lile shoots the number of imperial books, and the officials of the six arts of Confucianism know a little bit." ”

"But I heard you just hit the gong, and the sound was too chaotic." Xue Shao shook his head, "You definitely don't know the rhythm of music." ”

Zhang Zhimo smiled bitterly, "It's just a gong, you don't have to be in tune with the rhythm." ”

"No, I'm very picky. You've got to knock it well. Xue Shao said and closed the prison door again, and shouted inside, "Knock me on a song "Mountains and Flowing Water"!" ”

Zhang Zhimo looked up at the sky in a daze, "What Jinshi, judge...... My damn grandma's, it's dead! ”

"Hurry up and knock!" Xue Shao shouted impatiently, and kicked the cell door with his foot, "Don't be afraid, I'll help you correct the wrong knock." Haven't heard a famous saying? - There is a mistake in the song, Xue Langgu! ”

"The lower officials are lonely and unheard, I really don't know." Zhang Zhimo didn't bother to think with his brain, so he replied in a daze.

"Oh, it's not surprising that you don't know about the things in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Xue Shao muttered in a low voice, and immediately shouted again, "Mountains and rivers - start playing!" ”