In the Wuying Palace, the emperor flipped through the case files of Dali Temple and listened to Xu Zhijin talk about his judgment on the confessions of these monks.

"Huyan, what do you think?"

Hu Yanjin stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, although the monk's confession is only one-sided, the file submitted by the Chang'an Mansion is also flawed. It said that it had received news that the monks had rebelled, but it only arrested these 24 people, all of whom were over 40 years old.

Your Majesty, these monks have been monks since childhood, why wait until they are old and weak to rebel, this is unreasonable, dozens of monks, not to mention that they are unarmed, even if they have swords, I am afraid that even a county government will not be able to defeat them.

There is also time, the front said that the news was immediately encircled and suppressed, and the latter said that a large number of people fled, Your Majesty, this file really does not stand up to scrutiny. ”

Wu Shangshu also said: "Your Majesty, Li Dudu happens to be a person from the Xingdu Division of Shaanxi, and he is also very familiar with the situation in Chang'an, so why don't you listen to him talk about the local management of the temple monks." ”

"Your Majesty, the last general doesn't know much about the management of the Shaanxi political envoys, but the last general's mother believes in Buddhism, and the last general has also accompanied his mother to the nearby temple to fast several times."

When Zhu Zhanji saw Li Ying come in with them just now, he knew that they asked Li Ying to speak for them, and he was very unhappy in his heart.

But he never thought that Li Ying did not say that the Shaanxi Mansion was bad, but said that his mother was fasting, which made his heart feel much more comfortable.

It is a taboo for the emperor that the local armed forces have too close contacts with central officials, so how can Hu Yanjin not know? Before entering the hall, he told Li Ying that it could only be like this.

Now seeing that the emperor's face has eased, the hanging hearts of several people have been put down.

I only heard Li Ying continue: "The last general's mother has been familiar with the presiding officer for more than 60 years, and he still has to do many things himself, so my mother asked him why he still hasn't trained young monks to write and inherit the mantle in the future."

The presiding officer said: The monks who entered the temple during the Hongwu period have all grown old, Yongle and Hongxi, almost no new monks, and next year, they will no longer be able to receive believers who come to fast. ”

"Oh? And what's going on? Why haven't I heard any news? ”

A cold sweat broke out on the back of the monk Lu Si Zhengyin, who was standing next to him, but fortunately, Hu Yanjin said for him:

"The Sanglu Division has few manpower, if you don't know, it should be that the Shaanxi Sanggang Division did not report the matter to the capital."

Monk Lu Si Zhengyin hurriedly glanced at Hu Yanjin, and hurriedly reciprocated:

"Your Majesty, Weichen knows that he is derelict in his duties, and judging from all kinds of circumstances, the conclusion reached by the Three Law Divisions should be the truth, and Weichen will personally inquire about the jurisdiction of the Shaanxi Sangha Gang Division, and let them immediately resume approving the monks to become monks."

Zhu Zhanji nodded, frowned again, and said: "Although I know that these monks have been wronged, but this is a case of rebellion, if it is easily overturned, wouldn't it make the people of the world think that the crime of rebellion can be spared?" I have just ascended the throne, and it is not appropriate to start such a head. ”

"Your Majesty, the minister has a plan, I don't know if it can be used."

"Tell me."

Hu Yanjin smiled and said: "This matter is that the Empress Dowager met a prisoner car on the road, and after inquiry, she asked the ministers to ask." It is better to make the truth public, and then ask the Empress Dowager to issue a decree to exempt them from capital crimes.

Your Majesty, you only need to cut off their monk's robes to show your solemn attitude towards this matter, and you will be filial to both the law. ”

Wu Shangshu also smiled when he heard it: "Your Majesty, although this method is absurd, it is also a way to deal with the people. In ancient times, there were dragon robes, and now there are monks' robes, which is also the merit of the emperor. ”

"Huyan, Huyan, I really want to see what else is written in your brain." Zhu Zhanji was also amused by him, pointed at him and said:

"Okay, I will appoint you and Master Xu as the supervisors and beheaders, and take care of this matter for me!"

Early the next morning, Tanzhe Temple received an edict from the emperor.

When the Empress Dowager heard the cause and effect, she couldn't help laughing and said: "Okay, if you can do something for the emperor, why not mourn the family." ”

Zen Master Deshi nodded again and again and praised: "There are wise kings and virtuous ministers below, this is the blessing of the Ming Dynasty." ”

"The Empress Dowager, since it is your decree, you should send an acting person." Zhang Yue suggested.

"You want to go over?"

"No, no, I'm yours...... Brother, but he can't represent the royal family, I suggest you ask the eldest princess Baoying if she would like to go on this trip on your behalf. ”

"That's right, I forgot about her, you go to her and come over, Xiancao, you come to make a will."

"The Empress Dowager, the buckwheat is here uninvited."

Hua Qiao happened to come over to say goodbye, and heard Zhang Yue's words outside the door. Her heart had already flown back to the capital and flew to Hu Yanjin's side.

On the way back to Beijing from Tanzhe Temple, a carriage ran quickly, and before closing the city gate, Hua Qiao returned to the palace.

The emperor also praised the Empress Dowager for being thoughtful, and now no one would say that the emperor tolerated the rebels.

Noon was approaching, and Hu Yanjin and Xu Zhijin were already dressed in court clothes and sitting in the position of the supervisor. The two executioners were extra relaxed today, because they only had to put on a show and didn't need blood to be spattered on the spot.

There were a few circles of people eating melon seeds around the stage, and they saw a notice yesterday, saying that the emperor personally interrogated and found that the monk had been wronged, and the empress dowager issued a decree to exempt the monk from capital crimes.

The fast-talking storyteller has already added fuel and vinegar to this paragraph several times, and he is praising the emperor for his kindness and filial piety.

So today everyone came to see if there was such a thing.

Hu Yanjin saw that the hour was approaching, stood up and ordered the execution to prepare, and saw the voice of the guards driving people from behind the people who were eating melon seeds: "Idlers avoid!" The eldest princess has arrived! ”

The eldest princess? It's a lot better than those monks' robes. You must know that the princess and the eldest princess are all raised in the deep palace, and they are not easily seen, and now, you can see a precious eldest princess, and the gossip can be said to be at least a year.

Hu Yanjin was also excited, he hadn't seen buckwheat for a few days, but he didn't expect to see buckwheat wearing the costume of the eldest princess and holding Yizhi in this execution ground.

Hu Yanjin and Xu Zhijin led everyone to kneel down to receive the order, and Hua Qiao, as the acting person, handed over the Yi Zhi to Hu Yanjin's hand, and laughed in a low voice: "Lord Huyan has worked hard. ”

When the hour came, twenty-four monk's robes were cut in half.

The onlookers who ate melon seeds applauded happily, and they didn't know if it was because they saw a fresh monk's robe or because they saw a beautiful eldest princess.

Zhu Zhanji in the palace soon received a report, saying that the streets and alleys were praising him as a virtuous king, and he also heard that "Cutting Monk's Clothes at the Noon Gate" has been rated as the most popular play of the year by the storyteller.

"Reward! All three law divisions are rewarded! Well, the eldest princess of Baoying, who came back to spread the decree, also has a reward! ”

August in the capital, it is the season of golden cinnamon fragrance, Hu Yanjin rode a horse, with the buckwheat that secretly went out of the palace to the north sea, the weeping willows by the water's edge are still lingering, the evening breeze blows, and the water surface is sparkling.

Hu Yanjin took Hua Qiao's hand and walked forward.

"Jinyi, where are you going?"

"Don't talk, it's ahead."

"This ...... This is...... Star? ”

"Yes, flying stars."

This is a remote place, with tall reeds growing along the water's edge and a shallow lake on the shore, where many fireflies gather to breed. Like a star in the sky falling into the water, like a reflection in the water floating in the air.

"It's so beautiful......"

Buckwheat stands among the slowly flying fireflies with her arms outstretched. Hu Yanjin stretched out his hand and grabbed it, and a firefly fell into his palm.

The palm opened in front of the buckwheat, and an ignorant firefly flew out in a circle.

Hu Yanjin hugged the starry buckwheat in his arms:

"No one is more beautiful than you, no one is luckier than me."