Commander Ji ordered someone to take him to a room, and he also took off the flying fish suit outside, revealing a strong suit inside, with narrow sleeves and a thin waist, which made his face more and more exquisite.

He personally tied Master Cheng to the torture wood, and carefully stretched out a finger to compare the rope with his wrist, his attitude was like that of the officials of the Qin Heavenly Prison who inspected the altar before the ceremony.

He explained softly: "Of course it's not okay if this rope is tied too loosely, but if it is tied too tightly, you will easily break your arm when you are in pain and struggle, which will inevitably affect Ji's next step, and it will also fall into my name, so everything is better to be meticulous." ”

He walked to the side, carefully selected a whip, threw it casually in the salt water trough beside him, and said:

"Many of my brothers in the brocade guard privately want to inquire about the torture tools of the factory guard, and I heard that they have a lot of new things, but I always say, don't pursue those flashy things too much, in fact, this whip dance is good, it will make people survive and not die, Cheng's knowledge, Ji is admired, I don't know if it's this principle?"

Chief Officer Cheng didn't have the apprehension before begging for death, but calmed down at this time, nodded and said: "What Master Ji said is extremely true, it is to study, and the most important thing is to have solid basic skills. ”

Commander Ji smiled again, turned around and said to the two brocade guards standing on the side, "Have you remembered what Lord Cheng said?" After saying that, he picked up his right foot, kicked the whip into his hand, and threw it over with a backhand whip.

Rao is Cheng chief official has already clenched the crown of his teeth, ready to be psychologically prepared, this whip is still painful and unconsciously trembling, as if every inch of skin that the whip touches is the most painful point on the body, a whip down seems to put a villain in his heart, in this villain keeps persuading himself to beg for mercy, he closed his eyes, trying to drive this sound out of his head, but as soon as this thought came out, the second whip fell on his body.

At this time, he already felt that the first whip was a polite greeting from the other party, and this was the real beginning. Before he could feel it, he was whipped ten times.

Commander Ji finally paused, although Chief Officer Cheng knew that this kind of pause could crush his will the most, but this pause was like a drowning person easily coming out of the water and taking a breath of air, he was greedily enjoying this moment.

"Just now this is called the Ten Styles of Whipping, how does Master Cheng feel about Ji's basic skills?" Commander Ji's eyes actually carried a hint of excitement waiting for the other party's affirmation.

Chief Officer Cheng wanted to behave more naturally, but the pain made him speechless, and the sweat on his head fell down in big drops.

"This whip is particular about Sven, Lord Cheng take a look, this dress is a little wrinkled than just now, but there is no damage in the slightest, when you go back, Lord Cheng can also take off his clothes and check it, these ten whips only have whip marks and no wounds. If the whip is stained with blood, it means that the person who carried the whip is not skilled. ”

Chief Officer Cheng gritted his teeth and replied, "Master Ji is really skilled. ”

"The so-called salute before the soldiers, the next whip is not so comfortable, Lord Cheng may need to grit his teeth and endure it."

Before he finished speaking, the whip shadow flashed, and with a miserable scream, the brocade guard on the side stepped forward to take a look, and replied: "My lord, the person fainted in pain." ”

Commander Ji looked at his hands innocently, and said: "It's dawn, let's change shifts and watch, Zhao Hu has been staring at it all night, follow me to the street to eat a bowl of intestine noodles, and then go back to the class room to lie down, let's continue to boil at night." ”

Several people changed their clothes and walked out of prison, the early morning summer sun was slightly dazzling.

The brocade guard on the side also took a deep breath.

A few people walked into the noodle restaurant they were used to, Zhao Hu found a few figures around the corner, he snorted at the commander, and the other party didn't care much about ordering a bowl of intestinal noodles, and asked Xiao Er to add an extra yard of fried kidney flowers to cover.

Seeing this, a few people also left it alone, and they were really hungry, as soon as Xiao Er's noodles came up, several people even sucked the soup and noodles clean. casually asked Xiao Er to keep an account, and a few people went back to rest with their clothes scattered.

The man who followed at the entrance of the alley got into a carriage at another intersection, and the carriage drove all the way to the mansion of the head of the dynasty.

Yang Xiang came back from the next court, and as soon as he finished breakfast, his students came over one after another, including those from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Punishment, and those from Dali Temple, who gathered in one place to exchange news with each other.

He asked San Lang to serve tea to everyone, cleared his throat, the room was quiet instantly, and he said in a deep voice: "Call everyone over, I think everyone also knows about Keqin, yesterday evening Jinyi Wei took Keqin away from the prison of the Criminal Department with a ticket." Jin Yiwei also inquired clearly, it was Ji Gongzi's case that was handled personally, and he probably had already been tortured last night. ”

Zhang Shangshu of the Criminal Department couldn't help but hurriedly say: "Teacher, why did the Holy Lord suddenly change his mind and not let the Criminal Department continue to investigate?" That Ji Yan Luo is a ruthless person who doesn't eat oil and salt, how can the senior brother hold on? How good is that? ”

The people who knew the title of "Yama Gongzi" on the side couldn't help but nodded, their faces were worried, and there were also people who didn't know, listening to the introduction of a few people from the Criminal Department and Dali Temple, they couldn't help but turn pale.

Yang Xiang sighed secretly in his heart, and said: "The holy will is unpredictable, you are not only my students, but also the chief officials or pillars of the yamen of various ministries, even if the old man is down, you must also stick to your posts and abide by your duties. ”

Everyone was shocked: "Why is the teacher here? Didn't the queen say holy? ”

Yang Xiang waved his hand to interrupt everyone's speculation and discussion, and said: "Since the saint let Keqin enter the Jinyi Prison, he must not want to save face for the old man. Today, I came to inform you, everyone has prepared early, and there is no need to talk about the rest. Let's disperse. ”

After San Lang led everyone out of the study, Yang Xiangchang sighed, sat alone in the study for a long time, and when he got up again, he seemed to be ten years old, and suddenly felt a little heavy in his hands and feet.

The old servant who had been following him for more than forty years came up to support him and said in a low voice: "Master, my aunt and grandmother have gone back." ”

He nodded, and took the old servant's hand and walked to the back hall. Mrs. Yang spent poverty with him and sent his parents away, and he always respected his wife.

When Mrs. Yang had her first child, she didn't conceive her daughter for five years, not only did her parents and elders urge him to take a concubine, but even Mrs. Yang's mother's family sent two concubines, but he resolutely refused to accept it, saying that the heir was destined and there was no need to force it.

For this sentence, Mrs. Yang has devoted herself to keeping the family all her life, and even the exile of Da Lang some time ago has never said a word, just comforting him.

Because of this, their eldest daughter is different from other children, compared to the following younger siblings, the eldest daughter's enlightenment is taught by him personally.

"Lan'er is gone? What did she say? Yang Xiang looked at his wife's eyes red, and he didn't have to ask to guess what his eldest daughter said when she came home.

Old Madam Yang wiped the corners of her eyes and said: "I didn't say anything, just ask if there is any news of my uncle here, I advised her not to worry, the children are in a hurry, and they panic when they encounter something." ”

"Lan'er is also in her forties!" Yang Xiang looked at his old wife's hand with a fuyu ring but still full of wrinkles, and couldn't help but sigh: "The days go by so fast!" How old was Keqin when I first met him? She is still clamoring not to marry! It's been more than twenty years since this blink of an eye. ”

"That's what the lord said! Lan'er was still childish at that time, and asked Erlang to test his skills, he would be foolish! Thinking of the past, Mrs. Yang also laughed, and unconsciously laughed out of tears.

"Yes! What do you want Jiro to test? I've tried it for her as a father, and you remember when he came to our house, right? ”

"Of course I do! When my uncle was young, he had red lips and white teeth, very handsome, the old man pointed to the lotus flower out of a couplet, because of the lotus (he) and the lotus root (even), the lord pun on the word, the aunt was very anxious, and in a blink of an eye, there was an apricot (fortunately) He Xumei (matchmaker), right excellent! Lan'er also nodded in agreement after listening to this couplet. ”

Yang Xiang nodded. Mrs. Yang couldn't help it, and her tears fell, she hurriedly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, and finally asked: "Master, does the emperor really want to put the Yang family to death?" The lord has been working hard for the court for more than 40 years, doesn't the emperor say anything about it? ”

Yang Xiang waved his hand and said, "Why do you want to say this? After a while, I will write a resignation letter and submit it, so that Keqin's child will suffer less sin, that is, you will go to my hometown in Sichuan with me in the future, I am afraid that you will not be used to it. ”

"What did you say?" Old Madam Yang naturally knew that Yang Xiang was trying to make her feel relieved, and she also followed his words: "The concubine has always felt that the weather in the capital is dry and the people are cumbersome, so she wants to follow the master back to her hometown to live an idyllic life for two years. ”

Yang Xiang smiled and shook his wife's hand.

In the Jinyi Guard Prison, Chief Officer Cheng was no longer human, and there was a foul smell all over his body.

Commander Ji didn't dislike him at all, and still treated him like a first lover, tying him gently and meticulously to the torture rack.

He finally couldn't help but open his mouth, but the bloody scab in his mouth made his mouth hurt heartbreakingly. Commander Ji noticed his movements and asked, "You want to speak?" ”

He nodded.

Commander Ji asked someone to bring a bowl of water, and he drank it in one gulp as if he had seen nectar.

After drinking the water, sure enough, his throat was a little better and he could make a sound, and he finally asked the doubts in his heart in the past few days: "What do you want to ask?" ”

In the past few days, he has only been brought over every night to be tortured, but no one has asked him questions, and there must be an interrogation outline for torture to extract confessions.

When Commander Ji heard this question, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Master Cheng, what's the hurry?" None of us are in a hurry to ask, why are you in a hurry? ”

He touched his nose and said with a smile: "The saint is not in a hurry, Lord Cheng may not know, there is also Yang Shoufu who is as anxious as you, Lord Shoufu has already submitted three resignations, the first one said that he is old and in poor health, and the saint is naturally retained; The second letter said that he was not aware of his employment, he was guilty of dereliction of duty, and the beggar wanted to return to his hometown, and the saint was naturally relieved; The third letter, which was submitted last night, is not clear what is written, can Master Cheng guess it? ”

Chief Cheng's cloudy eyes couldn't help but burst into tears: "The love of the teacher, it is difficult to repay the students with broken bones!" ”

"Master Cheng is a person who understands, otherwise he wouldn't have committed suicide on the first day of entering my Jinyi Prison. Ji is also businesslike, Yang Shoufu's protégés are all over the court, and the saint doesn't want to turn the court, and Ji doesn't want to offend you, Ji just wants to ask the saint what he wants, so Master Cheng doesn't have to be in a hurry to speak, when the time comes, I will naturally ask. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, a brocade guard ran over and handed over a secret fold, which was the third fold of Yang Shoufu's resignation yesterday, this compromise first thanked the holy feelings, and then the words were not only about his negligence and dereliction of duty, but about a few official bribes, the amount is not big or small, three thousand taels of silver, just a number that is enough for a first assistant to dismiss the official but not to make the government and the opposition stunned, the people involved are just a wealthy businessman, and the person who handled it is his student Cheng Zhuguan.

Commander Ji smiled after reading it, asked Chief Officer Cheng to loosen the tie, and handed the fold to Chief Officer Cheng who was sitting on the ground as soon as he removed the shelf. "How? Is what this Shoufu-sama said true? ”

As soon as Master Cheng's hand was released, the fold fell to the ground, and he nodded weakly.

"Alright, brothers, let's take a confession. This Master Cheng has also spent six days in Ji's hands, and he is also a man, Zhao Hu, go and move a chair for him. ”

Cheng's confession and Yang Shoufu's secret fold had been sent to the emperor's imperial case before the early dynasty, and the evidence was consistent, ironclad and irrefutable.

Shengshang Longyan was furious, denounced the corruption of officials, and cut off Yang Xiang's official position on the spot, and another cadre in the court pleaded for mercy, saying that he was old and meritorious to the country, and asked for a lenient punishment. The emperor squinted his eyes slightly and said, "What does King Qin think should be done?" ”

King Qin said: "Yang has violated the law of the country, so he should naturally be dealt with in accordance with the criminal law." According to the penal law, he shall be given fifty rods, three thousand miles, and hard labor. It's just that Yang has been in the cabinet for more than ten years, working hard all night, and his father asked his son Yang Xiang the day before yesterday if his eye disease has improved, saying that when he was young, Yang Xiang had ten lines at a glance and had excellent eyesight. Therefore, the sons had the courage to beg their father to open the net, exempt him from the cane, and allow him to return to his hometown. ”

King Qin's words more or less also aroused the emperor's thoughts, and as soon as he hesitated, the courtiers below knelt down and shouted: "The emperor is merciful!" The emperor glanced at the kneeling ministers, and said quietly: "Then according to the request of the ministers, let him dismiss the official and serve the people, and go back to his hometown!" ”

When the first autumn rain fell, the case of the Spring Beard, which shocked the government and the opposition and was debated by countless literati, was finally closed. Xue Ke looked at the letter in his hand, and his heart was in a trance, so dozens of people were imprisoned in this case, Yang Xiang cut officials for the people, Cheng Guan was exiled to Guangxi, and the indestructible maiden family of Concubine Yang she thought in her previous life was only an instant.

This autumn rain actually lasted for more than ten days.

Seeing that it was dusk, the other people in the Linglong Pavilion had finished packing up their pens and ink, and returned home one after another, Xue Ke also called Ah Liu, and changed the clogs under the corridor, but saw Nangong coming from afar.

When he walked in front of him, Nangong took out a wine jug from his arms, it turned out that it had rained for many days and his carriage was pulled out, and the coachman rushed to Nanshi to repair it, and it was very inconvenient to walk on a rainy day, so he came with a pot of wine from nowhere.

Xue could see that he was in a rare interest, and he also stopped, so the two sat in the porch and drank a cup to the sound of the rain.