She was silent for his words, and then said for a long time: "My lord, you are playing a trick for me." Then he asked him softly, "And then, did the Zen master give you this glass of water?" ”

He asked her with interest, "What do you think?" ”

"It has to be...... Give it to it. ”

"But what if he doesn't?"

She thought to herself, the monk is compassionate, and the Zen master will not die without help, but this happened when he was carrying a human head, so it is a little difficult to say. So he shook his head at him, indicating that he didn't know.

His expression did not change at all, and his tone was reasonable: "If he doesn't give it, this official will kill him." ”

Song Ran's face turned pale at his words, and he couldn't slow down until he got out of the car.

The carriage jolted for a long time, and finally stopped in front of a mansion. Located in the northwest corner of West Lake, there is a plaque of "Yan Mansion" hanging outside the gate, which indicates that the owner of this place is either a rich family or a high-ranking official. Shen Hanxi waited in place after getting out of the car, and when Song Ran approached, he told her lightly: "The story of the Zen Master was made up by this official. ”

Song Ran's expression was very exciting.

His eyes were crooked, and he said, "Miss Song is kind-hearted, although the official does not agree, but he appreciates it." ”

Before Song Ran came back to his senses, he saw a man in a green shirt coming up, saluted Shen Hanxi slightly, and his eyes fell on her: "Isn't this the legendary Song girl?" ”

Although he is not tall, his face is like a crown of jade, and he has a long beard on his chin, which gives people a very wise feeling. Song Ran went through the important figures of the Ting Wei Division in his heart, and guessed that this person was Wang Zhuo, the deputy envoy who was sent to Zhejiang by Shen Hanxi not long ago.

Wang Zhuo was born as a civil servant, first served as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, and soon entered the cabinet, participated in the maintenance of the aircraft, and in just a few months, he was promoted to a waiter. In the second year of his life, when the current saint established the Imperial Health Division, Shen Hanxi named him and asked him to be his deputy.

Shen Hanxi's temperament is too easy to offend people, and someone needs to clean up the aftermath for him. Looking at the hundred officials, Wang Zhuo is the most suitable.

Over the years, the division of labor between him and Wang Zhuo has been very clear. He does things, Wang Zhuo defends people.

Song Ran didn't know what this "legend" was, and with a hint of confusion, he said: "Song Ran, the people's girl, I don't know who you are?" ”

He confirmed her guess with a smile and said, "Under Wang Zhuo, it's polite." He didn't treat her as an outsider, and made a gesture of please, "My lord, Miss Song, let's go inside and talk." ”

The entire Yan Mansion looked calm from the outside, but as soon as he entered, Song Ran felt that the whole house was terrifyingly silent, and there were soldiers in brocade clothes guarding everywhere, and those willows and peaches were also enveloped in this solemn atmosphere.

It seems that this mansion has long been under the control of the Imperial Guard.

After a photo wall, I came to a study in the side courtyard, there were heavy soldiers guarding the door, and when I saw Shen Hanxi, I saluted solemnly.

Wang Zhuo stayed close to the door and pushed the door in.

The owner of this mansion is named Yan Shining, and he is also the official of the court of Zhengwupin, since yesterday night, he has been under house arrest in the mansion, and he resisted all night, and his eyes are bloodshot at this time.

Seeing Wang Zhuo and Shen Hanxi following him, his expression immediately changed, and his fists couldn't help but clench in his sleeves.

Song Ran saw that he was about sixty years old, although he was gray-headed, his eyes were bright, and his face was resolute, but he was afraid that he was not an easy master.

I don't know what Shen Hanxi wants to ask from him.

Wang Zhuo invited Shen Hanxi to sit down at the table and looked at Yan Shining: "Lord Yan, since you have figured it out, tell me everything you know." ”

Yan Shining walked in front of Shen Hanxi, and saw that the young man was wearing a red brocade robe with golden jacquard embroidery on it, and his demeanor was pampered, and seeing that his face was covered by a mask, he couldn't help but snort lightly: "The commander of the palace guard, but he doesn't dare to show his true face, don't you also think that it is undignified to put the court officials under house arrest for no reason?" ”

Shen Hanxi said leisurely: "This face of this official, Lord Yan is not worthy of seeing it. ”

Yan Shining's body trembled, his face turned red from his humiliation, he was a dignified Lang Zhong of the Zhejiang Qing Officials Division of the Criminal Department, and he was also a court official of the fifth grade, and he had never seen such an arrogant descendant of him for more than 40 years!

Wang Zhuo walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him: "Lord Yan, my family has such a temper, which of the previous criminal department scholars has not been angry and cried a few times, you don't feel wronged." Okay, let's say everything that needs to be said. He reminded him, "In less than an hour, if you delay a moment, your wife and children will be terrified for a moment." Actually, everything that should be checked is almost checked below, but some details are more appropriate, Lord Yan, and you say it yourself. I'm a scholar, I'm really not good at extorting confessions, and you don't want to be so ugly, do you? ”

Yan Shining pursed his lips, and when he heard him say the word "wife and children", he finally gave up resistance, and since the king of Hades came in person today, he would not give him a chance to be silent.

He turned his gaze to Song Ran and said with a cold face: "It's okay for Lord Shen to put the old man under house arrest, and he brought a woman over, is it deliberately humiliating the old man?" ”

Song Ran stood beside Shen Hanxi with his eyebrows lowered and did not speak.

I only heard Shen Hanxi say lightly: "If Lord Yan regards this as a humiliation, it means that officialdom is not suitable for you." ”

One sentence made Yan Shining choke again.

Wang Zhuo stepped forward, poured a cup of tea for Shen Hanxi, and reminded Yan Shining: "Lord Yan, don't waste time. ”

Yan Shining finally closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

If you say it, you will die, but if you don't say it, Ting Weisi will make him worse than dead.

The old man didn't beat around the bush, Zhou Zicheng was not originally in the Songnian Mansion, but in the Salt Division, and he served for five years. The salt tax in Zhejiang and Zhejiang has always been the main head of the finance, and how many people want to enter the salt division every year. He was so prosperous in the salt division, why did he suddenly ask to be transferred to a place like Songnian County where birds don't? ”

When Song Ran heard him mention Zhou Zicheng, he understood that it was still for this case.

Shen Hanxi put the teacup to his mouth, put it down again when he heard the words, and asked Song Ran: "Miss Song, what do you think?" ”

Song Ran pondered for a moment with his eyes in his eyes, and guessed: "If he didn't make a mistake in office, it would be him...... Who's in the way? ”

The two provinces have always been salt provinces. In the eastern area of Hangzhou Prefecture, there are many boiled households that fry sand into salt, sell them to salt merchants, and branch all over the country. The imperial court set up an inspection office in Hangzhou, called the release, and the salt merchants of Zhejiang gathered in Hangzhou.

In other words, it is the hardest hit area of illicit salt trafficking.

She suddenly remembered that at the beginning of this year, when Ting Weisi was waiting for Liu Chongguang, he was involved in the case of illegal salt. Could it be that Zhou Zicheng's death is also related to the case at that time?

Shen Hanxi listened to Song Ran's answer, only moved the corners of his lips, noncommittal, and motioned for Yan Shining to continue.

Yan Shining really mentioned Wu Anhou: "When the Criminal Department investigated the smuggling salt case before, it only focused on Wu Anhou, and later the Ting Wei Division took over the case, I'm afraid it only stared at the oil and water in this case." He said sarcastically before continuing, "But the Liu family, that is, it was prominent in the Taizu period, has long been strong and strong, and since Emperor Yongrui's 'Zen position', there is not even an official in the clan who can enter the cabinet." The imperial court has been very strict with salt affairs in the past two years, where does he have the courage to touch the taboo of private salt? But he was not only involved, but also unscrupulous. It's not that he's bold, it's that he has someone above him to support him. ”

At this point, he said no more, but it was obvious enough.

Shen Hanxi has a bad memory, especially not remembering people's names, so he went through the case in his mind, and suddenly asked Wang Zhuo: "What is the name of the person who was in charge of the salt affairs of Liangzhejiang at that time?" ”

Yan Shining didn't expect him to think of Xu Dongting all of a sudden, and he couldn't help but have some changes in his opinion.

Wang Zhuo didn't think twice and said, "It's Xu Dongting." At that time, he served as the governor of Zhejiang, and concurrently served as the governor of Zhejiang. As soon as the Wu'anhou case broke out, he wiped himself clean, and he was an old fox. ”

Yan Shining coughed and said: "Although Zhou Zicheng is only a salt priest, in the big case of Wu Anhou, it is really insignificant, but the production and marketing of Yanjing must go through his hands. He is an old-fashioned official who does not know how to be accommodating, and in the eyes of some people, he is naturally an eyesore. ”

Song Ran guessed well, Zhou Zicheng was kicked out of the Salt Division, indeed because he cut off other people's financial routes. He didn't want to join the same stream, and he couldn't fight against the dirty stream, so if he wanted to protect himself, he could only take the initiative to ask for transfer to Songnian County. However, he was helplessly trapped in the quagmire, how could he hope to escape with his whole body?

Shen Hanxi's right fingers rubbed lightly on the thumb phalanx of his left hand, and it didn't take much effort to figure out the joints, and a cool smile spread on his pale face: "It seems that killing Zhou Zicheng and then blaming Liu Mingxian is a good strategy for some people to kill two birds with one stone." ”

got up and walked to Yan Shining's side, and praised: "Lord Yan is worthy of being an old man in the Criminal Department, and his sense of smell is keen." The official also thought about it for a long time before he thought of coming up to this level. His eyes were slightly cold, "Since my lord has thought of this layer, when the official thoroughly investigated the case of illegal salt, and when he came to review the case of destroying the door according to the inspection of the yamen, I didn't hear your lordship say half a word of justice." ”

Yan Shining still had a calm face, but his expression was already a little uncomfortable: "Lord Shen, the old man is sixty years old this year, he has already written a book some time ago, and he is about to return to his hometown, and he has been busy with the handover of affairs in recent months, where can he ...... time?"

Shen Hanxi interrupted him with a sneer: "Lord Yan is clean. Speaking of which, it's not the same as Zhou Zicheng, who wants to protect himself, and would rather cause an unjust case than cause a fishy body for himself. ”

These few words made Yan Shining's body shake, and finally he no longer had the calmness of the right talent.

Shen Hanxi was still in a lazy tone: "When Shen first arrived at Dali Temple, he heard the name of Lord Yan, more than 20 years ago, there was a case involving the East Palace, Dali Temple and the Criminal Department all wanted to settle the matter, only the adults refused to give in when you died, and finally were framed to leave Beijing. ”

As he spoke, a contemptuous smile appeared on the corner of his lips: "Didn't Lord Yan hate those who were at peace with others the most?" But now, what is the difference between Lord Yan and such a person? You are only suitable when it comes to decency, why do you let this official give you decency? ”