Xia Yipi knelt down and said: "Master, if the younger son really gets the precious fan pendant privately given by the daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, how can he show it in front of the Zhao family, this is unreasonable, it can only be said that the younger son does not know that this pendant belongs to the Zhao family, as for where the fan pendant came from, please also ask the eldest master to find out." ”

Governor Lin asked Xia Rongpi: "On that day, Xia Guiyu admitted that it was the Zhao family's daughter-in-law He who threw it over the wall to lure him, why did you retract his confession for him, don't you know that the son is not the godfather's fault?" ”

Xia Guiyu shouted: "Lord Fuzun, the little one that day can't be beaten-"

Xia Guiyu was about to say that he was beaten into a trick, but he was stabbed in the waist by his father Xia Rongpi, so he closed his mouth and looked sideways at his father.

Xia Yupi had already seen Zeng Yu sitting behind Lin Zhifu, and he had ardent hope in his heart, and said: "Master, the younger son is young and ignorant, and he was inexplicably accused of going to court, and he was in a mess for a while, and he really didn't know the origin of the fan pendant, so he confessed that he threw it to him, and the younger son was an honest man, and after learning that He had hanged himself, he was very remorseful. will put all the fault on He's head, anyway, there is no proof of death, but the younger son is not that kind of person, he has a conscience, please see the eldest master. ”

The gist of these words was Zeng Yu taught Xia Yupi through Sixi, and he was reasonable, and grasped the key to the case, in ancient times, the law valued human feelings, and all the officials in the hall, including Lin Zhifu, were solemn, and Lin Zhifu asked the Zhao family father and son: "How did you find out that Xia Guiyu had an adulterous affair with the He family?" ”

Zhao Yuwu said: "The eldest master is above, the little one has already said last time, the little one saw that Xia Guiyu's fan pendant was clearly my Zhao family's thing, and when I went home, I asked my wife to ask my daughter-in-law for it, not to mention that the Canaan incense fan was gone, and even another Hanyu fan pendant was gone, and the He family couldn't say where the fan fell to, of course, the fan pendant was given to the adulterer." ”

Lin Zhifu said: "Boudoir adultery, you are a father-in-law, how do you know the details, just a fan pendant is not evidence, let your son say it himself." ”

Zhao Yuwu's son Zhao Xu was not only short and stupid, but also squinted, and when he saw Lin Zhifu asking him, he squinted at Lin Zhifu, opened his mouth and didn't speak, looking demented.

Zhao Yuwu hurriedly said: "Master, the younger son is timid and afraid of seeing officials, so he can't say anything." ”

This Zhao Xu knew that Lu Dao was a fool at a glance, and Governor Lin shook his head and suddenly asked, "Then how is He's posture?" ”

Zhao Yuwu said: "This little one is not clear. ”

Governor Lin said: "Then let your son say, or send your wife to the court for questioning." ”

Zhao Yuwu hurriedly said: "The eldest lord, the younger daughter-in-law He was born with a white face and red lips, and she has a bit of a posture, which made Xia Guiyu adulterous, please be the master of the small people, severely punish the beast evil Xia Guiyu, and recover my family's property." ”

Lin Zhifu said to Zhao Yuwu: "A simple son like you, marry him a beautiful daughter-in-law, isn't this just prostitution, the woman is watery, who doesn't love young and handsome men, but is impatient to live with you." ”

Zeng Yu shook his head secretly when he heard this, the prefect is a little mediocre, he has the tools of prostitution when he looks beautiful, and it has become evidence of the adultery between He and Xia Guiyu, what kind of crooked reasoning is this!

I only heard Governor Lin ask again: "How many years have He and your son Zhao Xu been married?" ”

Zhao Yuwu said: "It's been three years. ”

Governor Lin said: "I have a son and a half daughter. ”

Zhao Yuwu's face was ashamed, and he shook his head and said, "No." ”

The officials in the hall were all looking at that Zhao Xu, and they were all wondering if this child-like thing could have sex, looking at this appearance, it should not be possible, then the He family is a widow, so it is very reasonable for the He family to hook up with Xia Guiyu and commit adultery-

Governor Lin asked again: "Why did He commit suicide, this government just sent her to the court for questioning, why did she suddenly hang herself?" ”

Zhao Yuwu said: "Back to the old man's words, then the He family is thin-skinned, I heard that I want to see an official, I am afraid of the jokes of the neighbors, and I can't think about it for a while, so I look for a short time." ”

Lin Zhifu sneered: "Since you love face and are afraid of neighborhood gossip, why do you want to do the ugly thing of hooking up with Xia Guiyu?" "The prefect has confirmed this adulterous case.

Xia Guiyu shouted: "Big lord, the little one only does business on weekdays, reads books in his spare time, and has always been a law-abiding and good citizen, and he has never even met the He family, how can he talk about adultery, Lord Qingtian." ”

Lin Zhifu said: "Then where did you say that the Canaan incense fan pendant came from?" "The peak turned around and came back again.

Xia Guiyu said: "Where did the Canaan incense fan pendant come from, the small one really doesn't know, Xu is taken by Wutong God, Xu is a mouse, anyway, the small one has never received any private gifts from He's, the last time I searched my small shop, in addition to this fan pendant, where are there any other clothes to play, Zhao Yuwu is falsely accused." ”

Xia Guiyu's sentence "Xu is a mouse" made Lin Zhifu's heart sink, yesterday Xu Wei's letter disappeared, making the whole government uneasy, and later found it in the mouse hole, there are rats in the mansion house, how can there be no rats in the residential shops, who know that the pendant is not dragged from the Zhao family to the table in Xia Guiyu's bedroom?

Zhang Muke was the master who assisted Governor Lin in sorting out the name of the sentence, and then walked to Governor Lin's side and whispered: "Dong Weng, I carefully inspected the Canaan incense fan pendant in my later life, and found that the fan pendant was a little broken, as if it had been bitten, I didn't pay attention to it at the time, but now I think about it, could it be that it was eaten by rats?" Fu Zun might as well ask people to search the rat holes of the Zhao and Xia families, if they can find some physical evidence, wouldn't it be a strange case. ”

Governor Lin pondered for a moment and asked Zhao Yuwu and Xia Yupi: "Do you both have cats?" ”

Zhao and Xia both said that they would not raise it.

Governor Lin asked again: "If you don't have cats, what are the mice?" ”

Zhao and Xia both said a lot, so Lin Zhifu ordered four messengers, two with Zhao Yuwu and two with Xia Luopi, and said: "Wherever there is a rat hole to be dismantled in, whatever is in it will be taken to see me." ”

After sending Zhao and Xia to leave, Governor Lin said to Xia Guiyu: "This case depends on whether the rats are to blame, if not, then see what other rhetoric you have, what five links are taken by the gods, these words have to fool the people, how to make evidence." ”

Xia Guiyu could only hope for the mouse at this time, kowtowed, and said: "It's all up to the old man to decide." ”

After searching the rat hole for a while, Governor Lin and a group of bureaucrats retreated into the back hall to drink tea and chat, but the officials had a clear distinction between public and private, and after retreating from the court, they never talked about the adultery case, but only said some important news and anecdotes about officialdom as a joke-

Of course, Zeng Yu is not so sure in his heart, the Canaan incense fan pendant is just a guess that the mouse has taken it, although this possibility is very high, but there are many uncertain factors, but there is no other way for the time being, who can count the last resort?

Xu Wei chanted lightly, "Shuo rat, Shuo Mouse, no food for me", very calm, it is none of his business.

After about an hour, the messenger reported that four rat holes had been dug up and demolished from the Zhao and Xia families, and all the bits and pieces in the holes were picked up with baskets, and the messenger also said: "My lord, I have also caught seventeen large and small mice, of which thirteen are alive and four are dead, and they have been killed for resisting arrest." ”

The officials laughed.

Governor Lin couldn't help laughing, and shouted: "What do you do when the rats are caught, hurry up and throw them away, wait for the rats to run around in the public court." ”

Governor Lin went to the court again to ask about the case, only to see a basket resting on the lobby, in the basket are millet, rice, soybeans mixed with fine garbage, full of two large baskets, the rats are really digging deep holes, accumulating grain.

Governor Lin ordered a large linoleum to be spread under the hall, and poured out two baskets of fine objects, and asked Zhao Yuwu and Xia Rongpi father and son to carefully identify them on the side, and from time to time picked out some bits and pieces, either the Xia family or the Zhao family, suddenly picked out an object, and the messenger shouted: "Lord, lord, find a jade pendant." ”

Zeng Yu, who was watching from the sidelines, let out a sigh of relief, looked at Xu Wei and smiled, lucky that the mice were willing to help.

Zhao Yuwu was dumbfounded, the jade pendant found in the mouse hole was the Hanyu pendant that he handed over to his daughter-in-law He with the Canaan incense fan pendant, the woman didn't need to fold the fan, He put the silk thread of the two fan pendants together in the box, so when the Canaan incense fan pendant appeared in Xia Guiyu's hand, and he went back to ask his daughter-in-law He for two fan pendants but there was no shadow, of course, he thought that He gave the two fan pendants to the adulterer Xia Guiyu, today this Hanyu fan pendant was found out of the rat's nest, doesn't it show that the two fan pendants were stolen by mice!

Governor Lin glanced at Zhang Muke, Zhang Muke nodded, Governor Lin knew that he had beaten Xia Guiyu, but it was impossible for him to admit his mistake in court, the fault was in Xiaomin, Zhao Yuwu was going to be unlucky, Lin Governor said to Zhang Muke: "This case has always been co-handled by Zhang Muyou, and now that the most important physical evidence in this case has appeared, Zhang Muyou will sort out the case on behalf of the government and pursue the crime of the false accuser." "There are some things that Governor Lin himself doesn't want to say in person, so he is endorsed by his friends.

Zhang Muke waved at Governor Lin's mansion, turned around and glared at Zhao Yuwu, and shouted: "Zhao Yuwu, why did you falsely accuse Xia Guiyu and force your daughter-in-law He to death?" ”

Zhang Muke's voice was violent, Zhao Yuwu was so frightened that his soul was not possessed, he knelt down and kowtowed: "Master, Master Zhang, the little one doesn't know that the fan pendant was stolen by a mouse." ”

Zhang Muke said loudly: "Lord Fuzun has long been suspicious of your complaint, if Xia Guiyu really cheated with the He family, how could he publicize the fan pendant given by the He family everywhere, and no one with a little mind would do this, Xia Guiyu is difficult to be a fool like your son?" This is one of them; Second, you said on the paper that you were swept away by Xia Guiyu to play with your daughter, but you sent someone to search Xia's paper shop but did not have these treasured utensils, and you said that Xia Guiyu was going to abduct He's family, and you found out, Xia Guiyu also beat you, which is all nonsense. The Mansion knew this very well, but because the bandits were approaching, defending the city and protecting the people was the first priority, so he was not arraigned again-"

He said to Xia Guiyu again: "Qu You stayed in prison for a few days, because He hanged himself, after all, human life is at stake, of course you can't be released before the facts of the case are revealed, this is exactly the caution of Fuzun's trial——"

Xia Yangpi hurriedly poked his son's waist again, and kowtowed first: "The eldest son is wise, the eldest master is wise, and the youngest son is innocent, otherwise the younger son's life is over, and the ancestors of the Xia family are also ashamed. ”

Although Xia Guiyu has grievances, he is also scared in prison these days, and he is lucky to be able to get out of prison, how dare he reason with the prefect about being wronged and being clamped, and he can't stop kowtowing with his father Xia Yipi, and said in his mouth: "The big old man's mansion Qingtian Mingjing, he is still innocent." ”

Xia's father and son's interesting attitude made Lin Zhifu quite satisfied, and he nodded and said: "These days, this government has been thinking about how the Canaan incense fan pendant came to Xia Guiyu's hand, yesterday the government lost an important letter, and found that it was dragged by a mouse, and the government remembered that this adultery case was also a rat to create a mystery from it, so he asked someone to dig and demolish the rat hole, and sure enough, this case was caused by a mouse, if it were not for the mansion to carefully investigate, wouldn't it create an unjust case." ”

All the officials in the hall and the neighbors who came to testify in the Chenghuang Temple Square under the hall all praised Lord Fuzun for judging the case like a god, Zeng Yu sneered in his heart: "Very good, an unjust case has become the political achievement of Lord Fuzun, the officials are really good at turning bad things into good things, and there will be a commendation celebration party in the evening." ”

Above and below, fish and meat people, officialdom is like this, and the Ming officials are meager, and the true colors of four-grade officials like Lin Governor's Mansion are only a few dozen taels of silver, which is simply "an official is boring", and he is justified in being corrupt, so Zeng Yu is not much interested in being an official, and it is good to take advantage of the situation to make himself and his family live comfortably -

Because the jade fan pendant of the Zhao family was found from the mouse hole, and the suspicion of adultery between Xia Guiyu and the He family was cleared, Lin Governor ordered Xia Guiyu to be released in court, and the more than 100 taels of silver confiscated from the last search of Xia's paper shop were also returned to Xia Guiyu.

The Zhao father and son in the hall were stunned, and the neighbors kowtowed: "Master, since there is no adultery, then the villains can also go home from the hall, right?" ”

Zhang Muke whispered a few words to Governor Lin, Governor Lin nodded, and said majestically: "You Diao people, neighbors should live in harmony and settle affairs, but you used the Naganan incense fan to encourage Zhao Yuwu to sue, lest the Zhao family and the Xia family will not make trouble, and the death of the Zhao family's daughter-in-law He will have nothing to do with you." ”

The seven or eight City God's Temple witnesses were frightened, they were originally not used to Zhao Yuwu used to talk about other people's ugly things, and they also wanted to see Zhao Yuwu's jokes by borrowing the fan pendant, He Zeng thought that he would be burned, and shouted: "Master, the villains have never fanned the flames, it is all Zhao Yuwu himself who is suspicious and suspicious, and he blames the adultery on his daughter-in-law He's head, and He can't be forced, so he found a short-term view, and it has nothing to do with the villains." ”

Another neighbor said: "Master Mingjian, this Zhao Yuwu's son Zhao Xuyang is short, like an eight-year-old child, he really can't do the things of the husband and wife, but Zhao Yuwu married such a beautiful daughter-in-law for his son, Zhao Yuwu He is uneasy and kind." ”

Governor Lin, Zhang Muke and others all laughed, and Zhang Muke asked the neighbor why he knew that Zhao Xu couldn't do the thing of husband and wife, and the neighbor said: "This summer, I have seen Zhao Xu pee, and I haven't grown up. ”

Zhao Xu didn't quite understand what these people were saying, he only felt a little uncomfortable kneeling, his father Zhao Yuwu was already bloody, and scolded the neighbor on the street: "Li Lezi, you are full of feces." ”

Governor Lin shouted: "Above the public court, you must not roar and curse." ”

Over there, Xu Wei signaled to Zeng Yu that he could go, there was nothing to see in this case, so it was better to drink and talk about poetry.

The two of them retreated to Governor Lin's mansion, and just after leaving the back door of the South Ya, a sergeant looked for Xu Wei to return to the barracks, saying that General Qi had returned from Fenglingtou and asked Mr. Xu to discuss the matter.

"It seems that General Qi is going to collect his troops and return to Jinhua." Xu Wei said to Zeng Yu: "Brother, if the army sets off tomorrow, then I won't come to say goodbye to you, and if you have to delay for another two days, I will come to you for a drink." ”

The two of them said goodbye outside the gate of the palace, Zeng Yu saw that the hour was still early, and went to the City God's Temple Square to visit Xia Rongpi's father and son, but saw that the door of the small paper shop was wide open, Xia Rongpi commanded a servant to set off firecrackers, "crackling", the smoke of gunpowder was filled, and there were many people watching the excitement, Xia Rongpi Tuan Tuan Tuan said loudly: "Ladies and gentlemen, under is Yongfeng paper merchant, this shop has been managed by Xiaoer Xia Guiyu, ten days ago, Xiao'er was suddenly passed by the government, saying that he had an adulterous affair with his neighbor's wife, but I know that my son has always been honest, But he will not do such a thing, and today the lord of the mansion retried the case, returned my son's innocence, and acquitted me in court. ”

Xia Guiyu walked out of the store with his partner Xiao Wu's shoulders and waved to everyone.

The case of the Zhao and Xia families spread in the east of Shangrao City, and there were many people who knew about it, and when they saw that Xia Guiyu was really released from prison, they couldn't help but ask what was going on.

Xia Yupi was talking energetically in order to save the reputation of his son and Xia's paper shop, when he suddenly saw Zeng Yu standing under the big tree and smiling slightly, and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Zeng Gongzi, this time thanks to Zeng Gongzi's help, otherwise my son-", said Tears flowed, this time it was tears of joy and gratitude.

Zeng Yu said: "Don't talk about this, I'm here to see if Brother Xia Shi's leg matters." ”

"Please, please." Xia Yupi led Zeng Yu into the store, Xia Guiyu was sitting on a big chair, and when he saw Zeng Yu coming in, he first looked at this strange talent in a daze, and heard his father say: "My son, this is Zeng Xianggong, your savior." Xia Guiyu struggled and fell to his knees.

Zeng Yu hurriedly picked up Xia Guiyu and sat down, and said, "Brother Shi, don't move around, I know a little medicine below, let's see if your leg is seriously injured?" ”

Zeng Yu examined Xia Guiyu's injured leg, it was okay, the injury medicine had been applied, Xia Guiyu was still young, and he should be able to heal, but this kind of injury didn't feel like it when he was young, but it would attack when he was old, Zeng Yu heard his brother Zeng Qian say that many people who had broken their legs when they were young, and they looked like nothing was wrong after the bones were connected, and as soon as they got older, the once broken leg would slowly become shorter, and it would be a little lame when they walked, but for Xia Guiyu, it was a great luck to be able to get out of prison without guilt, and this catastrophe was in the past.

Xia Yangpi rubbed his hands on the side and kept saying that Zeng Gongzi's great kindness did not know how to repay, and in other words, he should have brought back more than 100 taels of silver from the government as a thank you gift, but he was afraid that Zeng Yu would be abrupt.

Zeng Yu said: "Xia Chaofeng, don't tell outsiders that I have an idea in this case, Lord Fuzun will blame me-"

Xia Yangpi hurriedly said: "Zeng Xianggong had already instructed the day before yesterday, and I didn't mention Zeng Xianggong in front of outsiders, and I didn't mention it in front of the door." ”

Zeng Yu nodded and said: "Very good, Brother Xia Shi take care of his injuries, if you really think you want to thank me for some gifts, then I am not polite, just give me two good plumment paper, the parchment paper is quite good for calligraphy and painting, don't mention the rest, we are folks, how can we do something to stand by." ”

Xia Yupi said repeatedly: "Okay, well, all listen to Zeng Xianggong's orders, tomorrow my father and son will send the parchment paper to the house, and then let Yu'er kowtow to Lingtang, this is a must, otherwise my father and son can rest assured." ”

The twilight was like smoke, Zeng Yu returned to the house outside the north gate It was dinner time, and before he entered the door, he heard a noise in the hall, it was actually the four or five matchmakers who were still waiting in the house, and several matchmakers were angry with each other, if you don't go, I won't go, you have to wait until Zeng Yu comes back. Zeng Yuli smiled slightly under the big tree, and hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Zeng Gongzi, this time thanks to Zeng Gongzi's help, otherwise my son-", as he spoke, tears flowed, this time it was tears of joy and gratitude.

Zeng Yu said: "Don't talk about this, I'm here to see if Brother Xia Shi's leg matters." ”

"Please, please." Xia Yupi led Zeng Yu into the store, Xia Guiyu was sitting on a big chair, and when he saw Zeng Yu coming in, he first looked at this strange talent in a daze, and heard his father say: "My son, this is Zeng Xianggong, your savior." Xia Guiyu struggled and fell to his knees.

Zeng Yu hurriedly picked up Xia Guiyu and sat down, and said, "Brother Shi, don't move around, I know a little medicine below, let's see if your leg is seriously injured?" ”

Zeng Yu examined Xia Guiyu's injured leg, it was okay, the injury medicine had been applied, Xia Guiyu was still young, and he should be able to heal, but this kind of injury didn't feel like it when he was young, but it would attack when he was old, Zeng Yu heard his brother Zeng Qian say that many people who had broken their legs when they were young, and they looked like nothing was wrong after the bones were connected, and as soon as they got older, the once broken leg would slowly become shorter, and it would be a little lame when they walked, but for Xia Guiyu, it was a great luck to be able to get out of prison without guilt, and this catastrophe was in the past.

Xia Yangpi rubbed his hands on the side and kept saying that Zeng Gongzi's great kindness did not know how to repay, and in other words, he should have brought back more than 100 taels of silver from the government as a thank you gift, but he was afraid that Zeng Yu would be abrupt.

Zeng Yu said: "Xia Chaofeng, don't tell outsiders that I have an idea in this case, Lord Fuzun will blame me-"

Xia Yangpi hurriedly said: "Zeng Xianggong had already instructed the day before yesterday, and I didn't mention Zeng Xianggong in front of outsiders, and I didn't mention it in front of the door." ”

Zeng Yu nodded and said: "Very good, Brother Xia Shi take care of his injuries, if you really think you want to thank me for some gifts, then I am not polite, just give me two good plumment paper, the parchment paper is quite good for calligraphy and painting, don't mention the rest, we are folks, how can we do something to stand by." ”

Xia Yupi said repeatedly: "Okay, well, all listen to Zeng Xianggong's orders, tomorrow my father and son will send the parchment paper to the house, and then let Yu'er kowtow to Lingtang, this is a must, otherwise my father and son can rest assured." ”

The twilight was like smoke, Zeng Yu returned to the house outside the north gate It was dinner time, and before he entered the door, he heard a noise in the hall, it was actually the four or five matchmakers who were still waiting in the house, and several matchmakers were angry with each other, if you don't go, I won't go, you have to wait until Zeng Yu comes back.