"Why are you looking at me like that? I was really relaxed; I'm just thinking about how to avenge my sister now, and I'm not going to continue to grieve. Xu Da smiled reluctantly, but his smile was still full of sadness.

Liu Bowen knew that Xu Da and Xu Biyi had a deep relationship between brother and sister, and sighed and said, "Since this is the case, let's think of a way." ”

Chu Liuyan also said: "What Brother Liu said is reasonable. Sister Biyi will not die in vain. ”

******

"Lord Taishou, this is a handwritten letter from my family and an official document from me who came here to mention the prisoner." Xiaoxiao walked into the Zhejiang Taishou Yamen, and under the leadership of the Yamen, she came to the back hall of the Yamen and met with Zhejiang Taishou Sima Long.

Sima Long glanced at him with a smile on his face, and was still slowly dressed in official clothes with the help of the maid, and asked casually, "Are you from that yamen?" What is the reason to extract the prisoner. ”

"Lord Qiyu, below is the chief coach of the guards in the Imperial History; Mishi asked me to pick up the prisoners, and if you have any questions, please read the letters here. For Sima Long's arrogance, Xiaoxiao didn't look at it, but just coldly handed the envelope into his hand without the slightest excited look.

"What? Yushi Yamen's! At this moment, Sima Long was taken aback; Hurriedly pushed the maid away, hurriedly put on the official uniform, and said to Xiaoxiao with a smile: "It's hard work, and the head of the team doesn't take this errand to the guest room to sit." He smiled politely at first, and then shouted to the servant.

"Yes, yes, please." The team leader hurriedly bent down, stretched out his hand, and led out the door. However, Xiaoxiao did not leave immediately, but said: "The brothers who came with me are still waiting outside, please take the prisoner immediately, and we will escort him to the capital, so that the case can be resolved as soon as possible." ”

"Well....... Well........ "Sima Long pretended to be embarrassed, and he didn't finish speaking; This made Xiaoxiao very impatient, and immediately asked: "I don't know what the adults are embarrassed about, please tell me quickly; This gives us time to prepare early so that we can get on the road faster. ”

"Since the errand wants to know, I'll make it clear; This case was handled by me, and it stands to reason that the trial should be completed here; But now the Imperial History Yamen will accept him, this and this .........." Sima Long spread his hands, stopped talking, and looked at it with a smile.

"You don't have to worry about this, you look at my master's letter, and you will understand." Smiling Nunu's mouth, he motioned for Sima Long to look at the letter in his hand.

Sima Long, who heard this, quickly took out the letter and read it carefully; After looking at it for a while, his hands trembled, and a smile appeared on his face; After he finished reading, the smile on his face became stronger, and he quickly said, "Great! That's great! Mishi-sama's plan is too good. As he spoke, he walked around the house excitedly.

Although I really wanted to see what the lord wrote in the letter, so that this Taishou, who was eager to show his merits, would be so excited; However, Xiaoxiao didn't ask, but said, "Lord Taishou, can I extract the prisoner?" ”

"Okay, okay; This is how it should be, why don't you do this, Lord Shangcha is now eating in this mansion, and is picking up the prisoners on the road, what do you think? Sima Long was also polite.

"No need, my lord instructed that the prisoners should be escorted to the capital as soon as possible, so as not to cause any chaos on the way." smiled and declined Sima Long's invitation.

"Okay, well, Lord Yushi's subordinates, it's just not ordinary; Wang Bantou, hurriedly took the messenger to the prison to extract the prisoners, so that the messenger could set off as soon as possible. ”

"Yes! Master. Wang Bantou took the lead and walked outside the yamen with a smile; When he came to the door, Wang Bantou took a horse, turned over and stepped on the horse's back, then turned to Xiaoxiao and said, "Please get on the horse, and the villain will take you to the prison to extract the prisoners." ”

**********

"Brother Liu, how many days is this? Why are you laughing at them for so long and haven't come back yet? Chu Liuyan and Xu Da both walked into the Imperial History Yamen and asked anxiously.

"Haha, our military division has also become a little impatient today, it's really not easy, hurry up and sit down." Liu Bowen, who was playing haha, also had a trace of worry on his face.

"Yes! It's been a while, and nothing will happen, right? Xu Da also had a worried look on his face, and said softly.

"Since the two of you are also so anxious, why don't we wait here; Someone's coming! Hurry up and serve tea. Liu Bowen persuaded.

"Brother Liu, what's wrong today? Usually I serve wine, why do I serve tea today? Chu Liuyan asked with a smile.

"Aren't we waiting for someone? If we get drunk and confused, how will we try the prisoners, maybe we will be tried by others. Liu Bowen said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, we're going to have tea today; If this case is not finished, I will not drink anymore; When is the case closed, when am I starting to drink. Xu Da said heavily.

"It's not necessary, besides, this case is tried by me, why did you swear such a heavy oath?" Liu Bowen, who was laughed out loud by Xu Da's words, finally held back his laughter and asked.

"I'm in a hurry!" was said by Liu Bowen, Xu Da also muttered a little embarrassed. But thinking of his sister's innocent and tragic death, Xu Da's face showed grief and indignation again.

This time, the scene was a little silent again. And just when they were worried about Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao's escort team did encounter a problem.

Walking on a road lined with trees on both sides, all the officials became cautious; "Chief of the Guard." The subordinates all called it and smiled: "I think it's too quiet around here, I'm afraid something is going to happen." A squad leader walked up to him and whispered.

"You and the others are waiting for the prison car, and I'll take care of the rest." Xiaoxiao also commanded in a low voice, and waved his hand to signal the team leader to hurry up and greet the others.

Quietly listening to the sounds around him, Xiaoxiao took the sword in his hand, shook the reins, and let the mount move slowly.

"Whoosh-whoosh-" Several long arrows were fired at the smile who was walking in front; But before the long arrow came to him, he was sent back by a laughing volley; Immediately, in the forest where the sharp arrows came, there were several screams.

"Brothers, give it to me!" With the howl, more than a dozen men in black burst out of the jungle, covering their faces with strips of cloth and revealing only their two eyes, brandishing shiny steel knives, and rushing towards the prisoner wagon.

"You're looking for death!" laughed and broke off, instantly flew off the horse, kicked the two black-clothed men who were running in front of him far away, and loaded them onto the ground with a scream.

Some other people in black, seeing that Xiaoxiao was so powerful, stopped and gathered around Xiaoxiao; Looking at the black-clothed people beside him, he smiled contemptuously and said softly: "I don't care who sent you, as long as you turn around and go back immediately, I will never embarrass you." ”

"Boy, do you think it's very good to kick down the two of us? Don't forget, there are a dozen of us here! A man who looked like a leader stepped forward and said viciously.

"Just by virtue of you people, you dare to come and hijack the prisoner's car, it is really a bit overwhelming; I advise you to get out of here, and don't stain my hands. Xiaoxiao put the long sword in his hand back into his waist and said in a calm tone.

"Boy, don't be mad; Brothers, give it to me! The leader brandished his steel sword, beckoned his men and rushed forward. However, Xiaoxiao seemed to completely ignore these murderous weapons, and rushed into the black-clothed crowd empty-handed, only to see him like a slippery loach, walking through the crowd; From time to time, a punch, a kick or a finger, a palm, every movement is made, as if flowing water, without pause; As his movements accelerated, more and more of the men in black flew out of the crowd, scattered on the hard ground around him, humming incessantly.

Seeing that there are fewer and fewer subordinates, and the tricks he hands out can't keep up with the movements of others at all; The leader of the men in black took advantage of the laughter and struck the rest of his accomplices, and ran into the woods; Looking at the woods that were about to come, the leader felt that he was really lucky, and could not help but praise his cleverness and determination.

However, before he could finish praising himself, he heard the sound of the wind behind his head, and an object slammed into his back, with such force that it knocked him to the ground, and his pointed jaw and sharp mouth plowed the ground into a shallow furrow; His mouth was full of mud and sand, and he couldn't say anything.

"Run! Keep running! Smiled leisurely in front of him, hooked him over on his toes, and after facing up, said mockingly.

"Phew.... Bah....... Phew......." The leader of the man in black who struggled to get up, regardless of the sarcasm of the smile, hurriedly spit out the mud and sand in his mouth.

"How? Do you want to eat it again? It's like eating again, and you won't have to eat for a long time. Xiaoxiao held back a laugh and said slowly.

"Don't! Don't! Whatever you want to ask, just ask. The leader said again and again because he was very aware of current affairs.

"Who sent you to rob the prisoner's car? Say! Xiaoxiao's face suddenly sank, and he asked in a cold tone.

"It's ........ It's .........," the leader slurred, not wanting to answer.

"It seems that you are toasting and not eating and drinking, and I will let you do what you want." Xiaoxiao slowly rolled up her sleeves and walked towards him with a gloomy face.

"Don't come, don't come; I said it can't be done? We were also entrusted to kill the people in the prison car. The leader hurriedly said.

"Who is this man?" Xiaoxiao asked urgently.

"This man was covered with his face, and after he had agreed on the conditions, he gave us a thousand taels of silver, and then left."

"If so, isn't he afraid that you will regret it?" Xiaoxiao asked in disbelief.

"This person said that if we take the money and do nothing, be careful of our heads and the lives of our families." The leader's face cloth had already fallen off at this time, and his eyes looked pitifully and smiled.

"Oh! So that's the case, and you're of little use anymore. With that, he turned and walked towards the prisoner's car; Seeing that Xiaoxiao had let himself go, the leader got up and ran towards the woods; As he ran, he thought about how to repay his anger, but at this time, he found a blood-stained knife tip, burrowing out of his body; In an instant, the pain filled his body, screaming and falling to the ground, whimpering and wailing.

"Hurry up and bury all the dead bodies, so we can continue on our way." After kicking a steel knife away and killing the fleeing leader of the men in black, he returned to the prisoner car with a smile and commanded softly.

After a period of busyness among the servants, the procession, which had eliminated all traces, was once again on the road; And Mo Tingxiang, who witnessed all this, felt a chill in his heart; Xiaoxiao's indifference and murder made him frightened, and any idea of escaping was removed from his mind, and he carefully cooperated with the officials and walked towards the capital.........

"Report to the master, the chief of the guard, they are back!" Liu Bowen, who was handling the case in the imperial history yamen, received a report from the officer.

"Where are they?" Liu Bowen, who stood up all of a sudden and almost knocked the desk over, asked in surprise.

"They were waiting outside the yamen."

"Let's go, let's go meet them together." Saying that, Liu Bowen took the lead and walked out, and the officials also followed closely and walked out; Instead, the plaintiff and the defendant of the complaint were thrown in the lobby, stunned and didn't know what happened?

"Master, the task was successfully completed, this is a reply from Zhejiang Taishou." As he spoke, he turned around and pointed to the prisoner cart that was surrounded by the officials on horseback and said, "The prisoner Mo Tingxiang was also brought back smoothly, please ask the master to investigate it carefully." ”

"Thank you for your hard work." Liu Bowen first said to Xiaoxiao, then turned around and clasped his fists and said to the officials: "You have worked hard, immediately put the prisoner in prison; Then each of you will go and receive ten taels of silver, and you will have three days off. Before Liu Bowen's words fell, the officials on a business trip cheered; And the officials who stayed at home pouted with envy.

"Well, don't be envious; In the future, you will take turns on business trips, and if you do a good job, everyone in you will receive these rewards. Liu Bowen comforted the officials and said. After listening to his words, the officials felt that their steps were much lighter.

***********

"Brother Liu, you called us here today, did you come back with a smile?" As soon as he walked into the Imperial History Yamen, Chu Liuyan shouted to Liu Bowen.

"He is worthy of being a military advisor, and he can guess anything." Liu Bowen said with a smile.

"How's your trial going?" Xu Da, who arrived at the same time, asked anxiously.

"I interrogated this prisoner all night last night, and it seems that what he said is indeed the truth; We'll be like this tomorrow....." Liu Bowen and Chu Liuyan discussed it.

As soon as the next morning began, Liu Bowen walked out of the queue, held the music fold in his hand, and said loudly: "Minister Liu Bowen has a book to play!" ”

"Bring it on!" With the emperor's shout, the Huangmen official walked quickly to Liu Bowen, took the fold in his hand, and handed it to the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had just opened the fold and looked at it for a short time, suddenly became very gloomy; raised his head and said to Liu Bowen: "Is this true?" Have you investigated clearly? ”

"Your Majesty, everything is basically the same as what the prisoner said, that's why I reported it to the emperor." Liu Bowen said with confidence.

"In that case, Huangmen Guan, give this piece to Zuo Xiangguo to see." The emperor had a gloomy face and handed Liu Bowen's recital to the Huangmen official.

After respectfully taking it, the Huangmen official walked down the table quickly and handed it to Li Shanchang; Hurriedly opened the fold, Li Shanchang quickly browsed, and after a while, Li Shanchang knelt down on the hall with a trembling voice, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, this is a frame, this is a frame!" My adopted daughter Li Ningluo, how can she be a traitor? And how could she, a weak woman, poison Mrs. Xu Biyi? ”

"Zhang Dingyuan's subordinates have made everything clear; It was indeed your stepdaughter Li Ningluo who poisoned Mrs. Xu Biyi in order to drive a wedge between the emperor and General Xu in order to achieve the purpose of causing chaos within us. As he spoke, Liu Bowen took out a piece of paper again and told the prisoner many details in the hall.

At this time, none of the officials in the group with Li Shanchang dared to intervene in this case; They clearly understood that this was related to the majesty of the emperor, and they could only look at Li Shanchang who was kneeling on the ground.

"But my righteous daughter is long dead, how can you prove it?" Li Shanchang asked with a struggle.

"Master Li, let me ask you, how do you explain the fact that Mrs. Xu died shortly after your stepdaughter Li Ningluo visited?" Liu Bowen asked urgently.

"But when Mrs. Xu died, didn't the imperial doctor say that she died of angina? Why is it said that Li Ningluo killed her now. Li Shanchang bit this matter and asked rhetorically.

"I have already sent someone to investigate this matter, and the imperial doctor of that year disappeared shortly after Mrs. Xu's death, don't you understand that this is a lack of heart? But what the imperial doctor didn't expect was that although he was now very old, I still sent someone to find him and bring her back. As soon as Liu Bowen said this, the entire hall almost became silent, and even Li Shanchang, who had been arguing, closed his mouth.

Just when no one in the officials spoke up, Chu Liuyan and Xu Da both walked out of the team, and Chu Liuyan first said loudly: "Your Majesty, for the murder of Mrs. Xu, even if the main culprit is dead, Zuo Xiangguo still has an unshirkable responsibility; He asked the emperor to severely punish those who sheltered traitors. ”

Without waiting for the emperor to speak, Xu Da also clasped his fists and saluted and said: "Your Majesty, my sister died unjustly!" Please make sure the emperor is the master of my sister! ”

It turned out that Zhu Yuanzhang, who felt that Li Shanchang's forces were gradually threatening him; Now I heard that my concubine died at the hands of Li Shanchang's adopted daughter, not to mention whether this is true or false; But it was his own taboo against Li Shanchang's group, and Zhu Yuanzhang, who couldn't find an excuse, heard this, his face sank, and he said in the court: "In view of Zuo Xiangguo's involvement in the case of endangering members of the royal family, from now on, remove Li Shanchang from Zuo Xiangguo's post and go home immediately to retire." ”

"The old minister obeys!" Li Shanchang, who suddenly looked much older, choked up and said.

"Your Majesty, I think we should reward the meritorious man of this case, Zhejiang Taishou Sima Long; made him arrest this prisoner, thus solving the doubts that the emperor had buried in his heart for many years. Not forgetting what he had promised, Liu Bowen hurriedly asked for Sima Kong's life.

"Quasi-performance, it will be up to you to report all the meritorious people this time to the Ministry of Officials for commendation." After speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang left the hall and walked towards the apse.