Mei Xiancheng's strategy was right. He can let the province draw out a line for Chen comrades to harbor criminals and eventually kill people, and he will only bear the responsibility for seeking to seize his position.

But there was always someone who was one step ahead of him and created a fresh false confession for this interrogation.

is still the official army, Meixian Cheng's absolutely trusted henchman. Mei Xiancheng narrowed his eyes and looked at him happily, as if he had become his savior.

But his expression was not as calm as usual, and his demeanor was rather stiff.

"Your Excellency." He said a word, and then he took his mouth.

He asked, "You were instructed by Meixian Cheng to lead troops into Chen's mansion?" ”

He hurriedly kowtowed: "I heard Master Mei say that this matter was assigned by Chen Zhixian, and he was only responsible for passing on the word, where did the ......conspiracy come from?"

"Is this an ad hoc assignment?"

"It's not."

"The deceased was talking and laughing at the time, did he know about it in advance?"

"Yes. After all, before entering the mansion, Gongzi Lu had stayed in the Taizhou Yamen for a while, and witnessed us being ordered to go to Lord Chen's mansion. ”

"Suspect, how dare you talk nonsense in front of the deputy envoy!" The prefect turned his head and slapped the wood hard.

And Mei Xiancheng, in addition to being frightened at the moment, was not resentful or sad, but was confused, and seemed to be dizzy with a sudden counterattack.

He was still stunned by himself, and suddenly a basin of biting cold water was poured on his head, and he immediately shook his head and came to his senses.

"If you feel that you still have grievances, you can try to say that there is no need to be alarmed." He said in harmony.

"Lord Futai," Mei Xiancheng wiped the water droplets all over his face, "This has nothing to do with my murder." ”

The prefect sneered: "According to this person, you neither led troops to kill people, nor conspired with the deceased, so it should be a temporary intention, so you fled in a panic." ”

"No," Mei Xiancheng was still struggling, "Is there no reason to kill someone?" ”

The idlers immediately fought back: "I heard from people in Taizhou that Gongzi Lu often goes to the Yamen to talk to you, but he hasn't seen him for a month, and the contradiction may be in it." Besides, the evidence is there, the facts of the case are clear, why bother looking for the reason! ”

"This ......" Mei Xiancheng's face turned white, "I don't go to the thatched house!" That military master said it plainly yesterday! ”

"Fart!" An idler scolded angrily, "You run to the east study first, and then hide in the thatched house after killing people, you should also have time?" ”

The prefect and the master whispered a few words, and hurriedly used the case to stop the quarrel: "Okay." ”

"I've made up my mind, and the suspect should be killed!" The prefect Gao checked the red head sign, and the side light swept the inspection, and the deputy envoy nodded according to the inspection, and the sign fell to the ground crisply.

Mei Xiancheng's eyes were white, he fainted to the ground, and was held by the two hands of the officials.

In less than a moment, he opened his eyes, ignored the pull of the officials, his clothes were torn, and he quickly crawled in front of the prefect: "My lord, those people lied!" Someone is behind it! Behind the scenes! ”

The prefect panicked and wanted to dodge, so the officials put Meixian Cheng down, took off his coat, and took two wooden flails and nails.

The master wrote a letter and handed it to the prefect, who read it out: "The situation of this case is to find out, the prisoner Meixian Cheng had a small grudge with the deceased Lu Jishou, so he improvised on the day of the wedding of the Chen Mansion in Taizhou and carried out the assassination. The prisoner was called away by the magistrate at the banquet, and the deceased walked to the east study, where he returned to Mei County, and killed him when he saw it, so he hid in the latrine and did not dare to come out. and the failure, everyone is suspicious, bound to the court, to beg for life. Fortunately, the reason of heaven is clear, and the retribution is returned, and finally he wears a shackle and deprives him of his position. Sin is not tolerated, and righteousness is punished! ”

In a noisy cheer outside the hall, Mei Xiancheng drew on the white paper, took one last look at the court, and was dragged down.

If he can reflect at this moment, he can reflect on how cautious he is, and how much he wants to hold power in his hands, not only to make an inch, but to become the driving force of his death.

Lu Zhengfu clenched his fists, and wanted to see him beheading in public, but when he heard that he was scheduled to be beheaded, he led his minions through the crowd and prepared to come back when he was going to kill the prisoner. But that was next year, Mei Xiancheng's head fell to the ground on the court, but he couldn't find the shadow of Master Lu.

"Master, it's time for Chu Zi to come to Yizheng."

A minion hurried into the house to report.

Lu Zhengfu still looked sad: "I'm afraid I came to choose a burial place." ”

"You can't let him in!"

Lu Zhengfu sighed: "I lost my son due to old age, and I have a daughter who lives outside, and there is no successor, so I will entrust the industry and my relatives and nephews in the future." Small merchants from other places and localities are afraid that other people's families will pick up and they will not be able to share a bowl of soup, so they will lose their share with us; The Lu family is declining day by day, how can it have the strength to compare with the family? Just ask for harmony between the two families, and it's all right. ”

"Guo Chuzi has evil intentions, the master needs to be careful." The minion said anxiously.

"Alas!" Lu Zhengfu patted his thigh and said, "I understand that the family wants to buy people's hearts and trick local businessmen into his account." Only the plan of clearing the wilderness with strong walls is feasible. ”

"The lord commands!"

"I closed the shop, and said that I would not talk about business today; Also, send someone to use a sedan chair to take the staff outside the house, and after eating, only the two of us went to see the burial place, and we were not allowed to leak the news. ”

"Yes."

Guo Chuzi didn't bring a minion, he was sitting in a sedan chair and stopped in front of the door. He got out of the sedan chair, wore an old khaki jacket, stepped into the threshold, walked to the main hall, and saw Lu Zhengfu on crutches and wearing plain white clothes, still in grief.

"Uncle Lu!" Guo Chuzi hurriedly ran over, grabbed his arm, saw that his face was like a withered tree, and squeezed out a few tears of pity.

"The staff members have worked tirelessly for the selection of the burial place, and they have come from afar, and they are extremely admired." Lu Zhengfu bent over, barely making a move.

"Uncle lost his son, if he doesn't come next, he is unkind and unrighteous." Guo Chuzi said as he took out the money from the blanket, "This time, I specially exchanged a hundred taels of silver tickets from the Jiangdu shop, and there are a few taels of broken silver for today's expenses." ”

"It's better to wait for the burial ground, it's not too late to get it." Lu Zhengfu held his hand, "The old man is preparing for lunch, and I look at the staff to eat here." ”

"There is no hunger in the lower abdomen, the uncle eats, and he has to wait to choose a burial place." Chu Zi repeatedly excused himself.

"The old man was also anxious because Shou'er's burial place was not chosen, and he couldn't swallow it. Since you don't eat outside, I'll go with you. Lu Zhengfu trembled and walked down the stone stairs, "Minion, prepare a sedan chair." ”

Guo Chuzi sat in the sedan chair, looking at the street from time to time, and after passing by a few Lu family's shops, he saw that they were not opened, and the cold wind blew the door panel.

It was exactly as I expected. Guo Chuzi pulled down the curtain.

"No shop is open."

"My son is newly dead, and I have no intention of taking care of it." Lu Zhengfu hurriedly said.

The car stopped at this time, and the sedan driver shouted: "Master, it's here!" ”

Lu Zhengfu invited Chu Zi first, and after Chu Zi, he stepped off the sedan chair, looked at the cloudless sky, and recalled the conversation with Wen Zhong before leaving Jiangdu.