Penal Department, Prison. Since Hongji's ascension to the throne, both the North Town Fuji Prison and this prison, which represents the highest standard of the country, have obviously become more lively.

Ni Yue, the former right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, no longer has the pretension he had earlier, and is locked up on death row at this time, like a deflated balloon, sighing listlessly.

A man whose whole body was tightly covered by a black robe passed in front of the cell, Ni Yue's eyes opened slightly, and then continued to lean against the wall and silently calculate his death.

This kind of waiting is more torturous than death. Especially in his dreams, he often has a good dream that he is still the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, but every time he wakes up and sees that he is still on death row, he suddenly feels worse than death.

It's just that time passes bit by bit, and he can only watch himself get closer and closer to death, but he can't do anything.

If time could be repeated, he would definitely not stand up and try to protect the dead eunuch Huai En who should be cut by a thousand cuts, let alone say such brainless words.

There is no medicine for regret in the world, and now he has become a death row prisoner from the high-ranking right attendant of the Ministry of Rites.

He stood up for Huai'en, and even toughened the emperor from the position of Wenchen, but he is now in prison, and there are only a few officials who come to visit him.

What those people say about advancing and retreating together, it is clear that they can only share hardships with wealth and wealth. Ni Yue's ears moved slightly, listening to the footsteps of the black-robed man who had just passed in front of the cell, but his heart was like a mirror.

When the black-robed man walked away, he immediately reopened his eyes and looked over there, but he didn't expect that this person was actually related to Li Min.

"If I can escape life and death this time, I will be grateful to Li!" After Li Min was captured by Song Cheng in Chongwenmen, he kept trying to escape, and made a solemn promise to the comer.

Originally, he was about to give up hope, but he unexpectedly learned that the account book of Xie Yikui, who pointed out to him, was not found from Xie Zhai, but from a private money store.

Since the half of the ledger has been damp, the handwriting of the ledger must have been affected to a certain extent, so he can be sure that someone deliberately planted it.

It's just that if you want to really escape, it's not enough to rely on your own hard mouth, and you also need someone in the court to speak for you.

Like Wang Yue back then, everyone knew that those poems didn't explain much of a problem, and even the poems were clearly deliberately misinterpreted, but Wang Yue was stunned because the court was in Anlu, and no one in the Manchu Dynasty spoke for Wang Yue.

Now even in the face of the high-flying Tomorrow, he has to use all the relationships that can be used, and he must escape in this dead end.

The black-robed man was silent for a moment, and then said lightly: "There is no mistake at home?" ”

"You put a hundred hearts on this, this matter has already been done, and I also repaired the book in advance and went home so that the dog can handle it properly!" Li Min's eyes lit up slightly, and he immediately hurriedly reassured.

When he learned that Xie Yikui had been confiscated, he was afraid that he would be implicated, so he immediately wrote home to ask his son to transfer all the kiln silver, and at the same time transfer the house and land to the names of relatives or clansmen.

At that time, it seemed like a timid move, but it left a way for himself to live. The black-robed man received Li Min's affirmative reply, and seemed to let go of his hanging heart, so he tacitly turned around and left here.

It's just that when he passed by Ni Yue's cell, he didn't bother to glance at it, after all, this idiot was indeed hopeless, and the three-year covenant was even more justifiable for His Majesty to form a sect party.

Xiangcheng, located in the central part of Henan, belongs to Xuzhou, which is under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture. Since Li Min's career, Xiangcheng is headed by the Li family, and today's Li family can be said to be the first in Xiangcheng.

Li Min's second son, Li Yuanzheng, is a calm middle-aged man who has stayed in his hometown to take care of the family business.

Since he received a letter from his father in the capital a few days ago, he immediately began to dispose of all the properties in his name, and at the same time transferred the family's kiln silver to a secret place.

Like all corrupt officials in the world, in order to prevent their family wealth from being confiscated by the imperial court, they usually do not leave all the stolen money at home, but find another place to hide it.

Originally, the most suitable place was your own ancestral grave, but now there are too many people hiding your ancestral grave, and you can't guarantee which turtle grandson digs your own ancestral grave, so it has already been a different place.

After dealing with all this, Xiangcheng seemed to be very calm, and he swaggered into the Xiangcheng County Office.

"Second son Li, what kind of wind is blowing you to the county office!" Xiangcheng Zhixian surnamed Gou, a middle-aged man with a happy appearance, jumped from the main book to the position of Xiangcheng Zhixian by Li Min three years ago, and at this moment he greeted Li Yuanzheng very warmly.

Li Yuanzheng sat down in the living room, and said unhurriedly: "Gou Zhixian, have you heard any rumors from the imperial court recently?" ”

"Huh...... Li Er Gongzi, you are asking the right person about this! A friend in Beijing happened to write today, in which he informed him that the home of Xie Yikui, the former secretary of the Ministry of Engineering, had been raided! Gou Zhixian looked left and right, and seemed to reveal a piece of news mysteriously.

Li Yuanzheng had just brought the tea to his mouth, when he suddenly heard the news that the dignified Ministry of Industry Shangshu had been raided, and suddenly a coldness hit his heart, and he was caught off guard by the hot tea.

"I just heard that Xie Shangshu has been poor all his life, and the court can't copy a few valuable things at all, Your Majesty is wronging Qing officials...... Are you okay! Gou Zhixian continued to speak very proudly, and then cared about Li Yuanzheng, who was burned by tea.

Li Yuanzheng put down the teacup in his hand, waved his hand to signal that he was okay, and said: "Gou Zhixian, if my Li family is also in great trouble, I wonder if you are willing to help my Li family get out of trouble?" ”

"Li Shangshu has the grace of rebuilding this county, and he also has the help of Li Ergongzi to govern Xiangcheng County, and this county is duty-bound!" Gou Zhixian's eyes didn't open for a moment, and he said sternly.

Li Yuanzheng's heart couldn't help but settle down, wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief and said, "I can't hide it!" The new monarch favors the eunuchs, and my father does not want to see the Ming Dynasty being controlled by the traitorous eunuchs, and the new monarch ordered him to take the crown and live idle! Now my father is extremely disappointed in the court, so he abandoned his high position and resigned and returned to the field, but my father has already sinned against the internal official. According to my father's friend Xu Xue, the eunuch Guo Yong beside Xinjun has slandered and slandered my father for embezzling ink during his tenure as the governor of Caoyun, and my Li family is afraid that he will follow in the footsteps of the Xie family! ”

"Huh? Li Shangshu has already resigned? Gou Zhixian's brain automatically ignored the large string of nonsense behind it, and immediately opened his mouth wide and said in disappointment.

Li Yuanzheng suddenly realized that this magistrate was not playing falsely at all, and even changed his words and said: "Gou Zhixian, but you can rest assured!" Although my father has resigned and returned to the field, many friends are still in the court, and my father and Xu Pu, the left attendant of the Ministry of Officials, are friends of the same year for many years, and you will not lose your words when you are appointed from Liupinzhi County! ”

"The county doesn't care about official positions, it's just ...... Just shocked, Bi ...... After all, Li Shangshu has the talent to govern the country and secure the country! Gou Zhixian realized that his reaction was too snobbish, and he explained it again and again.

Li Yuanzheng knew that his chips were heavy enough, so he emphasized again: "So it's decided!" If my Li family encounters a big disaster, please also ask Gou Zhi County to help my Li family get out of trouble and open a convenient door, and there will be a good reward in the future! ”

"Definitely!" Gou Zhixian knew that the other party's network resources were still what he wanted to look up to, so he immediately nodded affirmatively.

Li Yuanzheng came over this time after all, it was a means to prevent trouble, and he didn't think that the imperial court would really raid his Li family, so he took out a list and said: "This is the list of excellent students among the students of Ziyun Academy, and next year's county examination will depend on the county magistrate!" ”

"That's easy to say!" Gou Zhixian stretched out his hand to take the list, and immediately agreed with a smile. Now the Li family has become a behemoth, not only is the Li family's own family powerful, but also has a very close relationship with the squires of the entire Xiangcheng County, and has cultivated a large number of famous scholars through Ziyun Academy.

Although he didn't know what the county magistrate did before he took office, judging from the fact that the number of people in the previous county examinations was the largest in Ziyun Academy, it must be that his predecessor was also a tool of the Li family.

During this three-year tenure, before each county examination, a list of outstanding students from Ziyun Academy from Li Ergongzi would be received, and all the students on this list would naturally have to pass.

It's just that this is the current situation of the Ming Imperial Examination, and it is not strange that fraud in the field has long been commonplace. It is said that the son and grandson of the dignified Shoufu have gained fame through cheating, not to mention a small county exam, which is naturally mixed with water.

On this point, the Li family is undoubtedly forward-looking. As early as 20 years ago, Li Min, who was then the envoy of Zhejiang, established Ziyun Academy, thus cultivating a large number of scholars who were pro-Li family.

Li Yuanzheng saw that Gou Zhixian was still on the road as before, and left with a smile. It's just that as soon as he left on his front foot, Liu Zhong, who was in the dust, finally arrived here with the brocade guard.

Knowing that Li Min would definitely send the news back here, Liu Zhong didn't dare to rest for half a minute along the way, and simply came day and night.

He believed that with their speed, even if Li Min had already sent someone back to pass the gift, it would have already fallen behind him.

"Copy...... Raiding the house? Gou Zhixian was stunned when he learned that Liu Zhong had come to raid the Li family.

Liu Zhong was in a hurry, and immediately stepped forward and slapped Gou Zhixian on the back of the head and said, "Still stunned to do something!" Hurry up and get the assistance of the people of the county government, and lead the official to go and raid the Li family! ”

"Yes!" Gou Zhixian reacted at this time, and even straightened his black gauze hat and agreed. Although his heart is towards the Li family, in the face of this high-ranking Lord Qincha, he can only obey orders.

It's just that I never thought that it was a fantasy that the Li family was copied just now, but it has come true in the blink of an eye.

"Immediately seal the back door of the front house, and no one will be allowed to enter!" After the Jinyi Wei hundred household officials came to the Li family's mansion, they immediately gave instructions.

Over the next three days, the raid was in full swing. It's just that no matter how they dig three feet into the Li family's mansion, they still can't find any trace of the kiln silver, and there are only a lot of wooden shelves left in the warehouse.

As for many officials, they like to collect antiques, calligraphy and paintings, but in this Li family's mansion, they didn't see a single one, and even the bowls used at home were broken.

Liu Zhong looked at this mansion and looked very unwilling, but he knew that the Li family must have gotten the news in advance, so he hid the kiln silver in the family.

"Lord Qincha, my father taught us to be diligent and thrifty since we were young, and there is indeed only this little wealth in this family!" Li Yuanzheng walked over wearing an old cotton jacket and said with a very aggrieved look.

Liu Zhong looked at Li Yuanzheng's white and delicate hands, and said with a smile: "If you are really as honest as you say, then your Li family will not have such a big house!" ”

"Lord Qincha, isn't this my Li family's Ding Xingwang? If there are more people, the house will naturally be bigger, and there is no way to do it! Li Yuanzheng has a good eloquence that can speak well, and even explained bitterly.

Liu Zhong found that this Li family was indeed difficult, and he rushed all the way from the capital without stopping, but he was stunned that he couldn't find the kiln silver in this big mansion.

It's just that he knows that Xie Yikui's account books have confirmed that this Li Min is a big corrupt official, and this Li family is definitely not a clean official's family, and now the stolen money is just being hidden.

"Lord Qincha, is there a traitor in this who framed my father, my father has been an official for decades but does not take a penny!" Li Yuanzheng also did not give up, and immediately shouted for his father.

Liu Zhong had already realized that Li Yuanzheng was a sharp-toothed person, but he waved his hand and said: "Continue to detain this person, Ben Qin will interrogate him one by one, and I don't believe that I really can't find the kiln silver in your house!" Li Yuanzheng saw Liu Zhong's impatience in his eyes, especially knowing that this rigid Qincha never had to be punished, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.

Since he gave this Qin a hundred years, he would definitely not be able to find his own place to hide silver. As night fell, the signing room of the Xiangcheng County Ya was still lit.

Gou Zhixian's eyes and eyesight were not good, and he was looking hard under the lamp, but he found that the number of cases against the Li family had increased significantly recently, and he couldn't help but sigh secretly.

His recent days have also been difficult, he thought that he would be able to prosper with his thick thighs, but he didn't expect that Li Min not only collapsed, but was also raided by the imperial court.

Now that the Li family is over, then his career can be regarded as ruined. It's not that Gou Zhixian didn't think about betraying the Li family, but he would inevitably reach out and take a little bit in Xiangcheng for three years, if he dared to betray the Li family, then the Li family would definitely take him to the funeral together.

It is said that their county master is Baili Hou, but the magistrate of the Ming Dynasty is just the watchdog of a certain big man, and the real uncle is always the bigwigs of the court.

When Gou Zhixian saw Liu Zhong suddenly walk in with a black face, he immediately stood up in fright and said with a smile: "Lord Qincha, why don't you sleep yet?" ”

"Spread the word to His Majesty!" Liu Zhong didn't like the flattering and well-known county in front of him, but he said with a straight face.

When Gou Zhixian heard that it was His Majesty's message, he was so excited that he knelt down incoherently and said, "Your ...... Chenxiang...... Xiangcheng Zhixian Gou Youzhong respectfully invites St. Ann! ”

"St. Ann! His Majesty's dictation, hearing that Li Min has been greedy for ink for many years, Xiangcheng Zhixian Gou Youzhong helped Qin to investigate Li Min's family for harboring stolen silver, and it was avoidable in the past, and it was rewarded. ”

"Minister...... Commandment! Gou Zhixian didn't expect that his small Zhixian County would hear His Majesty's words, and he was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes.

Liu Zhong didn't expect this well-known county to cry, so he routinely asked: "Gou Zhixian, do you know the place where the Li family hides silver?" ”

"Yes!" Gou Zhixian wiped away his tears and nodded seriously. Liu Zhong's eyes widened, and he said incredulously: "You...... You know? How is this possible? ”