Some people say that the "prison" of the edict is not the prison of prisons, but the prisons of hell, and this is true.

The Imperial Prison is a semi-underground prison with a gate open on the ground, followed by a long staircase, and the deeper you go down, the light and sound are gradually cut off, as if you are actually leading to hell.

The underground cell was dark and damp, and as soon as I walked in, a cold air rushed to my face, mixed with the smell of corruption, and from time to time there were three or two screams from the depths of the cell, which made people instantly get goosebumps all over their bodies.

Gu Yunji was tied to the torture rack, his hands and feet were tied to death, and he couldn't move.

Perhaps it was back to his own territory, the fierce and vicious Flying Fish Guard from before relaxed, his movements were careless, but the evil qi around him showed signs of aggravation under the blessing of this dark environment, like a lazy Hades.

"Hades" spread out the pen and paper and began to ask boring and boring questions:

"Name?" "Gu Yunji."

"Nationality of age?" "Twenty-one years old, from Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture."

"When did you get in? Any current position? "Jingfeng entered the imperial examination in the autumn of the fifth year, and is currently the editor of the Hanlin Academy."

He asked, Gu Yunji answered, and after asking the same nonsense question, Feiyuwei asked in another way:

"You have lived in Songjiang Mansion since you were a child, and after you were eighteen years old, your family came from Huating County and settled in the capital with you?"

"Yes."

"You left home at the age of fifteen to study at Luxi Academy, worshiped the mountain chief Xu Chengyu as a teacher, and then married his daughter Xu three years ago, and had a daughter with Xu, who is now two years old?"

Gu Yunji swallowed a depressed breath: "...... Be. ”

"You studied at Luxi Academy with Dingguo Gong Su Qi and Hanlin Xiu Cheng Yan, and you have the friendship of classmates, and now you are ......"

"Are you interrogating or checking your account?" Gu Yunji couldn't help it and interrupted him, "Aren't you going to investigate my favoritism?" Then get to the point early, you can figure these things out yourself, and there is no need to waste time asking me. ”

"Yo, they're all in prison, and you dare to question me."

Feiyuwei stood up with interest, walked up to Gu Yunji's eyes and looked at him, and said gloomily: "Gu Yunji, I need to remind you that this is the Imperial Prison, and you have to abide by the rules here." I don't dare to say anything else, at least my Zhao Fan's rule is that the prisoner can only answer during my interrogation, not ask, understand? ”

Gu Yunji pursed her lips tightly and did not speak.

Zhao Fan didn't care either, and took his suggestion smoothly, skipping the boring questioning session: "Okay, since you don't want to waste time, then let's start the formal interrogation now." ”

"Someone reported that on the eve of the exam, you met privately with fellow villager Bai Xingjia, and secretly agreed that his paper must be recommended to the deputy examiner when the paper is marked, so as to increase the probability of him being admitted, is there such a thing?"

Gu Yunji keenly captured the key information: "Reporting? Who is reporting? ”

Zhao Fan didn't answer, but sighed faintly: "Did I tell you that during my interrogation, you can only answer, not ask?" ”

Gu Yunji's eyes froze, instinctively sensing the dangerous aura, and before he could speak, he saw Zhao Fan, who was facing away from him, turned around violently, and took a leather whip from nowhere in his hand, and it was a whip on his chest, and his face was as ruthless as Yama: "You still have to commit the things you have emphasized, don't you have a long memory!" ”

"Ahh

There was a strong whip on his chest, and the flesh cracked, followed by a burning pain. Gu Yunji screamed miserably, and cold sweat broke out in an instant, and he lost his voice in pain.

Zhao Fan was used to this, and he didn't see the slightest emotion on his face, but patted Gu Yunji's face and asked, "Remember?" ”

Gu Yunji's body trembled in pain, and words popped out from between his teeth: "...... Remember...... lived. ”

There are many Flying Fish Guards, and each has a different division of labor. Some are responsible for accompanying the Son of Heaven and protecting Emperor Jingfeng; Some are responsible for hiding in the market and listening to the news of all parties; Others, like Zhao Fan, are in charge of prison interrogations.

The edict prison is underground, the environment is cramped and damp, and if you are in such a dark place for a long time, no matter how healthy you are, you will have psychological problems. Not to mention that the Flying Fish Guards are tortured at every turn, and those who can still guarantee not to collapse after listening to the screams every day are either ruthless themselves, or they have long since become mentally abnormal madmen.

Zhao Fan was moody, one second he was still talking with a smile, and the next second he was furious, whipping people without mercy, Gu Yunji seriously suspected that he was the latter.

After beating Gu Yunji, Zhao Fan quickly returned to his calm and breezy appearance, he put down his whip casually, and continued to interrogate: "I'll ask you again, you and Bai Xingjia agreed in advance that they would recommend his papers to the deputy examiner when they read the papers, but is it true?" ”

"Fake!"

After recognizing the fact that Zhao Fan was a madman, Gu Yunji didn't dare to say anything that might cause ambiguity, and bluntly denied it: "I didn't agree with him in advance, and I didn't guarantee that I would definitely recommend his paper to the deputy examiner. When I was grading, all the papers were pasted and re-transcribed, and I didn't know who was who. ”

"The papers sent to me are all random, and I just have to select the best ones to recommend to the deputy examiner, and it is impossible to find Bai Xingjia's papers accurately. And it can be seen from Bai Xingjia's examination that he has strength, and he doesn't need me to help him cheat. ”

Zhao Fan disagreed: "What you said makes sense, but just because you have a name seal doesn't mean you can't find his volume." For example, in the early years of this dynasty, one of the examiners had vaguely hinted at the descendants of his fellow villagers, and when answering the question, he used the word 'Pi Xiuzai', and he was hired according to his identity, and I suspect that you and Bai Xingjia used the same method. ”

Gu Yunji resisted the urge to ask rhetorically, and said: "You just suspect, you have no evidence, you can't slander me for cheating in the imperial examination." ”

"Who says I don't have proof?" Zhao Fan took out a book and pointed to the four words on the title page, "This is a book that Bai Xingjia often reads before the exam, and it has the words 'diligent study' written on it." As far as we know, when you went to the Jiangnan Association in February, Bai Xingjia showed you this book. ”

"Coincidentally, in the answer sheet of Bai Xingjia's examination, the word 'diligent and not slacking off' also appeared. In this way, it is indeed very likely that you will make an agreement with him on the same day to use 'diligent study' as the word to confirm his identity when marking the papers. ”

“…… As you say, it's just a coincidence. Sweat flowed onto the wound on his chest, causing a sharp stinging pain, and Gu Yunji had some difficulty speaking, "The word diligent and unslackening...... It is very commonly used in exams and in life...... It cannot be used as evidence of my private agreement with Bai Xingjia. ”

"If you don't believe it, you can ask Bai Xingjia why he used this word and what he thought when answering the question, I think...... He should have told you. ”

"I was going to ask him." Zhao Fan shrugged, and his tone was a little regretful, "But that kid is weak, and he actually fainted to death after just a whip, and he hasn't woken up yet, so I have to ask you." ”

(End of chapter)