After the Qu family returned to Qufu from Bibo Pond, they rested for a day, and on the second day, they went out to Chen Xing's house with Yun Xian, Congran, and Lan Chu, approached the gate of Qufu, and saw that the gate was ajar, and a woman's eager voice came from outside the door: "This uncle, I want to see your second young lady Congxi, can you please tell her, I have an urgent matter to find her, human life is a matter of heaven, or can you take me to see Congxi?" ”

Uncle Sun's voice came from the concierge: "May I ask what is the relationship between this lady's surname and my second young lady?" ”

The woman hurriedly said: "My name is Xiao Lu, and I am from Xi. We are.." The woman was a little embarrassed, and seemed to be a little unprepared to express her relationship with Congxi, turned her head and caught a glimpse of Congxi and a few people walking out of Qufu, carefully glanced at Congxi, and hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Congxi's arm and said: "Congxi, it's really you, I'm afraid I'll not see you, I'm Xiao Lu, do you remember me?" ”

Xiao Lu glanced at Xiao Lu carefully, I haven't seen her for almost four years, Xiao Lu seems to be plumper than before, Xiao Lu is twenty-three or four years old this year, and she is a neighbor separated by three streets and alleys from Xi's house, Xiao Lu's embroidery skills are good, and she used to take her own embroidery products to sell them from Xi's mother's shop from Guan, and when she received some embroidery work, when she was too busy, she would also give some to Xiao Lu, so she was often seen by Xiao Lu before, and Xiao Lu was also familiar with Xiao Lu, but Xiao Lu married away from another state four years ago, and Xiao Lu and Xiao Lu have not seen each other for four years. And Xiao Yuan, who was in Chen Xing's original craftsman team, was the murderer who killed Li Rongrong, the third daughter of Li Bin, the former waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and it was Xiao Lu's younger brother. Congxi and Xiao Yuan have only met two or three times, Xiao Yuan looks simple and thin, doesn't like to talk much, seems to be an honest person, doesn't look like he can kill, but Chen Xing said that the government has found evidence of Xiao Yuan's murder, and Congxi didn't ask much. From the dark thought: 'Could it be that Xiao Lu came to me for Xiao Yuan's business?' ’

Congxi turned his eyes to the three people behind Xiao Lu, a woman in her fifties, a little weak, Xiao Lu and Xiao Yuan's mother, a young woman in her early twenties, Xiao Yuan's wife, and a little boy, less than three years old, snuggled up to Xiao's wife, Congxi had seen Xiao's mother and Xiao's wife twice before, and they were not familiar with it, Xiao's mother, Xiao's wife, and Xiao Lu were all begging, looking eagerly at Congxi, as if Congxi was the last piece of driftwood they saw before their family drowned.

Congxi looked at Xiao Lu and smiled: "Sister Xiao, I haven't seen you for a few years, are you okay at your husband's house?" ”

Xiao Lu heard Congxi's question, but did not answer, and suddenly knelt down to Congxi, Xiao's mother and Xiao's wife saw it, and they also knelt down, and Xiao's wife also took the little boy's hand after kneeling, and asked the little boy to kneel, and the little boy knelt down very obediently.

Congxi was shocked, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to pull Xiao Lu and said, "Sister Xiao, what are you doing, you really torture me, what's the matter, you get up first and then talk." Sister Lan, Congxi, you quickly help Aunt Xiao and Sister-in-law Xiao up. ”

Lan Chu and Congran heard that they were busy and walked two steps forward to pull Xiao's mother and Xiao's wife, but Xiao's mother and Xiao's wife knelt and refused to get up, Lan Chuqiang pulled Xiao's wife up, and Xiao's wife knelt down again.

Congxi pulled a few times, Xiao Lu also knelt and refused to get up, grabbed Congxi's arm and said: "Congxi, you just let me kneel and say, today our family is looking for you to ask for something, with our relationship, what we ask for may be a little excessive, but we really have no other way, so we come to beg you, please save my brother Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yuan He was wronged, but the government said that he killed someone, Congxi, please save Xiao Yuan, save my brother." ”

Congxi stopped his hand, squatted down and looked directly at Xiao Lu's gaze and said, "I heard that the government has found evidence of Xiao Yuan's murder, does Sister Xiao have evidence to prove that Xiao Yuan was wronged?" ”

Xiao Lu shook his head: "I have no evidence, but Xiao Yuan has not pleaded guilty, the government directly convicted Xiao Yuan of homicide according to those so-called evidence, Xiao Yuan has always insisted that he was hit in the head from behind at the time, fainted, and when he woke up, he found that there were a few more blood marks on his arms, and there was some red lipstick on his face, and Miss Li San was strangled to death on the bed in his bedroom, disheveled, and there was skin blood on his nails. I really can't bear to watch him die unjustly, so I came to save you and save him, from Xi, Xiao Yuan's temperament, I understand, he will never kill anyone, please save my brother. ”

Cong Xi frowned: "Based on the blood marks on his arms and the lipstick marks on his face, it really can't be concluded that Xiao Yuan killed someone, what if the real murderer deliberately planted the blame?" The government should not judge the case so hastily, can you go to the government to find the magistrate Jian Xuan, what did he say? ”

Xiao Lu: "Although the murder case happened three months ago, but the letter from my sister-in-law to me was delayed on the road, I received the letter two months late, I only returned to Jinzhou yesterday, and hurriedly went to the government to ask, I heard that Lord Jian went to a remote county town yesterday to investigate the case, and the other arresters said that the case has been decided, and even the criminal department has approved the death penalty, and today Xiao Yuan will be beheaded in public, and Lord Jian will not be able to overturn the case again, I went to ask the prefect, they stopped me from seeing, and we don't know other dignitaries, But Xiao Yuan was going to be beheaded at three o'clock in the afternoon today. Yesterday, I heard a neighbor mention you, saying that you married into Qufu, and today we really have no law, so we have the cheekiness to beg you. Congxi, you are now the second young lady of Qufu, I heard that Qufu is a relative of the emperor, please, please think of a way to save Xiao Yuan, he is really wronged. After Xiao Lu finished speaking, he kowtowed to Congxi over and over again.

Congxi hurriedly said: "Sister Xiao, you don't want to be like this, how can you be sure that Xiao Yuan is wronged, you just said that you have no evidence, what if Xiao Yuan didn't tell you the truth?" ”

Xiao Lu: "We went to see him in prison just now, he was about to be beheaded at noon, the official agreed to let us visit him and send him on his last journey, Xiao Yuan was already desperate, he sat in prison in a daze, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses, and then he explained everything that should be explained." In the end, I asked him again, anyway, he couldn't escape death, asked him if he had killed anyone, he still insisted that he had not killed anyone, I asked him to swear, let him use his mother, sister-in-law, his son En'en, and my own sister to gamble, if he really killed someone, we must not die well, and we will accompany him before and after, he swore without hesitation, insisting that he did not kill anyone, he was wronged, he said that he had no chance to avenge his grievances, he wanted to keep this grievance and turn into a ghost, and also find the person who wronged him. Congxi, did you say that at this time he still has the need to lie, he is dying, can he still use his mother, sister-in-law, En'en, and me, all the relatives in this world to gamble? ”

Congxi looked at Xiao Lu and thought darkly, if Xiao Yuan dared to make such an oath at this time, maybe he really didn't kill anyone, but Xiao Yuan really swore an oath, or Xiao Lu was making up a lie, and even if Xiao Yuan really said it, would it just be for Xiao Lu to try to save him?

Xiao Lu saw the doubts in Congxi's eyes, looked directly into Congxi's eyes and said: "Congxi, I have a son, who is as old as En'en, two years old, ten months and seven days old, his name is Huihui. Xiao Lu turned his head to look at Shaun beside Xiao's wife, and continued: "I'm gambling now, if I lied just now, my son Huihui, my nephew En'en, my mother, my sister-in-law, and myself will all be tortured to death, and there will be no bones left." From Xi, my father died early, my mother was sick, Xiao Yuan was brought up by me, I can tell if what he said is true or false, I have seen him twice from yesterday to today, and I can see that he is not lying, including his gambling curse. Congxi, please save him, I just want the government to re-investigate the case, if it is still determined that Xiao Yuan killed someone, I am willing to be punished by the government with him, please give us a chance to re-investigate the case. ”

After thinking for a moment, he turned his head to look at Yun Xian, who had been listening quietly: "Didn't the government ask if the condemned prisoners were all beheaded in the autumn queen, why did they start the execution now?" ”

Yun Xian: "Generally, death row prisoners are indeed beheaded after the autumn, but if the death row prisoner commits a major crime, the government will punish him or deter his accomplices from death row, or for some other reasons, it can also be an exception." If my guess is correct, this time it should be Lord Li Bin who used a personal relationship, after all, he was originally a waiter in the Ministry of Rites, and his daughter was killed, so it is understandable that he wants the murderer to be punished as soon as possible. ”

Congxi: "Sister Xiao just said that the criminal department has agreed to carry out the execution, is there any way for us to stop it?" ”

Yun Xian blurted out: "Yes, you can rob the law field." ”

Congxi was stunned for a moment: "If I go to rob the Dharma Field, there will definitely be a dead end, you can go, your sister and your brother-in-law will protect you?" ”

Yun Xian: "I will die faster, my brother-in-law will make me the one who is punished by the Ming Dynasty, by example, and by the law of the country, my sister can't protect me." ”

Congxi frowned: "Is there any way to stop the government from beheading death row prisoners openly?" ”

Yun Xian thought for a moment and said: "Yes, if before the execution, new human or physical evidence appears, and it can prove that the death row prisoner is suspicious, according to the law of our dynasty, even if the criminal department has approved the death penalty, the prison officer should immediately stop questioning the death row prisoner and re-verify the case." But we don't even know the facts of the case now, where to look for human and material evidence, you look up at the sun, we are going to leave now, whether we can get to the execution site before three o'clock in the afternoon is a question. ”

When Xiao Lu, Xiao's mother, and Xiao's wife heard this, they all sat on the ground and cried, Xiao Lu was stunned for a moment, got up and helped Xiao's mother and said, "Mother, we have done our best, since we have no power to return to heaven, let's go to the execution ground now to send Xiao Yuan for a ride." ”

Xiao Lu, Xiao's mother, and Xiao's wife cried and turned around and walked out, thinking for a moment and suddenly said: "Sister Xiao, you just said that Li Rongrong, the third lady of the Li Mansion, was strangled to death in her room because she was disheveled, right?" ”

Xiao Lu turned his head to look at Congxi and nodded vigorously, staring at Congxi suspiciously.

Congxi said: "I have a way, maybe I can give it a try." Congxi turned his head to look at Yun Xian: "I just need Yun Gongzi's help, Yun Gongzi is willing?" ”

Yun Xian: "My son doesn't like to bully others, and he shows off his might, I think you can disrupt the law field without my help." ”

Congxi: "Master Yun, can we stop putting on a score, we are in a hurry, without your uncle in charge, I dare to go to the Dharma field, even if I dare to go, the prefect can throw me out if he calls one person casually." Sister Xiao said just now, even Jian Xuan is not in Jinzhou, and he can't help me. Having said that, Jian Xuan's injuries are not healed yet, why did he go out to handle the case again, go back and ask him carefully where he went. Well, back to the present, let's go, it will definitely be interesting? ”

When Xiao Lu, Xiao's mother, and Xiao's wife heard this, they all stared at Yun Xian, their eyes were a little awe-struck, a lot of begging, and a lot of anticipation, Yun Xian glanced at a few people and said flatly: "Okay, it's all a national uncle, it's not easy to use, and it's a waste to be idle." ”

Congxi was happy: "Uncle Guo is wise." Congxi turned his head to look at Uncle Sun from the concierge and said, "Uncle Sun, we are in a hurry, can you help us find a carriage, the Qu family should have a lot of carriages, please Uncle Wang hurry up and get one for me." ”

Before Uncle Sun could speak, Congxi saw a carriage driving out of the side gate of Qufu, stopped in front of the gate of Qufu, looked at Uncle Sun from Xi and said happily: "It turns out that Uncle Sun has already arranged it, you really have a heart, thank you Uncle Sun." ”

Uncle Sun was stunned for a moment, and was just about to open his mouth to explain, when he looked at the Xiao family and said, "Get in the carriage quickly, we will make a carriage and go over, we should be able to arrive at the execution ground before three o'clock in the afternoon." ”

A few members of the Xiao family nodded and walked quickly towards the carriage.

A few people approached the carriage, the coachman put down the horse, turned around and saw a few people, Shi Li said: "I've seen Gongzi Yun, I've seen the second young lady." The coachman has seen from Xi, it is the coachman who is in the carriage, others call Uncle Li, Congxi motioned for others to get into the car, looked at Uncle Li and said: "Uncle Li, let's go to the execution ground, please drive faster, we are in a hurry." ”

Uncle Li saw that Xiao Lu wanted to help Xiao's mother stare at the horse pier, so he hurriedly took a step forward to stop it, looked at Congxi and said: "Second young lady, I'm sorry, this is the eldest son's carriage, the eldest prince is also going out, I am the carriage prepared for the eldest prince." ”

Congxi was stunned for a moment, it turned out to be a misunderstanding, but it takes time to prepare the carriage again, and Qu Zaichen and Mrs. Qu did not say that Congxi could use the Qufu carriage casually, I don't know if I have a carriage to use, and I haven't seen Yun Xian use the carriage. After settling down, he stretched out his hand and pulled Uncle Li, dragged Uncle Li aside, and said to Xiao Lu: "You get in the car first, Sister Lan, Congran, you all go up." ”

Uncle Li was pulled by Congxi, and hurriedly took a step back, wanting to open his mouth to stop but not making a sound, he pulled out the dagger from his sleeve, and suddenly pressed against Uncle Li's neck, Uncle Li's face changed in fright, and he stammered: "Two. Two. Young lady, you. What are you doing? ”

Congxi said: "Uncle Li, don't be nervous, I won't kill you, now everyone sees me forcing you with a knife and robbing the eldest brother's carriage, and the eldest brother will only blame me if he knows it, and he will not punish you." ”

Except for Yun Xian, everyone got into the carriage, Yun Xian looked at Congxi and said, "You can go up too, I'll sit in front with Uncle Li, give me the dagger, and I'll hold his neck to catch the car." ”

"What are you doing? Congxi, put the knife down first, what did Uncle Li do wrong, you tell me, I will punish him? Congxi, Yun Xian turned his head and saw Qu Zaifan and Meng Xuan walking out of the gate of Qufu quickly, Qu Zaifan saw Congxi holding a knife against Uncle Li's neck, he was startled, and hurriedly shouted to persuade Congxi.

Congxi turned his head to see Qu Zaifan, immediately put away the dagger, and said embarrassedly: "Big brother, it's okay, I want to borrow your carriage to use it, we have an urgent matter, and human life is an urgent matter?" ”

Qu Zaifan was stunned for a moment and nodded: "This is a trivial matter, you can use it, I will let someone prepare a carriage later, it's just. Where are you going, and who are you saving? ”

Congxi: "Go to the execution ground to save people, big brother, I don't have time to explain now, I'll tell you later." Congxi turned his head to look at Uncle Li and said, "Uncle Li, the eldest brother has agreed, you go to drive, remember, go to the execution ground, hurry up." ”

As soon as Uncle Li turned his head to look at Qu Zaifan, Yun Xian had already pulled him to the carriage, and quickly stared at the carriage, but the horse dun had not been put away, and Yun Xian had already urged Uncle Li to drive away quickly.