The chief criminal of Wudoumi was personally escorted into Beijing by the Zuo Shilang of the Criminal Department, and Hu Yanyi, the Shou of Xiangfan County, and Xue Ding, the left commander of Xiangfan County, also entered Beijing to meet the driver.

What made Ye Qi happy was that Xue Xiangyun also came to Shangjing with his brother, but because of his temporary intentions, he didn't have time to write a letter to Ye Qi. After arriving in the capital, Hu Yanyi and Xue Ding wanted to live in the pavilion, and Xiangyun lived directly in Xue Jiabi's mansion.

As soon as she arrived at Xue's Mansion, Xiangyun sent someone to send a letter to Ye Qi, telling her that she had arrived in the capital and would go to Prince Ming's Mansion to see her after she was settled. But as soon as Ye Qiyi received the letter, he was still waiting there, and immediately took a carriage to Xue Mansion.

This was also Ye Qi's first time in Xue's Mansion, and she didn't forget to prepare a gift for Mrs. Xue. Mrs. Xue had heard her husband talk about Ye Qi, and knew that she was the niece of the empress of the previous dynasty, the cousin of Prince Ming, and a legendary woman, but she didn't have the opportunity to meet, as soon as she heard that Ye Qi came to the door, she immediately went to the second gate with Xiangyun to greet Ye Qi.

After welcoming Ye Qi to the living room, Xiangyun and Ye Qi had mixed feelings, their hands clenched, but they didn't know what to say for a while.

Mrs. Xue hurriedly said: "Xiangyun, please sit down first Miss Seven, and say something slowly." ”

Xiangyun hurriedly took Ye Qi's hand and asked her to sit on the kang. Ye Qi said to Mrs. Xue: "Mrs. Xue, I heard Sister Xiangyun say that she was brought up by you since she was a child, and Sister Xiangyun and I are sisters, don't be so polite to me." ”

Mrs. Xue smiled: "Then I'll call you seven girls." Seven girls, I am like thunder to you, Xiangyun often talks about you in my letters, and my lord often mentions you at home, you are a heroine. ”

Ye Qidao: "Mrs. praised me embarrassed, I'm just an ordinary woman, because of my identity as a businessman, I can't be a lady like Sister Xiangyun, who is knowledgeable." ”

Xiangyun reached out and pinched Ye Qi's cheek, and said, "You make fun of me again, if you don't laugh at me, I won't be able to get by, right?" ”

Mrs. Xue said: "It's really not a compliment to you, you have the ability to snatch Prince Ming away from the hands of the Inspection Division, and a man can't do it." ”

Ye Qidao: "We barbarian women are not like the Central Plains, we can teach our husbands and children at home, it is not easy for us to live in the mountains, so we can only work hard outside." ”

Mrs. Xue said: "I have met Empress Huixian of the former dynasty, and you are exactly the same as when she was young. Her bearing and insight are something I have never seen in my life, and she looks so good, she really surpasses the women of the Central Plains. It's a pity to leave so young. As he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but turn red, and Ye Qi also lowered his head.

Xiangyun hurriedly said: "Auntie, you go and get busy first, I'll have a good talk with Seventh Sister." ”

Mrs. Xue hurriedly smiled: "Look at me, when you are happy, you will talk endlessly." I'll go to the front and let them prepare wine and dinner, and the seventh girl rarely comes to the door, so she will eat at our place today. After that, he went out with the maids.

Xiangyun and Ye Qi sorted out their emotions, and Ye Qi asked, "Sister Xiangyun, are you here for Mao Xiang this time?" ”

Xiangyun's face was slightly red, and then he said: "Yes, Originally, Sister Mao was going to enter Beijing together, but Lord Lu was going back to his hometown in Hedong, and Sister Mao couldn't get out." In addition, Lord Lu also said that Sister Mao will not work if she enters Beijing, there are Prince Ming in Beijing, Lord Xue and my brother, and they will definitely do their best to rescue Master Mao. I followed my brother into Beijing, and I can live in my aunt's house, so I won't cause any trouble, and as soon as I have news, I will immediately notify Sister Mao. ”

Ye Qi nodded and said, "My cousin, Lord Xue and Master Zuo have all said that they must save Mao Gongzi." First, the relationship between Mao Gongzi and my cousin is close, and if Mao Gongzi is convicted of treason, it will also have an impact on my cousin; Second, Mao Gongzi is a great talent, and he will have a great effect on Da Sui in the future. ”

Xiangyun's eyes couldn't help but turn red, and he held Ye Qi's hand and said, "My brother said that Prince Youming is here, and he will definitely be able to save Mao Gongzi." ”

Mao Xiang and Zhang Fangping's brothers were imprisoned in the prison of the Criminal Department, which was the highest-level prison except for the Imperial Prison of the Inspection Department. The three were held separately, and the outside of the cell door was guarded day and night, and no one was allowed to visit them except by the emperor's will.

When Xue Ding led his troops to kill the main altar of the White Ape Peak Five Dou Mi Sect, the unsuspecting Five Dou Mi Sect disciples fell into chaos, and they did not organize effective resistance at all, and everyone only scattered and fled for their lives. The Zhang brothers were protected by their cronies, and fled to the bottom of the mountain, but were blocked by the follow-up officers and soldiers, Zhang Fangju was killed for stubborn resistance, and the other two were captured alive. Mao Xiang was locked in the house, and the guards were only concerned about fleeing for their lives, and no one cared about him.

When Xue Ding learned that Mao Xiang had been arrested, he quickly came and instructed his subordinates not to treat him as a member of the Five Doumi Sect. When the war calmed down a little, Xue Ding talked to Mao Xiangchang once, inquired in detail about his robbery and entry into Wan'an Mountain, and then did a series of things.

But after a cadre of prisoners was taken down the mountain, Zhou Mi must take Mao Xiang and the Zhang family brothers into custody together, and Hu Yanyi persuaded Xue Ding not to be hard topped, after all, Zhou Mi was the supervisor of the imperial court. Fortunately, the imperial court then ordered Hu Yanyi and Xue Ding to enter Beijing together, and Xue Ding felt that there was something to do, so he handed over Mao Xiang to Zhou Mi. Fortunately, the safety of the natural offender must be absolutely guaranteed, and the Zhang brothers and Mao Xiang did not endure hardships and were escorted all the way to Beijing.

The trial of the three divisions jointly participated by the Criminal Department, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Dali Temple, the Zhang brothers confessed in the first instance, there was no suspense, and Mao Xiang resolutely denied participating in the Wudou Rice Sect, so the second instance was specially tried for Mao Xiang.

In addition to the officials of the three legal divisions, Zuo Shilang of the Criminal Department of the second instance was meticulous, and as a special investigation official of the Wudoumi teaching case, he was responsible for the direct trial. Wearing shackles, Mao Xiang walked into the lobby of the criminal department with difficulty, and because he had been dismissed from his reputation, he could only kneel to stand trial.

Zhou Mi said: "Mao Xiang, Zhang Fangping and Zhang Fangliang have both confessed that you are the selected Heavenly Master of the Wudou Mi Sect, and after being detained by the imperial court, the Wudou Mi Sect is willing to take the risk of disapproval and snatch you into Wan'an Mountain from the hands of the Inspection Division, why do you still have strong words?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "When I was detained in Xiangyang, the government had already found out that it had nothing to do with the Wudou Rice Sect. The so-called Heavenly Master is a prophecy of the Five Doumi Sect, as for why he found me, there is another hidden secret, I hope the court will investigate it clearly. ”

Zhou Mi said: "You may not have anything to do with the Five Dou Mi Sect before, but since you were selected as the Heavenly Master and entered the nest of the Five Dou Mi Sect in Wan'an Mountain, can you still get rid of your relationship with the Five Dou Mi Sect?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "I was robbed into Wan'an Mountain, not by myself." Moreover, I have been imprisoned in Wan'an Mountain, and I have not participated in any actions of the Wudoumi Sect. ”

Zhou Mi sneered: "You didn't participate in any action? Let me ask you, did you write the letter between the Wudoumi Sect and the imperial court? ”

Mao Xiang said: "That is because I persuaded Zhang Fangping to surrender to the imperial court to no avail, seeing that he had no intention of surrendering, and wanted to negotiate with the imperial court under the pretext of delaying the army, so he borrowed a letter to signal to the imperial court." The true meaning of the epistle is clear at a glance. ”

Zhou Mi said: "The brothers of the Zhang family all said that they sincerely negotiated with the court. ”

Mao Xiang said: "That's because they want to reduce their responsibility, I once offered to let me go down the mountain and surrender to the court, if they are sincere, why don't they dare to let me go down the mountain?" ”

Zhou Mi was speechless for a while, and Zuo Zhenkun said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have here the testimony and evidence submitted by Xiangfan County Shouhu Yanyi and Zuo Commander Shi Xueding. There are many inaccuracies and contradictions in the testimony of the Zhang brothers about Mao Xiang, and I suggest that the Zhang brothers be retried. After speaking, he passed a stack of testimonies and documentary evidence to the Shangshu of the Criminal Department and Dali Siqing.

Zhou Mi said with a little dissatisfaction: "Lord Zuo, why is this evidence only taken out now?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "The pre-trial is mainly about the rebellion of the Wudoumi Sect, and these evidences are mainly aimed at the case of Mao Xiang, and the matter involves the Inspection Division, I confirmed some things with the Inspection Department in advance, and it is inconvenient to announce them in advance." ”

Zhou Mi had nothing to say, Dali Siqing said: "Since there is new evidence, let's retry the Zhang brothers." "The secretary of the criminal department couldn't object, so he had to ask people to raise the Zhang brothers.

The first to go to court was Zhang Fangping, because of the new evidence that Zuo Zhenkun came up with, he presided over the trial. Zuo Zhenkun asked: "Zhang Fangping, the first thing: Are you sincere or false to discuss with the imperial court?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "It is indeed sincere, after I was coerced by my subordinates to raise troops in a daze, I soon wanted to surrender to the imperial court, but my subordinates never agreed. It was not until they were surrounded in Wan'an Mountain that their subordinates saw that the general trend had gone, and they agreed to surrender to the imperial court. ”

Zuo Zhenkun said angrily: "What nonsense! I have here the testimony of several of your subordinates, and Zhang Fangliang also confessed that your negotiations with the imperial court are simply a delaying tactic. ”

Zhang Fangping said: "Wronged! Mine is indeed a sincere surrender to the court. ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "Then Mao Xiang proposed to go down the mountain to negotiate with the court in person, why don't you agree?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "I'm afraid that he will run away when he goes down the mountain." ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "Why do you think that if you take the lead, you won't run if you send someone else to negotiate?" ”

Zhang Fangping was stunned for a moment, and Zuo Zhenkun asked: "Why has Mao Xiang been detained on the mountain, didn't you say that he is your Heavenly Master?" ”

Zhang Fangping opened his mouth and stammered, Zuo Zhenkun said: "Let me ask you again, who robbed Mao Xiang from the Inspection Division?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "I was confused for a while and sent someone to rob him." ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "The personal guards you sent at that time, now more than a dozen people have been captured, and their testimony is here, and they were not robbed by Mao Xiang at all, but by Mr. Yuan's people." I ask you, who is Mr. Yuan? ”

Zhang Fangping argued forcefully: "The two groups of people I arranged, those guards don't know. ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "Then who is this Mr. Yuan?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "It's also a member of the Five Doumi Sect, I don't know where he is now, he may be dead, right?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun said angrily: "You dare to argue!" Let me ask you, after robbing Maoxiang, what route did you take from Zhongzhou County to Wan'an Mountain? Zhang Fangping was speechless.

Zuo Zhenkun said: "Zhang Fangping, the major crime of rebellion is to be executed by Ling Chi, according to not admitting guilt, he dares to make false quibbles, and he has to cut his flesh to 3,600 knives before he can die." If you can confess truthfully, or have other secret confessions, the emperor feels that you have made meritorious contributions, and may give you a lenient sentence, you have to think clearly. ”

Zhang Fangping's face was pale, beads of sweat the size of beans kept rolling down, and the muscles on his face continued to twitch. He finally lay on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "Ask for forgiveness from my lord, I will confess truthfully, please ask." ”

Zuo Zhenkun was just about to speak, when someone outside the door shouted: "The emperor has a decree!" ”

Everyone was startled, looked up, and it was Hu Jing, the head of the inspection department, who had arrived in person, and everyone hurriedly left their seats and knelt down in the hall to listen to the order.

Hu Jing stood up unhurriedly and said, "The emperor has an order: the three law divisions are responsible for adjudicating the case of Zhang Fangping's brothers' rebellion. The presumptuous person was handed over to the custody of the Inspection Department for a separate trial. Chin this. ”

Everyone was stunned for a while, Zuo Zhenkun hurriedly got up and asked Hu Jingdao: "Hu Zhangsi, Mao Xiang was implicated in the crime of the Five Dou Mi Sect, and now his case is separated from the Five Dou Mi Sect, what is his crime?" ”

As soon as Hu Jing signaled to the guards of the Flying Fish Department who came with him, the guards immediately stepped forward, opened the shackles of the criminal department on Mao Xiang's body, and put on the special torture tools made by the Inspection Department. Then he turned to Zuo Zhenkun and said, "Lord Zuo should know that the Inspection Department is handling the case under the emperor's order, and what should not be said will not be said." ”

Then Hu Jing said again: "Please continue the trial, I won't bother." After speaking, he took the risk and left.

The three officials of the Three Law Divisions looked at each other, and Shangshu of the Criminal Department spoke first: "Today was originally a special trial of the case of Mao Xiang, but now that Mao Xiang has been taken over by the Inspection Division, we don't need to try it, let's leave the court first." He waved his hand and asked the officials to take the Zhang brothers back to the prison.

Zuo Zhenkun's face was pale, and he stood motionless, and Dali Siqing shouted: "Lord Zuo, let's go." ”

Zuo Zhenkun said angrily: "The triage of the three law divisions, as the highest trial mechanism of the imperial court, the inspection department actually took away criminals from the lobby at will, I must go to the book to refer to it." ”

Dali Siqing and the Criminal Department Shangshu were taken aback, and Dali Siqing hurriedly said: "Lord Zuo said carefully, this is the emperor's will." ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "Then I also want to participate, what is the law and discipline in this way?" ”

Dali Siqing said: "There must be the emperor's consideration for this approach, Lord Zuo should be calm and calm first, and he can't be angry for a while." ”。

Shangshu of the Criminal Department also had to open his mouth to persuade: "The emperor originally ordered the three law divisions to be tried, and there must be hardships in suddenly changing his mind, and Lord Zuo can't make a mistake." ”

Zuo Zhenkun sneered: "The two adults don't want to go to school, and I go to school alone." After saying that, he stepped forward.