Madam, protect me!

Han's home is not close to the county government office, so the time taken by car and walking is naturally different.

It was a long time after Li Nuo returned to the county government office before Wang Xianwei arrived with a group of witnesses.

Because there was no doubt about the case, County Magistrate Pei only asked the neighbors of the deceased some routine questions, and after completing the procedures, he let them go.

The household office of the county government office was actually quite busy today, and many people were queuing outside.

Under the instruction of County Magistrate Pei, the officials of the household office gave priority to completing the cancellation of Han Zhuo's account.

When Han Zhuo finished all his work, a carriage was already waiting outside the county government office.

Li Nuo sent him to the carriage and said again: "My condolences..."

Han Zhuo looked sad, clasped his fists to him, and moved his lips, but there was no sound.

It seemed that he was too sad to speak.

Not long after, the carriage started and slowly drove away from the county government office.

Han Zhuo sat in the carriage, not knowing whether it was an illusion, but felt that the road from the county government office to his home was particularly long.

It was so long that it didn't seem much faster than if he walked back.

Maybe it was because his mind was so confused that even time seemed to be long.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally stopped at the door of his house.

"Azhuo, you have to mourn."

"Your mother is doing this for your own good."

"After returning to the academy, you have to study hard so that you can live up to all your mother has done for you..."

"We will help you with Aunt Zhang's funeral..."

...

Han Zhuo got off the carriage, and the neighbors comforted him again.

After a while, Han Zhuo returned to the yard, closed the gate, leaned against it, and breathed a long sigh of relief.

After an unknown amount of time, he took another step, crossed the courtyard, and came to the main room.

During the time he was at the county government office, the neighbors had already helped him set up the mourning hall.

The coffin had not been bought yet, and there was only a simple wooden bed in front of the mourning hall.

His mother's body was lying on the wooden bed, covered with a white cloth.

He knelt on a cushion in front of the mourning hall, looking at his mother's body under the white cloth, with a complicated expression on his face.

There was sadness, pain, guilt, and a hint of deep relief and relief.

He couldn't be where he is today without his mother.

His mother gave birth to him and raised him, and she was reluctant to eat and wear. She lived frugally all her life and worked hard to support him to study, so that he, Han Zhuo, could be where he is today.

If it weren't for his mother's efforts over the years, he wouldn't be able to enter Qingfeng Academy as an exception.

He also wanted to enjoy the good life with his mother after he became successful.

But... Qianqian didn't want to.

She was a noble daughter, and she didn't want to pay respects to a lowly person every day. The only condition for agreeing to marry him was that she couldn't live with her mother.

If the two got married, Huaiyang Marquis's Mansion would give him a house.

The house was very large and located in the prosperous area of ​​Chang'an. It was a mansion that he couldn't afford in his ten lifetimes.

Not only that, they would also invite the best riding and shooting masters and the best musicians for him to give him the best teachings in the next six months to help him make further progress in the imperial examinations in the near future.

He was poor since childhood, and his academic and ritual subjects were okay, which he could make up for with his own efforts.

But riding and shooting and music were not something that poor students could learn. They were his biggest weaknesses, far inferior to those students from wealthy families.

If he could receive better teaching, he would definitely get a higher ranking in the imperial examination.

And getting a higher ranking in the imperial examination means a higher starting point in the officialdom. Even if it is only half a level difference, it can save him several years of hard work.

What's more, once he climbs up to the Huaiyang Marquis Mansion, even if he starts as a small ninth-rank county lieutenant, he will be able to rise to the top in the future and quickly climb to a position that others cannot climb in their lifetime.

On the contrary, if there is no help from a noble person, he may waste his life in the ninth-rank position.

This is an opportunity, an opportunity for him to rise to prominence and make the Han family's ancestral tomb smoke.

If he doesn't seize such an opportunity tightly, there will be no second time in his life.

The academy gathers elite students from all over the world. If Han Zhuo is not there, there will be Zhang Zhuo and Li Zhuo, and someone will replace him at any time.

But Han Zhuo can't abandon his mother on the surface. If he really does this, the people will not tolerate him, the law will not tolerate him, and the court will not tolerate him.

For his future and for the future of the Han family, he can only sacrifice his mother.

This is the best solution, which can satisfy Qianqian and will not damage his reputation.

When he told his mother about this idea, although his mother did not sleep all night, she still agreed to him at dawn.

She would take the initiative to end her life on the grounds that she was seriously ill and did not want to drag herself down.

In this way, Han Zhuo himself would not be involved, and Qianqian would also be satisfied with the Huaiyang Marquis Mansion.

Sure enough, this plan was flawless and easily deceived the people of Chang'an County Government and the Ministry of Justice.

It can't be called a lie. His mother is already dead. If he doesn't say it, no one will know the inside story. He didn't even tell Qianqian.

He will bury this matter in his heart and take it into the coffin.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

It's finally over...

Just then, he heard a strange sound in his ears, and Han Zhuo turned around.

The door that was originally open suddenly closed by itself, which scared Han Zhuo.

The next moment, there was a movement behind him. Han Zhuo turned around again and saw that the body of his mother covered with white cloth on the simple wooden bed suddenly sat up, slowly turned her head, and stared at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Ah!"

Han Zhuo was so frightened by this sudden scene that he rolled and crawled to the door.

He wanted to open the door and escape, but the door seemed to be nailed shut. Even if he tried his best, he could not open a crack.

Inside the mourning hall, a burst of white mist appeared at some point, with a hint of cold air, making Han Zhuo couldn't help but shiver.

He looked at the simple wooden bed, with only a piece of white cloth left on the bed. He suddenly turned around, only to find his deceased mother floating three feet beside him out of thin air, with his eyes turned up, his face turned blue, and his tongue exposed. A purple mark on the neck is particularly clear...

"You unfilial son..."

A hollow and ethereal old voice, as if coming from Jiuyou, made Han Zhuo's body tremble uncontrollably.

Matricide was a capital crime. He had been frightened for the past few days and had nightmares almost every night.

This scene completely defeated his already weak psychological defense.

He knelt down on the ground, kowtowed and cried: "Mom, you can't blame me, I am doing this all for the Han family. If you don't die, Qianqian will not marry me. When will our Han family become a wealthy family...

Besides, you are the one who is willing to fulfill my wish, so rest in peace. I will burn a lot of things for you every year! "

"You fucking beast!"

The old voice suddenly became young. Before Han Zhuo could react, there was a sharp pain in his chest.

He flew out of the main room, smashed the door directly, and flew into the yard. He landed heavily, clutching his chest, and blood oozed from the corners of his mouth...

Li Nuo, who was hiding behind the mourning hall, was startled by the suddenly furious Li Anning.

He ran to the yard and found that Han Zhuo had fainted and there was a large area of ​​vomited blood around him.

This kick is not heavy.

Compared with the princess, Li Nuo suddenly felt that the lady was still very gentle.

call out!

A sharp voice came from behind. Li Nuo looked back and found that Lieutenant Wang's saber had been pulled out by Li Anning.

Seeing her approaching fiercely, as if she wanted to chop Han Zhuo to death, Li Nuo quickly held her arm and advised: "Miss Li, don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive..."

Although this guy is indeed a heinous beast, he has not yet been tried. If he dies like this, his work today may be in vain.

Li Anning finally calmed down and threw the long knife in his hand to the ground. His expression was still very angry, and he cursed angrily: "Beast, this beast..."

Han Zhuo is indeed a beast. Calling him a beast is even insulting.

The crow feeds back, the lamb kneels to breastfeed, all animals understand this, but some people don't.

"In order to clear his suspicion, his mother committed suicide seven days after he left home. Who can imagine how she spent these seven days? Before she committed suicide, she made an excuse, bought medicine, and told the neighbors. Just to prevent us from doubting him - she was trying to exonerate him until her death, this beast, how could this beast bear it!"

Li Anning got angrier and angrier as she spoke, and her body kept shaking. Li Nuo was really afraid that she would be mad. He patted her on the back and said, "Don't be mad, don't be mad. I'm mad because of this beast." The body is not worth it…”

…

When he sent Han Zhuo back just now, Li Nuo made some arrangements in advance.

He deliberately asked Han Zhuo's driver to slow down and take a long detour so that they could arrive first and make some arrangements in advance.

In fact, there is nothing to arrange. Butler Wu is at the fourth level of martial arts. It is extremely simple to use Qi to control the opening and closing of the door and control the body to make some simple movements.

As for the smoke, it was just a few pieces of dry ice.

Li Nuo and Li Anning designed a lot of plots. They thought it would take more effort. Unexpectedly, because Han Zhuo had something in his heart, most of the methods they prepared had not yet been used. He just said it like a bamboo tube. The truth...

The two chief officials of Chang'an County Government are here, and Her Royal Highness the Princess is also here. Several people have seen and heard it with their own eyes, so no other evidence is needed to convict him.

A moment later, Han Zhuo, who fainted, was dragged away by two government officials.

Pei Zhe took a deep look at Li Nuo and said from the bottom of his heart: "You are truly worthy of being a young master. You can tell at a glance that there is something wrong with this person..."

Li Anning also calmed down a little at this time, looked at Li Nuo, and asked in disbelief: "Did you really see those things in his eyes, and then guess that he instigated his mother's death?"

She has practiced law for so many years and solved countless cases with her own hands, but she has never developed this skill.

Not to mention him, not even the Vice Minister or the Minister could do it.

She was really curious about how he did it.

Before Li Nuo said anything, Pei Zhe said: "What does this mean? There were more than two hundred suspects in the last murder case. The young master did not go to the scene of the murder, did not understand the case, and did not even interrogate the prisoner. With just one pair of eyes, I found the murderer among more than two hundred people, and where did I go..."

Li Anning was even more shocked and blurted out: "Are you telling the truth?"

Pei Zhe waved his sleeves: "What is my identity? Can I still lie to you?"

After saying that, he said to her in a warning tone: "The little girl is not old and has a bad temper. She is an official. It is best to change her bad temper. If the prisoner is beaten to death, you will not be able to get away with it." , It’s a small matter if you lose your errand, but it’s a big deal if you lose your life...”

Li Anning didn't say anything, walked out of the courtyard and got into a carriage parked at the entrance of the courtyard.

Although the county magistrate's words were not polite, he also had good intentions, so she didn't care about him.

Pei Zhe looked at Li Nuo and asked casually: "Is this person an agent from the Criminal Department? There are also female agents in the Criminal Department?"

Li Nuo nodded: "Absolutely."

Pei Zhe was stunned: "It's almost the same. It's not a fast arrest, but a head arrest?"

Women in Daxia were not allowed to serve as officials, but there were no restrictions on being a police officer, and he did not think any higher.

Li Nuo said: "Her name is Li Anning. She is the youngest princess in the royal family. She is practicing in the Ministry of Punishment. You have just arrived in Chang'an not long ago, so it is normal that you don't know her."

County Lieutenant Wang was walking in front. He didn't hear Magistrate Pei's voice for a long time. When he looked back, he saw him sitting on the ground. He immediately walked over quickly, helped him up, and said with concern: "Master Pei, Master Pei, what are you doing?" Already..."

…

Han Zhuo woke up after being taken to the county government office, but since he woke up, he has been silent and refused to say another word.

However, it was the same whether he said it or not.

The Chang'an County Magistrate, County Lieutenant, and Princess An Ning were all present, so they would not collude to frame an academy student who had nothing to do with them.

In the eyes of the people and dignitaries of Daxia, this was something that only the traitor Li Xuanjing could do.

In particular, Princess An Ning is still a strong person in the fourth realm of Legalism. She is a majestic princess of the same country and has no enmity or enmity with her. There is no need to do anything that harms her own practice just to wrong him.

Han Zhuo indirectly killed his mother, was treasonous and unforgivable, and should be hanged according to the law.

Anyone who instigates Mother Han to commit suicide will not be punished so severely.

Only Han Zhuo, as her son, committed such a serious crime against human ethics, which was not allowed by heaven. His death was not enough to make people angry, and his death was not enough to rectify the law.

Even if the world is amnesty, he will not have a share.

After Pei Zhe finished writing Han Zhuo's verdict, Li Nuo's lifespan was increased by ten days on top of the code.

Although Han Zhuo is a disciple of Confucianism, he has not cultivated the awe-inspiring spirit and can only be regarded as an ordinary person. Li Nuo's life span has not doubled.

It’s strange that this kind of beast who kills his mother for glory can cultivate the aura of awe-inspiring people.

Confucianism and Legalism are similar in some places, but also different in other places.

Confucians want to become officials, and Legalists also want to become officials. Legalists can improve their cultivation by solving cases, while Confucians can cultivate themselves and govern the country, resolve cases and redress injustices, and seek welfare for the people, which can also increase their cultivation.

A mean person with a despicable personality can successfully reach a high level of Legalism as long as he can always judge the right cases. Judging cases is just a process of cultivation.

But if there is a ghost in the heart, even if it takes a lifetime to resolve the case, it is impossible to cultivate even a trace of awe-inspiring aura.

The great righteousness of Confucianism is the best business card of Confucian people.

Those who cannot cultivate awe-inspiring righteousness may not necessarily be treacherous ministers. They may just not be that great and care about their own family but not the world.

But those who cultivate awe-inspiring righteousness must be ministers of great kindness with the world in mind.

For an official with awe-inspiring righteousness, even if he does something wrong, others will only doubt his ability and not his motives, otherwise he will not be able to cultivate awe-inspiring aura.

Compared with officials, in fact, more students in the academy have cultivated the aura of awe-inspiring people.

But whether you cultivate or not, whether you cultivate your awe-inspiring spirit or not, has nothing to do with your performance.

He is proficient in all six arts, but he is arrogant and has no righteousness.

Although his grades are poor, he has a heart for the world and may not be without great righteousness.

Han Zhuo obviously belongs to the former.

Magistrate Pei let out a long sigh and said: "His mother did so much for him just to clear his suspicions, but in the end he still ended up like this. It's sad, sad..."

He bowed to Li Anning and said, "Your Highness, Qingfeng Academy, we need to ask the Ministry of Punishment to go and explain the reason. Otherwise, if there is trouble in the academy, I will not be able to afford the punishment..."

The academy has a very special status in Chang'an. Although there are students and teachers with no official positions or positions, even the important officials in the court are unwilling to offend them.

Those young people, who are not afraid of tigers when they are born, have clear ideas but are stupid. When they are dissatisfied, they will go to the streets of Chang'an to parade, and they don't want to block the door of any yamen.

When the matter got serious, it was officials like them who were finally dealt with by the court.

The case was over. Li Nuo greeted Magistrate Pei and prepared to go home.

As soon as he walked out of the county government office, a figure followed him. Li Anning walked in front of him and asked curiously: "How did you see that there was something wrong in his mind? Please teach me..."

Li Nuo shook his head and said: "This, if you know it, you know it, if you don't know it, you don't know it... There's really no way to teach it."

Li Anning glanced at him and said displeased: "How stingy."

Li Nuo got on the carriage and said to her: "Your Highness, see you again when we are destined."

Li Anning was not surprised that Li Nuo knew her identity.

He is Li Xuanjing's son, and it is easy to find out her identity.

Although she wanted to know how he could identify the prisoner at a glance, she couldn't use any special means because of his special status.

She had grown up listening to Li Xuanjing's deeds, and even she was a little afraid of that person.

Watching the carriage go away, she turned back to the county government office again.

Pei Zhe was about to see if Her Highness the Princess had left, when he saw her leaving and returning. He was so frightened that he immediately bowed and said, "I don't know who Your Highness is, and I have offended Your Highness. Please forgive me... "

Li Anning waved her hand, not caring about this matter, and said: "You arrange a few people to take that beast to the Ministry of Justice. This case will be tried by the Ministry of Justice!"

The Ministry of Justice has this power, and Pei Zhe immediately complied with her request.

After a while, he watched the group go away, and then he leaned on the stone lion at the gate of the county government and let out a long breath.

Chang'an is really different from other places. In the past, he was a small seventh-rank county magistrate, and he could decide the big and small matters of a county. Now that his official position has been promoted to the fifth rank, he is often ordered around by people without official positions.

In this world, it is really better to be born well than to be good at the exam...