Records of the King of Xin'an County

But when Li Hui and Li Jing were at a disadvantage, someone suddenly spoke up and defended Wang Zixian and the two of them.For a moment, the oppressive atmosphere in the lobby was cleared up.And the expressions of the two supervisory censors, who were feeling triumphant, couldn't help but change, and the eyes of the examiner Uiro, who was looking bitter, also darkened.Everyone followed the prestige, and saw Guozijian walking slowly, stroking their beards with offering wine, with a smile on their brows and eyes, showing a leisurely and at ease attitude.

"Heh, everyone is turning right and wrong in the courtroom, and the more you talk about it, the more proud you are." This old man, who is already at the age of hearing wine, has silver hair and beard, but is extraordinarily energetic.He looked like many ordinary civil servants from aristocratic families, elegant and gentle, with a smile on his face, but his eyes had a unique sharpness, and his words were not polite.

Although Guozijian Jijiu is a high-ranking official serving Zi from the third rank, and his rank is comparable to that of Jiuqing, he almost never speaks out when discussing affairs in the court.On weekdays in the Guozijian, he is also very low-key, he has never been widely invited, and he has never caused any troubles.Therefore, almost no one knew that he had such a temper.

"Hehe, Zhang Yuanwailang, you and I are old acquaintances. When the old man went to see you in person and recommended the prince to present, what did he say to you? Could it be that you want to take advantage of the old man's absence and take advantage of the old man's compliments? To the two great kings? Or, you just misremembered? It is clear that the person who met you was the old man, not the two county kings; the person who praised the prince must be the old man, not the two King of the county." Jijiu raised his eyebrows, his words were full of sarcasm.

"Besides, this old man has never forced you to nominate someone as the first-ranked head. He just praised and praised. I can't find any other words. Could it be that you think this is the old man's threat? Tsk, the old man has a good memory , I didn’t expect that your memory is getting worse day by day. This tester, Wailang, even with your qualifications, he can’t do it.”

Even though there was a mocking look in his expression, the Guozijian Jijiu also had a calm expression on his face, like a gentleman who was teaching his disciples, and one couldn't help being respectful.Li Hui suddenly felt that this unobtrusive old man was indeed both interesting and respectable—perhaps he was a typical figure who lived in seclusion in court.

After Zhang Yuanwailang heard this, he barely maintained his composure, and still insisted: "Liu Gong did recommend the prince to a certain person, and also praised his talent, learning and character. But the king of Xin'an County and the king of Tianshui County forced a certain prince to sacrifice It is also a fact that it is the top of the first rank. Everything that a certain person said is true, and there is no deceit."

After listening to what Liu Jijiu said, Li Jing's mood has eased a little.However, seeing that Yuanwailang still refused to repent, his anger flared up again: "It's a good 'everything is true', then you can swear to God, if this matter is even a little false, you will be punished in the future." The suffering of random arrows piercing the heart! Falling into the endless hell?!"

"...so...so..." This oath was too vicious, and after hesitating for a moment, Zhang Yuanwailang seemed to recall something, and showed a resolute look——

However, Li Hui noticed the change in his expression, and interrupted him lightly: "In the sky, it is natural to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Even if you don't swear, there will be retribution in the future. However, things in the world, Someone needs to judge first." After finishing speaking, he glanced at Sansi: "Since Zhang Yuanwailang kept saying that our two cousins ​​met you in private——then I would like to ask, do you see? When and where is our time? Who will bear witness besides you?"

The head of the third department expressed silence on his anti-customer behavior.The two kings of the county are smart young men with quick reactions, and it is more conducive for them to objectively judge right and wrong by refuting them back and forth.

Zhang Yuanwailang obviously thought of a countermeasure long ago, and returned quickly: "Fifteen days ago, when X left the yamen and returned home, the two county kings sent people to call X to a certain courtyard. Then The Bieyuan is in the Xuanzheng Square, so it must be either the property of Prince Pu's Mansion or the property of the Yue Palace. The witnesses are naturally the servants of Bieyuan."

"Oh, is that so? Fifteen days ago, that was the ninth day of November?" Li Hui didn't continue to ask, but his heart moved slightly: This person dares to say that the other courtyard belongs to Prince Pu's Mansion or Prince Yue's Mansion. Industry must have its basis.And he knows all the other courtyards of Prince Pu's Mansion, and none of them are located in Xuanzhengfang——As for Prince Yue's Mansion, Li Jing must have never even cared about how many servants there are in his own mansion, and naturally he doesn't know the details of the other courtyards. up.

The other party dared to disclose such a clear location, not to mention that the servants could testify from the side, presumably the other courtyard of the Yue Palace should have been bought by Princess Anxing long ago.If the Third Division sends someone to investigate, maybe something important will be found out!At this moment, the Third Division must not be allowed to notice the location of the other courtyard, but the topic should be changed as soon as possible.

His thoughts turned sharply, and his complicated thoughts were flying, but there was a little inspiration, which suddenly lit up.Therefore, he sneered, and without waiting for Zhang Yuanwailang and the chief officer of the third department to mention the other courtyard again, he said, "Perhaps you sent someone to follow Jing Xing and knew that he didn't go out for at least half a day that day. ? That's why you deliberately picked this seemingly ordinary day?"

Li Jing was stunned, with a look of disbelief on his face: "It's nothing more than an unruly villain like him, how does my cousin know..."

"Because you play golf all day long, and I stay behind closed doors almost every day, it is actually not easy to fabricate evidence that you and I are together. I am afraid that in a month, you can only choose one or two days. However, it is very uncomfortable. Coincidentally, after the tenth day of November, we are all supervising the case of rumors, and there are many people who testify to our daily whereabouts. It is absolutely impossible to meet him in private. Therefore, he can only choose forward." Li Hui returned. He said, "Even if you and I didn't meet and just stayed at home, they still have the ability to spread rumors about our secret meeting. If we insist that the servants in the mansion can testify for us, I'm afraid they will also argue that the testimony is not credible."

"Why can't it be trusted? Why can't it be trusted?" Li Jing also understood his intentions and pretended to be puzzled, "Could it be that only his testimony can be considered as evidence, while the testimony of others is nothing?! Hmph, no matter how overbearing, there is no such reason in the whole world."

The supervisory censor saw that Zhang Yuanwailang was pressed by their two cousins, and immediately spoke out to protect each other: "The people in the residence of Prince Pu and Prince Yue are servants of the two great kings, so naturally they are only ordered by the king. Yes, listen. The king said that he did not leave the palace that day, so they can only say that the king did not leave the palace, and no one dares to tell the truth."

Li Hui smiled but said: "You mean, even a servant who knows nothing about our involvement in the case will lie about our whereabouts for no reason? We have been locked up in Dali Temple all day, I'm afraid Are the Pu Palace and the Yue Palace still ignorant of our situation? That being the case, their words are naturally credible."

The supervisory censor continued to quibble: "As for the fraud in the tribute examination, the two great kings naturally had an excuse for their whereabouts on that day, and they concealed it properly."

"Heh, if the servants of Prince Pu's and Yue's houses are not trustworthy, whose testimony can be trusted?" Li Hui raised his eyebrows, "Do you think that since I didn't show up on that day, I'm going to stay behind closed doors all day? In the palace, I never went to any prominent place, so I must be staying in the mansion, so no outsider can testify for me?"

Everyone who heard them circling for so long was all startled—the implication was that the county king just went out quietly that day?Someone high enough to testify for him?

And Zhang Yuanwailang hastily added: "No matter where the king has been that day, he will have time to rush to Xuanzhengfang. After all, Yankangfang is not far from Xuanzhengfang..."

"So, let me ask you, you said we met you, when and when? When did you leave Shangshu Shenggong? When did you come to that other courtyard? What was it when you left the other courtyard? Time?" Li Hui interrupted him again, his expression becoming calmer.

Infected by his expression, Li Jing immediately felt a lot more excited, and couldn't help but sneer: "Zhang Yuanwailang must think carefully. Don't make up nonsense for an hour, thinking that you can frame us. Anyway, it's time now." When you go down to the Yamen, a group of us will walk through it in person to test whether it is true or false, so as to see whether you are telling the truth or lying."

Zhang Yuanwailang stared at them, and after hesitating for a long time, he said, "It's the beginning of Youshi when you go down to the Yamen, and it's the middle of Youshi when you arrive at the other courtyard, and it's already in the middle of Xushi when you leave." Then, he said very firmly, "That day , When X returned home, it was already the moment when the door of the workshop was about to close, and all family members can testify for X."

"Since our family cannot testify for us, how can your family's testimony be trusted?" Li Jing snorted, "I was in the mansion that afternoon and evening, and I was ordered by my mother to play with my nephew. Auntie, sister-in-law, and nephew can all testify for me—of course, you may find the testimony unreliable. Cousin, where are you?"

Li Hui smiled softly: "I was suddenly grateful for my grandparents that day, so I took a bus to Daci'en Temple. After paying homage to the two elders, I played chess with Master Xuanhui. I didn't return to Pu until the gate was closed. The palace. Master Xuanhui of the Great Mercy Temple, the novice who served the master, and the pilgrims who happened to meet can all testify for me."

Da Ci'en Temple is a temple donated and built to enshrine Queen Qin when the sage was still the prince.When the temple was built, the first emperor had passed away, so halls were built for the first emperor in the temple, and the rituals were enshrined all the year round.Master Xuanhui was the first abbot of Daci'en Temple, and he has translated countless Buddhist scriptures. He is not only the highest-ranking famous monk today, but also deeply trusted by the late emperors and saints.

This Master Xuanhui can testify, so it is naturally impossible to lie——

For a moment, everyone was speechless.