Suspect in Jinling

With a creak, the carved window was opened from inside the house——

The house in Huifu Lane is densely planted with flowers and trees. It was originally the coolest place on the whole street, but the owner returned home, and the heat still persisted during the day, so the room just opened the windows to ventilate it is inevitable that there will be hot flashes.

"sit."

Kuang Jian had no extra entertainment, and pointed to Zhu Shi's location casually.The first time he interrogated Zhu Shi was at Sha Xiangyue's place, but last time he borrowed it, this time it was the posture of the head of the family.

Sha Xiangyue stood by the window greedily, took out a white fan leisurely, and stared at Zhu Shi out of the corner of her eyes while fanning the wind. Kuang Jian first lit the lamp, then lit the insect repellent incense, and then opened the fan. Put the eight-treasure box on the box, and put the unfinished cakes in it in front of Zhu Shi.

"Haven't eaten anything, let's talk about it later."

The cicadas were singing loudly and chirping to disturb people's hearts. Zhu Shi had heard a word of concern all day long, and his eyes became hot, and he was so excited that he almost shed tears.

Sha Xiangyue stood by the window, but suddenly said: "Slow down."

Zhu Shin stopped holding the pastry hand——

Sha Xiangyue's long and narrow eyes were like sharp blades. Leaning on the window sill, her eyes dragged straight across Zhu Shi's face: "First ask, this is my residence, Zhu Shi, are you here to find Kuang Zhao?" Head, or came to find me?"

Zhu Shi nervously slipped his Adam's apple, looked at Sha Xiangyue with a little timidity, then looked at Kuang Jian, and immediately said in a firm tone: "I'm looking for Kuang Butou."

Immediately afterwards, as if he was afraid that killing Xiangyue would be kicked out immediately, he knelt down from the short pier without thinking, and begged Kuang Jian: "Captain Kuang, I have been waiting for you in the old Yujie, and I have been waiting for you all the time. I didn’t wait for you, so I came here to try my luck, Zigu said that you are her regular customer, and I beg you to help me out for so many years!” Then she turned around and said to Sha Xiangyue: “Kill Master, I know that I, Zhu Shi, have wronged you before. According to the rules over there, it is not too much for me to be Shen Tang, but I beg you to hold your hand high. When Shigu is rescued, you can punish me however you want, I... ..."

"okay!"

Sha Xiangyue interrupted him impatiently, walked from one side of the window to the other, stood behind Kuang Jian, and slapped him twice casually: "Sink you into the pond. I'm in prison, if you have something to say, don't howl!"

As he spoke, he glanced out of the window and fixed his eyes on the budding peony flowers in the flowerbed without interest.When outsiders came to visit, he was hot, and it was difficult to take off his clothes, and it was also difficult to wash. His arms were wrapped with the cuffs of the corset, and they were rolled up to the bottom of his arms. A cooling fan was in his hand, and he was beating quickly in the night.

Zhu Shi was embarrassed, and he also knew that his rash visit at this time was to disturb their rest. He originally intended to avoid these two forces, but he didn't expect to come here with a shy face when he had no choice. When he was about to make a long story short, Kuang Jian interrupted softly he.

"Don't rush to talk about other things, who is Shigu?"

Only then did Zhu Shi quickly say that it was the girl who sold wontons at the entrance of Kuang Jian's house, Guyu Street, the one with bad teeth and always pursed her lips.

Kuang Jian thought for a moment, then remembered: "What's wrong with her?"

Zhu Shi: "Someone reported Ciguli Tong Taiping Sect. When the stall was closed this morning, the town government secretary suddenly came, and he took him away without any explanation."

"What name?"

"The red lotus tattoo on Zigu's body."

Kuang Jian raised her head in surprise. In his impression, she was a reserved and shy girl who worked hard and did her duty.

"Why does she have that thing on her?"

Zhu Shi tightly frowned, and hurriedly said: "The tattoo is something she didn't understand when she was a child, and it has nothing to do with the Taiping Sect!"

The cicadas were chirping, and a moth followed the light, flickering in and out on the edge of the window sill——

Sha Xiangyue didn't look back, and raised his hand with a "snap", the moth dropped its wings and landed, then he snorted coolly, and said lightly: "Zhu Shi, you are dishonest."

Zhu Shi immediately showed a embarrassed expression, and looked at Kuang Jian as if he was ashamed to speak. It was related to the Taiping Sect. As long as Sha Xiangyue was around, any concealment would be exposed at a glance. There is some relationship, but it’s a very small thing... Zigu and I were neighbors when we were young, and we lived together in the west of the city. At that time, the adults were busy and we had no one to gather around. The incense altar of Taiping Sect offered to help take care of the children. Parents only need to offer a few incense sticks, and the children will have a place to go, otherwise they will fall into the ditch during the day and eat wild fruits poisoned to death, and the family will not know it. At that time, Tan Zhu will embroider red lotus flowers for us children I embroidered it, and I didn’t think there was anything wrong at the time, just like a little girl who is going to have her ears pierced when she is old... We are not religious, we don’t believe in their teachings, and we don’t believe in Buddha, so we think it’s a fake Where there are good deeds, altar wishes are not bad people, they will help buy a thin coffin for burial when they meet widowed and lonely people, if the people in the court said that the Taiping sect is rebellious, we have never known..."

"Needless to say so much." Kuang Jian raised his hand: "How did the tattoo of Shigu be discovered?"

Zhu Shi: "It was the sister-in-law next to her stall who reported it! It's been hot these days, and she tied her arms around the pot, revealing her tattoos, and those sister-in-laws sued her to the town's office!"

Kuang Jian let out a sigh of relief: "Jinling City has found out such a big movement these days from the Taiping Sect, and she doesn't have any precautions?"

Zhu Shi was panicked and couldn't help explaining: "She is a confused girl who can't read a few words. Besides, her mother has been in poor health. She only walks around the stalls and drugstores on weekdays. How can she know so much..."

"Then she didn't hear anything?" Sha Xiangyue couldn't help interrupting Zhu Shi.

The scorching heat was unbearable, and Zhu Shi's face was beaded with sweat, dripping unceasingly: "What...what is the wind?"

Kuang Jian waved his hand, telling him not to be so nervous: "Where does she live?"

Zhu Shi didn't understand what he meant, but he still hurriedly said, "Tayuan Lane in the city."

Sha Xiangyue leaned over, slapped Kuang Jian's back vigorously twice, and said in a tacit tone, "No wonder."

Kuang Jian felt the coolness and nodded slightly.

Zhu Shi didn't understand what they meant by "no wonder", so he just explained: "Zigu moved out many years ago, so it has nothing to do with those strongholds in the west of the city. After her father passed away, her mother was in poor health. , she is very filial, working day and night to save enough money to move."

"Well, I got it." Kuang Jian calmly brought the conversation to the key question: "Then after she was taken away, were her neighbors and mother called by Jin Yiwei for interrogation?"

Zhu Shi: "...No."

Kuang Jian: "So so far, the Zigu case is only the whistleblower pair?"

Zhu Shi's eyes changed, and he said with resentment: "Yes, it's them!"

It was almost noon when Zhu Shi got the news today. It was Cigu’s mother who found her and said that Cigu had never returned. Enjoying the cool air is talking sarcasticly, saying that the Taiping sect is a sect that wants to rebel. Zigu looks honest on weekdays, but he has a lot of money in his heart, and he shows the five taels of silver in his hand to the troublemakers. When he arrived at Zhu Shi, he still shouted at him from a distance: "Zhu Shi, you don't know that your little friend is from the Taiping sect, do you! You also said that you want to marry her, but you were deceived by her!"

The cicadas above the head made a deafening sound.

Zhu Shi didn't believe in evil, turned around and left, and went straight to the Chengdong Township Secretary angrily, thinking that he would make sure first, at least spend some money to see Shigu in the prison, otherwise how dare he go to fight with him? Shigu's mother replied.The town government office is obviously different from the past. It seems to be afraid of people making trouble. There are five steps and one post, each with a knife. Pedestrians will go around when they see it. He may not be accommodating to allow the meeting, he thinks he is a little clever, thinking that if he can't get in with good words, he will give it a try, but as soon as he approaches, everyone immediately stares at him, walks up the steps and just said something , the two Jinyi guards guarding the gate immediately interrupted him rudely, and carried him to the yard, one on the left and the other on the right. clothing.

Pedestrians on the street were full of people. Seeing such things, they stopped and looked into the yamen from a distance, thinking that the Taiping thief had been caught again. Zhu Shi felt angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to explode. All his clothes were removed. He was clever when he was a child, and he escaped when the teaching circle was embroidering children. He was not afraid of being investigated. Zhu Shi put on his clothes slowly to delay time, he wanted to visit the prison, just a quick glance, but before he finished speaking, how he was dragged in and how he was dragged out.

The heat outside was unbearable, passers-by looked at him curiously, their gazes were like needlepoints, he grabbed his clothes desperately, grabbed the brocade guard who had taken him out, and asked, "I can't even take a look at him! Death row prisoners are allowed to die if they commit a capital crime." People are visiting the prison, do you have the king's law!" The guard showed an undisguised sneer, and said contemptuously: "The Taiping believers are really rebellious, you are her family and not implicated is already a favor, what kind of king's law do you want! "Zhu Shi refused to give up, arguing with him that Shigu is not a Taiping believer, and loudly saying that they arrested people indiscriminately and listened to reports indiscriminately!"The guard couldn't help but raise his hand and slap him, the slap was heavy, Jin Yiwei was condescending again, Zhu Shi was beaten so sweetly, his eardrums buzzed, and in the chaos before him, he realized that he was grabbing the ground with both hands. He was knocked over by someone, but he refused to accept it, stood up staggeringly, walked back, still wanting to seek justice: "Why did you hit someone! Why did you hit someone!" That Jin Yiwei was just a small person watching the door, even Xiaowei Xiaoqi No, but he put his hips on his hips and said arrogantly: "Where did you come from, I beat you!"

At this moment, a pair of stiff and rough hands suddenly grabbed him, and stubbornly tugged at his arm: "Lengtousi, go! Go!"

Surrounded by passers-by watching the excitement, Qi Qi chattered without knowing what, Zhu Shi was dragged away by the owner of those big hands in a daze, he lowered his head, lifted his clothes and trousers, and patted his body numbly. sand and gravel.At that moment, when the sky was bright and the sun was shining, he thought that his life was inferior to grass, and inferior to ants.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the old man who rescued him dragged him to the back alley of Zhenfusi, under the shade of a secluded tree, there were quite a few people with pale faces and gloomy eyes standing. "Young students, don't be brave, they are officials, we are ordinary people, if they think about it, we will die." The old man pointed to him and whispered: "These are the family members of the arrested people, just like you. Zhu Shi asked in a daze, "What are you waiting for?" The old man replied, "Wait for the food delivery."

Zhu Shiben didn't know what to do, so he could only wait along with him. After a while, a delivery man clumsily moved out from the back corner door. He led the man to this secluded place under the shade of a tree, and then anxiously moved over with the banknote to ask about the recent situation of his relatives in the prison. Zhu Shi lined up in a line with a dazed expression. Didn't send a girl about 15 years old, so tall, wearing an apron, with some bad teeth, the man replied, yes, she is new, she was not involved in the interrogation, she was wearing flowers, and she was in the re-imprisonment , Zhu Shi hurriedly asked how the re-supervisor would be, and the man sighed:

"Strictly investigating now, it must be dealt with top-notch."

But what kind of top grade?The person who delivered the prison meal didn't say anything, and was dragged away immediately, and he came straight to Zhu Shi's heart, as if Zigu's death could not be changed, as if the next time we met, he could only come to claim the body.

"I should remind her. I always thought that no one would trouble her. I should have reminded her earlier..."

Zhu Shi tightly pursed his lips and covered his forehead with remorse. He had seen Zigu at this time yesterday, so he should have reminded her!

Kuang Jian looked at the person in front of him sympathetically, but still said to him frankly: "This matter is a bit difficult. You know that I am from Yingtian Mansion. But I can't interfere with things over there."

"But Cigu...Zigu is not from the Taiping Sect." Zhu Shi suppressed his voice and said with restraint: "Kuang Butou, you have seen Cigu, do you believe it? Cigu is not from the Taiping Sect. If someone who has done something bad says who is involved, it shouldn't be her."

The night was too hot, the cicadas were singing like thunder, sweat slipped into Zhu Shi's eyes, Zhu Shi wanted to reach out to wipe the sweat, but a burst of unbearable heaviness suddenly pressed against him, and when he raised his eyes again, tears filled his eyes, "I also know This matter is difficult. People like me dare not come to you if there are other ways. I know that you are capable... You can't accept your fate. I said that I will marry her next year. I can't let her Accept your fate!"

Cicadas buzzed overhead, and Kuang Jian and Sha Xiangyue fell silent for a while.

"Get up now, even if Wen Zhan is not here for two days, I will go and ask about the situation, and I will contact you when I have news."

Kuang Jian inquired about Zigu's real name and address in detail, and finally said something briefly, and stood up neatly, which meant to see off the guests. Zhu Shi looked at the two people in the room anxiously, and wanted to say something more, but was afraid that it would backfire. Being disgusted, I could only wipe away my tears, bowed deeply, and tiptoed away.

Sha Xiangyue looked at Zhu Shi's back thoughtfully, and waited for Kuang Jian to send the people out, then turned around and blew out the candlesticks. There were too many flowers and plants in his house, he couldn't keep cats, and there were many mosquitoes and insects when he lit the lamp at night, and he didn't have a little raccoon slave to help Except, Kuang Jian walked into the room in the dark, walked up to him, stroked his slender arm, skillfully untied the sleeves on his arm, and sighed: "Go wash up."

It's May Day, and the whole Jinling is restless with the heavens.The secretary of the town government is very popular, arresting and interrogating people all day long, people are constantly reporting and receiving rewards, one implicates five, and five implicates fifty, everyone is waiting for a big fish to fall, and it is full of enthusiasm. Looking east of the city——

In contrast, the same job in Ying Tian Mansion was neglected a lot. It was said that when the town government secretary was busy arresting people, Ying Tian Mansion was busy repairing the yamen for pleasure, and it was rare for the fourth master to scold the manor with a straight face. Everyone, don't talk about anything about the Taiping Sect. When I was alone in the room, my mind changed, and I thought of Yu Sinian's death, and my brows were always wrinkled as if they couldn't open it.

After the renovation of the value room was completed, a row of inconspicuous small skylights were opened on the top of the wall along the street in the value room. During the day, a beam of light was slanted into the house. I could hear the noise from the yamen, suddenly there was a squeak, the door opened, and a noise came in, and then it closed, and it was Kuang Jian who walked in quickly.

"Where did you go early in the morning?" Fourth Master looked up, "I'm already down from the main hall, and you haven't handed over yesterday's itinerary to me."

"It's on the table." Kuang Jian put a roll of official documents under his ribs, and handed yesterday's itinerary to the fourth master in three steps at a time. After a lot of things, he said that Yu Sinian's death had nothing to do with the Taiping Sect... But you didn't go anywhere last night."

Kuang Jian didn't answer the question, but just pulled out a roll of paper from under his arm: "Lord Zuo, help me to sign."

The fourth master took over: "Identification and preservation of oral evidence? What case?"

Fourth Master rubbed the pen while sweeping down.Ying Tianfu's case files, material evidence, confession management, handover, appraisal, and preservation must be signed by officials of rank four or above to be counted. The fourth master routinely inquired about the situation, and he was a little confused when he saw the expression behind him: "Yuan Shigeru? Who is this? What crime did you commit?"

"She was arrested by the town government secretary and identified as the Taiping Sect."

Fourth Master raised his head alertly: "Is there a red lotus tattoo?"

Kuang Jian said calmly, "Yes."

With a "knock", Fourth Master put down the pen he was holding, looked up at Kuang Jian, and asked calmly, "Are you crazy? Who is this, you want to intervene."

"It's not someone." Kuang Jian explained: "She just has nothing to do with the Taiping Sect. She was accused innocently and suffered a disaster. I want to rescue her."

Fourth master twitched the corner of his mouth, and brought the confession to himself: "I won't sign it, and you don't care about this case either."

"Why?" Kuang Jian was puzzled: "A few days ago, the farmer surnamed Jin had tattoos that had nothing to do with the Taiping Sect. Didn't the fourth master also help you?"

"That's different!"

Fourth Master's face suddenly darkened: "That's in our own house in Ying Tianfu, you are a case of Ying Tianfu!"

Kuang Jian: "Using tattoos to identify traitors is an absurd order. It's just to save an innocent person. It's not that complicated."

Si Ye: "What do you mean it's not that complicated? What's the situation now? The town government secretary is crazy, and there is no sign of stopping it. The Gongmen will take a detour when they see the Taiping Sect. You don't want to hide. You go against the wind." superior?"

At this time, there happened to be someone knocking on the door outside, and before he could tell the reason, Fourth Master yelled outside: "Wait!"

He is a few years older than Kuang Jian, and he knows when to do and when not to do. The situation this year is just like the situation 11 years ago. The higher-level people may have come to an end. If they act rashly, they will only Was slapped to death in the waves!

He glared at Kuang Jian, fearing that people would hear him, and lowered his voice viciously: "I know you have sympathy for some Taiping Sect members, and I do too, otherwise I would not let Liulier let her go, nor would I warn Jin Chizi in advance , but these are not things that can be put on the table! Right now, Sha Xiangyue, the biggest thunder, is buried next to you. , you are setting yourself on fire!"

The fourth master is old and sophisticated, and he is rarely so excited. Kuang Jian looked at him with a complex expression, and knew that what the fourth master said was for his own sake, but after thinking about it, he tried his best to tactfully say: "Fourth master, you I know what I said, but Zigu is not some great personage, she is just a commoner involved in it for no reason, as long as she is clean, she will not be involved so far--there is no problem in the procedure of this confession , as long as you sign, I will find a way to bring the case to the Tribunal for trial, and after review and confirmation, the person will be released."

Fourth Master looked at him calmly, and suddenly said: "This person...couldn't be Sha Xiangyue who asked you to save him?"

Kuang Jian's eyes flickered immediately.

Cicadas were singing like boiling, people were noisy, he stood up straight and straightened his shoulders, "I saved her not because of anyone, but because she has nothing to do with the Taiping Sect, she is a hard-working little commoner."

"Little people..."

The fourth master smiled, holding the statement with his fingers, and shaking it slightly, "If she is not a commoner, I will still consider it, but because she is, I will stop you! The case has been brought to the third judicial department, you have to go Guarding the yamen to intercede, even if you can win the first trial, the three courts are afraid of Jinyiwei and may not give you a light sentence! If you want to find an official who dares to speak out, he must also happen to try this case! You use so much of your own manpower and material resources. Such a big risk, such a pass for a small commoner, tell me, is it worth it?"

There is a lot of noise outside, mixed with the sound of cicadas.Kuang Jian stood in front of the fourth master's desk, suddenly fell silent, looked at his immediate superior seriously, and asked hoarsely, "Fourth master, who are we?"

Fourth Master didn't answer, and stared at him with his brows pressed down.

Kuang Jian just twitched the corners of her lips, and finished the sentence calmly, "We are the ones who adjudicate cases and end prisons, and protect the environment and the people. We see unjust cases happening, and we can save them, but we stand by and do nothing—human life is at stake. If you want me to say no does it worth?"