The first work of the imperial prison

With a sound of 'pop', a flower burst out from the candle, and the candle flame swayed with the wind, like a cold string touching people's hearts.

Wan Chengyun didn't speak, but it could be seen that his expression was not as calm as before.He was hesitating, maybe struggling, whether to say it, how much to say, whether there was any way out after that, and where was the way out...

Ye Baiting took out the evidence provided by the Qian family: "Zhao Xingde's family suddenly issued more bank notes and land deeds, the ancient books collected for his son, Zhao Xingde's private affair with Jiang Yiqing, Meng Nanxing, and Lin Bin a few years ago, the time and place, Witness witness, the head of the house who had fun at the beginning is exactly your name, Wan Chengyun..."

One after another, he took out a thick stack.

"You still have to argue that you didn't promote Zhao Xingde's 'Blessing of All People', you didn't teach him various types of 'using public for personal gain', and you didn't threaten him with this to force him to commit suicide? But if you do something, you must leave traces. Master Wan, paper cannot contain fire."

Wan Chengyun narrowed his eyes: "Hearing your tone, it seems that you have doubted me a long time ago. Why must it be me and not someone else? As the secretary of the household department, I have a high position and authority, so I can't let the people below see the clues. Solve my worries and problems for this official? You know, they are all very good."

Immediately, someone's expression changed.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yiqing stood up with a pale face: "I..."

"Don't act like this here," Ye Baiting sneered, "If one more person stands up, it's just a blame. Is it true that Beizhen Fusi can't find out? But don't bother the commander to check it out. I will tell you why!"

He took a step forward and stared straight into Wan Chengyun's eyes: "The aptitude is not outstanding, and his background and vision are limited. Zhao Xingde has ambitions, but his ambitions are also limited. He is not as 'foresighted' as Mr. Wan, and he doesn't think he can control it." Even if Guan Xiuzhu's death is necessary, he will most likely adopt the method of persuading Guan Xiuzhu to kill himself first, promising benefits and harms, but to no avail, and then find someone else to do it instead of doing it himself. He is just greedy for money, She is lustful and has a great desire for official career, so there is no need to kill people with her own hands. The same is true for Meng Nanxing. If Zhao Xingde didn't know that you were the one who killed Guan Xiuzhu, and he didn't know the whole plan of Qixi Night, he wouldn't think that Meng Nanxing was harmful to you. Necessary killing intent, if you know that it is you who killed Guan Xiuzhu, Meng Nanxing will report to you first if he really wants to, and ask you for instructions, or if you know first, he will definitely be arranged. He is not so sensitive and delicate. If you haven’t received an order, everything is going well...why do you want to do it?”

"Li Guangji doesn't even have the guts. The official work on the case will almost bury him. What he has done so hard by himself will turn out to be someone else's credit. He doesn't dare to say a word. What's more, he still likes Meng Nanxing? He seems to be working hard and has been entrusted with important tasks, but in fact he was excluded from the scope of power early on, and he doesn't know all the secrets, whether Guan Xiuzhu is going to die, why he is going to die, how he is going to die, what role does Meng Nanxing play here... He doesn't know all of it. What he knows is probably only his own love, and the "loss" of Ku Yin's in and out. It's lackluster."

"Jiang Yiqing sees it more openly. He understands your eyes and is willing to commit himself to you. Using the 'hidden rules' you hinted at, he is also protecting this 'hidden rules', because only the existence of these rules can help He goes farther, gets promoted faster, and lives more comfortably. Even when he is tired of you, he is wary of other colleagues who use this method to rise to the top. Meng Nanxing is like this, and so is Guan Xiuzhu. They are all competitions. The target is someone he doesn't like, but he doesn't have to kill people. He just buys power in Israel, in exchange for a good life and promotion opportunities, as well as a lot of valuable money. Mostly he would sit in jail for a few days, and he would be a good man if he got out, but killing someone is different. If he kills someone, he has to pay for his life. In his heart, he will never kill Meng Nanxing and Guan Xiuzhu, because the "hidden rules" cannot be changed, it is your whim, Mr. Wan, without them, there will be others to fill the vacancy and compete There are always those who are dead, and instead of killing them, it is better to find a way to find newer people outside according to your preferences..."

"Not to mention Lin Bin, he is a filer, Qixi is not in the official office at all, Jin Yiwei has verified that there is no problem with his timeline, he is a competitor in the 'rules' just like Jiang Yiqing, but his interests are not in the same direction. Similarly, he can't even pass the imperial examination, so he can't ask for the same benefits as others. He knows where he stands and what he can get. You are a Shangguan, and you can bring them benefits. They support you, Coaxing you, but not necessarily willing to work hard for you, the things that maintain the relationship between you are only interests, there is no relationship. When you are in an unstable position and cannot bring them these benefits, you actually think that they will stand up and fight for you. die?"

"Your householder, Zhao Xingde, has become your confidant, who can fight wherever you point, and do all kinds of dirty things; Li Guangji has become a conscientious worker ant, who dare not complain under the oppression of many methods; The object has become a confidant in this area, even the old bustard. It doesn't matter if you get tired of him. Whoever you like, he can help persuade and persuade anyone who wants to teach. He can even fan the flames or scare or push... Everyone's style , Acting is only for your own benefit, you are different, simple 'little games' can no longer satisfy you?"

Ye Baiting's eyes are bright, sharp enough to make people chill: "Is there a time when you feel that the people below are too obedient and boring? Is there an occasional moment when you really want others to see your real appearance? Don't you You feel that others have only seen one or two of your strengths, and you want to play some more exciting games so that they can experience them?"

"Wan Chengyun, this time the evidence is listed, there are many witnesses, but if you have any doubts, you can speak out to refute it, and I can answer you all!"

But Wan Chengyun was speechless, he didn't know which one to refute, evidence, confession, murderous intent... It seemed that no matter what the question was, the other party had the answer.

He didn't say anything, Ye Baiting continued: "You know, Mr. Wan, in this case, in addition to human life, there are also stolen money. It's still the same sentence, the fire can't be contained in the paper. If you hold back and don't make a move, you can't find it." When it comes to the stolen money, we still have to work hard for a while. You forced Zhao Xingde to kill him with a magical pen. You allowed the Zhao family to benefit from it, and let him submit his suicide note. Is it easy to chase? It’s good news for my lord. Our command envoy has dug up another piece of the silver you hid. The amount is four times as much as you asked Zhao Xingde to confess in the suicide note. The rest, Jin Yiwei is still investigating. , this money, in addition to last summer's flood relief fund, winter snow disaster relief fund, and the previous...isn't it?"

"Jin Yiwei was ordered by the emperor to handle the case. Master Wan understands all the procedures. Now that the case is clear and the facts are out, it is a waste of time to hide it. It is better for Master Wan to explain everything and save worry and trouble."

Wan Chengyun still didn't speak.

Ye Baiting turned to Deng Huaqi: "Now that I've watched the play, shouldn't Mr. Deng show something?"

When the atmosphere was serious and tense, he was called out suddenly, and Deng Huaqi couldn't hold the teacup in his hand, so he quickly put it down.

"Three days of fishing, two days of drying the net, stay out of it, sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, Wan Chengyun won't control you, Zhao Xingde can't control you, you know why, and you also know their dirty transactions in private, the money is transferred Transferring, you always need a different Shangguan's signature, even if you just hang your name, your share is indispensable, people..."

Ye Baiting narrowed his eyes: "That day when I went to the household department office with Shen Baihu, Mr. Deng was there, looking at Jiang Yiqing, and even Lin Bin's eyes were a little unusual. Are you also greedy and want to get a share? But You know, your position in the household department is now detached, and you are relying on your family background and relatives behind you. If you are not sure, if you get involved with Wan Chengyun's people, you will just jump into the hole he dug, and then you will be killed. He was tied to a boat with wind and rain, you didn’t want to, because you thought it was too risky and not worth it, so you didn’t do it, did you?”

Deng Huaqi looked at the bright-eyed, eloquent young man in front of him, his teeth hurt a little, such a beautiful and lovely person with a good temperament, how could he be so thoughtful and have such sharp eyes?

Ye Baiting: "Now that the facts are clear, there are not many opportunities. The release of treasury banks, the various operations of Wan Chengyun and Zhao Xingde, and the signing of letters and correspondences are all inseparable from the people in the account department. Jin Yiwei has already checked some, certainly not all of them." , Mr. Deng doesn’t want to make a contribution and say something? When Mr. Wan recruits everything, there will be no time for you. After that, you will be punished.”

Deng Huaqi rolled his eyes twice quickly, and smiled: "Look at what I said, you also know that I have been fishing for three days, and posted on the net for two days. To be honest, I don't understand the official affairs of the government office. They take official documents. Come and ask me to sign and say that it is a normal process, so I believe it. I don’t know that they will do bad things. They will give me gifts, give me benefits, and say something shameless. This is very common in my family. I can't even break the gift list, I thought they wanted to make friends with me and reciprocate gifts, who knew it was the...stolen money you mentioned."

Bai Ting didn't believe a single word of his words, but among all the evidence found, Deng Huaqi was indeed clean, he only shared the benefits of money and nothing else.Deng Huaqi may not know all the details of the murders of Guan Xiuzhu and Meng Nanxing, but he must know how the household department Ku Yin transferred them, how they broke them up and distributed them to them.

Qiu Xunqing patted the gavel on it: "Wan Chengyun, you can plead guilty!"

Wan Chengyun knew that the general situation was over, but he still kept his mouth shut: "Why, the official refuses to admit it, and the commander still wants to beat him up?"

Hey, my bad temper...

Shen Jiang couldn't bear it anymore: "The facts are all there, and there is no shortage of witnesses, material evidence, oral confessions, and murderous intentions. Everyone present can witness that, why is beating you called torture? You are a dignified secretary of the household department, how can you be ashamed?"

He directly punched Qiu Suqing and asked for instructions in a loud voice: "Commander, let me know! In the Dazhao law, the Beizhen Fusi interrogation rules, if the evidence is as solid as a mountain, the facts are all there. If a person dies and does not repent, and those who refuse to confess, can be punished." Upper finger clamp! It can be used as a punishment stick!"

Qiu Xunqing frowned.

Ye Baiting thought that he didn't support this method, and when he was about to start with other methods, he saw Qiu Yiqing pointing at him: "Stay back."

He didn't understand the meaning of these words, but with so many people in the hall, the leader of course had to give face, so he stopped talking and retreated to the junior position.

Qiu Yiqing looked around: "The facts of this case are clear, do you have any objections?"

The story has come to this point, all the details, the cause and effect, Ye Baiting has broken into pieces, rubbed it to pieces, explained it clearly to them, and now there are still objections... Where are the objections?They want to make it up, so you have to give some loopholes!

There is nothing in the hall.

Chou Yiqing patted the table as a matter of course: "Put on the torture rod!"

The Jin Yiwei guarding outside couldn't hear anything, and it was impossible not to hear the commander's order, so he immediately shouted, and quickly came in with the board.

One palm wide, half as long and thick as a torture stick, the whole body is pitch black, and one corner is sealed red. I don’t know how many people have been beaten. Why is the red paint on it so bright, but human blood stains it...

Wan Chengyun shook his hands immediately, and his mouth was so sluggish, as if he had a walnut in his mouth: "Hou Suiqing! How dare you beat the imperial court official with a cane!"

Qiu Yiqing ignored him at all, the Jin Yiwei who came over had already set him up, and they didn't know how to do it. The few people were skillful, they only used the torture rod, and cut the hands behind the back, making them so prison that they couldn't sit. Can't kneel up straight, can't get down, can't get up, the torture rod is raised high, and when it goes down, there is the sound of beating human flesh, a little crisp, a little dull, and very loud. In addition to punishing prisoners, the role of killing chickens and monkeys is also full. .

Shen Jiang personally supervised the work on the side, pointing his finger at the position, as if to say that hitting here hurts more, it should be heavier, and more important. They are all: You are the one who hit, how about it!

The official robe was covered with blood quickly, and as the punishment rod was struck down, fine blood splashed out.

It was only at this moment that Ye Baiting realized belatedly that Qiu Yiqing told him to back off... Was it because he didn't want blood to splash on him?

Qiu Yiqing sat on the throne: "This envoy inherits the holy will and has the full power to handle this case. He has the responsibility to act cheaply. If you have any objections, Mr. Wan, you can impeach him!"

The people in the household department were so frightened that they even dared to beat Lord Shangshu, but the others...could they escape?

Jiang Yiqing's feet went limp, and she slid off the chair and knelt down. Lin Bin had already knelt on one side when he was being questioned before, his body shrunk into a ball, wishing to blend into the floor, so that no one could see him.

Wan Chengyun couldn't help screaming out, but still gritted his teeth, and just didn't say anything.

Shen Jiang saw what his boss meant, and walked around the room slowly. When his eyes stayed on the personnel of the household department, he took a long time: "The commander is so busy, it's hard to find time to go to the court for trial. I have asked today. You have to ask clearly about the details, don't leave doubts, don't explain clearly, you don't even think about leaving, and you will be punished one by one later!"

"I...I know."

Li Guangji finally stood up.

Shen Jiang looked at him, at the young master who had a tired throat and was resting while serving tea, and then at the commanding officer whose face was as heavy as water, he straightened his expression, and said with a voice like a bell: "Speak!"

Li Guangji lifted his robe and knelt on the ground: "I have...all the records of the household department, the account transactions, including the private affairs of Zhao Xingde. Feng drew a cross, saying that I didn't burn the "waste paper" that was burned, but put it in a box and kept it. The things that Jin Yiwei wanted to know were probably there, and all of them could be matched, including batches. The silver in the treasury..."

He said that Wan Chengyun's face turned pale, and in the end it was almost colorless, and he was definitely not beaten.

"How dare you betray me...do you know what will happen if you betray the chief? From then on, don't go to the household department, you don't want to go anywhere else!"

"I don't have to go! If there are places like this everywhere in the officialdom, I'd rather not go!"

Li Guangji was really angry this time. With trembling hands, he took out something from his bosom and closed his eyes: "This is Meng Nanxing's notebook... I know him well, I know his habit of hiding things, and after hearing the news of his death, I quietly went to his house, found a familiar small box, pried open the small brass lock, and found these notes, the notes are very thick, recording what happened every day after he came to the household department, I am inconvenient Bring it, and only bring this one."

"When he first arrived at the household department, what kind of joy did he have, what kind of longing and expectation he brought, what things he encountered, what kind of invitations he received, how he was suppressed, how he was hit one after another, and had to succumb... How did Guan Xiuzhu die? What was his plan at the time? Everything you said is true."

Li Guangji covered his face: "I am a cowardly person. I was pointed at by people and scolded that I would not be able to achieve anything in this life. I also admit that I dare not confess to people I like, dare not refuse jobs that I don't want to take, and others look down on me... How normal isn't it? Guan Xiuzhu is so good, cheerful and upright, upright, willing to help others, all confrontation, no winks, only for those who want to bully him, for superiors who want to suppress him, he never looks down on others. He He will not look down on my timidity, knowing that I am afraid of trouble and avoiding him on purpose, he doesn't care, he never communicates with me too much before, and if I encounter difficulties in the future, he will still go along with me. Handle. He knows the so-called 'hidden rules', knows that he is being recruited, and knows that Meng Nanxing is a victim under this rule. He is forced every day and his life is full of holes. Pay attention to his temperature, whether he is unwell, and lend him clothes..."

"Guan Xiuzhu isn't trying to please anyone, pity anyone, it's the same with everyone else. Whenever he sees it, he will want to help. He is gentle to everyone. This is the upbringing engraved in his bones. He has Bottom line, with faith and persistence, even if you are isolated by everyone, you have never been afraid. He is the brightest light in the government office, making people look envious and jealous... You see, in this world, there really A person who comes out of the mud without being stained, whether you see it or not, he has his own brilliance and cleanliness, and it is easy to be liked by others."

"Meng Nanxing is a very cute, occasionally a little clumsy person who wants to be protected by others. He looks cold and calm, talks indifferently, and doesn't want to get involved with anyone, but he is actually the most delicate minded. He understands everything. Every now and then, when other people are really too busy to handle some facts, they will quietly do something to help, but they don’t show credit or let others know. He is not very good at accepting other people’s kindness. Willing to give others kindness quietly. When others want feedback, he will coldly say that you think too much, and turn around and leave. He should know that I like him, so he has been avoiding suspicion. He doesn't want to bring me trouble, I know of……"

Tears flowed from his fingers, and Li Guangji's voice was hoarse: "I know all about his suffering. I have a similar background and situation as him, but I am not as handsome as him. I know what he is thinking, why... ...You must be an official to be successful? Why can't you write or draw? Everyone knows that Meng Nanxing's handwriting is beautiful and his style is admirable, but they don't know that his paintings are even better, which can be called a masterpiece. His mother forbids him to practice painting, because this is the path chosen by a down-and-out man. He is worthless, and being an official is what he should do. As long as he paints, his mother will beat him and cry and say that he was raised for nothing. What a crime she did, others will regret it, a good child, the book is so good, why do you want to paint? He put away the brush and paint, and never touched it again. No one knows how much he has. Pain, it doesn't matter whether he likes it or not, he can only be an official, must be an official, must move forward, must bring glory to his mother... Even if he is bullied, knocked out his teeth and swallowed blood, he must swallow it In the belly, don't let others find out, don't let others know..."

"We have been studying hard for more than ten years. We don't want much. We don't necessarily have a bright career. We just want to be worthy of the books we have read, and we only want to cherish the people around us. It doesn't matter if you are a little bit tired, as long as you have a bright future. There is hope, even if we give up some things, we can do it, but the government office...should not be like this. We have learned literary and martial arts, goods and the emperor's family, we also want to serve the country and the people, even if there is not much we can do , and try our best, instead of suffering for someone's selfish desires... We work hard, not wanting to be slaves to the top, we want to shine, it's not like this!"

Li Guangji covered his face with his hand and moved away, staring at Wan Chengyun, his red eyes ignited raging fire: "You deserve it! You deserve it today, and the punishment of purgatory is not too much for you! Since I dare Said, I didn't think of escaping the crime—"

He tore off his official robe, took off his official hat, and kowtowed heavily at Qiu Xingqing: "The lower official Li Guangji personally participated in the corruption of the treasury of the Ministry of Finance. I took it, but I took it if I took it. I have nothing to say in front of the hall today! I will never do such a villainous behavior in the future! Recommend Xuanyuan with blood, don't ask about the future, don't ask about the way back!"

Under the snowflake-splattered execution board, amidst the sound of heavy kowtows, Ye Baiting saw the transferred paper page, which was Meng Nanxing's previous handwriting, the handwriting was freehand and full of tenderness.

The sky is close, and people are from north to south.Do not believe that the head of a mandarin duck is not white.

The author has something to say: the sky is so close, and people from north to south.Do not believe that the head of a mandarin duck is not white. ——Nalan Rongruo, "The Fairy".