for king

It was late at night, in the office of the Ministry of Punishment, Xi Yan stood up and stretched, and heard the creaking of the neck bones in a trance, and just wanted to go back to sleep.

The young master Fang couldn't wait for a moment, he breathed Zifan and hurried out the door.

Don't look at him as a thin and thin boy, but his strength is comparable to that of a bull, so Zifan almost started to trot.

I don't know how many hours ago, the long street was empty and deserted, a group of four or five people were walking, only heard panting, footsteps sounded from time to time, Xi Zifan broke the silence, "Master Fang, if you want to arrest people at this time, then Chen Shen must have already I ran away. In my opinion, it's better to go back and sleep, tomorrow..."

"Master Xi Guigeng?"

"What? Master Fang wants to marry me?"

"Ha! It's a good idea. Master Xi's face is not too old, why do you like to doze off like my father?"

Xi Zifan—a good young man who claims to be romantic at his age, but it is the first time someone calls him old—hasn’t spoken for a while, "Hey, don’t you think..."

"Master Xi, would you like to make a bet with the lower official?" Fang Ting's mind was spinning like the wind, and he interrupted Xi Yan's words casually.

Xi Yan really wanted to teach Taiwei Fang a lesson, but the bet was considered his favor, and it didn't sound bad, "Oh? What's the bet?"

"Of course it's a bet on whether Chen Shen is still in the bridge hole."

"What does Young Master Fang want to bet on?"

"If your lord loses, you need to be more polite to my boss, and don't embarrass him everywhere."

"What a big tone!" Xi Zifan was also very surprised, he didn't expect that someone in this world would want to bet with him for Zhao Zhuang, so he asked casually, "Where is Master Fang's bargaining chip?"

"The salary of a subordinate official is not as good as that of an adult. It is only enough to eat and not hungry. I'm afraid I can't bet money with an adult. I believe that an adult is not the kind of person who has an eye for money..."

Xi Zifan hurriedly said "No, no, no", but he heard him say again, "...the bargaining chip for a low official must be a hundred times more attractive than money."

"Oh?"

"Xiaguan knew a girl from Pingkangli. She said she was a peerless beauty, but this word didn't suit her well. If Lord Xi wins, Xiaguan can let you see her. How about it?"

At such a young age, when he talked about the fireworks, he was so virtuous, really taught Xi Zifan to look at him with admiration, and asked, "Which flower girl?"

After thinking about it, I came back to my thoughts, "Since I'm a flower lady, I'd like to ask someone to meet me by myself, so why bother your Young Master Fang to introduce me?"

"Hey, since I want to make a bet with my lord, my lord doesn't know who this flower girl is?"

Xi Zifan saw that this kid had a cunning expression, like a fox who stole a fat chicken, and somehow felt that he was being plotted against, "Uh..."

The young master said, "It seems that my lord has remembered. That's right, it is that Bai Qingqing who is willing to talk to everyone, but who doesn't talk to my lord, Bai Qingqing. How about my lord? Can Miss Bai be considered stunning? This bargaining chip Is it worth it?"

"..."

"puff!"

The two invisible men following behind couldn't hold back their laughter.

Xi Zifan was poked by such a kid on his sore foot several times, he was so embarrassed, he slapped one of his subordinates on the back of the head, "Funny?"

"No, poof, it's not funny."

"..."

"My lord, do you want to gamble?" Young Master Fang's long and narrow fox eyes shone brightly.

"Bet! If Chen Shen is not here, I want to see how you, Young Master Fang, let that white girl see me and let Zifan go!"

No more nonsense, hurried towards the bridge hole, and gave everyone a cool back.

The young master Fang smiled inwardly, luck followed behind him, "My lord, the next official is not some young master, his surname is Fang Mingting, he is just a mere black armor, my lord wait for me!"

Going straight to the bridge hole like a real race - on the moat that divides Pingkang Long Street in two, under the arch bridge, in the middle of the night, there is no wind, no moon, no sound and no light, only the river water in the dark night It flows quietly, and the smell of rancid water comes from the cave.

Fang Ting took out the folds of fire in his arms, covered it and blew it on, and saw a thin damp quilt in the half-moon-shaped hole, but there was no one in the quilt, they looked at each other, and there was another strange smell wafting from the sky, confused The slightly moist water vapor makes people feel numb...

Xi Zifan twitched his nostrils, and turned onto the bridge first, but he didn't listen to his movement for a long time, and the next few people asked directly, "My lord?"

Xi Zifan's voice sounded like a sigh, "Come up."

A few people didn't know, so they walked up the bridge slowly, and heard him say, "Take it away." Only then did they notice that there was a person standing upright on the bridge.

Who is that?

——It was a half-bent black shadow with loose long hair.In the dead of night, this short ball was silently stuck on the bridge, not much higher than the stone railing on the bridge, if it hadn't stretched out a hand hanging over the river, any powder would fly out from its fingertips, and The scent evoked everyone's memory, almost making people think it was a stone, or some kind of ghost image, so they ignored it.

But of course it wasn't a ghost image.

Who is that?

As soon as the two late autumn rains fell, the earth turned pale, the air became colder, the days became shorter and the nights longer.

After the beginning of winter, the sun hides suddenly and seldom shows up. It only comes out for a moment at noon one day, and then goes back to the clouds. This happens again and again for several days. , before Youshi, the popularity on the street is gone.

Although Langye healed some old wounds, he was not as active as before, and because the southerners couldn't stand the cold, they moved from the garden to the house early, and made Fu Bo light a charcoal basin, wrapped himself in a blanket, and curled up all day long. Copying books on the bench, while copying books, worrying that he would not be able to sleep enough to finish copying books, while listening to Uncle Fu talking about the three major events in recent days.

which three things?

One is that the Skynet does not leak out, and Chen Shen, a traitor, was finally arrested one night.The second is that the matter of Meixiang that has been troubled for several days can also be solved, and it takes no effort to get it - it is this person who is playing tricks, and tried to destroy the evidence on the day he was arrested.Three——Third is the big news of the apocalypse: this time, the case of disrespect to the emperor was not judged by the Chang'an Division alone and the emperor alone as usual. The Secretary only supervises and reports to Emperor Fan after each trial is over.

It is said that Chen Shenming was stubborn and kept silent all the time. Only once did he reveal his true nature, which was the emperor's usurpation of power. I can't help using torture and killing him to vent my anger.

But for some reason, this person is so hateful, but Emperor Fan refused to convict him based on those words, insisting on him telling the truth.

Everyone tried and tried again, played again and again, but Chen Shen just refused to speak again, so he was never convicted.

What's also incredible is that, after several consecutive trials with no results, Xi Zifan suddenly came at noon this day with an imperial decree and read it to Langye, asking him to suspend copying and go to hear Chen Shen instead.

At that time, Langxie let out a "Gada" in his heart, thinking that the emperor wanted to ask him an excuse, but he didn't expect to go to Dali Temple, he didn't dismiss him, and he didn't ask him to stand under Chen Shen for trial, he was only allowed to stand in front of him. The subordinates of the Ministry of Justice made room for him, and placed him there like a doll—it was really a hearing.

When Chen Shen was escorted up, Langye could no longer recognize him.

The man was half hunched over, his hair was disheveled, his hair seemed to be half white, he was dressed in dirty prison clothes, his handcuffs and fetters were dragging on the ground, and he walked to the center of the hall without lifting his head, just like a walking dead Generally looking at the ground, he is not at all like the angry young man in the ruined temple that day, let alone half as comfortable as he was in the Jinghua Building that day.

I heard that people were caught at night, but how do they recognize them?

"Chen Shen, two days ago you were asked to explain the matter of the party. You didn't say a word at that time, but now you have thought it through?"

"If you don't know where to start, I'm asking you now, and you just need to answer honestly. How did you sneak into the city? Who will help you? Where are the children you often follow around? What about Meixiang?" Is it the mastermind or the accomplice? If there is an accomplice, where is it now?"

That Chen Shen was kicked by the jailer next to him and knelt on the ground, but turned a deaf ear to the question.

"Chen Shen! Just for your nonsense in the past few days, I can punish you for treason and death according to the law, and sentence you to the death penalty of Ling Chi and beheaded. Now the Holy One is merciful and allows you to be frank and lenient. Why don't you feel grateful for God's grace and follow the truth? Come on, why are you so stubborn?!"

He kept his head down as if he was deaf.

The three ministers in the hall looked at each other, not knowing what to do, Zhao Zhuang said, "If you don't have to be punished, what is the majesty of the court?!"

"Master Zhao, the emperor has an order, and we must obey it."

Zhao Zhuang snorted, seeming to disdain the benevolence of several women, "If this guy despises Tianwei, will he not confess?"

"Master Zhao, don't worry. According to the law, people have two chances to defend themselves. If they miss it, the Meixiang case will be based on the spices we found that day as evidence, and he will be convicted of disturbing the imperial court. If he confesses It's good, if you don't confess, it's considered a plea." Xi Yan said suddenly.

Zhao Zhuang refused, "What the Holy Majesty wants is a confession."

"It depends on how to interpret this 'confession'. A confession is a confession. Is it a confession by default?"

Langxie glanced at him, and didn't know whether Xiyan said this to Zhao Zhuang or Chen Shen, but Chen Shen finally responded, "My lord is still powerful, hey, your extremely wise emperor, insist on What is this confession for?"

If he didn't say anything, he would stop talking, "Why do you have to act like this? If you are afraid of my party, wouldn't it be better to kill all the criminals and officials in the western suburbs? Dare to speak too much? If you are afraid of being criticized by others, so what if you secretly create a big fire and burn him up without leaving his bones? Why do you suddenly become hypocritical? It is disgusting to see! Could it be that he has been sitting on the dragon chair for several years? , When I really became an emperor, I suddenly remembered the saying that loving the people is like a son? Yes, yes, it must be so, but a fake dragon is a fake dragon. Raising the banner of righteousness is nothing more than usurping the throne and seizing power! Just usurp the throne, if you want to learn from others to be famous and good, but if you don't do it simply, you will become a hypocrite. The sound of "whooping, drinking, drinking" became louder and louder. In the huge Dali Temple, I saw him leaning forward and backward, laughing crazily, laughing so that everyone in the hall was terrified, and finally the gavel gave out a "bang", "Chen Shen, the traitor! I feel guilty for hearing such disrespectful words. How can you have the face to say it again?! Today is the emperor's blame, and I will not allow you to speak nonsense here. Come on! Give me a slap!" "

"Haha..." Chen Shen was still laughing strangely. The guard next to him had already stepped forward and slapped him across the face. He heard "slapping" noises, as if bamboo pieces were thrown into the fire and exploded. I don't know. After a few blows, a mouthful of blood spurted out from the messy hair, Chen Shen fell headfirst on the ground, unconscious, his left and right cheeks were already swollen.

Zhao Zhuang shouted, "Water!"

A bucket of cold water was poured on his head, Chen Shen curled up and suddenly woke up, and was roughly lifted up again, trembling all over.

Zhao Zhuang said again, "Fight again!"

"Wait a minute."

As soon as the voice came out, everyone was stunned for a moment, they all looked over and only heard Zhao Zhuang say, "What's the matter with the servant?"

Langye smiled slightly, "Is Commander Zhao going to beat people to death?"

"I beat this traitor to death in court, does the minister have any complaints?"

Langye shook his head, "Not good, not good."

Zhao Zhuang sneered, "Oh, I heard that my lord was saved by this person, and I feel kindness. But didn't your lord say that you didn't know this person before? Why, your lord is his accomplice, right?!"

He put on such a hat, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

The listless Chen Shen also raised his eyes.

Langye stood up and cupped his hands, "My lords are above, and I have no right to intervene because I am a guilty person. However, after hearing what this person said just now, I think this is just a method of provoking generals. If you kill me like this If you let him go, I'm afraid it's in the middle of this person's plan, and it's not the emperor's original intention."

"Full of nonsense!" Zhao Zhuang yelled, "Langxie, how dare you speculate on the holy will just to excuse this person!"

Langxie said coldly, "Holy will is for guessing, only right or wrong; why don't you listen to me, if you feel that the lower officials are wrong, then I will speak nonsense and punish the lower officials for their crimes."

"Bold!" Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment shouted, "Langxie, the emperor allowed you to come out to hear the trial, not to ask you to make irresponsible remarks. If you know that you have no right, why not talk nonsense, step back."

He is Langya's immediate boss, this kid's repeated troubles have caused him and Xi Zifan to pile up a lot of business, to stop him at this time is to protect his shortcomings, and also to warn him not to worry too much.

The clinker boy is not afraid of threats at all, "My lord thinks that the lower officials are talking nonsense? Then my lord said, this person could have been convicted long ago, why did the emperor want the three divisions to interrogate him? The interrogation was not enough, why did he still ask for a confession? Your lord really never thought about it? Or do you know it and not say it?"

Shangshu saw that he had exposed him, and seemed to be deliberately causing trouble. He didn't know how to answer, so he just stared at him.

The Minister of Dali Temple smoothed things over, "What the Minister said is also reasonable. Lord Shangshu, Lord Yushi, Lord Zhao, since the Holy Majesty asked the Minister to hear the trial, he must have thought about it. You might as well listen to him, so as not to... the Holy Majesty blames you."

When he said this, the censor in the hall had no objection, and Langye no longer hesitated, "I think that although Chen Shen was full of nonsense just now, he said one thing well... that is, he said that the emperor To have a benevolent name and a good name.”

Everyone's face changed.

"Still talking nonsense!"

"It's not too late to tie down the officials after listening to the adults."

"My lord, I'm a low-level official. I just heard this criminal say that the emperor wants to be famous and good. He was extremely sneering and sarcastic. Your lords seem to treat it like a scourge and avoid talking about it. I really don't know why."

"What do you want to know? Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and ruling the world is the mission of your life. Why do you need to gain a good name for what you said? If this is what you want to say, don't say it again."

"My lord, excuse me, I still have to ask, if the emperor doesn't want to be famous, why didn't he let Master Zhao just kill this kid directly?

"Common people all know that the emperor is the son of heaven, and the emperor is the son of heaven. Although there is no need to care about small fame, there are Yaoshun, Wenjing, Zhenguan Kaiyuan and other prosperous emperors who have been passed down through the ages. There are also Xia Jie, Yin Zhou and even the former Chaoyang Hua is such a brutal and stupid king, why do you remember them? Isn’t it just a “name”? Although the emperor is the chosen one, which emperor in ancient times was not chosen by the heavens? Isn’t Boren good and good? You have to learn Is it better for Xia and Shang to perish?

"Your Excellency does not speak, is it because the lower official said nothing wrong?

"Although the lower officials do not read as many books as the adults, they still know that the western suburbs are a sensitive place in front of the officials. From what Chen Shen said, although they are rebellious, they seem to have long-standing grievances. It is definitely not the only person who did this Thinking, at such a juncture, the emperor ordered all the adults to come to interrogate, but you all avoided talking about it, for fear of touching the emperor's taboo——

"As a subject, it is my duty to worry about the king. But adults, have you ever thought that the emperor sits in the deep palace all the year round, and he can't listen to the world with one ear and see the four directions with one eye. That's why we are ministers. Go and watch for him and listen for him. Right now there is an abscess in the western suburbs. It is better to be ruthless and squeeze it out. It is better than ignoring it and deceiving yourself and others, so that it spreads and infects other places. The emperor has both Decide, everyone is just foolish and loyal, are you going to trap the emperor in an unrighteous place?"

With a "bang", he was the first to interrupt Zhao Zhuang's attack.

It was the white-haired censor who had never said a word in the middle of the hall, after all he was old enough to hold his breath, "Sir, don't say any more."

Langye glanced at him, and suddenly noticed a gaze from the side staring at him, turned his head to look, it turned out to be Xiyan.

He smiled, glanced at Chen Shen who was being framed under the hall, knowing that he had tried his best, so he didn't say much, and sat back on the chair.

Yu Shi said, "Everyone, I don't dare to speculate on the holy will, but the imperial edict must be obeyed, Mr. Zhao, let your people step down."

"I'll do what Sir Xi said, but if I ask twice and the prisoner doesn't answer, it will be considered as a confession."

Since he spoke, Zhao Zhuang had nothing to say.

It's just that the questioning and the silent trial ended, Zhao Zhuang was still not reconciled, "Chen Shen, why did you kidnap the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment that day? Do you two have anything else to do with each other?"

Langye's right eye twitched and looked at Chen Shen.

That Chen Shen also raised his head, and looked at him through the messy hair.

He suddenly smiled and said, "What is Langye of the Ministry of Justice, he doesn't have that name..."