Bastards

There is a reason Deng is afraid of the presence of these witnesses.

Three generations of the Peng family made their fortune as merchants, and their headquarters has always been in Wencheng County.The jurisdiction of Wencheng County is special. It is a long strip on the map. The Peng family’s ancestral house is at the northernmost part of this long strip.Because the whole family moved to the south, the ancestral house was far away except for the ancestral grave and some blood relatives. There were no talented people there. They all went to the south. As time went on, everyone thought the south was their family and forgot where the ancestral grave was located in the north.

Peng Ping lost contact with him and didn't return for several years. His parents thought he was dead, so they married Peng Chuanyi's mother Du Shi for him.

Later, when Peng Ping came back, he took Mrs. Deng to pick up his parents. The two sides couldn't agree, and there was a lot of trouble. Peng Ping's mother didn't like Mrs. Deng and refused to live with her son. Shi returned to the prosperous main house in the south.Because his mother was still alive, Peng Ping had to visit his ancestral house from time to time, and that was how Peng Chuanyi came to be.

After that, the king did not see the king. Even if Peng Ping's mother passed away, Peng Ping would no longer go to the ancestral house in the north. No matter how hard it was, Mrs. Du did not let go of her bones and begged Peng Ping to move to the main house in the south to exercise the power of mistress Deng did not go north, but also cut off the communication between the two sides, and did not allow Peng Ping to give money, let alone caring, and even repeatedly prevented her from going to the grave to worship her ancestors. Show off your might...

Because she didn't like the ancestral house and her deceased parents-in-law very much, Deng did things a bit too much.

Peng Chuanyi never left the north side until he was ten years old, and as he grew older, he showed business acumen, which spread to Peng Ping's ears before he was taken to the main house in the south side.Since then, Deng has increasingly regarded him as a thorn in his side and repeatedly punished him.

Although it is the same county, due to terrain reasons, the southernmost and northernmost are far apart.Relying on his father being an official and secondly on Peng Ping's love, Deng has power and money, wins over all the clansmen in the main house, and buys off the government, what can't he do?The dirty water that was poured on Peng Chuanyi seemed to be true. Who would believe that Peng Chuanyi had no friends or relatives here?Gradually, his reputation became worse and worse, even if he sued the government, he would not get well.

Even if the case was transferred to Luoyang, Mrs. Deng had a relationship with her own father, and her father begged for a good strategist to teach her to speak well, how could she not win the case?As long as the people near the ancestral house in the north don't talk nonsense, and the witnesses in the south call at will, the case will be sure.

Yes, as long as the people from the ancestral house in the north don't come and talk nonsense!

Deng clutched the handkerchief tightly, his eyes were full of shock, obviously no one would pay attention, and obviously let his father use tricks, how could it be like this?

These people...these people not only know Peng Chuanyi, but also know something about her!

What will she say next?If you don't pay attention, you will slap yourself in the face!

……

Seeing Deng's expression, Yang Xuan was very satisfied, and nodded slightly: "You and others are all villagers from the Peng family's ancestral house, and anyone who knows about Peng Chuanyi and Deng's matter can tell me."

"Yes!" A middle-aged man over forty years old came out first, with thick eyebrows and straight eyes, his temperament was as square as his face, and he spoke evenly and loudly, "Caomin is the head of the local village and lives next to Peng Chuanyi's mother and son. Caomin watched this son grow up and knew him quite well. His mother, Mrs. Du, was filial, kind and virtuous, quite assertive. Mentioning it, there is no one who does not give a thumbs up. His son, Peng Chuanyi, was obedient since he was a child. Although he was naughty and messy when he became sensible, he had a very upright temper and was a good boy. It is said that he murdered... Caomin would not believe it. On the contrary, this Deng When Peng Ping's first wife was still alive, she went out to socialize under the name of Ping Wife. She never returned to the ancestral house. She stopped Peng Ping from offering sacrifices to his ancestors. If he couldn't stop her, she didn't feel at ease and wanted to follow. After a fight, I don't know how many jokes have been made..."

After him, someone went on to say: "Both Peng Ping's parents were served by Mrs. Du, and they would like to receive their incense. It is normal not to like to see Mrs. Deng. But Mrs. Deng couldn't burn the incense in front of her parents-in-law, and the paper could not be burned out." , she was secretly annoyed that Peng Ping acted delicate and weak in front of her, and as soon as Peng Ping left, she turned around and invited two actors, let them dress up beautifully, sing forbidden operas in front of her parents-in-law's grave, and even perform such scandalous things in broad daylight, She is still defecating in front of her tomb after it's over... Who dares to take such a woman!"

"Mr. Deng provokes Mrs. Du with dirty words. She is no different from a shrew in the market. I don't bother to describe her smug look!"

"Mr. Deng once poisoned Mrs. Du. If it wasn't for the fact that the neighbor had a child with a cold and fever and asked the doctor to rescue him in time, otherwise he would have given up earlier and gone west!"

"Peng Chuanyi is a thorn in Deng's side. The grassroots have seen Deng's servants trading gold and silver with Taoists, and want to get rid of Peng Chuanyi!"

……

Deng's feet softened, her heart beat wildly, it was over, they all said it... How can she get along now, so as to win everyone's favor again?I heard that the Liu family and even King Yue... are very concerned about this case. If she can't win, how can she be worthy of her father and these nobles!

On the teahouse, Lan Qiao held his face in his hands, his eyes widened: "The prince is about to return to Luoyang, where can we find these witnesses?"

Cui Mata smiled and said nothing.

Naturally, it is not looking for it now, but it has been prepared for a long time...

This is a perfect combo.

Since he was going to start on this case, it was natural to check the information and materials at the first time. All the investigations had been done by Yang Xuan long before entering Luoyang.Originally, Cui Yu wanted to find a way to make Yang Xuan not be too constrained by Taikang Emperor Yue Wang and others, but when he entered Luoyang, these people took turns to fight, and there was a mysterious booklet that everyone wanted, so he thought of a wonderful way. Let Pingjun Wang take the blame.

According to the plan, Peng Chuanyi reached a deal with Pingjun Wang, brought down the Rong family Gan, and handed over the booklet to him to vindicate the case.The king of Pingjun fought against the king of Yue, both sides had their own losses, only for the return of the prince, Taikang Emperor did not say clearly, although the Rong family Gan was punished, it was not regarded as being pulled down, the result was a bit hazy.Peng Chuanyi refused to accept the booklet, and King Pingjun also had strong reasons, so he had to follow Peng Chuanyi's request and find a way to help him overturn the case.

According to Cui Yu's reminder, Peng Chuanyi asked the man in black to pass on a message to King Pingjun to find these witnesses and take them to Luoyang. Of course, King Pingjun would do so!

So these people were all transferred by Prince Ping, and have nothing to do with the crown prince...

Emperor Taikang and King Yue did limit the forces of all parties, and wanted the prince to be a good commander, but the enemy of the enemy is a friend, and King Pingjun himself is willing to help, what can the prince do?He is also very innocent. Chang'an stayed well, but suddenly he was summoned to Luoyang by an imperial decree, and he still has to handle the case without knowing anything, what should he do?Salad?Prince Ping's "brotherly love" offered to help out, can he refuse?

Of course not!

He not only helped to recall the prince back to Luoyang, but also helped the witnesses to find evidence, but if something goes wrong next time, King Pingjun will spare no effort to escort him with brotherly affection!

Cui Yu felt that seeing this scene, King Yue must be vomiting blood.

As for that bear prince...

The distance was not too far, and the fog had cleared away. Cui Yu could clearly see Yang Xuan's people, and because they were so familiar with each other, he raised his eyebrows almost at once, and then stroked his forehead and sighed.

This Prince Xiong is actually distracted!

Although his sitting posture was straight, his brows were sharp, his eyes were sharp, his eyes were sharp and dignified, but he would never be wrong, this brat was distracted!

……

Yang Xuan was really distracted.He has investigated these witnesses earlier and knows better than anyone else. Now that he knows it, he doesn't need to listen to it again.

He couldn't help thinking about what happened just now.

The fog was thick and there was no communication beforehand. He just asked Shi Fu to bring the bow and plucked the string twice. Cui Yu immediately guessed his thoughts and gave feedback on the arrangement quickly!He believed in himself, in Cui Yu, and in the tacit understanding between them, but in an emergency, it was impossible not to be nervous at all.But Cui Yu didn't torture him for a long time, and let him know immediately how powerful their tacit understanding is!

As long as he wants, Cui Yu can help, as long as he wants, Cui Yu can realize it!

His rabbit...is just so powerful!

"...The above-mentioned things were all witnessed by the grass people and others, and they dare not lie! Although the grass people and the others don't know the truth about Peng Ping's death, Peng Chuanyi's character... the grass people and the others think it is impossible to kill people, let alone kill their fathers! On the contrary, it is Mrs. Deng, her heart can be punished, her actions are unforgivable, even if she did not kill her husband, she should be severely punished!"

After the witness finished speaking, there was an uproar from the onlookers.

It's really such a beautiful woman who knows people, face, and heart, and it's hard to paint the skin of a tiger, such a soft and weak woman who pities this person!

This direction was completely within Yang Xuan's expectations.

What testimonies will people believe?It's not the slander that you spent so much gold and silver to buy, but the words of many neighbors in the growing environment!They watched you grow up, they have no interest in you, they have a large number of people, and they have a certain reputation in the local area... People are more willing to believe people like this.Even if your reputation is tarnished in other places, if the village elders say you are good, you are good!

That's why, when most people talk about marriage between relatives, they must inquire about the place where the person they like grows up.

Yang Xuan patted the gavel: "Mr. Deng, you have something to say!"

Deng's face turned pale: "The concubine doesn't understand the law... Peng Chuanyi can be acquitted by the testimony of these people. Did the concubine kill... the husband Peng Ping?"

This woman is a little quick-witted.

Yang Xuan squinted her eyes, and said in a cool voice, "Are you blaming Gu for injustice? When will Gu have a clear conclusion!"

Deng immediately kowtowed: "I don't dare! It's because I misunderstood His Highness!"

"I have something to say, this time I will first understand the grievances between the two of you, and find out the motive. Now that Peng Chuanyi has finished his self-report, and there are witnesses to support him, Mrs. Deng—" Yang Xuan's voice raised, "I'm here to ask you, do you have Do more than what the witnesses say!"

Deng's mind was spinning hard, not knowing how to deal with it, and sweat broke out on his forehead.However, time waits for no one, the servants around are staring at each other with water and fire sticks in their hands, and the prince in the hall is waiting. She dare not delay, her lips moved for a moment, and Fang said: "This...whose family has never quarreled? The concubine and the elder sister just had a child. Two dirty things, teeth touching lips, small things...there will be inappropriate consequences, and it's just over-anxiety, but fortunately, no major disasters were caused, and no one died..."

I actually admitted it!

The onlookers were in an uproar.This woman is so shameless, such things as being disrespectful at the grave of her ancestors, poisoning the mistress, buying a murderer to assassinate her son-in-law are all trivial things!

On the teahouse, King Changjun let out a "chi" and threw the finished fruit core out of the window, the corners of his lips raised evilly, and his voice was full of sarcasm: "This woman is really stupid."

Everyone's eyes are discerning, no matter what the statement is, the facts are clear.Seeing this, Yang Xuan continued to ask the question: "Peng Chuanyi has finished his statement, now it's your turn, you can say whatever you want."

"Yes, His Royal Highness."

Deng Shi posed, adjusted her expression, and began to speak a set of words that she had practiced a long time ago.

Yang Xuan had heard this set of phrases before, and it was Deng's words used to arouse pity from everyone when the Ministry of Criminal Justice tried the case for the first time.For example, it was an accident that she met Peng Ping, and she saved him with kindness and cared for him. She was suffering, but she had to take good care of him.Even if he lost his memory and couldn't remember where his home was and who his parents were, she begged her father to marry him.They are true love and fate, only lost to the four characters of yin and yang.Peng Ping felt that he owed her so he kept making up for it. Peng Ping was willing to do everything. She had to continue. She was the most innocent. She had never done anything bad. She also suffered a lot for family harmony and never told others...

When hearing this for the first time, everyone will feel sorry for it, but after listening to it again and again, they will not feel the same way as before.In addition, she has already personally admitted the testimony of the witness just now, and everyone has the impression of her as a kind-hearted, disgusting, thoughtful, deep-hearted and vicious person. No matter how much she pretends, she will not get more goodwill.

She put on the most sympathetic gesture, Qi Qi earnestly finished her complaint, she thought she would get more sympathy, but it was the prince's indifferent voice as always: "Do you have any witnesses?"

"Huh?" She looked slightly startled, as if she hadn't reacted.

Yang Xuan raised her eyebrows, and repeated: "There are witnesses."

Only then did Deng's face turn bitter: "It's all about the concubine and the husband, and now the husband has gone..."

Yang Xuan: "It's just that there is no proof."

Deng's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, "My concubine's father knows."

Yang Xuan: "Is your father willing to testify with you in court?"

Deng's lips were tightly pursed: "My father is the imperial order..."

"So there is still no evidence."

"……Yes."

"The deceased has passed away. Whether the relationship between the deceased and you is as you said, and whether the sister Du in your mouth is as you said, there is no evidence. Even if there is no evidence, you cannot listen to your one-sided words." Yang Xuan Jian's eyebrows were slightly frowned, and his momentum was upright, "I just want to ask you, have you ever competed with the royal family, Mrs. Du, and have you turned against each other many times?"

Deng was a little anxious: "At that time, the concubine was dubbed an equal wife by the husband to socialize with others, and now she is also the main wife—"

With a "pop", Yang Xuan slapped the gavel, and Yang Xuan's voice was stern: "You just need to answer Gu Zhi's question! Whether you compete with Du's favor, or whether you secretly murdered him, it's not just once!"

Deng's figure swayed slightly, and his eyes glanced at the witnesses in Changshang: "...Yes."

"Did you slyly speak in front of the deceased to make him divorce his wife and son, and attack his son more than once?"

"The concubine is just following her husband's wish—"

With a "snap", another gavel snapped.

Deng shuddered again: "...Yes."

"Are you trying to win over your clan's servants to oppress and frame Peng Chuanyi, are you going to tarnish his reputation, move him out of his family tree, or even bribe important government officials to settle the case!" Yang Xuan slapped the gavel again, and there were red and green punishments on the table. The signed wooden barrels shook.

Deng's heart was numb, and he subconsciously admitted in shock: "Yes!"

"Peng Chuanyi is on his way to Luoyang, are you going to buy a murderer to hunt him down?"

"Yes..." After Deng finished speaking, he suddenly said in his heart, it's broken, he recruited everyone who shouldn't be recruited!She quickly retorted, "No, my concubine doesn't!"

But it was too late to repent, and everyone present heard her answer just now.

"It's the most poisonous woman's heart..."

"I can't see it..."

"That Peng Chuanyi is so pitiful..."

"It is God's blessing that I can live to this day..."

In the teahouse, King Yue was so frightened and angry that he almost vomited blood while clutching his chest.What's going on today, everything is not going well!Why did the prince's arrow hit the target!Why did the dense fog dissipate?Why are there so many witnesses popping up all of a sudden!Even this Deng family is the same, mud can't support the wall!

Could it be that God is really on the prince's side?

……

The discussion in the classroom was too loud, Yang Xuan had to pat the gavel again: "Quiet!"

The scene was silent again, and a needle could be heard.

"So, Peng Chuanyi's mother and son have been oppressed by you countless times. The two of them have been forbearing, and you have been aggressive."

Deng's teeth clenched her lips tightly: "That's just a family fight. You can't say that my concubine killed someone, and you can't say that Peng Chuanyi didn't kill someone! Peng Chuanyi didn't move before, he just endured it. An Zhi, will he not be reconciled to suffering so much? , won't you be able to bear it!"

Yang Xuan's voice was slow: "So this is Peng Chuanyi's motive."

Deng nodded again and again: "Naturally! All the pressure from these concubines is his motive!"

Yang Xuan smiled: "That's why you admitted it so readily."

Mrs. Deng was taken aback, Prince...how did he know?

The onlookers all understood.

What a show!

In order to find a murderous opportunity for Peng Chuanyi, in order to convict Peng Chuanyi, this concubine did her best!They all admit that they have committed evil deeds!Also, under the oppression of such evil deeds, who is not excited, who can bear it?But any bloody man would think of revenge, how could it be impossible to kill his own father in a fit of rage, if he didn't kill the whole family, he still wasn't perverted enough!

This little concubine can have such a deep scheming, saying that she has never killed anyone, who would believe it?Maybe she was the one who killed the deceased!

Deng's heart became even more anxious when she heard everyone's discussion: "The concubine is innocent! The concubine agrees with her husband, why did she want to harm him? The concubine's behavior is just petty, and she doesn't want Peng Chuanyi to take more things!" Seeing the situation was one-sided, she gritted her teeth , began to say, "Even if the concubine's behavior is wrong, outsiders can condemn it, but if there is no conclusive evidence, your highness can take the concubine's wife position, and you can't punish the concubine!"

When everyone looked at each other, there was a different meaning in the whispers with each other's winks. There must be a backstage!How dare you talk to the prince like that!

Yang Xuan's expression remained unchanged: "You said Peng Chuanyi had a motive, but you have no motive at all."

"Yes!" Deng Shi slightly puffed up his chest, thinking he was justified.Without even a motive, why kill someone!

"I have only read the previous two trial files. You said that the deceased had something extremely important..."

Deng's eyes flickered slightly: "Yes! Peng Chuanyi must have done this for this too, and his murderous intentions are even more serious!"

Peng Chuanyi immediately complained: "I never knew there was such a thing, and my father never mentioned it!"

Deng stared at him: "That's because your father didn't want to tell you, for fear that you would become impetuous!"

Yang Xuan suppressed the quarrel between the two, paused for a while, and waited for the atmosphere in the hall to calm down before looking at Mrs. Deng again: "You said that you are small-minded and won't allow the Peng family to give Peng Chuanyi anything. Even his name has to be taken from the family tree. You are only willing to cross it out. Now that the deceased wants to give such an important thing to such a son who has never liked it very much, but refuses to give it to you, are you not angry? Will you be willing and hold back?"

Deng Shi was dumbfounded, his palms were a little wet and cold.

"It's not in your character."

Deng opened her mouth to explain, but before she could speak, Yang Xuan said again: "Such an important thing should be left to my son who has never been in love, but I don't want this son to know; I don't want to give it to you, but I just tell you ...Is the deceased stupid?"

The surrounding audience burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, how can there be such a stupid person! If a person surnamed Peng uses this brain to do business, how can he make any business!"

"Tell me about such a big thing, your man obviously favors you! He must have never thought of giving it to Peng Chuanyi! Telling you to lie, the preface and the afterword don't match, you are dumbfounded! Slap your face!"

"I think someone else taught her this."

"The person who taught this is too stupid to make up dots!"

At this point in the case trial, apart from watching the common people, all the big and small families, officials and forces outside are all serious, with their own thoughts.

A prince who grew up in the temple, had no education, and was suddenly recalled to the palace. He had no powerful connections, and he didn't know the context. They all have deep meanings, and they seem to be leading the development of the situation... This prince, as rumored four years ago, should not be underestimated!

With such a crown prince in the court...the situation in the court is bound to change greatly.

……

When everyone quieted down, Yang Xuan lowered his eyes slightly and lowered his voice a little. He didn't know if he had some deep meaning to remind others, or he was too deep in thinking, and unconsciously murmured to himself slightly loudly: "Or maybe, the deceased I wanted to give it to you, so I told you, but then I changed my mind..."

Deng was overjoyed, and immediately nodded again and again: "Yes, that's it! That's it!" You don't have to think about it yourself, the reason will come!

Yang Xuan's eyes slanted slightly, and there was a meaningful smile in his eyes: "Is that so?"

"Indeed!"

"He loves you so much...why did he suddenly change? He even changed his mind and said that he would give it to the most disliked son..." Yang Xuan closed his smile, and his face became extremely solemn. "You have such a deep relationship with him, but he has changed. What did you do to make him so wary?"

The onlookers thought to themselves, yes, what did Mrs. Deng do to make the situation change so quickly?Steal a man?

"You must have a different intention! The deceased noticed it!" Yang Xuan slapped the gavel, "This is your motive for killing!"

Deng was dumbfounded, her lips and tongue were numb, she didn't know why the case went in this direction, she seemed to have done something wrong, but she couldn't find out what was wrong, anyway, the more she said, the more mistakes she made... She stared blankly Yang Xuan didn't dare to speak anymore.

Yang Xuan slapped the gavel angrily again: "I have read the case and asked the witnesses. Your Deng family has quite a face in the Peng family by relying on the power of your mother's family, but that's all. In the past two years, the deceased suddenly became popular, and the business Bigger, richer, and sought after by others, I think it is at this time that you got that "very important thing" in your mouth! In the past few years, your natal family only communicated with you at four o'clock and eight festivals. In the past year, suddenly More, half a year ago, the most beloved head of your natal family used the housekeeper to pay a gift to see you, but he never left—Mr. Deng! Tell me, what are you looking for, what are you planning!"

The soles of Deng's feet are fluttering, his eyes are confused, and he is completely dumbfounded...why, why does the prince know everything!

"The deceased was a businessman, why did he suddenly have so much energy, the business that he couldn't talk about in the past was easy, and the connections that he didn't dare to think about in the past were easy to have, and the wealth he accumulated in a year even exceeded half his life! What the hell is it? A remarkable thing that can help people so far? Mrs. Deng, let me tell you!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.

The onlookers stared wide-eyed, thinking that this case is really full of twists and turns, rich in content, so there is such a big trick hidden!Why didn't I hear it in the first two trials... Uh, it seems that I didn't mention it, but the presiding officer didn't seem to ask too deeply. Everyone just thought it was a family heirloom, but it wasn't. It's better than the family heirloom. How many times there are things!

Get what you want, do what you want, one year can be worth half a lifetime of hard work!

If the audience was shocked and curious, insiders like King Yue were worried.For such a mysterious and useful thing as the brochure, the fewer people who know about it, the better. If everyone knows it, they will come to grab it. How risky it is!It can't be like this anymore, the prince can't be allowed to go on trial like this!

Yang Xuan didn't seem to understand how strong the wind would be, so he slapped the gavel vigorously: "You recruit or not!"