Tai Jia

Sun Xiong speaks with a Gyeonggi-do accent on weekdays, but this person is extremely talented, and he can learn the local accent almost as long as he goes to a place for a few days.So he pretended to be a scholar in Linhuai County, and searched around Piantai and Biannan villages, which really made him find out a lot.

When Sun Xiong returned to the county office, it was already late at night, and the lights in the study were still on.

He tiptoed in, and saw He Xihua leaning on the soft couch by the window, with a book of scriptures in his hand, he seemed to fall asleep after reading halfway through.The white peony is elegantly painted on the title page, which seems to be the ancient legend about the peony flower demon.Sun Xiong closed the window carefully, then took off his robe and covered him, turned around, walked to the desk and sat down, writing down the results of today's investigation on a piece of paper.

Perhaps during this period of time I spent too much time at my desk, and it was rare to be able to go out for a walk, which was actually a rare comfort.The fourth watch is almost here, and Sun Xiong is still thinking about writing, without feeling tired at all, but after more than half an hour, he has finished transcribing and raised his head refreshed.

He Xihua was still in the same posture just now, and fell asleep a little more deeply, with his lips slightly opened, looking innocent at that moment.Sun Xiong looked at him quietly, not knowing how such a thin and slender boy could bear the heavy burden of a county.

"When did you come back? Why didn't you take a rest?" At some point, He Xihua woke up and yawned, his slightly damp eyes were still a little confused, and his normally fair face was slightly flushed.

Sun Xiong looked away, and presented the confession he had just sorted out with both hands.

He Xihua took it, sat on the side, and moved half of the couch to him, "Sit down."

Sun Xiong subconsciously wanted to refuse, but was dragged off by He Xihua, and sat down helplessly on the couch.

"Tell me, what do you find?" He Xihua looked at him with a smile, like a kind old father.

Sun Xiong lost his father since he was a child. The elders around him don’t know whether they put too much hope on him or have ulterior motives.

No matter what the He family is like, and no matter whether He Xihua himself is treacherous or loyal, at least at this moment, he made Sun Xiong feel a little vanity of being looked down upon.

"I went to a few villages to inquire today, and I made a big discovery in Biannan Village. This Jiao Xi was a drunk, and started talking nonsense when he drank too much. He always said that there was a child wearing a red bellyband watching him. He also said that he This niece committed a crime, she deserves to be here today, and said she shouldn't have gone to Shu to visit her son at that time."

He Xihua pondered for a moment and said: "I understand, you send someone to pass the message that I will open the hall tomorrow, and ask them to bring the Zhou family, Zhang Shiba and Jiao's all to the hall."

"Mighty." Two rows of yamen servants stood in the hall full of energy, He Xihua sat at the head seat, and the rest of the county magistrates took their seats in turn.

"Bring someone to court."

Jiao Shi came up with heavy shackles, her almond eyes were lifeless, like a dry well.

"I ask you, can you still admit the previous evidence?"

Jiao Shi nodded slowly, then shook her head suddenly, like a frightened rabbit.

He Xihua said softly: "I don't know how to eat people, you don't need to panic, just answer truthfully."

Everyone was surprised, the case was clear, Jiao was undoubtedly the culprit, why did the magistrate treat her so kindly?

Sun Xiong watched coldly from the sidelines, keenly noticing the slight fluctuations in Jiao's eyes, and seeing He Xihua's calm and gentle expression, there was obviously no suspense in this trial.

"What I confessed earlier is all the truth. The concubine is really desperate and obsessed with ghosts. She coveted the wealth of the Zhou family, so she made such a bad plan. I know that I have committed a serious crime. Now I just want to die. Please let the master do it!"

She wept so pitifully that many yamen servants could not bear it, but the civil servants who had read some books and understood the truth were extremely despised.

At this time, the Zhou family had already been brought to the hall. Chen, who had just strangled his grandson to death, had a pale face and an almost crazy smile on his lips.Master Zhou was haggard, his eyes were bloodshot with violence.Zhou Mingyu stood far away, with his head down, not looking at anyone around him.

He Xihua was an exception, at this moment his face was full of empathy, "You also came from a kind mother's heart, don't be discouraged, this matter can be turned around."

"Master, please save my concubine!"

"I can't save you," He Xihua said in a soft voice, but he couldn't say anything, "Have you ever heard of crimes and meritorious deeds?"

"The concubine will know everything and say everything."

He Xihua smiled slightly, "Then, do you know the whereabouts of the real young master of the Zhou family?"

Jiao covered her face and said: "At that time, my concubine was panicked. After feeding him, she put him in the wooden basin and drifted with the current. I don't know where he went."

"Really?" He Xihua was quite pleasantly surprised, "Then do you know where the river leads to? If you search downstream, you will find some clues."

Jiao didn't dare to look at the people around her, "I don't know what happened next. I remarried later and gave birth to a son and two daughters. I thought I could live a good life from now on. How could such a scandal happen!"

He Xihua said indifferently: "It's really shocking. It's just that after you dropped the child, it's your own flesh and blood after all. How can you let go? The distance between the two villages is not very far. Haven't you ever thought of taking another look from afar?"

Mrs. Jiao has recovered from the initial panic: "In the beginning, my concubine went to see it from time to time. Later, my husband went to the city to do some small business, and my concubine followed. I haven't been back to Linhuai for nearly ten years. county."

"Who is the matchmaker for this marriage? And who made the final decision?"

"The concubine's eldest daughter-in-law just got pregnant, so I went to Sichuan to take care of her. Regarding the marriage, the concubine only knew that one day the master sent a letter from my family, saying that a wealthy family had taken a fancy to my two daughters, saying that it was a match made in heaven. It just so happens that the son is not only well-off, but also well-versed in poetry and books, and there are no concubines who are dissatisfied." Jiao smiled sadly.

He Xihua suddenly knocked on the gavel, "Now that things are going on, you still haven't told the truth?"

In the hall, Mrs. Chen clenched her teeth, twirling the beads on her wrist, looking at Mrs. Jiao, as if she had been poisoned.

"What the women said is the truth, my lord can learn from it!"

I don't know what lawyer their Zhang family hired, but Jiao clearly knows that he must not plead guilty to murder.

Fortunately, He Xihua was well prepared, "In order to prevent Zhou Mingyu from being discovered by others, and to let him have no worries, what did you do to the real 'Zhou Mingyu'?"

"I'll tell you what she did." A clear and dark voice came, and Mrs. Chen was standing in the hall in plain clothes, "She took my poor child out, and in order not to let others know, she took him alive. Burn to death."

Jiao turned her head and said incredulously, "Ma'am, how can you say that!"

He Xihua looked at Chen Shi again, "Do you have proof?"