The Crown Prince Chases His Wife

After the sacrifice at the Confucian Temple, the prince was supposed to go to Guozi to supervise the study of the scriptures. But when this happened, the whole Guozijian was in chaos, and the sermons stopped.

Fortunately, Qin Yan and Feng Zhan both sent dark guards to follow Jiang Mu, so nothing major happened. The two black-clothed and masked dark guards knew each other's existence, and they didn't show up on weekdays, just hiding in the dark.

When Jiang Mu entered Chongwen Pavilion today, the secret guard didn't care, until they saw someone locked the door and smoke was gradually coming out of the library pavilion, and the two knew it was wrong. Immediately broke into the door and rescued Jiang Mu and Qin Ming, but fortunately the two sons were all right.

Xishan Prince's Mansion, the dark guard sent to follow Jiang Mu told Prince Feng Zhan about today's situation.

"Can you see who's locking the door?" Feng Zhan's eyes narrowed dangerously. If it was unsurprising, Jiang Mu would be like that. If someone deliberately murdered, this matter is not just a private grudge between the two boys.

"This subordinate has been with Jiang Shao for a few days, and I have seen that person. It is Song Liang, a tribute student from the Imperial College, and he often follows Wang Jingyu, the second son of the Zuo Prime Minister's residence."

"Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion?" Feng Zhanjian frowned, "Song Zhi, inform Guozijian of the sacrificial wine."

"Subordinates take orders."

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At the same time, the Imperial Prince’s Highness and the Zhaoren County Lord sent people to inform them that in today’s Chongwen Pavilion Water Disposal Case, Song Liang, a tribute student of the Imperial Academy, locked the door after Jiang Mu entered the Book Pavilion. His Royal Highness and the Zhaoren County Lord suspected that someone deliberately set the fire. , intending to kill the two sons.

The person who came said that the dark guard saw it with his own eyes, and the sacrificial wine had no doubt that he was there, and he was about to report the situation to Jing Zhaoyin.

When Jing Zhaoyin received this case, he was already in a turmoil. This case involved Zhaoren County Master's Mansion and Qin Prime Minister's Mansion. Qin Prime Minister insisted that Jiang Shao took private revenge, wanted to kill his son, and wanted Jiang Shao to question him. But Jiang Shao was the son of the Zhaoren County Lord's mansion, and the Zhaoren County Lord was also the eldest daughter of Qin Prime Minister. This relationship disturbed him, and he was exhausted.

Moreover, Jiang Shao and Qin Xiangfu's son have both returned to the mansion to recuperate. There are no witnesses at the scene of the water case today. Whether it is a trial or an investigation, he has no way to start.

This errand of Jing Zhaoyin is really not something ordinary people can do. Since he took office, the cases he has encountered are not involving noble families, high officials, and sometimes several big families in Shangjing at the same time. He is often powerless to deal with it, and just wants to quickly pass this term smoothly, even if he is transferred to the local state capital, it is better than suffering in this position.

Here, the Imperial College Prison Sacrifice Wine came to inform that someone suspected arson, and the suspect, Song Liang, the Gongsheng of the Imperial College, often walked with the second son of the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion. The hairs on his back stood up instantly.

This case involved both the left and right prime minister's mansion, and the mansion of Zhaoren County's mansion, and almost lost his life. This is a case that Jing Zhaoyin can handle. He immediately decided that the case should be reported to Dali Temple.

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When Dali Siqing received this case, he secretly scolded Jing Zhaoyin's servant, is this case accessible to ordinary people? He Jing Zhaoyin threw this hot potato out, but let him take over a big trouble. He only hoped that Song Liang, the Gongsheng, did this by himself, and not to implicate others.

But things didn't go in the direction Dali Siqing expected. They brought Song Liang, a tribute student from the Imperial College, and told the student that His Royal Highness and Zhaoren County Master's dark guard both saw Jiang Mu after entering Chongwen Pavilion and saw him with their own eyes. Song Liang locked the door, and after the lock was locked, there was a fire inside.

Song Liang originally thought that when the sacrifice to the Confucius Temple was being sacrificed, there was almost no one in the Imperial Prison, and what he did was unknowingly.

But I never thought that both His Royal Highness Prince and Princess Zhaoren were watched by secret guards. He secretly cursed that they were really perverted. What was there in a place like Guozijian worthy of the two secret guards to watch.

Song Liang knew that this matter could not be denied. Besides, Jiang Mu was still alive. As soon as he asked, he knew that it was the Chongwen Pavilion where he lied to Jiang Mu, and he simply accepted it.

But this is not over yet, that is, a simple question. After Song Liang confessed his guilt, he said that he was not the mastermind, but an accomplice. Before the severe punishment was used, he immediately confessed that Wang Jingyu, the second son of the Zuo Prime Minister's House, ordered him to do it.

Hearing this, Dali Siqing's head buzzed, really afraid of what to do.

The Dali Temple Minister immediately wanted to report the case to His Royal Highness, who was in custody of the country, but on second thought, His Royal Highness was at the scene today, and His Highness asked the Imperial Prince to report Jing Zhaoyin to Jing Zhaoyin, which is to ask them to openly investigate the case. He couldn't throw the case back to the crown prince again to make His Royal Highness unhappy. Then... you can only enter the palace to report the saint.

When Emperor Hui heard that Dali Si Qing finished the case, he didn't care much. If no one was killed, it wasn't a big deal, but it was indeed a little troublesome to involve the two prime ministers' mansion and the Zhaoren county master's mansion. Right Prime Minister Qin Wenzheng bit Jiang Mu again, as if he would never give up. This is understandable, Qin Xiang has always regarded his precious son as the lifeblood, and he must have an explanation.

This matter is not big or small, and if it is not handled properly, it might even involve the court situation.

Emperor Hui decided to conduct a joint trial of the three divisions in this case, but the presiding judge had better be a relative of the royal family, which became a difficult task. It is reasonable and reasonable that the prince should preside over the trial, but if it involves Zuo Xiang's mansion, because Zuo Xiang is the prince's uncle, it is not appropriate.

If let the second prince Feng Xian preside over the trial, but the right minister Qin Wenzheng is also the uncle of the second prince Feng Xian.

And Duanwangfu is far away in Youzhou, so it seems that there is only Changyuan.

When Dali Siqing heard this decision of Emperor Hui, he was stunned and shocked on the spot.

Xie Shizi of Yongding Houfu presided over the trial? Does Your Majesty think this is not messy enough?

Xie Shizi is the ex-fiancé of the Zhaoren County Lord, and he regretted his marriage some time ago, and the right difference is Xie Shizi's husband-in-law, and Qin Xiangfu's son-in-law is almost Xie Shizi's brother-in-law. Shouldn't this be avoided?

But as long as this troublesome matter is thrown out, Dali Siqing still breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, and exited the imperial study.

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In Yongding Marquis Mansion, in the study room of the prince Xie Changyuan, the atmosphere was a little stagnant. Just now, the Dali Temple handed over the news, saying that the Holy Master meant that the case of the Imperial Prince’s prison water removal, the three divisions will try together, and Xie Shizi of Yongding Houfu will preside over the trial.

Xie Changyuan didn't say a word since receiving the news, just lowered his eyes and rubbed the blue and white pen mountain in his hands.

Li Zhong frowned deeply, and said worriedly:

"Prince, if you can't explain this case to the right minister, you will offend the right minister's mansion; if it is found out that it is related to the second son of the left minister, you will offend the left minister's mansion; and if it is found out that it is the master of Zhaoren County, Jiang Shao, you will offend Zhaoren again. The county master's mansion. The presiding judge of this case is not pleasing to the left and right, it is a hard job."

Xie Changyuan sighed, yes, if it really is Jiang Mu who offends the Zhaoren County Master's Mansion, then he and Qin Yan...

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Two days later, the Ministry of Punishment, the Imperial Censor Terrace, and the Dali Temple jointly conducted a joint trial of the three divisions of the Guozijian case, and Xie Changyuan, the prince of Yongding Houfu and the commander of the Beiya Imperial Army, presided over the trial.

Qin Ming, the son of the Right Prime Minister, had bandages wrapped around his arms and legs, and was carried into the Dali Temple, accompanied by the Right Prime Minister Qin Wenzheng. The second son of the Zuo Prime Minister, Wang Jingyu, was accompanied by the Zuo Prime Minister awaiting trial. Jiang Mu was accompanied by Shen Huai from the government of Zhenguo.

Originally, Xie Changyuan was worried that he would meet Qin Yan today, but seeing Qin Yan not coming, there was a hint of disappointment in his heart.

The trial of this case thought it would be a bit of trouble, but I never thought that Song Liang, the Gongsheng, would confess his guilt very quickly. Because His Royal Highness the Prince and the guards of the Zhaoren County Lord had respectively identified him, Song Liang did not even make a sophistry and deny it.

Song Liang admitted that on the day of the Linyong ceremony, it was indeed he who beat Qin Ming with a sack and threw him into the Chongwen Pavilion. Later, he tricked Jiang Mu into the bookstore and locked the door because he wanted to frame Jiang Mu. But he denied arson, saying that Xu was the candlestick that Jiang Mu accidentally knocked over.

Song Liang immediately testified that Wang Jingyu, the second son of the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion, instructed him to do so.

There was a commotion at the scene, and the case was in trouble.

And Wang Jingyu of the Zuo Prime Minister's House pleaded guilty very quickly, and he admitted Song Liang who had ordered him on the spot.

The crowd was even more in an uproar. Whether it is the master or the accomplice, he has never seen such a quick confession.

Zuo Ding scolded Wang Jingyu angrily, saying that children were talking nonsense. He was stopped by the people from the Beiya Imperial Army brought by Xie Changyuan to prevent him from disturbing the court.

Wang Jingyu spoke loudly,

"My son is open and honest. I admit that I have been disgusted with Qin Ming for a long time. Guozijian only accepts children of imperial clans, internal and external relatives of the third rank, heroes, and officials of the third rank and above. Moreover, the officials of the third rank and above can only shadow one student, he Qin Ming. A concubine, who is not worthy to join us in school, is to lower the status of this son. I wanted to teach this boy a lesson, so I found someone to beat him up. "

The whole audience was shocked that the second son of the left prime minister's mansion was so arrogant. Although Qin Ming was only the son of the right prime minister, he was also the son of the prime minister's mansion and the only son of the right prime minister. .

Wang Jingyu ignored everyone's whispers and continued:

"I have repeatedly shown goodwill to Jiang Mu, the main mansion of Zhaoren County, but the other party always looks like he is dragged to the sky and never gives me face, so I framed Jiang Mu because I wanted to teach him a lesson."

Wang Jingyu denied that he let people set fire to lock the door, and denied that he killed two people. He said that he only admits what he has done, and with his background, he can act arrogantly and domineeringly, and it will not be so sinister.

This remark shocked everyone at the scene. The son of Zuo Xiangfu is really arrogant and boundless, and only this famous scoundrel in Beijing can say these words.

Zuo Xiang covered his face with one hand, he wished he could not have this son, he really lost all his face.

At this time, Jiang Mu's words brought the case to a climax again. He said that he saw kerosene on the floor and bookshelf in Chongwen Pavilion that day, and he suspected that someone deliberately set the fire.

Song Liang and Wang Jingyu denied it again. At the moment when the torture tool was pulled to the two, Wang Jingyu gritted his teeth and turned his head, looking like a generous sacrifice. And Song Liang is gone. He is just a scholar with little power, and he can't stand a severe punishment.

Song Liang wept bitterly and confessed on the spot.

"In the tribute students of the Guozijian, the annual tribute is one person for one year of the prefectural school, two for the third year of the state school, and one person for the second year of the county school. ; Yougong once every three years, and an average of six or seven hundred people can recommend one person.”[1]

"We Gongsheng students, after ten years of hard work and hard work, were able to enter the Imperial College, but the children of these officials, relying on the shadow of their ancestors, can easily get the places we dream of. It's not fair! It's not fair!"

The more Song Liang said, the more angry he became. He struggled to get up, but was held down by the Beiya Imperial Army.

"Why, Qin Ming is just a concubine, and Jiang Mu is just the righteous brother adopted by the Zhaoren County Lord. Why, what are they? I want them to die, I want them to die..."

Because Song Liang was too excited, he was knocked unconscious by the Beiya Imperial Army, and everyone was silent.

Song Liang was disheartened after being splashed with cold water and made a confession. It was Wang Jingyu, the second son of the Zuo Prime Minister's mansion, who beat Qin Ming, and then put the blame on Jiang Mu. Song Liang was good at making suggestions when he did this, locked the two in Chongwen Pavilion and set them on fire.

After the case was closed, Gongsheng Song Liang was convicted of attempted murder and was expelled from Guozijian.

The second son of the left prime minister, Wang Jingyu, ordered the beating and framed others.

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After that, the left prime minister compensated Qin Ming, the son of the right prime minister, for the injury medicine, 10,000 taels of silver and 20,000 taels of silver for the Guozijian.

Zhaoren County Master sent Shen Huai to express apology to Guozijian to sacrifice wine, saying that this matter was also related to Jiang Shao in Fuzhong, and Zhaoren County Master’s mansion donated 20,000 taels of silver to Guozijian.

Right Prime Minister Qin Wenzheng heard that Qin Yan had donated money to Guozijian, and he was so angry that blood dripped in his heart.

Zuo Xiang's son is the initiator of this case, and it is understandable to compensate Guozijian. But Qin Yan joins in the fun, and he is so generous. This is to put his right prime minister's house on the fire.

According to Qin Yan's statement, the matter this time was also related to Qin Ming, the left minister compensated, Qin Yan donated money, and his right minister could not sit still.

His son was beaten and almost died, and he had to donate money! The 10,000 taels of silver sent by Zuo Xiang in his pocket were not hot yet, so he had to add another 10,000 taels to go out.

Qin Wenzheng gritted his teeth, but asked Zhang Quan, the housekeeper, to go to the Imperial College with 20,000 taels of silver. It was also Shen Huai's words that Zhang Quan, on behalf of Qin, apologized to Guozijian for offering wine.

Guozijian Jijiu is still heartbroken about his collection of books, some books can be re-purchased, but those rare rare books are his heart and soul, enough to make him sad for several years.

The compensation from the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion and the donations from the Zhaoren County Master's Mansion and the Right Prime Minister's Mansion eased a little of his stagnation. After all, the three sons of the mansion still have to enroll in his Imperial College, so they are quite decent.

But what a scholar cherishes most is the study room, and he still suffers in his heart...

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Qin Wen was sitting alone in the ancestral hall for a few hours. His mind was full of thoughts of the day when the third division of the Imperial Court was interrogated, the second son of the Zuo Prime Minister and the Gongsheng Song Liang repeatedly mentioned that Ming'er was a concubine. Contempt poked his heart.

He went to great lengths to send Ming'er to Guozijian, hoping that he would go to high school and honor his ancestors. But he didn't know that the humiliation Ming'er suffered in the school on weekdays had reached such a level.

A few days ago, he had already sent a letter to invite the patriarch and the patriarch to come to the capital, intending to raise Song Mei as his wife, and his Minger would logically be called his legitimate son-in-law.

But at that time, he was worried that Qin Yan had to be sealed as the county master, and he was a celebrity in the imperial court. He was worried that it would be wrong to handle this matter at that stall, and he would lose his holy heart, so he put the matter on hold.

He has been an official for many years, and he has always been wise to protect himself, never testing on the edge of danger.

But now, the government of Zhenguo has made a move to draw a clear line with him. In this Qin Ming accident, Qin Yan not only did not care about his younger brother Qin Ming, but from the beginning to the end, he just protected Jiang Mu, who used to be annoying. The donation was not discussed with his father. If he handled it improperly, Qin Ming's life in Guozijian would be even more difficult.

Qin Yan, the daughter, didn't take his father seriously, so it's no wonder he.

Now that he has no way out, Ming'er's identity must be resolved.

Qin Wenzheng exhaled a turbid breath and finally made up his mind. He immediately asked Zhang Quan, the housekeeper, to invite the elders to the capital again, and put Song Mei on the agenda.

The author says:

[1] In this article, "Guozijian Gongsheng... can recommend one person." Adapted from "Illustrated Guozijian: The Highest School of the Feudal Dynasty" pp. 30, 31, and 32.