Qi Ning smiled, nodded and said, "I heard that Minister Chu has been busy, so I came here to take a look."
Chu Mingwei said respectfully: "Xiaguan was unable to come out to greet me, so I would like to ask the Marquis Haihan. However, in the past two days, Xiaguan has been reading the files, hoping to find some clues from them."
"A clue?" Qi Ning said, "What clue?"
But Chu Mingwei raised his hand and said: "Master Hou, the house is quiet. Why don't you come in and talk?" He then ordered: "You don't want to watch the tea?"
Someone immediately went to pour tea, and Chu Mingwei led Qi Ning to the inner room. After asking Qin Ning to sit down, Chu Mingwei said: "The Marquis does not know something. After the King of Huainan rebelled, someone sent a list to the Ministry of Punishment. They are the remnants of King Huainan." He turned around and went to the table, took out a document and presented it to Qining: "Master Marquis, please read it!"
Qining took the letter, and at this time the tea was brought. Chu Mingwei took it and put it in Qining's hand. Qining glanced at it a few times. Dou Kui was the first on the list, and even the name of Wuxiang Hou Suzhen was among them. .
"Who sent this?" Qi Ning handed the letter back to Chu Mingwei.
Chu Mingwei took it, put it back on the table, and then came over and said: "This is an anonymous report from someone. I don't know who made it. However, along with this list, there is a lot of evidence. Wrapped in a package and thrown in front of the main gate of the Criminal Department."
"Oh?" Qi Ning said calmly: "Whose evidence is this?"
"If the evidence is sure to be credible, at least seven or eight people on this list can be sentenced to death." Chu Mingwei said softly: "But there is only physical evidence and no witness, so we need to investigate carefully. Among these evidences, there are several cases It was originally handled by the Ministry of Punishment, and the reports proved that those officials were behind these cases, so I checked the relevant case files that had happened before to see if I could find any clues."
Only then did Qi Ning realize: "I see, what can Minister Chu find out?"
"Under investigation." Chu Mingwei said softly: "Originally, the investigation of the Huainan King's rebellion was handled by Lord Da Xi, but...!" He smiled slightly and continued: "Right now, the lower official is in charge, and the lower official doesn't know what to do. What should we do? Fortunately, the Emperor has decreed that the Marquis will be in charge of the Criminal Department, and it will be up to the Marquis to decide everything."
Qi Ning saw that Chu Mingwei spoke in a friendly manner, which was not offensive. He didn't know this person well. Today he came to the Ministry of Punishment to take up his post. All the officials of the Ministry of Punishment, large and small, behaved very coldly, but Qi Ning didn't know. Was it because of Chu Mingwei's instructions, or was it because the officials of the Ministry of Punishment were spontaneously indifferent to his rude behavior.
"Since Mr. Chu is investigating the case, there is no need to pass it on to others." Qi Ning picked up the tea cup and said with a smile: "Although I have received the emperor's favor and came to serve as a director of the Ministry of Punishment, I am new here and am not familiar with the Ministry of Punishment. Chu The Minister is an old man from the Ministry of Punishment, so I would like to ask for your advice on everything in the future."
"How dare you, how dare you, the Marquis made a serious statement." Chu Mingwei said immediately: "The Marquis is young and promising. If not, the emperor would not have placed such a heavy burden on the shoulders of the Marquis." He thought for a moment, then whispered: "Marquis I have given orders, so I will naturally do my best, but... there are not a few officials involved in this matter, and some of them are important officials in the court. When handling the case, I wonder if the Marquis has any other instructions?"
When Qi Ning heard this, he immediately knew what Chu Mingwei meant.
The case of pursuing the Huainan King is unusual. If you are not careful, it will set off a shocking case and shake the court. But everyone knows that the Sima family wants to use this opportunity to eliminate dissidents.
Although everyone in the court knew that Qin Ning seemed to want to preserve the remnants of King Huainan, many people still had doubts about whether Qin Ning really wanted to fight the Sima family to the end on this matter.
Now that Qi Ning is in charge of the Criminal Department, his attitude towards this case also reveals Qi Ning's true thoughts. Chu Mingwei's seemingly casual question is actually testing Qi Ning's final decision.
Qi Ning was naturally aware of this, smiled slightly, and said: "I don't know the details of this case yet, and I have no instructions. However, the court has laws and the emperor has decrees. If we can really find out who is involved, When it comes to the rebellion of King Huainan, it is natural to punish them severely." He blew on the tea foam and smiled: "But if the evidence is insufficient, then we must not act rashly. After all, the Ministry of Punishment is in charge of the important matter of life and death, which is not a trivial matter. If it is really If there is an unjust, false or wrong case under my command, wouldn’t that make the world laugh?”
"What the Marquis said is absolutely true." Chu Mingwei said very respectfully: "Being fair and honest is the way to handle cases." He sighed lightly: "If we all stick to these words, there will be no unjust cases in our Criminal Department...!"
"Unjust cases?" Qi Ning's expression condensed: "Servant Chu, is it possible that there have been many unjust cases in our Criminal Department?"
Chu Mingwei came to his senses and said hurriedly: "No, no, Lord Marquis, what I want to say is that as long as we stick to Lord Marquis' principles, there will be no unjust cases in our Criminal Department. There is no other intention."
Seeing Chu Mingwei's strange look, Qi Ning didn't ask any questions. He nodded slightly and said, "I came here today. I wanted to meet with everyone, but seeing that everyone is busy at work, it was difficult to summon everyone. ." After a pause, he asked: "When can Da Xichong return to the Yamen?"
"I have visited you, Lord Da Xi. His injury has not yet recovered, but he will be able to return to normal after a while of rest." Chu Mingwei said: "Within a few months, he should not be able to do errands."
Qi Ning said: "Find someone to send a message to Da Xichong. In three days, I will perform the inauguration ceremony at the Yamen. No one is allowed to be absent. Even if he is lifted, he will be carried over."
"Ah?" Chu Mingwei was startled, but still said respectfully: "The official will definitely send someone to deliver the message."
"Okay, Mr. Chu, let's do your job well." Qi Ning stood up and said with a smile: "Since we are all busy, I won't cause trouble for you here." Without talking nonsense, he turned around and left. Chu Mingwei was stunned for a moment, but quickly followed Later, Qi Ning was sent out.
Qi Ning just went to the Ministry of Justice today to check out the situation. The reaction of the officials in the Ministry of Justice was beyond Qi Ning's expectation.
He originally thought that when he was appointed to the Ministry of Justice, those officials, even if they did not welcome him warmly, would at least be respectful to him. But now it seems that he has oversimplified the matter.
Not to mention that he has no foundation in the Ministry of Justice, even the Jinyi Qi family has very little influence in the Ministry of Justice. The influence of the Jinyi Qi family has never penetrated into the yamen of the Ministry of Justice. To the officials of the Ministry of Justice, Qi Ning is a stranger. People are completely outside the Penal Department system.
Qi Ning is well aware that the Punishment Department has many connections. Although he is a Marquis, it is also wishful thinking to think that he can easily control the Punishment Department with the name of Marquis.
When I returned to the Hou Mansion, I saw a carriage parked outside the door. As soon as I entered the house, I met the third old man of the Qi family. The fat Sixth Master Qi Song followed him, and Manager Han escorted him out. , when he saw Qi Ning coming back, Qi Song's eyes lit up and he said anxiously: "Master Hou, you are back. The government said that you went to the Yamen of the Ministry of Justice, and we thought you would not come back until night, so...!"
The marriage between Qi Ning and Ximen Zhanying has slightly eased the relationship between the Jinyi Hou Mansion and the Qi clan.
The brothers of the Qi family were involved in the Qi clan, and they managed to collect 10,000 taels of silver for Qi Ning. In addition, the third old man had been running to Ximen's house for Qi Ning's marriage, although Qi Ning knew that they were just following the trend. He was worried, but after all, he had done something for himself, and he was not as cold as before. Before the wedding, there were always many things for these people to help with. He said with a smile: "The third old lady is here? There is nothing in the yamen." It’s important, so come back early.”
The third old man still raised his head slightly. Even though he had already compromised with Qing Ning in his heart, he still showed the attitude of an elder on his face: "When you have an errand, you should do it well and don't be careless."
Qi Ning smiled slightly. Qi Song seemed to feel that the old man's words to Qi Ning were a bit inappropriate at this time. He apologized and said: "Master Hou, my father came here today to tell you that the wedding date has been set. Father asked someone to check the date. , and we made an agreement with the gods to set the date on the eighth day of September."
"The eighth day of September?" Qining calculated and said, "There is still more than a month left."
"The weather was the best at that time, not as hot as it is now." Qi Song said with a smile: "In September, the eagle is flying, the sky is high and the air is crisp. It is a good time, and it leaves us enough time to prepare well. Although the wedding We won’t be extravagant and wasteful, but our Qi family is a well-known family after all, so we still need the respect we deserve, and we can’t be careless about certain things.”
Qi Ning smiled and said: "This will be a burden to all the seniors and brothers in the clan." He shrugged and said: "I can't actually come up with any expenses. You can just go to the accounting room and get it."
The third old man said nothing and walked away. Qi Song followed a few steps, but still stopped, turned around and walked to Qi Ning. He said with a flattering smile: "Master Marquis, I have a little something to ask for your help."
"What's the matter? Uncle Six doesn't have to be so polite."
When Qi Song heard Qi Ning call him "Sixth Uncle", he smiled brightly and said: "Yes, yes, I am not polite to my family. That's what happened, aren't you now the Minister of the Ministry of Justice? Look at that Yamen Is there any vacancy in Rico? Uncle Six was thinking that if there is a suitable errand, could I also go to the Criminal Department to run errands?"
Qi Ning said: "Do you want to work as a clerk in the Ministry of Punishment?"
"Actually, I have always wanted to find a job." Qi Song sighed: "But there has never been any way." He lowered his voice and said: "If Mr. Hou can arrange a job for Uncle Liu in the Ministry of Punishment, the necessary expenses will be paid by Uncle Liu. You can take it out.”
Qi Ning knew that when Jinyi Laohou and Qi Jing were alive, although they both held great power, they did not promote the people of their own clan. Even today, there are not many Qinhuai Army members who belong to the Qi family. Children.
Qi Song's talents were mediocre, and while Qi Jing was still alive, it was wishful thinking to be promoted by Qi Jing.
Qi Ning smiled and said: "I really don't know if the Ministry of Punishment has a suitable person, but does Sixth Uncle know how to judge cases with criminal names?"
"This...!" Qi Song said with an embarrassed smile: "Sixth Uncle doesn't understand that, but in a yamen as big as the Criminal Department, not everyone must understand this. There are always some errands that don't require interrogation. Yes, the Criminal Department doesn't arrest people all the time. Human? Is it appropriate for Uncle Six to lead the soldiers to catch the criminal? "
Qi Ning was disdainful and thought to himself that even if he led troops to arrest someone, it would take a lot of effort. However, he did not tell the truth and said with a smile: "I can't promise you now, but just remember this. If there is a suitable one, As for your errand, I will ask you to come over and do it when the time comes."
Qi Song was even more delighted, and said with a bright smile: "Okay, okay, Uncle Six will be waiting for your good news. Mr. Marquis, don't worry, Uncle Six will take care of this marriage to make it beautiful and decent for everyone." I can't even fault him." He said no more and left happily.