"And more." Qiu Yizi continued, "According to the coroner's investigation, none of the thirteen bodies, including Bi Xiuwen's, had any fatal injuries caused by any blunt or sharp objects. If these people were killed for robbery, revenge, etc., they should have obvious wounds. In this situation, I'm afraid the only way to explain the condition of the bodies is that they died of exhaustion due to repeated torture by Miao Zhen."
"Miaozhen's crime is not just a petty theft, but one punishable by death or even lingchi. Even if she was frightened by the majesty of heaven and made a false confession, more than half a month has passed now. No matter how confused she is, she should wake up and protest her grievances, right?" Qiu Yizi said incessantly.
Qiu Yi was still not satisfied, and continued, "In addition, the reason why I thought of going to the 'Liaochen Palace' to handle the Bi Xiuwen case was because I heard Li Shenshi's confession. It can be seen from this that Li Shenshi is indeed inextricably linked with Miaozhen Jushi. If we follow Lord Yin's idea and hastily release Li Shenshi and Miaozhen Jushi as innocent people, I'm afraid there will be no chance of solving this case!"
Hearing this, Yin Chengliang immediately flew into a rage, pointing at Qiu Yizi's nose and lecturing him: "Are you talking to me? Stop showing off in front of me. When I was the runner-up in the imperial examination, you were still breastfeeding! Let me tell you, based on your attitude, I don't agree with or approve a single word of this case. Go back to Shanyin County and wait for impeachment!"
Qiu Yizi was startled by Yin Chengliang's sudden anger. It took him a while to react, but he still couldn't understand: the case is the case, the attitude is the attitude, even if the speaking attitude is a little lacking, what does it have to do with the handling of the case
While Qiu Yizhi was hesitating, Yin Chengliang did not relax at all. He frowned and said coldly, "Master Qiu, why don't you leave my place? Are you still waiting for me to treat you to a meal?"
This order to expel him was clear as day. Although Qiu Yizi wanted to explain herself, she could not stay in front of Yin Chengliang any longer and had to leave in a hurry.
Qiu Yizi talked with Yin Chengliang for a long time in this Taoist temple. Yuchi Jiming and Wang Laowu at the door had already become impatient waiting.
Therefore, when Wang Laowu saw Qiu Yizhi coming out, he hurried forward and said, "Your Excellency has been gone for so long, the matter must have been settled."
After hearing this, Qiu Yizi couldn't help but laugh bitterly, shook his head, and said, "It's a mess. I never thought that a case that seemed to be a done deal would be so difficult in the end!"
Qiu Yizhi was a man who once had great influence in the imperial court. Although the case in his hands was important, he didn't take it seriously. What he was worried about was the governor of Jiangnan Province, Yin Chengliang. Who knew how many tricks he had in mind? What was his plan behind this to exonerate Master Miaozhen
Wang Laowu actually didn't know Qiu Yizi's specific identity. He just relied on the fact that he had been a so-called "second master" in his hometown and helped others to fight lawsuits. He knew some of the disadvantages, so he comforted him: "Don't be discouraged, sir! Even for ordinary fights and disputes, it is very common for the government to postpone it and take a year or two, not to mention such a big case."
Yuchi Jiming, who was standing by, had heard a little about his "uncle's" abilities from his father, and knew that although the governor of Jiangnan was an excellent official, he might not be considered worthy of Qiu Yi's attention.
Therefore, Yuchi Jiming was not very worried, but smiled and said: "It is said that Jinling City is a prosperous place with gold and powder. It is a rare opportunity for me to come here, so why don't you take me to have some fun, uncle?"
Qiu Yizhi had suffered two "defeats" in the past few days, and was feeling depressed. He thought that going out to play and relax was a good idea. Then he forced a smile and said to Yuchi Jiming: "Don't talk about you, even I haven't visited this Jinling City. Okay! Today I will put aside my official duties and concentrate on accompanying you to play."
Yuchi Jiming was still a little girl after all, and when she heard this, she immediately smiled.
Qiu Yizi smiled and said, "But this outfit of yours doesn't look good. You have to change into men's clothes before I can take you out to play with confidence!"
Yuchi Jiming naturally agreed immediately, and they hurried back to the inn where they were staying, changed their clothes immediately, and as it was getting late, they quickly ate lunch and asked the innkeeper if there were any fun places to go nearby.
The shopkeeper was very enthusiastic because Qiu Yi had given him such a generous reward, so he said, "There are many places to visit in Jinling. Yanziji and Zijin Mountain are both good places to go. As for the nearby places... Sir, how about the Qinhuai River in front of our shop? There are countless brothels and wine shops on both sides of the river. No matter how much time you have, you can spend it all. No matter how much gold and silver you have, it will not be enough!"
Qiu Yizhi saw that the shopkeeper was almost drooling as he spoke, so he laughed and said, "You are an interesting shopkeeper. Don't you see that I am an official appointed by the court? How can I go to a brothel to have fun?"
"Hey!" The shopkeeper said nonchalantly, "Which official nowadays doesn't go to brothels? Which brothel doesn't treat court officials as cash cows? I see that one day the emperor will issue an imperial decree that all officials who visit brothels will be executed on the spot. I think at least half of the brothels along the Qinhuai River will be closed..."
The shopkeeper was still talking nonstop, but Qiu Yizi didn't want to listen to his nonsense, so he interrupted him and said, "That's other people's business, I don't care. Anyway, I'm going to a decent place to play, so I just want to ask if you have any!"
After all, the shopkeeper was doing business. After hearing what Qiu Yizi said, he shut up and said, "Your Excellency wants to go to a proper place, of course there is one. Or just walk along the Qinhuai River and you will reach the Confucius Temple. Your Excellency is the God of Literature who has descended to the earth, so you should at least go and pay homage to the saint, right?"
Qiu Yizi then nodded and said, "What you said is quite reasonable. Let me tell you, we will eat outside today, remember to keep the door open for us at night!" As he said that, he casually threw a small piece of loose silver to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper took the reward and, thanking them profusely, sent Qiu Yizi and the other two out of the store.
So they all walked along the river, slowly heading in the direction the shopkeeper pointed.
The banks of the Qinhuai River are indeed the most prosperous places in the Han Dynasty!
A big river runs through the city of Jinling. The riverbanks on both sides are neatly built with large stones that are as long as a person. Two or three large rainbow bridges span the east and west to facilitate pedestrians to move back and forth. Under the bridges, there is a constant stream of ships of all sizes. Boatmen shout as they steer the ships loaded with precious items such as silk, porcelain, tea, for fear that they might bump into anything and cause considerable losses. The riverbanks are shaded by willow trees, and under the trees there are many tourists, shoulder to shoulder. The brothels mentioned by the shopkeeper are located right beside the riverbanks, attracting countless men to come in and out.
Wang Laowu was a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. Seeing such a scene, he was already confused and fascinated. He even forgot about his job of serving Qiu Yizi and stared straight at the brothel.
Seeing his ugly appearance, Qiu Yizi patted his shoulder with her folding fan and said, "Hey! What are you looking at? Be careful or your eyes will fall out!"
Wang Laowu swallowed his saliva, but seemed to have not recovered yet. He said, "Sir, look at the women in this building. They are all as beautiful as living Bodhisattvas. If I am lucky enough to enjoy one of them, it would be worth dying for..."
Qiu Yizi said, "How many times have I told you that when you go out, you can call me 'Young Master' or 'Young Master', but don't call me 'Sir'. You are so eloquent, why can't you remember it?"
Wang Laowu hurriedly said: "Master... I've got it in mind!"
Qiu Yizi then continued, "You just said you wanted to go to a brothel to have some fun? How difficult is that? I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Look at those people under Zhao Chengxiao, like 'Iron Head Dragon', they all had a great time in the brothels in the capital. If you do your job well, you will naturally have such a blessing!"
"What? 'Iron-headed Dragon' looks like a rotten potato, but it actually has such good fortune. Okay! I will do my job well, and when I save enough reward money, I will come over and give you a good..." Wang Laowu became more and more excited as he spoke.
Qiu Yizi was afraid that he would say something foul and make his niece, who was dressed as a man, embarrassed, so he interrupted and said, "It's good that you know it. Why don't you walk a few steps faster and ask how to get to Confucius Temple!"
Wang Laowu responded and walked towards a small tea stall. After a while, he turned back and replied, "Master, the Confucius Temple is just ahead, but we have to walk a few more steps. Do you want me to call two sedan chairs?"
Qiu Yizi said, "We have walked five or six hundred miles. Are you afraid of sore feet? We don't need a sedan chair. You can just lead the way!"
So the three of them looked like two playboys from a wealthy family, and with an entourage, they headed towards the Confucius Temple.
The Confucius Temple is a great sight in the city of Jinling. Qiu Yizi stepped in with great interest and saw that: the three Taoist ancestors, Yuqing, Shangqing, etc., were enshrined in the front hall; the back hall was the dojo of the three Buddhas, Medicine Buddha, Tathagata Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha; and the statue of Confucius in the main hall was sitting with a smile on his face under the plaque "Teacher of All Ages".
Seeing this, Qiu Yizi couldn't help but laugh, thinking: "The saint was poor and destitute during his lifetime, and he said that he was 'like a dog that had lost its home'. He never thought that a thousand years later, there would be such an extraordinary pomp and circumstance, and he even had the Three Pure Ones guarding the door and the Buddha protecting the courtyard. I wonder how the saint would feel if he were still alive."
I also saw that the side halls on both sides were also very popular with incense.
When Qiu Yizi entered, he saw that the god of wealth and war, Zhao Gongming, was enshrined in the center of the left hall. Various tributes were piled under the statue. As for the prime minister Bigan, the god of wealth and civility, and the righteous and righteous sage of war, they had to stand aside.
There are only two gods and Buddhas in the right side hall - one is the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva who responds to all prayers - and the other is Yuexia Laoren. His immortal salary is very meager, but because he is in charge of something real, that is, the marriages of men and women all over the world, he is fortunate to have a seat beside Guanyin Bodhisattva.
There was also a monk and a Taoist priest shouting under the statue of Yue Lao: "Come, come, this is a red silk ribbon that has been blessed. Three cents of silver for one, five cents of silver for two. Buy them and tie them on the beams of your house. I promise you will live together forever and be in love forever!" They spoke in the tone of businessmen.
Seeing that this good Confucius Temple had been turned into a mess, Qiu Yizi didn't want to stay here any longer. He shook his head and sighed, then walked out.
However, when he looked around, he could not see Yuchi Jiming and Wang Laowu. He thought they had lost themselves in the world of pleasure in the temple. He cursed inwardly, but had no choice but to turn back and look for the two men.
But when Qiu Yizi turned around on the spot, he didn't notice that a sedan chair was following closely behind him.
When the two bearers carrying the sedan saw Qiu Yizi suddenly stop and turn around, the one in front hurriedly braked for fear of hitting him; the bearer behind couldn't see the situation in front, so his steps suddenly became disorderly, and he tripped on the half-foot-high threshold of the Confucius Temple.
As he tripped, the sedan chair suddenly lost its balance and fell forward due to inertia. A person sitting in the sedan chair also fell out from the curtain and bumped into Qiu Yizi. (To be continued)