The spring examination of the fourteenth year of Zhenning arrived as scheduled.
After the Minister of Rites offered sacrifices to Confucius, the imperial examination officials under the Ministry of Rites, as well as the clerks who were in charge of searching for suspects, immediately began to welcome the examinees into the Imperial Examination Hall.
The people at Qingbo Pavilion peeled nuts all night before the Spring Examination.
The guys were all confused. They kept working and asked the shopkeeper, "The boss asked us to peel these to make rice cakes."
The shopkeeper personally carried a bag of dried fruits and said, "Mix these together. Then divide them into small piles and wrap them in oil paper. The boss said that this is called... something called daily nuts. Eat a bag every day, and you will... have a clear mind... and write well..."
The guys said: "Our boss is really interesting, but boss, who are we going to give all this to? Can we keep some?"
"Take it with us to the students our boss rescued. They don't need to enter the Imperial Examination Hall."
The guys laughed and said, "Then I'd rather not eat. I won't be able to stay in that position."
Although this was said in jest, the meaning was very real.
The Ming Dynasty's joint examination was similar to the provincial examination, with three sessions and three examinations, for a total of nine days. After the examinees entered the room, the door would be locked, and they would eat, drink, defecate and urinate in the room during the nine days. Unless there was an earthquake in the capital, the door would never be opened.
The Imperial Examination Hall was like a prison. At a time when willow catkins were blowing all over the city and flowers were blooming and birds were chirping everywhere, this was the last round of "self-imprisonment" for young people before they could enter officialdom.
At the same time, the joint trial of Deng Ying by the Ministry of Justice and the Northern Pacification Office was also held in another "prison" in the capital.
Early that morning, Yang Lun ate a bowl of wontons at a stall in front of the Guangji Temple. When he walked into the Zhenfu Division Yamen, Bai Yuyang and Qi Huaiyang had already arrived, but Zhang Luo had not come out yet. Tea was served in the hall, and the officials from the Criminal and Household Departments were standing outside the hall. When they saw Yang Lun come in, they all made way and bowed to him.
Yang Lun stepped into the main hall and said three words to Qi Huaiyang, "Closed-door trial?"
Qi Huaiyang was holding a cup of tea and talking to Bai Yuyang. When he heard Yang Lun's question, the teacup in his hand almost fell over.
He quickly steadied himself, stood up and greeted Yang Lun, "Of course the trial will be behind closed doors. I've already told the Pacification Office."
Yang Lun glanced at the sky, then turned around and walked towards the back yamen.
Qi Huaiyang asked, "Minister Yang, we are discussing the interrogation here, don't you want to come and take a look?"
Yang Lun turned around and asked, "Has the evidence from the Pacification Office been delivered today?"
Qi Huaiyang shook his head, "Not yet, I've urged you to do it once."
Yang Lun said: "Then you guys discuss it, I'll go in and ask for it now."
After he finished speaking, he walked into the back hall.
Deng Ying had been taken out of the imperial prison at this time and was temporarily detained in a veranda room in the back hall.
Yang Lun was the judge in charge of this case. The lieutenant of the Pacification Department had no reason to stop the judge from questioning the prisoner before the trial. When he saw him coming, he only said, "My Lord, I'm afraid the food here is not very good."
Yang Lun:
"It's okay, unlock it."
The captain unlocked Yang Lun's room.
Yang Lun stood outside the door in silence for a moment, then he raised his leg, pushed the door open, and stepped into the veranda.
There were only two stools and a table in the room.
Deng Ying was sitting at the table, drinking a bowl of water.
Yang Lun pushed open the door of the veranda, and the bright sunlight suddenly fell on his knees. He subconsciously moved his legs to the side.
He raised his hand to block the light and looked towards the door. Only when he saw who was coming did he smile.
“It’s you.”
The captain guarding him shouted, "Why don't you kneel down before the judge?"
Deng Ying was scolded by the captain, and he quickly responded, "Yes."
When Yang Lun saw Deng Ying was about to stand up, he immediately frowned and turned to the captain, saying, "Get out. I want to ask him myself."
After saying that, he extended a hand to Deng Ying, motioning him to sit down.
The captain was driven out by Yang Lun, the door of the wing was closed, and the light in the hall dimmed again.
Yang Lun turned around and looked at Deng Ying. He was wearing a gray prison uniform with half of his arms exposed, and he looked a little thinner than before.
"Drink your water. Don't be distracted just because I came in."
"I don't dare drink too much."
Deng Ying put down the bowl of water as she spoke. The shackles piled up on the table, making a rattling sound.
Yang Lun walked over to sit opposite Deng Ying and asked, "Have you eaten early?"
Deng Ying smiled and said, "You came to see me before the trial just to ask me if I had eaten this morning."
"You thought I wanted to ask!"
Deng Ying looked at the bulging veins on Yang Lun's forehead and said softly, "If you are angry, save it for me in class. I will pretend to be more convincing."
Yang Lun snorted and looked at Deng Ying sideways: "My sister asked me to tell you that she and the students are fine. You should eat more and sleep longer in prison to gain some weight. Don't lose weight anymore."
Deng Ying couldn't help but laugh, "Yang Zixi, this doesn't sound like what Wanwan would say."
"That's what I mean. Anyway, I brought it here."
Deng Ying nodded and said softly, "Okay, I understand."
The two sat facing each other in silence for a while. Yang Lun looked Deng Ying up and down. Deng Ying put her hands on her knees, straightened her back a little, and said to Yang Lun: "Don't worry, it's just a light punishment."
"I have never heard of any light punishment in the Northern Pacification Division."
Deng Ying said: "Zhang Luo told me that a secret order came from the palace a few days ago, forbidding torture, so the first one or two days were a bit difficult. In the past few days, they have been letting me take care of it, and it has mostly recovered."
Yang Lun then retracted his gaze, "Zhang Luo actually told you this."
Deng Ying smiled and said, "Yeah, it's rare."
Yang Lun sneered, "You took the wrong medicine."
Deng Ying asked: "By the way, today is the first day of the Spring Examination, right?"
Yang Lun nodded. "Well, the people you and Wan'er protected went in yesterday. Wan'er was worried and asked me to keep an eye on them."
Deng Ying looked at the bowl of water on the table and asked, "How did she save those people?"
"She brought those people to Qingbo Pavilion and asked your people from the East Factory to seal off Qingbo Pavilion. It dragged on for days."
"And then?"
"Later, she asked the eldest prince to take the blame for those people."
Deng Ying was slightly stunned, and then nodded.
Yang Lun: "To be honest, I have to admire you."
Deng Ying smiled and said, "Apart from this identity, there is nothing about me that is worthy of her, Zixi..."
He raised his head and said, "I still remember the oath I swore to you in the Ministry of Justice. If I am sentenced to death this time, please regard it as my promise and stop helping me."
Yang Lun grabbed Deng Ying's hand and said, "Do you think my sister will be able to laugh in this life after you die? Deng Fuling, when you get out, I will really find a day with Yang Wan to scold you."
"let go… "
Yang Lun then realized that he had grabbed his injured part and quickly let him go.
Deng Ying held her wrist and bowed her head, saying, "I have no way to save myself this time. I can only wait for amnesty. Although Your Majesty has no intention of executing me, you have no reason to pardon me."
Yang Lun looked at him and said, "Wan'er asked you to wait. If you believe her, you should live well and wait."
"Wait until autumn?"
Yang Lun was stunned, "How come you know that too?"
Before Deng Ying could answer, the captain at the door said, "Sir, the masters in front have taken their seats. We need to bring the prisoner to the court."
Deng Ying stood up and said, "You go first. Don't show your sadness in front of the class. It's not good."
Yang Lun replied, "I know," and walked out of the room after lifting his robe.
**
The main hall was closed.
Apart from Bai Yuyang, Zhang Luo and other judges, only one official from the Ministry of Revenue was left in the hall as a secretary.
Because the light was dim behind closed doors, Zhang Luo ordered people to light four candles.
Bai Yuyang said, "Before bringing Deng Ying here, I have something to say to you gentlemen. No matter how the interrogation goes today, we cannot report the findings privately. After the interrogation of Deng Ying is over, I will write the memorial, and you will sign it after reviewing it."
Zhang Luo did not speak, and Yang Lun refused to speak either. Only Qi Huaiyang, seeing that his own minister was embarrassed, cupped his hands and said "Yes."
Seeing this, Bai Yuyang said nothing more and turned his head to Zhang Luoyi: "Bring the person over here."
Zhang Luo raised his hand, and Deng Ying was brought out from the back hall by the captain. He was forced to kneel in the hall. The light of the candle flame flickered gently, covering his lowered face. Although he was tied up, he still observed the proper etiquette.
Bai Yuyang looked at Ju Gang and raised his head to ask directly: "How did you occupy the two school fields in Chushan and Hudan in the name of the public?"
Deng Ying straightened his back and said, "I didn't touch the land deed. I just secretly transported the grain from the land and sold it in Hangzhou."
"Selling government grain privately?"
"yes."
Bai Yuyang put down the interrogation and asked, "When did it start?"
Deng Ying raised her head and replied, "It started at the beginning of the thirteenth year of Zhenning."
Bai Yuyang said: "It's been more than a year, how much silver did you take?"
Deng Ying: "I haven't kept count, most of it has been squandered."
"Wasteful? I heard that you lived a hard life and sold government grain privately, which was punishable by death according to the law. Did you waste money yourself or were you covering up for others? Think it over before you answer."
Deng Ying said: "Master Bai, please close this case quickly. No matter how many times you try it, this is the only answer I can give."
Bai Yuyang picked up the confession on the case and said to Zhang Luo: "Did you torture him when you took this confession?"
Zhang Luo looked up at him and said coldly, "We did it at the beginning. After the criminal confessed his crime, there is no reason to torture him again. Lord Bai, you are using the Zhenfusi's place to try the criminal today. I won't ask about other things. His Majesty also said that it will be a slave trial. Since he has confessed, you should sentence him as you want. After the trial, my yamen has other cases to investigate. You, the Ministry of Justice, cannot occupy the main hall of my Zhenfusi all the time."
Bai Yuyang's earlobes are red.
"What does Master Zhang mean?"
Zhang Luo said: "My meaning is very simple. Your Majesty hopes that this case will be resolved quickly. The Ministry of Justice will discuss the crime after the necessary questions have been asked. During the discussion, Deng Ying will still be detained in the imperial prison. Once he is convicted, you can come and bring him back."
"you… "
Bai Yuyang's hands were shaking a little, Qi Huaiyang hurriedly said: "Sir, ask about the details."
Yang Lun said: "I don't think there is anything else to ask."
He shook the confession in his hand and said, "I have read the confession of Deputy Envoy Zhang when questioning Deng Ying. It is not much different from the interrogation we drafted. He answered all the questions he should answer. At least the Ministry of Revenue has understood the strangeness of the two strange fields in Chu and Hu. They can be re-measured and registered today and returned to the academy for the purpose of education administration."
After he said that, he looked at Deng Ying.
"Deng Ying."
Deng Ying raised her head in response.
"exist."
"I have regrets."
Deng Ying gave him a faint smile and leaned forward to answer, "Yes."
"That's enough."