The kidnappers and connectors were all arrested and brought to justice, but the follow-up was disappointing. It turns out that the connectors outside the city are just middlemen. There is a group of people who specialize in collecting children from all over the world, and they prefer children from rich and noble families. know. When Fu Yin learned of this, he immediately sent someone to arrest him, but the person who took the connector had already gotten wind of it and never appeared again.
The intermediary said that those people like to cover their faces, so they couldn't tell what they looked like, only that they were tall and tall, and their voices were like a bell. If there are too many people like this, it is not worth much. As a result, the children who have been abducted since then are nowhere to be found. The parents who had heard that the abductee had been found and had lost their children had just raised hope in their hearts, but were ruthlessly hit by reality.
When Zhuang Zhong heard the news, it was as if cold water had been poured on him. Judging from this description, I'm afraid that group of people committed crimes with a purpose and organization, and the source has not been eliminated. There will definitely be people who will take risks and commit crimes for profit. And those children from the past can never be found again, such an ending is really hard to make people happy.
Simply put, the kidnappers caught this time did not end well, and the main envoy was actually executed by Ling Chi. Although this kind of torture does not conform to the three views of a modern person, he solemnly gave a silent thumbs up. He used to have a buddy who was in the anti-trafficking detachment, and he knew better than ordinary people how horrible these people were, and how painful and sad the parents who lost their children were. These families are broken and thrown into a dark place, causing all kinds of problems. Some parents even acted aggressively because of self-blame, and that buddy would take time out every month to vent his negative energy. Zhuang Zhong listened more, and became more resentful, feeling that those punishments were still too light for the kidnappers!
Some of them were punished repeatedly, and Zhuang Zhong felt viciously more than once that this kind of people was wasting food and polluting the environment. So even though I don't approve of such torture, I have to say that it is very satisfying, so I never thought of writing a letter to refute it. Someone who can get along with such a wonderful punishment probably hates it to the extreme, wishing to smash it to ashes.
The crime of abduction and trafficking in Dayou is actually not so strict according to the law, but this time the officials were cruel for some reason and ordered Ling Chi to be executed as a warning to others. Some people speculated that it was probably because the second prince was around the same age as these children, and felt the same way, so he ordered the next harsh sentence. Although there are voices of doubt in the DPRK and China, they are not indifferent. These kidnappers are actually aiming at abducting and selling the children of rich and noble families. There is no one in the family of the ministers in the court. The source has not been found, and they may come back again in the future. There are always people who take risks for high profits. Who is not afraid of themselves? His children and grandchildren were abducted by these people? Such intimidation can also shock people who have lost their conscience for some money.
Because of this case, Zhuang Zhong's relationship with Lu's family is one step closer, especially Lu Xiaobao likes to cling to Zhuang Zhong the most, and he is so greedy for Zhuang Zhong's flashlight. But even though he likes it, Lu Xiaobao will not insist on taking it for himself like some brats, but solemnly take it out for him to play with from time to time. Zhuang Zhong likes this kind of sensible child the most, because the material of the flashlight is too heretical in this world, so he took a magnifying glass for Lu Xiaobao to play with.
As soon as Lu Xiaobao got the magnifying glass, he couldn't put it down. He could squat under the tree and watch the ants all afternoon.
"It would be great if Zi'an was here." Although Lu Xiaobao was excited, he said with regret.
Smiling solemnly, he said, "If you miss him, go and play with him, and you'll be there in two quarters of an hour after you get in the carriage."
Lu Xiaobao's bright eyes dimmed immediately, thinking of what he saw and heard that day, he was very angry, "I've been there before, but their house is so unruly, even a woman can chirp at the master Wai Wai. Anyway, it is also the family of a fifth-rank official, and the family is actually presided over by a concubine! It is said that our military general’s family has no rules, but we don’t behave like this. Yu Zi’an is a son of a son, but his status is not even as good as a concubine’s daughter , I have to look at the face of the servant, I am really angry."
As Lu Xiaobao spoke, he jumped up from the ground, angrily kicked a bowl-sized tree next to him, and the tree broke just like that. Zhuang Zhong swallowed his saliva, the lethality was so great at the age of eight, how terrifying it would be when he grew up.
The people in the mansion have long been used to such things, and they tidied up the broken branches calmly. Not even a pause, as if it had been expected long ago.
"In the future, fight more leisurely, don't break people."
Lu Xiaobao nodded, "I never fight with others if they don't provoke me. My father said that it's reckless to cause trouble and fight, and it's a hero to fight with reason and evidence. My little concubine was torn in half, what, it's just a plaything, how dare you talk to me and my brother like that!"
Although Lu Xiaobao is not very old, he already knows the rules of this world through his ears and eyes, and he despises such unconventional people very much. Three wives and four concubines are not the norm in Dayou, only officials of the fifth rank and above are eligible to take concubines, and others can only take concubines when they are forty and childless. It's just that the concubines here refer to those who have a status and are recognized by the law, and those unnamed concubines or captive singers and housewives are not counted. Even naturalized concubines have a low status and are looked down upon by the world. Just like that Yin Yuehan, although she is a concubine and has a sister who is a concubine, she is not in the mainstream.
"That's all. When my aunt heard that I was the son of a military general, she ordered Zi'an not to play with me anymore. If I came to the door, she would push me away." Lu Xiaobao thought of Yuzi'an's depressed and humiliating little face. His teeth were itching with anger, if he didn't want to cause trouble for him, he wouldn't have cared if the other party was a woman, he would have just hit down with a heavy hammer and smashed the aunt's face flat!
Civil and military do not intersect, which is the norm in the court. Although it is really inappropriate for this little concubine to come forward to say these things, but such a decision makes sense in principle.
Zhuang Zhong frowned, "What's the attitude of Yu Zi'an's father?"
Lu Xiaobao curled his lips, "Zi'an said that he is so old that he can count his father's face twice. Although Zi'an didn't say it clearly, I can see that his father is not good to him, otherwise how could he let an aunt like this?" insulting."
Zhuang Zhong deeply felt that this father was too incompetent, even ruthless. But every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite. In the past, families with one husband, one wife and one child could cause a lot of troubles. What's more, there are three wives and four concubines here, and the complex interpersonal relationship is easy to be distorted. But no matter what, with such indifference towards his own son, Zhuang Zhong couldn't feel any favor for this young minister of Honglu Temple who had never masked his face.
"You are already literate. Although you can't play together, you can exchange letters. He is sad at home, and we don't have to embarrass him, but we still have to make friends. If you are afraid that the name card of the general's mansion will not work well, in my name, Crowned with the name of Dali Temple."
Lu Xiaobao's eyes lit up, and he hugged Zhuang Zhong happily, such a little guy was able to hug him up, Zhuang Zhong didn't know what expression to put on.
"Little Treasure, you are really..."
"Cousin, you are the best." Lu Xiaobao put Zhuang Zhong down, and giggled, "You will fall if I bump into it, so I lifted you up happily."
"Don't do this next time, where can I put my face." Zhuang Zhong touched Lu Xiaobao's head, "But this is just a stopgap measure, if there is a chance, it's better to be aboveboard."
Lu Xiaobao nodded fiercely, "Well, it's really not the right way to have an affair like this."
Zhuang Zhong choked, "Who taught you this word."
Lu Xiaobao stuck out his tongue, "I, Zhou Xiaohu, said that Li Hong's sister and a scholar exchanged letters secretly, and it was Li Hong who covered them up. Zhou Xiaohu said that this is an affair, and Li Hong still told me what he said. He's fighting."
Zhuang Zhong laughed, and then said seriously: "This word cannot be used indiscriminately. If it is spread, it will ruin Li Hong's sister's reputation."
Lu Xiaobao responded obediently, "Well, I won't talk about it next time."
Solemnly reminded: "Sister Li Hong and that scholar passed letters in private, don't tell others about it, it's not good to pass it on."
Lu Xiaobao scratched his head, "Zhou Xiaohu also said that it is not good to do so, but Li Hong said that his sister said it, that talented men and beautiful women are like this."
Zhuang Zhong frowned. Although Dayou was not feudal like the Qing Dynasty, he also paid great attention to fame and integrity. This kind of practice is praised and praised in operas, but it is actually not tolerated in the world.
"If the two are in love, why didn't the scholar propose marriage?" After Zhuang Zhong finished speaking, he felt that something was wrong, why was he talking about this to a brat.
"Sister Li Hong said that the scholar felt that he didn't get the honor in the examination. If the marriage proposal at this time can't make her marry in a good way, it will be a good time to wait until the time when he is named on the gold list."
The words are beautiful, but Zhuang Zhong feels that this scholar is unreliable. If he fails to pass the exam, will he not marry for the rest of his life? How many people can be named on the gold list in this world
But how can an outsider like him who doesn't get involved in this kind of thing intervene? If he reminds him kindly, it may be self-defeating. So he just told Lu Xiaobao that this kind of secret communication is not the right way, and it needs to be upright to be justified.
It never occurred to me that there was just a mention of the secret relationship between men and women here, and when Zhuang Zhong went through the files the next day, he found a related case. The case was handled by Guan Dawei, just like his previous style, simple and rude. Although it seems reasonable, there are many doubts when you look carefully. And the secret murderer will be executed in five days, which makes Zhuang Zhong feel that time is running out.
The dossier describes that the murderer Xu Sheng had secretly communicated with the deceased Zhao Shuyi before, and had a dispute during an affair one night. After that, he fled in a panic and stole all the jewelry and money from Zhao Shuyi's house.
What makes Zhuang Zhong puzzled is that those jewelries are nowhere to be found. The dossier says that Xu Sheng has sold them, but no one knows how to sell them to anyone. Moreover, there is no evidence that Xu Sheng killed Zhao Shuyi, just because he climbed into Zhao Shuyi's boudoir almost every night for more than half a year to have an affair with her, so it is believed that Xu Sheng killed Zhao Shuyi.
Xu Sheng didn't admit at first that he was drunk that night, and when he woke up, it was past the third watch, and he thought it was too late, so he didn't go to the appointment. His friend Wu Desheng, who was drinking with him, also proved this to be the case. But after being severely tortured, he admitted that although it was late at night, he still went to find Zhao Shuyi and killed him.
It is not impossible for the two to kill with passion if they had conflicts. Moreover, Xu Sheng was drunk at the time, and it is not impossible for some disputes to cause drunken madness and manslaughter. But Zhuangzhuang still feels that there are still doubts, especially he is very concerned about the whereabouts of the jewelry.
Zhao Shuyi's parents saw that she hadn't come downstairs early the next morning, and Zhao's mother went up to call her, only to find that her daughter had died tragically. Zhao's father and Zhao's mother rushed to the Yamen to report the case. Although Guan Dawei was confused in handling the case, he did act quickly, unlike some officials who work slowly. At that time, he immediately set off to Zhao's house and called the neighbors to interrogate them one by one.
The neighbors brought up the affair between Zhao Shuyi and Xu Sheng. It turned out that the neighbors in the neighborhood had already known about the affair between the two, and only Zhao Shuyi's parents were kept in the dark. Guan Dawei learned that Xu Sheng was immediately interrogated. Xu Sheng drank too much the night before, and when he entered, he was still asleep and smelled of alcohol. Not long after Guan Dawei brought him back for interrogation, Xu Sheng pleaded guilty. This case was also one of his achievements in solving the case in one day.
It was just after noon when Xu Sheng was arrested and asked where his jewelry was. Xu Sheng said that he sold it to anyone he met, but he didn't know where the silver taels were, and he said he had lost them.
Zhuang Zhong read it several times and felt that there was still doubt in this case. Neither the whereabouts of the jewelry nor Xu Sheng's motive for killing can stand the test. Time was running out, so after sorting out my thoughts, I got up and went to the prison of the Criminal Ministry.
The head of the cell made things difficult at the beginning, and the death cell was so severe that non-ordinary people could not enter. Zhuang Zhong took out the jade token Feng Huan had given him, and the cell boss immediately opened the door. The sense of solemnity and darkness rises, but I can't help but cast aside myself, power is easy to corrupt.
The conditions in the death cell were worse than the place where Old Liu was held before, and there was a gloomy air of death.
The jailer bowed his waist and looked very respectful, "My lord, please come this way, this is the Xu Sheng you are looking for."
The death cell was very sloppy, Xu Sheng was imprisoned for several months, and his unkempt appearance completely matched the handsome appearance written in the dossier.
"Xu Sheng! Come here quickly, this young master has something to ask you." The cell boss roared.
Xu Sheng felt shabby and didn't dare to delay and limped over from the corner, looking at Zhuang Zong with a numb expression.
"You are Xu Sheng?"
Xu Sheng only nodded his head without saying a word, he was in a daze.
"Did you kill Zhao Shuyi on the eighth day of April?" Zhuang Zhong asked coldly.
A trace of pain flashed in Xu Sheng's eyes, he closed his eyes and nodded.
"You also stole Zhao Shuyi's jewelry at that time, where are those jewelry now?"
"Sold." Xu Sheng's voice was low and hoarse, as if he hadn't drank water for a long time.
Zhuang Zhong asked one question after another intensively, "Who did you sell it to?"
"I don't know, people passing by."
"How much silver did you sell?"
"Five taels oh no, ten taels of silver."
Solemnly said: "How much is it?!"
Xu Sheng trembled, and quickly said, "Five taels, it's five taels."
"What are those jewelry?"
Xu Sheng looked confused, and said solemnly, "Give me one by one, don't miss one!"
Xu Sheng panicked all of a sudden, his mouth opened and closed but he couldn't make a sound.
Seeing that he was silent for a while, the cell boss was afraid of offending Zhuangzhuang, so he became anxious and yelled loudly, "Young Master asked you something, hurry up and say it!"
Xu Sheng collapsed on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy, "I killed the man, I killed the man, I plead guilty, I plead guilty!"