"What's the matter?" Xia Houlu asked Situ Jin in a low voice.
Situ Jin's face was stern, "Qingliu's hand. Dali Siqing is not a person of the queen mother, but a person of Qingliu."
Xia Houlin's heart sank slightly.
Qingliu and the eunuch have been in a confrontation for a long time, and when Weide was there, the flames were already in the air. For a while, there was a lot of trouble, and Qingliu's impeachment against Weide's memorial was piled up in front of the imperial court. Unfortunately, the emperor did not criticize it at all, so it was useless. Wei De resented Qingliu for putting eye drops on him, and he repeatedly started the Dongchang prison. An official who participated in his ten rules was tossed to death in Dongchang.
At that time it was when Shen Jue was being favored by Weide, and he helped Weide arrest a lot of people, and he and Qingliu had already formed a great relationship with Qingliu. Now that Shen Jue took Weide in his place, Qingliu aimed at Shen Jue. It seems that Yao's case and the siege of Guangling Temple were not only planned by the Queen Mother alone, but also fueled by Qingliu.
Xia Houyi frowned and asked, "Is the Governor ready?"
Situ Jin shook his head gently, "I don't know."
Shen Jue lowered her head and tucked her robe, and laughed lukewarmly, "Judgment? The Empress Dowager is fine. After all, she is His Majesty's own mother. Although it takes a lot of effort, she has to deal with her." After that, Shen Jue's expression changed. Changed, his eyebrows were sharp, and he was full of wind and thunder, "But you guys, we have to see, who has the qualifications to judge our family?"
"Presumptuous!" Dali Temple Secretary was furious, "You are just a mere eunuch, I wait for Qingliu court officials, why can't I judge you!"
The censor of Zuodu said sternly: "Chen Chen, don't risk the world, it's better to wait for the trial."
"What a gentleman of the Qingliu dynasty! Let our family tell you in detail, you wait for the family to go to Tibet. It's really pure and clear, and there's nothing wrong with it!" Shen Jue raised the corners of his mouth mockingly, but he did not agree with the Dali temple minister. At the beginning, he turned his head and faced the censor of Zuodu, "Lord Censor, everyone in the court knows that you are from a wealthy background. Your hometown in Songjiang has a lot of land, and there are countless Zhuangzi. But no one knows that half of this farmland is embezzled from poor and poor families. , you are in the sixth division. In order to please you, the magistrate of Songjiang turned a blind eye. The people whose fields were occupied by you had nowhere to ask and became refugees. There was a man named Tian Daniu who starved to death on the street. After using the money, I sent someone to dump him at random in the mass grave. I don't know if our family is right or not?"
The color of the censor of Zuodu changed, sweat dripped from his forehead, and he stammered: "One... a bunch of nonsense! Factory ministers don't want to spit out blood!"
Shen Jue ignored him, and bowed his hands to the Dali Siqing again, saying, "As for you, your lord, you are indeed honest and honest, and you can't find any fault. It's a pity that you are not strict with your family. Last month, your son hurt others by riding a horse. , an 80-year-old old man was kicked, and he lay at home for a long time, and then died at night. It is said that murder pays for life, but why do you have a good lady with long sleeves and good dancing, all the time, even the family of the old man. The benefits are enough, this matter is just pressed, you are all happy, the poor old man died!"
Dali Siqing's face was full of shock, his mouth was stunned, and he was speechless. Shen Jue looked at his expression and looked surprised, "Why, don't you know about this?"
Dali Siqing gritted his teeth and said, "You... nonsense!"
Shen Jue sneered and said: "Did you talk nonsense, and send your son and wife to the government, and you can find out after an investigation. It's just that our family always talks about evidence, then it will depend on your lord, you are reluctant to kill your only son. Pay for it!"
Dali Siqing sat slumped on the seat, and there was silence below. When the water is clear, there are no fish. Who dares to say that he has not made any mistakes since he took office? Even if you don't do it yourself, it's hard to protect your family from being spoiled and spoiled. Dongchang’s hands and eyes are open to the sky, and even the Pai Gow that was left behind from playing cards at officials’ homes can be picked up by the emperor, not to mention these secrets? But this Dali Si Qing did not believe in evil, so he slammed into Shen Jue's gun muzzle.
Shen Jue turned his eyes, looked at the Minister of Punishment, and was about to speak.
The Minister of Punishment hurriedly smiled and said: "Chang Chen! Chuang Chen! This matter has nothing to do with Xiaguan! Originally, the Queen Mother framed Chang Chen, the evidence is conclusive, the case should be closed! There is still urgent matter in Xiaguan's family, let's go first, One step ahead!"
The Minister of Punishment lifted his robe and left, and all the ministers below also got up and said goodbye. The figures around Shen Jue were like weavings. He stood among them, looking directly at the sullen Dali Si Qing, the smile on his face peeled off like lacquer inch by inch, and finally returned to the high and cold sky.
He asked indifferently: "Sir, do you still want to try?"
Dali Siqing's throat choked, he stood up slowly, took off his black gauze hat and held it in his arms, "Shen Changchen, you won, you won a big victory! This official will resign tomorrow and return to his hometown, and will never return to the court!"
"That's the case," Shen Jue bowed in a dignified manner, "Shen Jue respectfully sends you off."
Dali Siqing walked away, Shen Jue slowly straightened up, closed his eyes and took a deep breath, fatigue came up from his limbs, like dense insects and ants, crawling along the meridians all over his body. In order to cope with today's battle situation, he slept almost every day these days.
The figures were chaotic, and the tide generally flowed past him, and no one dared to look directly into his eyes. Now, the queen mother has fallen, Qingliu has been defeated, and the emperor is only ten years old. He is well-deserved under one person and above ten thousand people. But he suddenly felt that his heart was very empty, like a hollow drum that could bang out sounds.
why? Obviously he is the winner, the only winner.
"Master." Xia Houlin's voice came from beside him, he raised his eyes in confusion, and saw Xia Houlin's dark and deep eyes.
Xia Houlin said softly, "Let's go home."
Shen Jue lowered her eyes, smiled wearily, and replied, "Okay, go home."
He was about to turn around and leave when he heard an old voice from behind.
"I don't know if this old man has the qualifications to examine Shen Changchen in the first instance!"
He froze, a smile on his face.
Xia Houlin followed the crowd and turned his head, only to see a hunched old man walking in step by step with a cane outside the crowd. The old man was pitifully thin, with a bone-like shape, a thin piece of leather wrapped around a handful of bones, and the official uniform could not hold up.
Xia Houlin froze in place. The old man had experienced twelve years of trials and hardships, and he seemed to be getting older faster than others. His face was no longer the same as it used to be. But he recognized it, and recognized it at a glance.
Dai Shengyan, Mr. Dai.
He subconsciously turned his head and looked at Shen Jue. He stood in the windy field with his head lowered, his face hidden in the shadows, so he couldn't see his expression clearly. But for some reason, his shadow seemed to be filled with the cold wind, and the confidence that he had planned just now disappeared, leaving only a bone-chilling silence.
"Mr. Dai! You are here!" Dali Siqing hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
"It's okay," Dai Shengyan waved his hand, "although the bones are old, the road can still be walked, please wait a little longer."
The old man moved slowly towards the first seat like a snail, and happened to pass by Shen Jue. Shen Jue looked down at the hem of his clothes, and the colorful embroidery of the Jiangya seawater was dazzlingly bright.
Xia Houlin touched Shen Jue's hand, his fingers were as cold as ice and had no temperature.
"Master, don't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid." Shen Jue's voice was a little hoarse.
"If Mr. Dai wants to hit you, I'll take you away."
"Idiot," Shen Jue pressed his forehead, "stand while you're not allowed to speak."
The old man finally reached the finish line, leaning his crutches against the pineapple wood table, two thin hands supporting the table table, and slowly sat down. As soon as he sat down, Squeaky moved the joints of his whole body, as if he was about to fall apart at the next moment. The old man took a breath, took out a memorial from his sleeve, opened it fold by fold, and spread it out on the case.
After finishing everything, he raised his eyes and said warmly, "This old man considers himself to be prudent, and since he was an official, although he did not dare to say he did his best, he has never made any big mistakes. Give the old man the title of Crown Prince Shaobao. Today, the old man has the courage to try the case. I dare to ask Shen Changchen, what is the secret of the old man's case, so I can't try you?"
There was silence all around, and all eyes were focused on the man standing in the windy field. Qingliu officials secretly smiled and glanced at each other. Dai Shengyan is an outlier in the courtroom, never forming gangs or following suit. He had no political achievements in his early years, and what made him famous was his knowledge. The Confucian scholars in the world regarded him as a leader, and later he became the teacher of the late emperor. But since Xie's annihilation case, Dai Shengyan has taken the wrong medicine, and he has gone all out to fight against the Wei Dang. After beating the Dengwen drum several times, Fu Que begged and sued Weide for twenty-four articles.
Wei De regarded him as a thorn in his side, but he had a deep relationship with the late emperor, he had a great reputation, and he was secretly protected by the righteous people from all over the world, so he couldn't move easily. Over the years, people who have impeached Weide have followed one after another, and Dai Shengyan is the only one who has survived steadily until now.
Shen Jue pulled out a smile with great effort, bowed his body and bowed deeply, "Mr. Guang Feng Ji Yue, Shen Jue has nothing to criticize."
"Okay," Dai Shengyan lowered his head and stroked the memorial on the case, which had already turned yellow, the ink was deep, and it could be seen that it was some years old, "Back then, when the old man impeached Weide's twenty-four crimes, he heard the drum beating. After three days and three nights, he knelt in front of the palace for three days and three nights. Twenty-four rules were enough for Weide to smash his body to pieces. Especially the twenty-fourth rule, he was closely linked to Jialan against the party and killed more than 100 members of the Xie family in Jinling. Mouth, the Duchayuan experienced Xie Bingfeng, his wife Xie Xiao, and his sons Jingtao and Jingtan," Dai Shengyan paused, as if choked, "and my young disciple, Xie Jinglan, all of them. brutally murdered."
Everyone downstairs groaned.
Dai Shengyan continued: "How can the late emperor turn a blind eye, hear but don't hear, would rather risk the world's anger than protect Weide. Shen Changchen, although you have done a good job in killing Weide, you have done almost everything Weide did in the past. There is participation. Now, you are in charge of the seal of the Secretary of Lijian, you should be in charge of the affairs of the inner court, and you should not interfere in foreign affairs. However, you are following Weide's footsteps, ruining the ancestral government, and tempting His Majesty to have fun. Of these twenty-four, except for the last one , I applied them to you, and they are exactly the same. The factory ministers are well-informed and knowledgeable, these twenty-three sins have been heard before, do you want me to read them again?"
Shen Jue closed her eyes and said dumbly, "No need."
Dai Shengyan nodded and said, "In that case, Chang Chen, can you plead guilty?"
Xia Houlin was startled and frowned.
Shen Jue didn't move or speak, he lowered his head and looked at his shadow. In a trance, the shadow seemed to be much shorter, much thinner, and turned into a twelve-year-old appearance. He remembered that when he was in Wangqing Pavilion, he also stood in the hall and replied to Mr. Dai's words. At that time, he pretended to be arrogant, pretended that he didn't care, and insisted on a non-existent face, but was seen through by Dai Shengyan at a glance.
In fact, he knew that Mr. Dai was beating the drum and the sky. When Mr. Dai was kneeling outside the palace gate to ask to see the late emperor, he was standing inside the glazed gate, looking at the thin shadow in the sunlight from a distance. He wondered why this old man was so stupid, obviously Xie Bingfeng was such a famous bastard, Xie Jinglan had only been a teacher for a few months, he died, and if he died, he would be gone. Why fight with Wei De for them? You have to live and die
He felt so tired and breathless that he wanted to run away for the first time, so far that Mr. Dai would never see him again. However, the gloomy sky shone on him, and he was like a ghost in disguise, with nowhere to hide and no way to plead.
He opened his mouth to speak. Dai Shengyan suddenly said: "Since the old man's ascension to the present, the factory minister has not raised his head to look at the old man. Could it be that the old man is not qualified to see the factory minister's golden face?"
Xia Houlin took a step forward and wanted to speak, but Shen Jue grabbed him and prevented him from moving. Xia Houlin struggled, and Shen Jue's hands were like iron pincers, tugging at his sleeves.
Shen Jue's voice was so low that it seemed to be buried in the dust, "Please, don't say it."
Xia Houlin was stunned and stopped struggling.
Shen Jue slowly raised his head, the smile just now disappeared, he couldn't even fake a fake smile, his pure white face was neither sad nor happy, as if frozen by ice, only those eyes, Soaked in frost and snow, sad as a lonely bird.
Dai Shengyan was taken aback. The young man in the hall had beautiful eyebrows, and in the faint, he looked like the stubborn young man in his memory. In a trance, he actually felt that the young man was not dead, he was still alive, and stood in the hall, facing his eyes.
He frowned deeply and asked, "Chen Chen... looks very familiar. I wonder if you are not related to the Xie Clan in Jinling?"
"No." Shen Jue said.
Dai Shengyan's eyes hidden pain, and said: "It seems to be just a coincidence." He sighed, and said, "Then, can you deny the twenty-three sins mentioned by the old man just now?"
Shen Jue's voice was hoarse, "I..."
The hall was silent, and everyone was waiting for his words. At that moment, he seemed to be the fledgling boy from before, the eloquent and aggressive Shen Jue disappeared, and there was only a boy who was overwhelmed, and his heart was full of icy sadness.
However, in the dead silence, Xia Houlin suddenly said loudly: "I don't recognize it!"
It was as if a sharp arrow shot out of the sky, piercing the silent silence, and everyone was shocked. Dali Si Qing shouted: "How can you interrupt here! Step back!"
Xiahou Lin lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, kowtowed and said, "Sir, the censor of Zuodu has occupied other people's fields, and the son of Dali Siqing wants to take someone else's life! I have searched the Dongchang case and revealed the secrets of the adults. In the civil and military affairs of the dynasty, no one is innocent, no one is innocent! Why does the gentleman only judge my family's superintendent and not them!"
Sitting around the crowd, their faces were flushed, and they shouted loudly: "Let's be presumptuous!"
"You are so presumptuous!" Xiahou Lian roared as he knelt on the ground, with blue veins protruding on his forehead.