The two brothers were talking when the door of the outer compartment rang, Xie Qi walked in slowly, and everyone immediately changed the subject and chatted. Soon after dinner, Mrs. Zhuo came to lead Xiao Jingrui to the dining room, and Zhuo Qingyao and his wife had dinner together in their own room due to their limited mobility.
Xie Bi and Zhuo Qingyi had already returned at this time, but Xie Yu and Zhuo Dingfeng did not return for some reason, and only sent someone to report that they did not have to wait for them. Therefore, the elders in the hall only had two mothers, and the atmosphere was more relaxed.
In the eyes of the two mothers, Xiao Jingrui was the most favored child, which was evident at the dinner table, especially Mrs. Zhuo, any dishes that Jingrui liked were always brought into his bowl first. Xie Bi jokingly complained on the side: "Xie Xu and I are also there, can no one see us?"
Princess Liyang was indifferent, she only looked at him and smiled without saying a word, but Mrs. Zhuo quickly picked up a chicken leg and stuffed it into his bowl and said with a smile: "Okay, if you have it, eat it quickly. Young man, You have to eat like a wolf."
Xiao Jingrui thoughtfully served vegetables to the third brother who was silently bowing his head to eat, while laughing and teasing Xie Bi: "You are now my mother's son-in-law, and you are already more expensive than me, and my mother-in-law is always more pleasing than her son when looking at her son-in-law. In my mother's eyes, Big Brother Qingyao is also more important than me."
In order to distinguish, when everyone was present at the same time, Xiao Jingrui always called Mrs. Zhuo her mother and Princess Liyang her mother. When he said this, the eldest princess couldn't help but smile and said, "Qingyao is more sensible than you, so naturally Take him seriously."
Xie Bi wanted to say more, but was secretly kicked by Zhuo Qingyi's blushing face, so he had to change the topic and talk about the interesting things about going out for a green outing in the city today.
The quietest person on the table has always been Xie Xu. His arrogant and indifferent temperament is like his mother, Princess Liyang. After dinner, he sat with him silently for a while, then he saluted the elders, greeted his brothers and sisters, and went back to his room to study. So even a calm person like Xiao Jingrui couldn't help but want to call Yan Yujin and go to the study to make trouble with him.
"Xu'er acted in such a structured way at a young age," Mrs. Zhuo praised Princess Liyang with a smile. "In the future, it will definitely become a great thing."
There was a smile on the lips of the eldest princess, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes, and she said softly: "Xu'er is a person who loves learning, but she has always regarded herself too high, and she doesn't know the truth that there is a sky outside the sky, and there are people outside the world, and it will inevitably be eaten in the future. Some loss."
Xiao Jingrui and Xie Bi at the same time remembered the small loss that Xie Xu had suffered in Su Mansion, and they couldn't help but glance at each other, but they didn't mention it in a tacit understanding. When everyone wentssips together and went to the second watch, Xie Hou and Zhuo Dingfeng still did not return to the house. Xiao Jingrui felt a little uneasy. After sending the mothers back to the backyard to rest, he immediately ordered people to prepare horses and told Xie Bi to wait at home and prepare to go out. Look for. Unexpectedly, just as they reached the gate, the two fathers just happened to come back.
"Why are you wearing a cape? You have to go out so late?" Xie Yu frowned and asked in a stern tone.
Xie Bi, who had seen Xiao Jingrui out, explained quickly, "Big brother is worried that his father and Uncle Zhuo will not be home until late, and want to go out to find..."
"What's there to look for? Even if something happens to the two of us, what can you do as a child?"
"Jing Rui also has filial piety, Brother Xie doesn't have to be too harsh." Compared with Xie Yu's strictness, Zhuo Dingfeng has always been very kind to children, patted Xiao Jingrui on the shoulder, and said warmly, "It's hard for you to think about it, it's not too early. Now, go and rest."
Xie Yu seemed to be in a good mood today, she laughed and said, "Brother Zhuo, you are too spoiled for the children."
Since the prince's recent troubles, Xie Yu has basically never shown a smile at home, so Xiao Jingrui and Xie Bi were very surprised at this smile. They didn't know what happened to make him happy, but they didn't dare. Talking and asking a lot, just guessing secretly, saluted together, and silently retreated.
The next morning, Xie Third Young Master Xie Xu set off and returned to Songshan Academy. In the afternoon, Princess Liyang decided to go back to the Princess Mansion to take care of her flower room. All the female relatives except Xie Qi went with them. Something in the room stumbled, so only Xiao Jingrui escorted him. There are many varieties of flowers blooming in spring, such as Yingchun, Ruixiang, Magnolia, Qionghua, Begonia, Lilac, Rhododendron, Smile, Bauhinia, Ditang, Jindai, Dendrobium... The flowers were splendid and beautiful, and everyone was not too happy to admire them for a day. They stayed at the Princess Mansion that night, and the next day, they enjoyed it until late in the evening, before they got up and returned to the mansion.
Because the female family members were a little tired after playing for two days, Xiao Jingrui only sent it outside the backyard door and quickly withdrew. He first went to the west courtyard to visit Zhuo Qingyao, and then returned to the small courtyard where he lived, ready to calm down and read a book.
Unexpectedly, just after turning two pages, a familiar voice came from outside the hospital, calling his name all the way, and his tone sounded very excited.
Xiao Jingrui dropped the book with a wry smile, greeted his friend at the door, and asked, "What's going on? Come sit and talk slowly."
Before Yan Yujin could sit down, he grabbed Xiao Jingrui's arm and said, "I'm not mistaken!"
"Did you see anything wrong?"
"The carriage we encountered outside the city the day before yesterday was in He Wenxin, I read it right!"
"Ah?" Xiao Jingrui was stunned, "So he escaped from prison?... No, why did he escape to the city?"
"He escaped, but he escaped a few years ago. When we saw him that day, he was caught!"
"Escaped years ago? But why haven't I heard of this news, and the Ministry of Punishment has no documents to go out to sea..."
"It was put by the Department of Punishment itself, of course there is no sea arrest document!" Yan Yujin picked up a cup of tea from Xiao Jingrui on the table and moistened his throat, "I tell you, He Wenxin's father, He Jingzhong, colluded with Qi Min of the Punishment Department. , found a dead ghost who looked similar to He Wenxin and put him in prison, replaced the real He Wenxin, and hid it far away. After the Spring Festival, he cut people down and buried them. Since then, there is no proof, that kid will die. You can get away with it, change your identity and live again!"
"Impossible?" Xiao Jingrui was stunned, "This is... too lawless..."
"It sounds very bold, but the punishment department really did it. Don't tell me, this Qi Min has quite an idea. I don't know if he came up with this trick alone..."
Xiao Jingrui felt that something was wrong, and asked with his arms folded over his chest, "Yujin... This should be a very secret matter, how do you know?"
"It's more than I know now, I'm afraid everyone in the capital will know!" Yan Yujin gave him a sidelong look, "Today's spring finals can be regarded as a big show, you are hiding at home and staying at home, of course nothing. Know."
"You went to Caishikou to watch the Spring Festival Jue?"
"I... I didn't go... What's so good about killing people..." Yan Yujin scratched his head embarrassedly, "But I have a friend who went, and he saw it from the beginning to the end, and he saw it clearly, come back. Just tell me the whole thing... Do you want to listen?"
"Listen, such a big thing, of course you have to listen."
Yan Jinyu was more intrigued immediately, and said with rapturous eyebrows and vivid expressions: "It is said that at the time of Caishikou, there were a lot of people watching the execution, and the whole team of the Punishment Department was dispatched. Of course, it was Qi Min, who was sitting directly opposite the execution platform. Looking upstairs, the scarlet blood signatures were thrown down one by one from the upstairs, and after each signature fell, the head of a criminal fell off. It was chopped and chopped like this, and then it was He Wenxin's turn to verify his identity. Afterwards, Qi Min was about to issue a blood sign, when he said it was too late, your father suddenly shouted: 'Wait!'"
"Who are you talking about?" Xiao Jingrui was startled, "My father?"
"Yes, your father, Lord Xie. He was also looking upstairs at the time. After he stopped the executioner, he asked Qi Min: 'Master Qi, life is at stake, are you sure this person is right?'" Yan Yujin Learning from Xie Yu's tone, there are seven or eight similarities, "As soon as I asked this sentence, Qi Min's complexion changed immediately, but the arrow had left the string, and there was no reason to return the bow, so Qi Min could only stand firm. Scalp said that there was absolutely no mistake, and ordered the executioner to quickly start the operation. Your father just called "stay under the knife", and a carriage was guarded by the patrol battalion and rushed to the execution platform. Several battalions were dragged from the carriage. Ah drag, drag someone out, guess who?"
Xiao Jingrui said angrily, "He Wenxin."
"You guessed it right! This is the real He Wenxin. But his father and Qi Min refused to recognize it, so this is a fake. Your father sneered twice at this time, and brought out three more people, it was a prison sentence. The head, the middleman for the dead ghost, and a woman, the woman only cried a few words, the fake He Wenxin on the stage couldn't hold it anymore, and suddenly screamed, saying that he is not a death row prisoner, he does not want to die... Do you think When I wanted to see it, the crowd was crowded with people onlookers, and there was an uproar. The scene was so chaotic, Qi Min was about to faint at that time. Uncle Wen Yuan also came to watch the execution. Jumping straight, holding on to He Jingzhong and Qi Min, and arguing to meet you. In the end, it was your father who had the courage to send troops from the patrol battalion to take over the scene, but it didn't get out of control. Later, a few adults of them even dragged along. We went into the palace together, and it is estimated that he is waiting outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony for the emperor to summon him."
This is a strange anecdote that I have never heard of before. Xiao Jingrui pondered for a moment, and asked, "Do you really think that it was Lord He and an accomplice of the Ministry of Justice who did this to replace the death row?"
"I think it's true." Yan Yujin lowered his voice a little, "What a cautious person your father is, there is no hard evidence that he plays in secret at most, and he won't play it out in public. About only He Jingzhong was involved in the crime, but the Ministry of Punishment... I'm afraid it will be boiled into a bowl of porridge this time."
"That's right, if we find out that there are similar cases in the past, Qi Shangshu's crime will be heavier." Xiao Jingrui murmured in response, suddenly remembering how happy his father was the night before. Arriving at He Wenxin... Both the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Punishment support Prince Yu. This Prince, who has been smooth sailing recently, broke both arms just because of this case, and it was enough for him to be in pain for a while...
"Speaking of being the heads of the six divisions, it's really filthy," Yan Yujin shook his head to himself and sighed, "Since when did the courtiers become like this, and such people came to help the emperor govern the world, Can the world be cured?"
Xiao Jingrui lowered his head and was silent for a long time, then suddenly said: "Can you blame the courtiers? The monarch, Yuan Ye, the source is clear and the source is turbid, and now he is an official in the court, and he is ridiculed as naive when he treats people honestly. Recklessness is seen as naive, and if the atmosphere is like this, who is to blame?"
As soon as he said this, Yan Yujin was so shocked that he couldn't shut his mouth, and said for a long time: "You are really a blockbuster, I think you don't care about the situation at all? If you can say such a thing, please accept me. One bye."
"Stop making fun of me," Xiao Jingrui glared at him, "Besides, it's not what I said, I just feel more and more... He's right... "
"Who?" Yan Yujin thought for a while and asked hesitantly, "Brother Su?"
"Yeah. We walked thousands of miles and talked about everything along the way. This is the emotion Xie Bi made when he was talking to me in Bingzhuye when he fell asleep one night... I really can't figure it out. Brother Su has such a concept, Why did you choose Yu Wang?"
"Probably he doesn't have to choose either?" Yan Yujin shrugged, "What is the difference between the Crown Prince and Prince Yu?"
Xiao Jingrui nodded his head, his expression also a little helpless: "Brother Su once said that when you establish a ruler and establish morality, the so-called ruler is wise and the minister is upright. There is no way to be kind and generous. How many of the monarchs who are always suspicious, mean and unkind, have become famous and virtuous monarchs? I think the pain of Brother Su is that he cannot support a person who can convince him in virtue. Lord..."
Yan Yujin's eyes flickered slightly, he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything. He flipped the lid of the teapot on the table with his fingers and played with his fingers for a while, then suddenly got up and pulled the topic away. Far away: "Jing Rui, the moon is shining outside, can you accompany me to the Miaoyinfang?"