"Master Tang, if you do this, you're going to make a big mess!"
The courtyard outside the Yamen of Dali Temple is very large, as big as a dozen flaming torches, still unable to illuminate every corner.
But the flickering light of the fire reflected the faces of more than a dozen household officials with an extremely ferocious look.
And this manic appearance like chicken blood, coupled with the soft words of Wu Nong, showed some inexplicable joy.
However, Tang Weishan, who was in it, didn't think so at all. In fact, he only felt that his head was as big as a fight now.
Fortunately, this batch of household officials are all new recruits, and most of them are of the seventh or eighth rank. Even the two leading officers are half a rank lower than his five-rank temple leader, otherwise I really don’t know how to deal with it. .
"cough!"
To say that this is really what I am afraid of, Tang Weishan just had a happy thought in his mind, when he heard someone at the gate of the courtyard clear his throat and shouted: "Who is in charge here?!"
Tang Weishan looked at the prestige, and his heart suddenly snorted - it was none other than Zhou Chang, the right servant of the Ministry of Housing.
But just by looking at the gloomy expression on Zhou Chang's face, he knew that he was a bad visitor!
Tang Weishan subconsciously took two steps forward, but he stopped at random, and then cupped his hands on the spot: "Master Shilang, wait a moment, the lower official will go and ask Sun Shaoqing to come out and answer."
Tang Weishan did not approve of summoning more than a dozen household officials all at once.
Now that the backstage of the bitter master is coming to the door, he is naturally unwilling to continue to fight the thunder, so let Sun Shaozong, the initiator, deal with it.
With such thoughts in mind, Tang Weishan immediately turned around and lifted the hem of his clothes, and hurriedly entered the lobby of the inner court.
At the same time, the inner court.
Sun Shaozong took two steps back, looked up and down at a dark and burly man in front of him, smack his lips in dissatisfaction, and then leaned in and dipped some blood on the brush and smeared some on the other's face.
When I looked again, I was still not satisfied.
However, if I had to pick up the pen to smear, I was worried that it would be too much.
"Forget it, let's do it first."
He casually threw the brush dipped in pig blood back into the basin, and Sun Shaozong pointed at Liu Xianglian and said, "You go down with Master Liu, and repeat those words a few times, then you must not make any mistakes!"
The man obeyed obediently, and regardless of the pig blood dripping down his face, he followed Liu Xianglian out of the back hall.
After the two left, Sun Shaozong pulled out a rag from the corner and threw it on the ground to wipe off the dripping blood.
"uncle."
At this time, Yu Qian, who had been on the sidelines for a long time, finally couldn't help speaking: "This method is also a bit risky. If the real murderer can be found out, that's all, otherwise, I'm afraid that I will be called to criticize."
"Do not worry."
Sun Shaozong hooked his toes, picked the rag to the corner, and said solemnly, "This is just in case. If I don't see the ugly guy coming, I will never take any risk."
Yu Qian felt a little relieved, and was about to discuss with Sun Shaozong more carefully when he heard someone calling from the lobby in front of him.
"Lord Shaoqing, Lord Shaoqing?!"
When Sun Shaozong heard Tang Weishan's voice, he thought he couldn't resist the clamor of those people, so he ran over to ask for help, but now his face lost his good looks, he picked up the curtain and probed and reprimanded: "What are you yelling? No matter what those people say, You just put things on me!"
However, Tang Weishan pointed out and pointed out, and raised his voice to report: "Zhou Shilang from the Ministry of Housing has already gone outside, and I want you to go out and answer."
Zhou Shilang
Zhou Chang, the right servant of the Ministry of Housing
Sun Shaozong frowned. According to his previous inference with Yu Qian, the Ministry of Households was also on the cusp of the storm recently. Even if the three senior officials were dissatisfied with what happened tonight, they should wait until the dust settles before making a decision based on the results.
Who would have thought that Zhou Chang would come directly to the door this week!
This…
It seems a little out of the ordinary.
Sun Shaozong pondered for a while, then turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Tingyi, how is the week's waiter doing on weekdays?"
However, Yu Qian had changed his face with awe, and he was obviously doubting the reason and purpose of Zhou Chang's coming here.
Hearing Sun Shaozong ask about Zhou Chang's personality, he shook his head slightly, not willing to make a direct judgment, but suggested: "Uncle, let's see what he has to say first."
However, from his expression, Sun Shaozong has already come up with a part of the answer.
So without hesitation, he raised his chin at Tang Weishan: "Let's go, go out with this official and take a look."
The two walked out the door one after the other, only to see the dozen or so household officials surrounding Zhou Chang like a star holding the moon. It wasn't until someone found out that Sun Shaozong was coming, and then the geese lined up to the left and right. , as if to 'two armies against each other' posture.
Sun Shaozong took a few steps down the steps and cupped his hands: "I didn't know that Zhou Shilang Xingye was coming, and Sun had lost his way to meet him, atone for his sins, atonement."
Zhou Chang didn't answer that day, his left hand was behind his back, his right hand stroked his beard, looked Sun Shaozong up and down a few times, and then sneered: "It's really Sun Shaoqing presiding here! It's surprising, you shouldn't be suspended from office right now Is it?"
This fellow hit Sun Shaozong's weakness all at once.
If it wasn't for this consideration, Sun Shaozong would not have been hiding in the back hall all the time, and Tang Weishan would come forward to deal with it.
But those who are only rank five small officials, it is also suitable for Tang Weishan to deal with it. Sun Shaozong has no reason to avoid seeing this dignified servant of the household department.
Of course, although Zhou Chang's arrival was a little unexpected.
But Sun Shaozong didn't panic at all, and replied calmly: "The case of Lu Guijian has been troubled all over the city, and the households have been troubled even more, so that the national financial plan has been affected - it is a matter of the society, although Sun It's a body of guilt, but I really can't care about it much."
To put it bluntly, it means 'the reason why I do this is to wipe your ass for your household'.
Zhou Chang ate a soft nail and snorted coldly, but he refused to entangle with Sun Shaozong any more, and raised his voice: "Where is your Lord Wei? The more than ten officials of the Ministry have found out some iron-clad cases?"
"Zhou Shilang, actually..."
"You don't have to say anything!"
Sun Shaozong wanted to share one or two points, but Zhou Chang put on the face of Deputy Shangguan and scolded: "How can the guilty person lead the investigation? Or ask Mr. Wei to come out immediately and give this official a clear statement; Either…”
Having said that, he turned around and made a bow: "My colleagues, how can I be held hostage by a criminal minister?"
Not to mention the officials of the Ministry of Household, all of them are full of anger at this time, and just because of his identity as the servant of the Ministry of Household, he must be full of responses.
Therefore, the voice did not fall, and there was a loud noise in two chords:
"That's the reason! How can the criminals interrogate innocent people like me?"
"That's right! If Lord Wei doesn't show up, there's no need for me to stay here!"
"My mother is old and frail, and she was frightened just now. This official is in a hurry to go back and ask a doctor. How can I have time to accompany a criminal theory?"
Seeing the excitement of the crowd, it was only Zhou Chang who raised his arms, and everyone was about to break out.
Sun Shaozong's face was sinking like water, and he was about to say a few tough words to suppress the momentum of the other side, but suddenly a person flashed behind him.
"Everyone, please be calm, and listen to what Yu Qian has to say!"
The first half of the words had no effect at all, but as soon as the word 'Yu Qian' came out, the audience immediately fell silent.
Because Yu Qian is in the middle of everything, although he is only a mere seventh-rank, he is equivalent to a semi-independent discipline inspection secretary, and he can counsel Ji Yi in front of the king on weekdays, so even the minister of households gives him three points, not to mention the following A small official of the seventh or eighth grade
Of course, when everyone suddenly stopped talking, they were surprised that he suddenly appeared here.
At this time, Yu Qian walked down the steps quickly, stood side by side with Sun Shaozong, and cupped his hands: "Yu Qian also knows that the reason why the adults are complaining is not out of selfishness, but for fear that the matter will spread and it will damage the reputation of the Ministry of Household."
Who is willing to admit that they are selfish
Therefore, someone nodded immediately and replied: "Yes, it is small for me to be suspected for no reason, but the reputation of the tired household is discredited, but it is absolutely impossible!"
But there are those who are astute, and after a little thought, they realize that these words sound high-sounding at first, but they seem to have set a trap inside.
However, when he came back to his senses, it was too late to stop his colleagues from agreeing.
Therefore, he could only sigh inwardly, and in his heart, he labeled the colleague who spoke indiscriminately as mentally handicapped.
as predicted.
Hearing someone agreeing, Yu Qian immediately continued: "But all the adults are here. If you leave at this time, the news will be spread outside tomorrow, but I don't know how the government and the public will talk about it?"
Having said this, he shook his head and sighed: "During the half month when Lu Guijian was dead on the street, how could my household have a day of peace? Yu Mou thought that only by investigating Lu Guijian's case as soon as possible would we be able to Really restore the reputation of my household!"
"But I don't know what you adults think?"
In the face of Qian's glance, all the officials were speechless - or that sentence, who took the lead in saying that they were selfish to fight the censorship
Even Zhou Chang couldn't help being silent.
In fact, his taboos about Qian are not as serious as others.
But Yu Qian was originally responsible for the inspection, and now it was his deputy who died. He asked for a thorough investigation, which was justifiable in terms of emotion and reason, and it was really hard to refute.
However…
With the corner of his eye, Zhou Chang glanced at a household official on the left.
Seeing this winter, the official's forehead was oozing with oil and sweat, Zhou Chang immediately gritted his teeth, and defended himself: "Sir Yu's words are polite, but this is like a tossing about raiding a house in the middle of the night. It’s enough to pay the official, how can the wife, children, and children in the family endure it?”
He was also inspired by a certain official just now. Although this way of filial piety is slightly weaker, it is also politically correct.
And at the beginning of Zhou Chang, several 'children are sick in bed' and 'the old father is frail and can't be disturbed' suddenly appeared behind him.
The rest of the people also waved their flags and shouted, and for a while, there was another noise in front of the Nei Ya lobby.
However, just when Zhou Chang was complacent, Yu Qian suddenly tilted his head and whispered: "Zhou Chang's temperament has changed drastically, and there must be something strange in him."
Sun Shaozong was waiting for his words!
Immediately, he shouted: "You all have family members. Could it be that Lu Guijian, who was poisoned to death, and Wang Erhu, who was silenced, popped out of the cracks in the rocks?!"
"To be honest, the reason why this official is in a hurry to ask the case today is precisely to rescue Wang Erhu's six-year-old child!"
Having said that, he glanced around with stern eyebrows and said proudly: "This official is indeed guilty, but as long as this innocent child can be saved, this official is willing to bear all the consequences, let alone who he will offend! "
"Come on, close the door!"
Following Sun Shaozong's order, several yamen officers immediately stepped forward and blocked the courtyard gate with fire and water sticks.
All the officials of the Ministry of Household were in an uproar, but in the face of Sun Shaozong's murderous and arrogant appearance, no one dared to provoke him head-on.
After all, everyone knows that, not to mention the dozen or so people in this courtyard, even if all the officials from the household department are gathered together, I am afraid that it will not be enough for Sun Shaozong to plug his teeth.
The only exception was Zhou Chang, whose official position was higher than Sun Shaozong.
Seeing him reaching out and pointing at Sun Shaozong, he shouted angrily: "Sun Shaozong! What are you doing? Is there still a king's law?! You are not afraid..."
"Of course I'm afraid!"
Sun Shaozong also responded savagely: "But what Sun is afraid of is living up to the expectations of the people, and what he is afraid of is what thousands of husbands say! But he is not some power-handling person who regards the life of a child as a must!"
"you… "
Zhou Chang's hands were shaking with anger, but Sun Shaozong didn't bother to argue with him any more, so he left a sentence without turning his head: "Please wait a moment, my lords, I will go to court to ask the case when I'm ready!"
With that said, he was ready to return to the lobby.
At this time, he suddenly saw a scribe flying over, as if he was going to report something, but Sun Shaozong stopped him with his eyes, and then led the scribe into the lobby.
Seeing his resolute appearance, all the officials in the Ministry of Household stared at him, with a look of inquiry and suspicion in their eyes—could it be that the murderer is really among them
And one of the people in the group was completely panicked, got close to Zhou Chang, and said in a panic: "Sir, this..."
Zhou Chang hurriedly motioned him to shut up with his eyes, then looked around and no one was paying attention, and then he said cautiously, "Is your old mother healthy?"
Then, he took out something from his sleeve and slipped it into the official's palm.
The official clenched the thing tightly, his eyes staring at Zhou Chang, almost protruding from their sockets.
However, Zhou Chang had already been turned around and chatted with a certain member of the staff as if nothing was happening.