Chapter 217 Chapter 217 is the only genuine version...
Xie Yingchen also wanted to come and pick her up, but unfortunately he ran into the three-court trial and couldn't get away.
So, Gu Yican came alone.
"When does it begin?"
It was very cold in the north in November. Gu Yican brought a cloak with him and put it on her with his own hands, saying, "Three quarters past noon."
Gu Zhizhuo looked at the sky. It was only 9 o'clock, so there was still time.
"Let's go see Dad first. Look what I brought back!"
Gu Zhizhuo took out her trophy - the wolf tooth amulet. She held the rope and shook it happily in front of Gu Yican.
"Show it to Daddy."
The coming-of-age ceremony for Liangren men is to hunt a prey by themselves, and then make an amulet with the prey's teeth and wear it on their body.
During Duoleng's coming-of-age ceremony, he hunted a wolf king, and this wolf fang came from that wolf king.
"Didn't you say you would give it to me?" Gu Yican asked.
"I'm not giving it to you. I'm giving it to Daddy. I'm giving you a flowery headscarf."
As long as it was a gift from his sister, Gu Yican was not picky at all and kept saying "good, good, good".
The brother and sister mounted their horses and went to the Gu family cemetery located in the imperial mausoleum. They burned incense and kowtowed to their elders. Gu Zhizhuo then placed the wolf tooth amulet in front of Gu Taotao's tomb.
"Daddy, I'm awesome."
Gu Zhizhuo recounted all his achievements during his trip to Western Xinjiang in one breath, exaggerating them by at least 30%.
As he spoke, his voice choked and tears welled up in his eyes unconsciously.
Gu Zhizhuo put his head on Gu Yican's shoulder and sobbed.
Gu Yican gently stroked his sister's long hair, waiting quietly for her to vent her emotions.
After a while, he said, "It won't look good if you cry any more."
"No. Cousin Danling said, even if I cry, it's like a pear blossom in the rain, a beauty with tears in her eyes." She sniffed and asked threateningly, "Isn't that right?"
Yes, yes, yes!
Gu Yican raised his hands in agreement: "Sister is the most beautiful, as beautiful as me."
Gu Zhizhuo burst into laughter. Having experienced the separation of life and death in her previous life, she cherished everything in this life and would not let her bad mood last too long. She said goodbye to her parents happily and left each of them a flowery headscarf.
After finishing the most important thing in his heart, Gu Zhizhuo's steps became much lighter.
The brother and sister chatted and joked until they arrived in the capital just after 3 p.m.
The streets and alleys were bustling with activity. Almost every teahouse and restaurant along the street was filled with people, all waiting for the results of the joint trial by the three courts.
"I remember the Duke of Wei proposed last time that the people be allowed to observe the trial?"
right.
Gu Yican told her, "However, to prevent crowds from causing any disturbance, the qualification to attend the lectures was determined by drawing lots. About a hundred people were chosen from the willing common people, 30% of whom were students, 20% were businessmen, and 10% were actors, entertainers, and other low-class people."
The people thought it was a lottery, but in fact it was the imperial court selecting suitable people.
"Interesting." Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrows and asked excitedly, "Who proposed this?"
"Duke Wei."
"The Duke of Wei is truly a wonderful man."
"Right, right, I said that too."
The jade lion followed beside Yanyunzhao, the two horses very close, keeping pace. Gu Yican put his long arm on her shoulder and smiled as brightly as a flower: "The people were all selected by the Duke of Wei. Among all the people, only 20% are from Beijing."
The selection is certainly not for cheating.
The students were chosen because they are good at writing.
We choose merchants because they travel farther.
We choose actors and actresses because they come into contact with many people.
…
The Duke of Wei was afraid that the crimes of the deposed emperor would not be heard by the people of the world.
"The Duke of Wei, that old fox, usually seems quite cunning. But when the Crown Prince praised him for doing a good job, he was immediately overwhelmed with emotion. He worked day and night for three days to draw lots. Almost every one of the 110 people he drew was useful."
"The Crown Prince will let him take full charge of this three-court trial."
Gu Zhizhuo praised: "Amazing!"
Gu Yican turned his head to look at her: "Who's the best?"
Two pairs of identical phoenix eyes looked at each other.
Gu Zhizhuo said as a matter of course: "Sir, you know how to use people well."
His sister didn't praise him! Gu Yican stared at her straight. He and his sister were no longer the best friends in the world.
He pretended to wipe away his tears.
Gu Zhizhuo hooked her finger at him, and the two of them leaned shoulder to shoulder. She took out two flowery headscarves from her bag.
"I've been choosing for a long time, and these are the only two that are exactly the same."
The tie-dyeing craftsmanship in Xinjiang is very special. Every piece of cloth is different, and there are few that are similar.
"We each have one. Just the two of us."
Gu Yican was satisfied. He took the flower scarf and tied it around his own arm, and then tied another one on his sister.
You can tell at first glance that they are brother and sister!
"Let's go!"
The horse padded forward, and soon arrived at the Dali Temple.
The people who were "selected" to attend the trial arrived early, whispering to each other at the door, their faces flushed with excitement.
The court had not yet opened, but Xie Yingchen had already arrived. When the brother and sister entered, Xie Yingchen was talking to the Duke of Weiguo.
The moment he saw Gu Zhizhuo, Xie Yingchen immediately stood up and walked over quickly, not hiding the joy in his eyes.
"Miss Gu."
Duke Weiguo also quickly stood up and greeted him.
Gu Zhizhuo was dressed in military uniform, so he changed the blessing to a fist-clasp: "Duke."
I don’t deserve it! How could the Duke of Wei dare to accept her gift? He quickly returned the gift.
Xie Yingchen took off her cloak and pulled her to sit with him: "Is everything going well?"
"smoothly!"
"Where has Miss Gu gone?" Duke Weiguo asked curiously when he saw her dress.
"Western Xinjiang."
Xinjiang? Dressed like this, he's going to Xinjiang...to fight in the war, right? Never mind. As long as the two of them don't say anything, he won't know anything!
Gu Zhizhuo turned his head and smiled at him, his eyes brightening: "Sir, I bought a lot of flowery headscarves. Let me pick one for you."
Gu Yican deliberately leaned sideways to show Xie Yingchen the flowery headscarf tied around his arm, looking ostentatious and proud.
"My sister gave it to me," he emphasized. "It's the same for both of us."
Hehe, you can’t pick the same one no matter how hard you try.
Xie Yingchen: “…”
"I bought them all from Aur City...Do you want them, Duke?"
Duke Wei was flattered and said repeatedly, "Yes!"
This is a great opportunity to get close to Miss Gu.
Gu Zhizhuo picked one for him first, and Duke Weiguo also happily tied it on his arm in front of her.
Before Xie Yingchen had finished choosing, the Minister of Justice came in and announced, "Your Highness, the court is about to begin."
Xie Yingchen tucked her ponytail behind her ears and said, "Let's go."
Xie Yingchen guessed that Gu Zhizhuo would definitely come to watch the trial, and even set up chairs for both of them.
Gu Yican took the lead and took his sister's hand. Xie Yingchen then walked to her left and whispered to her sideways, "Xie Rong has lost her sense of taste and smell."
ah?
So, the only things he can do are hearing and speaking?
Apparently, the backlash from Heaven inflicted on Xie Rong was the loss of his five senses… If even hearing were lost, such torture would be enough to drive him insane. Even if he could still hear now, he was probably halfway insane, his will fragile.
As soon as Xie Yingchen arrived, everyone in the court greeted him.
Soon after they sat down, the court session began.
The first person to go to court was Lord Cheng'en. Lord Cheng'en had been imprisoned for many days and was still in a daze.
Bang!
When the gavel sounded, he shuddered with fear and fell to his knees.
"I was wrong! "
"Don't kill me."
"I'll tell you everything."
During the trial and questioning, he told the whole story in one breath, causing an uproar among the people who were listening to the trial.
The next person brought up was the captured Liang Ren.
At that time, more than a thousand Liang people were captured alive, and those who would rather die than confess died as they wished.
The rest of these...
They had been lurking in Daqi for ten years, some even having married and had children, becoming no different from the locals. The Duke of Wei was cunning; when he had previously observed the interrogation in the imperial prison, he had offered "exoneration of wives and children" as a condition, and someone immediately confessed.
Now, in the court, these people revealed the plan agreed upon by Duoleng and the deposed emperor in detail.
The deposed emperor is colluding with the barbarians?!
The deposed emperor allowed the barbarians to set fire to the capital?
The deposed emperor first murdered his father and then committed treason. When his rebellion failed, he wanted the entire capital to be buried with him?
Oh my God! If this fire really started, how many people would die in the entire capital? Thinking of almost being burned alive, anger boiled and burned in everyone's chest, endlessly.
When Xie Rong and his son Xie Jing were brought up, the angry people raised the cabbages in their hands and threw them at them.
Bang!
The cabbage stalks hit Xie Jing's back, and the leaves flew everywhere.
"You will die a miserable death!"
As the curses were shouted at the top of their lungs, more and more people joined in the angry outburst.
"Killing one's father and brother is unacceptable to heaven."
"If you die, you will go to the eighteen levels of hell."
"Go to hell!"
Vegetable leaves, broken shoe soles, scraps of paper, even fans, handkerchiefs and the like, whatever they had in their hands were thrown at Xie Rong.
Xie Jing's face turned pale, and he used his body to shield him, allowing the malicious intent and curses filled with resentment to continue coming.
Gu Zhizhuo: “…”
She thought of the Gu family members in court in her previous life.
He was in the same miserable state, being cursed and despised by thousands of people. At that time, Xie Jing was the supervisor of the trial.
My third uncle was tortured to death in prison and refused to confess. However, in court, one piece of "evidence" after another was produced, and all the charges were forced upon the Gu family.
The scene before my eyes seemed to overlap with the one in my memory...
How can it make people so happy!
Gu Zhizhuo's eyebrows curved, and he whispered to Gu Yican head to head: "Duke Weiguo must have done it on purpose!"
They deliberately did not check anything and allowed the people to enter the yamen.
"I think so too. Wow, sister, look, there, there..."
A blacksmith raised the hammer in his hand angrily and was about to throw it away when the yamen runners all struck the water and fire sticks.
Boom boom boom!
The blacksmith's mind was awakened and he dropped his hands angrily.
Snap——
The gavel rang.
The noise finally died down. Xie Jing brushed off the mess on his body, shook off the vegetable leaves, torn socks and other things on his hair and clothes to the ground one by one, and went over to support Xie Rong.
"Father, be careful..."
"Get out of here!"
The emperor pushed him away harshly.
Xie Jing was caught off guard, stumbling and nearly falling. His face gloomy, he lowered his head and sighed inwardly. After Gu Zhizhuo took Jia Ye away, he saw that his father was blind and had difficulty eating and drinking, so he asked the jailer to transfer him to his father's cell to take care of him.
Unexpectedly, this aroused his father's suspicion.
Father seemed to have thought of the curses Changfeng had uttered before his death, and was certain that he would kill him.
"Deposed Emperor Xie Rong, you murdered the late emperor with poison, framed the late crown prince, and usurped the throne. Do you plead guilty?"
Bang!
The gavel struck loudly and crisply, hitting Xie Rong's heart.
Xie Rong could no longer see even a little light or shadow. He tilted his head and looked around blankly, as if he had just realized that he was in the court.
"I am the emperor!" Xie Rong raised his finger and pointed in a circle around the court. "You have been bewitched by Xie Yingchen and deceived the emperor. You have humiliated me in every possible way. Each of you is guilty of a crime that cannot be forgiven."
Having heard with their own ears the Liang people confess that Xie Rong had allowed them to set fire to the city, the people were unmoved by his words.
The Dali Temple Minister produced evidence one by one.
From the poisoned ink stick, to the white silk that strangled the late Crown Prince, to the poison that nearly killed Xie Yingchen as well...
"I've never seen it!"
"Father, just admit it."
"You really colluded with Xie Yingchen and wanted to kill me. I should have killed you long ago..."
Xie Rong's eyes were red, like a trapped beast forced into a desperate situation. He suddenly pounced on Xie Jing and grabbed his neck with both hands.
Xie Jing didn't have time to dodge, and his face turned pale from being pinched. He instinctively raised his hands, trying to push him away, and then slowly put them down.
"Evil son! You colluded with outsiders to harm me, you evil son!"
Xie Rong's voice became sharper and stronger.
Boom boom boom!
The water and fire sticks started beating, but Xie Rong still refused to let go. The yamen runners had no choice but to come and drag him away. The courtroom was in chaos. The common people were very amused by the scene and took advantage of the chaos to throw a few pieces of vegetable leaves.
The Dali Temple officials couldn't help but look at Xie Yingchen, sweating profusely.
Xie Yingchen had a gentle and faint smile on his face and said nothing, as if he was merely there to observe the trial and didn't care at all about the chaos in the court.
Gu Zhizhuo just looked up and took out the yellow paper he had with him.
"hand."
Gu Yican stretched out his hands obediently. Gu Zhizhuo spread out the yellow paper flat on his palms, used his hands as a table, dipped it in cinnabar, and began to write quickly.
"What's this?"
"Master taught me new things."
"Evil son, go to hell!"
Xie Rong pinched him tightly, and Xie Jing opened his mouth wide, almost unable to breathe. The yamen runners finally separated them. Xie Jing clutched his neck and collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
The gavel made people's eardrums hurt.
The Dali Temple official's hands were red from knocking, and he shouted in a loud voice: "Deposed Emperor Xie Rong, the evidence is irrefutable, why don't you plead guilty?!"
Xie Rong stood in the courtroom, his robes somewhat disheveled. He turned toward the direction of the Supreme Court Justice and said, "I am the Emperor."
All the evidence was right before his eyes, but Xie Rong pretended not to see it—he couldn't see it in the first place.
"Death penalty! Death penalty!"
The people were enraged, shouting and roaring, shaking the courtroom. Xie Jing gasped, clutching his neck, and smiled bitterly. He lowered his head without arguing or refuting.
Only Xie Rong, with his hands behind his back, said only one thing: "Xie Yingchen conspired to rebel against his superiors and colluded with others. It's all fake!"
"I am the Emperor of Daqi."
Gu Zhizhuo finished drawing the talisman, carefully added some fine powder in the middle, and continued to use Gu Yican's hand as a table, slowly folding it into a triangle.
"Take him away."
Since Xie Rong refused to plead guilty, he could only be taken away to interrogate others first and then the court would be opened on another day.
During the trial, if the prisoner refuses to sign or seal his name, he must be tried three times in a row before being convicted.
The yamen runners took the emperor away.
"etc."
Gu Zhizhuo, who had been listening attentively to the trial, suddenly spoke.
She asked, "Sir, may I ask a few questions?"
The Dali Temple Minister responded repeatedly.
Gu Zhizhuo walked over and patted Xie Rong's shoulder gently, as if brushing off the vegetable leaves on his shoulder. In fact, she quietly stuffed the talisman she had just folded into Xie Rong's body. No one noticed her action.
"Xie Rong, you poisoned the late emperor and strangled the late crown prince. If you don't confess, they will come after you."
Xie Rong:?
"The late emperor is here. Look, he's right in front of you, staring at you."
Her voice was faint and she used the art of incantation.
Xie Rong's heart trembled.
"Take him away."
After Gu Zhizhuo finished speaking, he walked away without staying.
Xie Jing looked at her in confusion. He struggled to get up and tried to help Xie Rong. However, Xie Rong's steps suddenly stopped. A look of extreme fear appeared on his face, as if he had seen something horrifying.
He fell to the ground with a thud, supporting himself with his hands and trembling.
"Father."
Xie Jing hurried to help him, but he pushed him away again.
Xie Rong moved his mouth and stared straight ahead, as if he saw something among the layers of figures in the court.
"Father?" Xie Rong almost collapsed and shouted, "Don't come over here, don't come over here!"
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