Chapter 87
Although the two have talked it out and know each other's feelings, the big case has not been solved, so they really don't have much time to think about romance.
Today was just like any other day, everyone went back to their rooms and went to bed early.
Most of her worries were gone, and Jiang Lingyao did not toss and turn. She slept very soundly that night and had no dreams until dawn.
Early that morning, Jiang Lingyao washed and changed her clothes, then put on her work uniform and went downstairs neatly dressed.
At this time, the sky was about to brighten, and the golden crow had not yet appeared. Sparse light and shadows were cast on the quiet streets, reflecting a mottled scene of flower leaves.
When Jiang Lingyao went downstairs, she saw Duan Nanqiao, who had just returned from swordplay, with some sweat on his forehead.
He smiled at Jiang Lingyao and said, "Good morning, my lady."
Jiang Lingyao also smiled and said, "Good morning, my dear."
The two of them said good morning. Jiang Lingyao went to the dining room and waited for a while. Duan Nanqiao also changed into a flying fish suit and came over to have breakfast.
The breakfast was quiet, and the two did not discuss business at home. It was not until they got on the carriage that Jiang Lingyao asked, "Go directly to the East Office? Can you send someone to invite my father and Lord Yao?"
"We have already posted the notice yesterday, and the trial will begin at noon today," Duan Nanqi said, "Your Majesty will probably take some time to listen, but we will still be the main judge."
As the court is closed today, Jiang Zhisheng and Yao Yuan do not need to make any other arrangements and can accompany His Majesty to the trial.
Jiang Lingyao breathed a sigh of relief: "This is the best."
In the early morning, there were not many pedestrians on the road, and the horse-drawn carriages made gurgling sounds as they traveled on the bluestone road.
Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage drove straight into the Beizhen Fusi Yamen.
Beizhen Fusi was located in the southwest of the imperial city, just one alley away from the city wall. It could enter the palace immediately when summoned.
Because the Beizhen Fusi had a large number of cavalrymen under its command, all of whom were outstanding in the Jinyi Guards, there was also a barracks behind the Beizhen Fusi, which looked quite impressive from a distance.
This is the confidence that the Imperial Guard has in fighting against evil and punishing evil.
The carriage stopped in the front yard of Beizhen Fusi, and the two got off the carriage together. Jiang Lingyao then saw that the front yard of Beizhen Fusi was clean and tidy, much newer than Shuntian Mansion, and was rebuilt in recent years.
All the cavalry passing by saluted Duan Nanxi and said, "Sir."
Duan Nanxi remained calm as he led Jiang Lingyao through the Moon Gate and walked along the corridor to the back.
"The prisoner is too special and must be locked up in the Imperial Prison. We will go to the Imperial Prison for trial."
Jiang Lingyao nodded to show that she understood, and the two of them quickly came to the imperial prison.
The Jinyiwei prison was located in Beizhen Fusi, manned by Jinyiwei cavalrymen. It was heavily guarded and impenetrable.
Jiang Lingyao was brought here by Duan Nanqi himself, and she also had to register her identity and name at the gate and record her badge as an official before she could enter the prison.
To Jiang Lingyao's surprise, the prison was not dark or damp at all. Instead, it was dry and tidy, and it was obvious that someone cleaned it regularly.
Duan Nanqi was familiar with the route and led Jiang Lingyao into the innermost interrogation room, where Pei Yu was already waiting.
Duan Nanqi glanced at the table, thought for a moment and said, "I will take the main seat for a while, you sit on my right, and leave the left seat vacant."
Jiang Lingyao didn't ask why and decisively stood on the right side of Duan Nanzhui.
Duan Nanxi then pointed to a row of fences on the top of the left wall and whispered to Jiang Lingyao, "There's a listening room up there."
Jiang Lingyao immediately understood that her father and Lord Yao would accompany His Majesty to attend the lecture.
Jiang Lingyao felt relieved that she didn't have to face the king directly.
It was still early, so Duan Nanqi sat down with Jiang Lingyao and listened to Pei Yu report the results of yesterday's interrogation.
"Sir, because you instructed me in advance, I did not torture Wen Li. However, no matter how I questioned him, Wen Li remained silent and did not say a word."
In other words, Wen Li still refuses to confess.
Duan Nanqi nodded and asked, "Where are the people in the dungeon?"
Pei Yu said, "Captain Chu was busy for half a day yesterday. Although the patient has not woken up, his condition has not continued to deteriorate. Late last night, he was given a bowl of medicine and a bowl of rice porridge. Captain Chu said that if he does not wake up today, he will wake up tomorrow."
People can wake up, but it is unknown whether they can still remember these things after waking up, or whether they still know who they are.
But waking up is good news.
Duan Nanqi's eyes and eyebrows were more smiling. He looked through the files with Jiang Lingyao for a while, and then he heard footsteps coming from outside.
Soon, Zheng Feng escorted Wen Li into the interrogation room, and a dim light came on behind the fence.
After Wen Li was firmly tied to the rack, Duan Nanqi said, "Take off his blindfold."
As the blindfold was removed, Wen Li suddenly closed his eyes, and after a long time he squinted his eyes and looked forward.
When he saw Duan Nanqiao and Jiang Lingyao, he breathed a sigh of relief that was almost unnoticeable.
Jiang Lingyao glanced at him, lowered her eyes, and did not rush to ask questions.
Duan Nanqi also seemed very casual. He leaned back in his chair leisurely and looked at Wen Li in a nonchalant manner.
"Wen Li, do you know why the Imperial Guard wants to put you in jail?"
Wen Li said nothing. He lowered his eyes, expressionless, and looked very calm.
Duan Nanqi sighed: "Do you have to wait until the Jinyiwei torture you before you tell the truth? Why? Look at me, I hate torture the most."
Wen Li remained silent.
Duan Nanqi slowly sat up straight and said, "Do you think we didn't find anything? We didn't check Xue Dingshan's study carefully, so we don't know the secret under the rockery?"
He spoke neither fast nor slow, and his tone was neither light nor heavy, but it was like a huge rock, smashing hard into Wen Li's heart.
Yesterday, the Imperial Guard only asked him about the murder of Xue Dingshan, so he thought that the Imperial Guard had not found out anything. But today, with just three sentences, Duan Nanqi told him that the Imperial Guard knew everything.
This sudden shock made Wen Li's eyelids twitch, and he almost couldn't help but speak.
Duan Nanqi just laughed at this time, as if he didn't care about Wen Li's answer at all.
"Wen Li, the Jinyiwei are being polite to you, not because they don't dare to touch you, but because they want to interrogate you one by one after the evidence is solid," he raised his eyebrows slightly, "In the entire Zhengyang Marquis's Mansion, you are the only one who is the confidant of the fake Xue Dingshan, am I right?"
"What's wrong with you..." Wen Li's heart was filled with shock and he asked subconsciously, betraying his panic.
He remained calm because he was very sure that he did not kill Xue Dingshan, so he was not afraid of the interrogation by the Royal Guards. But at this moment, he realized that the Royal Guards did not detain him to interrogate him about Xue Dingshan's death, but to ask him about the secret they had hidden for many years.
The Royal Guards already knew this secret.
At this moment, Wen Li felt as if someone had grabbed his heart hard, causing a sharp pain in his chest.
The more nonchalant Duan Nanqi smiled, the more ruthless he would be behind the scenes. Wen Li finally got scared.
Duan Nanqi flipped through the files and gave Pei Yu a look, and Pei Yu said, "Wen Li, your real name is Wen Dazhu, and you live in Zaohua Fort on the outskirts of the city. You have a mother and brothers and sisters. After your wife passed away early in life, you did not remarry and just lived with your mother."
"You have been smart since childhood. You failed to study, but you are proficient in abacus. When you were in your teens, you went to the city to be an apprentice in the bookkeeping department. You worked as a bookkeeper in several restaurants. When you were in your twenties, the Zhengyang Marquis's mansion was newly renovated and needed a servant. You recommended yourself and became the housekeeper of the Zhengyang Marquis's mansion."
This resume looks ordinary and there is nothing special about it.
But Wen Li's expression changed.
Because immediately afterwards, Pei Yu said: "After you entered the Zhengyang Marquis's Mansion, your mother left Zaohua Fort. The neighbors said that she followed you into the city to enjoy a good life. Upon investigation, your mother is not in the Zhengyang Marquis's Mansion, and you do not have any other residence in the capital. Wen Li, where is your mother?"
Wen Li's face turned pale, his lips trembled, and sweat dripped from his forehead.
Duan Nanqi gave him the final blow: "Is your mother worshipping Buddha in the Canaan Temple?"
Wen Li finally couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He burst into tears and looked anxious: "Sir, sir, I'll tell you everything."
"My mother knew nothing. She had been living in the Canaan Temple and devoted herself to Buddhism."
Duan Nanqi smiled faintly: "You are also a filial son. Don't worry, everything is normal in Canaan Temple now. The old lady knows nothing and is still worshiping Buddha peacefully."
Wen Li, however, did not feel relieved. He said, "Sir, my mother really knows nothing. She just thinks that I have a good job so that she can worship Buddha in Canaan Temple. Please be lenient and don't make things difficult for my mother."
Duan Nanqi looked at him deeply and said, "It depends on your sincerity."
Wen Li finally lowered his head: "What do you want to ask, sir?"
This time, the person who interrogated him was not Duan Nanqi, but Jiang Lingyao.
"Wen Li, there is a dungeon under the rockery behind the study in the main courtyard of the Zhengyang Marquis's Mansion. A middle-aged man is imprisoned in it. Do you know about it?"
Wen Li was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I understand."
Jiang Lingyao continued to ask: "This person is the real Xue Dingshan, and the Zhengyang Bo we saw was someone else's impersonator, right?"
Wen Li was shocked. After a moment, he sighed and said, "That's right."
Jiang Lingyao didn't need to ask any more questions as Wen Li continued speaking.
"Sir, I was originally an accountant. I had no one to rely on in Beijing and I made a living by earning a little money. At that time, I had a childhood friend who was quite handsome. Seeing that I had found a job in Beijing, he also came to the restaurant where I worked and worked as a waiter."
"It was in that tavern that we met several distinguished guests."
Jiang Lingyao's eyes darkened, and she asked, "Your waiter looks about 70% like Xue Dingshan. How did those distinguished guests take a liking to him?"
Jiang Lingyao was straightforward and had foresight. Wen Li knew that he could not hide anything, so he told her everything: "Your Excellency is right. We did not know what to do at that time, but were taken away by several distinguished guests. After being locked up for several days without food or water, we were told to choose a path of glory and wealth or die in prison."
They were just two poor country boys, and they got away with it by just scare someone.
What Wen Li said later was all guessed by Jiang Lingyao and the others. The fake Xue Dingshan was named Li Zheng. After he disguised himself as Xue Dingshan, he only looked similar, but his personality and demeanor were completely different. That's why Wen Li was asked to enter the Zhengyang Earl's Mansion in advance to serve Xue Dingshan, record Xue Dingshan's personality, and go back to teach Li Zheng.
After several years of such instruction, Li Zheng finally learned most of it.
"Those people made some moves in Linzhou and switched the two people. Because Li Zheng had studied under Xue Dingshan for many years, even the idiot Manager Wang didn't realize that his master had changed. We returned to the capital smoothly."
Jiang Lingyao asked: "Why didn't you kill Xue Dingshan? It's not difficult to forge a handprint."
Wen Li smiled bitterly and said, "My Lord, why do you think those people went to so much trouble to pretend to be Xue Dingshan?"
"Because Xue Dingshan is the confidant of the late emperor, he has the late emperor's secrets."
"Xue Dingshan can also stay more firmly by the side of the late emperor and be used by them."
————
Jiang Lingyao and Duan Nanqi looked at each other, but did not rush to ask what the secret was.
Duan Nanqi just nodded to Zheng Feng, and Zheng Feng quickly walked out of the interrogation room.
After a while, Zheng Feng came back and whispered a few words in Duan Nanqi's ear.
Duan Nanqi nodded, and then asked Wen Li: "What is this secret?"
Wen Li closed his eyes and said, "Xue Dingshan knows where the "Treasure Mirror for Protecting the Country" is. The mastermind behind the plot wanted to find it, but Xue Dingshan refused to comply and refused to speak up no matter what."
Duan Nanqi's expression remained unchanged. He said, "So, who is the mastermind behind this? Do you know?"
Wen Li did not rush to answer this time. He thought for a moment before saying, "Sir, to be honest, I don't know."
Jiang Lingyao was somewhat surprised and amused: "You don't even know who the other person is, and you're committing the crime of treason?"
Wen Li was silent for a moment, then said, "Sir, we are common people, and we don't know what treason is. I just hid my mother, but my brothers and sisters in law are still here. If they can control Xue Dingshan, can't they control my family members?"
"Compared to the crime of treason, I know nothing about it. I only know that the other party wants to find this map, and I only know to do trivial things to help the other party eliminate dissidents."
"As for who the other party is and what he wants to do, how can I know?"
Wen Li smiled bitterly and said, "If I don't obey, they won't show mercy. They won't even let me live like Xue Dingshan. I will be the next one to die."
Jiang Lingyao said thoughtfully, "You only communicate through Guiyin Temple?"
Wen Li nodded and said, "What he has always wanted is the map of the defense. In the early years, he had more missions, just like the case of treason by Master Qiao, which was his work."
Wen Li knew roughly what they were going to interrogate him about, so he told them everything he knew.
"I can testify that the confession that was changed by Master Qiao's students was taught word for word by Li Zheng. However, the servants in Master Qiao's house did say in person that there was an outsider hiding in Master Qiao's house."
"Sir, I know I have no way out. I am telling you the truth now because I want you to forgive my family. They are all unaware of the crime I committed."
Duan Nanqi's eyes were cold: "What else do you know? Tell me everything."
Wen Li thought for a moment and then recounted several cases of people being demoted in officialdom. The perpetrators were all, without exception, the favorite students of Tutor Qiao.
These people were excluded from Yanjing and disappeared from His Majesty's sight, so they could no longer speak for Tutor Qiao, and these good officials who were honest and caring about the people gradually disappeared from the officialdom.
Each and every one of them reveals the purpose of the person behind the scenes.
That is to exclude dissidents and establish oneself as king.
The most taboo thing in the court is to advise against forming factions for personal gain. The other party may not seem to be forming factions for personal gain, but they are very good at eliminating dissidents.
He made trouble in Beijing by impersonating Xue Dingshan.
Duan Nanqi asked, "Does Li Zheng know the other party's true identity? Why is he working so hard for him?"
Wen Li laughed sarcastically and said, "Li Zheng is an utter idiot. Everything he did was done with my help. He can't do anything on his own. Why would he risk his life for this?"
Wen Li laughed loudly, "Of course it's for wealth and honor. He was a waiter, poor and destitute, but now he has become the Earl of Zhengyang. He has been rich and honored for the past 20 years. Why would he risk his life for this?"
Duan Nanqi looked at him indifferently without saying anything.
Wen Li looked at himself and said, "My Lord, this is all I know. I don't know anything else."
Duan Nanqi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was only an uncontrollable coldness in his eyes.
"You didn't know about General Duan's case? What about Du Botao's case?"
Wen Li was somewhat surprised. General Duan Duo's deeds were known all over the country. His heroic deeds of defending the country and sacrificing his life for the country were known to the world. Wen Li had only heard such comments, not any cases. He didn't know about Duan Duo's case, let alone Du Botao.
"What?" Wen Li was a little confused. "Sir, I don't understand. I have never heard of General Duan's case. I only know that General Duan donated his body for the country. Sir, I really don't know."
Duan Nanqi looked at him deeply, and saw no disguising or guilt in his eyes. He finally lowered his brows and said, "If you don't know, then you don't know."
It seems that Wen Li was not involved in Duan Duo's case.
The two interrogated Wen Li for more than half an hour. When he signed his testimony, Jiang Lingyao asked, "Wen Li, do you have any guesses about the person behind this?"
Wen Li was not a stupid person, on the contrary, he was quite smart. For the past twenty years, he had been playing tricks on others and showing a different face to others, and even the Xue family had never suspected him.
Then how could he be completely unaware of the person behind the scenes?
Wen Li paused for a moment, then said, "I guess... I guess it's one of the five adults."
At this point, he has nothing to hide.
Duan Nanqi and Jiang Lingyao looked at each other, and they both saw understanding in each other's eyes. They guessed that it was one of the five adults.
Duan Nanqi waved his hand and had Wen Li taken away. After thinking for a moment, he led Jiang Lingyao to the small study upstairs.
Jiang Lingyao gently tugged at his sleeve, Duan Nanqi nodded at her and whispered, "Any inferences should be discussed in front of His Majesty. All matters must be decided by His Majesty."
Jiang Lingyao immediately understood, suppressed her shock, and followed Duan Nanqi into the small study.
There are currently three people sitting in the study. His Majesty the Emperor, dressed in casual clothes, is sitting upright on an official hat chair. He holds a teacup in one hand and fan himself, looking as leisurely as if he is sitting in a roadside teahouse listening to music.
On his left and right were his father and Lord Yao.
Seeing the two of them, with Duan Nanxi beside them, Jiang Lingyao was no longer so nervous and quickly calmed down.
The two of them entered the study, bowed and greeted, and were then given seats.
After the two men sat down, Duan Nanqi spoke first: "Your Majesty, according to the interrogation just now, one of the doubts in the case of Master Qiao has been confirmed, and the other doubt cannot be confirmed because the servant who confessed at the time has been dead for many years."
He paused and said, "There has been no real progress in the case of General Duan. We will have to investigate further later."
"As for the use of the treasure map, it seems that Xue Dingshan knows the clues. We just need to wait for him to wake up."
After he finished speaking, the study was silent for a moment, and then a gentle voice was heard: "Very good, you have worked hard."
The two of them stood up and saluted again.
His Majesty the Emperor looked at the two of them with a smile, and said to Jiang Zhisheng beside him, "What do you think, my dear Jiang? I said before that the two of them are a good match, and Nanxi is a good match for your daughter. Was I right?"
Jiang Zhisheng said, "Your Majesty is right. Seeing my daughter and her husband in love, I am grateful. Your Majesty has a sharp eye and this marriage is a great gift."
His Majesty the Emperor's brows relaxed and he laughed out loud, seeming to be extremely happy.
He said, "Talk to them about other matters. It's time to wrap up these cases."
Jiang Zhisheng said: "Yes, Your Majesty."
When he turned around again, he looked at his son-in-law lovingly and said slowly: "Master Duan, do you know Tui Guan Qiao Shengqiao, the master of Tui Guan Jiang?"
Duan Nanqi knew Qiao Sheng. Jiang Lingyao had discussed with him the case in which Qiao Sheng was dismissed. At one point, he thought that someone from the Jinyiwei was involved. However, when Duan Nanqi checked the files, he found nothing unusual. In other words, if there was someone involved in the whole case, it could only be Qiao Sheng himself.
He probably wanted to go to Ganzhou, so he did this.
When Duan Nanqi heard his father-in-law's words, his eyes lit up. He and Jiang Lingyao looked at each other and both understood what Jiang Zhisheng meant.
Jiang Zhisheng smiled faintly and said, "You already understand, so I won't say much. Qiao Sheng was also a student of yours. In recent years, he heard that there were other clues in Ganzhou, so he demoted himself and was exiled to Ganzhou to investigate the old case."
"But Qiao Sheng did not find any clues about the teacher's case, but he did find evidence about General Duan's case."
Jiang Zhisheng slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "General Duan was indeed framed back then."
Duan Nanqi's eyelids twitched, but he was not too excited. He just clenched his hands tightly, letting his nails sting the soft palms to prevent himself from losing control.
Jiang Zhisheng said: "After two years of searching, Qiao Sheng found Du Botao's relics and evidence of his correspondence with people in Beijing. According to the content of the letter, someone else stole the Thousand Machine Box, and for his own purposes, the other party sent the Thousand Machine Box to the border. It was General Duan who found something wrong, so he saved the Thousand Machine Box."
"Du Botao had no choice but to take the initiative and falsely accuse General Duan of collaborating with the enemy and stealing national treasures while he was fighting the enemy."
No wonder Du Botao died unexpectedly and could not continue the action. After General Duan’s body was recovered, the Thousand Machine Box also appeared. It is now hidden in the Forbidden City and will never be lost again.
Duan Nanzhuo breathed a sigh of relief, and his pounding heart finally settled down.
"Minister Jiang, who... who instructed Du Botao to slander General Duan?"
Jiang Zhisheng shook his head and said, "This matter is of great importance. Qiao Sheng did not dare to say it clearly in the letter. He only explained the case in code. He has brought the evidence back to the capital. When he returns to the capital, everything will be revealed."
Duan Nanqi nodded and finally smiled: "Okay."
His Majesty the Emperor looked at the two young men sitting side by side. They were both less than 20 years old, with childish faces, but they had already experienced the pain of having their families broken up.
However, even so, the expressions on their faces were clear and transparent, without a trace of gloom.
They are the bright light of the court and the future of the country.
Emperor Xuanhua was very pleased. He sighed and said, "In this way, the two cases can finally be concluded. After a hundred years, I can face my two teachers and they will not die in remembrance."
No matter who was behind the scenes, there is now clear evidence that Qiao Boyan and Duan Duo did not betray the country. They were loyal to the country from beginning to end. Welcome to join us and read tens of thousands of historical novels for free. Bu Er was a role model of capable ministers at that time.
Even though the two men were not Emperor Xuanhua's teachers and had never taught him, Emperor Xuanhua could not sit idly by and watch his ministers cry out for injustice and his entire family die miserably.
If this continues, the country will no longer be a country, and the family will no longer be a family.
Emperor Xuanhua sighed: "Fifteen years have passed..."
Fifteen years later, the child in the cradle has grown up into a clear-headed and upright young man, and has become the pillar of the country.
Emperor Xuanhua was very pleased: "The Jiang and Duan families have taught you very well. You are upright and have the world in your heart. You are good people and good officials."
Jiang Lingyao and Duan Nanqi stood up and saluted Emperor Xuanhua: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Xuanhua waved his hand and was about to say a few more words when he heard Zheng Feng's voice coming from outside.
"Your Majesty, Xue Dingshan has woken up."
Emperor Xuanhua raised his eyebrows, but smiled: "Oh? What a coincidence."
He turned his gaze back to Duan Nanqi and Jiang Lingyao, and said in a serious and firm tone: "Let's end today's matter today. Take Xue Dingshan directly to the interrogation room and settle this case today."
The two of them bowed together: "Yes, I accept your command."
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