Chapter 78: Madam’s behavior is a bit strange Madam’s behavior is a bit ancient...
Luoying is in a hurry and really can't explain in detail.
He simply put down his food box, stood aside with his head bowed, and said, "First, the collusion between the Minister of Revenue and Chunxiaolou for corruption is a done deal, the evidence is irrefutable, and a public trial will be held soon; second, this matter will be jointly tried by the two Sikong.
"Three days from now, our Prime Minister and the old Minister of Works will sit together in the hall and give everyone an explanation."
Ye Jindian grasped the key to the matter.
She hit the nail on the head: "What does this have to do with Old Sikong?"
Didn't the old Sikong retire to his hometown a few years ago, devote himself to growing flowers and raising birds, and no longer interfere in state affairs?
Luo Ying chuckled, "We're clueless and don't quite understand. Perhaps the Minister of Revenue was already colluding with Chunxiaolou to commit corruption during the time when the old Minister of Works was in office, so Your Majesty asked the old Minister of Works to participate in the trial to prevent any mistakes?"
I vaguely understood something.
Ye Jindian seemed to be thinking about something, but her thoughts were rather vague and not particularly clear.
Luoying brought the message and food and left.
He still has a lot to do.
Ye Jindian ate Xia Huai's fried eggs and drank herbal soup, deciding not to think too much about it and to wait and see.
It would be better for her to focus on studying her carrier and crossbow.
Zhang Min has been very busy these days.
He is always missing at night and there is no trace of him during the day.
But when she woke up, there would be a warm hot water bottle at her feet, and breakfast and dry food would be fully prepared in the kitchen.
Even Xiao Huang's jug of dog food was not left behind.
Ye Jindian had no idea how he, a man who would hide when he saw a dog, could do this so safely.
Three days passed in a flash.
On the day when the old and new Sikong were holding a joint trial, the Supervisor said cheerfully to her and Luo Dong, "The Supervisor has decided to send you two with me to support the trial and attend the trial."
The trial took place in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion.
This place, where you have to walk lightly on weekdays, is particularly lively today and is completely surrounded by people.
When the palace soldiers looked at the common people sticking to them, they had to look up at the sky to see if the sun was rising from the west.
The three men were unable to enter through the main gate and were led by Old Zhang through the side door.
When Ye Jindian stepped into the front yard, she realized that not only people from their Military Equipment Bureau had come, but also the Left Prime Minister and several civil and military officials, who were sitting on his left and right.
The Left Prime Minister Du Junze was just diagonally opposite, and Xie Zhaoming was sitting safely next to the Left Prime Minister.
He was not wearing official uniform, but a long robe with wide sleeves like a scholar. All the officials were silent and solemn. Ye Jindian had no way of knowing his identity, and could only guess that he belonged to the Ministry of Works based on the distribution pattern.
I heard that behind the screen of the old Sikong and the right prime minister, there were also the emperor and empress sitting.
This is quite a big deal.
She looked into the front hall from one side of the courtyard, but because of the flowers, trees and pillars, she couldn't see clearly, so she simply looked at the wood of the tables and chairs.
thus.
He also missed Zhang Min's casual glance.
Such a major case has never occurred since the founding of our dynasty.
After the abolition of the Grand Marshal, the newly established Ministry of Justice, which had not yet established a sound criminal justice system, read through ancient books overnight and finally managed to come up with a set of strict regulations.
Both Zhang Min and Lao Sikong had to follow this strict set of rules during interrogations.
Fu Feng took notes and acted as a historian, recording the entire interrogation process.
"when--"
The gong sounded and everyone fell silent.
An official from the Ministry of Justice walked into the hall with a piece of paper and first explained the case and the basic information about the criminal.
There was an uproar outside the door, and the discussion became louder and louder.
The officials just exchanged glances, as quiet as chickens, and said nothing.
Ye Jindian suspected that they had already quarreled in the court, and now they had to maintain their dignity in front of the common people, so they pretended to be profound and solemn.
After a while, there was another "clang" sound.
After the people outside the door quieted down, the people from the Ministry of Justice presented various evidence related to the case one by one and verified them with the Minister of Revenue who was kneeling on the ground.
The evidence was different from what she had imagined.
Regardless of whether it is physical evidence or witness testimony, Zhang Min, who exposed the Minister of Revenue, must give the Minister of Revenue a chance to explain.
But even after seven or eight pieces of evidence were presented, the Minister of Revenue offered no rebuttal and directly admitted that he had falsified the Ministry of Revenue's accounts; that he had supplied cheap wood and stone materials to the breach in the river; that he had sent people to deliver the government silver to Chunxiao Tower; and that he had also been responsible for the reckless abduction of decent men and women from outside Chunxiao Tower, the abductions to Chunxiao Tower where their lives were unknown, and the murder and looting of their families...
It makes people extremely angry.
Ye Jindian has always been in a calm mood, but she couldn't help but want to find some rotten eggs and vegetable leaves to throw at him.
The people outside the door were even more excited.
The Minister of Revenue was so decisive that the second trial was skipped and the verdict was read out directly on the spot.
He was beheaded in the vegetable market three days later and his property was confiscated, but his family was spared the disaster. They were only demoted to commoners and sent back to their hometown, and were never allowed to go to Beijing again.
I don’t know if it was an illusion or she was just overthinking it.
Ye Jindian always felt that the Minister of Revenue seemed relieved after hearing the verdict.
Behind the screen.
After Xiao Min comforted the people, he let them go home with peace of mind and ordered all officials to return to their posts as soon as possible.
Ye Jindian frowned slightly.
This sound...
Sounds a little familiar.
The Supervisor happily stroked his neatly combed beard and said, "We're leaving too."
He turned and left with his hands behind his back, and Ye Jindian and Luo Dong had no choice but to follow him.
Before stepping out of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, she looked back again.
This glance met the golden mask that turned around.
Ye Jindian was stunned for a moment.
Then, she smiled at him.
Zhang Min suddenly felt that the white light outside the door... seemed too dazzling.
*
The old Sikong's house.
"Clang—"
A turquoise teacup crashed against the auspicious stone slab, and the spilled tea exploded white in the sunlight, splashing everywhere.
The old Sikong with white hair and red face held the armchair tightly, and his face showed a little bit of ashen color.
He gritted his teeth and said, "You are so good, Zhang, Zi, Mei."
*
"Call, call, call." Zhang Min looked outside impatiently, "Where's the soul calling?"
The trial is over but they haven't dispersed yet. What are they arguing about?
Is it because the tasks Your Majesty assigned to them were too easy?
They are all so idle that they are annoying.
Xie Zhaoming unfolded his fan and stepped aside; Gongsun Shuo, with his arm raised and his elbow raised, also dodged to the side; Du Jun, with one hand across his abdomen and the other behind his back, took two steps back...
Li Wuzhi was revealed, squatting on the ground and rubbing the dog's head.
etc--
Zhang Min's face changed: "What did you bring our Xiao Huang here for?"
Li Wuzhi picked up the little yellow dog that was sticking out its tongue and wagging its tail at him, and smiled maliciously.
"There is something I would like to ask the Right Prime Minister. Please answer me truthfully."
Zhang Min: "...Put Xiao Huang down!"
Li Wuzhi refused to let go and walked towards him with the dog in his arms.
"First, give me a reasonable reason. Explain why you would let that old man go even though Xuan Falcon has already found where he hid his gold, silver, and treasures."
He made a big fuss at the time and attracted the attention of the neighbors.
So, was it all in vain?
"Li Wuji! Has your conscience been eaten by our dog?!" Zhang Min jumped onto the long table, "Have you forgotten who took you from..."
When Xiao Huang heard the first half of the sentence, he immediately screamed, as if protesting something.
Zhang Min had to change his words and persuade the dog: "Oh, little Huang, be good, we don't eat dirty things."
Li Wuji: “…”
Why hasn't this guy been beaten to death by his wife yet? ! !
"I don't care. You actually want to let him go. That would be like a big rock hitting his great-grandfather's pit - so angry (shit)!" He then stepped onto the long table and approached step by step.
Xie Zhaoming, Gongsun Shuo and Du Junze just stood by and watched with great interest, just waiting for another piece of melon.
"Can you be more polite?" Zhang Min somersaulted down and dodged him from a distance. "Also, put our Xiao Huang down!"
Li Wuji put one foot on the stool, the other on the table, held the dog in one hand, and slammed the table with the other: "I'm a soldier, I don't need any elegance, I just wish I could kill him! If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, I will chase you with the dog in my arms all day."
Zhang Min: “…”
The old saying is right, the person who knows your weaknesses best and strikes you hardest is not necessarily your enemy, but may also be your brother.
"Let me ask you, do you know what else our newly established dynasty must rely on besides military force?"
Li Wuji said confidently: "I don't know these things, just say what you want to say!"
Stop beating around the bush and trying to fool him.
"We also rely on the horses, food, herbs, and other military supplies behind us." Zhang Min said unhappily, "Except for Your Majesty and the Queen, all of us are traitors to our family.
"Money and food were all taken from the hands of the big families. The Zhang family behind Old Sikong abandoned me in the past, not Your Majesty.
"Now that the new dynasty has just been established, you're trying to get rid of him. Do you want those big families to unite and build up other forces to fight us again?"
Those big families only want to stabilize and develop their families, and they don’t care who sits in the high positions.
Li Wuji was furious: "Are we just going to let him go like this?"
"Ha." Zhang Min sneered. "Now that the truth has been revealed, His Majesty has already openly let him go. I've also compromised once. If he persists, do you think the other nobles will still feel a sense of crisis?"
Li Wuji: “Hiss——”
He seemed to understand something.
"So, exposing this matter and putting the blame on the Minister of Revenue is to show your stance." He rubbed the dog's head, "and also to provoke the old minister's anger."
They are scholars, their hearts are really dirty! "Then aren't you afraid that the old Sikong will unite with other noble families?"
Zhang Min scoffed, "What's his reason for joining forces? Is it because business in the capital has been booming recently, with tens of millions of acres of farmland newly opened? Or is it because he's almost dead?"
Their Zhang family no longer has a capable head of family to support them.
Falling is only a matter of time.
If the other nobles had not pounced on the old Sikong and tried to tear him apart, or robbed his shops and land after his death, they could all be called saints.
How could we allow him to unite and overturn the hard-earned peace?
Du Jun warned: "Old Sikong is not a soft-hearted person. You must be careful on this trip."
The other party will definitely take advantage of the war in Beiwan to get rid of him, the "family traitor".
Zhang Min hummed and was about to say something when he caught a glimpse of a figure sneaking up on him from behind. He immediately jumped three feet away.
"Li! Wu! Ji!"
The anger shook the white clouds above the Right Prime Minister's Mansion so much that they hurried past at a rapid speed.
"Hahaha, how can you, the Right Prime Minister, be afraid of a little yellow dog? I will cure this problem for you."
"You bastard, let Xiao Huang go!"
"I don't."
…
*
Confiscating property is also a physically demanding job.
Zhang Min worked hard to sort out the accounts and then went around to various noble families before he managed to get enough military pay.
When Xiao Min looked at the account book presented to him, he felt happy and waved his hand to let him rest for two days. He ordered Du Junze, Xie Zhaoming, Li Wuzhi and others to prepare for the military deployment.
Zhang Min turned around and made an appointment with his wife to go for an outing together.
Look at him humming a cheerful tune, spending a long time changing his clothes and tying his hair in front of the mirror, wearing a sachet with a faint apricot scent, and walking out of the prime minister's residence with light steps.
Everyone gritted their teeth and wanted to beat him to death.
Unfortunately, no one can beat him.
I had no choice but to throw away two thick books and an inkstone to express my anger.
Zhang Min dodged swiftly, climbed over the wall and waited on the small bridge next to the Zishui River.
As he looked around, he saw only a willow bank with a dike, half of it covered with smoke and half with water, fog shrouded the green fields, and a few tourists were accompanied by each other.
My heart was immediately moved and I missed my wife especially.
Just then, a gentle and graceful call came from behind: "Husband."
He turned back to look at his wife——
Ye Jindian stood under the pomegranate flowers at the foot of the wall.
The wind moves the shadows, and the broken golden stars fall on their sides, with thin and shallow light floating up and down, shining and lovely.
Well, what he said was, my wife Shanshan is cute.
Light and shadow are just for background.
"My dear." Zhang Min walked towards her quickly and held her hand. "Have you been feeling better these days?"
Ye Jindian laughed: "It's been three days since my period, and I really don't feel uncomfortable anywhere."
He was overly worried.
Zhang Min did not refute, but was still determined to listen to what Mrs. Lan said and pay more attention.
"Oh, right." Ye Jindian took out a small apricot blossom hairpin from her body and put it into his palm. "Husband, look at this, is it beautiful?"
Zhang Min: “…It looks good.”
Ye Jindian: "Do you like it?"
Zhang Min: “…I like it.”
Ye Jindian: "As long as you like it."
Zhang Min fell silent.
Why did he feel something was strange about his wife's actions...
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