"Your Majesty, after I returned home yesterday, I arrested all relevant family members and tortured them. I interrogated them all night long and determined that Zhang died of dystocia due to premature birth."
Shen Congxing explained to the emperor that his wife died and a child died in infancy. I don't know if he really didn't sleep, but Shen Congxing's mental state was indeed not good.
After hearing Shen Congxing's explanation, Zhao Zong's face softened slightly, but the British father became furious. He walked a few steps quickly to Shen Congxing, pointed at Shen Congxing's nose and cursed:
"You are talking nonsense and talking nonsense. You surnamed Shen are really a beast. How could I be blind and marry my daughter to you? At this time, I still have to cover up for your vicious concubine. Don't think that you have taken advantage of Shen. If the servants of the family are under control, our Zhang family will not get the truth."
This marriage was granted by the emperor and decided by Zhao Zongquan. It should be considered that Zhao Zongquan was blind.
His speech had lost its sense of proportion, which was enough to show that the British Duke was furious.
But the martial arts of the Great Zhou Dynasty was still weak. As a former leader in the military, the old man was so furious that he did not even attack Shen Congxing.
He wanted to leave this matter to the previous court, and beat Shen Congxing into a pig's head without being in front of the emperor. He couldn't bear the anger.
"Zhang Gong calmed down and gave Shen Congxing a chance to speak." At this time, the only one who was willing to help Shen Congxing smooth things over was the emperor, his brother-in-law:
"Shen Congxing, why don't you tell the old man everything about the investigation?"
"Ms. Zhang was fine yesterday morning, but then she suddenly had labor pains..."
According to Shen Congxing, Mrs. Shen and Zhang herself suddenly gave birth prematurely. Because the delivery date was not yet reached, the Shen family did not make any preparations for the delivery. By the time Granny Wen and the doctor were invited from outside, Mrs. Shen and Zhang had already died from dystocia and hemorrhage. Death.
"Why don't you tell me why my daughter was born prematurely? It's not because your beloved concubine deliberately vented her anger..."
The British Duke also said that it was Shen Congxing's concubine, Zou, who deliberately made Zhang angry, causing Zhang to move her fetus and give birth prematurely before the time was up.
Mrs. Zou was also prepared and sent out all the Wen women from the Shen family who had experience in delivering babies.
After waiting for Mrs. Zhang's servants, the wife and husband, to come over, Mrs. Zou delayed again, not allowing the doctor to diagnose and treat Mr. Shen on the grounds that it was inconvenient for a woman to give birth to a man.
"Father-in-law, even if Mrs. Zou and Mrs. Zhang had some quarrels, there is really no direct relationship between Mrs. Zou and Mrs. Zhang's premature birth. The following ones are even more nonsense. It's my fault that Zhang's dystocia was not cured. I didn't make it earlier. Be prepared, if you miss the time to seek medical treatment, I will bear all the punishment your father-in-law will have."
The death of a person in the Shen family is of course inseparable from Shen Congxing, but Shen Congxing did not make a single argument.
He took the responsibility on himself and his intention to protect Zou was obvious.
"I'm not your father-in-law. Guifen died so miserably, yet you still want to protect that vicious woman." After getting rid of Shen Congxing, the British father knelt down to Zhao Zongquan again:
"Your Majesty, please make the decision for my daughter. Seeing that I have been loyal to the country and guarding the border for so many years, there is no credit but hard work. Please make the decision for my daughter and severely punish the murderer."
Compared with the relationship with the emperor, the British Duke is definitely not as good as Shen Congxing, his brother-in-law and brother-in-law.
He could only show off his contribution to the Zhou Dynasty and force the emperor to pursue this matter.
Although Shen Congxing's merits are not small, he protected Zhao Zongquan to Beijing and had the merit of following the dragon, but this credit is only for Zhao Zongquan personally.
For the entire country, Shen Congxing really has nothing to contribute.
"Don't worry, old prince, I will definitely investigate this matter to the end. The case will be handed over to the Kaifeng Prefecture for strict investigation. The Ministry of Punishment and Yushitai will send people to assist. We must get to the bottom of the matter and make it clear." After a few seconds, Zhao Zongquan slowly spoke word by word.
Although he was very reluctant, Zhao Zongquan still wanted to express his attitude.
In order to show that he was upright and would not favor his brother-in-law, he also sent the Criminal Department and Yushitai to supervise the Kaifeng Mansion's handling of the case.
Normally, the Ministry of Punishment and the Yushitai would not be able to interfere with the Kaifeng Mansion.
This matter was arranged at the censor's desk, and the censor Zhongcheng finally left the matter to the idler Sheng Changbai.
"Zecheng, although this case is not big in itself, it has a huge impact. We still need to be cautious during the trial." After the arrangements were made, the leader told Sheng Changbai.
"Understood, I won't take the initiative to do anything. I just keep an eye on the Kaifeng Mansion and try the case clearly." Sheng Changbai replied.
This case is actually not complicated and does not require the investigators to have high criminal investigation abilities.
Just bring in any person with relevant business experience and they can get things done.
Just interrogate the servants of the Shen family one by one. There are hundreds of people in one uncle's house.
Basically, they were all servants who had just been rewarded by the emperor to the Shen family after the Shen family became prosperous.
There is no loyalty to the Shen family. Considering the personnel structure of the Shen family, there is no possibility of keeping this matter secret.
In fact, before this case was heard, Sheng Changbai was already inclined to believe the British public.
After all, if the Zhang family did not really die tragically because of the Zou family, there would be no need for the British father to target a concubine like this.
Sheng Changbai has nothing to worry about when it comes to the trial of the case, but the sentencing is an awkward matter.
This concubine, Shen Congxing, is not an ordinary concubine. Shen Zou is completely different from the kind of concubine who can be given away directly and is equivalent to an object.
Before becoming Shen Congxing's concubine, Zou had already become Shen Congxing's sister-in-law.
The fathers of Shen Congxing and Gu Tingye had very similar practices. After the death of their original spouses, they both married their original spouse's sister, their sister-in-law.
It's just that the Qin family's family background is sufficient, and Xiao Qin can still fill in the house after marrying Gu Tingye.
However, the Zou family's family background was not strong enough to match him, and his brother-in-law became the emperor's Shen Congxing.
Shen Congxing was arranged by Zhao Zongquan to marry an old Bianliang noble and married Zhang Guifen.
Therefore, the Zou family did not want the in-law relationship between the two families, and became estranged with the death of the eldest Zou family.
Xiao Zou was chosen to marry Shen Congxing, and she did not hesitate to be a concubine.
"Take everyone away. Everyone involved in Mrs. Shen's childbirth case. Bring them back to me."
After the matter was settled, Sheng Changbai followed the officials and government servants of Kaifeng Mansion to the Shen family to arrest people.
A simple investigation will be carried out, and those who are not relevant will be put aside for the time being, while those who are relevant will be brought to the Yamen.
"Stop it, do you know where this place is? You dare to arrest people in my yard."
When they took the others away, everything went smoothly, but when they went to arrest people in Xiao Zou's yard, they were blocked by Xiao Zou.
"Miss Zou, we are investigating the case under the emperor's orders."
"Then you can't arrest people in my courtyard. Do you know who I am? My sister saved the queen of the dynasty?"
Compared with the arrogance of the little Zou family, Ru Lan can be regarded as gentle, quiet and gentle, well-informed and courteous, and a lady.
Shen Congxing wanted to protect the little Zou family, and he had a deep relationship with his first wife, the big Zou family.
There is also the reason why the Shen family owes a great debt to the Zou family because they saved Shen Congxing's sister, Queen Shen.
The reason why Zhao Zongquan was so indecisive in handling this case was because Da Zou saved his wife.
Zou's rescue of Queen Shen happened when Zhao Zongquan followed Gu Tingye back to Bianjing to fight for the throne.
The current queen and several of Zhao Zongquan's children were all seriously ill in Yuzhou.
It was the eldest Zou who, with his big belly, went to serve Empress Shen.
After taking care of Empress Shen, the great Zou family became famous.
Shen Congxing should really be grateful to the Zou family. If it weren't for the eldest Zou family, someone else would definitely be the queen.
It is impossible for the Shen family to become the first family of relatives in Zhou Dynasty.
"Just because we knew your identity, we didn't take you away directly. We just wanted to take away the people in your house."
Sheng Changbai glanced at little Zou and said, this treatment has given the queen a lot of face.
But the young Zou family was still dissatisfied. He did not understand the law, politics, or even basic human relations.
"You know who I am, how dare you arrest my people? Stop it, you can't touch any of the people in my courtyard." Little Zou stopped him directly in front of the government officials.
It is easy to face this kind of problem when arresting people in a powerful family.
Being arrogant is not stupid. Little Zou also understands that if these people are taken away, what he does will definitely not be kept secret.
Moreover, Xiao Zou's toughness is not a disguise, but she truly feels in her heart that her sister has saved the queen.
I don't have to be afraid of anyone in Bianliang, and I can do whatever I want.
In the more than a year since they came to Beijing, the Zou family has really been walking sideways in Bianliang.
"Come here, pull Miss Zou away," the official of Kaifeng Mansion shouted.
"Who dares to touch me? Uncle Shen is here and I can't spare you." Little Zou continued to shout.
I don’t know if Xiao Zou will really ask the reason for the crime, but the government officials really don’t dare to arrest Xiao Zou.
"Go...go to Mrs. Shen's place and bring some strong women over."
Sheng Changbai ordered that the other servants in the Shen family residence might give little Zou face.
But the one who should be hated the most among Shen and Zhang's companions now is little Zou.
The people in Xiao Zou's courtyard will be taken away, and the people in Xiao Zou's brother's courtyard will also be taken away.
Brother Zou also lives in Shen Congxing's house.
The younger sister becomes a concubine, and the elder brother also moves in. Marrying a concubine is equivalent to marrying a large family.
No wonder the people in Bianliang City laughed at them and looked down upon the Zou family.
The most difficult part of this job is to go to General Shen's Mansion to arrest people.
The interrogation of the case was very simple. Most of the servants of the Shen family were servants obtained by Zhao Zongquan because he had no connection with the king.
Most of these people have experienced prison, and after entering the Kaifeng Mansion Prison, they confessed quickly.
After all, this is a feudal dynasty. It is not so civilized and can directly use punishment.
Although there is some possibility of defeating someone, this method is still very efficient.
It only took three days to achieve complete results.
"Your Majesty, the case has been clearly heard and all witnesses and testimonies are available. How should we decide the case? I would like to ask Your Majesty to judge."
The Kaifeng Prefecture was very experienced in handling this kind of matter. They only issued a conviction and sentenced the emperor to do it.
"Is this really how things happened?"
Zhao Zongquan frowned when he saw that it was indeed Zou who had done the thing, and that the facts were the same as what the British father said.
Zhao Zongquan didn't care about the Zou family, but he couldn't care less about his family's reputation.
No matter what the Zou family said, they were kind to their own family, and it was a life-saving favor. For this reason, the Zou family even spared a life.
How Zhao Zongquan treats the Zou family, what others see is not simply the Zou family, but Zhao Zongquan's attitude towards his benefactor.
"I guarantee it with the black gauze on my head."
"You guys go down first. I will decide how to make the decision after I have considered it." When a situation cannot be decided, Zhao Zongquan's method is always to delay.
The case went smoothly, but the verdict was completely difficult.
The emperor did not want to deal harshly with the Zou family and spread his reputation as ungrateful, mean and unkind.
Due to the disagreement with the Queen Mother, there are already many such rumors and cannot be made worse.
It is obviously a dilemma to appease and satisfy the British public at the same time, and it is not easy to achieve both.
A wave of political py was obviously needed, and Zhao Zongquan and Empress Shen wanted to give the British Duke some political compensation.
Let's see if we can get the British public to take this matter lightly.
After all, the British public is still very focused on political interests.
When Zhao Zongquan first came to the throne, he moved closer to Zhao Zongquan.
For the sake of power, he married his beloved only daughter to Shen Congxing to fill a house.
Since he is a political figure, he can use political means to appease him.
On the Bianliang side, before the Zou family was dealt with, Prince Huan and Gu Tingye of Jiangnan suffered a counterattack from those with vested interests in the salt tax.
"Have you heard that King Huan was assassinated in the south?"
"I heard that His Royal Highness King Huan's life or death is uncertain."
"How did I hear that Gu Tingye's life or death was uncertain? In order to save King Huan, Gu Er blocked many swords for King Huan and fell down at that time."
The first month of the lunar month was not even over yet. Suddenly, news of the assassinations of King Huan and Gu Tingye spread throughout Bianliang City.
The news spread so widely that even Sister Rong, who just stayed at home, didn't know which servant heard the news.
"Sister Rong, you don't have to worry so much. Your father has been killed on the battlefield so many times. It's just some assassins. There's nothing they can do to him." Sheng Changbai comforted Sister Rong and said.
"Uncle Sheng, will my father really be fine?"
"Of course, there is no news from the court, so your father is naturally fine."
Sheng Changbai said to the child with certainty, but actually he was still murmuring in his heart.
The reason why Gu Tingye was the emperor's number one thug was that even if something happened to Gu Tingye, Zhao Zongquan would not dare to make the news public.
Without Gu Tingye to help control the Forbidden Army, relying on Shen Congxing, an uncle with no foundation in the army, it would not be that stable anyway.
The British duke has not been appeased now, and his attitude is unclear. Zhao Zongquan's throne, which was originally considered stable, is now in danger.
"Then why is there news everywhere in Bianliang City that something happened to my father?" Sister Rong asked worriedly.
"The world just likes to spread lies. The more exaggerated the news, the more willing some people are to spread it."
There is obviously no market for saying that King Huan was in trouble. Although Zhao Zongquan thought highly of King Huan the most, Zhao Zongquan had other sons and many heirs.
Some people are willing to listen to Gu Tingye. After all, he is a man who has lived in the hot spots of Bianliang for the past ten years. His experience has been full of ups and downs, and he is completely a legend.
Sheng Changbai said that to Sister Rong, but the news spread a little faster. Suddenly, within a day or two, Bianliang City was talking about this matter. It was obvious that there was a promoter. ()
