Housekeeper Li Jun, while going to the cloth store to see the cloth for making clothes, sent favors from all directions. While he was busy, Yin Xiao also sent the account book to Jinshang's desk.
Jinshang's eyes became solemn from the first page of the account book, and he immediately announced that Dong Tongying had brought Yuan Shaopei into the palace to make an abacus.
A thick account book turned into a thin piece of paper with the crackling sound of beads, and a few words of 3.1 million taels were written lightly, and Wei Qiao re-placed it on the imperial desk.
It weighs heavily on my heart today.
Jinshang's eyes were fixed on those few words, and there was silence in the Wende Hall. Dong Tongying lowered his head in understanding and said nothing.
After a while, Imagami raised his head and said in a dry voice: "Can it be matched with the shortfall in the salt tax?"
Dong Tongying did not answer immediately, but said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the deficit in the salt tax is not that big, but the official salt price has been raised twice, and with the reduction of refugees, more people can afford salt.
Taxes should be higher than before, but now they are even lower than before, which shows that the problem of illicit taxation is not just a matter of a day or two."
Jinshang's face and voice turned cold: "We check and kill every year, but I didn't expect that the biggest salt insect is in this imperial city! Right under my nose! I don't even have money to repair the palace. It turns out that
All the money went into his pocket!"
Although this person was not explicitly mentioned in the account books, he was only mentioned implicitly as the servant of King Yan's house, and everyone knew that he was King Yan.
Jinshang grabbed the flimsy piece of paper, raised it and shook it vigorously a few times: "What does he want so much money for? To form a clique for personal gain!"
Throwing the paper to the ground: "I thought he was more honest than the boss! I didn't expect him to be so bold behind his back!"
Dong Tongying said softly: "Your Majesty, just based on this account book and without other evidence, it cannot be concluded that King Yan did it."
Jinshang looked at him with burning eyes. Because of the 3.1 million taels of silver that he had disappeared out of thin air, and because of the palace that he had not repaired, his mind was clearer than ever before. His eyes were sharp, and his wisdom was intermittently displayed.
"Dong Xiang said that someone framed King Yan?"
Dong Tongying did not hesitate this time, but immediately replied: "I dare not make such a conclusion. I think this matter should be submitted to the Criminal Division for thorough investigation. If King Yan was innocent, he should be innocent."
Today, I asked: "I see that you are diligent in everything to the King of Jin, how can you help the King of Yan now? Do you still have two boats?"
Dong Tongying knelt down without saying a word, and Yuan Shaopei behind him also knelt down.
Dong Tongying's unhurried voice echoed in the hall: "The only thing I will cling to is your Majesty, the dragon boat. When I discuss the king of Jin, it is not to follow the trend, but to solve your Majesty's problems and stabilize the court. What I said today is also
It is not to defend King Yan, but because I am afraid that Your Majesty and King Yan will hurt the relationship between father and son."
Today's expression softened a little: "Get up, I'm old, I feel uncomfortable kneeling on the ground, Wei Qiao, please help this rare loyal minister."
Wei Qiao quickly stepped forward and helped Dong Tongying up.
"Who does Mr. Dong think will be the presiding judge of this matter? Who will be the deputy judge? Who should be the culprit?"
Dong Tongying thought seriously for a moment: "The prisoner is naturally a private salt dealer in Dingzhou. The two envoys from the Criminal Division can serve as the chief judge, and the deputy judges... I think the King of Jin can be responsible."
"Prince Jin?" Jinshang frowned.
Dong Tongying said: "In the past, when the Zhang family conspired with King Chen to rebel, the King of Jin was also the deputy judge, and Mr. Zhang was cleared. I thought that the King of Jin would not lose his dignity in important events. Everyone in the world was watching. King Yan
If he is innocent and not guilty, he will be very convincing if the King of Jin finds out."
Jinshang nodded: "Call King Yan."
King Yan came with confidence in his mind.
Ever since he knew that Li Jun had taken out the account book and met Zhang Xutang, he had practiced many times at his house and prepared for a long time, and now it was finally his turn to appear.
When he walked outside the Hall of Wende, he straightened his clothes and walked in slowly without showing any sign of guilt or timidity.
After performing the courtesy of a monarch and his ministers, he stood with his hands down, and when he heard the current question: "The second brother is greedy for ink and has worked hard. It looks like he has lost a lot of weight."
King Yan immediately became suspicious: "Your Majesty, I am no longer a useful person in the court. The abacus of the three ministers are all in the hands of Prime Minister Dong and the King of Jin. I can't even touch the edges, so why should I be greedy for words?"
Jinshang's tone was calm and he motioned to Wei Qiao to give him the account book: "See for yourself."
Wei Qiao sent the account book to King Yan. Dong Tongying and Yuan Shaopei had already been prepared, knowing that King Yan would definitely not admit it, but they did not expect that after King Yan saw it, he started a series of crying complaints.
He came prepared, crying, barking, complaining, and angrily scolding the King of Jin. He did not delay, interspersed with each other, and the flow was endless. The injustice was worse than all the injustices in the ages.
Dong Tongying secretly marveled - although King Yan was not good at government affairs, he was very easy to complain about.
When King Yan stopped speaking, Jinshang's wise mind made him cry into a ball of paste, and he was silent for a long time, so that he did not let himself get stuck in the quagmire.
There were two glimmers of doubt in his eyes, he scanned King Yan from head to toe, then stared into King Yan's eyes, and finally said: "Whether you are guilty or not is not something you can say with your mouth, but it is up to the prosecutor to investigate."
, if evidence is found, you, the prince, will also be held accountable!"
King Yan kowtowed repeatedly: "I have a clear conscience! Your Majesty, please order a thorough investigation!"
Since a thorough investigation was needed, Dong Tongying was asked to supervise the case, and the Criminal Division was presided over and the King of Jin was deputy inquisitor. Since the case was very closely related, Dou Qushan was added to co-trial the case. Everyone had the same vision and sent a team to Dingzhou immediately.
Use express delivery to bring the Hu family as quickly as possible.
At the end of the month, people who went to Dingzhou returned from their journey and entered Kyoto at Zishi.
At the third watch, two red lanterns were hung on the left and right sides of the gold-lettered plaque "Gyeonggi Tidian Prison Division". The sound of horse hooves resounded throughout the street. Dou Qushan led his entourage and rushed over. They saw that the door had been opened and Dong Tongying was landing.
He quickly got off the sedan chair and stepped forward to help Dong Tongying: "Master Dong, why are you here in the middle of the night? You have to go to court at the fourth watch. Your body and bones are very important."
Dong Tongying held his hand on the steps and whispered: "The prince is here, how dare I support you?"
As soon as he heard that King Jin had arrived, Dou Qushan's pace quickened a little. The clerk standing outside the main Yamen welcomed the two of them in. King Jin was sitting behind the main case in the lobby, and the judge sitting under the main case was sitting to prepare the sentence.
The envoy was Shen Zhijie, and the deputy envoy was Deng Zhong.
When the two of them saw Dong Tongying arriving, they quickly stood up, saluted and gave up their seats.
The two of them are very self-aware and know that they seem to be the chief judge, but in fact they are just a supplement.
The real director is King Jin.
Dong Tongying and Dou Qushan also bowed to the King of Jin and rearranged their seats. Only then did Dong Tongying ask about the news about Dingzhou.
Shen Zhijie said: "The people who came back have already replied to the prince's words, saying that... the candles and oil were poured out in the house of the man named Hu in the middle of the night, and the whole family was burned to death, as well as those who often traveled on the business road. Died by wolves."
Dong Tongying and Dou Qushan both widened their eyes.