Chapter 110 Tianzi No. 7, Three Questions in the Dungeon
July is on fire.
The remaining heat is gradually dissipating as the summer Mars moves westward. The weather is finally becoming cooler.
In the east hall of Tai Chi Hall, Emperor Cao Rui looked gloomy at the moment, as if he had great anger in his heart, but had nowhere to vent it.
Under the jade steps of Danqi, General Cao Shuang of the Military Guard, his face was as sinking as water at this moment, and he was thoughtful. After a while, Cao Shuang's thoughts were settled, and then he said:
"Your Majesty, are you saying that Wang Li, the former governor of Hanoi County, committed suicide in a prison because he was afraid of punishment?"
Cao Shuang's tone was full of doubts and incomprehensions. He understood that although Wang Li returned to the capital after surrendering in Hanoi, he had already proven the crimes of Sima Xun, the prime minister of Honglu Temple, but this did not mean that All the culprits have been found out. This horse theft case has been going on for a long time. Wang Li has not yet fully recalled all the officials involved and the clues involved. The judge has not yet sentenced him. He prays for leniency. How could he commit suicide out of fear of crime at this time?
At this important juncture, Wang Li died like this! If he said that no one was doing anything secretly, he would never believe it. However, now that Wang Li was dead, he was afraid that he would have to investigate the matter further. It will be extremely difficult.
"Uncle Zhao." Cao Rui turned his back to Cao Shuang and stood on the steps, staring at the majestic blue dragon painted on the wall.
Although his voice was clear and soft, it naturally carried a kind of intimidating majesty. The emperor clenched his fists. He understood that this kind of case could not be handled by an institution like Dali Temple, and he wanted to find out what was behind the scenes. People, then we have to use behind-the-scenes means to solve it secretly.
Although the school affairs office is effective, this matter is of great importance, and Cao Rui obviously does not trust the school affairs office.
He turned around, looked at the steady and cautious young friend at the foot of the stairs, and said:
"I know you are always cautious. This time, I want you to investigate this matter secretly. It is best to help me find this daring person. I hope you can investigate the case as soon as possible and meet my expectations."
"I will definitely live up to your majesty's high expectations!" Cao Shuang replied, but in his heart, he thought that this case could just be handed over to a boy like Xi to practice his skills.
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In the sky prison, the weak firelight contrasts with the darkness, giving off a strange and gloomy atmosphere. This place is not necessarily the most tight-knit place in the world, but if ordinary people want to escape or sneak into this place, they have no choice but to do so. It will be an easy thing.
"General Qi, this... hiccup... is the prison cell of Dihao." Under the leadership of an old jailer smelling of alcohol, Cao Xi came to the prison where he was originally held. Wang Li's cell.
Originally, this was a task given by His Majesty to the eldest brother, but the eldest brother decided to leave it to himself. He also said that this was specially reserved for him to practice, all for his own good! Only a ghost would believe what his eldest brother said. Cao Xi felt, It was obviously because his elder brother was lazy that he handed the case over to him. But what could he do? Cao Xi could only complain helplessly.
Heaven, Earth, Xuan, Huang, Yu, Zhou, Hong, and Huang. This heavenly prison is divided into four levels and eight departments. From heaven to wilderness, the more serious the crime and the higher the authority, the further back they will be arranged. The place.
However, the first four floors generally hold more prisoners, and among the first four floors, the heaven and earth departments hold the most prisoners.
As for the Huangzi name at the back, Cao Xi had never thought about it, nor could he think of anyone who was qualified to be imprisoned here.
"General, this cell with a cell name... hiccup... usually imprisons local state and county officials who have committed crimes, while court officials who have committed crimes are usually imprisoned in a cell with a cell name of Xuan."
, By the way, my lord, Sima Xun who was imprisoned not long ago... hiccup... was imprisoned in the Xuanbu. Oh, I'm so confused about his humble position. These gentlemen, let go
You are a good official, but you have to come to this prison...hiccup...suffer a lot, just like this Lord Wang Liwang, even his life is on the line here.
, I, little old man, would like to go out and become an official who can see the light of day, but I have no chance, alas..."
The old jailer let out a long sigh and yawned while belching wine. He usually spent time in the prison, bored, but now that he finally had someone to talk to, he naturally wanted to talk to him.
Called.
"Is this the place where Wang Li was imprisoned during his lifetime?" Cao Xi carefully observed the cell numbered eighteen, and saw that although the cell was dark and dark, it was not very small. Wang Li was also a scholar from Xiaolian.
He likes cleanliness, and now even the cell he once lived in is quite clean and tidy. However, because the cell has been unoccupied for two days and has not been cleaned, the bed in the room has been covered with a thin layer of dust.
"That's right." The old jailer rubbed his drunken eyes, and after confirming again, he was sure that there was no mistake: "Eighteenth of the earth is here."
"Are you sure that Wang Li did commit suicide?" Cao Xi still had a suspicious expression on his face.
"It's absolutely true, General. Not to mention that the defense of the prison is... hiccup... tight and difficult to get in and out. His humble position even asked him to check Wang Li's body. There was no sign of poisoning. It's true.
He died of suicide."
Cao Xi continued to observe everything in the cell while asking carefully:
"So, has any suspicious person visited the cell in the past few days?"
"When officials like these enter prison, it is common for their relatives and friends to come to visit them. You...hiccup...what I just said is that there are no suspicious characters and low-level positions.
Note, however, a young master who claimed to be a disciple of Wang Li's former official did come to visit us two days ago."
When Cao Xi heard this, he frowned and continued to ask:
"Is this person registered?"
"Yes!" The old jailer said very proudly: "Yes, yes, of course there is. This is a matter that I personally take charge of. I can't go wrong. Please wait a moment, I will go and give it to you... burp...
...Look for it.”
Not long after, the old jailer came over with a registration list in his hand.
"In the fourth year of Taihe in the Wei Dynasty, in the sixth month of summer, at Bingchen day, Jiang... Hi...
, it is clearly written in black and white on the paper, would you like to take a look for yourself?"
Jiang Gejun? Hearing the name read out by the old jailer, Cao Xi was confused. When he took the roster and checked it in person, his eyes stopped on the word "Jiang Jun", and then he realized that it was Jiang Jun.
"It turns out he is the Marquis of Guannei, the eldest son of Lord Jiang Ji of the Central Guards..." Cao Xi murmured to himself, thinking deeply.
"By the way, General, there is one more thing." The old jailer seemed to suddenly remember something and took out something from his arms: "I suddenly remembered that after Wang Li died, in his hand... hiccup.
..... I clutched the hairpin tightly. I thought it was nothing unusual. Seeing that it was worth two yuan, I kept it myself. I originally planned to exchange it for wine, but since the general is here today
Investigate the case, General, take a look, I wonder if it will be of any use to you... hiccup..."
Cao Xi took the hairpin and looked at it for a while. It was a bead hairpin for women. Why was Wang Li holding this bead hairpin in his hand before he died? What did he want to express...
After Cao Xi thought for a long time, he suddenly said with enlightenment: "I understand!"
He took out a few taels of broken silver from his money bag and handed it to the old jailer, and then said: "This hairpin is of great use to me, sell it to me. In addition, take me to the Tianzihao cell, I want to see that hairpin."
The second gang leader of the Soochow Haisha Gang."
"Okay!" When the old jailer saw the white money, his drunken eyes suddenly brightened up. Now he had half a year's worth of drinking money. He happily put the money into his sleeves and took Cao Xi with him happily.
Walk towards the Tianzihao cell.
Not long after, the two came to Cell No. 7 in Tianzi.
As soon as Cao Xi approached the cell, he felt a wave of filthy and filthy smell blowing into his face. This filthy smell made Cao Xi cover his face with his hands and almost made him sick.
And the arrested second leader of the Haisha Gang, a muscular man with a beard on his face, is currently wearing iron chains, sitting cross-legged on the thatch, chewing on the moldy prison food.
The moment Cao Xi entered the cell, he was keenly aware that a pair of wild wolf-like eyes were projected towards him.
"It's you...it's you..." As soon as the second leader of the Sea Shark Gang saw Cao Xi, he immediately began to roar. His voice was low and hoarse, like an angry and thirsty animal.
A fierce beast was roaring in a low voice.
"Do you know, you have been sentenced to Lingchi!" Although Cao Xi felt a little fear in his heart, he did not lose his composure. Without further words, he just threw this sentence away coldly.
After hearing this, the second leader of the Haisha Gang suddenly turned pale. If he wanted to die happily, it would be fine, but who would suffer this kind of Lingchi torture? If that were the case
, it would be better for me to hit myself to death now, than to suffer the pain of being cut into pieces by a thousand cuts.
"However, as long as you are willing to answer the questions I am going to ask seriously, I can guarantee that you will die happily." Cao Xi looked at the man's cold and vicious eyes and put forward his conditions in an understatement.
The second leader of the Haisha Gang hesitated for a moment. He understood that confessing at this time was his only chance to reduce his punishment. Moreover, it was better to have a few more people buried with him before he died than to go to hell alone.
"Okay! I promise you! But don't forget your promise to me, otherwise, even if I die and turn into a ghost, I won't spare you!"
"Very good." Cao Xi smiled and took out the pearl hairpin from his sleeve: "Then do you recognize this?"
The second leader of the Haisha Gang squinted his eyes and carefully looked at the hairpin in Cao Xi's hand, and sneered: "Of course I recognize it, why don't I recognize it? This hairpin was worn by Wang Li's mother-in-law, the governor of Hanoi!"
"Wang Li's wife?" As if his inner thoughts were confirmed, Cao Xi immediately continued to ask: "Then how do you recognize it?"
"Of course I recognize it. How could I not recognize it? Our brothers have been in Hanoi for several years and dealt with Wang Li every day. Wang Li was poor and only bought this decent pearl hairpin for his wife. The Hanoi County Sheriff was originally
He is diligent and loves the people, but unfortunately, he is too attached to his family, so he is held hostage by our elder brother."
"You mean, this hairpin was the one you used to threaten Wang Li?"
"Yes, you are absolutely right." The second gang leader of the Haisha Gang stretched out beautifully and yawned, causing the chains to rattle. He continued: "However, I still don't
Understand, Wang Li’s family members are not involved in the case. Logically speaking, shouldn’t they be staying at Wang Li’s residence in Hanoi County now? How come this hairpin is in your hands?”
"Wang Li committed suicide in prison, did you know?"
"What!" The second leader of the Haisha Gang has been in prison and no one talked to him, so he was unable to know many things. He originally thought that the accomplices in the DPRK would find a way to rescue them, but he had no idea.
Thinking that those people would actually kill Wang Li and silence him, does this mean that he may be killed by them? Fortunately, he is a Soochow bandit and has no relatives or friends in Luoyang. There is no reason or excuse for those people to come to visit him.
, so he escaped a disaster! The body of the second leader of the Sea Shark Gang was shaking slightly, so much so that the iron chains on his body made a slight noise. He was not afraid of death, but he hated being betrayed!
Since you are ruthless, don't blame me for being unjust!
"There are accomplices in the court, as well as the Central Guards, and the Marquis of Guannei Jiang Ji. As for the evidence, I don't have it. You can check it yourself!"
"Very good." Cao Xi's thoughts were finally confirmed. However, Jiang Ji, the Marquis of Guan Nei, has always been cautious, so it may be difficult to get a handle on him. In order to reveal his true colors, I am afraid that the only way to do it is through his son Jiang Jun. As long as Jiang Jun
If you understand the general situation and are willing to surrender, then Jiang Ji's crime can be confirmed. He looked at the people in the prison and said: "Don't worry, I will definitely do what I promised you."
