Feng Si's punishment methods are very clever, and can even be said to be the cleanest among the many criminal methods that Kou Ji has ever seen.
Under Kou Ji's watch, Feng Si used no fewer than ten torture instruments on Zhang Bing, but none of them cut Zhang Bing's blood.
Even if some blood is produced during torture, Feng Si will clean it up immediately.
There was obviously no damage on Zhang Bing's body, but Zhang Bing was still in pain.
At the end of the trial, Zhang Bing collapsed. He kept shouting at Kou Ji, asking Kou Ji to kill him quickly.
Kou Ji was indifferent.
Zhang Bing attempted to commit suicide, but was easily restrained by Feng Si.
After Zhang Bing completely collapsed, Kou Ji interrogated Zhang Bing and got the same answer as before.
Kou Ji felt that he would not get any more useful information from Zhang Bing, so he left Zhang Bing to Feng Si, and he and Chen Lin left the execution room.
Standing on the dark stone path outside the torture chamber, Kou Ji was deep in thought and said nothing.
Chen Lin said solemnly: "This matter involves Concubine Xian, what do we dare to do?"
Kou Ji said casually, "Send someone to arrest Concubine Xian and interrogate her."
Chen Lin's eyes widened in horror, "Are you crazy?"
When Chen Lin saw that Kou Ji was silent, she jumped on her feet and said: "The Concubine Xian is the master. We are a slave, how can we dare to touch her? The only people in the world who can touch her are officials.
Princess Baoqing is your daughter-in-law, and if you touch her biological mother, do you believe she will stab your son to death while he is sleeping?"
Kou Ji rolled his eyes, "I just said it casually, do you take it seriously?"
Chen Lin glared at Kou Ji, "If other people say this, our family naturally doesn't believe it. But you are different. You really dare to say and do it."
Kou Ji said angrily: "What do I dare? No matter how powerful I am, I am still a minister of the royal family."
Chen Lin glanced at her mouth, not believing Kou Ji's words.
Chen Lin knew very well whether the royal family had any weight in Kou Ji's heart.
In the past, when the Eight Kings were defeated in rebellion, Kou Ji was one of the driving forces behind it.
At that time, Kou Ji was just a petty official as big as sesame seeds and mung beans.
Today's Kou Ji can be said to have overwhelming power.
In the past, when his status was low, he dared to push the Eight Kings to death.
Now that he is in a high position, would he still be afraid of a concubine?
Kou Ji didn't pay attention to Chen Lin's thoughts. He said calmly: "This matter is definitely not as simple as Zhang Bing said. I'm afraid the situation behind it is very complicated.
Zhang Bing said that his promotion was all due to the support of Concubine Zhang Xian.
But he had never seen Concubine Zhang Xian from beginning to end.
So I'm afraid there's something bigger going on.
You send people to continue to investigate this matter, but you cannot make it public, let alone reveal that Zhang Bing confessed to Concubine Xian."
Chen Lin's face straightened and she said: "Our family will tell the officials truthfully, and our family will not deceive the officials."
Kou Ji sighed, "It's actually not appropriate to tell the officials about this matter..."
Chen Lin looked straight at Kou Ji without saying a word, her eyes very firm.
Kou Ji shook his head and sighed, "That's all, it's up to you."
The two of them came out of Wudesi Prison, Kou Ji took a carriage and walked to the palace, while Chen Lin hurried to the palace.
When Kou Ji returned to his house, he heard from his disciples that Bao Zheng was visiting.
Kou Ji asked the new groom to arrange the carriage properly, and he rushed to the side hall to see Bao Zheng.
When they arrived at the side hall, they saw Bao Zheng sitting quietly in the side hall drinking tea.
Bao Zheng also saw Kou Ji, put down his tea cup, stood up and saluted, "Student has seen Mr...."
Kou Ji asked Bao Zheng to sit down, "You're welcome. Take your seat quickly."
After the two sat down, Kou Ji asked: "Why did you come to my house?"
A bright smile appeared on Bao Zheng's face, and he said softly: "Xu'er is pregnant, and the students are here to announce the good news."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly, "No wonder Mr. Jin is so happy today. This is indeed a great event, but you should go to the palace to announce the good news first, and then come to my house."
Bao Zheng smiled and said: "Xu'er went into the palace by herself..."
Kou Ji nodded and said with a smile: "That's good. Although Xu'er has lost her title of princess, the bloodline cannot be cut off. The official family has always been Xu'er's brother.
Xu'er is pregnant, so she should report the good news to the official family. This is etiquette."
"Students understand..."
"When I return home later, I will tell your wife to prepare some gifts for you to take back."
"Thank you sir."
"..."
After talking about Zhao Xu's pregnancy, Bao Zheng's face changed slightly and he said in a low voice: "Sir, the students have already found out some clues about what you told the students."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows and asked, "What was found?"
Bao Zheng said in a deep voice: "Fang Meiren has a distant cousin who lived in the Fang family when she was a child. Later, the family fell into decline and was expelled from the Fang family by the shallow-sighted head of the Fang family.
During the fourth year of Tiansheng's reign, Fang Meiren's distant cousin became an official in the same department.
Afterwards, he served in local government for many years, and was transferred back to Beijing four years ago to serve as a judge in Kaifeng Prefecture."
Kou Ji pondered and said: "There is such a person, why didn't anyone from the Fang family mention it?"
Bao Zheng smiled and said: "That's because after his family fell into decline, his mother remarried someone else and he changed his name.
When the student was checking official files, he couldn't find his past before the age of fifteen, so he sent someone to his place of origin to investigate and found out about this."
It was very common in the Song Dynasty for the mother to remarry and the son to change his name.
Fan Zhongyan, the current academician of the Zishiyuan, had a similar experience.
Kou Ji thought about it and said: "It's nothing to change your name. The judge of Kaifeng Mansion is not a high-ranking official. Could he be related to Fang Meiren?"
No one in the Fang family remembered him or mentioned him, which meant that the people in the Fang family had forgotten him a long time ago.
Maybe Fang Mei also forgot about him."
Bao Zheng said bluntly: "Fang's people will be escorted to Beijing in two days. When they arrive, students can go over and ask, and they will be able to deduce whether Fang Mei has forgotten the Kaifeng Prefecture judge."
Speaking of this, Bao Zheng added: "The judge of Kaifeng Prefecture is naturally nothing in the eyes of my husband. But in the eyes of other officials, it is a good position.
According to the practice of the imperial court, any official who had served as a judge in Kaifeng Prefecture would later be dispatched to a county under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture to serve as a county magistrate.
Later, he was transferred to the court to serve as an official of the Qing Dynasty.
Such as Zhengyan, Shiyi, Shiyushi, etc. His official position is not high, but he can speak in front of officials.
The portion is not small.
As long as you endure steadily, success is inevitable.
Therefore, the position of Kaifeng Mansion Judge may not seem high, but the future behind it is still bright."
After listening to Bao Zheng's words, Kou Ji looked thoughtful.
Bao Zheng continued: "The students will investigate first, and then tell the teacher after they find out the involvement behind it."
Kou Ji nodded slowly and warned: "Don't tell anyone else about this."
Bao Zheng cupped his hands and said, "Students know the importance."
Kou Ji and Bao Zheng discussed the trivial matters again, and Bao Zheng left the Zhuyuan.
After Kou Ji sent Bao Zheng away, he returned to the house and said quietly: "Just after Zhang Bing was sentenced, another Kaifeng Prefecture judge appeared.
There are so many trivial matters behind the scenes..."
"Just wait. After the local restructuring is completely implemented, I can take the initiative. I won't have to be led by others."
"..."
Not long after Kou Ji stayed at the house, Zhao Zhen sent someone to summon Kou Ji into the palace.
I asked Concubine Zhang Xian about her involvement in this matter.
Kou Ji answered truthfully.
Zhao Zhen wanted to summon Concubine Zhang Xian for questioning, but was stopped by Kou Ji.
Kou Ji felt that it was not appropriate to make this matter a big deal now.
Zhao Zhen followed Kou Ji's advice.
After Kou Ji left the palace, he stayed at the house for several days.
A few days later.
Chen Lin still hasn't found out where the 100 kilograms of gunpowder went, and has no clue about other aspects.
However, Bao Zheng had already learned some news from the Fang clan members who were escorted to Beijing.
When Bao Zheng sent the news to Zhuyuan.
Kou Ji is teaching Prince Zhao Run.
The prince Zhao Run was banned from the Daqing Palace by Zhao Zhen because of his affair with Fang Meiren. He was not released until today.
After he was released, he immediately rushed to Zhuyuan to seek advice.
Bamboo courtyard.
In the study room.
After Kou Ji casually explained Su Jingxian's arithmetic question, he looked at Prince Zhao Run who was standing beside him.
Zhao Run stared at Kou Ji solemnly.
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said, "Is something wrong?"
Zhao Run asked straight to the point: "Sir, who do you think wants to harm me?"
Kou Ji smiled and said: "There are gods and ghosts behind this matter. It's a bit complicated. I haven't found out the matter yet, so I can't tell you."
Zhao Run said in a deep voice: "They are my brothers, right?"
Kou Ji burst into laughter and said, "They don't even know what they want now, so will they go against you?"
Zhao Run said unceremoniously: "No one of the royal heirs can do what they want to do. There are many royal heirs who do things according to the requirements of others.
They can't fight me now.
But you can’t tell who is behind them.”
Kou Ji stared at Zhao Run and sighed: "You have been confined in Daqing Hall for ten days, and your mind has become much more active."
Zhao Run said with a gloomy face: "I was almost killed this time. If I don't be smarter, I might be dead."
Kou Ji shook his head and said: "Although your mind is quick, you are using it in the wrong place. Whether it is gods or ghosts behind other princes, as long as you guard yourself and do not give them a chance to frame you, then you will be safe.
.
Don't think about harming others, and don't think about taking revenge on anyone.
It makes no sense to you.
Your father doesn't want to see brothers killing each other, and I don't want to see it either.
So once you kill your brother, your position as prince will probably come to an end.
I believe that as long as you brothers can live in harmony, your father will never mind demoting some of you to common people."
Zhao Run gritted his teeth and said, "Is there nothing I can do but watch others harm me?"
Kou Ji stared and scolded: "You are the king now, and you have great righteousness. When your younger brothers get older, they must respectfully call themselves brothers in front of you.
If you want to bully them, why would you use underhanded methods?
If you use their mistakes to ban them openly, they will have to admit it.
You hold the sword of righteousness, why do you want to use an embroidery needle to kill evil people?
As long as you don't lose your sense of justice, even if they make trouble, they won't be able to shake you in the slightest."
At this point, Kou Ji had already stood up, stared at Zhao Run and shouted angrily: "The most important thing is that you all want to compete for position, but have you ever thought about whether you can outlive your father?"
?
Your father is only in his thirties now. He is in good health and free from illness and disaster. I am afraid he will have many decades to live in the future.
You all want to fight for position, but you can't outlast your father, so you are fighting for a piece of shit?
You are also a person of status now, and I don't want to call you a fool.
But you insist on forcing me to call you a fool."
Kou Ji pointed to the location of the palace and angrily said, "Only your brothers can snatch that location if your father hands it over. If your father doesn't hand it over, it's useless for you to snatch it.
The final outcome will not be good.
I believe that your father would rather pass his empire to a grandson with a far-sighted vision than to a son with a short-sighted vision.
Your father is kind enough to you, but that doesn't mean he's easy to bully.
He also killed people.
Right on the Chui Gong Hall, I chopped a man with my own hands until he was beyond recognition."
Zhao Run stared at Kou Ji in shock, speechless.
Kou Ji snorted coldly at Zhao Run and said: "Secure your position as the prince, and you will only do two things from now on. Pay filial piety to your father and mother, and do a good job in the business you and Tianci run together."
For other things, don't ask and don't care.
If your father is willing to pass the throne to you, no one can take it away.
If your father doesn't want to, you can't rob it, let alone do anything to make your father sad."
"gentlemen……"
"What I mean is your father's wish. If you violate this wish, you will come down as I asked you to go up."
Kou Ji's words were quite arrogant, and Zhao Run shuddered when he heard them.
Kou Ji's cold eyes fell on Zhao Run and he said coldly: "The same goes for your other brothers. You'd better be obedient to me. Otherwise, if the officials don't take care of you, I will take care of you for them.
I rarely do things behind your back, so you should know that I have that ability."
Zhao Run's face turned a little pale. After standing in silence for a long time, he stared at Kou Ji and said, "Sir, if these words get out, aren't you afraid that others will say you have evil intentions?"
Kou Ji sneered and said: "I will leave Bianjing in two years at most. I have to leave. I still care about some gossip?"
Zhao Run bowed deeply to Kou Ji, "It's the student who is short-sighted. The student should remember his teacher's teachings. From now on, he will only do business, only perform filial piety, and will not care about anything else."
When Kou Ji heard Zhao Run's words, the expression on his face finally relaxed a bit.
"If I hadn't seen that for the sake of the people of the world, you still wanted to infiltrate Fang Mei in the palace, knowing that Fang Mei had bad intentions, I wouldn't have said this to you."
Zhao Run said solemnly: "Students always remember what my husband warned students before. No matter how high their status is, students will not ignore the common people of the world."
Kou Ji looked Zhao Run up and down and said, "You're not young anymore. Go back and talk to your mother about choosing some concubines for you.
If you have a good wife to help you, you won't run into the harem and endanger yourself."
Zhao Run stared at Kou Ji and said sternly: "I won't marry a student other than Kou Hui!"
Kou Ji suddenly stared, "Get out of here!"
"Here!"
Zhao Run bowed to Kou Ji very simply and left Kou Ji's study.
After Zhao Run left, Kou Ji gritted his teeth and said: "Both father and son are not good people, and they are all evil-minded..."
"housekeeper?!"
"housekeeper?!"
Kou Ji yelled twice outside the study, and the housekeeper hurriedly appeared next to Kou Ji.
"What are your orders, Master?"
Kou Ji snorted coldly and said: "Tell me later that I saw Zhao Run coming and asked Hui'er to entertain him."
The butler looked stunned and said hurriedly: "Master, the young lady and His Highness the Crown Prince will not deal with each other. When they meet, they will either beat or scold him. Every time he hurts the Crown Prince, the Queen will complain to the madam for a long time.
The madam went to great lengths to ask the young lady to avoid His Highness the Crown Prince.
Now ask the young lady to entertain His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness may be seriously injured.
At that time, you will not be able to explain to the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty."
There are some things that the housekeeper should not say in front of Kou Ji.
Kou Hui has been practicing martial arts since she could speak, and has been practicing martial arts for more than ten years now.
On weekdays, he also likes to train with those dandy boys from Bianjing City, and his martial arts skills are not weak.
Although he couldn't go to the battlefield to dominate, ordinary people, even three or five, might not be Kou Hui's opponents.
If that weakling Zhao Run was beaten up by Kou Hui, he would probably be seriously injured.
Kou Ji glared at the housekeeper and snorted coldly: "How to explain to the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty? That is my business, it is not your turn to make the decision."
The butler smiled bitterly and said, "Then go down and give me the order."
As soon as the butler left.
寇季冷冷的道:“想娶我闺女,先看你抗不抗揍吧.”
He let Kou Hui practice martial arts since he was a child, just to beat Zhao Run.
He just wanted the royal family that Kou Hui beat to never dare to mention the matter of getting married again.
Now that Zhao Run was raising the matter again without hesitation, Kou Ji felt that it was necessary for Kou Hui to teach Zhao Run a lesson.
As soon as Zhao Run left, Bao Zheng hurried to Kou Ji's study.
When he saw Kou Ji, he bowed and asked, "The student just saw the prince go out?"
Kou Ji said calmly: "I was grounded for ten days in Daqing Hall. I was almost stupid because of the grounding. I scolded me and went back obediently."
Bao Zheng nodded, no doubt that he was there.
Now that Zhao Run's status is different, there are not many people who can reprimand him.
Among them is Kou Ji.
"Sir, the student has been in contact with the Fang clan in private. The student heard from the Fang clan that Fang Mei and the Kaifeng Prefecture judge grew up together.
No one knows whether there is an affair or not.
But when the judge of Kaifeng Prefecture was in the Fang family, he was under the influence of others and was often bullied.
Most of them are house beauties who come to protect them.
Therefore, the students dare not say whether the two have an affair, but there is still a brother-sister relationship."
After Bao Zheng casually mentioned Zhao Run, he immediately talked about business with Kou Ji.
After listening to Bao Zheng's words, Kou Ji pondered and said: "It is very possible that Fang Mei met with the judge of Kaifeng Mansion, or through a letter?"
Bao Zheng nodded solemnly.
Kou Ji pondered for a moment and said: "Now quickly send someone to Kaifeng Mansion, find any judge and tell him that you have government affairs to discuss with him.
Let’s make an appointment at Chen Kee Restaurant.”
Bao Zheng cupped his hands and said, "Students will send someone immediately."
After Kou Ji waited for Bao Zheng to leave, he had someone hitch the carriage onto the carriage, and he quickly rushed to Chenji Restaurant.
Chen Kee Restaurant is just an ordinary restaurant, incomparable to Fan Restaurant, but better than other restaurants.
It's the kind of thing that's more than enough than above.
There are private rooms in the restaurant.
Kou Jixian chose this place to meet the judge of Kaifeng Prefecture because there was an elegant room here.
Now Chen Lin and Bao Zheng were divided into two lines to investigate the beauty's affairs. In order to hide Bao Zheng's hidden line, Kou Ji did not ask anyone to send the Kaifeng Prefecture judge to the prison for questioning.
After Kou Ji arrived at Chenji Restaurant, he asked for a private room, ordered some refreshments, and waited in the restaurant.
Waited for about half an hour.
Bao Zheng took the Kaifeng Prefecture judge to Chenji Restaurant.
As soon as the Kaifeng Prefecture judge saw Kou Ji, he immediately bowed and saluted.
"I am sent to Kaifeng Prefecture to judge Guan Zhong. I have seen the Duke of Kou..."
Fang Zhong is about the same age as Zhao Zhen, tall and thin, dressed like a Confucian, and looks pretty good.
In fact, Kou Ji looks at people through colored glasses.
It is inevitable that Fang Zhong will sell well.
Those who don't look good will basically not be able to become officials.
After all, the officialdom of the Song Dynasty was not only based on talent and learning, but also on appearance.
Anyone who can be selected is not too bad in appearance.
Kou Ji looked at Fang Zhong's appearance and was considering whether Fang Zhong was having an affair with the beauty of the house.
When Kou Ji looked at Fang Zhong, Fang Zhong was standing there politely.
Kou Ji stared at Fang Zhong and said, "Were you once Fang Meiren's cousin?"
Fang Zhong did not hesitate and answered decisively: "Yes..."
Kou Ji nodded, "He looks like a smart man, so you should know what I want to ask."
Fang Zhong let out a long sigh and said calmly: "I'm sorry for you, Miss Fang."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "Tell me carefully..."
Fang Zhong sighed: "Ever since the news of Madam Fang's death came out of the palace, I have been waiting for today. I know that the court will find out about Xia Guan sooner or later."
Kou Ji glanced at Fang Zhong and said, "Tell me what I want to hear."
Fang Zhong nodded, "First of all, Xiaguan must tell Mr. Kou that although Xiaguan and Fang are cousins and were irradiated by her when they were children, Xiaguan and Fang are innocent."
Kou Ji nodded and motioned for Fang Zhong to continue.
Fang Zhong sighed and said: "Ms. Fang is a kind-hearted person. She has liked chess and poetry since she was a child. The most important thing is that she takes good care of us brothers who are younger than her.
When Xiaguan was a child and lived in Fang Mansion, he was bullied, but she took care of her.
Later, after Xiaguan left the house, he never saw her again.
This was also the case until the official became an official and found out that she had entered the palace as a female prostitute.
It wasn't until Xianguan returned to Beijing four years ago to report on her work that she heard that Fang's wife was being tortured by her younger brothers and had trouble sleeping and eating.
Thinking of their past friendship, the lower official went to someone who was familiar with Fang to give her a message.
Let her give up taking care of her younger brothers, because her younger brothers cannot afford to support them.
Her younger brothers have no talent or learning, because she was promoted to a talented person and became an official.
Everyone committed all kinds of evil just because they had their sister in the palace.
Many lives were lost on his hands.
The queen of the house wanted to help her younger brothers solve their problems, but she couldn't go to the officials. She could only go to the palace and ask the concubines with background for help.
Because of this, I was often humiliated.
The subordinate knows that if she blindly protects her brother, one day she will get involved with him.
So I decided to give a reminder and repay the past kindness.
It’s a pity…”
…
…
(PS: Before I know it, it’s a thousand chapters, and it’s almost to the end. Time flies so fast... It feels like the first chapter was written yesterday... Thank you brothers and sisters for accompanying me all the way. Please ask for anything by the way...