When Shen's carriage left the city gate, Gu Changjin returned to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Hu He said to him: "The people from Dali Temple have taken Pan Xueliang away. I sent people to follow him and also hired a doctor for him. Don't worry, you handled his right hand in time and saved it."

The old minister confessed, Even if Pan Xueliang did not plead guilty, it would be difficult to clear his name. Hu He sympathized with Pan Xueliang a little. Han Chuang had studied hard for more than ten years, and now his career, fame and future were all in vain.

They were all people who passed the imperial examination, how could he not sigh with regret?

Just this sympathy will not make him do anything more. The old minister is an important minister, and was the tutor of Emperor Jiande and Prince Qiyuan. Even today, I have listened to the old minister's lectures on classics and history in the Wenhua Hall.

The emperor would not let the old minister suffer any more punishment when he was old and ill. In order to appease the anger of the officials, he could only push Pan Xueliang out.

Hu He said: "Master Zongxian means that since the old minister has confessed, Pan Xueliang will probably not be able to escape the crime, so the case will be handed over to Dali Temple for trial."

Gu Changjin said: "Master Hu, Pan Xueliang has not Plead guilty."

Hearing this, Hu He looked sideways at Gu Changjin, wondering for a moment whether the young man understood what he said.

In the current situation, it doesn't matter whether Pan Xueliang pleads guilty or not. Handing the case to Dali Temple for trial actually convicted Pan Xueliang.

"Master Gu, let's just let this case go." Hu He started to cherish his talents and said, "Look at what happened to the people who spoke for Pan Xueliang today. If you speak for Pan Xueliang now, you are standing in front of him. The opposite of all scholars. All the reputation you earned during your three years as an official will be wiped out overnight. So, do you want to clear up Pan Xueliang's name?"

Hu He is famous among the officials in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He is famous for his good temper, smiling all day long, smiling like a Buddha, and very tactful and aware of current affairs.

Mr. Zong Xian put Gu Changjin in his hands, probably hoping that he could soften the boy's temperament.

Look at his previous methods, whether it was to file an imperial complaint or to go to the Golden Palace, he used all the tricks to take the wrong direction. One careless move could cost him his future and life.

Gu Changjin nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Hu, for the suggestion." He did not mention whether he would give up.

Hu He thought Gu Changjin had listened to what he said, waved his hand and said, "You were also injured trying to save Pan Xueliang. Go back to recover early."

Gu Changjin nodded in response, left the main room, and stood on the corridor. After a while, he did not leave, but went to Meng Zong's room.

Meng Zong is the censor of Zuodu. He is now serving in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. If he wants to clear Pan Xueliang's name, he cannot go beyond Meng Zong.

Meng Zong didn't seem surprised when he saw him coming. He put down the wolf hair on his hand and said, "But you are here for Pan Xueliang?"

"Master Zongxian." Gu Changjin cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I am indeed here for Pan Xueliang."

Meng Zong looked at him and said, "Do you want to investigate this case to the end?"

"The old minister is a veteran of three dynasties. He is famous all over the world and is respected by countless officials. Now that he is slandering his name, he may have a hidden agenda. The lower official thinks that this case Regarding the reputation of important officials in the court in the eyes of the people, I don't believe that the old minister is a person who practices favoritism and malpractice." Gu Changjin paused and then said: "Kang Pan Xueliang has never confessed. If that is the case, why not investigate this case. Go down?"

Meng Zong looked at Gu Changjin with sharp eyes, and for a moment he said, "Do you want to save Pan Xueliang?"

"The official doesn't know the full story of the case, so he doesn't dare to save him. He just wants to get Pan Xueliang a chance to be tried by the three judicial departments. Opportunity." Gu Changjin said: "If the Three Laws Division still finds him guilty after the trial, he will probably be convinced. Let the guilty plead guilty and the innocent person be exonerated. This is one of the Three Laws Division's first duties. The official believes that the Sanfa Division is in charge of the world's punishments and is where the people of Dayin seek justice. No matter when or where they are, they must not forget this important responsibility."

He slowly raised his eyes, met Meng Zong's sharp gaze, and said, "And Pan Xueliang. They are the people of Dayin. "

Return fairness and justice to the people.

Pan Xueliang is a citizen of Dayin. If he is not guilty, he should be cleared.

Meng Zong folded his hands and said slowly: "The cases that this court can order the three judicial divisions to jointly try are all major and important cases. Pan Xueliang's case is not yet qualified. If I don't do it, what will you do?"

Gu Changjin is neither humble nor arrogant. He said: "The lower official is the official, and he is also responsible for guarding all officials. If the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate act unfairly, the lower official should fulfill the responsibility of the official."

He lowered his eyes and arched his hands, waist But the rod is straight and has never been bent.

That is the unique tenacity of a young man with a righteous heart. Meng Zong has not seen such a young man for many years. He is like a green bamboo that remains unyielding in the strong wind, and like a sword with a sharp edge.

Meng Zong looked at him well for a moment. In a place where Gu Changjin couldn't see, his sharp eagle-like eyes gradually softened and even smiled a little.

"You must know the Holy Will in your heart. If you gamble your future for Pan Xueliang, if the bet is wrong, will it be worthless?"

"No." Gu Changjin said decisively: "I believe it, the official. The emperor also believes in all the adults in the court who serve the country and the people. "

He knew very well that there was Xu Fu in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and he would not let his career stop like this.

Moreover, there are still Da Sikou and Master Tan who are here, even if the Jinluan Palace man is furious, they will keep the black gauze hat on his head for him because of their old friendship.

Meng Zong lost the gentleness in his eyes and returned to his usual coldness. He nodded and said: "The three judicial departments jointly tried Pan Xueliang's fraud case, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate agreed. As for the Criminal Department and Dali Temple, you have to go and tell them in person. . "

According to Dayin's law, if a case needs to be started with the joint trial mechanism of the three law divisions, besides the emperor's order, there is another way, that is, the three heads of the three law divisions unanimously agree that this case is worthy of starting the joint trial mechanism.

Gu Changjin responded in a deep voice. After leaving the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he went to the Criminal Department.

After Lu Zhuo, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, heard his intention, he was silent for a long time, and then said: "You will come here today. Someone has expected it for a long time. Do you know who that person is?"

Gu Changjin said: "I don't know. "

Lu Zhuo looked at him, let out a long sigh, and said: "That man said that if you don't give up the Pan Xueliang case, he wants to see you in person. It's better to choose a different day than to hit the sun. After all, you will have to go to Dali Temple soon. , I will take you to see him."

Lu Zhuo drank all the tea in the cup like a cow chewing peonies, and said: "The three law departments are jointly investigating the case of Pan Xueliang's scientific examination fraud. The Ministry of Punishment has agreed to leave. You go to Dali Temple. If Li Meng dares not to respond, I will personally cut off his black gauze hat with a knife."

As he said this, the minister, who was in his sixtieth year, actually took out a short dagger and took it with him.

Gu Changjin had been in the Ministry of Punishment for three years, and the chief minister had always regarded him highly and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he had tried his best to cultivate him.

The road to the Golden Palace is not that easy. If he didn't have the entire punishment department to support him, how could he have obtained a retrial opportunity for Xu Li'er and the Jin family?

The same is true for Pan Xueliang's case at the moment. Although it has not been stated clearly, Lu Sikou's attitude is very clear. The Ministry of Punishment will continue to support him.

Gu Changjin lowered his waist deeply, made a long bow, and said: "I would like to thank Sir Sikou."

Lu Zhuo said cheerfully: "Let's go, I will take you to Dali Temple."

Dali Temple Minister Li Meng and Meng Zong, Compared with Lu Zhuo, he is much younger. He has been in charge of Dali Temple for six years and is only in his early forties now.

To be able to become the minister of Dali Temple at this age, Li Meng is also an amazing and talented person.

I heard from people below that Gu Changjin and the Minister of Punishment were here, but I guessed their purpose in a moment.

"Go and make two dragon balls." After saying that, he straightened his official robe and went to greet Lu Zhuo and Gu Changjin in person. "Are you two adults here because of the old minister's case?"

Lu Zhuo said. : "Master Li is a cheerful person. Yes, I and Master Gu are indeed here for Lao Shangshu and Pan Xueliang. This case is of great importance. I hope Master Li can work together to solve this case smoothly."

Li Meng just said When Lu Zhuo mentioned Lao Shangshu, he was talking about Lao Shangshu and Pan Xueliang. Now he was completely sure of their intentions.

For Pan Xueliang.

Ordinarily, the person from the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Lu Zhuo had been in the officialdom for so long, so they would not be ignorant of the emperor's attitude towards this case and the old minister.

Li Meng glanced at Gu Changjin without leaving any trace, knowing that this young man who was not afraid of death was going to cause trouble again.

After Jiayou passed away to the Golden Palace in the eighteenth year, the teacher also ordered him to snatch this young man to Dali Temple. He is a man of both sides, and what he dislikes the most is people who are like shit stirrers.

At this moment, Gu Changjin was just a mess in his eyes.

With a sore tooth, Li Meng knew that if he didn't nod today, the particularly violent-tempered Lu Shangshu in front of him would probably smash his valuables into pieces.

Then he said: "What did the Chief Sikou say? It would be an honor for me to handle the case together with you. I wonder what kind of regulations the Chief Sikou wants now? Just say what you say, and I will follow it."

What he said It must be done without any leakage, and it will not offend Lu Zhuo. If the Holy Emperor is angered in the future, he can still say that he had no choice but to do it because he couldn't defeat Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo saw through the twists and turns in Li Meng's stomach at a glance, and was too lazy to play Tai Chi with him, so he nodded and said: "I and the Censor of Mengdu both agree that the three legal divisions will jointly try the case of Lao Shangshu. Now I have to send Master Li." "I nodded."

Li Meng said hurriedly: "Since the two adults have agreed, how can I disagree?"

Lu Zhuo said: "That's very good. I want to see the old minister in Dali Temple, so I won't agree. Mr. Li said more."

After saying goodbye, he said to Gu Changjin: "Let's go, you go with me."

The clerk who was sent by Li Meng to make tea came out of the tea room and saw Lu Zhuo. Gu Changjin was led to the Dali Temple Prison in a hurry and was stunned for a moment.

After entering the duty room, he said: "Sir, this tea -"

Li Meng waved his hand and said: "Let it go, I will drink it by myself later. You can go to Dali Temple Prison and keep an eye on it. If you have any news, come and talk to me." "Sound."

The young official quickly put down the tea tray and took the order.

Li Meng walked to the corridor outside the watch room with his hands behind his back. After a while, the long attendant beside him hurriedly returned from riding.

Li Meng's eyebrows were solemn and he quickly returned to the check-in room. As soon as Changsui entered, he closed the door and said, "How is it? What did the teacher say?"

The "teacher" in Li Meng's mouth was Wenyuan Pavilion Chief Kui, the cabinet minister. The first assistant, Xing Shicong, is also the eldest prince's maternal ancestor.

The chief officer said in his ear: "Xingshoufu will ask you to do your best to cooperate with Mr. Gu."

Li Meng's eyebrows relaxed, and his heart finally fell back to his stomach.

Since the teacher said this, I think it would be beneficial for the eldest prince to come to the Three Laws Division to try the old minister's case.

In this case, there is no need for people to go to Dali Temple Prison to keep an eye on him. After thinking about it, he said to the chief attendant beside him: "Let all the people guarding Dali Temple Prison come back. Although Lu Zhuo has a hot temper, he still has a lot of trouble." It’s very thoughtful, there’s no need to keep an eye on it.”

…

Dali Temple Prison.

"Old Shangshu wants to see you, so I will bring you here. If you have anything to ask, please take this opportunity to ask." Lu Zhuo sighed. Old Shangshu's body doesn't know how long he can last. Maybe I can't even wait for the day of the joint trial of the three judges.

Gu Changjin knew from the time Lu Zhuo brought him to Dali Temple that the person he wanted to talk about was the old minister.

The old minister was a highly respected minister of the three dynasties in Beijing. Even if he was imprisoned, others would not dare to comment on him. A clever person like Li Meng would like to have him exalted.

Therefore, the conditions of the cell where Fan Zhi lived were very good, with soft mattresses and thick quilts, desk lamps, and tea tables. Those who didn't know it thought that this old man had come to Dali Temple Prison to observe the public sentiment.

The jailer opened the lock respectfully, not daring to stay any longer. He put the key in Gu Changjin's hand and went out.

Lu Zhuokuo stepped inside, cupped his hands and said, "Sir, I have brought Yunzhi."

Fan Zhi sat on the soft mattress and upon hearing this, he raised his eyes to look at Gu Changjin.

Gu Changjin stepped forward to greet him respectfully and said solemnly: "I have met Mr. Fan before."

Fan Zhi smiled and said: "There is no Mr. Fan here, only the guilty minister Fan Zhi."

After speaking, he waved his hand to Lu Zhuo and said: " You go out, I will chat with Gu Xiaolang for a few words. "

This old man is almost 60 years old. He has been suffering from illness for the past few years. He has become so thin that there is only a handful of bones left. His beard and hair are all white, and his body is full of blood. A rotten air of death.

Only his eyes that see through the world are always bright, pure and not muddy.

If it weren't for such eyes, Gu Changjin wouldn't be able to feel the breath of a living person from his body.

Suddenly, he understood why Da Sikou asked him to ask today if he had anything to say.

If I don't ask again, I'm afraid it will be too late.

Fan Zhi pointed to the futon beside him and said: "Sit down and talk to me, an old man."

Gu Changjin then discovered that there were two futons on the soft mattress where the old minister was sitting, with a chicken wing in between. There is a chessboard on the small table.

After he sat down, Lao Shangshu said: "Do you still remember the first case you handled when you first arrived at the Ministry of Justice?"

Gu Changjin thought for a while and said: "Remember, it was a theft case."

The facts of that case were not the same . It’s not complicated. A mute farmer was accused of stealing by several neighbors who wanted to take advantage of the mute man’s farm.

This mute man was illiterate and could not speak. Several neighbors deliberately set up a careful trap, and he was unable to speak out even if he had any grievances.

"It is said that the case was complete with both witnesses and material evidence, but you have a tough temper. When Shangfeng rejected one document, you wrote another one, and you wrote more than twenty copies. Finally, they were all piled up on the Lu Sikou case." Fan

Zhi said slowly, as if he was talking about family matters, "You don't know, Lu Sikou has read every document you wrote. Later, he brought the documents you wrote to me and said that it is good to be young!" The spirit of a newborn calf that is not afraid of tigers was something they, the old ministers who had been immersed in the court for a long time, had before.

It was just the fighting day after day and the planning year after year that gradually weakened their spirit and made them more cunning and calculating.

But that doesn't mean that such spirit is bad.

On the contrary, such vigor is very good, and the vigorous rising sun is far more attractive than the golden crow as the sun sets on the west mountain.

In a country, it would be great if all young men could have such spirit.

Fan Zhidao said: "After you and Guan Shaowei complained to the imperial court, the Hanlin Academy, the Ministry of Punishment, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Dali Temple all wanted to seize you for their own government offices. It was I who asked the Holy Sage to put you in the Ministry of Punishment and transfer Guan Shaowei to the imperial office. Xiaolang was sent to Suzhou. Do you know why?"

Without waiting for Gu Changjin to answer, he continued: "I'm just afraid that you will lose this spirit."

Gu Changjin cupped his hands and said: "Thank you for your cultivation. In the opinion of the lower official, Pan Gongshi also has such a spirit in his heart."

After a pause, he said: "After leaving the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Pan Gongshi went to one guild hall after another. I went over to clear the name of the boss, but he still refuses to plead guilty and firmly believes that he can wait for justice."

Fan Zhi said: "That kid is indeed a stubborn ass. This kid from the Pan family has a temperament that will never turn back until it hits the wall. "

This kid from the Pan family.

Gu Changjin's eyes moved slightly, and then he heard Fan Zhi say: "I am only ashamed of Pan Xueliang in this life." Gu Changjin

suddenly raised his eyes, "What do you say, Sir? Why are you ashamed of Pan Xueliang?"

Fan Zhi's pair of shoes were full of vicissitudes of life. Looking at Gu Changjin with his wise eyes, he said: "If you want to know why, then just investigate. I know you will definitely investigate."

After saying that, he took the chess basket from the chessboard and coughed a few times. , smiled and said: "Let's not talk about this case, how about Gu Xiaolang playing chess with me?"

Fan Zhi had a tired look on his face, but he was looking forward to this game.

Gu Changjin half-closed his eyes, took the chess basket, and guessed the pieces.

The room soon became silent, with only the slight sound of chess pieces falling on the chessboard.

Two quarters of an hour later, Fan Zhi stared at the chessboard for a long time, then smiled and said: "It is said that watching chess is like watching people. Gu Xiaolang is too kind-hearted after all. If you were willing to give up a few chess pieces, you would have won this game long ago. "No, you won't be stuck with my white son like you are now. Just like this step, if you can give up this one son, you can eat my ten sons. Giving up ten sons for one son is really not worth the loss.

" Chang Jin slowly put down a chess piece and said: "The outcome is still undecided. How can I judge that this is a chess piece that should be discarded? Even if it is an abandoned piece, how can I know that this discarded piece cannot find a way to survive?" "

Fan Zhi was slightly startled.

I don't know what I thought of, and suddenly smiled.

Black and white chess pieces gradually filled the chessboard, and Gu Changjin dropped the last chess piece.

One piece fell, and the chess pieces that many people thought should be discarded were connected together to form an unshakable line of defense.

Tie.

Fan Zhi held the chess basket, raised his eyes and said warmly: "Gu Xiaolang is very good at chess. You could have won this game."

Gu Changjin said: "For a lower official, he can protect most of the chess pieces and is invincible. The land is already won."

"There was also a person who said the same thing to Gu Xiaolang." Fan Zhi put down the chess basket with a look of nostalgia in his eyes and said, "I have only seen one person in my life who will not give up any stone. The man took a very difficult path, but it really made him find a way out. Unfortunately, at the end, he finally relented. "

Such a game of chess had already cost him most of his life . He put down the chess basket and said warmly: "Gu Xiaolang, you must be grateful for the disaster in Jiayou's 17th year. I will give you a word, there will always be only one person you can trust in this court. You little calves, But don't trust the wrong person!"

After saying this, he didn't even take away the chess pieces. He waved his hands and lay down on the soft mattress. His face looked even worse.

Gu Changjin bowed his head to the end and said, "Take care of me, sir."

After he left the cell, Fan Zhifang slowly opened his eyes and said with a smile: "I'm so unwilling, I really want to see what you young people can do. "The storm is coming."

The night is getting closer.

A carriage stopped at Dali Temple Prison, and Pei Shunnian carefully helped a man in black clothes get out of the carriage.

"Your Majesty, watch your steps carefully."

Emperor Jiayou said with a gentle face, "You wait here, I will go in and see the teacher myself."

Pei Shunnian bowed in response and stopped.

Emperor Jiayou's tall figure walked slowly in the secret passage. He held a bunch of keys in his hand. When he arrived at Fan Zhi's cell, he unlocked the door himself.

Fan Zhi was lying on the soft mattress, with the chess game still on the table and an empty medicine bowl next to the chess board.

Hearing the movement outside, he raised his eyes and looked around. He was startled for a moment, but soon his expression disappeared, and there was a hint of a sudden smile in his eyebrows.

He struggled to get down and knelt down tremblingly.

Emperor Jiayou stepped forward to help him and said: "Teacher."

Fan Zhi did not get up, "Your Majesty, please be careful, this call of 'teacher' will make the guilty minister feel ashamed and dare not respond."

Emperor Jiayou stretched out his hand halfway He slowly retracted his hand, remained silent, and said, "Meng Qing, Lu Qing, and Xu Qing jointly submitted a petition asking the three law divisions to jointly review the case, and I agreed."

Fan Zhi raised his head slightly, smiled happily and said, "Thank you very much, guilty minister. The Lord Jiayou looked at him quietly and said

, "Teacher, why are you doing this?"

Leave the case to Gu Xiaolang to investigate."

"Teacher, do you want to save Pan Xueliang?"

Emperor Jiayou's voice showed no emotion at all.

Fan Zhi said: "It doesn't matter whether to save or not, I just don't want the child to die without knowing why he died." Emperor Jiayou

did not comment and just asked: "Does the teacher have any other unfulfilled wishes?" In the next two days, I asked Pei Shunnian to send Huai'an to see you for the last time. You are his enlightenment teacher, so I should kowtow to you. "

The Huai'an mentioned by Emperor Jiayou is Xiao Huaian, the posthumous son of the Ninth Prince.

When the kings besieged the capital, Prince Qiyuan almost killed all his brothers. Only Emperor Jiayou and the ninth prince Xiao Yin, who was less than ten years old, survived.

When Emperor Jiayou ascended the throne, Xiao Yin was only twelve years old. When he died of illness at the age of twenty-two, Xiao Huaian was still in his mother's womb.

Xiao Huaian was raised in the palace by Emperor Jiayou after he was born, and he is now only ten years old.

Fan Zhi is Xiao Huaian's first mentor and has been teaching Xiao Huaian for six years.

"No, the guilty minister has no face to see the crown prince again. Now that the guilty minister is unforgivable, Lin Ci, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, can take over the guilty minister and be the prince's husband. Sun Yuan envoy said that the guilty minister has only a few days left. I still hope that the Holy One will forgive the sin. I will punish you with the punishment of an owl." After saying this, Fan Zhi kowtowed again.

Emperor Jiayou was silent for a long time.

I caught a glimpse of the chess games on the table, walked away, and looked down at the large black and white pieces glued together on the chessboard.

Fan Zhi didn't bother him. Emperor Jiayou's chess skills were astonishing. From this chess game, every move he and Gu Changjin could make could be deduced.

"Is this the chess game played by the teacher and Gu Qing?"

"Exactly." Fan Zhi said with a smile: "Gu Xiaolang is just like the sage before, reluctant to give up any piece."

Emperor Jiayou stared at the chess game without saying a word, remembering that time The boy's eyes were burning as he walked into the Golden Palace, and he couldn't help but smile.

"The teacher said that it doesn't matter whether to save or not. In my opinion, the teacher still wants to save." Emperor Jiayou picked up a sunspot from the chessboard and said, "I have agreed to what the teacher wishes."