Chapter 685: Big Event
I dare not mention how Princess Beijing applied the medicine.
However, after Sun Shaozong finished writing the memorial, he was ready to go to the palace to hand in a sign and meet the emperor to decide on the tone of "rewards and pensions" first.
Who knew that when they finally arrived at Xihua Gate , they only saw the "No War Sign" hanging high.
After a quick scan by the Tiger Guards on duty at the gate, they learned that the Queen Mother was unwell, and the Emperor had deliberately postponed his afternoon official business to stay by his mother's bedside to pay his respects.
Of course, if there is an extremely urgent matter, it can still be handled specially and presented directly to the emperor.
But what Sun Shaozong wanted to report today was obviously far from being extremely urgent.
He had no choice but to get back on the carriage and turn around to go back the way he came.
However, it was already approaching Shenzheng (four o'clock in the afternoon). Even if he returned to the yamen, he probably wouldn't be able to stay there for long before the office was dismissed.
Therefore, Sun Shaozong did not return to the Dali Temple on the way, but went to Zhang An's house instead.
…
Ouch~
As the driver shouted, the horses stopped outside Zhang An's house with a clatter.
Sun Shaozong lifted the curtain and got out of the car. He heard the continuous sad cries from inside. He sighed in his heart and was about to walk in, but suddenly two unfamiliar faces walked out.
The two men recognized Sun Shaozong, and when they saw him coming, they both bowed and greeted him: "Your subordinate Ding Renlu [Xin Longtao], greets the Lord Tingwei."
This trend of "praising one's superior" when meeting an official is really... quite pleasing to the ear.
However, since they called themselves subordinates, they were obviously officials with official duties. So why were they entering and leaving Zhang An's house now?
Sun Shaozong subconsciously asked: "Which government office are you two from? Are you related to Zhang An, or..."
Then the leader Ding Renlu said respectfully, "We were sent by Yang Shilang of the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case of Inspector Zhang's murder of his uncle."
When Sun Shaozong heard this, his face immediately darkened.
He had long guessed that Yang Anbang would stand up for his cousin, but he never thought that this guy would act so quickly - from the time he arrested Yang Han at noon, it had been less than two and a half hours, and his people had actually found Zhang An's house openly!
but……
This should be considered as exceeding authority, right?
"Your Ministry of Justice only has the power to review. Besides, since it involves... cough!"
Sun Shaozong originally wanted to say that since Yang Hancai was involved, Yang Anbang, as his cousin, should avoid the case.
However, he immediately remembered that he arrested Yang Hancai by using the case of Wei Ruolan, so at least in theory, Yang Hancai had no direct connection with the case of Zhang An murdering his uncle.
So he cleared his throat and changed his words: "Even if you want to intervene, you should wait until the case is reported to the Ministry of Justice."
Ding Renlu and Xin Longtao looked at each other, and then said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "To reply to the Lord of the Court, this case has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice by Shuntian Prefecture. After reviewing the case files, my Minister Yang found that this case was very strange , so he sent me and others to review and investigate."
Already reported it?
Needless to say, it was definitely the work of Wang Qian, the magistrate of Daxing County - and Ge Changcun, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, was probably also involved.
These two guys are really determined to be my enemy!
Sun Shaozong cursed inwardly, put the matter aside for the time being, stepped aside and signaled the two men to do as they pleased.
Ding Renlu and Xin Longtao each apologized again before mounting their horses and riding away - judging from the direction they left, it was obvious that they were going to visit the Daxing County Government Office again.
Sun Shaozong watched the two men go away, turned around and was about to cross the threshold, but saw Wang Zhen leading a few people coming out from inside, surrounding him and calling him "your humble servant" and "your humble servant" for a while.
These were all Zhang An's former colleagues in the patrol camp, but judging by their eager looks, it seemed that they were not here to see Zhang An, but really wanted to do Sun Shaozong a favor.
But no matter what, since these people came to pay their respects, Sun Shaozong, as "half the victim", had to give them some face.
After patiently getting rid of them all, before the slow-footed man could mount his horse, Sun Shaozong pulled Wang Zhen over and questioned the two minor officials from the Ministry of Justice about what they had just asked.
"I didn't ask anything important."
Wang Zhen scratched his head and said in a muffled voice, "Most of them are things that everyone knows. I figured they would be able to find out the truth by asking others, and maybe they would be biased - so I didn't hide it."
Even after hearing what he said, Sun Shaozong was still worried, so he asked Wang Zhen to study the conversation carefully again. After confirming that there was nothing in it that could be used as a handle, he was slightly relieved.
But when he relaxed, he realized that he had taken advantage of Zhang Wu after he went out.
She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when she went out, she saw the two of them whispering to each other. She didn't know whether to go in or out, so she froze behind the door.
Seeing this, Sun Shaozong took two steps forward, bowed across the threshold and said, "Sun is incompetent, please accept my condolences, sister-in-law."
When Zhang An was still alive, he did not treat Zhang Wu with such respect, but now that the dead are the most important, he has to be more polite than usual.
Seeing him in his red and purple official robes, Zhang Wushi dared not accept his courtesy, so she stepped aside and shook her head in a hoarse voice, "What are you talking about, sir? You have taken care of us mother and son for a long time, and you have been running around for your husband's cases. I have seen it all."
As he spoke, he also stepped aside and said with lowered eyebrows: "Sir, please come in and burn some incense first."
Sun Shaozong naturally would not refuse. He stepped over the threshold and walked in front without hesitation.
As soon as I entered the room, I saw Zhang An's body. He had been dressed in a new shroud. He was lying on a flat bed with his head to the west and his feet to the east. His face was covered with a royal blue silk cloth, and there was a long-burning lamp at his feet.
Zhang An's son was sitting sideways on the upper left, rubbing his knees with a grimace - he was only four years old now, and he probably couldn't understand matters of life and death.
Especially in the past two years, Zhang An had been away on military campaigns, and was thrown into prison just a few days after returning. He was already a stranger to his biological father.
Alas~
Thinking of this, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but sigh again.
Zhang Wu hurriedly ordered, "Xu'er, what are you still standing there for? Come over here and kowtow to Lord Sun!"
Although the child was still ignorant, he was very well-behaved. Upon hearing his mother's call, he immediately knelt a few steps forward and kowtowed politely.
Sun Shaozong stood still, but ordered: "Knock again."
The little guy was stunned for a moment, first looked at Sun Shaozong timidly, then pouted and looked at his mother for help.
Zhang Wu saw this and thought her son had done something wrong and offended Sun Shaozong.
Just as he was getting anxious, Wang Zhen, who was standing by, noticed something was going on and hurried forward to urge him, "Silly boy, just kowtow when the adults tell you to. There are so many people begging to kowtow but they still can't get a chance!"
He had become quite familiar with the child recently, so after a moment's hesitation, the little guy began to kowtow obediently again.
After he kowtowed three times in a row , Sun Shaozong pulled the child up from the ground, held him in his arms and said solemnly: "Today, the relationship is settled. From now on, Xu'er is my, Sun Shaozong's, adopted son. As long as I am alive, his future of wealth and honor will be inevitable!"
After a pause, he continued, "I will go to the palace tomorrow and ask for a reward for him first!"
Zhang Wu finally understood and couldn't help crying for joy. Then she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.
Sun Shaozong ordered Wang Zhen to help her up and handed the child to her care. Then he walked to the altar in the center of the mourning hall and took the sandalwood to offer sacrifices.
