Chapter 8 The Young Master of the Meng Family 3
Each of these three major cases caused a sensation in the court, especially the Qingzhou case in the past.
The officials in Chang'an who lived through that year still remember the case. The number of people involved and the complexity of the case were so great that it was the first of its kind in this dynasty.
That year, Lu Fang, then governor of Qingzhou, went to Chang'an to report the drought in Qingzhou and asked His Majesty to allocate grain for disaster relief. Qingzhou was far away from Chang'an, and the local disaster situation was known by relying on reports from people in Qingzhou and the speculation of Shen Jingyun, the chief envoy of the Imperial Observatory.
Lu Fang was kneeling on the ground, and the sweat from his forehead dripped onto the ground.
Others didn't know, but Cheng Jue had met Lu Fang several times. Lu Fang was a straight-forward, loyal and proud man, but he would sweat easily when he told a lie. At that time, Cheng Jue had just taken over the Dali Temple, and his mind was very sensitive, so he saw that something was wrong with Lu Fang.
He had someone follow Lu Fang secretly and found out that Lu Fang started drinking as soon as he returned to the inn, and could only get a moment of peace after being drunk.
Further investigation revealed the sensational Qingzhou corruption case.
From Qingzhou Governor Zhou Nan to Qingzhou Governor Lu Fang, and then to the next number of officials, there were hundreds of people involved. They obtained disaster relief money from the court by falsely reporting droughts, and the corruption was spread at every level. It had become a complete system. If anyone was found to have the intention of informing, the whole family would be killed.
The person who performed the operation was Lu Fang.
Shen Jingyun, the chief envoy of the Imperial Observatory, was bribed and colluded with officials from all levels of Qingzhou to swindle more than 10 million taels of silver from the national treasury for three consecutive years.
Emperor Xuanhe was furious. Lu Fang was unable to take the silver back. Instead, he was handcuffed and shackled and locked in the sky prison.
Cheng Jue had never seen any prisoner like Lu Fang. Even though he was wearing tattered prison uniform, he had his back straight, brows relaxed, and walked slowly along the narrow road, walking towards death calmly.
The last time Cheng Jue saw Lu Fang was late at night when he brought him a pot of wine.
They were all young officials with bright careers and high hopes. They should have been discussing world affairs late into the night, but their first drink was in a cold prison cell.
Lu Fang was calm and composed, pouring his own drink , saying, "I originally thought that after three years of transfer, I could come back to the Ministry of Revenue and implement more tax reductions for the people so that they can live a good life. But, once I set foot in Qingzhou, I was destined to never get what I wanted. In the past three years, I have been addicted to alcohol so that I would not be tormented and unable to fall asleep every night. It seems that I haven't really smelled the aroma of wine for a long time. Brother Weiqing, thank you for giving me this last glass of wine."
Cheng Jue frowned and asked, "Brother Lu Fang, do you have any hidden secrets?"
Lu Fang shook his head and said softly, "I participated in corruption and I killed people. There is no hidden story. I read the books of sages and wanted to be a gentleman. I was praised in this way. But now, my hands are covered in blood and I am dirty. I have tarnished these two words after all."
"If there is an afterlife, I want to be a leisurely person wandering around the world, drinking wine and appreciating flowers. I don't want to be in this officialdom again."
Cheng Jue felt that Lu Fang had concealed something about the incident, so after meeting him, Cheng Jue led his horse and headed straight for Qingzhou City. Due to the heavy rain, he stopped at a dilapidated temple. The next day, someone from Chang'an City caught up with him and said that Lu Fang had committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment. The Qingzhou case was closed from then on.
At dawn, Cheng Jue stood at the intersection. Towards him was Qingzhou, and behind him was Chang'an. Finally, he turned his horse around and did not pursue further.
Before his death, Lu Fang left a suicide note to Cheng Jue, stating that since he arrived in Qingzhou City, he had discovered that officials from top to bottom in Qingzhou were in collusion, deceiving the emperor, harming the people, and committing corruption. That Qingzhou City had clear rules and regulations, and it was like a small country established in Dayu.
Lu Fang wanted to investigate, but Qingzhou City was like an iron barrel, and he could only seek the trust of Qingzhou Governor Zhou Nan and others and join them. But once you step into the mud, even Qinglian will be stained by the mud. Gradually, he fell deeper and deeper, unable to extricate himself.
He single-handedly brought the Qingzhou case to the attention of the world, and also made himself the target of public criticism, being cursed by millions of people.
After Lu Fang's death, officials in Qingzhou who were involved were either beheaded or exiled. Everyone knew that the case was closed, but they did not expect that several years later, the real mastermind who had been hiding for many years would surface because of another case.
In recent years, Cheng Jue often thinks of the moment when he stood at the intersection at dawn.
He regretted his original choice. If he had insisted on going to Qingzhou City, everything might have been different. But at that time, it was his best choice, and also the best choice for Lu Fang.
Summer nights come late. When Cheng Jue returned to the Dali Temple from the palace after meeting the emperor, it was just after dark.
As soon as he stepped into the Detective Department, he was met with three expressionless faces. Cheng Jue took off his cloak and asked casually, "Where is Zhou Zhenzhen?"
Meng Fan still found it difficult to completely accept Cheng Jue's "concern" for Zhou Zhenzhen. He digested it for a moment before saying, "He went to the Heavenly Prison."
"Duke Qing still doesn't say anything?"
"Yes, not only that, he also kept shouting that we drugged him in Qiling Town to force him to confess. Everything he said was due to the drug, not his true feelings... If this continues, and he refuses to confess, our Dali Temple will have to take the blame."
Cheng Jue was only a third-rank official, and using drugs to control Duke Qing was an act of insubordination. Your Majesty only gave him three days, and if he could solve the case, these minor mistakes could be written off. If Duke Qing did not confess, it would be difficult for Your Majesty to continue pretending to be ignorant.
Duke Qing was aware of this, so he refused to give in.
Cheng Jue thought for a moment, then turned and walked out.
In the sky prison, Zhou Zhenzhen stood quietly in a remote place, staring at Duke Qing who lived in the innermost part.
He had been sitting against the wall with his eyes closed, and occasionally when there was other movement in the cell, his eyelids would flutter slightly, and he was very alert. If she could hypnotize him and ask him questions, then everything would be solved. She was looking for a flaw, a flaw that could distract Duke Qing.
"What did you see?" A deep male voice sounded in her ears. Zhou Zhenzhen's ears turned red and she shook her head.
"You haven't noticed anything yet, but you're still staring here. Aren't you tired?" He scolded her softly and led her out the door.
The cool breeze was raging outside. She looked at their linked hands and murmured, "I just want to try harder to see if I can find a way to hypnotize him."
"You really can't stay idle for a moment..."
Zhou Zhenzhen's eyes lit up, and she took two quick steps to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, tilting her face and saying, "Master Cheng, how did you come to the conclusion that Duke Qing was the murderer? Tell me, maybe one of your points is the key."
She was obviously curious about how he solved the case, but what he said made sense. Cheng Jue smiled at her and taught her everything he knew.
"The names of the seven imperial guards look familiar to me. Although the list of officials dispatched by the Ministry of Revenue in the 26th year of Yuanqing has been destroyed, it also indirectly confirms my idea. Those seven people were the main military generals responsible for arresting the criminals involved in the Qingzhou case after the Qingzhou case was solved. In addition, there was Ruixue, the only maid who died in the backyard when the Ruan family was exterminated. She was also from Qingzhou, and her family lived at the foot of Hongye Mountain. When the zero lacquer flower and the heavy odor incense collide, the medicinal power can spread to a courtyard. The reason why she was able to run away was because she had been with the zero lacquer flower since she was a child, and her body was accustomed to it. The fragrance of the Ruan family's flowers had no effect on her. All these made me sure that the killing of the Ruan family must be related to the Qingzhou case of that year. The Duke of Qing dispatched the imperial guards to Yancheng to quell the bandit rebellion through King Huai, and did not report it to King Huai. However, King Huai was not aware of this matter. The only person around King Huai who could steal his token and give orders was Wei Youya."
"But Wei Youya also died in the River of Rebirth..."
Cheng Jue nodded: "All speculations are dead without evidence. At this time, why don't we step away from the whole situation and examine the whole case as a bystander, or infer the cause from the current result, or boldly assume the cause and develop it along the line. You tell me what you think."
Zhou Zhenzhen pursed her lips and said softly, "The imperial guards who escorted the officials to Qingzhou City were people who witnessed the tragic situation in Qingzhou City. They may also be people who knew the truth and were bribed to hide some things. Ruan Wenqing, a member of the Ruan family, often traveled between Chang'an and Qingzhou City, and mostly went to Hongye Mountain. But if his purpose was not to take the ink stone, but to pass on the news, then he was the most likely spy planted by the Qingzhou people in Chang'an City. Wei Youya, he took the token of King Huai privately and also wanted to let the seven imperial guards go. He went to King Huai's side, and it is very likely that he had other purposes... These people were killed to silence them, so that the truth would never be revealed."
"You probably don't know that the ancestral home of the You family is in Qingzhou. Later they moved south to Yancheng. Only a few people know this, and my mother happens to know it." Cheng Jue stopped under a tree in the yard and reached out to rub her hooded head.
"When all the relevant facts are connected, even if it is not the truth, it is close to the truth. When there is no evidence, we must burn our boats. Since You Hu has been sent to the Dali Temple, I will not let him leave alive."
His words were so powerful that they easily made the flames in her heart surge three feet high.
He taught her how to handle cases, what "justice" meant, and how to exist in this Dali Temple and in this vast world. She was taught by him, and she would only follow him in this life.
There was a slight warmth in her eyes, and a white mist was floating between her breaths. Suddenly, the deepest thoughts in her heart came out: "Your Excellency is not usually someone who is willing to explain so much, why... are you so patient with me?"
Cheng Jue's eyes curved for a moment: "When you ask what Duke Qing said, I will tell you."
…
The door of the Detective Department in the distance had opened a crack and then quietly closed. Meng Fan spread out his palms and said with a smile, "I told you that Master Cheng is not such a frivolous person. He will definitely not kiss her before she is married. Give me the money!"
Lin Yuxiao and Huo Chi each threw a hundred coins over. Lin Yuxiao leaned lazily against the wall and gave him an extra ingot of silver, saying, "You did a good job peeling chestnuts last time. This is a reward from me."
Meng Fan originally wanted to scold him as usual, but when he saw the money, he decided to forgive him.
Seeing him quickly put away the silver in a bad mood, Lin Yuxiao smiled smugly and found a book to cover his face.
Cheng Jue's words stimulated Zhou Zhenzhen, and it was a positive stimulation.
Zhou Zhenzhen flipped through all the files related to Duke Qing in this case page by page, not feeling sleepy or tired at all. Cheng Jue didn't say much to her, but only bought her favorite cakes and put them aside, and replaced them with a cup of tea when it cooled down.
He suddenly recalled the scene when Zhou Zhenzhen brought him cakes every day when she first came to Dali Temple. Who would have thought that in just half a year, their relationship seemed to be reversed, and he became the one who didn't know how to treat her well.
"Master Cheng, are you so sure that Zhou Zhenzhen can do it?" Lin Yuxiao tilted his head and looked at Cheng Jue. There was only one day left in the three-day deadline, but Cheng Jue was still calm and composed, as if he had already won. He had been watching Zhou Zhenzhen since he entered the Detective Division, treating them as if they didn't exist.
There were faint lines at the end of Cheng Jue's eyes, making his pupils look even deeper. He said with certainty, "Naturally."
While his Majesty's secret guard, Lieutenant General Wang, was there, he used drugs to force Duke Qing to tell the truth, and then naturally brought Duke Qing to the Dali Temple. One link after another was linked together, and the last and most important link was tightened by Zhou Zhenzhen.
Just like she always believed in him, this time, he believed her.
Zhou Zhenzhen, who was leaning over the table, stood up suddenly. Her eyes were a little red, but she couldn't hide her excitement: "Master Cheng, I..." She hesitated for a moment.
Cheng Jue walked over, put his hand on her thin shoulder, and squeezed it gently: "Just do it, I'm next to you."
In front of the prison gate, Zhou Zhenzhen walked decisively into the cell where You Hu was. Cheng Jue and the others stood aside, quietly waiting for the result.
At first, You Hu's deep voice could be heard, and Zhou Zhenzhen retorted. The female voice was particularly sharp, and then all the sounds gradually faded away, and the delicate crying sound was transmitted intermittently along with the faint old male voice.
Cheng Jue's tightly furrowed brows relaxed and he strode out of the prison gate.
Meng Fan glanced at Lin Yuxiao, Huo Chi pushed Meng Fan's back with one hand, and the three of them followed him out.
The warm midday sun shone on the open ground in front of the prison gate. Cheng Jue squinted his eyes and looked up at the sun.
No night will never pass.
No spring day will never come again.
