Jiuxi

Chapter 171 170 [Murder with a knife]

Early the next morning, Jiqing Hall in the Imperial City.

Emperor Yan Zhang Can, who was about to wake up from a hangover, leaned on the dragon chair, with a trace of doubt on his pale face. He slightly squinted his eyes and looked at several important ministers in the palace, and asked in puzzlement: "Dear ladies, why are you entering the palace so early? Why do you want to see me?"

His voice was hollow and almost lifeless.

"Your Majesty, please be the master!"

One person took two steps forward and knelt on the ground. His tone was sad and sad, full of grief and indignation.

Zhang Can was slightly startled, stared at this person for a moment, raised his hand and rubbed his eyes, and asked in surprise: "Chen Qing's family, why are you here?"

Although Chen Jingtang was dismissed from office, he still held the title of Marquis. The emperor and the two new privy councilors did not kill him. Therefore, he was qualified to face the emperor and become a minister. The case last night could go straight to heaven.

When he heard the familiar title of the Emperor, Chen Jingtang immediately burst into tears, kowtowed repeatedly, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, my son was killed last night. I beg your Majesty to make the decision for me and severely punish the murderer!"

Zhang Can sat up straight, looked around at the other important ministers, and gradually realized that something big had happened, so he asked: "What happened to Chen Qing's family?"

Chen Jingtang stood up to thank him and said in a painful voice: "Your Majesty, the dog Chen Qifu had a banquet at the Xuening Hall in Taipingfang last night, and had a quarrel with Guo Yijiang, the son of Lord Guo, the deputy privy envoy, and it turned into a fight. If it was just a dispute between young people, I didn’t dare to present it to the emperor, but Guo Yijiang killed Quanzi with a knife during the fight, and ordered the white-haired man to send the black-haired man away!”

Zhang Can's eyes widened, and he subconsciously looked at the Deputy Privy Councilor Guo Yan, who was standing solemnly on the other side, but saw that he was looking at his nose and heart, his face expressionless and calm.

Over there, Chen Jingtang continued to accuse: "I immediately reported the matter to the official after receiving the news. Unexpectedly, Heluo Prefecture Yin actually said that it was the dog who initiated the provocation. Guo Yijiang was just retaliating in self-defense. At most, it was a mistake and he was fined silver." It’s only a thousand taels. The dog died unexpectedly, but the murderer can go unpunished. How can I accept such an ending? I beg your Majesty to seek justice for me!”

Zhang Can felt a headache, looked at Heluo Mansion Yin Cheng Changhua and asked: "Cheng Qing's family, is this happening?"

A middle-aged civil servant with a white face and short beard bowed and said: "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case. After receiving the report, I took the head of the government office to Xuening Hall. At this time, Erlang of the Chen family had died. I immediately interrogated him. Everyone present found out that this dispute was caused by jealousy. Last night, Yan Qiu, the top steward of Xuening Hall, gave a grooming ceremony. Guo Yijiang and Chen Qifu bid for this steward one after another, and the amount once reached an astonishing 3000 taels. "

Zhang Can frowned, these powerful men were so generous, they would spend huge sums of money just for a brothel girl.

At this moment, he felt more and more irritated, but he had to continue listening.

Cheng Changhua said without squinting, "Guo and Chen first fought for wealth and then quarreled. Chen Qifu threw a teapot at Guo Yijiang, and then attacked. Guo Yijiang was forced to fight back, and the two fought together. Their companions were He Changsui did the same, and the scene was extremely chaotic. At this time, Guo Yijiang accidentally stabbed Chen Qifu in the chest, causing him to bleed excessively and died. The case was not complicated. There were witnesses from beginning to end. Guo Yijiang did not do it deliberately. Murder, therefore I believe that the wrong hand can only be convicted."

"You are talking nonsense!"

Chen Jingtang's eyes turned red and he said angrily: "Quinzi's companion must have made it very clear that Guo Yijiang deliberately provoked him from the moment he entered the Xuening Pavilion. He kept sarcastic and mocking in his words, and finally even insulted me in person. When a son scolds his father, how can this be done? Can you bear it?! Even up to this point, I can be regarded as a young man who is brave and fierce, but Guo Yijiang took out a short blade and stabbed Quan Zi in the chest during the fight. This was clearly a deliberate murder! "

"Ahem, please be careful what you say, Marquis Chen."

Deputy Privy Councilor Guo Yan cleared his throat and said calmly, "I would like to ask Marquis Chen. Guo Yijiang and the Young Master had no grudges in the past, only petty matters such as jealousy. Why did he deliberately murder the Young Master? Even in front of His Majesty, you cannot confuse right and wrong."

"I'm confusing right and wrong? Privy Councilor Guo shouldn't slander anyone!"

"I care about the pain of Marquis Chen losing his son, so I don't want to say something directly. Now that Marquis Chen is aggressive, I have no choice but to discuss the matter. It was your son who hurt someone first last night, and Guo Yijiang only defended himself, and that short blade He didn't carry it with him, but I don't know why it appeared in his hand. Perhaps, the young master wanted to commit murder, but Guo Yijiang grabbed it and accidentally stabbed him in the chaos."

"Absurd! Quanzi has never carried a weapon with him!"

Chen Jingtang was furious, but Guo Yan remained indifferent and said indifferently: "You said you didn't bring it, so you didn't bring it? I can also say that that short blade is definitely not owned by Guo Yijiang."

"The facts of Guo Yijiang's murder of Chen Qifu are clear and the evidence is conclusive. I implore your Majesty to severely punish the murderer!"

Chen Jingtang's chest rose and fell violently. He stopped arguing with Guo Yan and bowed to the emperor on the dragon throne.

Zhang Can hesitated and said nothing. Chen Jingtang obviously wanted to execute Guo Yijiang for murder. However, regardless of Guo Yan's status in the court, the fight was clearly initiated by Chen Qifu.

The emperor hesitated, and the sadness on Chen Jingtang's face became stronger and stronger.

At this time, the middle-aged civil servant standing at the head of the crowd said in a deep voice: "Marquis Chen, please express your condolences. No one wants to see such a thing happen, but he has passed away, and we must cherish the living people after all. Guo Yijiang was wrong to kill, But he did not commit murder intentionally, but killed someone by mistake in the chaos. His crime is unforgivable but the circumstances are excusable."

Chen Jingtang raised his eyes and looked at the other party's pale face, his heart suddenly became more miserable.

This man's name is Wang An, who is now the prime minister of the dynasty and is in charge of the political power of the dynasty.

He could be cold-tempered towards Guo Yan, but he only felt a strong sense of powerlessness when facing Wang An.

Wang An sighed softly: "According to the laws of the country, there are six types of killings, namely murder, intentional killing, fighting killing, manslaughter, manslaughter, and drama killing. In my opinion, the case of Xueningguan last night should be classified as manslaughter." . According to the law, Guo Yijiang should be sentenced to exile." Chen Jingtang gritted his teeth and said: "Prime Minister, the dog will never die in peace!"

Wang An shook his head and said calmly: "My condolences, Marquis Chen."

Chen Jingtang looked to the side and saw Guo Yan frowning. He was obviously dissatisfied with the prime minister's judgment, but he did not publicly refute it out of respect.

He looked at the emperor on the dragon throne again, and saw Zhang Can nodding his head and saying: "It is more appropriate for the king to cut off the prime minister. Chen Qing's family, things have happened, and I hope you can spare your condolences. I really cannot let Privy Guo's son pay for his life. This is inappropriate." Dayan Law.”

Chen Jingtang's complexion turned from red to green, until pale.

He said nothing more, bowed to Zhang Can, and murmured: "I thank your Majesty for your kindness."

Then he stood up and walked out of the hall, his back looking extremely desolate.

All the important ministers in the palace looked away, with different thoughts.

Guo Yan was naturally a little dissatisfied. The murder last night was not caused by his son bullying the weak. It was clearly the second son of the Chen family who took the initiative. He was killed only because of his lack of academic skills. How could a dandy who was born in the noble mansion not even have this awareness? .

Wang An seemed to know what he was thinking, and said slowly: "Privy Minister Guo, although Chen Hou is not in the court, he has been the deputy privy envoy for seven years after all, and has many old friends in the army. This time he lost a son. , the court must give an explanation, and your son will have to suffer at least for this period of time."

Guo Yan lowered his head and said: "The king's instructions should be kept in mind by your subordinates."

Wang An nodded slightly and said to Zhang Can: "Your Majesty, I will leave."

Zhang Can pinched the center of his eyebrows, tiredness welling up in his heart, and waved his hand: "Then let's leave."

A short court meeting ended. No one noticed that a eunuch quietly came near the palace gate and whispered something to a certain Forbidden Army general. What happened at the court meeting soon spread to Zhuoyuan.

Xiao Jun recounted everything, from Chen Jingtang's painful complaint to Wang An's final decision, without omitting anything.

Qingyu Huaijin sat in front of the window, staring at the green scenery in the courtyard, and asked after a moment: "What do you think of this?"

Xiao Jun replied: "Your Highness, the king's treatment is not wrong. In fact, it is best to punish Guo Yi Jiangming. After all, the evidence of his killing with a sword is conclusive. However, considering that Guo Yan has not been long in office as deputy privy envoy, he urgently needs to serve in court." In order to establish prestige among Tang and the army, this kind of treatment is reasonable, but I am afraid that the resentment in Chen Jingtang's heart will not be eliminated, and this person still has some influence after all."

Qingyu Huaijin said softly: "What I'm asking about is not the reaction of the important ministers in the court, but the murder that happened in Xuening Pavilion last night."

Xiao Jun said: "Your Highness, after learning about this matter last night, our people have already found out the whole story. Chen Qifu and Guo Yijiang both received invitations from Xuening Pavilion, and they have gone there many times for entertainment before, and their enemies are clear. The shepherd Yan Qiu is quite fond of him, and coupled with the previous grievances between the Guo and Chen families, it is normal for them to have conflicts in the Xuening Pavilion."

"Is it?"

Qingyu Huaijin smiled expressionlessly and said leisurely: "Why did that short blade appear in Guo Yijiang's hand?"

Xiao Jun said: "The villain asked Guo Yijiang, and he said that the scene was very chaotic. He only had Chen Qifu in his eyes. The short blade appeared in his hand for some reason and happened to be inserted into Chen Qifu's chest. The villain suspected that he It's possible that he made up such lies just to get away with it."

Qingyu Huaijin shook his head slightly, with a cold look in his eyes: "This is a not-so-smart but effective borrowed knife killing. It is impossible for the long followers around Guo Yijiang not to know the seriousness of the matter, and they would not dare to use it even if they had ten courages. The knife killed Chen Qifu, not to mention putting the blame on Guo Yijiang. Even if Guo Yijiang later argued that the knife had nothing to do with him, Chen Jingtang, who suffered the pain of losing his son, would not believe it."

"Those dandies like Guo Yijiang and Chen Qifu, although they are not on the stage, know how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. It is normal for them to hit people when they are angry, but to draw a sword to kill someone? How can they have such courage?"

Qingyu Huaijin had a hint of sarcasm on his lips and leaned back on the Grand Master's chair.

Xiao Jun's heart trembled, and he whispered: "Your Highness, is this someone doing something secretly?"

"There are only two possibilities. One is that Chen Jingtang went crazy and sacrificed his son's life to win the sympathy and support of his old friends in an attempt to return to the court."

Qingyu Huaijin chuckled, and his face turned cold: "Secondly, the people in the Southern Sutra Weaving Department couldn't bear it and wanted to take revenge on what the Procuratorate had done in Huaizhou over the past year."

"Warp Weaving Department... In this case, could Huaizhou Lu Chen's disappearance be related to this matter?"

Xiao Jun looked solemn because he knew that the Procuratorate had suffered setbacks in Huaizhou before, and Lu Chen played a huge role in it.

Qingyu Huaijin nodded and said softly: "Go and do a few things and see how many secrets are hidden behind this murder case."

Xiao Jun responded seriously: "Yes!"

(End of this chapter)