Qin Dewei was arrested and sent to the prison cell of the Ministry of Punishment. As soon as the news spread back home, everyone in his family became anxious.
For most people, especially women who don't know much about politics, being caught in a prison cell is a terrible thing.
Fortunately, Zeng's father-in-law was at home at this time, and the family had a backbone. Moreover, Xu Miaoxuan, the principal wife, was also a sensible person who knew a little bit about politics, so she knew that it was not as dangerous for her husband to go to the Heavenly Prison as most people imagined.
However, you still have to make the appropriate gestures. According to the rules, you can give clothes, bedding, food, etc. to the prisoners in Tianjuan.
According to etiquette, when the husband is in trouble, the first wife should go and deliver things, but it is really inconvenient for Xu Miaoxuan to give birth soon, and Mrs. Zhou is not willing to let her unborn child get into trouble with Tianlao.
So after the family discussed it, they asked Zeng's father to make a trip. After all, he was also an official, and he had the experience of conquering Annan together with Mao Bowen, the Minister of Punishment, so he could also make friends with the Minister of Punishment, Totao Tao, and ask about the situation.
The next morning, Zeng's stepfather took his bedding, clothes and food box to visit the prison in the Prison Prison.
Went in smoothly. After Zeng's stepfather got used to the dim light, he walked along the corridor towards Qin Dewei's cell under the guidance of the jailer.
Through the iron fence, Zeng's father saw his son lying sprawled out on a thick blanket, sleeping soundly. Next to him was a table with messy cups and plates, and half of the food and wine left on it.
What made Zeng Hou's father even more stunned was that there were three beauties sitting on the other side of the cell. It was as if this was the Chu Pavilion of Qin Tower rather than the prison cell of the Ministry of Punishment.
After a dazed moment, Zeng's father frowned and shouted to the three beauties: "You guys get out first!"
Then he knocked on the fence several times, waking Qin Dewei from his sleep.
"Huh? Why are you here?" Qin Dewei rubbed his eyes, turned over and sat up, and was about to curse a few words, but luckily he saw clearly who was outside the fence first.
Zeng's father sighed. He was not his biological son. He was in a higher level than himself. He was not easy to beat or scold, so he could only advise:
"Since you have been thrown into the heavenly prison, you should meditate on your own mistakes and think more about how you are unworthy of God's grace. How can you be like this?"
Qin Dewei argued: "Yesterday, things happened in a hurry, so for the sake of safety, I had to find more people to accompany me! Otherwise, I would be alone in the cell and be killed quietly!"
Then Qin Dewei was afraid that stepfather Zeng would continue to be nagging, so he directly gave instructions: "I have nothing to do here. Master Zeng, your top priority now is to keep your home safe.
After returning home, call for more Liaodong squadron troops to come and protect the courtyard, and also transfer some people from Zhuangzi. No matter who bullies you, show no mercy!
Then you go to Wang Tingxiang and send more officers and soldiers to patrol nearby. The bank has the same arrangement. Anyone who dares to come and cause trouble will be beaten!
In this way, I can live with peace of mind in the heavenly prison. Go, go, don't worry about me!"
Qin Dewei has been in a high-level position for a long time, and he is very skillful in using the tone of giving orders, which made Zeng's stepfather subconsciously respond: "Yes! I know it!"
As the words fell, the father and son looked at each other, and the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.
In order to ease the embarrassment, Qin Dewei quickly changed the subject and said, "Are you going to visit Minister Mao later?"
Zeng Hou's father nodded and said: "I have this plan. Now that I have come to the Criminal Department, I will always ask you about the case and help you exonerate yourself."
Qin Dewei said: "It just so happens that I also have something to say to Shangshu Mao. After you meet Shangshu Mao, ask him to come to see me in Tianlao!"
Zeng's father was speechless. He had so many things to say that he really didn't know where to start.
Qin Dewei asked: "What's wrong? If you have something to say, please tell me!"
Zeng's father was very puzzled as to how his cheap son could survive in the capital to this day.
I couldn't help but remind him: "You are a prisoner now, and Mao Shangshu is the presiding judge. Isn't it inappropriate for you to send a message to Mao Shangshu like this and ask Mao Shangshu to condescend to visit you in the prison?"
Qin Dewei could only explain a few words: "I am also very helpless. Are you asking me to go out of the prison to meet people? Sir, you have also been an official in Dali Temple. Don't you still know the rules?
Except for interrogation, prisoners are not allowed to leave the prison cell! Since I can't get out, what else can I do if I don't let Mao Shangshu come over?"
Zeng Hou’s father feels that he has some difficulty communicating with his cheap son. Can you call it a reason if you can’t get out? Isn’t the crux of the problem why Shangshu Mao wants to visit you, a prisoner?
Qin Dewei added: "I'm afraid that Mao Shangshu is upset and doesn't know how to handle the case. If he is a little smart, he will know that he wants to see me!"
Zeng's father asked: "What if he doesn't want to come?"
Qin Dewei replied: "Then there are two possibilities. The first possibility is that he is too stupid; the second possibility is that he has fallen in love with someone Yan, so he wants to avoid suspicion with me."
Seeing that his son was very thoughtful, Zeng's father stopped talking nonsense and walked out of the prison and went to the main hall of the Ministry of Punishment.
As Qin Dewei guessed, Mao Bowen, the Minister of Punishment, was indeed very troubled at this time.
This is normal. For someone like Qin Dewei to end up in a prison, it is the nightmare of all ministers of the Ministry of Punishment.
He has a complex identity, a complex background, a lot of privileges, he is proficient in the law, and he is also good at sophistry. Who knows who will judge such a "prisoner"! To convict or not to convict is the question!
As a governor, Zeng Mian still had the respect he deserved, and he also had friendships with his old comrades in the Southern Expedition. Coupled with the bonus of Qin Dewei's father, Mao Bowen, the Minister of Punishment, took the time to meet with the prisoner's family.
After a few words of greeting, Zeng Mian took the initiative and asked: "What crime did Quan Zi go to jail for?"
Mao Bowen replied in a matter-of-fact manner: "The decree in Dongchang is to hinder praying for rain and to injure people's lives."
Zeng Mian then continued: "There may be something hidden in this. I beg the Chief Secretary Kou to find out."
The words "there is something hidden" are standard pleading techniques, and the subtext is "to show your superiority", so Mao Bowen did not pay too much attention to it and only responded: "I should interrogate him impartially."
Then Zeng Mian sent a message for Qin Dewei: "Quin Zi heard that Da Si Kou was troubled and wanted to help Da Si Kou solve his problems, so he boldly asked Da Si Kou to go to Tianlao to meet him."
Shangshu Mao really wanted to ask, don't you father and son know who is the source of this Shangshu's troubles?
After thinking about it, Mao Bowen declined politely and said: "It is not convenient for the criminal officer and the prisoner to give or receive privately! To avoid incurring suspicion, I still disappeared!"
Zeng Hou's father gritted his teeth and said something that was very out of character for him: "Quinzi also said that if Da Sikou doesn't see you, he will regret it in the end."
He originally thought that after saying these words, Mao Bowen would be furious if not furious. However, it was not the case at all. Mao Shangshu seemed indifferent.
Even Zeng Hou’s father didn’t know how Mao Shangshu could bear it. A prisoner shouted so loudly at you, the chief judge, but you didn’t have any mood swings at all. Have you become accustomed to it?
Mao Bowen said calmly: "Based on my experience of knowing your son for eight years, although you may regret it if you don't meet him, you will regret it if you meet him! It's all regrets anyway, so there's no need to mention it!"
If Qin Dewei spoke in person, he might be able to persuade Minister Mao with his eloquence, but most people do not have this ability.
After saying a few more words, seeing that Mao Bowen still had no intention of going to see Qin Dewei privately, Zeng Mian left.
Then Zeng Mian went to the prison again to inform his son of Mao Bowen's attitude.
Qin Dewei sighed: "From Mao Shangshu's attitude, we can conclude that he finally turned to Yan. Only in this way did he not dare to act alone, and it was inconvenient for him to see me privately.
I guess it turned out that Mao Bowen was worried about being accused of betraying Xia Yan, so he kept a distance from Mr. Yan Ge.
But recently, a large number of people in Jiangxi have turned to Mr. Yan Ge. Under this general trend, Mao Bowen's psychological barriers to changing families have probably been eliminated, so he finally turned to Mr. Yan Ge."
Zeng Hou's father also secretly lamented that from such a trivial matter of seeing or missing, he could think of the old Yan Ge who seemed to be out of reach. Do all high-level people think like this?
But Zeng's step-father also became a little more worried because of this, and asked his cheap son: "Then you will be okay?"
If the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment is an old man from Yan Ge, wouldn't it be difficult for Qin Dewei, the prisoner of the Heavenly Prison, to have a hard time?
Qin Dewei still said calmly: "What can happen to me? A prisoner like me is not judged by the Ming Dynasty Law!"
Zeng Hou's father said worriedly: "Although you are still the uncle of Fengzhou, there are two marquises in the cell opposite. How can you not see the light of day?"
In order to appease Zeng's father and stabilize the rear, Qin Dewei had to say a few more words, pointing to the two cells opposite and saying: "Although we are in the same prison, I am different from the two idiot marquises opposite!"
Then he continued: "My teacher Zhang Da Zongbo is still in Wuyi Hall and has not been repelled, right? My uncle Wang Da Situ is still in charge of the national affairs and has not been held accountable for the national treasury deficit, right?
My predecessor, Wang Da Sima, who was the Minister of the Ministry of War and the Governor of Beijing Camp, was not removed from his position as Governor of Beijing Camp as the actual military governor, right?
And Xu Miaojing, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, is still on duty outside Renshou Palace. He has not been replaced, right?
Since everything is as usual, Master Zeng, what do you have to worry about?"
Zeng's stepfather was not a fool and immediately understood what Qin Dewei meant.
The above people were all close to Qin Dewei but were in important positions. None of them had been adjusted or repaired, which was enough to show that the emperor had no intention of putting Qin Dewei to death.
Most likely, Qin Dewei was too angry recently, so he beat him to vent his anger.
For the prisoners in the prison, this is the greatest protection, more useful than 10,000 Ming regulations.
Zeng's father was still worried and said: "God's will is one thing, but the actual situation for everyone below is another matter. How can we be careless?"
What if Yan Song had a brain convulsion, broke the rules of the world, and put poison in the cell?
Qin Dewei said: "So starting from today, I will not eat prison food! My family will bring me food and water every day!"
Then let Xu Miaojing dispatch some reliable Jinyi Guard officers to guard outside my cell in shifts day and night!"
