The three departments of the Ministry of Punishment, the Imperial Procuratorate and the Dali Temple outside Taipingmen have long lost their glory in the early Ming Dynasty. The relocation of the capital during the Yongle period took away most of their power. Nowadays, most of the time, except for the annual punishment period,
The prisoners' cries for mercy could hardly be heard here. Therefore, when Zhao Qin was transferred from Nanjing Jinyiwei to Nanjing Dali Temple, all he could appreciate was the prison that was still gloomy in the summer and had no company.
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Even when delivering food, no one said a word to him, and no one came to interrogate or question him. This silence almost drove him crazy. Although the symptoms of vomiting blood that day in Yingtianfu Yamen were gone,
But he couldn't stand being ignored, so he had to use the vomiting of blood as a reason to tell the jailer who delivered the meal, but even so, the other person just regarded him as nothing.
There was no sun or moon in the prison, no windows, only the rosin torch burning day and night. Zhao Qin could only calculate the days based on three meals a day at first, but he didn't know if it was his illusion or the feeling of being suppressed in prison.
It felt like crazy. He actually felt that sometimes the time between two meals was extremely long, and sometimes it seemed as if another meal was served immediately. This sense of dislocation made him fall into hysteria several times.
, in the end, every solution to his troubles was just a scoop of cold water.
Unable to pry a single word out of the jailer's mouth, he fell into despair and began to tear off his clothes, bite his fingers and write on them with blood. From statements of confession to confessions, to memorials requesting military service, and even to those current affairs policies.
, he used up every portion. He completely forgot that Peng Li had written a letter requesting to be appointed as an official, completely forgot that Fei Kai regarded him as an abandoned son, and even completely forgot that Qingliu, headed by the four gentlemen of Nandu, had abandoned him.
He is like a loser, just writing tirelessly.
He couldn't calculate how long the days had passed, but he only knew that he had eaten nearly thirty meals in total. Each time, it was the same porridge and steamed buns, exactly the same as the last time he was imprisoned in the Jinyiwei Prison.
He gradually got used to such a mediocre diet, and vaguely even felt that he had touched the threshold of the way of a saint, and experienced the feeling of a saint when he was sleepy. For a while, he felt like he was spiritual when he wrote. When he finished writing "The Clothes", he even felt
He began to write special words on the four walls, which were gradually turning gray and black, until one day the cell door opened with a rare bang.
When he saw two jailers carrying a small table in with a lot of dishes on it, one of them went out and brought in a jar of wine. He had no intention of talking to them and was immediately stunned. Seeing someone approaching,
He almost staggered back, until his back hit the wall, and then he stammered and asked: "What...what do you want...to do?"
"Master Zhao, congratulations, the letter has been written down, you will be able to go out soon."
The two jailers were both old men working in the Dali Temple cell. The older one said this with a smile. Seeing that Zhao Qin was in disbelief at first, he then threw his head up to the sky and burst into laughter. He then pouted at his companion.
, the two people came forward together, rather than supporting him, they carried Zhao Qin to the square table. They poured Zhao Qinman a glass of wine diligently, and he handed it over with both hands with a smile on his face.
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"Master Zhao, there have been many offenses in prison these days. We also obey the orders of our superiors. Don't be surprised."
"Why are I arguing with you? I, Zhao Qin, am not that petty!"
Although he was already disheveled, Zhao Qin was filled with ecstasy at the good news. Without saying a word, he raised his glass and drank, then he slapped the table and said, "Pour some wine!"
He didn't pay attention to the other jailer's expression. He immediately went to eat the food and kept shouting for more wine. As the dishes on the table were messed up, he gradually vomited out one after another as he became more and more drunk.
The names were all mentioned angrily as to what they were going to do after they got out. The two jailers just didn't answer the conversation and kept trying to persuade him to drink. It wasn't until they were sure that Zhao Qin had no energy left that the older one winked and said,
A jailer hurriedly went out and called someone. He first removed all the food and wine from the square table, and then the two of them carried Zhao Qin out of the cell.
There were many twists and turns along the way. Zhao Qin was gradually shaken and regained some consciousness. However, he thought that he would be able to get out of jail next, so he started laughing again. Until he was lifted into a small room.
When he saw inside the room, there were two burly men with sinister faces and red vests, with their fronts completely exposed. It looked like they were not good at walking, so he became panicked. He was so drunk that he was half awake.
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"This...where is this! Didn't you say you were going to let me go!"
The two jailers waited for someone to come up and change hands, and then they let go of Zhao Qin's arm. The older one laughed and said: "Master Zhao, this is the old rule of Dali Temple, and we brothers are also following orders. Today
I will send you on your way. When you get to the bottom of Jiuquan, you will go to King Yama to complain. Remember to go to those adults. It has nothing to do with little people like us!"
"You...you guys!"
The executioner was already impatient. Seeing that Zhao Qin wanted to talk more, the two of them immediately strode forward, pulled him by the collar and dragged him to a pillar in the middle, pressing the button without saying a word.
He knelt down, quickly untied the rope from the pillar and began to tie it up. Only then did Zhao Qin fully realize his situation. When he opened his mouth to shout, another ball of rags was stuffed into his mouth. Next
A moment later, someone came in from outside.
"Eunuch Sun, the smell here is strong, please bear with it."
Chen Lu, who was accompanying him, chose a place for Sun Bin to stand. Seeing that Zhao Qin was already kneeling and tied up, and his mouth was tightly gagged, he nodded with satisfaction. At this time, he felt uncomfortable about this place.
Sun Bin didn't want to waste time, so he took out the imperial edict issued yesterday at the Zhao family's home at the foot of Dongqing Mountain and read it as written. Seeing that the executioner and jailer both knelt down and thanked him, he didn't care that Zhao Qin was completely stunned.
Whether he understood or not, he turned around and left immediately. When he walked out, Chen Lufang, who had never left together, stepped forward and took out the gagging rag from Zhao Qin's mouth.
Zhao Qin almost used all his strength to spit at Chen Lu. No one saw him dodge quickly, and then he cursed at the top of his lungs: "Chen Lu, you... you are not going to die!"
"Now that things have come to this, are you still going to show off your words?" Chen Lu patted Zhao Qin's cheeks that were originally plump but now obviously lost weight, and said word by word, "I came here specially.
I sent you on your way. Now you have to die a good death, and you have to curse others until you go to hell! You should have heard the imperial edict just now. Except for the youngest, all your sons will go to Liaodong, that bitter cold place.
, I guess they won’t survive two years. Your house was completely confiscated, leaving nothing behind, and the house also belonged to Xu Xun..."
"That little beast, that little bastard who works for the tiger..."
Seeing Zhao Qin cursed again angrily, Chen Lu suddenly slapped him away. Seeing that Zhao Qin was stunned by his blow, he blew his hands and smiled and said: "I have been thinking about doing this for a long time. Today
I finally got this opportunity. Zhao Qin, if you want to impeach others, you must clean yourself up first, otherwise those innocent people will be embarrassed by you, and they all hate you more than me! Why are your sons exiled?
It’s not like your former allies in the capital are adding insult to injury!”
"You...you are talking nonsense!"
"You are a dying man, why should I lie to you? Also, that boy Xu Xun is also a bachelor. Your big house, which is worth tens of thousands of dollars at least, he actually lent it to Zhang Mao.
Those old scholars of theirs said grandly that the illegal Zhulou had been demolished, and that in the future this place could be visited by the students of the Imperial College so that they could learn from it; secondly, it could be used in the provincial examination every three years
Sometimes he can provide accommodation for poor scholars, and sometimes he can let Zhang Mao and others hold literary conferences. In short, he will not accept any rent money and will never move in. Because Brother Heng'an spoke for him, Zhang Mao
I already had a good impression of him. After this incident, I even vigorously promoted him in Nanjing Shilin. Do you think this kid is smart? No wonder Eunuch Fu appreciates him, Wei Guogong appreciates him, and Mr. Ye appreciates him.
...Everyone thinks he has a future, including me."
puff
Seeing Zhao Qin furious and spitting out another mouthful of blood, Chen Lu finally relieved the sullen feeling in his heart for many years. He stood up with a flick of his clothes, looked at the two executioners who had been turning a blind eye and said: "
It’s almost time.”
"Yes, sir!"
Zhao Qin, whose face was as white as paper, watched helplessly as a noose was put around his neck. He watched as the two executioners on the left and right skillfully inserted the wooden sticks in their hands into the noose, and then started to turn in opposite directions.
When he felt the tightening feeling on his neck, he almost screamed subconsciously.
"I'm waiting for you on the road to hell!"
Knowing that the time was almost up, Chen Lu left his words and walked out without looking back. At this time, he happened to reach the door. Hearing that the sound almost stopped suddenly, he stopped and smiled coldly: "
Zhao Qin, you are walking alone on the Huangquan Road!"
All the way out of the cell, when he stood under the broad daylight again, the heat wave hit his face, and he felt that the cold atmosphere he had contracted in the cell earlier had completely dissipated. He saw those from the Zhao family waiting to collect the bodies.
The family members were wiping tears and looking around. He sneered and strode out from the other door. After getting on the horse, he whipped the horse's buttocks. The horse was in pain and rushed forward at a galloping speed.
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Xu Xun is really a lucky general. He has been impeached by many officials over the years and has been unable to really come forward for so long. Now after this incident, he was recommended by Ye Guang and became the assistant director of the Nanjing Jinyi Guards.