The news of the opening of the sea spread like wildfire in the capital, and everyone's heartstrings were affected by this major event. Because of this, any disturbance will be paid attention to by everyone.
In this atmosphere, Du Ning returned to Beijing...
"Your Majesty, Chen Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry wants to see you!"
In the Qianqing Palace, the winter atmosphere had not yet dissipated and the fire was still burning. Huaien stepped forward to report the matter quietly.
Zhu Qiyu raised his head from the memorial, sighed, but did not refuse. Although Chen Xun did not protect Du Ning in the court that day, after all, he was his most proud disciple, and he hoped to be able to shoulder the responsibility in the future. Chen Xun must still be unwilling to accept the banner of Qingliu...
"Chen Xun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, is here to pay homage to Your Majesty!"
Compared with years ago, Chen Xun looks a little older these days, and his steps are a little staggering. This shows that Du Ning's incident has dealt a big blow to him.
After being given a seat, Zhu Qiyu looked at the old man in front of him and asked.
"Chen Shangshu is here for Du Ning?"
Facing the emperor's directness, Chen Xun was obviously a little surprised, but he was only slightly stunned before he nodded and said.
"Your Majesty clearly knows that Duning has been my disciple for many years. Now that he has done such a thing, I feel really sad and heartbroken. Therefore, I am bold and want to ask your Majesty's permission to let me see him. I want to Ask yourself why he did such a rebellious thing!"
When Chen Xun said this, his expression was quite sad and complicated, and Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but sigh.
In fact, there is basically no big doubt about Du Ning's case. Although he has not been tried and the evidence has not been obtained, the letters and accounts they have exchanged over the years have been obtained from Jia Xiuping. From Zhu Judging from the testimonies obtained during the interrogation of Jia Xiuping and his staff, Du Ning was indeed aware of and condoned the matter.
At this point in the trial, although the evidence is not yet solid, it is basically impossible to escape guilt.
only……
"Speaking of this matter, Jin Yiwei has just submitted a memorial on the Du Ning case. A few days ago, Jin Yiwei was ordered to search Du Ning's mansion. However, according to Jia Xiuping's confession, he had bribed many people to Du Ning over the years. A pen of silver was not found."
Zhu Qiyu glanced at Huai En next to him, so the latter immediately understood, rummaged around on the table next to him, took out a memorial and handed it over.
"In addition, there are not many calligraphy, paintings, antiques and other utensils in Du Ning's house. Except for the hundreds of acres of fertile farmland in his hometown, there is nothing too valuable. Jin Yiwei later checked again and again, and there was no one around Du Ning during this time. No one close to him left, and no property was transferred."
"So, I just wanted to ask Du Ning where he hid such a large sum of money. If Chen Shangshu wants to see Du Ning, he might as well ask for me. If he can sincerely repent, I would like to I'm sorry, but if you still stubbornly resist, then I can only deal with it impartially."
Chen Xun still had to give him face, so Zhu Qiyu finally agreed to his proposal. However, after agreeing, he turned around and gave instructions.
"Du Ning is currently being imprisoned in the prison. He is not allowed to enter without permission. I will write a handwritten edict later and ask Hua En to accompany Chen Shangshu."
"According to the decree..."
Huaien lowered his head to accept the order, and Chen Xun also retreated. It should be said that Chen Xun had expected such a result.
After all, Du Ning was his disciple. Although there was no evidence to prove that Du Ning's behavior of condoning Jia Xiuping was related to him, at this time, suspicion should be avoided.
It was actually inappropriate for Chen Xun to ask to see him at this time, so the emperor sent Huai'en to go with him in order to avoid possible discussions.
However, for Chen Xun himself, he didn't care about this, for nothing else. This matter really had nothing to do with him, and even if it was investigated, he was not afraid.
Until now, the only thing he was puzzled about was why Du Ning did this. Obviously, he was just one step away from Qi Qing's position, but once this incident happened, it was an abyss...
The drizzle mixed with snow particles falls, and when it touches the ground, it turns into running water, making the road muddy.
The sky was gloomy, and a sedan slowly lowered. Chen Xun stepped out of the sedan, neither holding an umbrella nor wearing a raincoat. Standing in front of this prestigious royal yamen, Chen Xun looked up at Beizhen Fu, which seemed to be soaked in blood.
I don't know what came to mind when I read the big characters "Si", and my expression was extremely complicated.
In front of the dark door, Huai En had been waiting for a long time with his sleeves rolled up. When he saw Chen Xun coming, he quickly stepped forward and bowed his hands, and then, under the guidance of a Jin Yiwei official, he followed him into the prison.
As a prison that specializes in major and important cases, the prisoners held there are usually either rich or noble, and they are basically officials. Especially last year, the prison was full of people who came and went, and I don’t know how many ministers of the DPRK and China were sent away.
, walking in it now, you can still feel the faint atmosphere of despair and blood.
After a while, the jailer leading the way stopped in front of an ordinary cell, then turned around and said.
"My lords, this is where prisoner Du Ning is being held. The younger one is waiting not far away. If you need anything, just call out."
Having said that, the jailer retreated respectfully and stood aside at a distance where he could see the place but could not hear the sound. However, Bi Wang, the commander of the Jin Yiwei who accompanied him,
Stayed.
There was a faint flash of thunder in the sky, and through the small window, the dim cell was illuminated. Through the heavy cell door, Chen Xun finally saw his former protégé, Du Ning!
At this moment, he is no longer as high-spirited as before. In less than two months, Du Ning, who has just turned fifty, has already turned a little gray.
He was wearing a prison uniform, with an old hairpin on his head barely holding his hair up, and a few strands of loose hair falling down. The short beard that had been carefully taken care of every day was now in a mess, showing the owner's embarrassment.
The cell was very dirty, and mice squeaked from time to time. There was a straw bed against the wall, with a thin quilt placed on it. This was all there was in the cell.
Du Ning was leaning against the wall, lowering his head and pretending to sleep. When he heard the noise outside, he raised his head. When he saw Chen Xun, his face was surprised for a moment, but he quickly lowered his head.
Seeing this situation, Bi Wang on the side said.
"Master Du, Your Majesty has a decree to order Chen Shangshu and Eunuch Huai to come and ask questions."
Hearing this, Du Ning's body stiffened for a moment. Then, his shoulders slumped and he stood up with his hands on the ground. The sound of chains clattering sounded, which was particularly harsh in the silent cell.
Dragging the heavy chains, Du Ning walked from the darkness to the cell door, knelt on his knees and said.
"The guilty minister, accept the order..."
The light from the small window could only shine into half of the cell. It was only at this moment that Chen Xun and Huaien could really see Du Ning clearly. His face was thin, his expression was gloomy, and his whole person exuded a gloomy temperament.
In addition, there were several bruises on his hands and face, and the dirty prison clothes were stained with long-dried blood.
Seeing this situation, Chen Xun's face suddenly darkened, he turned to look at Bi Wang beside him, and asked.
"How is this going?"
"His Majesty only ordered the Jin Yiwei to take Du Ning into custody, but did not let the Jin Yiwei preside over the trial. Why did he use lynching?"
The Fujian Nest case was presided over by the Ministry of Punishment. However, because of the special circumstances of the case and the high level of involvement, in order to avoid internal and external conflicts, Jin Yiwei was asked to intervene and be responsible for guarding all the prisoners. However, Jin Yiwei did not have the right to interrogate.
Naturally, one cannot commit suicide privately.
However, looking at Du Ning's appearance, it was obvious that he had been punished. Seeing his beloved student being treated like this, how could Chen Xun not be angry.
However, in the face of such questioning, Bi Wang did not panic at all, he cupped his hands and said.
"Chen Shangshu is careful to say that Jin Yiwei has always abided by the law. For a person of Master Du's status, without an imperial decree, how could Jin Yiwei dare to use torture without authorization?"
"It's just that Mr. Du is a prisoner after all. He was escorted back all the way from Shaanxi to the capital in a prison car. The journey from Shaanxi to the capital was windy and frosty. In addition, it was winter. Some bumps and frostbite were common. If Chen Shangshu doesn't believe it, he can explain it to you.
Your Majesty, just ask the doctor to come in and examine the injury."
"Or, Chen Shangshu can directly ask Master Du whether Jin Yiwei used lynching?"
When he said this, Bi Wang looked confident and confident, like a villain.
Seeing this situation, a trace of disgust flashed in Du Ning's eyes in the cell, but he still spoke.
"Chen Shangshu, these injuries to the lower official have nothing to do with Jin Yiwei..."
Chen Xun looked at Bi Wang coldly, took a deep breath, and finally suppressed the anger in his heart.
The injuries on Du Ning's body were obviously not just frostbite or bumps, but actual lynchings. Of course, this kind of lynching was not serious. Even if a doctor came to examine the injuries, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to find anything.
This is also the reason why Bi Wang is so confident.
When you enter the imperial prison, you will inevitably suffer. After so many years in the officialdom, Chen Xun knows something about it. Even if the people above do not give orders for torture, the jailers below will more or less deliberately use it.
Use some means to torture these prisoners.
In addition to the pleasure of riding on the heads of these originally superior officials, more importantly, being injured can be used to extort money.
There are no doctors in imperial prisons. In a prison of this level, anyone other than Jin Yiwei who enters or exits must first request an imperial edict, which is very troublesome.
However, because there are frequent tortures in the imperial prison, in order to ensure that the prisoners are not tortured to death, basic wound medicine is prepared!
When a prisoner enters the prison, he will naturally look at the faces of the jailers. For example, these bruises are obviously caused by beatings and frostbite caused by being deliberately left in the cold winter. They all need wound medicine to relieve them. Therefore, many jailers will
They deliberately tortured these prisoners and then sold them painkillers at high prices to make a profit.
If the money given to them is enough, they can even go to the drug store to grab medicine and come back. Therefore, most officials are sent to prison. Even if they are not tortured, they will inevitably be punished by such a power. Those with money will be obedient and filial when the situation is not good.
, you can suffer less torture, but those who have no money, or are unwilling to give in, can only endure it.
Anyway, these jailers have their hands full, so no one can be killed...
Chen Xun knew about this situation, but he had never seen it with his own eyes. That was why he was so angry just now. But when he calmed down, he understood that if he wanted to examine the injury, he would have to alert the emperor, but Du Ning was Dai.
As a sinful person, it would be too much to make a fuss in front of the emperor for such a trivial matter.
Moreover, it would make the Jin Yiwei hate him and Du Ning. After he left, Du Ning would only be tortured even more in the cell. At this thought, he had no choice but to suppress all his anger and ignore these Jin Yiwei.
.
Turning back and looking at the miserable condition of Du Ning in front of him, Chen Xun couldn't help but sigh heavily, with a complicated look on his face, and said.
"Zong Mi, I don't understand why you have gone to this point? Even now, I don't want to believe that you have done such a rebellious thing. What is the situation? I think you have to give me an explanation.
!”
Chen Xun once had high hopes for this student, thinking that he could become the successor of Qingliu in the future and a pillar of the future government.
In the Hanlin Academy, Chen Xun took Du Ning with him for several years and taught him carefully. He knew Du Ning's character very well. Because of this, he was even more unwilling to believe that his proud disciple could be so despicable.
man of.
After hearing this, Du Ning looked a little guilty and lowered his head.
"The students failed to live up to your teachings. Now they have ended up like this. They are all to blame themselves and feel sorry for the teacher..."
Although he had expected such a result, Chen Xun was still a little disappointed and said.
"I need an explanation, a reasonable explanation..."
As he spoke, Chen Xun seemed to remember something, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes as he said.
"You don't have to worry. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me directly. I will report it to Your Majesty. If there is really something hidden, I will try my best to clear your name!"
"Zong Mi, before I came here, I went to ask for an order from His Majesty. Your Majesty said that the Jinyi Guards were ordered to search your mansion. However, all the gold and silver that Jia Xiuping bribed you over the years have disappeared. You tell me, they... are all...
Where did you go?"
As if feeling the teacher's earnestness, Du Ning struggled a little, but in the end, he still shook his head and said.
"Teacher, there is no hidden secret. Part of the money was sent back to my hometown to buy good land and a house, and the other part was used for daily banquets and singing. I squandered it all, so Jin Yiwei naturally found nothing."
These words were obviously perfunctory, and with such an attitude, Chen Xun almost jumped up in anger.
But this time, before he could speak, Wynn suddenly interrupted and said.
"Lord Du, my family and Chen Shangshu are here this time to ask questions according to the imperial edict. Therefore, if there is any concealment or deception, it will be deceiving the emperor. Please don't make any mistakes, Lord Du!"