It was a particularly cold day. Even in the middle of the day, the pale sun still doesn't feel a hint of warmth.

And located in the northwest corner of the inner city of Jingshi, near the Fusi Imperial Prison in Jinyi Weibei Town, it is even more cold. The brick and stone courtyard wall, which is more than three feet high, casts a huge shadow while separating the inside and outside into two worlds. In that shadow, the snow has endured through the winter, gradually crushed and trampled into black ice.

In the front hall of the Imperial Prison, Xu Xianchun, the commander of the Jinyi Guard, stretched his waist lazily and yawned. He had just interrogated a batch of felons and was about to go back to his house to rest, when suddenly a brocade-clothed guard entered the house and made an urgent report: "Lord Qiqi, Uncle Xiaoyao and the deputy commander Zhou have arrived, and they are waiting outside the prison!" ”

Xu Xianchun was shocked in his heart, and secretly wondered what Kui was doing here this week? Although he has the name of the deputy envoy of the Jinyi Guard, and temporarily leads the affairs of the Jinyi Guard on behalf of Tian Ergeng, it is only in name. Jinyiwei's affairs have always been the final say in Dongchang, and Xu Xianchun and others are also directly under Wei Zhongxian's orders, and even the original Tian Ergeng is not in charge, let alone Zhou Kui, the temporary agent.

Some time ago, this Zhou Kui was also quite self-aware, and after taking office, he hadn't even been to the lobby of the Fusi in Beizhen, let alone this miserable edict. Xu Xianchun and others were also happy that he didn't come, and he still went his own way and was at ease.

But Zhou Kui is the nominal boss after all, since he is here, how can he refuse it. Although Xu Xianchun was unhappy in his chest, he had to tidy up his clothes and go to the gate of the edict to greet him.

When I came to the gate, I saw Zhou Kui wearing a crimson official robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a seven-beam gold crown on his head, which was very neatly dressed. But he is too short and fat, like a short winter melon, and this dress at this moment not only does not make people awe-inspired, but adds a bit of funny, like a harlequin on the stage.

The other Jinyi Wei officials who came to greet Xu Xianchun all felt very ridiculous when they saw Zhou Kui's appearance, and they could only endure it. Xu Xianchun heard his brother Xu Xianzhen say that although Zhou Kui was described as obscene, he was a hidden master, so he immediately added twelve points of caution, and hurriedly stepped forward to pay homage and said: "Humble Xu Xianchun, welcome Lord Xiaoyao to be late, and I hope to forgive my sins!" ”

Zhou Kui hugged Xu Xianchun with a smile on his face and said, "I can't do it, I can't do it!" This is a big holiday, Lord Xu and his colleagues are still working for the country, Zhou Kui is very admirable, very admirable! ”

The two entered the front hall of the edict prison with greetings, and Xu Xianchun insisted on letting Zhou Kui sit down in the middle of the presiding judge, but he accompanied him in the small seat on the side. Zhou Kuiqian gave a few words, and sat down honestly and unceremoniously.

He first took a sip of tea and praised a few words, and then said slowly: "Lord Xu, you also know that I, Zhou Kui, was originally a grass people, but because I was stained with my daughter's light and received the grace of Long Live God, I put up the name of a commanding deputy envoy, but in fact, I don't know how to take care of things, and I don't want to take care of things." The official affairs of our Jinyiwei are all major matters related to the safety of the society, and you have always been loyal to your duties, and you don't need Zhou Kui to command indiscriminately. ”

Xu Xianchun hurriedly said: "My lord is too humble, you are the deputy commander of Long Live himself, and our Jinyi Guards are naturally subject to your control." ”

"You can't talk about moderation or anything." Zhou Kui blinked his little eyes slyly and said, "But this attack on the Mansion almost hurt the lives of King Xin's Chitose and Niangniang, long live is very angry, and passed me in for a good reprimand!" But I can't help but live not be angry, I think of me Zhou Kui, who is also the head of Jinyiwei, but now he asked the thieves to dig out the nest, and so many brothers of Jinyiwei died. Lord Xu, where do you say my old face is still going! ”

Xu Xianchun listened to his complaint of hiding needles in the mian, and didn't know what his intentions were, so he had to say worriedly: "It's all lowly and ineffective, and it affects adults, please punish them!" ”

Zhou Kui put away his smile and said: "That's not necessary, but Banzai is urging very much, we must solve the case as soon as possible and catch the mastermind behind the scenes." I don't know if the criminal Yang Lian and others have confessed valuable clues? ”

Xu Xianchun was already a thief, and when he heard Zhou Kui ask about Yang Lian, he was even more "chuckled" in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Back to the adult, Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou and others are stinky and hard, and they have been repeatedly tortured and served, and they just refuse to confess to death." ”

"How's that going to work!" Zhou Kui frowned and said, "Lord Xu, the case has been unresolved for a long time, if Long Live and the factory supervisor are to blame, we can't afford to be guilty!" I think the other cases might as well be put aside and the case will be cleared first. Lord Xu, can you interrogate Yang Lian and the other six at this time? I'd like to see if they have three heads and six arms! ”

Xu Xianchun hurriedly stopped: "My lord, I just interrogated these prisoners this morning, and I have been tortured one by one. They are all sloppy and soft, they can't stand the punishment, they all fainted, and they can't be tried again today. ”

Zhou Kui rolled his eyelids and muttered, "Lord Xu, could it be that these prisoners deliberately pretended to be dead and delayed time, right?" No, I'd like to see it for myself! But as long as they have a breath, they must be interrogated quickly! ”

Xu Xianchun was extremely reluctant to let Zhou Kui interfere in the affairs of the edict, but after all, Zhou Kui was his top boss, and he couldn't say this, so he had to make an excuse and said: "But my lord, the cell is cold and smelly, your status is noble, and it is not appropriate to enter lightly." In the coming day, the lowly post will definitely speed up the trial, and then organize the details of the trial into a file and send it to the adult's house. ”

He thought that after saying this, Zhou Kui should be able to hear the meaning of his words, and then retreated. Unexpectedly, Zhou Kui stalked his neck and said hurriedly: "Lord Xu's words are wrong!" What a big deal is this, the princess almost lost her life in my house, and I still have the heart to hate the stinky prison cell? If I don't solve the case quickly, I'm afraid I'll have to live in it! ”

Xu Xianchun saw that Zhou Kui was soft and hard, and thought that he was angry because his daughter was hurt and ashamed, and he was eager to solve the case, which was also human nature. I had no choice but to smile and say: "The adult's lesson is that he will accompany the adult to the prison cell." He made up his mind to follow Zhou Kui closely, forgiving him for not being able to play any tricks.

Zhou Kui said happily: "In this way, there will be Lord Laoxu." Please! ”

Xu Xianchun immediately took Zhou Kui out of the front hall, walked through the courtyards, and came to the Tianzihao cell located in the center of the Imperial Prison, and introduced Zhou Kui: "Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Wei Dazhong, Yuan Huazhong, Zhou Chaorui, and Gu Dazhang are all detained here. ”

Zhou Kui nodded, entered the cell under the guidance of Xu Xianchun, and was immediately choked by the stench that rushed to the sky, and hurriedly blocked his nose with a handkerchief.

Xu Xianchun laughed secretly in his heart: I don't call you to come, you want to come, you deserve it! But his mouth said respectfully: "This Tianzi cell is full of prisoners who have committed capital crimes, so the security is also the strictest. ”

Zhou Kui glanced over and saw Yang Lian and the other six lying in their respective cells, although they were dying, they still had their lives, and his heart was a little settled. He pretended to walk around the cell with his hands behind his back, poked his head out twice, and hurriedly strode out, panting vigorously: "Smoke me to death!" Why does this prison stink so much? ”

Xu Xianchun hurriedly replied: "In order to prevent the prisoner from escaping, the door of this cell is closed and locked all day long, and there is no window, so it is cold and damp. In addition, most of the prisoners have injuries on their bodies, so they stink. ”

"Isn't this a little stinky!" Zhou Kui put on the style of his boss and said, "Lord Xu, don't blame me for saying you, although this cell is a place where prisoners live, you can't be too sloppy!" Look at the cell, there is blood and feces and urine, and those spoiled meals, which are not even as good as a kennel! We don't want the prisoners to live comfortably, but if these Qin criminals die inside before the case is clarified, we can't explain to Banzai and the factory superintendent, right? ”

Although Xu Xianchun hated in his heart, he had to speak out. Zhou Kui said again: "Lord Xu, I just looked at those prisoners, and today I really can't be tried again." But I don't know where the case file is in the past few days, can I read it? ”

"Naturally, the dossier is now in the front hall." Xu Xianchun said busily, thinking that this file is nothing to look at, it is nothing more than how much punishment is used every day, and the prisoner refuses to confess. Since you want to watch it, let you see enough.

"Beizhen Fusi Yamen is not far from here, right?" Zhou Kui asked suddenly.

Xu Xianchun didn't know what his intentions were, so he had to answer honestly: "Go back to my lordship, go out of the edict prison and cross three small streets to the south." ”

"Lord Xu, take those files, you can accompany me to Beizhen Fusi for a trip." Zhou Kui smiled, "This edict is too cold, I don't want to stay here longer; Second, since I took office, I have never been to Beizhen Fusi, and it is too unreasonable. If there is nothing to do today, I will go through the file in the Fusi of Beizhen, which is better than waiting in the house. ”

Xu Xianchun saw that this immortal couldn't send him away, although he had already greeted Zhou Kui's ancestor for the eighteenth generation in his heart, but he couldn't think of a suitable reason to refuse, so he had to humbly say: "Obey the orders of the adults." ”

When the two of them came out of the edict prison and walked to the gate, Zhou Kui deliberately said: "Lord Xu, hurry up and order, and clean up the cell in the afternoon." ”

Xu Xianchun was helpless, so he had to order a brocade-clothed guard Qianhu who was on duty in the Imperial Prison today: "Did you hear that? Find someone to clean the cell in the afternoon! ”

This Qianhu sent Zhou Kui and Xu Xianchun to the sedan chair, and when the sedan chair was far away, he scolded hatefully: "What the, just come to find trouble, what kind of hygiene!" If you don't come one day, you have to come in time for me to be on duty today, and arrange such a dirty and smelly job for me! ”

He was depressed, and suddenly saw five or six people appear in front of him, pushing three carts, with brooms, dustpans and other things stacked on the carts, slowly walking towards this side.

is the first person, but he is a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy.