In the study, Xu Hao's approachable attitude quickly dispelled Wen Tongzhi's apprehension, the atmosphere became relaxed, and the three of them chatted about the case.

In ancient times, how to assign officials through the imperial examination was very particular, and the first step to embark on an official career was very important for both the court and the individual, and the household department must make judgments according to its character characteristics and all aspects, just like the article does not mean that it will govern the people's livelihood, and the literati who really don't listen to the affairs outside the window should be sent to the Hanlin Academy, not sent to the place.

Even if Baguwen produces a large number of pedantic literati, it can also emerge a large number of talents who are skilled in human feelings, and in general, we have to admit that the imperial examination is the best way to select talents in ancient times.

It is impossible for a fool to survive in the officialdom, fools are always a minority in the officialdom, of course, there are many mediocre people, and in ancient times, there were rich experience and rules for the appointment and selection of officials, for example, the reason why Yuan Li was appointed as a magistrate is very particular, without this natural talent, the household department will never be appointed indiscriminately.

When the rule of a dynasty is not completely corrupted, the improper employment of people must be held accountable to the end, so no matter who is nominated for a certain official position, or to recommend talents for the imperial court, you must be cautious, in case of mistakes, you will be jointly and severally liable.

The most unfortunate thing is to be implicated in the crime of rebellion, the number of innocent people who were killed for various crimes in the Zhu Yuanzhang era was countless, so Xu Hao rarely recommended anyone to be an official, the so-called protégé is all over the world, which means that he has been an official for too long, and it is naturally formed, and it is not stupid to recommend relatives and friends to be officials.

Wen Tongzhi saw that Xu Dudu attached great importance to this case, although he didn't know the reason, he excitedly analyzed: "I don't have to go into detail in the He family, and the report of the people below is very strange." When the He family shouted the season, the place had already taken the Xiao family. At that time, the murder weapon was not found. I was very puzzled when I heard it in the yamen, so I ordered someone to search carefully, and as a result, I found the old kitchen knife with blood stains in the west wing, which must have been another reason. ”

Yuan Li said: "This case is a bit difficult to handle, these bizarre places make people feel like falling into the fog, confused, according to neighbors, the He family often fights, there must be other plots." If it is said that he was killed if he was forced to commit adultery, why did Xiao commit suicide by throwing himself into a water tank? It is not a big sin to kill someone by mistake, let alone seek death. ”

Wen Tongzhi said: "The weirdest one." The murder was in the east wing, the murder weapon was in the west wing, and the murderer went to the kitchen to seek death. The official reported that at the time of the crime, the west wing of the upper room had been closed and asleep, could it be that the kitchen knife flew in through the crack in the door? In the west wing, sleeping are He Lao and his wife. According to Rui's confession, her husband fell asleep and she didn't sleep herself. I heard Xiao washing his face in the kitchen first. Later, I heard someone in the courtyard, and I heard the sound of the door and walking.

So when there was an adulterer hidden in Xiao's house, He Chunying came in and was attacked by two people at the same time, but the chief reported that Xiao was wearing white clothes, and there was not even a trace of blood, and she shouted injustice again. said that there are injuries on the head and under the ribs, do you think the case is strange? ”

Yuan Li said: "I don't think it's strange, it must be because of rape, there is nothing suspicious about this." Only pay more attention to the two of Xiao and Fan. After investigating the behavior of the He family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law on weekdays, it is not difficult to find out. ”

Wen Tongzhi nodded and said: "It makes sense, if you investigate the reason, even the maiden family of the He family's daughters will have to investigate, and the relatives and friends who often come to the He family brothers will also have to investigate." ”

Xu Hao listened carefully, if it was his cousin who killed someone or conspired with others to kill someone, it would be simple, and his cousin would definitely tell him if he appeared, the problem was that his cousin seemed to be confused and didn't know what was going on, and it was very likely that he was indeed wronged, of course, he couldn't make a conclusion.

After eating and rinsing their mouths, the three of them walked to the yamen together, and a team of officials had already stood up for the shift, and a cadre of officials wearing official uniforms greeted them at the bottom of the stairs.

Ascending to the hall and taking a seat, Xu Hao picked an inconspicuous corner and sat down, Yuan Li and Yangzhou magistrates sat on one side, Wen Tongzhi sat next to the two general judges, and on the other side sat the captain of the local Terracotta Division.

Wen Tongzhi Zhengse said: "Bring Xiao Shi in first." Left and right immediately answered: "Take Xiao." ”

Xu Hao only heard the noise in the courtyard, the bamboo curtain was lifted, and two servants came in with a pale-faced cousin, handcuffed on their wrists and chained around their necks.

The official shouted, "Kneel! ”

Wen Tongzhi looked at Xu Hao's face and instantly sank, and frowned: "Why is this?" And a woman withdrew with the great punishment for what was the use? ”

The official agreed again and again, and hurriedly stepped forward to take the torture equipment. The officials looked at Xiao Yuying in her twenties, her face was like a pear blossom and she was as beautiful as a fairy, and they couldn't help but secretly scream that it was a pity, such a stunning man had to be moved when he saw it, and he didn't blame the death lawsuit.

Xu Hao couldn't stop his cousin from kneeling, Wen Tongzhi asked questions about the age and place of origin, and so on, Xiao Yuying's heart was like ashes and answered them one by one.

Wen Tongzhi asked again: "Did the deceased treat you well?" ”

Xiao Yuying choked up and said: "He is my son in seniority, and there is nothing good or bad, because, because for some reasons, sometimes he is good to me, and sometimes he scolds me, and I have never bothered with him." ”

Wen Tongzhi asked: "Since you didn't care, why did you kill him now?" ”

Xiao Yuying lowered her head and said quietly: "I only want to die early, I don't want to live." ”

Wen Tongzhi shook his head and said: "The trial of the case requires the investigation of all kinds of evidence, and the human and material evidence can be convicted. This matter has a lot to do with you, but are you the one who committed the murder? But tell the truth, it is in your own good, and do not be foolish and go down the road to death. ”

Xiao Yuying said blankly: "He died in my house, I don't know anything, and I have a bad reputation for murdering my relatives, and it's no fun to live." ”

Wen Tongzhi asked: "How did you die, you are recruited from the truth." ”

Xiao Yuying laughed miserably: "Now the slave family only wants to die, and the adults don't have to ask." ”

Suddenly, Xu Hao couldn't help but say: "Cousin, I'm here, if you have grievances, just say it, I will see who dares to embarrass you." ”

Everyone in the public hall was in an uproar, and their eyes looked at Xu Hao, and Xiao Yuying trembled, staring at the person she hadn't seen for many years in disbelief, and tears burst out of her eyes uncontrollably.

Xu Hao was mentally prepared to be treated as a powerful protector in the movie novel, and slowly got up with a proud expression. sneered: "I am Xu Hao in the capital, who dares to disagree?" ”

As if swept away by a hurricane, everyone bowed their heads respectfully in an instant, and no one dared to say a word, even if Xu Hao's status was blatantly interfering in the life lawsuit of his relatives, who could help him except for the current saint? Of course, it is indispensable to be impeached by civilian officials afterwards.

However, Xu Hao did not interfere in the local justice, and if he did not collude with officials or disregard people's lives, no civil official would stupidly jump out and accuse him. Sort it out!

Xiao Yuying sighed faintly, there was no doubt that the appearance of her cousin gave her great courage to live. Calm down and smiled bitterly: "The slave family really doesn't know what's going on, I went to the kitchen to wash my face after being tired for a day, and a person came behind me and beat me, and I was unconscious." When I woke up, I said that I killed He Chunying. Where does this begin? ”

Wen Tongzhi coughed and asked the official to take Xiao down. said to the left and right: "This official doesn't look like the culprit of the murder. ”

The judge immediately said, "I don't look like it." How can such a beautiful woman kill someone? ”

Xu Hao suddenly cried and laughed, and said: "I have to continue to interrogate if I kill or not, don't you want to trap me for using power for personal gain?" ”

Yuan Li said with a smile: "I don't know, I have been sentenced for many years, and I can tell a few points from whether I killed or not." I really didn't mean to say good things for the governor. ”

"That's it." The captain was from Beiping Mansion, and without hesitation, he chose to stand on Xu Hao's side, and said loudly: "Such a female dependent of an ordinary family is not a habitual murderer who has been killing people for many years, how can he be so calm when he kills people?" Obviously, I didn't see a trace of artificiality from beginning to end. ”

Face the word of the crowd. Xu Hao breathed a sigh of relief for the time being, even if they were jealous of their identities, it was impossible for them to all reverse black and white together with their conscience, but this case was really weird.

At that moment, He Lao Er was summoned to come forward, and he also asked questions such as his name, hometown, and origin, and Wen Tongzhi asked: "Chunying's death, you have to tell the truth." ”

He Lao Er sighed and said: "I have fallen asleep tonight, and suddenly I heard my wife shouting that someone from the house is coming, I listened carefully and there was no movement in the yard, but my aunt was making noise in the kitchen, as if she was washing." It didn't take long to hear that there seemed to be two people fighting in the east wing, at this time I was afraid that something would happen, so I lay on the pillow and listened carefully, and heard the sound of footsteps in the yard, and the kitchen clanged.

I hurriedly pulled her up, shouted loudly, and the Rui family rushed to come, and rescued the aunt with all hands and feet, and was busy for a long time, because I didn't see the third child coming, I called the cheap to call him, who knew that the inner person only woke up the younger sister Qian, and disappeared the third brother. I thought that someone was fighting in my aunt's house before, so I went into the house to look for it, and there was no sound in the black hole in the house at that time, and then the insider brought a lamp and shone it into the house. ”

Speaking of this, He Lao Er couldn't help but burst into tears, and after a while, he said again: "The third brother Chunying is lying on his back under the bed, he has been killed, and he hopes to ask the adult to call the shots." ”

Wen Tongzhi said: "What you said, are they all true? ”

He Lao Er said: "There is such a disaster in the family, don't dare to lie, the mirror is hanging high, please make the decision for my third brother." ”

Wen Tongzhi said: "According to your statement, it seems that the murderer has no whereabouts. ”

He Lao Er wiped his tears and said: "My lord Mingjian, the third brother was killed in the middle of the night, and there was no one else in the house, who is not my aunt?" ”

Wen Tongzhi said disapprerovingly: "This case cannot be determined, listening to your words before and after, it is very contradictory." Don't you know your aunt's character? ”

He Lao Er said: "People's hearts are separated from their stomachs. As the saying goes: I don't know my face but don't know my heart, when she married my father, I thought she was generous and good-looking, my father was always very honest after his death, and he didn't seem to be the one who did that ugly thing, who would have thought she would be like this? And although my third brother said that he occasionally committed crimes, he never exceeded the etiquette by half a step, it would not be forced to commit adultery, but it may be adultery, maybe my aunt took the opportunity to extort money, and the third brother did not agree because he was murdered. ”

Xu Hao sneered: "Do you know the true identity of your aunt?" ”

He Lao Er said in surprise: "Second Uncle Xia, do you know?" ”

Xu Hao said slowly: "She is my cousin, the eldest lady of the Xiao family in Jinling, if it weren't for your father who did something ugly and forced her to be a concubine, your family would treat her as a slave, but if she repairs a book, Jinshan Yinshan will be sent in a blink of an eye, so it is not credible to extort money and money." If your family can treat her better, she won't hide it from you for so long, my cousin has endured it for so many years, she just doesn't want your family to cling to wealth.

In the same way, if she had an affair with Chunying or a certain man, how could she not run away from home and go to the capital together? ”

He Lao Er was speechless in shock, and Yuan Li suddenly said sharply: "You don't tell the truth and lie blindly, because it involves Xu Dudu's cousin, the Yangzhou government can't call the shots, after the autopsy, send your whole family to the yamen and send them to the Beijing Criminal Department together." Ugly words ahead, if you help the murderer to cover, you are also guilty. ”

He Lao Er lowered his head and said yes again and again, and Wen Tongzhi scolded: "Don't lie, just say anything." ”

He Lao Er smiled and said: "The adult is so gracious, the villain doesn't dare to lie." ”

Wen Tongzhi said with a look of disdain: "You have to understand, this kind of case involving adultery, you can't help but investigate the adulterer, according to your confession, since it is Aunt Xiao's murder, try to ask a young daughter-in-law in her twenties, who is timid and dignified, could have asked to remarry openly, or walked out of the house with a dignified identity, why would she do the ugly thing of hooking up with a man behind her back?"

Besides, she is not as strong as a man, how can she move a person under the bed after a killing, and people don't know it? Even if it was possessed by a demonic spirit, which gave her strength at that time, I think she must have blood stains in her white clothes. Not only is there no blood on the head today, but there are also injuries, which is consistent with her confession, the murder weapon was turned out of your room, and your husband and wife kept saying that they were awake at the time, what voice can be hidden? Does it make sense? (To be continued......)