Chapter 3 Chapter 2 The Mystery of the Golden Sword
Thinking of the elder sister whom I had never met marrying far away in Hudi, the customs and language are completely unknown, and life must be so miserable that Shaohua died of illness at an early age. What will it be like if it falls on me? Sigh, if you want me to marry that savage Shanyu, I'd rather be dead!"
Early the next morning, things turned out to be as Dongfang Shuo predicted at first—Princess Yi'an, Liu Ling, and Sima Qinxin returned to the county mansion safely, which surprised everyone.
Princess Yi'an didn't wait for anyone to ask, she waved her hand and said: "I'm sleepy, I have to go back to my room to rest first, and I'll talk about it later when I have something to do." Repelling Han Yannian and others who came to attend after hearing the news, they went back to the room with their female companion to rest, leaving Li Guang and the others froze on the spot, completely unaware of what had happened.
Li Guang learned from his confidantes Ren Liheng and his brothers last night Dongfang Shuo's various speculations in the wine shop in the south of the city, such as Guo Xie and Lei Bei, who have evil intentions and will use Princess Yi'an as a blackmail, etc. In retrospect, it is quite reasonable, but the final situation is not at all. So what happened, he couldn't help but feel contemptuous of this legendary smartest man in the world, and ordered Ren Lizheng to go to the backyard immediately to inform the messenger and his party of the news of the princess's return.
The envoys, regardless of gender, live in the backyard.This is a courtyard facing south. The main house was originally the residence of the prefect Li Guang. He specially let it out for Princess Yi'an and a few people. There are a row of wing rooms on the east and west sides. People live in separate rooms.
Princess Yi'an and the three were talking and laughing, and as soon as they entered the gate, they saw Huo Qubing rushing forward and asked, "Are you okay?" His face was extremely anxious.Because of his aunt Wei Zifu, he grew up next to the emperor. He was proud of his youth, and he was not very good at it and was unwilling to hide his true feelings. Seeing that the three daughters were safe and sound, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It can be counted. gone."
Princess Yi'an said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, brother Qubing."
This was the first time she saw Huo Qubing's expression like this—frowning, worried, frost on the leather boots, apparently wandering in the yard repeatedly, staying up all night—she was very moved, but when she realized that he His eyes fell on Sima Qinxin who was at the side, and he didn't pay attention to her words at all, his heart "thumped", and then he suddenly realized that the person he cared about was Qin Xin!This made her feel wronged and ashamed.She is the princess of the stars, and she really can't bear such neglect.
It happened that the master, Fu Yiqian, opened the curtain and came out, calling, "Princess." Princess Yi'an had to endure it a little bit, just like ordinary girls, she threw her hands and went into the house in a fit of anger.
Huo Qubing's attention was always on Sima Qinxin, and he didn't notice the strangeness of others, he took another step forward and asked, "Is everything okay?" Sima Qinxin blushed, bowed his head and said, "Everything is fine." He took Liu Ling's hand, turned aside to let Huo Qubing pass, and hurried into the house.
Just when Li Guang's confidant Ren Lizheng arrived, Huo Qubing hurriedly asked: "Where did the princess go last night?" Ren Lizheng shook his head and said: "The princess didn't say anything. The parachutist said that the envoy and his party are also tired, since the princess has returned safely, Please rest well first, and it will not be too late to ask questions later." Huo Qubing said, "That's fine."
Ren Lizheng came to Dongfang Shuo's house, knocked on the door, but no one responded, so he simply pushed the door open and entered.Dongfang Shuo was soundly asleep, when he was suddenly woken up by someone, he asked in a daze, "Is Sima Qinxin back?" Ren Lizheng said, "Not only Sima Qinxin, but also Princess Yi'an, Lord Huainan, the three of them They all came back by themselves!"
Only then did Dongfang Shuo wake up, sat up suddenly, and said in disbelief, "The princess is back?" Ren Lizheng smiled and said, "Everything is just as you expected, why are you surprised?"
Dongfang Shuo scratched his head, very confused, said: "This is strange. Where is the princess?" Ren Lizheng said: "Go back to the room to rest. It seems that I have played all night and am very tired."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Well, it's good to be back, it's not too late to ask the princess about this matter later." He wanted to fall back and sleep for a while, but Xu Le stepped on the threshold and shouted: "Dongfangqing, since the princess has been found, We should return to Beijing soon and get back to work." Dongfang Shuo said, "What's the rush? We've only been here for a few days, and we haven't even had the kumiss yet."
Xu Ledao: "Nowadays the Huns are in civil strife, and Border County is also a troubled place. For the sake of the princess' safety, it's better to leave as soon as possible." Fugitives, appearing one by one, how can there be such a lively scene in the capital? It doesn’t matter if you stay for a few more days.”
Xu Le suddenly changed his good temper in the past, and said with a serious face: "Doctor Dongfang, although your rank is higher than mine, but this time I am the envoy, and you are only the deputy envoy. I will decide when I will return to Beijing." It's up to you."
Dongfang Shuo sat up suddenly, and said: "You and I are friends, are you really coming with me? Well, you can go back to Beijing, but you have to bring Zhang Qian and others with you. You also said that the border county is not peaceful. There must be important military information." Xu Le said: "I also mean the same, I am going to visit Mr. Zhang."
Dongfang Shuo hurriedly put on his clothes and followed Xu Le to Zhang Qian's residence next door.Yiqian just came out of the room and said: "The arrowheads on Zhang Qian and Wang Ji have been taken out. The man is seriously injured and the woman is weak. They both need to recuperate for a while." Dongfang Shuo said happily: "It's God's help. Me too." There was a smug look on his face.
Xu Le hurriedly said: "If you take Zhang Qian and others on the road together, and the Lord Fu Jun takes care of them, it shouldn't be a big problem, right?" I can't afford the bumps. Xu Shijun wants to return to Beijing as soon as possible, and I agree very much, but the two injured people can't go on the road until their injuries are stable." Turning his head and asking: "Your Majesty promised me to find the princess..."
Dongfang Shuo pointed to the south, and said: "The princess is back, she is in her own room." Yi Qi said "ah", surprised and happy, and unbelievable, hurried to the room to check.
Dongfang Shuo and Xu Le walked into the room together, Zhang Qian was still in a coma, and his wife, A Yue, stood by the bed with red eyes.Xu Le asked a few words, Ah Yue only knew simple Chinese, it was really difficult to communicate, so she had to come out in a huff.
Dongfang Shuo came out and asked, "You are suddenly in such a hurry to return to the capital, there must be some special reason. Well, let me guess, you are afraid of meeting Guo Xie by accident, and he recognizes you. Not right?" Xu Le said angrily, "Guo Xie is a wanted criminal, and I am an imperial envoy. You are so smart, do you think he will 'accidentally' meet me? I know I can't hide it from you. To be honest, I am not in a hurry. Back to the capital, I want to go back to my hometown without end, okay?"
Dongfang Shuo said: "So that's the case. Then you take a few soldiers back to your hometown first, and leave it to me. After you visit relatives and friends, come back here to meet again." Xu Le was still hesitating, Dongfang Shuo said: " Do you want to take the princess back to your hometown? Then let me ask you, is the princess safe in the county mansion, or is it safe to go to Wuzhong County with you?" Xu Le thought it made sense, so he said: "Dongfangqing must be optimistic about the princess, Don't make any more trouble." After saying that, he went back to his room to pack his bags.
Dongfang Shuo sent Xu Le away, and was about to go back to his room to catch up on sleep, when he saw Zhao Ponu, the man who fled back with Zhang Qian, waving at him in the courtyard, so he walked over and asked, "Did you call me?"
Zhao Puonu nodded and said: "I have an important matter to tell the doctor. Aji served the Xiongnu Shanyu and Shanyu's mother Yan in the royal court successively. She once overheard what the military minister Shanyu and the minister Zhongxing said. Dialogue, knowing that the Huns are carrying out a huge conspiracy..."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Is that the eunuch Zhong Xing who surrendered to the Huns? He is still alive?" Zhao Ponu nodded and said, "Not only is he alive, but he is also living a very good life. All previous Chanyus have trusted him and obeyed him. "
The Bank of China said by the two of them was originally an eunuch of the Han Dynasty, who was resourceful and resourceful. When Empress Gao Lvzhi was in power, he was afraid of his shrewdness and wanted to send him as an envoy to the Huns.At that time, most of the Han envoys were detained by the Huns. Lu Zhi's move was just to use the hands of the Huns to get rid of the Bank of China theory, but the minister Luan Bu advised him against it.After Hanwen Emperor Liu Heng ascended the throne, he continued the policy of making peace with the Huns.
In the first six years of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Maodun Shanyu died of illness, and the crown prince Jijiu succeeded him with the title of old Shang Shanyu.Liu Heng chose a woman from the clan, made her a princess, and married the old Shang Shanyu.And because the Bank of China said that he was from Yandi and was familiar with the border situation, he was selected as the master Fu and went to the Xiongnu as a princess official.The Bank of China said that the refusal was unsuccessful, and said harshly: "Definitely let me go to Hudi, and I will become a disaster for the Han Dynasty." As soon as he arrived in the Huns, he surrendered. Strategy, highly favored.
At that time, although the Huns wore fur and ate fishy smells, they all liked the exquisite silk fabrics and delicious food of the Han people very much. The Bank of China warned: "The population of the Huns is not as large as that of a county of the Han, but their force is very strong. The fundamental reason is that The reason is that clothes and food have their own characteristics. If Shan Yu changes his customs and likes things from the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu will completely belong to the Han Dynasty. Therefore, as long as he gets the wadding from the Han Dynasty, Shan Yu will let people wear it to remove miscellaneous items. Galloping through the thorn bushes, tearing and grinding their clothes, it shows that they are far less durable than the fur of the Huns; throwing away all the food from the Han Dynasty, showing that they are not as sweet as the cheese of the Huns. In this way, we can maintain The characteristics of the Huns guarantee an advantage over the Han Dynasty." The old Shang Shanyu thought so deeply and followed suit.
The Bank of China also taught the Huns the method of keeping track of events in order to calculate the number of their population and livestock.The letters sent by the great Han to the Xiongnu Shanyu are usually written on a one-foot-one-inch long wooden tablet, and the words at the beginning are always "The emperor respectfully asks the Xiongnu Shanyu to be safe", and then the gifts and other things to say.The Bank of China said that in order to overwhelm the big man in etiquette, Jiao Shanyu used a one-foot-two-inch wooden tablet to write a reply letter. The size of the seal and sealing clay were deliberately lengthened, widened, and enlarged. The Xiongnu Shanyu placed on the birthday and month of Tiandi, respectfully ask the emperor of the Han Dynasty if he is safe", etc., to show that the Xiongnu Shanyu is higher than the emperor of the Han Dynasty.
The envoys of the Han Dynasty could not get used to the primitive and backward customs of the Xiongnu, so the Bank of China personally came forward to debate with the Han envoys.For example, the customs of the Huns, after the death of the father, all wives and concubines belong to the son, except for the biological mother.After the brother's death, the wives and concubines are all taken over by the brother, just like cattle, sheep and other property.The envoys of the Han Dynasty ridiculed the incest of the Huns, and the Bank of China explained: "After the death of the father and brothers, if the wife marries another, the species will be extinct. It is better to marry as your own wife, and the caste can be preserved. Therefore, although the Huns are chaotic, they are actually based on the establishment of the clan. Han people always talk about ethics, but it is not uncommon for relatives to kill each other with each passing day. So the ethics of the Han people are actually in name only, deceiving others, and not worthy of praise!"
He also taught the Huns how to choose the favorable timing and the best place to attack. Under his planning, the Huns repeatedly invaded the Han territory, killed and wounded people, and plundered livestock, which became the biggest border trouble of the Han Dynasty.The Xiongnu cavalry once approached the emperor's palace, Ganquan Palace, and Chang'an was shaken, which was also caused by Bank of China's clever tricks.
After the death of the old Shang Shanyu, his son Chanyu came to the throne, and Zhongxing said he continued to serve the new Shanyu, and tried his best to teach the Hu people how to plot against the Han Dynasty and how to steal from the Han Dynasty.From Liu Heng, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, to Liu Qi, Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, and then to Liu Che, the current son of the Han Dynasty, all three generations of grandparents and grandchildren hated Zhong Xing's words to the bone, but they were helpless.This man really lived a long life, he was already eighty years old, and he was still able to control the situation of the Xiongnu, instigating Yizhixie, the king of Zuoguli, to establish himself as Shanyu, and compete with the crown prince Yudan for the throne.
Zhao Ponu gritted his teeth when he mentioned the Bank of China, and said: "My parents were murdered, and I was a slave in the barbarian land for twenty years, all thanks to this old man."
Since Emperor Gaodi Liu Bang adopted the peace policy and formed an alliance with the Xiongnu with princesses and property, the Huns have been keeping their promises and have not harassed the Han land on a large scale.However, the Bank of China said that after surrendering to the Xiongnu, it was ulterior motives to tell the big man Shan Yu to marry the princess, so Shan Yu tore up the covenant and sent troops south many times.The customary practice of the Huns after they broke through the Han land was: kill all the old, sick and weak, and take away all the young and strong men and women.The captives had to carry the loot for the Huns cavalry when they retreated. After returning to the camp, they were divided among the Huns soldiers like cattle and sheep. The men were slaves, and the women were maidservants or concubines. exchange or trade.When Zhao Puonu was young, his hometown was trampled by the Xiongnu's iron cavalry, his parents were killed, and he was taken captive to Hudi as a slave, and suffered a lot.
Dongfang Shuo also said: "The Bank of China said that there are many tricks and keeps instigating Shanyu to attack my big man. He is really a strong enemy." Zhao Ponu said: "Well, I heard that there are high-ranking officials in the Han court who are Huns spies. The two sides are going to cooperate internally and externally. I have seen with my own eyes the envoys sent by the high officials to Hudi..."
Suddenly there was a sound of drums in front, interrupting the conversation.Dongfang Shuo hurriedly said: "What you said is all confidential and important. I am only a temporary envoy to the border county. I should not hear about the military situation. You should report these words directly to General Li Guang." Zhao Puonu said: "I Just now I went to tell General Li, but he said that since it was a conspiracy, he should come directly to Doctor Dongfang."
Dongfang Shuo suddenly realized that he knew that Li Guangzhi was on the battlefield to kill the enemy, and he didn't want to believe or take the time to believe in the so-called "conspiracy". The reason why he sent Zhao Puonu to him was actually to mock his inference at the wine shop in the south of the city last night.I only heard the sound of the drums in front of me getting more and more intense. It seemed that there was some urgent military situation, and I couldn't take care of it for a while, so I hurriedly said, "You can tell me about this matter later."
Hurrying to the front of the hall, the drums had already stopped, and the soldiers were bringing in two men and one woman.Only then did Dongfang Shuo realize that someone was beating the drum to file a complaint, and was about to turn around and walk away when the man in his thirties suddenly shouted: "Isn't that Dongfang Jun? You don't recognize me? I'm Yang An."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Are you the son of the eldest nurse Hou Yu?" Yang An was overjoyed and said, "That's right. Is my mother okay?" Dongfang Shuo said: "Ling Ci is recuperating in Changle Palace, sitting with the Empress Dowager , fine clothing and fine food, enjoying all the glory and wealth, what’s wrong with that?”
Hearing this, Yang An couldn't help but shed tears in a daze.His wife, Guan Mei, scolded: "Why are you crying? Isn't it shameful enough?" Yang An hastily raised his sleeves to wipe away his tears, and lowered his head, obviously very afraid of his wife.
Although this Yang'an is timid, his mother, Hou Yu, was once a famous figure in Chang'an, not because she has any special skills, but because today's son Liu Che was fed her milk when he was a child.Liu Che had great affection for the wet nurse, and when he became an emperor, he still respectfully called her "big wet nurse". Not to mention numerous rewards, all the big wet nurse's demands were always satisfied, and she was even granted permission to walk the emperor's special route.Hou Hou was respected and loved by the emperor, and her children and even servants became arrogant because of this. She often openly blocked carriages and horses on Chang'an Avenue, robbed property, and did whatever she wanted, lawlessly.Once, these people came to the famous Ganquan Restaurant to provoke troubles, saying that the Ganquan Restaurant and the Ganquan Palace had the same name, which was treasonous. See you darkly.
Ji'an, whose courtesy name is Changru, was born in Puyang, and was born in a famous family.He is upright and upright, known as "straight dark", even the emperor is afraid of him.When General Wei Qing entered the Palace of Attendants, Liu Che could squat in the toilet to meet him.Gong Sunhong, the doctor of imperial censors, asked to see him, but Liu Che didn't even bother to put on his hat.Only when he saw Ji An, Liu Che didn't dare to neglect him in the slightest.Once when he was sitting in the military tent, when Ji An came to play something, he didn't have time to put on his hat, so he hurriedly hid in the tent, only daring to send his servants to come out.Such a person naturally couldn't tolerate sand in his eyes. After Ji An saw the crimes committed by Hou Yu's family and servants with his own eyes, he immediately played the emperor.Although Liu Che wanted to protect the eldest nurse, he was afraid of Ji An's intransigence, and even more annoyed at the misconduct of Hou's family, so he had to order the law enforcement to investigate and deal with it.
The criminal names in the Han Dynasty basically followed the Qin system, with complex types and cruel punishments.In terms of broad categories, it can be divided into several categories: capital punishment, corporal punishment, imprisonment, and relocation.
The death penalty is divided into four categories: beheading, abandoning the city, owl head, and family punishment: beheading the prisoner with a guillotine or an axe, usually used for crimes of treason and various violations of military laws; abandoning the market is to behead a criminal in a busy city , is the most commonly used death penalty, and is applicable to serious crimes; the head of the owl is to hang the head of the prisoner in the sky after execution to warn the public. The family will be punished.In the Han Dynasty, for the crime of treason and immorality, the perpetrators were cut in half, and parents, wives, and the same clan, no matter how young or old, abandoned the market.Clan punishments also vary in grades, with the Yi tribe being the heaviest. Famous founding generals Han Xin and Peng Yue in the early Han Dynasty were all sentenced to this punishment.
There are four types of corporal punishment: tattooing, 劓, 刖, and palace: tattooing refers to the punishment that cuts the skin of the prisoner's forehead and penetrates the black dye under it, leaving clear imprints.In the Han Dynasty, tattooing was the heaviest punishment among corporal punishments.劓 means to cut off the prisoner's nose.After Emperor Wen of Han abolished corporal punishment, he replaced punishment with flogging, and stipulated that those who should be punished should receive three hundred floggings.Cutting off the left and right toes is a collective term for cutting off the little toe of the left foot and the little toe of the right foot. Generally, the right toe is cut off first, and then the left toe is cut off.The penalty for beheading the right toe is much heavier than that of the left one, and it already belongs to the death penalty.After Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty abolished corporal punishment, he stipulated that those who had their left toe cut off would receive five hundred floggings, and those who had their right toe cut off would be thrown out of the market.Castration, also known as corruption, is a torture that mutilates the reproductive organs of men and women.Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty stipulated that those who committed capital crimes could be replaced by corruption.
Imprisonment is mainly divided into five types according to the severity of the crime of the prisoner: first, Kun Tong Cheng Dan Chong, which is the name of the punishment under the death penalty, is applicable to felonies.The male is the city dan, who builds the city to wait for the enemy's situation, and the female is the pounder, who poundes rice for the government.Five-year-old sentence.Second, finish the city with Danchong.Complete refers to removing his temples and finishing his hair, without wearing iron tongs around his neck.Four-year-old punishment can be redeemed.Third, ghost salary and white charm.Guixin, the male sacrifices to ghosts and gods to cut mountains and trees; Baican, the female chooses rice and makes white for the sacrifices.Three years of punishment.Fourth, Si Kou made it.The men are on guard and the women are in charge.Two years of punishment.Fifth, rework.Males are for garrison and punishment, and females are for repeated work.The sentence of re-commissioning is the shortest, only one year or several months, and there is no need to be tortured.
Relocation punishment is a punishment for moving criminals from their original place to a remote place. It evolved from exile punishment in ancient times and is a punishment set for lenient treatment of death penalty and corporal punishment.It was widely used in the Qin and Han Dynasties. In the remote areas newly conquered, criminals were usually moved there to enrich the area and develop production.When a prisoner is relocated, his family must accompany him to the "relocation center".
The crime committed by Hou Yu's family belongs to "robbery". According to the "Law of Stealing" in the "Two Years Law", "robbery, conspiracy to rob people for money, even if they don't get it, if they don't rob, they will all be punished. The crime is against his wife. I thought it was Chengdan Chung.” That is to say, the main criminal will be sentenced to the most severe death penalty, and his family members will be sentenced to imprisonment.At that time, Zhang Tang, the censor who handled the case, was well aware of Liu Che's dilemma, and deliberately sentenced Hou Hou's family to relocate to the border county.On the surface it is lenient treatment, but in fact it is to let the emperor get rid of trouble completely.Liu Che was really pleased and immediately approved the execution.
Hou Hou was used to being pampered and treated well, so she was naturally reluctant to leave the capital, but the emperor's order was hard to disobey.She brought up Liu Che and knew that he was arbitrarily determined, and she hated others who questioned her decision. Nine out of ten people who came forward to intercede would fail. Arrested and imprisoned, Ting Wei sentenced him to "walk around to avoid the enemy, wait and see", and he should be cut in half.Wang Hui secretly gave Prime Minister Tian Fu a thousand gold, and asked him to come forward to make peace.Tian Fu was the emperor's uncle, but he didn't dare to intercede directly with Liu Che, so he could only go to his half-sister Wang Zhi and said: "Wang Hui first proposed the strategy of Mayi to lure the enemy, although it didn't work, but if Killing Wang Hui here is tantamount to avenging the Xiongnu." When Liu Che came to Changle Palace to meet, Wang Zhi repeated Tian Fu's words to his son, hoping that he would issue an edict to pardon Wang Hui.Liu Che said: "I don't know what my mother is. The first person to propose Mayi's plan is Wang Hui. I mobilized hundreds of thousands of soldiers all over the world because of his words. Even if Mayi failed to lure the enemy, he could not catch the single Therefore, Wang Hui's army had already approached the Huns' retreat route. If they attacked the Huns' rear army with all their strength, they could still gain something, which could comfort the army. However, he was timid and afraid of death, so he did not dare to attack. If he was not killed, it would be impossible. Thank you to the world." Wang Zhi had no choice but to tell his younger brother the exact words, and Tian Fu told Wang Hui, who knew that the situation was difficult to turn around, so he committed suicide.Guo Xie is in today's situation, in fact, there is also the reason why Wei Qing personally interceded with Liu Che but failed.
But there are no absolutes.If there is one person in this world who can save his life from Liu Che's dragon prestige, it must be Dongfang Shuo.In the past, someone shot and killed a deer in Shanglinyuan, the royal garden. Liu Che was furious, and ordered Yousi to kill the deer shooter immediately.Dongfang Shuo said from the side: "This man really deserves to die! If His Majesty kills someone because of a deer, he deserves to die; from now on, the people of the world know that His Majesty values deer and despises the people, and he deserves to die; if the Xiongnu invade, they can only use deer to deal with the enemy. Damn it." After hearing this, Liu Che remained silent, and finally ordered the deer shooter to be released.
Hou Hou had no choice but to resort to the last trick, offering a thousand pieces of gold to Dongfang Shuo for advice.Dongfang Shuo was a well-known madman in Chang'an. He had to marry a new wife every year, and he never tired of it. His salary and rewards were all spent on the dowry.He happened to be short of a dowry at that time, so he immediately agreed to help Hou Hou.The next day, according to Dongfang Shuo's instructions, Hou Hou came to Weiyang Palace to bid farewell to Liu Che, without saying a word, but turned her head frequently when she left, with a look of reluctance in her eyes.Dongfang Shuo was on duty at the side, and immediately cursed loudly: "Hey, old woman, hurry up! Your Majesty has grown up, does he still need your milk to survive? What is there to turn back?" Liu Che was greatly touched, Hurriedly recalled Hou Yu and asked her to move to Changle Palace, but her children's family still moved to Wuzhong County, Youbeiping County.
Yang An knew that his mother's ability to stay in the capital and enjoy the prosperity and wealth was due to Dongfang Shuo's ingenious tricks. At this moment, when he suddenly met in the county mansion, it was like catching a life-saving straw. He was overjoyed and shed a few tears. He hurried forward and said: " Dongfang Jun, please help me, please allow me to go back to Beijing to take care of my mother." Dongfang Shuo said: "I'm afraid this is a bit difficult. Are you coming to the county to file a complaint?" Yang An said: "This, uh..."
The soldier on the side said: "He and this woman are the defendants, and the boy is the plaintiff. Go in quickly, don't let the parachutist wait for a long time." He urged the three of them into the lobby.
Dongfang Shuo saw that the plaintiff was only a frail young man of fourteen or fifteen years old, so he was curious, so he also followed in, stood behind the officers and soldiers, and listened attentively.
The case couldn't be simpler - it turned out that the boy was named Guan Gan, the defendants Guan Mei and Yang An were his sister and brother-in-law, and his father, Guan Xian, was a millionaire in Wuzhong County.Guan Xian died of illness eight years ago, and before he died, he left all his property to his daughter Guan Mei, leaving only a sword to Guan Gan, which will be kept by Guan Mei, and will be handed over to Guan Gan when he turns fifteen.Now Guan Gan is fifteen years old, but Guan Mei refuses to return the sword to his younger brother.Guan Gan was really annoyed by all the stares from his sister and brother-in-law for many years, so he rushed to the county mansion to sue according to his father's dying instructions.
After listening patiently, Li Guang reviewed the suicide note left by the pipeline, and asked, "Guan Mei, is this suicide note real?" Guan Mei said, "It is indeed written by my father."
Li Guang slapped the table and said angrily: "Then what else can I say? Hurry up and take out the sword and return it to your brother. This old man has to go to the barracks, I don't have time to play here with you children Every family."
In fact, Guan Mei already knew that this case must be lost, but she heard that Li Guang, the current prefect of the county, ignored the local government affairs, so she took a chance and went all the way to Pinggang City without hesitation.Seeing the parachutist angry at this moment, he was startled.He had no choice but to unbutton his robe, took out a dagger from his waist, and handed it to Guan Gan reluctantly.
The short sword is golden in color, the sword is attached to the target, the target plate is in the shape of a dragon and a phoenix, the left tattoo is like flames, the right tattoo is like water waves, it is dazzling, but it is only one and a half feet long, it looks like a woman's sword.
Guan Gan traveled hundreds of miles just to get back his father's belongings. Now that the sword is finally in his hands, he couldn't help but feel mixed feelings. He recalled the early death of his loving mother and loving father, and the miserable life he had lived under the fence for several years, and he burst into tears.
However, Li Guang seemed to have discovered the strange thing. He walked down from the hall, stared wide-eyed and asked, "Is this the sword your father left you?" Guan dared to say, "Yes." have a look?"
Guan Gan handed over the dagger.Li Guang did not pull out the sword in a hurry, but only checked the appearance of the golden sword repeatedly.It took a long time to draw the sword out of its sheath, the blade was like frost and snow, although it was a rare sharp blade, but it was not as good as the sword worn by the swordsman Lei met in the wine shop in the south of the city.
Guan Gan said: "Is there something wrong?" Li Guang said: "Like, it is too similar." Shaking his head, he returned the sword to Guan Gan, returned to his seat, and said: "This case is closed, you can went home."
Dongfang Shuo hurriedly stood up and said, "No hurry. General Li, this case is not that simple." Li Guang said in astonishment, "What is Doctor Dongfang doing in the lobby? Could it be that the old man made a wrong decision?" Ju Busong said: "With Guan Xian's suicide note as proof, the Guan sisters and brothers have no doubts about the content of the suicide note. The general judged the case according to Guan Xian's last wish, and there is nothing wrong with it."
Dongfang Shuo laughed and said, "There's nothing wrong with it, Jun just speaks loudly!" There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.Li Guang's face changed suddenly, he suppressed his anger, and said: "Doctor Dongfang, please speak up if you have something to say."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Have you ever thought about it, the general, the pipeline is a rich man with a family property of nearly a million and piles of gold and silver like mountains, why he only leaves a golden sword for his only beloved son? Of course, it can move General Li. The sword must be very unusual, but for the common people, no matter how powerful the sword is, it is not as good as two meals a day. Don’t dare, tell the truth, if your father left you a hundred thousand coins and the sword, but you only Given the choice, what would you choose?" Guan Gan replied without hesitation, "Of course it is 100,000 yuan."
Dongfang Shuo said: "If you choose 100,000 yuan, before you grow up, the 100,000 yuan will be completely taken away by your sister, and you may lose your life. Look, this is your father's brilliance." When he passed away, you were only seven years old, but your sister was already in her twenties, and she was married to Yang An. Guan Xian knew that your sister was greedy and vicious when he was alive. Once he let go, he would definitely come and marry her My younger brother fights for property, and there are many evil slaves in the family. I am afraid that you will not live long. So he intentionally left all the family property to your sister, so that your sister will get her wish and will not put you to death because of property. Your sword is very mysterious, and the sword represents determination. Your father had expected that your sister would be tough and would refuse to give you the sword when you were fifteen years old, so he made a will in advance, warning Once you have a dispute, you can go directly to the county mansion to complain, and if you meet a sensible prefect, you will immediately understand the real intention of leaving the sword in his suicide note."
His voice is loud, his words are eloquent, cadenced, and he is quite Confucian.Everyone suddenly woke up, and there was an uproar in the hall.Only Guan Mei's face was gloomy and she kept sneering.
Yang An anxiously said: "Mr. Dongfang, you and I are old friends anyway, how can you frame my wife with such evil words?" Dongfang Shuo said with a smile: "Whether it is a frame-up or not, you know best. But I see your wife is fierce and tough, you are afraid She, I'm afraid of her, I dare not say anything even if you have something to say."
Yang An's face was blue for a while, then pale for a while, and he didn't know how to deal with himself.
Li Guang did not expect such a mystery behind the suicide note and the sword, but after careful consideration, this is the only explanation that is the most reasonable. Ah." Dongfang Shuo finally looked at him with admiration, and immediately judged: "Guan Mei, Yang An, the county government awarded the entire inheritance of the pipeline to Guan Gan, and you two must return all the property immediately without delay."
Guan Mei and Yang An fell on the ground, kowtowing again and again, begging Li Guang to re-judgment.Li Guangdao: "You bad sons-in-law, who have been benefited for eight years, do you still want to be greedy?"
Guan Mei raised her head and said coldly: "General, please listen to my concubine's words again. It's not that I'm greedy for money, it's because Guan Dae is not my younger brother." Yang An said in surprise, "A Mei, don't... ..." Guan Mei bit her lip to bleed, and said: "This is a scandal in the family. For the sake of my father's reputation, I have not exposed it. But now that the matter has reached this point, I have to tell the whole story."
It turned out that Guan Mei and Guan Gan were not siblings of the same birth. Guan Mei was the middle-aged son of Guan Xian's original wife, Jin Shi. After Jin's death, Guan Xian never remarried, and only married a young bride, Mo Shi, in her sixties.At that time, the pipeline was already a white-haired old man, and there were many rumors in the village, saying that the Mo family was in charge of the housekeeper's property, and that he was not a woman, and had an affair with a bad boy from the same county.One year after their marriage, Mo's family gave birth to Guan Gan, and rumors arose that Guan Gan was not a pipeline parent.Soon, Mo family let go, leaving only the infant son.Due to family ugliness and eagerness for a child, Guan Gan is well aware that Guan Gan is not his own flesh and blood, so he still raises him as a parent.
The question of Guan Gan's life experience was suddenly exposed, and the most surprised person was Guan Gan himself.He was dumbfounded for a long while, and then he mumbled: "Sister, you..."
Guan Mei didn't even look at her younger brother, and said: "Everything I said is true, the general can send people to Wuzhong County to find neighbors in the village to check. Since Guan Gan is not my housekeeper, he has no right to any property at all. The concubine refused to hand over the sword before because she didn't want my father's relics to fall into the hands of outsiders."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Do you have evidence to prove that Guan Gan is not your half-brother?" Guan Mei said: "Do you need to prove it? When Guan Gan was born, my father was nearly seventy years old..."
Dongfang Shuo said: "I'm asking if you have any proof?" Guan Mei hesitated for a while, then said: "No."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Well, let me tell you, I can prove that Guan Gan is Zunfu's biological son!" He walked over and asked, "Are you afraid?" Guan Gan shook his head and said, "I'm not afraid. I'm lucky today Only by meeting Mr. Dongfang can I know the painstaking arrangements my father made before his death, even if I don't get a penny, I will be grateful in my heart."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Since you are not afraid, why are you shaking all the time?" Guan Gan said: "I am just naturally afraid of the cold." Dongfang Shuo said: "Very good. General Li, you can temporarily order someone to take them down until noon , let's come to the lobby to try the case again."
His way of pretending to be smart and doing things for others is annoying, but he is really smart.Li Guang was bothered by this endless strange case again, wishing that someone could handle it for him, so he immediately ordered Guan Gan to be imprisoned first.
Dongfang Shuo solved a strange case with only the golden sword, he was really proud, but suddenly felt hungry, so he had to go to the kitchen to find something to eat.When he came back to the backyard, he saw Xu Le standing in the courtyard, as if waiting for him.
Dongfang Shuo wondered, "Has Xu Qing left yet?" Xu Le didn't answer, but asked, "What happened to the case just now?"
Dongfang Shuo said with a smile: "Xu Qing was so eager to return home, why did she care about this ordinary folk case?" Suddenly she came to her senses, and said, "Ah, sister and brother Guan Gan are from Wuzhong County, and they are from your hometown. Qing knows them, right?" Xu Le said, "Well, I've heard of them."
Dongfang Shuo said: "Then what is the situation Xu Qing heard?" Xu Le said: "Well, this... When the pipeline Guan Weng passed away, I had already rushed to the capital to write a letter, and I have not been back to my hometown for several years. Sister Guan Mei I really don't know much about my younger brother's grievances. Can Dongfang Qing really have a way to prove that Guan Gan is Guan Weng's son?"
Dongfang Shuo said: "Hearing your tone, Xu Qing seems to be sure that Guan Gan is Guan Gan's biological son." Xu Le said: "I'm just speculating. Guan Xian left all his property to his daughter when he died, but arranged for his young son to fight with the sword. How can such a person with far-reaching plans not know whether his son is his own flesh and blood?"
Dongfang Shuo said: "Well, the deduction is not bad." Suddenly his face became stern, and he shouted: "Xu Le, what are you hiding from me? Hurry up and tell the truth." Xu Le said in amazement: "How do you say this? "
Dongfang Shuo said: "You just unintentionally repeated what I said in class. It can be seen that when I was deciding the case, you were eavesdropping outside the hall. I guessed that you had gone back to your room to pick up your bags and were about to leave immediately, but suddenly something attracted you Lobby, my Dongfang Shuo case alone is not enough to attract you, there must be more important reasons...well, you know Guan Mei, don’t you?”
Xu Le knew that the other party was shrewd and it was hard to hide everything, so he could only say: "Yes, I am from the same hometown as Guan Mei, and we have known each other since childhood. Both my parents died when I was fourteen, and I survived only on the relief from the village.大恩，不但一直供给我衣食，还请人教我读书，我能有今日，实是仰仗管翁的惠泽。”
东方朔道：“如此，你对管家的事一定了如指掌了。”徐乐道：“管翁老来得子，关于管敢身世确实有许多风言风语，但管翁对独子一直爱若掌上明珠。以管翁的精细厉害，断然不会将他人之子当做亲子抚育。只是他已死去多年，亡父终究不能站出来为生子说话。莫非……莫非东方卿想用传说中滴血认亲的法子？”东方朔笑道：“天机不可泄露。”说罢撇下徐乐，自行回房去了。
到了正午，东方朔准时出现，命人带上原告、被告，径直扯着管敢来到院中站定，道：“你们大伙儿来看。”
院中除了李广等人，还聚集了许多赶来看热闹的掾史、士卒，闻声一齐望过去——只见那柄引发出这起案子的短剑正别在管敢腰间，在太阳下发出灿然金光，极是耀眼。
东方朔见众人目光灼灼，不离管敢腰间，忙道：“我不是让你们看剑，是让你们看管敢的人。”
军正鲁谒居问道：“管敢有什么出奇之处么？”东方朔哈哈大笑道：“这么明显的事，你们居然都看不出来！管线娶后妻莫氏时已是六旬老翁，精血衰败，因而老人之子先天不足，非但不耐严寒，而且日中无影。”
众人朝管敢脚下望去，果见没有人影，不由得齐声发出惊呼，一片哗然。管敢自己也惊奇不已，在阳光下来回走动几步，还是没有人影。
东方朔笑道：“管敢，你当真好命，老天爷都眷顾你，天气阴了那么多日，唯独今日晴了。”蓦然提高声音，转头喝道：“管媚，你这女人心肠好狠毒，为夺财产不惜诬陷亲弟。令尊能安排下十五岁宝剑之计，何等人物，岂能不知管敢是否亲生骨肉？倒是你这样凡俗庸鄙之人，日日算计，却还是敌不过你死去父亲生前安排下的巧计。”
管媚双眉一挑，还待狡辩，阳安扯住她衣袖，“扑通”一声跪下，苦苦哀求道：“东方君，是我们夫妻的不是，我们这就将所有财产还给管敢。求你看在我们是旧识的分上，救救我们夫妻。”
阳安迁徙到右北平郡之前，一直在长安生活，又因为生母是皇帝乳母，与不少公卿大臣来往，略通一点律令，知道审判时不允许被告为自己辩护，只能供述、回答和接受判决。更有一点，朝廷担心诬告成风，将诬告定为重罪，有的要受弃市极刑。管媚称管敢非亲生弟弟，实际已近似诬告，万一被郡府以诬告治罪，那就不光是输掉财产，更可能会丢掉性命。
东方朔道：“你求我没有用的，该去求李将军才是。”
阳安便又朝李广磕头，额头撞出了血。幸好李广不通律法，又刚肠嫉恶，对这对夫妻厌烦之极，喝道：“你们快些滚回无终去，将财产一文不差地还给管敢。快滚，别让老夫再看见你们。”
阳安如蒙大赦，拉起妻子，逃一般地奔出郡府。
管敢感激不尽，一一向东方朔、李广叩首拜谢，转身正要离开，郎官霍去病忽然从人群中挤了出来，讶然道：“你的剑……”伸手便想去摸管敢腰间的金剑。
管敢不知对方身份，见他与自己年纪相仿，却是一身与东方朔一样的官服，急忙手抚短剑退开，露出警觉之色来。霍去病当众出糗，不便再上前，任凭他离去。
东方朔问道：“那剑有何出奇之处，竟能先后令李将军和霍君动容至此？”霍去病道：“大夫君没有见过高帝斩白蛇剑么？”东方朔摇摇头，道：“高帝斩白蛇剑是本朝镇国之宝，悬挂在长乐宫前殿，我一向在未央宫宿卫，无缘得见。莫非管敢那柄剑跟高帝斩白蛇剑……”霍去病接道：“很像，应该说外形一模一样，只不过短了许多。”
东方朔问道：“李将军也是这般认为么？”李广点点头。
霍去病露出了大惑不解的神情，道：“真是奇怪。民间一个百姓，从哪里得来的这柄金剑？”
李广招手叫道：“东方大夫，请你进来，老夫有话对你说。”与东方朔前后进来大堂，肃色道：“高帝斩白蛇剑和管敢那柄剑看起来似乎是一雄一雌，应该是一对。”
东方朔道：“将军只私下告诉我一个人，是希望我去劝说管敢将宝剑上交朝廷么？”李广道：“不错，这孩子身世可怜，幼年丧母丧父，姊姊心肠又是这般歹毒，这些年他应该没少吃苦头。若不是东方大夫凑巧在右北平郡，怕是老夫也只是依照遗书将宝剑断还给他，丝毫不能了解那老翁管线的深意。而今既然管敢得到了管家全部财产，剑也就没有多大用处。虽是父亲遗物，然而那剑既非凡品，断不是平常人所能消受，怕是早晚要给他带来祸事。”
东方朔笑道：“难得将军为一个民间少年考虑得如此周全。”慨然应道：“将军请放心，返回长安途中，我会绕道无终县，劝说管敢将宝剑献给天子，这件事包在我身上。”李广道：“嗯，好。”又问道：“使者君一行预备几时启程回京复命？”
东方朔知道他巴不得早些将自己一行打发走，忙道：“本来应该是这几日就动身的。然而赶上张骞几人之事，怕是还要拖上几天，看看他和王寄伤情如何。”
李广也不客气，道：“那么请尽快吧。”东方朔道：“一定。”迟疑了下，又道：“郭解意图对将军不轨，此人在民间名声甚大，必有过人之处，将军还是要小心些才是。”李广冷笑道：“郭解名气再大，也不过是一普通黔首，如何能与老夫相抗？大夫君不必多虑，还是管好公主，别让她四处惹事才好。”
话音刚落，便见夷安公主风风火火地冲进堂来，嚷道：“李将军，你怎么能下令通缉雷被？他是个好人。”李广道：“嗯，这个……实在是因为昨晚公主莫名失踪，臣等以为是雷被或是郭解绑架了公主。”
淮南翁主刘陵紧跟进来，闻言愕然道：“那北首座上的短小男子就是郭解么？呀，难怪我觉得他有些面熟，一定是在卫青将军府上见过他。”夷安公主也很是惊讶，道：“原来他就是郭解，呀，我还是头一次跟一个逃亡的刑徒距离如此之近。”
东方朔道：“好了公主，这就请你将昨晚的事情一一说明白，你去了哪里？到底发生了什么事？”夷安公主道：“这个……不好说……”刘陵忙道：“其实也没发生什么大事，我们去了一处地方玩搏掩。”
原来昨晚阿胡行刺李广不中被围后，夷安公主三人便溜出了酒肆，她们知道如果不及时走掉，便会立即被李广派人护送回郡府，然后像囚犯一样被保护起来，再也享受不到市井乐趣。只是三女对平刚城并不熟悉，来到街道上，一时不知往何处去。幸亏剑客雷被怕被行刺事件牵连，也出来酒肆，见三人站在路边迟疑，遂介绍了平刚城中的几处名胜，并毛遂自荐当了向导。一直游览到傍晚，夷安公主意犹未尽，雷被便干脆带三人来到一处隐秘的地下搏庄玩搏掩。夷安公主亲自上阵，输光了四人身上所有的钱财，她从来没有玩得这般疯狂过，直到今日早晨搏庄关门才恋恋不舍地离开，那时候才与雷被分手。
东方朔埋怨道：“公主，你可知道你失踪一夜，平刚城中鸡飞狗跳，多少人睡不好觉？”夷安公主道：“人家玩得开心，忘了时辰嘛。不过我答应了对方绝不说出搏庄秘密的，你们不准追问我具体地方。李将军，你快些召回那些追捕雷被的士卒。”李广道：“是，既然有公主力证，臣这就派人撤除通缉雷被的文书。”不愿多与公主纠缠，忙借机带了随从出堂。
夷安公主这次不辞路途遥远辛苦，微服跟随使者来到右北平郡，虽是因为好奇，但起因还是霍去病。今早当她发现自己喜欢的男子原来另有所爱时，当然既失望又失落，甚至一度对司马琴心气恼。不过她虽然身份尊贵，却并不娇气，反而热情豪爽，况且对霍去病的情感不过是少女怀春，并非刻骨铭心的爱恋，伤感一阵，便又释怀，心道：“我早知道自己嫁不了去病哥哥，谁叫我是公主呢！琴心温柔可人，又会医术，大凡男子都喜欢她。来边郡的路上，还是琴心治好了去病哥哥的热病，他就此喜欢上她，也不是什么稀奇事。”
她虽然自行解开心中芥蒂，但却无论如何不想多留在郡府，总想着找机会出去疯玩，回忆起昨晚在地下搏庄的狂热场面，很有些意犹未尽，笑道：“东方大夫，我想今晚再去搏庄玩一玩，可义主傅说无论去哪里都得有东方大夫陪同，不如我们今晚一起去，加上阿陵，就咱们三个，好不好？”东方朔连连摆手道：“公主不知道搏掩罪名不轻么？你是公主，当然不怕，换我去搏庄走一趟，明日就该被有司弹劾逮捕，定为城旦了，那可是四年的徒刑。”
夷安公主撇嘴道：“咱们眼下是在边郡，哪里来的有司弹劾？东方大夫，你这次不帮我，我下次可也不帮你了。”东方朔笑道：“不帮我也比害我强。公主，你不知道你父皇心中最喜爱的人是谁么？”夷安公主道：“是谁？难道是东方大夫？”东方朔哈哈笑道：“这点我倒有自知之明，无论如何也轮不到我东方朔。”
刘陵道：“嗯，我来猜猜看，是卫皇后和卫青将军，对不对？”东方朔道：“翁主虽然聪明伶俐，可你还是猜错了。皇上最喜欢的人是韩嫣。”刘陵道：“可是韩嫣已经被太后赐死了呀。难道是他弟弟韩说？”东方朔笑道：“不是，皇上对韩说好，那全然是因为韩嫣的缘故。谅翁主也猜不到，我告诉你吧，是桑弘羊和霍去病。他们都是英俊少年，而且极力主张对匈奴用兵，与皇帝投契。所以，公主真想去搏庄，何不拉上你的去病哥哥？他有天子庇护，搏掩不过是小事一桩。”一边笑着，一边疾步走出堂去。
夷安公主咬咬嘴唇，道：“这主意倒是不错。阿陵，我们找霍去病去。”刘陵笑道：“就算霍郎官肯答应今晚陪公主去，以他的性子，明日一早必然禀告李将军派兵封了搏庄。昨晚那些搏客陪公主玩得那么开心，难道公主就忍心见到他们身陷囹圄么？”夷安公主道：“也对，为人要讲义气，我不能害那些人。”她本就好动多变，实在去不了搏庄，也就算了。
忽听见外面熙熙攘攘，有人高声嚷道：“我要见公主！我要见公主！”
夷安公主觉得声音耳熟，忙奔来院中，却见雷被双手反剪，被几名士卒挟持着押了进来。
夷安公主忙上前道：“做什么？李将军没有告诉你们么，他不是犯人，快放开他！”
士卒尚在迟疑，一名掾史奔过来道：“飞将军有令，放了这名男子。”士卒这才拔刀割断绳索。
雷被慌忙拜伏在地，顿首道：“臣雷被不知是公主驾临，昨夜多有冒犯，竟然直呼公主的芳名，死罪。”夷安公主道：“呀，到底还是让你知道了。”
雷被道：“臣今早与公主分别，路上见到告示，才知道臣被悬赏捉拿，可又不知道犯了什么罪。刚想来郡府打听，没到门口便被士卒捉了，说臣绑架了公主，臣这才知道曼娘是公主身份。”
夷安公主本来对这个英俊的男子颇有好感，但见对方一知道她身份便俯首帖耳、低声下气，再也不敢多看她一眼，跟京师的那些男子并无二样，心道：“还是去病哥哥好，从来不因为我是公主就敷衍我，可是他喜欢的人却是琴心。”心中愈发觉得无趣，挥手道：“好啦，不过是一场误会，现下没事啦，你走吧。”
既出不了郡府，只能闷闷回去房间。走不多远，迎面遇上霍去病和韩说。夷安公主见二人换了便服，料想他们要出去闲逛，忙道：“你们去哪里？我也要去。”霍去病道：“我们去的地方公主去不得。”
夷安公主闻言很是不屑，道：“本公主昨晚去搏庄玩了一夜，还有什么地方去不得？快说，你们要去哪里？”
霍去病眼望一旁，默然不应。夷安公主知他脾气刚硬，难以迫他开口，便朝韩说喝道：“说，你们要去哪里？”韩说为难地道：“这个……”
夷安公主道：“本公主问你话，你敢支吾不答么？”作势欲打。韩说忙道：“金剑的主人！我们打算去找那金剑的主人！”
夷安公主道：“什么金剑？”霍去病道：“原来公主还不知道金剑之事，何不先去找东方大夫问清楚？”夷安公主恼他神色冷淡，赌气道：“去就去。”
刘陵自后面赶来，嚷道：“公主，你听到大伙儿议论金剑之谜的案子了么？东方大夫可真是神人。”随后大致讲述了经过。夷安公主“啊”了一声，眼睛瞪得老大，道：“这么传奇？”见霍去病和韩说已借机走掉，便干脆来到东方朔房中，嚷道：“东方大夫，你这么聪明，做我的师傅好不好？”
东方朔正躺在床上闭目养神，被公主强行闹了起来，很有些着恼，不悦地道：“公主不是已经有主傅了么？”夷安公主道：“义主傅只是医术高明，别的本事不及东方大夫，更不要说断案这种好玩的事。况且主傅是父皇指派给我的，我自己也可以拜师傅呀。琴心不就拜了义主傅为师傅，跟她学习医术么？”
司马琴心的父亲司马相如有消渴症，长期以来饱受病患折磨，司马琴心为减轻父痛，跟义姁学习医术已有好几年。
东方朔嘻嘻一笑，道：“义姁是公主的主傅，有朝廷的丰俸厚禄养着，我给公主当师傅，有什么好处？”
夷安公主这次却不是随性所为，而是当了真要拜师傅，她自觉得身为公主也会情场失意，实在是有伤面子，决意也跟琴心学习医术一般，学一门令人另眼看待的真本事，忙道：“原来大夫君想要好处，这好办，你不是一年要换一任新妻子么？聘礼定金都由本公主包了。反正我有汤沐邑，钱多得花不完。不过有个条件，师傅不能敷衍我，得真心教我这个徒弟。我也要跟琴心学习医术一样，好好学点真本领。”
东方朔的俸禄不低，皇帝又时有赏赐，却都花费在了换妻聘金上，以致生活常常入不敷出，忽听公主愿意代他出钱娶妻，微一沉吟，即应道：“这条件倒是不错，好，一言为定。”
夷安公主喜不自胜，道：“师傅，你断案如神，真该去廷尉府当廷尉，我看现任廷尉张汤远不及你本事。”东方朔叹道：“你当廷尉是靠断案如神吃饭么？只需看你父皇的脸色就够了，要不怎么会弄个'春秋决狱'出来？”
当今天子刘彻即位后罢黜百家，独尊儒术，并采纳名儒董仲舒提出的“春秋决狱”的建议，即断案时可以避开事实，以用《易》《诗》《礼》《乐》《春秋》六经伦理为依据定案，即所谓的“引经决狱”，核心是“论心定罪”，也就是按当事人的主观动机、意图、愿望来确定其是否有罪及量刑的轻重，常常不以已有的法律条文为准绳，而是用道德和伦理来量刑定罪。凡是法律中没有规定的，断案者就以儒家经义作为裁判的依据；凡是法律条文与儒家经义相违背的，则儒家经义具有高于现行法律的效力。“春秋决狱”将儒家思想带进法律之中，虽然在某些程度上减轻了法律的严酷性，但由于其具有主观性及模糊性，尤其是将道德和法律的界限模糊处理，等于扩大了断案者的主观判断影响力，使断案产生了极大的随意性。
张汤用法严峻，任侍御史时因处理前皇后陈阿娇巫蛊案手段严厉而得皇帝刘彻欢心，由此攀上廷尉高位，成为执掌国家司法刑狱的最高长官。他每每断决大案从不以公正为要，而是预先揣测皇帝心思——若是刘彻欲图加罪，他便让廷尉监或掾史穷治其罪；若是皇上意欲宽免，他便要廷尉监或掾史减轻其罪状。若是法令条文不足以治罪，便以博士弟子中研习《尚书》《春秋》的人补任廷尉史，附会古人之义，以“春秋决狱”来断决。
东方朔这句话一语三关，同时讥讽了皇帝刘彻、廷尉张汤和“春秋决狱”。夷安公主毕竟年纪还小，竟未能听出话外之意，只笑道：“我也很不喜欢那个张汤呢。师傅，大夫君现在可是我师傅了，你教教我，你是怎么想到金剑背后的玄机的？”东方朔笑道：“那个可没什么诀窍可教的，师傅我一拍脑袋就想到了，这叫聪明，是老天爷给的赏赐。”
夷安公主道：“那么那柄金剑到底有什么出奇之处，竟然连去病哥哥都动了心思？”东方朔一惊，问道：“公主说什么？”夷安公主道：“呀，师傅还不知道，霍去病和韩说去找那金剑的主人了。”
东方朔“腾”地坐直身子，道：“他二人去找管敢了？哎呀！”忙下床穿上鞋子。夷安公主道：“我跟师傅一起去。”
东方朔料来拦她不住，她跟前跟后，死缠着自己不放，在旁人看来却是天大的喜事，只要她不偷偷溜出去惹是生非，比什么都强，只得道：“公主要去可以，得换一身男子的衣服。而且不能骑马乘车，我昨日连驰二百里，眼下看见马就头疼。”
夷安公主大喜道：“好，全听师傅的。既然微服私访，师傅也不必称呼我公主，叫我阿曼就好了。”忙乐滋滋地回房来换男装，见刘陵只倚门而笑，大奇问道：“你不跟我去瞧热闹么？”刘陵笑道：“这男装难看死了，我可不想再穿。我还是留下来，跟琴心一起帮主傅照顾那受伤的宫女好了。”
李广、李敢父子均不带眷属上任，这郡府中既无女眷，也无侍女，除了临时来做客的夷安公主几人，再无女子，生活多有不便之处。
夷安公主应道：“也好。放心，万一碰上有什么好玩的、好吃的，我都会给你们捎带回来的。”刘陵笑道：“是，愿公主强饭自爱。”
东方朔带上夷安公主，先来西院找掾史查