Chapter 15 Chapter fifteen
The verandah of the lobby of the Lanfang County Government has already been crowded with people watching the trial.General Ding Huguo is the elder of the workshop. Hearing that his murder case will be tried, all the people in the city want to see what happened.
The three-way drum sounded, and I saw the opening of the curtain. Di Gong was wearing a black gauze hat with light wings and filigree, and a green brocade robe with Yunlong going out to the sea, a jade belt around his waist, and soap boots on his feet. seat.Before the official case, there were hall servants standing on both sides of the hall, on duty to watch the punishment, and the bookkeepers were also in their positions, in front of the hall.
Di Gong slapped the gavel and ordered Ding Yi to go up to the court to listen to the order.
Ding Xiucai was summoned to the lobby long ago, he knelt down in front of the public case after listening to Di Gong's summons.Di Gongdao: "Ding Yi, you reported Wu Feng to the hall that day, claiming that he killed your biological father. The county has been investigating and unannounced for several days, and has obtained a lot of evidence. Wu Feng has been taken down, but there are still others. Some doubts need to be clarified. The county will immediately try the defendant Wu Feng, you must listen carefully, if you have something to say in the middle, just say it."
Di Gong rooted the fire stick and threw it in front of the hall.Moments later, the second hall officer brought Wu Feng from prison to the hall.
Wu Feng knelt before the case, calmly, waiting for Di Gong to ask questions.
"Who is the defendant's name, and how does he make a living? Tell me!"
"My lord, Xiaosheng is better than Wu Mingfeng, a native of Chang'an, born as a scholar, out of preference, he has given up writing and painting for several years."
Di Gong's face sank, and he said: "Wu Feng, you are a scholar, originally a scholar, but you didn't study hard in the capital to make progress, but you came to this remote small county to spend your time and do evil. How did you harm me?" General Hu Guo’s life, quickly and honestly recruit.”
Wu Feng said: "My lord, let me tell you that Xiaosheng's crime of murder is purely fabricated by Ding Yi Xiangbi. People. When Xiaosheng was in Chang'an, he often heard from his father that Ding Huguo deceived the emperor and acted recklessly, and he was punished with blood and debts. He was finally punished by dismissal, so he had heard a little about his misdeeds and scandals. However, he had never known him until now. When his son Ding Yi tried his best to spread rumors and slander Xiaosheng here, he knew that he was living in Lanfang. Ding Yi made out of nothing and maliciously slandered him. This also turned a deaf ear and ignored it. When Xiaosheng thought about it, the master has always listened to his judgment, and he will never believe Ding Yi's one-sided words, which are profound and thoughtful, and wronged Xiaosheng, an innocent person."
Duke Di shouted loudly: "Wu Feng, don't be presumptuous! This county asks you, as you said, why is General Ding always afraid of you? Why is he confined in his house all day long, the gate is not out, and the second gate does not move? Moreover, if You don't have any malicious intentions, why do you want to cast eyeliner around Ding's house to find out what's true about Ding's house?"
No matter how Di Gong yelled and asked, Wu Feng did not lose his composure, and calmly replied: "My lord, calm down the thunderous anger. The first two questions are purely Ding Zhai's family affairs. It is impossible to answer. The third question is strange, Xiaosheng's reply is eight big characters: nothing, there is absolutely no such thing! I wonder if the plaintiff has any witnesses to confront Xiaosheng in court?"
"Wu Feng, now that you are going to court, you still dare to speak out! You should understand that this county has already seized one of the sentinels you sent! It's just too early to confront the three of you!"
Hearing this, Wu Feng said angrily: "It must be Ding Yi's fellow who baited this sleazy man with huge profits, so as to borrow a knife to kill people and put the blame on me. His intentions are so vicious!"
When Di Gong saw that Wu Feng finally turned angrily in front of the hall, he was secretly happy.Thinking about the rare opportunity, don't miss it, you must seize the opportunity, catch him by surprise, attack him unprepared, and attack Wu Feng directly, hit the nail on the head!After finalizing the rules, Mr. Di said sharply: "Wu Feng listened, you hate the Ding family so much, it's not because of the feud between the Ding family and the Wu family, but because you have evil intentions and jealousy. You raise your head Come, let's see who this charming woman is!"
Di Gong took out the head cut from Wu Feng's portrait of Avalokitesvara from his sleeve, and ordered the team leader to pass it on to Wu Feng to watch.When Ding and Wu heard that a young woman was involved in the case, their expressions immediately changed, while Ding Yi's eyes widened in fright.
Di Gonggong observed the words of the second scholar in front of the hall, and suddenly heard a scream from the head of the class beside him. He turned his head and saw Fang Zheng standing blankly by the desk with a portrait in his hand, his face as white as paper.Suddenly, Fang Zheng shouted: "Master, this woman is none other than my eldest daughter Bai Lan!"
There was an uproar in the verandah, and Di Gong himself was also very surprised, but he didn't show any signs.Raising the gavel hastily, he slapped it, and shouted: "Quiet!" Then he calmly said to Fangzheng: "Boss Fang, quickly show Wu Feng the portrait!"
Fangzheng recognized his daughter in the portrait, Wu Feng was even more embarrassed and at a loss, but Ding Yi was relieved and relaxed. "
Wu Feng stared at the portrait and remained silent.
Di Gong shouted: "What do you have to do with this girl, come here quickly!"
Wu Feng gritted his teeth and replied with a pale face. "No!"
Di Gong's face darkened, and he said angrily: "In the court, the punishment is ruthless, you can't help but not to use it!"
Wu Feng gathered himself together, and said loudly, "Even if the punishment is severe, the muscles and bones are broken, and the body and skin are cracked, don't even think about asking me to speak!"
Di Gong said angrily: "Wu Feng, the criminal, dared to roar in the courtroom and resist the judge. Left and right, serve with a whip!"
All the servants heard the order and shouted, two of them took off Wu Feng's robe, and the other two pressed him to the ground, waiting for the squad leader to come forward and execute the torture.
Fangzheng was in great pain, he raised his eyes to look at Di Gong, but didn't move forward.Di Gong understood, and secretly admired him.Fang Zheng was an upright person, fearing that he would end Wu Feng's life in a fit of anger, he signaled him to order someone else to execute the sentence.
A servant took the whip from Fangzheng, and Duke Di ordered, "Twenty lashes will be fined!"
After ten lashes, Wu Feng's back was torn apart and bleeding profusely, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to confess.After twenty lashes, Wu Feng was already on the verge of death and passed out.The second hall attendant was busy burning aromatherapy vinegar under his nostrils, and he sneezed a few times before waking up again.
Di Gong said: "You are so ignorant of flattery that you have suffered this immediate loss. If you confess early, you will save your flesh and blood from suffering!"
A servant grabbed Wu Feng by the hair and faced him to Duke Di.Wu Feng's face was crooked and his eyes slanted, his lips twitched, and the two words were still coming in and out between his teeth: "No trick!"
The hall servant is about to slap his mouth to punish him.Di Gong stopped abruptly.He pondered in his heart, there was a reason why Wu Feng refused to confess under severe punishment.He is a son of an official and a gentleman, if he is tortured again, he is afraid of losing his life, so it is better to lure him with words and tell him to speak.After making up his mind, he said: "Wu Feng, you've been smart all your life, why are you so confused? It's not like you don't know about the matter between you and that girl, even if you don't talk about this county!"
Wu Feng shook his head and remained silent.
Di Gongdao: "Not far from the East City Gate, there is an ancient temple called Sanbao Temple, where you and Bailan have a tryst..."
Before Di Gong finished speaking, Wu Feng jumped up reluctantly, staggered and pointed at Di Gong and cursed: "So, Miss Bailan's life is over! In the end, it was you, a stupid official, who ruined her life!"
Idlers watching the city in the corridors and verandahs heard the words.One by one whispered to each other, looking at each other in surprise.
Di Gong raised the gavel again and slapped it, shouting sharply: "Quiet, no noise in the courtroom!"
The noise gradually subsided, and Wu Feng collapsed on the ground, weeping uncontrollably.One side was standing upright, dumbfounded, biting his teeth so hard that his lips were bleeding.
Di Gong stroked his beautiful beard slowly, and said: "Wu Xiucai, at this point, it is only reasonable for you to tell the truth. According to what you said, the county will endanger Bailan after telling the story of the two of you meeting in the temple. Life, if this is the case, it is all your fault. You should have told the county that Hugh would mention her name in the hall at the meeting with Sanbao Temple. Now that she is a fish in the bottom of the pot, I will try my best to save her from fire and water. It is your unshirkable responsibility!"
Di Gong was not angry when he was insulted by Wu Feng.Wu Feng would not open his mouth if he thought otherwise. Not only would the case not go on trial, but also important information about Bai Lan's disappearance would not be available.Therefore, he used good words to persuade him to tell the truth.
Di Gong ordered the waiter to bring a cup of strong tea, Wu Feng took it and drank it, and said sadly: "Since Bai Lan's secret is known to the whole city, her life cannot be saved!"
Di Gong said: "Whether Bailan can be saved or not, the county government will decide for itself. You can tell the whole story in detail, and the county has its own balance!"
Wu Feng thought about it for a while, finally gritted his teeth, and said in a low voice; "So, I have to talk. It is said that the Sanbao Temple was built by an eminent monk from Tianzhu. Later, because the road to the Western Regions was diverted, there were few pilgrims in the temple, and the incense was not strong. The monk left an empty temple. Over time, the temple fell into disrepair and neighbors plundered it, leaving only a ruined wall and roof collapsed. However, the huge murals of five hundred arhats painted by the foreign monks in the Daxiong Hall remained intact. He has survived until now. In order to seek Zen art treasures, Xiaosheng visited the whole city, and occasionally saw the treasures of murals in Sanbao Temple, and since then he has often gone to the temple to copy and paint.
"There is a small garden behind the temple. Although it is deserted, it is a good place to go. Especially at night, there is a pool of clear water and a bright moon. It is really elegant and quiet, so I often go to the garden to enjoy the coolness and enjoy the night.
"On the evening of about 20 days ago, Xiaosheng drank a few more cups. He thought why not take advantage of this beautiful reunion night to sit in the garden for a while, so as to get rid of the alcohol and relax. Xiaosheng was just by the pool Sitting down on the stone bench, I suddenly saw a graceful woman stepping into the garden."
Having said that, Wu Feng lowered his head, and the hall was completely silent.After pausing for a while, Wu Feng raised his head again and said, "Her appearance. Yu Xiaosheng is like a fairy descending to earth. Under the moonlight, she can only see her silk scarf and skirt, white as frost and snow. , Indescribably neat. When I approached her and took a closer look, I saw that her face was full of sorrow between the temples, with two lines of tears hanging down her eyebrows. This scene is engraved in my heart, and it is still vivid in my mind!" After saying that, he covered his hands noodle.After a pause, he said again:
"Xiaosheng couldn't help it, and called 'fairy' a few times. She was frightened when she heard it, and she hurriedly backed away, and said in a low voice: "Mr. She knelt down on her knees and made an oath in exchange for a trusting heart. She wrapped her dress tightly and whispered, "My name is Bai Lan. I am now a bird in someone else's cage. I flew out tonight without permission. If anyone finds out, my life will be over." Now I have to go back immediately. Please don’t tell anyone what happened tonight. I’ll meet you another day to discuss how to escape.” Xiaosheng hurriedly asked: “Since you are out of the cage, if you don’t escape tonight, what should you do? When?" She said softly: "No, no! If so, my brother will die!" After speaking, she hurriedly pulled away.
"A dark cloud covered the moon, and she disappeared from the shadow in an instant. I could only vaguely see the sound of her hurriedly leaving footsteps gradually receding. That night, Xiaosheng searched all over the ruined temple, but she was never found again. See her trail."
Di Gong ordered the servant to bring another cup of tea, Wu Feng drank it in one gulp, shook his head and said, "Since then, Xiaosheng went to the back garden of the temple to wait for her every night, but she never showed up again. Xiaosheng thought Come on, it must be that the gangsters have kept her under strict surveillance after they learned of her private visit to the Three Treasures Temple, not allowing her to go out. Now that her secret visit to the Three Treasures Temple has become known to everyone, the gangsters will definitely harm her after they get the letter!"
Speaking of this, Wu Feng burst into tears and was in pain.
After Wu Feng calmed down, Duke Di said: "Look, if you don't explain the matter clearly, how will the county know that Bailan has become a dead fish? How will you try to save her life? Now, how will you murder General Ding? A lesson from the truth!"
Wu Feng begged: "Xiaosheng is willing to confess everything, but not at this moment. Now Xiaosheng has nothing else to ask, but one wish, that is, to ask the master to be merciful, and to send the servant Yali to rescue Bailan from the tiger's den and Longtan. It's not too late."
After hearing this, Di Gong thought to himself that what he said was reasonable, so he ordered the guard to take Wu Feng back to the prison.
Di Gong turned to Ding Xiucai and said, "Ding Yi, the encounter between Wu Feng and Bailan Sanbao Temple is purely a side matter of the case, and has nothing to do with your father's murder case, but today the court can no longer try Wu Feng because of this. .Your father's case will be tried at another time."
Di Gong gave a blow.Since he left the public seat, stepped down from the high platform, and retreated into the inner office.
The idle people watching the trial filed out of the hall, discussing the plot of the case a lot.
After Di Gong changed his clothes, he ordered Hong Canjun to call Fang Zheng to come to see him.Ma Rong.Tao Gan went into the study of Neiya and sat on the bench next to Di Gongshuhan.After a while, Fangzheng arrived.Di Gongci sat down and sighed: "Fang Zhichao, what happened in the hall today shocked you. It's all because I didn't show you the portrait beforehand. But how do I know that this portrait is closely related to the death of your eldest daughter? But, so Now, you finally have some clues about your daughter's whereabouts."
Di Gong took the three command arrows in his hand, and Fang Zheng said: "Take twenty strong and strong officials to Sanbao Temple to look for Bai Lan, and Ma Rong and Tao Gan will guide you. With these three command arrows, you can chase the neighbors in Dongfang. Household search, no one shall disobey!"
Di Gong held the arrow against Ma Rong, Ma Rong took it, put it in his sleeve, and left in a hurry with Fang Zheng and Tao Gan.
The waiter brought tea, Di Gong took a sip, and said to Hong Canjun, "I am also happy to hear from Fang Yuan after his daughter disappeared. Now I finally understand that the Guanyin on Wu Feng's scroll was originally It is Bai Lan in the painting. On closer inspection, there are actually quite a few similarities between that portrait and Fangzheng's second daughter, Hei Lan, which I should have seen long ago."
"My lord, the only person who can see that the portrait looks like Hei Lan is our warrior Ma Rong!"
Di Gong smiled lightly and said: "So, Ma Rong has seen Hei Lan more carefully than you and I." After speaking, his face darkened again, and he said slowly: "When Fangzheng and others find Bai Lan, will she be dead or alive? It's hard to predict. According to what Wu Fengtang said, the white dress Bai Lan wore when she visited Sanbao Temple at night was actually sleeping clothes. From this, it can be deduced that she was put under house arrest not far from the ruined temple. That gangster is probably a drunk Once he learns that Bai Lan has sneaked out of the house to have a secret meeting with others, he will feel suspicious and fearful. It is very likely that he will kill someone to silence him. It is unknown when Bai Lan's body will be dragged out of his mouth."
Hong Canjun said: "Regardless of Bai Lan's fate, it will not help us investigate Ding Huguo's murder case. I am afraid that Wu Feng will still be severely tortured."
Mr. Di was noncommittal to Hong Canjun's last sentence, and only said: "There is something that made me think deeply. When I mentioned in class today that a woman was involved in the case, Ding and Wu both turned pale when they talked about it, and Ding Yi seemed a little panicked. At a loss. Later, Ding Yi was relieved to learn that this woman was Fang Zheng's daughter Bai Lan. From this point of view, there was indeed another woman involved in Ding Huguo's murder case, and it was clear who Ding Yi gave his love poem to This is the woman."
Someone knocked lightly on the door.Hong Canjun opened the door and saw that it was Hei Lan asking to see him.
Heilan said Wanfu to Di Gong, and said, "Master, I can't find my father, so I came here to report abruptly. I don't think it's strange, master."
Di Gongxi said: "Heilan, we are discussing the affairs of the Ding family. You came at the right time. Tell me, Ding Xiucai is rarely at home, but often outside?"
Heilan shook his head and said: "No! Why don't the servants expect him to be like this, but he never goes out of the door when he has nothing to do, and spends the whole day looking around at home. If the servants and maids neglect their duties or do something wrong , he can seize it at any time. Once, a servant girl saw him creeping in the corridor at midnight, and his behavior was very secretive. Most likely, he wanted to check whether the servant girls were still playing with money."
"This morning, I suddenly revisited Ding's house. I don't know what Ding Yi has done about it? What's your comment?"
"When the master arrived, Ding Yi and the young lady were in the upper room counting the ceremonies and estimating the funeral expenses. At that time, the servant was fetching paper and ink in the room, and serving tea. Ding Yi had to report to the master for a second visit to Ding's house. Immediately, he was overjoyed, and said to the young lady: "I said earlier that the government's initial inspection of the scene last time was really perfunctory. Isn't this the magistrate's re-examination? I was expecting him to come! Last time he did a random inspection in a hurry. I just left, lest he ignore the obvious clues.' After hearing this, the young lady didn't take it seriously, saying that he thought he was better than the county magistrate. Master has gone."
Di Gong said: "Heilan, you have sharp ears and eyes, and I am very grateful for finding out many inside stories about the Ding family. Now you don't need to go to Ding's house anymore. This afternoon, we learned that your eldest sister has some information, and your father has already taken her. Go. You go to the inner house to rest for a while, I hope your father will return with good news."
Heilan obeyed, thanked her and left.
Hong Canjun said: "Ding Xiucai doesn't often go out at night, and this matter seems strange. He hangs out with that unknown woman, there must be a secret love somewhere."
Di Gong nodded: "Perhaps this is an old relationship. The old lovers have been ungrateful and ungrateful today, and parted ways. However, it is not surprising that infatuated men and women have the habit of keeping keepsakes and old gifts. However, Hei Lan handed over to me. The manuscript of the letter and poem seems to have been written recently, I wonder if Tao Gan has found some clues to track down the woman from the transcribed poems?"
Hong Canjun replied: "But I have never found it. But Tao Gan took this job with great interest. He copied the poem manuscript meticulously, and smiled secretly while pursing his lips."
Mr. Di smiled slightly, found the copy that Tao Gan had neatly transcribed on the official paper from the pile of official documents on the desk, and leaned back in his chair to read it.After reading for a while, he sighed: "The subject matter is the same, and the wit is also very common. Although it is not, it tastes the same, but the expression method is slightly different. Poor Ding Xiucai has been in the library for ten years, but he is so dissolute. , children's love is insufficient. Here are five laws and one poem, I will read it to you:
Embroidered quilt and fragrant tent,
Gentle and rich township.
Infatuation has no rules.
Intoxicated and forgetful.
The full moon becomes a phoenix,
Flowers go well with mandarin ducks.
Heart song tells the deep boudoir,
The liver and gallbladder are worried. "
Di Gong threw the manuscript on the desk and said: "except for the rhyme and antithesis, which is a bit like a verse, this poem has nothing to recommend it. It's thanks to Ding Xiu that he wrote such a boudoir-like poem with such leisure and ease. , so boring!"
Di Gong shook his head, lowered his face and slowly stroked his long, black beard.
Suddenly, Di Gong was startled, picked up the manuscript again, and read it carefully.
Seeing this, Hong Canjun knew that his master had discovered something, so he hurriedly stood up behind Di Gong to watch.
Di Gong used the boxing table and ordered: "Quickly get the confession of the steward of Ding's house and read it!"
Hong Canjun moved the suitcase where Ding Huguo's files were stored from the stall, and took out a volume of official documents from it.Mr. Di took it over and looked at it from beginning to end, then put it back into the box, and walked up and down from his seat.
After a long time, Mr. Di stopped and sighed: "Once a person falls in love, he forgets himself and cannot extricate himself. He can do all kinds of bad things and stupid things. Now, half of Ding Huguo's case is in my mind, what a shameful person." , The insane murderer!"
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