As night fell, Nantang Town was dark and the people all went to bed early.

A black shadow suddenly flashed out of the corner, and soon another shadow disappeared into it. Finally, the man came to the back door of the family, turned over and jumped in.

Cui's father was sleeping soundly, and Cui's mother suddenly pushed him to wake him up. Just as Cui's father was about to ask what was wrong, he heard someone gently tapping under the back window.

Cui's father immediately became scared and sweated like Cui's mother.

The people in the capital slept on the kang, with the kang next to the window. Cui's father temporarily grabbed the broom that swept the kang, and went to the window and asked, "Who is it?"

A dull voice came from outside the window: "The master of the capital sent me here. If you have something to say in the house, don't disturb others."

Cui's father and Cui's mother looked at each other and became extremely nervous.

The two of them put on their clothes, and Cui's father quietly opened the back door. With the dim starlight, he saw a tall man standing outside the door with a black cloth covering his face and a pair of ice-like eyes. He looked like a murderer who specialized in using money to relieve disasters.

Cui's father had only offended someone who could afford to hire such a murderer. Seeing a cold dagger showing under the sleeves of the man, Cui's father knelt down on the spot and begged, "Good man, please spare me. Xiaomin did cause a lawsuit because of Zhenniang, but Xiaomin has already resolved it. As long as the Marquis hides Zhenniang and doesn't let her show her face, I promise not to implicate the Marquis!"

Cui's mother hid behind the curtain and peeped. Seeing this scene, she fell to the ground so scared that she covered her mouth and did not dare to make a sound.

The masked man looked at Cui's father coldly: "The Marquis didn't want your life, he just sent me to check why Cui Zhen got into the lawsuit and went into the house and said."

When the couple heard this, they rekindled their vitality and asked the masked man to come in like a Buddha.

The masked man sat in a chair without any hesitation and asked the couple to kneel in front of him to explain.

Cui's mother cried, "We didn't mean it. It's all because the embroidery shop owner was unscrupulous. She signed a document with Zhenniang, saying that if Zhenniang broke the material he took from the shop and could not deliver the goods on time, she would have to compensate the shop ten times the capital. If she couldn't afford to pay, she would have to pay off the debt by herself. This time, the material that Zhenniang took was worth more than three taels. My little granddaughter was so playful that she secretly cut it. We couldn't afford to pay...

The masked man snorted coldly: "You can't afford to pay, and you don't want to pay for it, so you just sold your daughter to the Marquis and make a profit in the end?"

Cui’s father and Cui’s mother were just doing this. My daughter wanted to go to the embroidery shop to pay off her debts. That wasn’t it a waste of money for the embroidery shop. They couldn’t get anything? The family thought about it and thought of this. It was a thanks to the manager of the Changxing Marquis’ Mansion who found them many times and said that the Marquis was willing to buy Cui Zhen at a high price, otherwise other wealthy businessmen might not be willing to agree to their request and secretly took away their daughter.

"High-up man, you see that Shuntian Mansion also thinks that Zhen Niang ran away by herself. This matter really cannot implicate the Marquis. Please help us talk to us. Don't let the Marquis punish us." Cui's father was very good at doing things. He trembled and took out a silver ingot and wanted to stuff it into the masked man's hands.

The masked man did not receive the money. He was silent for a long time and said coldly: "I will do my business for the Marquis. Please keep the money. Now I will write a document to prove that you are willing to sell your daughter to the Marquis. If the government searches the Marquis' Mansion, our Marquis will also have evidence to prove that Cui Zhen was not kidnapped by him."

This requirement is reasonable, so Cui's father asked Cui's mother to grind the ink.

Mrs. Cui entered the palace and was knowledgeable. She wanted her son to study and get fame. Unfortunately, Cui's father was unintentional and stopped reading after studying for a few years. He only knew how to read and wrote, and he didn't have much ink in his belly.

Cui's father was nervous, and the first character was changed according to Tutu. The masked man tore it and asked him to write another one.

Then Cui's father wrote the second clear and neat picture. Because it was a document, it could not be called the Marquis for abbreviation. Cui's father wrote the three words "Changxing Marquis" in strokes and explained the process of selling his daughter clearly. Finally, the couple wrote their own names and pressed two handprints.

The masked man waited until the ink was dry before putting away the quotation, and repeatedly told the couple not to tell anyone about this, including their son and daughter-in-law, that he left like a ghost.

Cui’s father and Cui’s mother took advantage of the Changxing Marquis Mansion. Since the owner of the embroidery shop went to the government to sue the official, they have been worried that the Changxing Marquis Mansion would come to settle the score with them or return their daughter. Now the Marquis sent someone to hit them, and the big stone hanging in their hearts fell down and finally they could sleep peacefully.

After leaving the Cui family, Zhao Yan returned to the inn on Pingyuan Road, sat on the bed and read the documents written by Cui's father again.

Now he has confirmed that Cui Zhen is in Changxing Marquis' Mansion, and his life and death are unknown. If he takes this document directly to Changxing Marquis' Mansion to ask for someone, it would be fine if Changxing Marquis's Hou was honestly handed over. If Changxing Marquis doesn't want to hand over the person and fabricates an excuse that Cui Zhen has already run away by himself, Ah Jiao will have no choice, and it is more likely that Cui Zhen will be put in the danger of being killed and silenced.

It is not safe to settle privately. If you become an official, who knows whether the prefect of Shuntian has any personal relationship with Changxing Hou?

There are obviously many strange things in this case, but the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture hastily decided. Either the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture is not capable, or the Hou Changxing has a personal relationship with the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, and sent someone to say hello.

When it comes to cases, the connections in the officialdom may not be able to be made. Even if the Yongping Hou Mansion can help him solve the problem, Zhao Yanping doesn't want to owe the Xie family a favor.

Gillian could only think of him, and Zhao Yanping could only think of one person.

Early on the fourth day of the lunar month, before dawn, Zhao Yanping hurriedly left Nantang Town. When he arrived in front of the city gate, the city gate had already opened.

It was still early, and most families had not opened the door to welcome guests. Zhao Yanping casually found a small restaurant to have dinner. He did not delay after the meal and went straight to Duke Lu's Liguo Mansion.

The family tradition of Duke Li Guo’s Mansion was very strict, and the gatekeeper was polite to others. He did not dislike anything because Zhao Yanping was wearing a common man. When Zhao Yanping reported his identity, he came here for a case. The gatekeeper immediately sent someone to ask Duke Lu Tai.

Lu Taigong had just finished a five-animal show and was about to eat when he heard that the new little servant from the ninth rank of Dali Temple came to him. Lu Taigong smiled and asked the servant to lead the person in.

This Duke's Mansion is a house given by the emperor, and it is extraordinary. However, Zhao Yanping lowered his eyes and walked without looking around.

The servant brought Zhao Yanping over and stepped down. In the hall, only Mr. Lu and Uncle Mu, the old manager beside him, did not even have a maid to serve him.

"Sir, please pay homage to the Lord." Zhao Yanping saluted respectfully.

Mr. Lu bit the bun in one hand and ate it with a side dish in the other hand. He looked at Zhao Yanping. He said strangely: "On the Dragon Boat Festival, the court has given holidays for officials of all sizes. If you first arrived in the capital, don't you go around, come to me to talk about what case?"

Zhao Yanping raised his eyes and said with a stern expression: "Human life is at stake, so the officials dare not delay it."

Mr. Lu's face changed slightly. He put down the bun and told him that the old manager, Uncle Mu, also looked at Zhao Yanping in surprise.

Zhao Yanping started with the clues he helped his old friends find Cui Zhen, and told the whole story of the case, and finally said: "The Lord of the Second Official has inquired. Changxing Hou is in the Ministry of War, with a high position and a powerful position. The Lord of the Second Official is slight, and he dare not confront him in person. He is also worried that the Lord of the Prefect is dissatisfied with the villain to investigate the case he decided without authorization. After thinking about it, he could only come rashly and ask Lord of the Lord to make the decision for Cui Zhen."

When he was talking, Mr. Lu looked at Uncle Mu.

Uncle Mu had a happy expression of "evil people will be punished by evil people".

"Where is the character quotation?" Lu Taigong said with difficulty in distinguishing his emotions and anger.

Zhao Yanping presented the letters with both hands.

Lu Taigong expanded, looked at it from beginning to end, and said curiously: "How did you cheat this word?" Zhao Yanping didn't say too much in some places just now.

Zhao Yanping explained it.

Mr. Lu touched his beard and squinted his eyes at him: "I trespassed in a private house in the middle of the night and pretended to be a slave from another family. How did you handle the case in Wu'an County?"

Zhao Yanping said ashamedly: "In the past, the officials were ordered to handle the case, but they could not use these insignificant means. This time, they were not allowed to interrogate the Cui family in person. They had no choice but to do so. I hope the Lord will forgive me."

Lu Taigong snorted: "No, but if someone asks you, you will say that you go to Nantang Town to understand the customs of the people. In the middle of the night, you saw someone climbing over the wall and thought it was a slut. When the arrested, the man escaped and fell out."

Zhao Yanping smiled unconsciously.

Uncle Mu suddenly frowned and said, "Taigong, although this can prove that Cui Zhen is in Changxing Marquis' Mansion, the Cui family sells his daughter and he buys his daughter. Even if we go to the Marquis' Mansion to find someone, we can't convict him. The old thief can still continue to do evil and harm the embroiderers."

Zhao Yanping looked at Uncle Mu in confusion.

Uncle Mu explained to him: "Do you think the only sisters of the Cui family are harmed? There are too many, but some embroidered women dare not identify him, and some died of humiliation. However, he turned the blame on him and used silver to comfort the embroidered women's family. In the end, it was left unresolved. For more than ten years, only two families went to the government to report the case. However, Changxing Hou insisted that the embroidered women seduced him first, and then maliciously revenge him if he couldn't get money later. If there was no evidence, the government could not sentence him to such a crime."

Zhao Yanping said strangely: "Why are they all embroiderers?"

Mr. Lu took the conversation and said, "Because the old Changxing Hou was quite fond of an embroidered concubine who was born in the mansion, he was so popular that he had killed his wife. The old Hou was angry to death by the concubine. Later, the old Hou died of his life, and the Changxing Hou had torture the embroidered woman gradually revealed. Then, I can make the decision on this matter for you, but what reason should we go to the Hou's mansion to search for people?"

Duke Lu looked at Zhao Yanping inquiringly.

Zhao Yanping could see that Lu Taigong was just examining him.

Zhao Yanping said in a deep voice: "According to the laws and regulations of this dynasty, those who hide privately and hide criminals who deliberately conceal and do not report them will be reduced by one level than those who are criminals. Shuntian Prefecture has set Cui Zhen for guilt of debt and private escape. Once arrested, he will be sentenced to 50 years of prison and sentenced to jail for one year. Changxing Hou was sentenced to 20 years of prison and six months of prison."

Lu Taigong smiled and stood up and said, "Dali Temple can only accept the case transferred by the Ministry of Justice. You cannot accept the lawsuit without authorization. Even if I want to take over the case, I will ask the emperor to decide. Let's go. Come and go and go to the palace and report the case to the emperor."

Enter the palace to meet the saint?

Zhao Yanping was stunned for the first time, losing his composure in front of Lu Taigong.

Lu Taigong smiled and said, "You are a small official from the ninth rank. Even Changxing Hou dares to investigate. Why, you are afraid of being accused of meeting the saint?"

Zhao Yanping was not afraid, he just didn't expect that he had been qualified to meet the saint in just over half a month after entering Beijing.

"Thank you, Taigong." After reacting, Zhao Yanping politely said to Lu Taigong.

Mr. Lu smiled and patted his shoulder and said, "In front of the saint, say what should be said, and don't mention what should not be said."

Zhao Yanping understood.

Duke Lu went to change into his official robe and brought Zhao Yanping, who was dressed in a cloth, into the palace.

It was a rare day off. Emperor Chunqing was about to accompany his concubines to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers. When he heard that Mr. Lu was looking for him, Emperor Chunqing would move to the imperial study room for a while. When Mr. Lu came over, he was also surrounded by a young, calm and handsome man in a civilized state. Emperor Chunqing said curiously: "Old Mr., who is this person?"

Mr. Lu looked at Zhao Yanping, who was kneeling and kowtowing, and explained, including the case of the Changxing Hou's private possession of Cui Zhen.

Emperor Chunqing has long heard of the grudges between Changxing Hou and those embroiderers, but whether it was Changxing Hou bullying, or the embroiderers who were tempted by Changxing Hou's power and wealth. He was willing to sacrifice himself. No one can tell clearly about this kind of thing. Changxing Hou still has some talent. Emperor Chunqing cannot just say his official position just because of some gossip.

Duke Lu had no evidence before, and he never used this matter to bother Emperor Chunqing. This time, the evidence was in hand, so he must seek justice for those embroiderers who had trouble.

Emperor Chunqing valued Lu Taigong because Duke Lu was upright and upright. Now Emperor Chunqing does not want to favor Changxing Hou, and there is no reason to favor him. After all, the evidence was there, so he handed over the case to Dali Temple on the spot, that is, to Lu Taigong.

Duke Lu did not go to Changxing Hou Mansion in person, but asked Zhao Yanping to take people to search the Changxing Hou Mansion. Once Cui Zhen was found, the Changxing Hou family would be arrested and imprisoned and awaited trial.

The Changxing Hou Mansion did not expect that Dali Temple would have such a move. Facing the officers and soldiers sent by Dali Temple, Changxing Hou, who was in his forties, could only stand in the courtyard with his family with a calm face and not move rashly.

Finally, Zhao Yanping found Cui Zhen in a dark room in Changxing Hou's study. At that time, Cui Zhen was dressed in red, with a clear eyes and a pinch mark on her neck.

While no other officers and soldiers had found this place, Zhao Yanping whispered to Cui Zhen: "It was Jiangnan Shuixiu's boss who asked me to come to you. I will only ask you one question, do you want to avenge your sister?"

Cui Zhen thought that she wanted to kill Changxing Hou from the day her sister died, but she knew that she had no ability and knew that she could not escape from Changxing Hou's cage, but there was hope for life, so she would rather cooperate with Changxing Hou's various methods than to commit suicide like her sister, because of humiliation, and even if she died, she would be wronged and scolded at will.

Looking at Zhao Yanping, Cui Zhen nodded firmly.

Zhao Yanping then mentioned: "Then you insist that you have accomplices with your parents and deliberately sell yourself to Changxing Marquis to get rid of the debts that the embroidery shop has owed to you. The Marquis is also aware of this, but he is greedy for your appearance to help you hide it."

Except for Cui Zhen’s forced escape, everything else is true, and it is not considered that Zhao Yanping framed the Hou of Changxing.

Cui Zhen's eyes lit up and she understood what he meant.
Chapter completed!