I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 174 False Confessions

When Mrs. Xiao rushed over, Mother Kou was lying limp on the ground and crying, while members of the Kou clan stood aside in twos and threes. Some of the seven or eight women comforted Mother Kou, some pointed at Zhan Feiyu and yelled at Zhan Feiyu, and some yelled at Zhan Feiyu. Onlookers cried out their grievances.

"Still saying you didn't do it? Our family, Yuanxing, is going to be the number one scholar. Who in Huai County would say that Yuanxing is a Wenqu star descending from the sky!" The eldest aunt of the Kou family has a strong body and a loud voice.

"Sister-in-law is right. She was afraid that Yuan Xing would retaliate if she won the first prize in the exam, so she took the first step to rape Yuan Xing!" Another woman wiped her tears and glared at Zhan Feiyu, "You are so vicious!" thought!"

"My son died so badly!" Mother Kou wailed again, slapping her thighs with both hands, "Just because you said a few wrong words, you took my son's life, how can you be so vicious in the world?" people!"

Onlooker A asked in a low voice, "Is Kou Yuanxing really dead?"

"My seventh uncle's youngest son's cousin works in the yamen. He heard that he used the imperial examination as a joke, so he was sent to prison." Passer-by B who knew about it looked around, and then revealed a little inside story.

Those who heard Kou Yuanxing's words that day were other candidates who were nominated to sit in the hall, so the news spread, but it was only spread among scholars, and ordinary people didn't know much about it.

"Then what happened afterwards? Even if you suffer a few boards, you won't be guilty of death?" Looking at Kou's mother in grief, Passer-by B's words were obviously dissatisfied. Could it be that he just ignored people's lives like this?

Passer-by B saw that everyone was coming, and he did not hide anything, and continued to reveal: "I heard that the prefect Zhang will punish Kou Yuanxing severely, and it seems that he is not allowed to take the imperial examination in the future. Think about it, he is a teenager in his teens. There is only one widowed mother left in the family, who has studied hard all these years in order to be able to stand out one day, but now that the exam is not allowed, I suddenly couldn't think about it and killed myself."

Ding, a passer-by, shook his head, and couldn't help feeling: "He's dead, it's all over. It's a pity that his mother is sent to a black-haired man by a white-haired man."

According to Kou's mother and members of the Kou clan, Kou Yuanxing was obviously forced to death by Zhang Zhifu, but the real reason was because of Zhan Feiyu, who was jealous of Kou Yuanxing's talent and feared that Kou Yuanxing would retaliate if he became successful in the future. Simply do nothing and keep on doing nothing, and join forces with Zhang Zhifu to force Kou Yuanxing to death.

"Enough!" Xiao Fuzi pushed away the surrounding crowd and looked at the Kou clan members disappointedly. They were the ones who robbed Yuan Xing and forced Yuan Xing to study desperately in order not to be bullied by them.

But now, Yuan Xing's bones are still cold, and these people are actually shouting and killing in Yuan Xing's name. Even Mr. Xiao, who teaches and educates people, knows that there is something tricky about it. Instigated by others.

Ignoring the hateful members of the Kou clan, Mr. Xiao looked at Kou's mother who was sitting on the ground crying, and persuaded in a low voice: "Mrs. Kou, Yuan Xing's death will be investigated by the government. You are making such a fuss because Yuan Xing is in Jiuquan. It’s uneasy to go down there.”

Kou Yuanxing studies desperately regardless of his health, is it not because of Kou's mother's severe persecution again and again?

Mrs. Xiao also tried to persuade them, but it was a pity that Kou's mother was also a dead man, thinking that only when Kou Yuanxing became an official could their mother and son be proud, so that people would not dare to bully their orphans and widows.

"Master Xiao, you are Yuan Xing's master, but what you said is clearly aimed at the murderer!" Aunt Kou's stout body stood forward, her eyes full of suspicion, and the corner of her mouth twitched: "Master Xiao Could it be that you took money from Zhan Feiyu?"

A young member of the Kou family hurriedly said, "I asked my neighbors, she went to see Mrs. Xiao yesterday, and she stayed for a long time."

Hey, these words are like a drop of water dripping from the oil pan, and the members of the Kou clan are all blown up.

The uncle of the Kou family rudely pushed Mrs. Xiao away, and scolded: "Damn, you shameless and sour scholar, you dare to come to be a good person after taking black money, you are not afraid that my nephew Yuan Xing will fall out of the coffin in the middle of the night. Climb out and find you!"

"Speak as you speak, try again if you dare!" Chongguang supported the staggered Mr. Xiao, and looked back at Zhan Feiyu, "Xiaoyu, how should I be punished according to the law for beating up a master scholar in the street?"

Zhan Feiyu was familiar with the "Law of Daqing" because of the imperial examination, and glanced at the terrified uncle of the Kou family, "According to the law stick, thirty!"

When Aunt Kou heard that she was going to beat the head of the family, she rushed over furiously, spitting and yelling, "You little bitch whose conscience is eaten by dogs, you didn't even say that you hurt Kou Yuanxing, but you also wanted to kill me, the head of the house. Bah, see if I don't tear your mouth off!"

Zhan Feiyu stared at the sloppy Aunt Kou with a stern face, his cold eyes fixed on him, without moving a step.

"You..." Aunt Kou who rushed forward opened her teeth and claws, but she didn't dare to greet Zhan Feiyu's face.

If it was in the past, she would have been blasphemy long ago, but after Kou Yuanxing was enlightened to study, members of the Kou clan had a few troubles, and finally she was severely reprimanded by the village official and the clan elders.

Only then did Aunt Kou and the others realize the value of a scholar. Once Kou Yuanxing gained fame, he would not have to kneel down to the county magistrate.

Aunt Kou and the others did not give up, and secretly went to the county to inquire. Even though they took away the land of Kou Yuanxing's family, one day, Kou Yuanxing became a child or a scholar, and the whole family would be sent to prison!
This will look at Zhan Feiyu who is dressed in luxurious clothes. Even though she is not tall, she can pinch water with this fair and tender complexion. The eyes of people who are shining brightly hurt.

Zhan Feiyu also had a two-color jadeite around her waist. When Aunt Kou married her daughter, she went to a jewelry store in Huai County. That small piece of jade pendant cost ten taels of silver. She was so scared that she didn't dare to take a second look .

Looking at Zhan Feiyu's outfit now, Aunt Kou dared not move Zhan Feiyu's finger even after she had eaten the bear's heart and leopard's guts.

"Who is making trouble?" Just when Aunt Kou couldn't get off the stage, loud and loud shouts sounded, and the surrounding crowd looked back and gave way in unison.

And the Kou clan members who were yelling and scolding looked at the arresters who were dressed in yamen uniforms and had big knives on their waists. All of them turned pale with fright, and their bodies were bent. After all, they were farmers farming in the countryside. Go against it.

Geng Baotou bowed his hands to Zhan Feiyu, his majestic gaze scanned the audience, and finally fell on the members of the Kou clan, "Ms. Zhan is a child, and she will take the hospital examination in August. If you have any grievances, you can go to the Yamen to submit a certificate." , but if you attack Zhan Tongsheng on the street, you will have to go to court!"

The name Tongsheng is actually nothing, but Zhan Feiyu is young, and she studied under Gu Xueshi. Tongsheng is just the beginning, and she will definitely be a scholar or even a scholar in the future. Not to mention Geng Butou is willing to show his favor, look at Nanxuan Mansion, as long as the brain is not flooded, who would not want to form a good relationship with Zhan Feiyu.

"Let's go to the court! We can't let nephew Yuan Xing die without knowing it!" Uncle Kou gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble. The nobleman promised that as long as they obeyed orders, the family would give 100 taels of silver, and the leader Kou Uncle is 500 taels!

For a moment, in the courtroom, even if Zhang Zhifu and Chen Xuezheng had to evade, they were not in charge of the trial, but they could sit in the courtroom and listen in on the case.

As the sufferer, Kou's mother knelt in the courtroom and presented a complaint, not only suing Zhang Zhifu, but also suing Zhan Feiyu.

"To sue the Nanxuan magistrate, according to the law, you should be punished with a cane thirty." Qian Tongzhi slapped the gavel, but what he said made the faces of the Kou clan kneeling below turn pale, secretly glad that he was not the one who was hit by the board.

"As long as I can avenge my son, the woman is willing." Kou's mother stared at Zhan Feiyu with vicious eyes. She dared not accuse Zhang Zhifu who was wearing a government official, so the hatred of losing her son could only be aimed at Zhan Feiyu.

Who made her young, who made her also come from a mud-legged background, Kou's mother's hatred can burn everything, why her son died, but this cheap girl lived well, why she will be rich and prosperous in the future!These should belong to her, this bitch ruined everything about her, she deserves to die!
"Qian Tongzhi, because of Kou's weak health and the loss of his beloved son, he was exempted from this punishment." Zhang Zhifu, who was listening, interjected.

Kou's mother is the same as Kou Yuanxing, both mother and son are as thin as famine refugees, with a face that is really skinny, thirty boards beat down, if Kou's mother is beaten to death, Zhang Zhifu will probably have another crime .

Chen Xuezheng stroked his beard and didn't speak. Zhang Zheli just wanted to show kindness and gain a good reputation.

Qian Tongzhi saw that the two superiors agreed, so he spared Kou's mother's board, and the first thing he summoned was the autopsy.

On the other side, Master Xiao who was going to use the toilet was hit by someone, and there was a note in his hand. When he saw what was written on it, Master Xiao shook his body. After a long time, he turned pale and walked towards the government office come.

"Kou Yuanxing committed suicide by hitting the wall, and his blood book is not enough to prove that Master Zhang forced him." After the jailer stepped aside, Qian Tongzhi said again: "Kou Yuanxing was young, and his ranking in the government examination was canceled because of inappropriate words. I couldn't think about it for a while. Suicide is his fault alone."

Even if Zhang Zhifu really prevented Kou Yuanxing from taking the imperial examination, he could sue if he refused to accept it, but he chose to hit a wall and die, saying that he was forced to die, so it was because he couldn't think about it.

Of course, Kou Yuanxing was still imprisoned before his death, and Zhang Zhifu had not yet been promoted. It was just Kou Yuanxing's one-sided statement that the imperial examination was not allowed, and there was no other evidence except the blood book.

"This government has mentioned to Qian Tongzhi and Han Tuiguan before that Kou Yuanxing will be punished with minor punishments. Canceling the ranking of this government test is punishment, nothing else." Zhang Zhifu said coldly, and he directly denied Kou Yuanxing's blood letter complaint.

Kou's mother, who was kneeling in the courtroom, suddenly raised her head and said sharply, "You nonsense! If Yuan Xing can still take the imperial examination next year, why did he hit the wall and kill himself? You are just protecting each other from officials and officials. Pity my son's life is gone like this, old man God is not fair..."

Mother Kou cried and howled, she stood up suddenly and wanted to hit the wall beside her, but fortunately, the catcher in the courtroom quickly stopped the mother Kou who was looking for death.

After a lot of uproar with sad witnesses and tears from those who heard it, Chen Xuezheng stood up with a dignified expression, "Kou, you don't have to seek death. Since you think that the Nanxuan government officials are protecting each other, why don't you report the case to Mr. Cao, and Cao My lord sends someone to take charge of this case, and I will definitely give you mother and son justice!"

Qian Tongzhi didn't dare to refute, so he glanced at Zhang Zhifu uneasily. If Mr. Cao, the governor of Jiangnan Road, really sent an official down, I am afraid that this person was arranged by Chen Xuezheng in advance, and it would definitely be detrimental to Zhang Zhifu.

"Thank you, my lord." Kou's mother kowtowed her head to thank her, who was so emotional that she wanted to die. She kowtowed hard and made three thuds, which made people feel pain.

But at this moment, a jailer suddenly stepped forward with trembling legs, and knelt down with a plop, "My lord, the little one deserves to die!"

Qian Tongzhi's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition came to his mind. He glanced at Zhang Zhifu, and then at Chen Xuezheng, who was with the old god. He could only ask, "Xu Hai, what do you want to say?"

The jailer Xu Hai raised his head, his lips trembling, and finally said: "The villain dare not hide it. At midnight the night before, Mr. Zhang brought people to the prison to visit Kou Yuanxing, and the young guards were sent away by Wang Shan." In the middle of the night, Kou Yuanxing crashed into a wall and died, the little one shouldn't hide it, the little one is convicted!"

As soon as Xu Hai said this, a group of people gathered outside the courtroom, including members of the Kou clan, all exclaimed. After hearing Qian Tongzhi's trial, if it is said that Zhang Zhifu forced Kou Yuanxing to death, except for his blood letter , and no other evidence.

According to Qian Tongzhi, Kou Yuanxing was young, imprisoned in a prison, and his ranking in the government examination was cancelled. He couldn't think about it for a while and committed suicide. Before he died, he wrote a blood letter to sue Zhang Zhifu.

But Xu Hai's words immediately pushed Zhang Zhifu to the forefront. Zhang Zhifu met Kou Yuanxing late at night, and then he died. Wasn't Zhang Zhifu forced to die?
Wang Shan was summoned to the court again. He glanced coldly at Xu Hai who was kneeling beside him. He originally planned to carry it down alone, but Zhang Zhifu shook his head calmly, and Wang Shan told the truth.

A malicious sneer finally appeared on Chen Xuezheng's skinny face, "Master Zhang, now that the witnesses are solid, tell me why you went to the prison to see Kou Yuanxing in the middle of the night, and even dismissed the jailer?"

"I was entrusted by Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao couldn't bear Kou Yuanxing's suffering in prison, and was worried that Kou Yuanxing was young and would act extreme after he was arraigned in court. That's why he let Mr. Xiao persuade Kou Yuanxing in private." Prefect Zhang had nothing to hide of.

With Kou Yuanxing's extreme and stubborn temperament, if he really went to court, he would probably admit to death and go all the way to the dark!You can only persuade people in private first.

Why is it in the middle of the night, but to show Kou Yuanxing the files of Mrs. Lin's case. This is an illegal act and can only be done in private.

Hearing Zhang Zhifu's self-defense, the common people outside the court nodded in understanding. Zhang Zhifu cherishes his talents and does not want the young Kou Yuanxing to ruin his future, so it is reasonable to ask Mr. Xiao to go to prison to persuade him.

Mr. Xiao, who was proclaimed to the court, was exempted from kneeling because of his reputation as a scholar, and only had to stand aside to answer.

"Report to my lord." With his head lowered, Master Xiao's voice trembled slightly, thinking of what was said in the previous note, Master Xiao finally said: "The night before yesterday..."

Zhang Zhifu's expression changed suddenly. He never expected that Mrs. Xiao would make a false statement in court, directly denying Zhang Zhifu's previous words.

"Master Zhang really forbids Kou Yuanxing to take the imperial examination again?"

"Yeah, this punishment is too much. After all, Kou Yuanxing is young, even if he said something wrong in the Gongyuan, he wouldn't be punished so severely!"

"A scholar can no longer take the imperial examination, let alone Kou Yuanxing, even other scholars can't bear it."

"It's no wonder that Kou Yuanxing wrote a blood book and hit the wall to death. He was really forced to death. It's a pity that he was only 13 years old."

(End of this chapter)