Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law.

Chapter 664: The End of Dai Tu
Set up the heart for the heaven and the earth, set the destiny for the livelihood and the people, for the sacred and inherited knowledge, and for the peace of the world.

This poem was what Chen Mo left for Guo Ning when he followed Lin Zhong to Prince Wei's Palace. By then, Guo Ning also knew Chen Mo's ambition and vowed to follow in Chen Mo's footsteps. However, Guo Ning did not tell anyone else about this at the time.

Therefore, when Guo Ning finished reading, the scholars present all thought that it was written by Guo Ning, and secretly praised his great talent, worthy of being the second place. From this poem, they could feel Guo Ning's mind, knowledge and ambition as a Confucian scholar. They felt inferior to him and praised Guo Ning one after another.

Guo Ning did not dare to take credit for it and said that the poem was written by the King of Wei as a teaching to him.

As he spoke, Guo Ning told everyone about his visit to Chen Mo.

All the scholars were startled and a little surprised, but they soon understood.

With their talents, they can naturally realize that the intention of this poem is very lofty. Without a very high vision, it is impossible to compose such a poem.

King Wei was born in the lower class. He experienced the chaos in the north and the turmoil of the Tianshi army. He gradually grew up, set up a county school, resisted King Huai, pacified King Chong, drove out foreign enemies, and eliminated traitors...

This poem seems to reflect the experience of King Wei over the years.

Now that the imperial examination system has been restored and officials are allowed to go to various places to take up their posts, doesn’t this correspond to the phrase “bringing peace to the world for all eternity”?

"By the way, have you noticed that no matter the questions of the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, or this time's palace examination, they are all related to the people and local governance. This is what the King of Wei wants to establish a peaceful and prosperous era." A scholar thought of something and suddenly spoke.

Hearing this, everyone was shocked. The image of King Wei in their hearts suddenly became much taller and became extremely majestic.

"I have decided. Like Brother Guo Ning, I will follow the footsteps of King Wei and do my part to contribute to the future peace and prosperity."

If before, they studied and took the exams just to become an official, change their destiny and bring honor to their family, now, they suddenly had a lofty goal and they wanted to strive for this goal.

"The King of Wei is truly a saint." Sun Cheng said with admiration. The King of Wei has already reached the level of unity of knowledge and action.

As for the folk legend that the King of Wei was lustful and fond of other people's wives, that was not a big deal.

After all, as the sages said, food and sex are part of human nature.

Just when everyone was infected by this atmosphere, a team of constables arrived outside the Fuze Restaurant. After guarding the entrance and exit, Zuo Gang left with two constables.

When everyone saw the constables from the government office, their faces changed slightly, but they were not afraid. Qin Shi, the organizer, stepped forward to negotiate: "I am Qin Shi, and I am hosting a tea party here. What do you want to do?"

"So it's Mr. Qin who is here to present his report." Zuo Gang bowed to Qin Shi and said, "The government has a case and would like to ask Mr. Guo to go back and ask about it. Is Mr. Guo available?"

Zuo Gang glanced around the hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, all the scholars' eyes were focused on "Guo Xian".

"Guo Xian", who was already guilty of his crime, saw that everyone's attention was on him, and he felt inexplicably panicked. He stepped forward and said, "My name is Guo Xian. I wonder what case you are looking for me for?"

"I, Zuo, don't know either. This is what the adults meant. Mr. Guo, please come with us back to the yamen." Zuo Gang said.

"Mr. Guo" was already afraid, and said, "I am a juren, a student of the King of Wei. Even if I go back to the yamen with you, I have to get the court's permission. You have no right to take me back to the yamen."

This was not "Mr. Guo" being unreasonable, but a privilege given by the court to juren and jinshi. After all, their status was not ordinary, and if they could be brought to the yamen casually, it would have a bad impact on their image.

"This case was ordered by King Wei to be handled by you personally. This is the document with King Wei's seal on it." Zuo Gang took out the corresponding document from his arms and showed it to "Guo Xian".

When the scholars saw this scene, they were shocked. This was a major case that was approved by the King of Wei.

After "Guo Xian" left with Zuo Gang and the others, all the scholars began to speculate.

Some people speculated that it might be related to cheating in the imperial examination.

After all, "Mr. Guo" looks like a harmless scholar, and this is probably the only case that could involve him.

This statement was recognized by many people.

Some people also said that it would affect them. If it was really cheating in the imperial examination, would they have to retake the exam?

Only Guo Ning looked thoughtful.

"Let's go and take a look and we'll know whether it is true or not," Qin Shi suggested.

In the Song Dynasty, when trying important cases, the county magistrate would allow the people to watch in front of the hall to show that he was enforcing the law impartially.

Qin Shi's proposal was recognized by everyone. After all, they were friends with "Guo Xian" and they could help if "Guo Xian" was wronged.

"Then let's go together."

"Brother Guo Ning, what are you thinking about?"

Sun Cheng patted Guo Ning on the shoulder.

"Nothing." Guo Ning came back to his senses and glanced at the hall: "Where are they?"

"Everyone has gone to the government office. Let's go take a look too."

"it is good."

……

On the other side, Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Zhu soon learned that "Guo Xian" was taken to the yamen.

Through this period of time together, Zhang Zhu actually has feelings for "Guo Xian". Not knowing what has happened, she immediately finds Zhang He, hoping to get her father's help.

However, Zhang He turned a deaf ear to this, knowing that it was time for "Mr. Guo" to be judged.

Only then did he tell Zhang Zhu about the fact that "Guo Xian" was sued.

Zhang Zhu learned that her lover had a wife and children, and wanted to kill his wife and children after being found. She stood there in shock, her eyes wide open, unable to believe it.

After a moment, she thought of the relatives of "Mr. Guo" who had come to her house to look for "Mr. Guo".

The tears that were about to fall from my eyes began to swirl.

Xiangyang government office.

Song Qing originally planned to hold a public trial for this case. After all, "Guo Xian" was both a disciple of King Wei and the son-in-law of General Zhang, and it would have a bad impact if the news got out.

But when he learned that the top scholar and the third scholar had arrived and wanted to watch, Song Qing frowned slightly. It was not easy to stop them, so he asked the yamen runners to let them in and watch in front of the hall.

"Ascension to the Hall."

In the lobby, a bailiff spoke up, reminding everyone that the presiding judge was about to come out and asked everyone to keep quiet.

Guo Ning, Sun Cheng and other onlookers immediately shut their mouths.

As Song Qing appeared, the yamen runners on both sides of the hall said in unison, "Mighty."

After Song Qing came to the hall and sat down, he slammed the gavel on the table and said, "Take the two Caos."

The two Caos, also known as "the two parties", refer to the plaintiff and the defendant.

Soon, Huang Zhaodi and her son, Dai Ling, and "Guo Xian" were brought up by the police.

Sun Cheng and his men were extremely surprised when they saw this. They originally thought that the government office had brought "Guo Xian" over to question him, but they didn't expect that he would become one of the two Caos.

Things are more serious than they thought.

"Uncle Guo, Sister Huang?!" Liu Taoshu was slightly surprised when he saw Dai Ling and Huang Zhaodi.

"Brother Liu, do you know them?" Qin Shi asked.

Liu Taoshu nodded: "The three of them came to Xiangyang to look for someone, but eventually they found out they had recognized the wrong person, so my father took them in for one night." As he spoke, Liu Taoshu was shocked, and he realized belatedly that the person Sister Huang and the others were looking for should be "Guo Xian".

In the lobby, as soon as Huang Zhaodi saw "Guo Xian", she cursed the other party as a beast, and even spared no effort for her own son.

Dai Ling cursed him as worse than pigs and dogs.

The moment "Guo Xian" saw Huang Zhaodi, he felt as if struck by lightning. He was stunned, his head was buzzing, and he could not hear any sound from the outside world.

As Huang Zhaodi was talking, she became emotional and tried to pull at "Guo Xian's" robe, but was quickly pulled away by the constable next to her.

Sun Cheng, Qin Shi and other onlookers started eating melons in surprise.

In the hall, Song Qing saw the reaction of "Mr. Guo" and understood something. He slammed the gavel again, shouted "Silence", and said:

"Defendant Guo Xian, plaintiff Huang is suing you for wearing a picture in your real name, and for pretending to be someone else to take the imperial examination to deceive His Majesty and the King of Wei, and for killing your wife and children, and hiring someone to kill someone. Do you admit this or not?"

Song Qing's words were like thunder.

This caused an uproar among the scholars who were watching.

They had previously guessed that it was cheating in the imperial examination.

Unexpectedly, he pretended to be someone else to take the imperial examination and killed his wife and children.

For a moment, the way they looked at "Guo Xian" was different: there was shock, disgust, and contempt.

No one would look down upon such a thing as killing one's wife and children.

Even though Guo Ning had already guessed that Guo Xian was Dai Tu and was mentally prepared, he was still shocked to hear that the other party had killed his wife and children.

The gavel woke Dai Tu up. After hearing the crimes Song Qing said, he could no longer maintain his usual calmness. He panicked, but he still denied it. He said, "I don't admit it. I don't know her at all. She is framing me."

Song Qing knew that the other party would not admit it, so he said, "Bring a witness."

The first witness to come forward was Peng Sier.

But his testimony was not strong enough.

Although he followed Dai Tu to Zhang's house, he did not see Dai Tu's face.

Even though Peng Si'er said the sound is similar.

But Dai Tu naturally would not admit that he knew Peng Sier.

Huang Zhaodi only guessed that Peng Si'er was instructed by Dai Tu, but she had no evidence.

Just when Dai Tu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the Song people immediately asked someone to bring in the second and third witnesses.

They are the village chief of Dai Tu's village and the clan elder of Dai Tu.

They can prove that Huang Zhaodi is Dai Tu's first wife.

It can also prove that the "Guo Xian" in front of us is Dai Tu.

But even though the evidence was solid, Dai Tu still denied it.

"You're about to die, but you're still being stubborn." Song Qing shouted coldly, slammed the gavel, and asked people to produce physical evidence.

Those were the yamen’s household registration files, as well as the marriage registration and marriage certificate kept in the yamen.

Song Qing asked someone to bring ink and asked Dai Tu to press his fingerprints for comparison.

At this moment, Dai Tu's expression changed completely, and his face became distorted and hideous. He knew that there were witnesses and evidence, and he knew that it would be useless no matter how much he denied it.

He was crazy. He rushed towards Huang Zhaodi and said viciously: "You bitch, can't you just die obediently? What good will it do you to destroy me, bitch, I'm going to kill you!"

Huang Zhaodi was a little frightened when she saw Dai Tu rushing towards her, but she immediately squatted down and protected Dai Feng to prevent her son from getting hurt.

Zuo Gang had already been prepared for Dai Tu's desperate move, and the moment he pounced, he grabbed him and pinned him to the ground.

"Contempt of court. Come, drag him out and give him twenty lashes of the cane." Song Qing had already been enraged by Dai Tu's crimes, but as a county magistrate, he had to remain calm at all times, so as soon as he found an opportunity, he ordered someone to teach Dai Tu a lesson.

Acts like killing one's wife and children are abominable to both humans and gods.

Therefore, the bailiffs who beat with the sticks did not hold back at all.

After the twenty blows, when Dai Tu was dragged in, he felt like he had lost half his life.

He said weakly: "I am a disciple of King Wei, you...you have no right to kill me."

"Hmph." Song Qing snorted coldly, stood up, took down the Tang sword hanging on the wall behind him, and said, "This sword was given by the King of Wei. Holding this sword is like the King of Wei himself. Now that there are witnesses and evidences, can I kill you?"

Song Qing drew his sword from its sheath, his eyes flashing coldly.

"You can't kill me. The most I did was abandon my wife and children. It can't be considered a death sentence." After being beaten, Dai Tu's mind suddenly became clear. The current evidence at most pointed to him abandoning his wife and children, but there was no way to prove that he ordered Peng Si'er to kill people.

According to the laws of the Song Dynasty, abandoning one's wife and children was not enough to warrant the death penalty.

When "you" said this, Zuo Gang next to him was also angry.

But just as Dai Tu said, if the sentence is really based on the law, based on the current evidence, Dai Tu does not warrant the death penalty.

Song Qing had his own way of dealing with this. He said, "You disguised yourself as a southerner and went to the north to take the imperial examination, deceiving the emperor. Not to mention that you have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, you must be severely punished for cheating in the imperial examination."

There were three types of punishments for cheating in the imperial examinations during the Song Dynasty.

1. Cancellation, disqualification from taking the exam, or being put in cangues for public display.

Second, dismissal and cancellation of the candidate’s previous academic titles.

Third, criminal responsibility. First, the suspects will be shackled for a period of several weeks or several months. After that, they will be caned. If they are caned, they will be exiled to a remote area. If the case is serious, they will be executed.

Dai Tu's behavior is fully worthy of criminal responsibility.

If Dai Tu really goes through the criminal punishment process, he will suffer more than death.

Sure enough, after listening to what Song Qing said, Dai Tu's pupils shrank sharply, his face showed panic, and he screamed in panic, shouting: "You are abusing your power for personal gain and using public power to take revenge!"

"Using power for personal gain, using public power to settle personal grudges. Do I have a personal grudge against you?" Song Qing shouted coldly, slammed the gavel, and said, "Come here, throw him into the cell and put him in the shackles for two months first."

"promise."

Two constables came forward and dragged Dai Tu away, whose buttocks were covered with blood.

"Your Excellency is wise."

"Master Qingtian."

"Well judged."

Some scholars clapped and cheered.

It is true that there is no way to convict Dai Tu of the crime of killing his wife and children in court, but this act of abandoning his wife and children is what makes scholars despise him the most.

Song Qing's judgment upheld the justice of the world and upheld moral norms.

(End of this chapter)