Taohuaxi

Chapter 68 Evidence of the Zheng family’s crimes

Prison.

Feng Gao was tied to a wooden frame.On his body, the gold silk official uniform given by the emperor had long been taken off, and he was only wearing a thin prison uniform.

On one side, there are instruments of torture.

On the other side, there was a burning brazier with a soldering iron beside it.

In the cell, dark and damp.

The light from the brazier reflected his face.Light eyebrows and phoenix eyes, white teeth and thin lips.The firelight flickered on the evil charm.

The cell door opened.

Some eunuchs brought a big chair made of golden nanmu.

Fragrant wind.

Feng Gao knew that this visitor was unusual.

Not long after, a well-dressed middle-aged woman walked in, sat slowly on a big chair, and looked at Feng Gao.

Feng Gao did not expect that the Cisheng Empress Dowager Li would come to interrogate him personally.He thought of the secret conversation he had with Wan Sui at the Qianqing Palace last night, and unconsciously pursed his lips tightly.

Empress Dowager Li looked at him for a long time and then spoke: "Feng Gao, you must be very familiar with these instruments of torture. Many of the methods of torture were invented by you. The Ai family is always in the deep palace, listening to what others say. , you have a nickname, Hei Wuchang. You are the most powerful ghost next to the Lord of Hell."

Feng Gao said: "The sinner's life is worthless, and he is not worthy of the Queen Mother condescending to personally interrogate him. Whatever the Queen Mother wants to ask, the sinner can answer it."

"Liang Bangrui, who ordered you to bring him back from Yangzhou?"

"The sinner is obsessed with money. He accepted money from the Liang family. He committed a sin of heaven. The sinner will never be redeemed by death."

Empress Dowager Li smiled coldly: "A eunuch who has cut off the roots of his descendants wants to take thousands of family wealth to the coffin to spend it? You have always done things around Long Live, don't you know that Hei Wuchang can take anyone's life? The only thing we can’t do is disturb Tai Sui!”

She suddenly shouted: "Come here, put on the torture instrument, let Mr. Feng loosen it first."

The eunuchs responded quickly and came forward with torture instruments, but they trembled because of the fear of Feng Gao in their bones.

The instruments of torture were finally put on.

The red iron was branded on Feng Gao.The smell of cooked flesh wafted through the prison.

Feng Gao's expression did not change.

Empress Dowager Li said: "Feng Changgong is a man who rolled on a nail board. What does it mean if he is only burned? Come and play the pipa for Feng Changgong."

"History of the Ming Dynasty" Volume 37 "Criminal Law Chronicles" contains: The cruelest one is called Pipa. During the execution, all the bones will fall off, sweat will fall like rain, and the dead will be resurrected. This happens two or three times. Under the cruelty, Why can't you go to jail?

This "pipa playing" was originally created by Feng Gao, and it was once popular among Dongchang and Jinyiwei.

As long as an ordinary official hears these three words, he will tremble all over.

During the execution, large beads of sweat rolled down Feng Gao's forehead.

Empress Dowager Li stood up, took two steps forward, and said: "Feng Gao, the Ai family is a believer in Buddhism, and they don't want to commit murder. If you call me truthfully, the Ai family will spare your life. If you only know how to be foolish and loyal, You won't survive today. The Ai family doesn't believe that you are a tough guy."

Feng Gao closed his eyes and mouth tightly.

Empress Dowager Li said: "This matter is related to the foundation of our Ming Dynasty. Long live was deceived by the evildoer and only suspected the Ai family. The Ai family is the biological mother of the princess. No matter what, she will not use the princess's marriage as a bargaining chip. If the Ai family and the Long live the suspicion and alienation of mother and son, and evildoers can succeed and make trouble more and more. There is no sky in the sky. Feng Gao, you are young and sit in this position. In addition to His Majesty's favor, you must also have your own merits. You are fine. Think carefully about what Aijia said. Once you understand, Aijia will make a deal with you."

She waved her hand, and everyone in the cell retreated.

The cell door closed.

She returned to the chair and sat down, and said slowly: "It doesn't matter if you don't want your own life. Do you want Zhu Sangyu's life?"

Feng Gao opened his eyes.

Empress Dowager Li raised her forehead and said, "Do you really think that the Ai family is a woman from a deep palace? Are you completely confused?"

Feng Gao struggled to speak: "What kind of deal... Queen Mother, please tell me."

He tried to find a way to find a place between the Queen Mother and Long Live.

Green is all over the mountains and the plains are white and full of rivers, and the sound of Zigui is raining like smoke.

He promised that one day he would take off his official uniform and eat bread and drink wine.This is the biggest luxury in his incomplete life.

Yangzhou.

Zhujia Winery.

I sat under the persimmon tree and mended a shirt.

Suddenly, the needle pricked his finger and blood flowed out.

I was flustered for no reason and looked in the direction of the capital.

Someone walks in.

He was one of the two factory guards left by Feng Gao in Yangzhou.

"Congratulations, boss. There is news in Beijing. The factory boss has been dismissed and imprisoned."

I stood up suddenly.

"Why?"

"There was something wrong with Liang Bangrui, the consort whom Mr. Factory brought to the capital. The Queen Mother was furious. People in the capital sent a letter saying that Mr. Factory had accepted a huge bribe from the Liang family and was obsessed with money, so he committed a serious crime. But my subordinates He accompanied the factory official to Yangzhou on errands, and his subordinates know that the factory official did not accept bribes. He must have been a scapegoat." Factory Wei said.

There must be something tricky in this.

I suddenly remembered that night at Qingyue Pavilion, the eunuch who came to deliver the order.

People from the Yangzhou government absolutely did not dare to touch the royal family.This matter must be related to the inner court.

The factory guard stumbled and sighed: "Recently, the Long Live Lord and the Queen Mother have been at odds with each other regarding the matter of establishing a prince. It is well known that. Now, the princess's marriage has changed, and the two palaces should be getting more and more discordant. Factory Gong Feng is involved, I am afraid that It’s hard to preserve.”

Correct.

Establish a prince.

That night, what Feng Gao said to me is still in my ears: "Your Majesty favors Concubine Zheng and is waiting for Concubine Zheng to give birth to a child..."

I paced back and forth in the courtyard.

Half a month ago, among Zheng Tai's orders at the winery, a batch of fine Yunsi was delivered to Liang Mansion.Before and after Liang Bangrui was selected as the consort, the Liang family and the Zheng family were very close.

I originally thought that this was just Mr. Liang being good at dancing and admiring the royal family.

Now it seems that it may not be that simple.

I raised my head and asked the factory guard: "Is there any movement in the Zheng Mansion in the city?"

The factory guard said: "I heard that uncle Zheng Guo's sixth concubine gave birth to a girl yesterday, and there was an endless stream of people giving her gifts. Other than that, there's nothing else."

I thought for a while and said: "From now on, you secretly keep an eye on what's going on in the Zheng Mansion. Don't let them find out. If there's anything unusual, come and tell me."

The factory guard was puzzled, but he still followed my instructions.

I am distraught.

Closing his eyes, he seemed to see Feng Gao covered in blood.

Involuntarily, I shivered in the warm spring.The sun in the sky is so warm, but at this moment, I feel scorching.

bean sprouts.

You promised my sister that you would accompany her every day in the future, eat the cakes made by her, and drink the wine she brewed.

Come back safely, okay?
good or not?
This world has given you enough suffering. If there must be some calamity from heaven, please do it to me.

I walked towards the counter in a daze, feeling desolate in my heart.

Bean sprouts, we have grown up.It’s not time to be in an acrobatic troupe.I can't stop the disaster for you like I did before when I was beaten by the class leader.

You always want to protect your sister, but how can your sister protect you?

A touch of lotus red figure came.

"Congratulations boss——"

Uncle Zheng Guo didn't know when he came, leaning against the counter with a smile on his face.

I suppressed the surge in my chest and said, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to buy some wine because I'm having fun at home."

"Just buy some wine and send the servants over. Why should I come in person?"

He coughed and waved his sleeves: "Have you heard about it, boss? Mr. Feng...oh, no, that fellow Feng Gao was arrested. Tell me, this is really unpredictable. Misfortunes come and go. Who is Feng Gao? He flatters his horse and speculates on the Holy Will No. 1. The faster you climb, the harder you fall, yes!"

He said sinisterly.

I said to Hua Lian: "Send off guests!"

Hua Lian came over.

Zheng Guojiu raised his head and said: "Don't mess around! Boss Zhu, I need to remind you that you have no backer! Do you know what the consequences will be if you go against my Zheng family in Yangzhou Mansion? Boss Zhu, don't toast. If you don’t eat, you’ll be fined with alcohol!”

I said: "I am a winemaker, so I can distinguish between toasts and fine wines. Uncle Guo, please don't be too complacent. I also give you the saying 'The sky is unpredictable, and people are prone to misfortunes and blessings'."

He turned away angrily.

Walking to the door, he turned around and smiled: "I like the boss's bad temper."

After he left, Hua Lian came to my side.

Although Hua Lian didn't know what Feng Gao's arrest meant.But seeing Uncle Zheng like this, he couldn't help but worry about me.

"If he really dares to bully his employer, I will be willing to kill him. I will not let him have an easy time!" Hua Lian said.

Mountain people are upright and enthusiastic.He is loyal and does not care about his life.

I hurriedly said: "Hua Lian, you can't do this."

In the evening, Qin Mingxu came.

I thought for a while and finally told him about Feng Gao.

Hua Lian came with a bowl of glutinous rice balls: "Master, you haven't eaten for two meals, please eat more."

I waved my hand, not having any appetite at all.

Qin Mingxu walked out and came back half an hour later.

He brought back many snacks from the street, such as sugar cakes, sesame cakes, lotus leaf balls, and plum blossom baked goods.He wore a big-headed mask and made me laugh.

After a long time, he took off his mask and said softly: "Sang Yu, don't overwork yourself. You have to eat what you should eat. Mr. Feng Chang definitely doesn't want you to suffer like this. I believe Mr. Feng is a very smart man. , or have a good plan to escape."

I knew he had good intentions, so he took a few bites perfunctorily.

Factory guards came intermittently to report to me several times about the situation in Zheng's house.

For several days, nothing happened.

Only the wealthy families in the city went to send congratulatory gifts and Aunt Zheng Tailiu's family went to visit her.

No one came from Beijing.

People in Zheng's house are also very cautious and no longer interact with people in Liang's house.

"By the way, I wish you all the best, boss. It seems that the Zheng family has not hired a wet nurse that they are satisfied with. The sixth aunt is not able to produce milk. Zheng Tai heard that pangolins can induce lactation, so he asked the housekeeper to search for them all over the streets. He actually found them. For five days in a row, There is a man wearing straw sandals who goes to Zheng’s house to deliver pangolins..."

I'm a little disappointed.

What I want to know is not such trivial matters as the house.

I drank a glass of wine and asked the factory guard to keep watching.

At night, when the wind is calm and I am about to return, there is only a bright moon on the river and a clear moon.

Return to Zhu Mansion.

Late at night, wash your face and rest.

When he wakes up and dreams, he does sit-ups and sit-ups, which are all the scenes when he was separated from Feng Gao.He waved his hands desperately.His handsome figure.His eyes, always innocent and always sad.

He called me one after another: "Sister, sister——"

The next day, I got up in the morning and went to the cabinet.

Opening the door, a letter fell from the crack in the door.

The guys rubbed their sleepy eyes and greeted me: "Good morning, boss."

I picked up the letter and asked, "When did you go to bed last night?"

"Go back to my employer's house and make an appointment."

"Have you ever heard any noise outside the door in the middle of the night?"

"No. Nothing but the sound of wind."

I opened the letter and the words on it were shocking.

This is a letter written by Concubine Zheng to her father, Mr. Zheng, at the beginning of the year.

In just a few lines, a plot that has been laid out for a long time is revealed.Documents from the government, nuns from the inner court...

I quickly looked around and held the letter tightly.

Who found such important evidence?

Who sent it to me?

Suddenly, I noticed that there was a narrow note in the letter.

There was a sentence written in crooked handwriting on the note: The Zheng family had invaded private land and the people had been complaining for a long time.

It turned out that this person was one of the enemies of the Zheng family.The Zheng family ran rampant in the countryside, bullying men and dominating women, so they must have many enemies.

The messenger didn't want to show up, probably because he didn't want to get into trouble.

I sat in the wine shop for half a day with the letter in my arms and had an idea in my mind...

(End of this chapter)