Lie down and eat melon in the protagonist group

Chapter 32 Chapter 7: Gluttony
"The matter is far more than that." Dashuang's eyes were cold, and he continued, "Not long after, Guanqi's sister sent back a letter congratulating her, saying that Zhang Gaoxuan, the adopted son of the Fu family, wanted to marry her, and she would become the Fu family's wife in the future. Young Madam, his mother is the mother-in-law of the Fu family."

"After watching chess, I felt suspicious, so I wrote to inquire. After many twists and turns, his sister told him everything about Zhang Gaoxuan's plan to acquire the Fu family property."

As soon as he said this, there was a shout from the crowd outside the hall.

"Nonsense!"

Everyone followed the sound, and two strong servants escorted Zhang Gaoxuan to the front. Zhang Gaoxuan was furious and stared at Da Shuang who was kneeling in the hall.

Zhang Gaoxuan said sternly, "That's a bunch of nonsense!"

Across the wall of people, Ling Huai chuckled clearly audibly on the other side, and the people crowded in the front row all looked over.

Ling Huai spoke slowly and said, "Shopkeeper Zhang is so majestic. Not even the county magistrate has spoken in the courtroom. When will it be your turn to speak loudly?"

Zhang Gaoxuan put his hands behind his hands and snorted coldly, turned his face away, and said lazily, "Oh, you kid with a yellow mouth!"

"Ha, old man." Ling Dang retorted with a cold face.

Zhang Gaoxuan suddenly turned around and was about to speak.

Ling Huai interrupted with a smile and said, "I'm sorry. The people suing in court today are all members of my Ling family. It's not your turn to blame."

Zhang Gaoxuan's pupils darted sharply, "You..."

Ling Cen crossed his arms and sneered, "You really think that having a few bad money is nothing, don't you? You know exactly where the money came from. What a white-eyed wolf. He dares to take any dirty money. You can launder it if you take it back." Why don't you think it's fair? Hey, if you don't know what to do, you can't do anything but yourself. Why are you so anxious? Are you right? Are you so anxious that you jump over the wall? Hey, do you have a guilty conscience? Everyone, come and open your eyes. Take a good look. What? It’s a beast dressed in clothes.”

"You..." Zhang Gaoxuan pointed at him, his hands shaking with anger.

"I'm so scared," Ling Cen deliberately twisted his body a few times and rolled his eyes, "You don't want to kill people and silence them again, do you?"

The crowd was in an uproar, and the county magistrate shouted, "Quiet!"

The county magistrate each glanced at the three Ling siblings and Zhang Gaoxuan, then forced himself to continue.

Dashuang said: "The letter stated that Zhang Gaoxuan used wealth and inducement to lure Guan Qi's sister to take away the young master and send him out of the city to be executed. But she couldn't do it when she introduced a woman, so she entrusted Guan Qi to him. Heirs are rare in the Fu family. , the only child was lost, and the whole family was anxiously looking for it. Zhang Gaoxuan took advantage of the chaos and began to arrange his own manpower to the Fu family to make plans for the future. "

"Mr. Fu, who was paralyzed in bed, and the elderly Mrs. Fu, borrowed the help of Pei Zhanqing's confidant's mother-in-law, who was Guanqi's biological mother, to steal in while serving soup, soup, potions, and food to serve the sick. Adding fine powders of food ingredients that are incompatible with each other, such as apricot powder mixed with millet, and so on, there are too many to mention. After all, Zhang Gaoxuan knows cooking skills, and he also knows that all kinds of food ingredients are mutually reinforcing. Starting from oral food, it is impossible to guard against it, so, don’t go out Half a month later, Mrs. Fu fell ill in bed with dysentery and vomiting."

"Subsequently, he bribed the doctor to come to the clinic for treatment, pretending that the poisoning was caused by worry."

Zhang Gaoxuan shouted: "Nonsense!"

Ling Cen showed his thumb carelessly and pointed at him, "Hey, it's urgent."

Zhang Gaoxuan glared at him, "Shut up!"

"Why don't you shut up?" Ling Cen pouted, "Is your mouth different from ours? Is your butt longer in front? No wonder you keep squirting."

Zhang Gaoxuan was furious: "You?!"

Ling Cen looked at Gao Tang, pointed at Zhang Gaoxuan, and complained aggrievedly: "Master Qingtian, help me! He wants to hit me!"

The county magistrate snapped another alarm, "Quiet!"

Dashuang continued: "Not only that, he knew that the young master of the Fu family was taboo on yams and that eating too much would cause him to lose his taste and lose his mind, so he took advantage of the convenience of going out to discuss business and secretly did it. The young master of the Fu family was not immune to the illness. He also fell ill shortly after he collapsed."

Zhang Gaoxuan pointed at Da Shuang and argued: "It's full of nonsense!"

Ling Cen cracked the melon seeds and said, "Look, I'm in a hurry again."

Zhang Gaoxuan tossed his sleeves angrily, "You?!"

The county magistrate was exhausted, so he shouted again, "Quiet!"

Dashuang said: "As a result, there is only one young lady, Pei Zhanqing, left in the family. The young lady has just lost her child and is exhausted. She has left all the outside business to him, and the trivial matters at home are assigned to her confidants, maids and mother-in-law. Son, as a result, Li's mother and daughter will control the Fu family."

"He was obsessed with interests and couldn't wait any longer, so he ordered his mother-in-law to lie to Pei Zhanqing that there was a rat infestation in the house and that she had to go out to buy rat poison. While Pei Zhanqing was cooking, she poisoned her, causing both the young and old of the Fu family to die suddenly. .Pei Zhanqing figured out the link afterwards and moved out of the Fu family alone to protect himself, which is how Pe Zhanqing later sued."

Zhang Gaoxuan opened his mouth to speak, but out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Ling Cen on the other side, who was looking at him with a melon seed shell in his mouth. He swallowed back his words and let out a sneer.

Dashuang said: "He took the opportunity to blame all the sins on Pei Zhanqing, but there must be a reason for everything. He rashly put the blame on Pei Zhanqing, which is not convincing. Therefore, he bribed Shengbao, who was heavily in debt, to let him stay at night. After breaking into Pei Zhanqing's inner room, he sent his mother-in-law and maid to lead the servants of the Fu family to catch the thief, which led to the scandal of Pei Zhanqing having an affair with her husband and murdering her parents-in-law's husband, but was caught on the spot."

Zhang Gaoxuan sneered and spoke fearlessly: "Since you can make it up so well, where is the evidence?"

The county magistrate decided, "Is there any evidence?"

"Yes." Dashuang said, "Sister Guanqi's handwritten letter. Also, all the debts owed by Shengbao in the past will be paid off by Zhang Gaoxuan, and all the store owners who owe the debt can go to court to testify. Also, last winter When I was drinking with Shengbao last month, he rambled on about the whole story of how Zhang Gaoxuan came to him to do business. I paid for the drink in advance for him, and he gave me a jade pendant and said he could use it as money for the drink. And this jade pendant was worn by Zhang Gaoxuan. That piece has his name specially engraved on it.”

Da Shuang took out a wooden box from his arms, and the Yamen came to collect the evidence.

The county magistrate opened the wooden box, took out the jade pendant, hung it on his finger and looked carefully, taking a look at Zhang Gaoxuan's face that was as black as the bottom of the pot.

The county magistrate read through it, with sweat pouring from his forehead. The servant beside him had wiped a handkerchief wet. He patted the gavel with trembling hands and said, "Zhang Gaoxuan is sent to the hall."

The Yamen servant took advantage of the situation and let Zhang Gaoxuan into the hall.

The county magistrate made a look, and the Yamen servant walked up to Zhang Gaoxuan with the jade pendant in his hand and showed it to him. The county magistrate asked: "Is this jade pendant yours?"

Zhang Gaoxuan stood up straight and said: "I have a jade pendant similar to this one, but it has no inscriptions and was lost a month ago. The common people are really unjust. Please investigate clearly."

The county magistrate said: "This letter..."

The yamen officer came forward with the box in hand. Zhang Gaoxuan glanced at it and said, "Letters can be forged."

Ling Cen spit out the melon seed shell and said slowly: "You have killed people, and you just fake it if you say it is fake? My brother is kneeling there to testify in person, and there is still forgery? It's really funny."

Zhang Gaoxuan's lowered eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he handed over his hand, "Sir."

The county magistrate responded: "Those who have nothing to do with this case, please do not interrupt at will."

Dashuang said: "Sir, the common people have one more thing to do."

County magistrate: "Tell me." Da Shuang said: "On his way to Fucheng to appeal, Guan Qi was intercepted by a group of men in black just to rob his sister's letters. The men in black didn't find the letters, so they cut up the book Qi. Shuqi's life would have been lost if the eldest daughter of the Ling family hadn't bumped into her when she was returning to the city after going out to discuss business."

Li Guanqi nodded fiercely.

It was just nonsense. Zhang Gaoxuan was furious and scolded: "It's just nonsense! How come I didn't know that Li Xianglan has a younger brother at home!"

Everyone held their own opinions and argued endlessly. The county magistrate did not dare to decide the case arbitrarily, so he could only temporarily imprison the three people together until the officials could find out the case and then try again.

Ling Cen returned home and told Ling Jing and Pei Zhanqing what he saw and heard in court. He did not forget to imitate on the spot, which was vivid and funny.

"You have never seen Zhang Gaoxuan like that, haha, he is so angry!" Ling Cen slapped his legs and laughed, then spat again with a smile, "He deserves it! Is he the only one who would unjustly accuse someone? Haha, he deserves to be beaten once." The feeling of being wronged.”

Pei Zhanqing was worried and said: "The detention is only temporary. The county magistrate has already been bribed by Zhang Gaoxuan. When he is released from prison, will he not take revenge?"

Ling Huai said meaningfully: "If the county magistrate still wants to wear his official robe, he won't dare to let it go. No matter how greedy he is, he will eventually have something in mind."

Pei Zhanqing didn't know, so he asked him, "What do you mean by this?"

Ling Huai looked at Ling Jing, put his folding fan against his lips, and said with a smile: "Beauty traps always work well."

Everyone in the study looked at Ling Jing in unison.

Ling Jing rarely lost her temper and called Mrs. Chuuai to come forward to ask about trivial matters, obviously changing the subject and avoiding talking about it.

A few days after Yang Gan was angry, Ling Jing had an appointment alone.

Ling Jing pushed the banknote over and said, "Please excuse me, Inspector Yang."

Yang Gan stretched out his hand to push back, and his fingertips fell irregularly, with many of them touching the backs of Ling Jing's fingers. He said, "You don't need to be polite to me. As long as you file a complaint, not a single word of the confession in the hall will be kept." The news spread all over Shangfucheng. As for Guanqi and Dashuang, they are all my brothers in the prison. Saying hello will ensure that they are more comfortable than staying at home. There is also Zhang Gaoxuan, do you want me to give him some experience? "

"That's not necessary." Ling Jing withdrew her hand, "It won't cost you anything to ask you to do something. If Inspector Yang doesn't accept it today, he really doesn't regard me as a friend."

When Yang Gan heard this, he was overjoyed on the spot. He grabbed the banknotes and stuffed them back into his clothes, saying, "If I don't give Zhang Gaoxuan a little pain, I'm afraid he won't be able to admit his guilt. By then, the whole city would be in trouble, and the county magistrate was forced to Because of his reputation, I dare not let Zhang Gaoxuan out of prison. Just because he won’t be able to get out for a while doesn’t mean he won’t be able to get out for the rest of his life.”

Ling Jing sipped her tea and said with cold eyes, "I just want him to drag me down."

Yang Gan was confused, "Why?"

How could such a huge amount of energy and financial resources be spent just to make Zhang Gaoxuan acquitted.

As the saying goes: Use your strength to gain strength without effort.

Xiaoqi's family needs to be avenged, Li Guanqi's life experience needs to be clarified, the Ning family needs to cast a net to catch fish, Zhang Gaoxuan's private grudge of embezzling the Chamber of Commerce is coming to light, and the group of old men in the Chamber of Commerce who stabbed the back need to be given some color. Otherwise, I really think that the Ling family is such a soft persimmon.

Ling Qiong was far away in Kyoto, out of reach, but when they were in Shangfucheng, they had to set up a grassroots team to clean up the private accounts. It would be convenient to find someone to settle the accounts then.

On the day of the report to the government, it was dawn and Xiaoshuang was already rushing towards Kyoto.

On an April day, the willow trees are blooming.

The yamen searched for evidence all over the city. The yamen tried again and again, and held public hearings every now and then. All the witnesses and material evidence found were slapped in the face, but he, Zhang Gaoxuan, still insisted on shouting and accusing him of being wronged and framed.

The Ning family is even more uneasy.

Mrs. Ning Er slapped her away, causing her confidant to lose her balance and fall to the ground, her old face suddenly red and swollen.

"You, my maid, still want to deceive me with some sweet words?!" Mrs. Ning Er threw a stack of letter paper, which flew all over the room, "I asked you to send someone to watch him carefully, but you let him Escaped?! No, it was you who were seeking death! How dare you sell him?!"

The mother-in-law reached up to her toes with her knees and reached out to hug her. She was kicked over and she lay on the ground, kowtowing and crying heartbreakingly.

"Madam Mingjian, this old slave really doesn't know anything. If the Ling family hadn't instigated him to sue Zhang Gaoxuan, I wouldn't have known that Li Guanqi was him! The old slave secretly thought he had the same name, so he really didn't know anything. Madam, I have been following you since I started, and I have walked with you step by step in the wind and rain. I have never experienced any bad things, and I have never suffered any hardships. I can say that I am loyal and can learn from it. I will never dare to have any selfish thoughts! If No matter what, I, Mrs. Li, will be struck by lightning and die!"

Mrs. Ning Er was furious, her chest heaved violently, she waved her sleeves and knocked the tea tray down, smashing it to pieces.

She closed her eyes and opened them suddenly. Her chest only rose and fell slightly. She said calmly: "Kill him."

Mrs. Li's eyes widened with horror. She raised her head and said in a panic: "Madam!"

Mrs. Ning Er clenched her palms tightly and said, "Erect a monument without a word for him, and I will go and see him."

"No, Madam!" Mrs. Li climbed up crying, hugged her knees tightly, and cried out sadly, "Those are your own flesh and blood!"

"Because he is my flesh and blood, I just pulled out his tongue! Let him live!" Mrs. Ning Er slapped her and stood up. Her eyes were filled with red bloodshot eyes, and the red armor was full of blood. The blood pointed directly at Mrs. Li, "I am Qian Dingzhu Wanzhi, watch him closely and watch him to death! You are the one who wants to kill him! Not me!"

There was a lot of crying in the house, and the doors and windows outside were closed, but a piece of clothes slipped away behind Zhu. Ning Fu had a pale face, clutching his heart tightly, his mouth full of blood. He pursed his lips tightly, and supported the wall with one hand, the back of his hand. His veins stood up, he gritted his teeth and gasped, moving back one step at a time.

Soon, news came out from the Ning family that Master Ning coughed up blood in the middle of the night and became seriously ill. The Ning family began to seek medicine from all over the country.

In early May, one night, Ling Qiong returned to the main house of the Ling family without disturbing anyone.

Immediately afterwards, the Ling family secretly distributed invitations, which contained some private goods. Except for the Ning family and the new shopkeepers who had recently joined the chamber of commerce, all the old shopkeepers of the chamber of commerce received the invitations, and they were all frightened out of their wits.

Taking advantage of Zhang Gaoxuan's lawsuit, the chamber of commerce, which was extremely active with major businessmen, became lifeless overnight.

In mid-May, the case against Zhang Gaoxuan was dragged on for almost a month. The people in the city had fresh fun, and the grievances and resentments about the Fu family had long been forgotten.

There was an extra box of dazzling gold in the county magistrate's house. Inside the box was a letter written by Zhang Gaoxuan. Before the magistrate could burst into laughter, there was a new piece of paper and a letter from the Ling family lying on his desk.

When the county magistrate saw the seal on the envelope, his face turned pale and he fell to the ground.

At the same time, the flower hall of the main residence of the Ling family, with the tea tables and guest chairs on both sides, was now filled with old friends from the Lingyun Chamber of Commerce.

Ling Qiong, who had disappeared for nearly half a year, sat down leisurely as she sat down. She scratched the tea lid and spoke casually.

"Everyone, you are welcome and safe."

"Do you still like the gifts I gave you?"

"Let's take advantage of this good time and beautiful scenery to settle an old score."

(End of this chapter)