Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 5

Gao Shiqi whispered: "To tell you the truth, I just entered Zhan Shifu, and it happened that the emperor wanted to recruit people from various ministries to enter the preface class and transcribe the examination papers, and I was drawn. It just so happened that the chief examiner, Li Zhenye, fell in love with me by mistake. It is Mr. Li or my fellow from Qiantang."

Zhang Qian asked: "You mean Li Zhenye, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites?"

Gao Shiqi said: "Exactly! Mr. Li is the chief examiner of the undergraduate course. Whether you are successful or not, he will say a word."

Zhang Qian bowed deeply again, and said: "Brother Gao will leave Zhang's future to him."

Gao Shiqi shook his head again and again, and said: "No, no, how can I, Gao, have such abilities? You have to leave your future to Mr. Li! Mr. Li loves talents very much. I can help you with his joints."

Zhang Ban didn't believe that Gao Shiqi himself was a lowly man a few days ago, and he immediately had supernatural powers, so he asked cautiously, "Is this... will it work?"

Gao Shiqi said: "Based on Brother Zhang's talent, it's no problem to be named on the imperial list. But in this world, it's hard to say if someone else has left your door and you haven't."

Zhang Ban thought about it in a blink of an eye, but became afraid again, and said: "Brother Gao recommended me, Zhang is very grateful. It's just... this... is the crime of beheading!"

But Gao Shiqi said lightly: "This is true! Last year in the Qiuwei case, countless people were killed, and the blood was not dry! This time the emperor issued a strict decree, and there are eyes all over the capital. I heard that the briber has already taken it There are a few! However, I just let you recognize a teacher, and there is no bribery."

Besides, Chen Jing was studying, and he could hear the noise outside. He wanted to go out several times but held back.Hearing Li Jin's voice getting louder, he wanted to persuade him to go back to his room.But when he went to the living room, he saw that Li Jin was no longer there, so he went to Zhang Qian's guest room.

As soon as he walked to Zhang Jian's door, he heard a voice from inside: "Brother Gao and I just met by chance after all, I'm really uneasy that you love me so much!"

Gao Shiqi smiled, and said: "Brother Zhang, you don't believe me, right? Brother Zhang, I'm not as good as you in reading and composition; you're not as good as me in being so sophisticated. You are a talented person. Although you are a student of the emperor in the future, all the ministers will also think about it." Take you under my wing! To be selfish, I, Gao, also want to bet on your future!"

Zhang Jian asked: "So, brother Gao is ordered by Lord Li?"

Gao Shiqi said: "No no! Master Li is a person who values ​​money. As I said, I just let you recognize a teacher!"

Zhang Qian said: "I understand. But my family is poor, so I can't afford that much!"

Gao Shiqi said: "Lord Li loves talents, not money. What people value is whether you recognize him as a teacher! But, even if you go to the temple to burn incense, you have to give up some incense money, don't you? Go to the teacher Disciple posts also have to be gifted, it's human nature!"

Zhang Jian said: "Brother gave me such an advice, I was immediately enlightened. I only have 20 taels of silver notes here, and I can't bear to spend them all the way!"

Gao Shiqi said: "Just take 20 taels."

Chen Jing just wanted to leave, but he heard talking about him inside.Gao Shiqi said: "You three, the one who is really rich should be Chen Jing."

Zhang Jian said: "Brother Gao, Chen Jing, don't go to him. Last year in the Taiyuan Qiuwei case, he almost lost his head. He is afraid of it."

Gao Shiqi smiled and said: "I'm just asking. I don't know how to look for Chen Jing, and neither can Li Jin. But they can't let them know about this matter. It's about your life, and it's also about his life! You can't get out of the courtyard, you can just go in and take the exam. I'm leaving."

Chen Jing hurried away, and suddenly heard Gao Shiqi whispering inside: "Walls have ears!"

Chen Jing was worried that Gao Shiqi would hear the door knocking when he went back to his room, so he had no choice but to go to the shop and leave the inn quickly.It was dark outside, and the snow on the ground was rattling.The hanging lamps on the pavement swayed in the wind, and there were almost no pedestrians.Chen Jing didn't choose his way, and his heart was in a mess.Suddenly, there is Baiyun Temple in front of him, and the door of the temple is closed tightly, which is very gloomy.Chen Jing was a little scared, turned around and walked back.

At this time, the Guanmen door suddenly creaked open, and two people came out. Chen Jing could hear the voice: "Don't worry, Ma Juren. After collecting your money, the matter will be settled. Don't worry, you can't go to Li again." Go up to your lord's house."

The one who answered must be Ma Juren: "I know!"

Chen Jing thought that he really ran into a ghost today, and was about to walk away on tiptoe, but he was afraid that Ma Juren would bump into the upper body of the trouble, so he hurriedly ducked down and hid at the foot of the wall.The door creaked shut.Ma Juren hummed a little tune triumphantly, and urinated in the street.Chen Jing had no choice but to hide, not daring to move half a step.Ma Juren shuddered, hummed a ditty and left.Chen Jing still didn't dare to leave right away, he didn't stand up until Ma Juren was far away.Just as he was about to walk away, he heard the people in Guanli talk about collecting money, and said: "Master Li has agreed to five people just for the number one scholar, but the number one scholar only orders one!"

Chen Jing was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe out, and quietly walked away.Unexpectedly, something knocked and startled the onlookers, who could only hear a shout from inside: "There are people outside! Go and have a look!"

Chen Jing knew that something was wrong, so he ran away quickly.He ran for a few steps, and then suddenly ran back, afraid that he would bump into Ma Juren when he went to Happy Forest.Hearing footsteps behind him, someone must be chasing him.Chen Jing didn't dare to turn his head back, and ran desperately into the depths of the small alley.He heard someone yelling from a distance, thinking that they must be from Baiyun Temple.He turned around in the alley and lost his direction.Suddenly, I saw a tree branch protruding from the front gate, this place is so familiar.I suddenly remembered that I had arrived at the door of Mr. Li's house.Chen Jing didn't care much, so he beat the door hard.The yelling from behind was getting closer and closer, and Chen Jing was so anxious that he broke out in a cold sweat.Just about to leave, the door creaked open.It was Dagui who opened the door, before he saw who it was, Chen Jing stepped in, quickly closed the door, and covered Dagui's mouth with his hand.At this time, the sound of footsteps passing by outside was heard.

The footsteps gradually faded away, before Chen Jing let go of Dagui, panting heavily: "Brother let me go in, someone is going to kill me!"

Dagui recognized Chen Jing and was stunned.Mr. Li heard the sound outside and asked, "Da Gui, what's the matter?"

Dagui didn't agree either, and just led Chen Jing into the living room.Mr. Li was taken aback and asked what happened.Chen Jingxin had scruples and didn't dare to speak the truth, so he just said: "I am also monk Zhang Er who can't figure it out. I have been studying books all day today, and my mind is a little dizzy. I go out at night to enjoy the wind. I didn't expect to walk in front of Baiyun Temple, and suddenly came from inside. A few people ran out and said they wanted to kill me. I don’t know the place well, so I only knew to run to the depths of the alley, but I didn’t expect to come here. Fortunately, Dagui opened the door, otherwise I would be a murdered ghost gone."

After hearing this, Old Mr. Li was full of doubts, looked at Chen Jing, and said for a long time: "It's really strange! How could someone want to kill you? Has your family ever had any grudges with others?"

Chen Jing said perfunctorily: "My family has been doing business and studying for generations, so how can there be any grudges? Besides, if it is a family feud, there is no reason to go to the capital to kill me! It is my fate to go to the seniors without thinking. It’s at the door of the house. Alright, those villains think they’ve already chased them to the front, so I’ll take my leave, and I’ll come back another day to thank you!”

Mr. Li thought to himself how could such a coincidence happen?For a while it was hard to tell, so he said: "Nephew Chen Xian is not too shabby, so let's stay here for a night first, and then go back to the inn tomorrow."

Suddenly Yueyuan answered, "I'm going to make the bed for Brother Chen."

It turned out that Yueyuan had come out early and stood beside her and could hear every word clearly.Mr. Li said angrily: "Yueyuan, why haven't you gone to bed yet? What kind of bed would you make, Youtian mother!"

After hearing this, Tian Ma went to tidy up the room.It was at this time that someone knocked on the door outside.It was only then that Mr. Li believed that someone was chasing Chen Jing, and he said, "Don't panic, you just stay in the room, I'll go and have a look."

With a stick in his hand, Dagui followed Mr. Li to the gate.The door opened, and there were three men standing outside the door, looking very fierce.Mr. Li stood in front of the door and asked, "You are yelling loudly in the middle of the night, who are you?"

A man shouted: "From Shuntian Mansion, arrest the fugitive!"

Mr. Li looked at the people who came, and seeing that they were not wearing official clothes, he said: "Who knows that you are from Shuntian Mansion? The old man looks like you are a villain who robbed a house!"

The man became anxious and shouted: "Who are you, dare to teach us?"

Mr. Li smiled coldly, and said: "If you are really from Shuntian Mansion, I will go to Shuntian Mansion tomorrow to teach Xiang Bingdao a lesson!"

The man who kept yelling stared at him, and said: "The name of Shun Tian Fu Yin is also called by you casually?"

Mr. Li sneered again, and said: "When the old man won the exam, Xiang Bingdao was just a boy!"

Dagui chimed in and said, "You don't even look at what kind of family this is, you Xiang Bingdao should respect our master when he sees him!"

Seeing this scene, the three people couldn't figure it out, said a few tough words to save face and left.

Back in the living room, Mr. Li said: "Nephew, I'm afraid something will happen to you. But why did the officials of Shuntian Mansion arrest you?"

Chen Jing had a good idea in his mind, and said, "The ones chasing me are obviously gangsters, not from Shuntian Mansion. If the one who knocked on the door just now was the one chasing me, most likely they are pretending to be officials."

Mr. Li was still puzzled, thinking that this matter was too strange.Chen Jing saw Mr. Li's thoughts, and said: "Senior, those gangsters will never come back again, I'd better go back to the inn."

Mr. Li saw that it was very late at night, so he refused to let Chen Jing go.Chen Jing thought that obedience is worse than respect, so he spent the night at Li's house.

Early the next morning, Chen Jing got up and was about to say goodbye.Mr. Li still insisted on staying, and told Tian's mother to go to the street to buy vegetables and come back.Yueyuan also got up early, knowing that she was going to buy vegetables to treat Chen Jing, and she wanted to go to the street to pester Tian's mother.Tian Ma couldn't resist Yueyuan, so she took Yueyuan out to see what the master meant.

Passing by Happy Forest Inn, I saw many people surrounded by the door.Yueyuan became inexplicably frightened, and asked Tian's mother in a low voice, "What are they talking about? Are they talking about Big Brother Chen?"

Tian's mother asked Yueyuan to stand by, and went up to have a look by herself.There was a notice on the wall, and she couldn't read it. She only heard that someone said that a Shanxi Juren gave money to the examiner, and a Henan Juren said he wanted to sue, and the Shanxi Juren killed the Henan Juren.Shanxi Juren killed someone and fled by himself.

When Tian's mother heard this, she was frightened out of her wits.Could it be that the Shanxi Juren she wanted to talk about was Chen Jing?Suspicious in my heart, I heard that Chen Jing doesn't look like a murderer!Sure enough, it was Chen Jing who was talking about, Tian Ma ran back, dragged Yueyuan along and ran back.

Yueyuan felt strange and asked, "Mama Tian, ​​aren't you going to go shopping?"

Tian's mother didn't answer, she just dragged Yueyuan away.Yueyuan has a stubborn temper, so she broke free from Tian Ma's hand and ran back to the inn door to read the notice.Yueyuan's face was livid with fright, it turned out that Chen Jing was the murderer who was wanted on the notice, and he even drew a portrait!The Henan Juren who was killed was called Li Jin.

Tian Ma led Yueyuan back and knocked on the door hastily.Dagui opened the door, and was about to blame his wife, but saw that her basket was empty, and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Without saying a word, Tian Ma led Yueyuan into the door.Yueyuan didn't dare to see Chen Jing, so she bypassed the main room and hid in her boudoir from the second courtyard.Tian's mother went to the living room and saw the master talking with Chen Jing.

Mr. Li also saw that Tian Ma's expression was wrong, and asked, "Tian Ma, why are you so flustered?"

Tian Ma just said: "Master, you come with me, I have something to say."

Mr. Li went to the courtyard inside, and heard Mama Tian tell the notice in front of the inn, he suddenly felt thunderbolt.He would never have imagined in his dreams that the person Mr. Wei strongly recommends would be a villain who bribed the examiner and killed him.

Tian's mother saw that the master was terrified, and said: "Master, you should pretend to be fine and hold him, and I will quietly go out to report to the police!"

Tian Ma said that she was about to go out, and when she walked to the door, Mr. Li waved her hand and told her to come back.Yueyuan hid in the boudoir, heard her father whispering outside, so she lay down on the window pane to peek.

Mr. Li walked back and forth in the courtyard for half a day, and said, "Mama Tian, ​​please wait, let me think about it."

Mr. Li felt that this matter was really a bit wrong.Since Chen Jing is a murderer, he has to be arrested according to the law and handed over to the Shuntian Mansion for interrogation. Why did someone chase him down last night?Why were those who chased him so sneaky?
But Tian's mother said from the side: "The happy forest has posted a notice, and there is his portrait on it! I heard that all the people who live there will be arrested and questioned in the government."

Mr. Li just said don't panic, he has his own opinion.Back in the living room, Mr. Li asked: "Nephew, do you know a Henan Juren named Li Jin?"

Chen Jing felt strange, and said, "Yes! Senior also recognizes Li Jin?"

Mr. Li said, "Do you know where he is at the moment?"

Chen Jing said: "He lives with me in Happy Forest Inn."

Mr. Li said: "He was killed last night!"

Chen Jing was so startled that the teacup in his hand fell to the ground, and said, "Ah? How come?"

Tian's mother stared and said, "Don't pretend to be stupid, you killed it!"

Chen Jing hurriedly said: "Tian Ma, human life is a matter of heaven, you can't talk nonsense!"

Tian Ma said: "I'm talking nonsense? You go out and have a look, there are notices posted everywhere to arrest you!"

Chen Jing was startled and anxious, and said: "Li Jin's family is poor and cannot afford to live in an inn. The shop owner wanted to drive him out. I paid for the rent for him. Although I met him by accident, we were on good terms. Why did I kill him? ?”

Mr. Li asked: "Have you ever sent money to the examiner?"

Chen Jingdao: "How could I do such a nasty thing? If I were this kind of person, I wouldn't have been imprisoned last year."

Mr. Li thought for a while, shook his head and sighed: "Well, this is not the official lobby, so it's useless for me to ask. I think you are a fellow from Shanxi, and I can't bear to report to the official. You go, so you can take care of yourself."

Chen Jing bowed deeply to Old Mr. Li, and said: "My nephew will leave! After my nephew is cleared of his grievances, I will come to the house to express my thanks!"

Chen Jingcai was about to go out, but Mr. Li stopped him suddenly: "Slow down! May I ask my nephew, are you going to flee to your hometown in Shanxi, or surrender to the government?"

Chen Jingdao: "I'll go straight to Shuntian Mansion! In broad daylight, there is nothing unclear!"

Mr. Li said: "Nephew, if you killed the person, I don't care whether you escape or surrender when you leave this door; if you didn't kill the person, don't go out."

Tian's mother was in a hurry and shouted: "Master!"

Dagui was already holding a wooden stick in his hand, and shouted beside him, "Master, you must not keep him!"

Chen Jingdao: "In heaven, I really didn't kill people, but I still want to go to Shuntian Mansion, only the government can return my innocence!"

Mr. Li said: "If you didn't kill the person, I'm afraid you won't pass the scientific examination this year. Even if it doesn't constitute unjust imprisonment, it will delay you for a year or so!"

Although Chen Jing was terrified, he thought simply, he just wanted to go to the government to clarify.Hearing Mr. Li's words, he became anxious and said, "Senior, please enlighten me, how should I act?"

Mr. Li said: "I can't think of any way, but I was thinking, how can there be such a coincidence in the world? If you happen to not return all night, Li Juren will be killed, and you say you don't know, then you will be killed." Who is it?"

Chen Jing just lowered his head and sighed, not knowing where to start.Seeing Chen Jing's appearance, Mr. Li asked, "Your nephew seems to be hiding something?"

When things got to this point, Chen Jing had no choice but to tell the truth, then sighed to the sky, and said: "Oh! I should have had an accident too! I hid in Happy Forest after hearing what I shouldn't have heard; I never wanted to be in Baiyun Temple I heard what I shouldn’t have heard again! Senior, think about it, after I heard these words, can they not let my head go? I didn’t dare to tell the truth last night because I didn’t want to hurt you! Anyone who knows about this kind of thing will know It's a scourge!"

Mr. Li still had doubts, and asked, "Then how could Li Juren be killed?"

Chen Jingdao: "I guess, the person who killed Li Jin may be the one who wants to kill me! Li Jin has been clamoring all day long to report bribery in the examination room. I can't persuade him, and he will definitely cause trouble! The person who chased and killed me last night People, I didn't know who I was beforehand, and I happened to escape at night and didn't return, so they naturally guessed me. They killed Li Jin, and they happened to blame me!"

(End of this chapter)