scourge the qing dynasty

Chapter 67 Raspberry's Injustice
Liulichang is located between Xuanwumen and Qianmen in the west of the outer city of Beijing. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, it was not particularly lively. Most of them lived in this area, coupled with the establishment of various museums nearby, the demand for pens, inks, papers and inkstones was huge, Liulichang's four treasures of the study industry naturally developed, and then formed a unique cultural atmosphere, becoming the largest in Beijing. It is a street of cultural and antiques—it can be said that if a scholar comes to the capital and does not visit Liulichang, he will have no face to call himself a scholar.

Of course, when scholars come to Beijing, they must visit Liulichang, but the guests who visit Liulichang may not necessarily be people who like to dance, at least our Fatty Lu County Magistrate Lu is one.Walking on Liulichang Street, where there are book stalls, antique shops, and calligraphy and painting shops everywhere, Lin Tianqing, who is quite famous for his calligraphy, is in high spirits, and the new master Zhu Fangdan, who is barely a scholar, is also full of interest, but Fatty Lu is Yawning and dozing off all day long, if Lin Tianqing didn't often drag Fatty Lu to talk, Fatty Lu would almost fall asleep by the stove in the antique shop several times.

"Lord Lu, Dr. Zhu, how about this old man choosing this calligraphy poster of Master Mi Fumi?" After wandering into an antique shop, Lin Tianqing finally picked out a calligraphy poster for himself, and asked Fatty Lu and Mrs. Mi with great interest. Zhu Fangdan flaunted: ""Taoxi Poetry Post" is the masterpiece of Master Mi in his early years! Mi Yuanzhang first learned from Ou (Yang Xun) and Liu (Gong Quan), and his strokes are straight and strong. After middle age, he learned to imitate Wei and Jin, and his brushes turned thick. Shuangjin, I have heard for a long time that Master Mi's masterpieces such as "A Resignation to the Empress Dowager", "Shu Su Tie" and "Nine Cursive Scripts" in his later years have been collected in the palace, but the vigorous works of Master Mi in his early years are missing. If the "Tiaoxi Poetry Post" is sent up, the emperor will be satisfied."

"That's right, it really is tall and strong." Zhu Fangdan nodded, and said in agreement: "A rare masterpiece, Mr. Lin has good eyesight."

"Senior Lin, how much money?" Fatty Lu's question was more realistic, and he yawned again after asking.

"Not expensive, 500 taels." Lin Tianqing replied with a smile.

"Isn't 500 taels expensive? It's equivalent to the annual income of more than 800 mu of fertile land. How much blood and sweat of the Han people will be stolen for Xiaomazi's one year?" He shouted: "Erlang, take out the money and settle the bill for Senior Lin."

"Okay." Xiao Erlang agreed without hesitation, and hurried in to pay for Lin Tianqing.Lin Tianqing hastily declined, "Master Lu, how can this be done? This is something I bought myself, how can I let you pay for it?"

"Senior, you don't need to be polite. This junior usually wants to show respect to you, but I haven't had the opportunity to do so. If we meet you today, why don't you ask this junior to show his affection?" Fatty Lu continued to yawn politely.

"This..., I'm sorry for the old man." Lin Tianqing wanted to decline at first, but seeing that Xiao Erlang had already slipped the bank note into the owner's hand deftly, he had no choice but to thank him and accept it.At the end, Lin Tianqing took the initiative to say to Fatty Lu: "Lord Lu, the old man can choose a copy of Dong Qichang's calligraphy for you. I heard that Dong Xuanzai's calligraphy was copied by the emperor recently. If you send his calligraphy stickers, the emperor will definitely like it."

"That's good..." Fatty Lu, who knew nothing about calligraphy and painting, wanted to agree casually, but when he thought of rewarding Xiao Mazi with the hard-earned money he earned by tying his head to his waistband, Fatty Lu felt extremely painful.After rolling his eyes, Fatty Lu said again: "Forget it, thank you Senior Lin for your kindness. I thought about it just now and thought it would be better to give the emperor another gift, so I don't need to trouble Senior Lin."

"Lord Lu, you can't joke about this matter." Lin Tianqing was really kind to Fatty Lu, and quickly reminded him kindly: "You are now a celebrity in front of the emperor, Huang Tangguan has arranged for you an emperor and the emperor. The Empress Dowager will definitely see your good position, and if the emperor asks about your gift and it is not suitable, then it is no joke."

"Senior Lin, please don't worry, I won't make fun of my own head." Fatty Lu yawned again and was about to explain to Lin Tianqing.But another person came in outside the shop over there, wearing a thin padded jacket with patches, his whole body was covered with snowflakes, his face was blue and pale from the cold, rubbing his hands and shouting: "Shopkeeper, do you have ink from Ye Xuanqing or Luo Xiaohua here?"

"President Wang!" Fatty Lu and Lin Tianqing exclaimed at the same time. It turned out that the person who entered the store was none other than Wang Xu, the Zuodu Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

"Master Lin, Master Lu." Wang Xu also recognized Fatty Lu and Lin Tianqing who were present, forced a smile on his thin, dark and dry face, cupped his hands and said, "What a coincidence, you also come to Liulichang to shop Did you get any baby?"

"Senior Lin found a pair of Mi Fu's calligraphy, but I haven't found any one I like." Fatty Lu saluted and asked curiously, "Master Wang, is there any progress in the case of Father Nan?"

"It's a bit of progress." Wang Xu nodded, and said casually, "The guard at Aozhongtang's mansion was found the day before yesterday, his neck was broken, and he hid in a remote dead end near Xizhimen, and covered it with snow again. , It has been snowing for the past few days, and the snow buried the body tightly, so it was not discovered until the day before yesterday. When the body was found, the badge and dagger were also taken away. It is certain that they were found on Father Nan His waist plate and dagger belong to him."

"Then have you found out the time of death?" Fatty Lu suggested kindly: "If you can estimate the approximate time of death, you can tell whether he took the dagger from his waist card after being killed, or whether he took the dagger after being killed, or after the murder of Father Nan. Someone..." Speaking of this, Fatty Lu made a murderous gesture.

"After being frozen in the snow for a few days, how can we find out the exact time of death?" Wang Xu replied with a frown, and then waved his hand and said, "Lord Lu, I know that you and Father Nan are very close, and you kindly want to help us find the murderer, but After all, you are not an official of the Ministry of Punishment, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Shuntian Mansion, so you should stop asking and asking, and don't make trouble for yourself."

"It's a humble job." Fatty Lu backed away shyly.At this time, the shopkeeper over there had already taken out two pieces of ink, and said, "Lord Wang, you have all the ink you want, but the price is not cheap. Ye Xuanqing's ink like a Taoist costs ten taels of silver, and Luo Hanzhang's ink is even more expensive. 15 taels."

"So expensive?" Wang Xu gasped, subconsciously reached into his bosom, and touched his empty purse.

"My lord, I know you are an upright official, so I didn't dare to ask you for a high price." The shopkeeper said respectfully: "To tell you the truth, I will give you whatever price you bought, and I didn't make you a penny. "

"But I..." Wang Xu squeezed his purse again, his expression becoming more and more embarrassed.

"Erlang, take out the money." Fatty Lu saw that Wang Xu's pockets were shy, and hurriedly shouted: "I want two pieces of ink, shopkeeper, wrap it up for Mr. Wang, and I will give it to Mr. Wang."

"That can't be done." Wang Xu flatly refused, "Master Lu, you and I have never met before, how can I ask for your things?" After finishing speaking, Wang Xu turned to the shopkeeper again and begged, "Shopkeeper, do you have any other cheap things here?" A little bit of good ink? Even used ones are fine, I just want to paint a landscape painting, and I won’t need much ink when I present it to the palace to pay the emperor New Year’s greetings on New Year’s Day.”

"Lord Wang, I know that you are an upright official." Fatty Lu stopped the shopkeeper and said quite sincerely: "The humble official sent you these two pieces of ink, just to express my heart, not to ask you to do anything for the humble official, what to say If so, please, Mr. Wang, don't refuse."

"Yes, Lord Wang, this is Lord Lu's wish." Lin Tianqing echoed with some old blushes: "Master Lu has no other intentions, just to express my respect to you, so don't refuse. Let's talk , you used the used ink to paint the emperor's New Year greetings, it seems a little lacking in sincerity, doesn't it?"

"This..." Wang Xu was a little hesitant, he wanted to accept Fatty Lu's gift, but it was in serious conflict with his own principles of life, so don't accept it, the little money in his pocket is even if his family's gold belts don't eat it Drink, and you can't buy half a piece of good ink. Do you really want to use other people's leftover ink to paint, and then take this painting to the emperor you are loyal to?
"My lord, if you still feel reluctant, then do you think this is okay?" Fatty Lu also had a rare conscience, and said: "You have suffered a big loss, and the humble job has taken advantage of it. The humble job gave you these two pieces of ink as a pen. , ask you for a word, is this okay?"

"Wonderful!" Lin Tianqing applauded, and smiled with his beard: "Wang Zongxian's calligraphy is hard to come by. Mr. Lu, you exchanged two pieces of good ink for Wang Zongxian's calligraphy. You really took advantage of it."

"Then...then Wang will be disrespectful." Wang Xu gritted his teeth and said with determination: "Wang will exchange a piece of clumsy calligraphy for two pieces of your good ink, Mr. Lu, which is regarded as a gift."

"Thank you, Mr. Wang." Fatty Lu laughed loudly, and hurriedly said: "Shopkeeper, quickly bring the best paper, best pen, best ink, and best inkstone in your store, and ask Mr. Wang to give you a brush. "

"Wait a minute." Wang Xu stopped him, and said sincerely to Fatty Lu: "Master Lu, the way of calligraphy lies in calming down and using energy, calming down and calming one's mind. Wang is honored by you. It is too disrespectful for you to splash ink and paint, and you are no different from those who sell calligraphy and painting on the street, and you are suspected of being perfunctory. Wang is presumptuous, and please ask Mr. Lu to sit with Wang's house. After Wang cleans his hands and changes clothes, he will do it for Lu How about your inscription, my lord?"

"Hey, this guy is really serious enough, no wonder he doesn't like his colleagues so much." Fatty Lu felt amused, and hurriedly cupped his hands and replied: "In that case, then Lu took the liberty to visit and disturb him, and asked Mr. Wang to lead the way. "

Wang Xu agreed, and Lin Tianqing applauded over there too, saying that he also wanted to go to Wang Xu's house--Wang Xu is the current chief prosecutor, and Lin Tianqing, whose buttocks are seriously dirty, of course wished to have a good relationship with him.At that moment, Fatty Lu asked Xiao Erlang to pay for the ink, wrapped up two pieces of ink and Lin Tianqing's calligraphy and painting, went out with Wang Xu, got into the car, and rushed all the way to Wang Xu's mansion in Zuo'anmen, the capital.

There are low and dilapidated Zuoanmen slums everywhere, Wang Xu led Fatty Lu and the others into a dilapidated alley, and said with some embarrassment while leading the way: "Master Lin, Master Lu, you It's a bit of a grievance, it's dirty and messy here, it's okay to live here, it's a bit inconvenient for newcomers."

"President Wang, you don't need to be polite." Fatty Lu smiled and said, "In Dali City, the hometown of Humble Job, there are many streets like this, and Humble Job has long been used to it."

"Master Lu can get used to such an environment, and the people of Qujing are blessed." Wang Xu nodded, adding to his good impression of Fatty Lu.But at this moment, Wang Xu, who had just turned a corner, suddenly felt something was wrong—why were there so many people in front of the gate of his house?
"Strange, why are there so many people in front of my house?" Wang Xu exclaimed.Fatty Lu, Lin Tianqing and the others took a closer look, and they found that there were many people surrounded by a dilapidated house in the distance, and there were many government officials among the people.Feeling that the situation was not good, Wang Xu quickly stepped forward and shouted, "What are you doing? Why are there so many government servants here? Who sent you here?"

"Lord Wang is back, back!" Most of the people onlookers were Wang Xu's neighbors. Hearing Wang Xu's familiar voice, they naturally turned their heads to look around and stepped out of the way.Wang Xu quickly rushed to the front of his house, pointed at the yamen servants in front of the door and shouted angrily: "You are the yamen, who sent you here?"

"Master Wang, we are from the Ministry of Punishment and Shuntian Mansion." A yamen servant replied tremblingly, "It was Ming Shangshu and Lord Li who brought us here."

"Mingzhu? Li Tianyu? Why are they coming to my house with such a big fanfare?" Wang Xu was taken aback.At this time, Mingzhu, who had become a young man, had walked out of Wang Xu's house in harmony with Li Tianyu, the governor of Shuntian Mansion. There was a large group of government officials behind him, and Wang Xu said angrily, "Ming Zhongtang, Mr. Li, what do you mean? What are you talking about?" Bring so many servants to my house?"

"My lord, don't blame me." Mingzhu said slowly, "I received an accurate report that you have a huge amount of money hidden in your family. As a bachelor of Hongwen Academy and Minister of Criminal Affairs, I had to act according to the law and bring people to search. If you are rude, do you still hope that President Wang will forgive you?"

"Is there a huge amount of money hidden in my family?" Wang Xu was stunned at first, and then laughed again, "Ming Zhongtang, you really know how to joke, I, Wang Xu, is an official, the world can see it, and you even believe it ?”

"Of course I don't believe it." Mingzhu said unhurriedly: "But the whistleblower has a nose and eyes, and the emperor has also issued a verbal order, allowing me to lead people to search Your Excellency's residence, I have to act according to the order."

"The emperor also issued a verbal order?" Wang Xu couldn't believe his ears, and said angrily: "Nonsense! How could the emperor believe this kind of slander? I want to go to the palace to meet the emperor, and ask the emperor to understand."

"Of course." Mingzhu nodded, agreed, and said slowly: "But before that, Mr. Wang, please wait a little longer. After the officers from the Ministry of Punishment and Shuntian Mansion finish their search, we can enter the palace together."

"Okay!" Wang Xu laughed angrily, and said with a big laugh, "Ming Zhongtang, because of Father Nan's case, I have had a lot of disputes with you these past few days. It's understandable that you want to get rid of it. But I want to see today, how much money you can find in these shabby houses of Xiaguan!"

"I hope I can't find it." Mingzhu said with a smile: "To be honest, seeing the house you live in, Mr. Wang, I also feel that there is nothing to be found, but since the emperor has an order, you have to search, right? The official can't be perfunctory to the emperor..."

"My lord, there is something on the beam!" The servant's exclamation interrupted Mingzhu's words. Hearing this voice, including Mingzhu who wanted to tear Wang Xu apart in the past few days, he was stunned and said in surprise: "It's really in stock." ? Take it off and see what it is!"

"Cover." Amidst the promise, Wang Xu, Ming Zhu and the others rushed into the room together, but saw a government servant climbed down from the beam, holding a dusty wooden box in front of Ming Zhu with both hands.Wang Xu exclaimed: "How could there be such a thing on the beam of my house? Why didn't I know?"

"Open." Mingzhu ordered calmly.The yamen servant obeyed the order, pried open the copper lock on the wooden box with a knife and opened it, and immediately revealed a dozen gold ingots and a thick stack of silver bills!
"Gold? Silver notes?!" Wang Xu couldn't believe his eyes, and shouted, "So much gold and silver notes from my house?"

"Master Wang, I'm afraid you have to ask yourself this?" Mingzhu sneered and shouted, "Count the numbers!"

The yamen servant acted according to the order, and quickly counted and reported, "Master Zhongtang, I have 200 taels of gold and 4000 taels of silver notes."

"Master Wang, what do you have to say now?" Mingzhu was overjoyed, turned to Wang Xu and asked with a smirk, "Your annual salary is only 130 taels, so much gold and silver, how many years do you have to eat and drink to earn it? "

"Injustice..., injustice!" Wang Xu almost collapsed on the spot, yelling, "This is someone who framed me, someone framed me, someone deliberately hid these gold and silver in my house to frame me!"

"Since someone framed them, why didn't they hide the money in my house?" Mingzhu, who had long suspected Wang Xu was an eyesore, sneered, and shouted: "Take it! Take it to the Ministry of Punishment first, and wait until the official enters the palace to ask for an order, then I will give you money." Dispose of it! Also, search for me to see if there are other places where money is hidden."

"Cover." All the yamen servants present agreed together, just as they were about to step forward to take the person.Someone shouted outside the door: "Wait! Ming Zhongtang, I have something to say!"

"Master Lu?" Mingzhu looked back and saw that the person who stopped her was actually Fatty Lu who had met once, she couldn't help but wondered: "Master Lu, why can I see you there wherever big things happen?"

"How do I know? Could it be that I am the reincarnation of Conan's catastrophe?" Fatty Lu was also a little strange—why did he go there by himself, and there would be some big troubles and no peace?Although framing Wang Xu was one of his evil plans, why did he allow himself to witness and experience it with his own eyes?
Doubts turned into doubts, and the matter was put in front of him, Fatty Lu quickly put aside this idea for the time being, and said to Mingzhu: "Ming Zhongtang, it is indeed an accident that I am here, I will explain this to you later, before that, Please allow me to say a few words for Mr. Wang, and I hope Ming Zhongtang will grant you."

"Tell me." Seeing that Fatty Lu is also a new celebrity in front of Xiao Mazi, Mingzhu nodded in agreement with Fatty Lu's request.

"Ming Zhongtang, I don't have much contact with Wang Zongxian, so far I have only met twice." Fatty Lu said plausibly: "But I still admire Wang Zongxian's character and integrity, just like today, Wang The present that Zongxian prepared for the emperor for New Year's greetings could not even be used to buy a good piece of silver—this was witnessed by Mr. Lin Tianqing and Mr. Lin. If Ming Zhongtang doesn't believe it, he can ask Mr. Lin face to face."

"What did you drag me in for?" Lin Tianqing groaned in his heart, but at this point, Lin Tianqing had no choice but to bite the bullet and come out, nodded and said: "Yes, I have indeed seen it with my own eyes, and the old man has nothing to do with President Wang. Much admiration."

"Then how do you explain these silver notes and gold?" Mingzhu pointed to the gold ingots and silver notes in the wooden box.

"Ming Zhongtang, since Mr. Wang is so poor that he can't even afford a piece of good ink, could these gold and silver notes be his?" Fatty Lu slowed down and begged, "So I dare to implore Ming Zhongtang, Can you carefully investigate the origin of these banknotes and gold ingots to see if someone has framed them? I have heard people say that when the banknotes were issued, the bank had left a secret mark on the banknotes. There are also records in the bank that can be checked, and even the name and identity of the depositor can be found out, I beg Ming Zhongtang to check all these clearly, and don't wrong the good people."

"Lord Lu..." Wang Xu was a little moved. He and Fatty Lu were only destined for each other, and he had never given Fatty Lu any good looks. Now he would be framed by others, but he was the first to jump out to defend himself. How many honest and upright gentlemen are there in this world?
——Of course, if Wang Xu knew that all of this was arranged by Fatty Lu, even the first report letter was sent to the palace by Fatty Lu himself, and he also suggested that Mingzhu investigate the origin of the bank note, it was also to put himself in a trap Push it a little more, and you won't be so moved.

"Of course." Mingzhu nodded, and said, "Lord Lu, please rest assured that I will not let a criminal official go, nor will I wrong a good official. I will definitely investigate this matter to the bottom. By the way, you It is also a good idea to go to the bank to investigate the origin of the bank notes, and I will arrange for someone to investigate carefully."

"Since that's the case, thank you so much." Fatty Lu cupped his hands, and then said to Wang Xu: "My lord, please rest assured that during the days when you are wronged, your family, I will do my best to take care of you, at least not It will make them suffer from hunger and cold, cold and hunger. And the money of the humble job is also left by the parents in business, it is clean money, and will not stain your name for the rest of your life."

"Master Lu, Lu Yao knows the horsepower, and you can see people's hearts after a long time." Wang Xu's voice was choked up, he bowed deeply to Fatty Lu, stood up straight and said: "Okay, Ming Zhongtang, please escort the officer to the Ministry of Punishment."

"Take it away." Mingzhu waved her hand and shouted again: "Go ahead and search to see if there are any other places where money is hidden!"

Amidst the crying and wailing of Wang Xu's family, Wang Xu was escorted away by the officials of the Ministry of Justice with his head held high, but everyone present had their own thoughts. That case would be much easier to handle, and I, the new Secretary of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, would not be ridiculed for screwing up my first major case when I took office, and I would not be left with an incompetent job in front of the emperor.Lin Tianqing and Li Tianyu met each other secretly, one was gloating, thinking that you deserved your bad luck, and you were about to be promoted but you just happened to encounter such a bad thing, right?The other was gnashing his teeth, secretly cursing the old thing for his bad luck, and the salty fish turned over by accident!Only Fatty Lu had a solemn expression, staring at Wang Xu's back for a long time without saying a word.

"Wang Xu, you are indeed a good official. Unfortunately, the more officials you have now, the greater the harm you will cause to the Chinese nation. So, I'm sorry. Sigh, is it right or wrong for me to do this?"

Murmuring secretly in his heart, Fatty Lu sighed, turned his head and told Xiao Erlang: "Erlang, give 100 taels of silver to Mr. Wang's family later, don't let them freeze or starve."

(End of this chapter)