Zhong Niangzi Wanfu

Chapter 66 My husband is not guilty
一
After the full moon banquet in the prime minister's mansion, Zhong Yan took care of his baby in the mansion and tactfully declined all the banquets.

When something happened to Shen Feng, Mrs. Pan was afraid that Zhong Lan would be worried and hurt her body, so everyone hid it from her.

"Are you still shy these days?" Pan asked with a smile, holding Zhong Lan's hand.

Zhong Lan smiled and shook his head.

"He is a sensible child." Pan looked at Zhong Lan's belly, frowned, and then relaxed it quickly.

Zhong Lan keenly noticed Pan's strangeness, became suspicious, and asked tentatively: "It's strange during this period, he hasn't written to me either."

"Maybe the affairs in Danzhou are complicated and Mr. Shen can't get away." Pan said with a smile.

"Didn't we just talk about Wen Shu again? Why did the eldest lady get involved with my husband?" Zhong Lan's mouth curved slightly.

Pan's heart immediately started to panic. She picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea. She cleared her throat and said, "I was distracted. Madam Zhong, don't blame me."

"Ma'am, what are you talking about?" Zhong Lan smiled, feeling even more suspicious.

After Pan left, Zhong Lan ordered Chang Huan to prepare a car and wanted to go out for a walk.

Chang Huan's expression was unnatural, and he lowered his head and advised: "Girl is getting heavier now, so you should go out less often. If you want to move around, Chang Huan can accompany girl to sit in the courtyard and bask in the sun."

Zhong Lan's expression turned cold: "What's been going on with you these past few days? Did something happen?"

Chang Huan quickly laughed: "What can happen? Chang Huan is just worried about the girl's health."

"Jiang Liu and Jiang Chuan have returned without news for several days." Zhong Lan looked at Chang Huan doubtfully, "Are you hiding something from me?"

Chang Huan quickly shook his head and denied it: "Absolutely nothing."

Seeing Chang Huan's expression of betraying his lies whenever he lied to him, Zhong Lan sneered: "If you don't tell me, I'll go to the West Market Yuhu Tea House and ask."

The Yuhu Tea House in the Western City of the Royal Capital was a place where literati and poets could discuss matters ranging from the new policies of the imperial court to the policies of various states. The emperor often sent people here to explore the opinions and intentions of the people.

Seeing Zhong Lan getting up to leave, Chang Huan grabbed Zhong Lan's sleeves and his eyes turned red: "Girl, girl, no, girl is now a month old and can't stand the trouble."

"Then what are you hiding from me?" Zhong Lan shook off Chang Huan's hand, puzzled, "Is there anything you can't tell me? I can bear it."

Chang Huan saw that Zhong Lan was angry, so he could only tell the truth and told Zhong Lan that Shen Feng was imprisoned in the prison for his crime.

Zhong Lan was frightened and fell down on the chair: "You, you said that he has been secretly escorted back to the capital because of the thank you letter?"

Chang Huan stepped forward to cheer for Zhong Lan, and urged him urgently: "The Holy One has not yet convicted him, but there should be a turn for the better. In the past few days, the governor and the second master Wen have been working on this matter. I will definitely meet him if he is auspicious. Forgiven.”

"It's nothing." Zhong Lan slapped his palm on the table, took Chang Huan's hand and said angrily, "I've seen that thank you form before, and it didn't have any sarcastic words to slander the imperial court. It just said Danzhou The shortcomings have been accumulated for a long time, and the previous tax policy may have been inappropriate. I hope Jinshang will favor him and allow him to act. And he later felt that it was inappropriate and submitted a letter of apology to Jinshang..."

"Girl, be careful with yourself." Chang Huan cried and his eyes turned red. "Now that my uncle is in prison, if there are any shortcomings in the girl's body, Chang Huan cannot afford the punishment."

"Go and order someone to prepare the car. I'm going to see him in prison." Zhong Lan held Chang Huan's hand tightly.

"The prison is dark, damp and cold, and the girl's body cannot be removed." Chang Huan shook his head and urged.

"If you don't let me go, you really don't care about my body." Zhong Lan glared at Chang Huan, "Go quickly!"

Unlike the last time he was convicted, this time the emperor seemed to have to do everything in secret. Not many people knew about the news that Shen Feng was arrested and returned to the royal capital; and there was no news about Zhong Lan and the Taimin Shen family. Zhong Lan was still an official. concern.

Chang Huan prepared the carriage and helped Zhong Lan out. He happened to meet Wen Shu coming on horseback.

Wen Shu's eyes were slightly green, looking tired from a long journey.

The two looked at each other and knew that they already knew each other.

Wen Shu dismounted and stepped forward to hold Zhong Lan's hand: "Don't be afraid, Mr. Zhang and Wen Yi are thinking of something. I will accompany you in the capital. Even if I spend money today, I have to let you meet Shen Feng. above."

Zhong Lan was moved and pulled Wen Shu into the carriage.

two

Sometimes, silver is indeed a good thing.

Wen Shu took the silver and counted it up and down, and finally brought Zhong Lan to the prison where Shen Feng was being held.

Wen Shu took off her black cloak and put it on Zhong Lan, and put on her hat: "Shen Feng's cell is at the corner in front. This is a prison. We can't stay too long. I'll help you." Watch people, hurry up."

Zhong Lan nodded and walked forward.

It was dark, damp and cold everywhere, and the sounds of mice could be heard from time to time. Zhong Lan began to regret that he came in too hasty and did not bring some clean clothes and quilts to Shen Feng.

There were some prisoners in dirty clothes and unkempt hair in the four cells. When they saw someone passing by, they immediately stretched out their hands to cry out for injustice. Chang Huan was so frightened that he blocked Zhong Lan and did not dare to stop and kept moving forward.

Finally reaching the corner, Zhong Lan could clearly see the people inside.

Shen Feng was dressed neatly in prison uniform, with his black hair tied up, and he was looking out the window with his hands behind his back. His back was straight and his back was facing Zhong Lan.

"Shen, Shen Feng." Zhong Lan called out with a trembling voice.

Hearing Zhong Lan's voice, Shen Feng turned around in surprise. Seeing that it was really Zhong Lan, he quickly stepped forward and blamed him: "Why are you here? You are still pregnant with the child, how can you come here?"

Zhong Lan grabbed Shen Feng's hand through the cell door, holding back the sobs in his throat: "What on earth is going on?"

Shen Feng smiled helplessly: "I did something wrong."

"Did His Majesty begin to be suspicious of you since you took office in Danzhou and when the common people were angry? The king wants to punish you, but the minister can only accept it?" Zhong Lan's eyes were blurred.

"Be careful what you say." Shen Feng looked at Zhong Lai distressedly and stretched out his hand to wipe his tears, "I can't forgive you." "You are not guilty. I will redress your injustice. I will beat the drum. I want to see it. Look, is there any royal law in this world?" Zhong Lan wiped away his tears randomly and turned to leave.

Shen Yan hugged her gently through the cell door: "You go back to Wuding first. I'll pick you up when I'm free. If I can't get out, you make another plan."

"What nonsense are you talking about! How many more times are you going to push me away? Do you think that between you and me, you are the only one who has to pay for me, so I will just be lazy and idle with peace of mind? In your heart, I am such a person Really?" Zhong Lan broke away from Shen Fie and glared at him.

"No!" Shen Feng frowned and said hurriedly, looking away and not daring to look at Zhong Lan, "I'm just afraid that you might make a mistake."

"I understand what you are thinking in your heart. But I have only one thing to say to you. I, Zhong Lan, have never been people who can share wealth and wealth but not share adversity. I can't stay here long, so I left first." Zhong Lan said. Wiping the corners of his eyes with his hand, he turned around and left regardless of his obstruction.

Seeing Zhong Lan come out, Wen Shu quickly followed him: "How is it? What are your plans?"

"Go to the palace gate and beat the drum." Zhong Lan said solemnly.

"Now?" Wen Shu glanced at Zhong Lan's bulging belly, "Are you crazy? You don't want your body anymore?"

"I'm not crazy." Zhong Lan shook his head, "I want everyone in the world to watch, and I want my superiors to give us an explanation."

After finishing speaking, Zhong Yan smiled at Wen Shu: "This matter is against today, so don't follow me."

Wen Shu became angry when she heard this: "What crazy talk are you talking about! I said I would accompany you, so I will accompany you. Not to mention going to the palace gate to beat the drums, I will accompany you even if it means mountains of swords and seas of fire."

Zhonglan no longer had the time to think about how to say thank you, so he just hugged Wen Shu tightly.

The two of them got into the car together and returned to the house without saying anything.

Zhong Lan checked the money in the house, changed his clothes, and prepared to go to the palace gate.

Suddenly Chang Huan came in and said anxiously: "Girl, the eldest lady of the family is here."

Zhong Lan didn't think about it for a moment: "Who?"

"I."

A woman in green clothes walked in slowly and said reproachfully: "What? The second girl is now an official's wife, and she doesn't even recognize her as my eldest aunt?"

Seeing that it was the Yue family, Zhong Lan quickly stood up and said, "Auntie, why are you here?"

"My maternal cousin is an official in the Ministry of Justice. He knew that Mr. Shen was the second uncle of the Zhong family and sent me a secret message. I am here to take you back to Wuding."

Mrs. Yue stepped forward and took Zhong Lan's hand. Knowing that Zhong Lan was not light-hearted now, she pretended to be relaxed and said: "Your mother misses you very much, but she is weak and can't stand the bumpy road. You haven't seen each other for several years. You come back with me, and you two, mother and daughter, can talk about missing each other."

Zhong Lan heard what Mrs. Yue meant and blessed her in a polite manner: "Auntie, please forgive me for not being able to go back with you now."

Hearing this, Mrs. Yue's smile faded and she said seriously: "Second girl, you have always had big ideas since you were a child. I can let you do whatever happened in the past, but now, if you want to save yourself and the child in your belly, just listen to me. .”

Zhong Lan's eyes were red: "My niece knows that the eldest aunt is doing it for her niece's good, but now Shen Feng has been wronged. Today, he tried his best to suppress Zhang Governor and Wen Yi who were working for him, and also deliberately hid the news from the Shen family in Taiming. Pass it on. If I don't go to seek justice for him, who else can seek justice for him?"

"Husband and wife are birds of the same forest, and they fly separately when disaster strikes. You are still pregnant with your child. This is very difficult. You can't do it." Mrs. Yue held Zhong Lan's hand distressedly.

"It hasn't been done yet, how do you know it can't be done?" Zhong Lan said anxiously, "My niece is begging my aunt to let her give it a try."

Zhong Yan was stubborn, and the two were deadlocked. In the end, Yue Shi had nothing to do with her: "Then you rest in the mansion for half a day, and I will order Chanjuan to find my natal cousin first, and see if I can copy the case file first." , just wait, don’t act rashly.”

After learning about Shen Feng, Zhong Lan was impatient and had no time to think. After hearing what Yue said, he quickly calmed down and nodded.

In the evening, Chanjuan came back with the dossier and said that because Shen Feng's matter was confidential, the dossier was not complete.

"But this is enough to prove that his slander against Chao Gang needs to be investigated." Zhong Lan flipped through the file and stared at one place with his red eyes. "The contents of his apology document are also recorded here. What was approved by His Majesty at that time It’s: ‘Forgive me’.”

Several people in the hall looked at each other.

"And they say he embezzled and paid tribute..."

"Both Mr. Zhang and Wen Yi can prove the purpose of this batch of official silver." Wen Shu asked Yun Le to hand over a document to Zhong Lan, "This is the testimony written by Wen Yi when I came here, and Shen Feng informed the judge All subsequent official and bank receipts and payments will be recorded together."

"If that's the case, then prepare the car!" Zhong Lan looked out the door and saw dark clouds, and the storm was about to come.

"I am a member of Zhongshu Shengzhongshu. I led the Danzhou general judge to judge Shen Feng's wife Zhong. I beg your Majesty to retry my husband's case of slandering the imperial court and embezzling tribute. Now there is physical evidence that my husband is not guilty. I hope your Majesty will give you the Holy Spirit. Order Ming Cha!"

Qi Weijun was reviewing the papers when he suddenly heard a heavy and distant sound of drums. He couldn't help but frowned: "Is this the Dengwen Drum?"

Min Duo came in from outside the door: "It's Mrs. Zhong from the Shenshe family who is beating the drum, as well as Wen Shu from the Wen family business, and the Yue family from the Zhong family in Wuding."

When Qi Weijun heard this, he became furious and coughed violently, and cursed: "Let them go back, don't cause trouble for me here!"

Min Duo responded and walked out, then walked in again and shook his head at Qi Weijun.

Qi Weijun was furious: "Then let her knock!"

Until the evening, Dengwen drums continued.

Qi Weijun overturned the discount on the imperial case: "Isn't she still pregnant? If she doesn't raise her baby well at home, she will be tormented like this in front of the imperial court!"

"Your Majesty has always wanted to hide this matter. Now that Madam Zhong has been beating the drum for a whole day, all the officials in the capital must have known about it." Min Duo said helplessly.

"What does she know as a woman?" Qi Weijun slapped Yuan hard.

"Okay, I'm not to blame for this, she's the one who wants to trouble her, so let her do it regardless of face! If something happens, if Shen Feng comes to me to seek justice, I will break his legs! "

(End of this chapter)