Chapter 503

Pan Pan Yue gathered enough money and went to redeem the person. The Court of Judicial Review didn't accept the money and didn't release the person, the reason being: "Pan Hong is a serious criminal, the case hasn't been concluded, and the Three Judicial Offices haven't spoken; no one can redeem the person."

Although he couldn't redeem the person, he got in to see his father without spending money, and he planned to come back to redeem him the next day.

The Pan brothers left the prison, and Jiang Feng turned out from a corner, watching the backs of the two as they left with deep eyes.

The official of the Court of Judicial Review who was leading the way turned sideways, raised his hand, and said: "Magistrate Jiang, please. The Three Judicial Offices are waiting in the main hall."

Jiang Feng's eyes darkened, and he went to the main hall of the Court of Judicial Review with him.

Yang Pu sat in the center position. Seeing him come, he raised his hand to invite him to sit down and said: "The Southern Guard Command and the Eastern Depot say that Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong formed a clique for private gain and opened the door of convenience for many officials, among whom is you, the Salt Transport Commissioner. What do you have to say?"

Jiang Feng: "I formed a clique for private gain with Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong?"

He sneered: "Who doesn't know that Xue Xue Xuan and I are not on good terms? When he was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he caused me trouble many times. How could I be in the same clique as him?"

Wang Wen sat on the side and snorted coldly: "Who knows if you are pretending? If your relationship isn't good, why would you run around for Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong? You, a Salt Transport Commissioner, colluding with so many officials to overturn the case for the two of them—if it's not forming a clique, then what is it?"

Jiang Feng looked righteous: "For justice, for righteousness! The injustice of Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong is known to the world. Magistrate Wang, it's not that everyone is like you, recognizing only the master and not the national law."

"Stop your damn framing of me. You speak of justice and righteousness, but the one who least follows the national law is you," Wang Wen pointed at his nose and cursed: "Not to mention how much the salt tax in Jiangnan is in deficit, your Jiang family privately opened silver mines in Guixi, prying at the foundation of the Great Ming. We haven't even settled accounts with you yet."

"If you want to add a crime, why worry about not having words," Jiang Feng darkened his face, glaring at Wang Wen with eyes that seemed to be on fire: "You colluded with Wang Zhen and wanted to kill everyone who overturned the case for Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong. Don't think I don't know."

Wang Wen: "Now we are discussing the crime of Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong forming a clique for private gain. The Pan Yue family case and the He family case were concluded long ago, and the culprits Chen Chen Fulin and Wang Shan have also been brought to justice. Stop dragging in other cases to disturb the hearing!"

Jiang Feng: "You say Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong formed a clique for private gain. What private gain did they form a clique for? Besides these two cases, what other intersections do the two of them have?"

"Of course there are," Wang Wen's face was hidden in the light and shadow, flickering. He raised his eyes and stared at Jiang Feng: "Before the Pan Yue family case broke out, someone from Guangxin Prefecture once reported to the Court of Judicial Review that the Jiang family in Guixi was privately mining silver. The Court of Judicial Review received the petition but there was no follow-up. Later, it was reported to the Censorate, and the Censorate sent Censor Pan Hong to investigate, but there was also no follow-up. Isn't this the evidence of the three of you forming a clique for private gain?"

Jiang Feng sneered: "If this is forming a clique, then Magistrate Wang, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, can't escape the relationship either, right? Could it be that I am also your henchman?"

Without actual evidence, relying solely on debate cannot argue out the truth.

Among those present, who wasn't an old fox?

Even if the evidence were placed in front of them, they would still be stubborn, let alone when they didn't have evidence at this time.

Yang Pu knew that today's interrogation wouldn't make progress, but it would be good to be able to beat Jiang Feng.

The Three Judicial Offices returned without success again.

Yang Pu swept a glance at Wang Wen and invited him to enter the palace together to report to the Emperor.

Wang Wen went with him.

As soon as they met, Yang Pu said directly: "Your Majesty, Chen Chen Fulin and Wang Shan have been brought to justice. Everything started with Chen Chen Fulin. Now that the Pan Yue family and others have died unjustly, Chen Chen Fulin should be sentenced to the same crime, beheading immediately."

The Emperor nodded.

Yang Pu said again: "Although Wang Shan and his concubine were accomplices, their crimes are deep, and they should be sentenced to three thousand miles of exile."

The Emperor unfolded the case file, which stated exile to Qiongzhou.

The Emperor was stunned for a moment: "Qiongzhou?"

"Yes," Yang Pu lowered his head and said: "Exile of northerners to the south and southerners to the north was the exile law set by the Taizu Emperor."

So the Pan Hong family went to the ice and snow, the bitter cold Datong;

Wang Shan is from Shanxi, so naturally he must be exiled to the south.

The Emperor thought of Wang Zhen and couldn't bear it: "Isn't Lingnan also in the south?"

Yang Pu looked serious: "Your Majesty, the quota for exile to Lingnan this year is already full."

The Emperor directly approved Lingnan in vermilion and said: "This trip to Lingnan is also more than three thousand miles. If it's full, just add one person. Are you afraid of too many people in the place of exile?"

Yang Pu opened his mouth, thought of the matter he was about to say next, and could only agree.

Yang Pu continued: "Your Majesty, we have checked all the cases handled by Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong since they took office, and have not found any suspicion of the two forming a clique."

Wang Wen immediately raised his head: "Grand Secretary Yang..."

Yang Pu raised his head and gave him a cold look before saying: "Magistrate Wang, regarding the case of the Jiang family in Guixi privately mining silver, Pan Hong said he had never received it. Although your Censorate produced the dispatch list, I checked the post station list of that year, as well as the Ministry of Personnel's transfer order and salary list, all of which show that Pan Hong had not left the capital for those two months, and he had always been investigating other cases. The post station had no record of his travel.

Why, is the Censorate's management so loose? He received the case but didn't go to Guixi to investigate, delaying the case to this point, and the Censorate didn't punish him?"

Wang Wen's tongue was bitter, and he couldn't say a word of refutation.

Yang Pu snorted coldly and said: "Investigating cases and sentencing must rely on evidence, not just what an individual says."

The Emperor asked: "Is it true that the Jiang family in Guixi privately mined silver?"

Yang Pu lowered his head and said: "This matter still needs to be investigated, but it is known that Xue Xue Xuan and Pan Hong have absolutely no suspicion of forming a clique. This case can be concluded."

The Emperor remained silent.

Yang Pu knew that he still wanted to use the Xue-Pan case to pull out the silver mine private mining case. Helpless, he could only take another step back: "Your Majesty, the imperial prison is cold and damp. Pan Hong just returned from Datong, and his body was already severely damaged. After going through the imperial prison and the prison of the Court of Judicial Review, I'm afraid it will be a major obstacle to his health. Today, the two sons of the Pan family brought money to redeem the person. It's better to let them take the person back first, and when the case makes progress, call the person back."

The Emperor: "I heard that Pan Hong encountered three assassination attempts in the imperial prison. If he leaves the prison of the Court of Judicial Review, wouldn't it be dangerous?"

Yang Pu said: "Pan Hong's son is currently living in the home of Yin Song, the Xia Guanzheng of the Astronomical Bureau. Yin Song is extremely good at divination and can predict good and bad luck, so it should be fine."

The Emperor thought for a while. He had already rejected Yang Pu twice in a row and couldn't reject him again, so he nodded: "Forget it, allow them to take the person out."

Yang Pu agreed and retreated with Wang Wen, whose face looked bad.

Wang Wen stopped Yang Pu and asked: "Is Grand Secretary Yang doing this for Jiang Feng?"

Yang Pu glanced at him and said with disgust: "I am not like you people; stop using those dirty thoughts of yours to ponder this official."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

He took a carriage directly to Yang Yang Shiqi's mansion.

Yang Yang Shiqi had been feeling tired recently, so he hadn't attended the morning court again.

Seeing Yang Pu's worried face, he smiled at Yang Pu: "Don't worry, I've survived the winter; this year will be peaceful."

Yang Pu said: "The person has already been saved for you. The Emperor also knows that the two of them were wronged, but he wants to use their case to pull out more cases and people in Jiangnan. In the future, justice will always be returned to them."

Yang Yang Shiqi sighed and said: "It's difficult. The matter is not secret, and it's already hard to succeed. The Emperor should stop; he should wait for the opportunity."

Yang Pu: "But at this time, no one can persuade the Emperor. Wang Zhen avoids suspicion and doesn't dare to make suggestions."

Yang Yang Shiqi thought for a moment and then laughed: "It doesn't matter. Although our Emperor is impulsive, he is also forgetful. After a period of time when the case makes no progress, he will relax himself, unless a new opportunity appears."

"However, if there can be a new opportunity to turn Jiangnan over again and make politics clear, that would be good." Yang Yang Shiqi asked Yang Pu to be more open-minded: "Don't always keep a straight face. You are clearly younger than me, but you look older than me."

Yang Pu couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him. He turned around and was about to leave when he remembered something. He turned around and asked: "Yang Shiqi, what's going on in Jian'an?" Yang Yang Shiqi's smile faded slightly: "I asked someone to go back and check. I haven't returned to my hometown for many years; I'm afraid the Yang family in Jian'an really has some impropriety."

Yang Pu frowned.

Yang Yang Shiqi smiled and waved his hand: "It doesn't matter. Since it has been found out, just act according to the law."

Yang Pu said softly: "I'm afraid Yang Ji is deeply involved in it."

Yang Yang Shiqi sighed: "Don't worry about me; just act according to the law."

Yang Pu nodded worriedly. He felt that Yang Shiqi had thought of things too simply.

I'm afraid Yang Ji's involvement in Jian'an is more than just things like forcibly buying flooded land. Otherwise, Jiang Feng wouldn't have such great confidence.

He left with a worried face.

When Pan Pan Yue and Pan Yu went to the Court of Judicial Review to redeem the person the next day, they redeemed him.

After Pan Hong was poisoned, he couldn't eat anything. When he was released from prison, he had lost a whole circle of weight, and his clothes were empty.

The father and two sons hugged and cried, and then borrowed to live in Yin Song's mansion.

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They could also rent a house to live in by themselves, but it wasn't safe. After being persuaded by Yin Song, they decided to borrow to live in Yin Song's house.

Yin Song said: "I calculated with my fingers that Little Junior Sister's letter should arrive in the capital in two days. Magistrate Pan, don't worry."

Pan Hong sighed and said: "It's me who has always let the children worry. Sigh, I am ashamed."

Pan Yun also thought so. She was boasting to Mu Lin and incidentally enlightening him: "It is their three lifetimes of merit that parents gave birth to such sensible children as us. My father doesn't know how satisfied he is with me; your father must be too."

Mu Lin's face was thin and red, and the discomfort in his heart dissipated a lot: "How can you praise yourself like that?"

Pan Yun patted his shoulder: "I'm telling the truth; don't take it to heart."

Mu Lin: "But as a son, if I can't serve my father, can I still be called a filial son?"

Pan Yun: "You are serving the country for your father in the capital, and serving righteousness for your father; why can't you be called a filial son? Don't think too much."

Mu Xi woke up, and his body had just improved a little. He let Mu Lin return to the capital quickly, so as not to stay in Yunnan for too long, which would make the Emperor and the imperial court dissatisfied, which would be unfavorable to Mu Lin.

Mu Lin wanted to stay by his father's side. When he sat with Pan Yun at night, he couldn't help crying.

"But..." Mu Lin held it in, but couldn't help saying in a low voice: "I want to stay by my father's side."

Mu Lin was also only thirteen years old.

Pan Yun blinked and said openly: "I'm even younger than you, and I don't want to stay by my father's side."

Mu Lin looked incredulous: "Haven't you been exonerating Magistrate Pan all this time?"

"Exoneration is exoneration, but if I were to live by my father's side after exoneration, I wouldn't be willing," Pan Yun said: "I hope my family is healthy, safe, and everything goes well, but that doesn't mean I want to live by their side."

Mu Lin puzzled: "Why?"

Pan Yun: "Why? I like Mount Sanqing, I still want to go to Mount Mount Kunlun to learn art, I still want to go to the grassland to take revenge, and I want to go to the sea to venture. I can't drag my father and brother with me, right?"

Pan Yun said: "As long as they live well in the capital, in Changzhou Prefecture, or in other places, and do what they want to do, I can visit them in my spare time to comfort my longing."

"Being together day and night is certainly important, but doing what you want to do is more important," Pan Yun asked him: "The world is so wide and so interesting. Do you only want to stay by your father's side in this life?"

Mu Lin pondered.

Pan Yun patted her clothes and stood up, smiling: "I'm going to see your father. You should think about it carefully."

Mu Lin came back to his senses and hurriedly stood up: "I'll go with you."

The two walked side by side toward the side courtyard. Mu Lin said softly: "Maybe it's because I haven't been by my parents' side since I was a child, so I really want to be with them. You just asked me what I want to do most. I thought about it, and what I want to do most is still to be with my parents."

When Pan Yun heard this, she stopped, thought for a while, and said: "This dynasty governs the world with filial piety. Since you think so, why not write to the Emperor and let him allow you to stay for a while longer?"

Pan Yun smiled: "Your father is afraid that you will make the Emperor unhappy if you stay out for too long, but if the Emperor agrees, I think your father must also want to spend more time with you."

Mu Lin's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Really."

Mu Lin said happily: "His Majesty values affection. Knowing that I stay in Yunnan to fulfill filial piety, he will definitely agree."

He decided to write the letter tonight and send it out early tomorrow morning.

Corpse insects belong to yin, and they are more active when it is dark.

Before Pan Yun came, Mu Xi was very tormented whenever he was awake at night.

It's much better now.

However, he could still feel the discomfort.

Seeing Pan Yun coming, a smile squeezed out on his pale face, "Daoist Pan is here."

Seeing him enduring the pain, Pan Yun stepped forward and asked: "Where does it hurt now?"

He pointed to his stomach: "It hurts the most here tonight."

Pan Yun asked: "Can you use your consciousness to control them to stay still?"

"I've tried, it had some effect at first, but it soon failed."

Pan Yun placed her hand on him, closed her eyes slightly, and simulated the King Insect to give them orders. Soon, his restless stomach quieted down. Mu Xi wiped the cold sweat from his face and felt much better.

His pale lips gradually had blood color, and his complexion also improved.

Seeing Pan Yun withdraw her hand, Mu Xi couldn't help but mutter: "No wonder they pursue power so much; cultivation is indeed fascinating."

Pan Yun raised her eyes to look at him.

Mu Xi was also looking at her and asked: "Daoist Pan, what are the conditions for cultivation? Or is it that anyone can cultivate?"

Pan Yun said: "It depends on the root bone, and also on the comprehension."

She said: "There are very few cultivators in this world who enter the Dao through comprehension. Most enter the Dao through root bone. For example, I directly practice cultivation methods, which relies on the root bone."

Pan Yun stood up, walked behind him, pointed her thumb at his Baihui acupoint, touched it all the way down to the back of his neck, pressed it, and then followed his spine down: "And the root bone is similar to the talent for martial arts. Those with good martial arts talent will have better root bones for cultivation than others." (End of chapter)