Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

The short rope is used to draw water from a deep well, which is a metaphor for being weak and unable to shoulder important responsibilities. Although it is often used as a humble expression, just by listening to Chen Shao's tone, you can tell that she is not joking.

This comment was too harsh, and it was made in front of so many people. When the nobles of Hongyuan County heard that she had closed down Fenglong Company, they already knew that she was not a good-tempered person, but there is still a difference between hearing and seeing. The original imposing manners of Mr. Fan Er and Mr. Fan San were instantly restrained. They united in secret to deal with her, but they didn't want to be scolded by her in front of so many people.

They didn't want to be scolded by her, and Ding Lisheng didn't want to either. Instinctively, he wanted to defend himself, but Chen Shao didn't give him the chance, "Okay, go down."

Seeing that Ding Lisheng was unwilling to leave, Mr. Fan Er and Mr. Fan San hurried forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Fan Zhirong (Fan Chuanfang) greets you, sir."

When Ding Lisheng saw the two of them, his already ugly expression became even uglier, but he could no longer utter any words to defend himself.

Chen Shao threw the confession aside, and then suppressed the cold expression on his face. He then let the two men off the stage and explained the reason for inviting them here: "I asked you two to come here because I have something to ask you. The shopkeeper of Tongchun Hall said that they accidentally got a pair of golden silkworms in their early years, and then they were forcibly bought by Luo Zhengxin, the dean of the Imperial Academy. Apart from the people of Tongchun Hall, you two are the only ones who know about this. Is this true?"

Fan Zhirong looked at the shopkeeper and others of Tongchuntang, who hurriedly greeted him. After Fan Zhirong returned the greeting, he asked Fan Chuanfang, "Do you remember this incident?"

Fan Chuanfang thought about it for a moment and replied, "It seems so, but I can't remember the exact year and month."

The shopkeeper hurriedly said, "Second Master and Third Master, please think about it carefully. Second Master, you have always liked rare things. When Tongchuntang got the golden silkworm, you were going to send it to your house. But after Luo Jianyuan forced you to buy it, you wanted to make a decision for me, but Third Master persuaded you not to."

"Now that you mention it, I have some impression of it." Fan Zhirong pulled out the folding fan from his waist, patted his palms lightly, and asked, "Are you here to complain to the adults and want to get the pair of golden silkworms back? If so, San'er and I can testify for you."

As he said this, he bowed and said, "Sir, San'er and I can both testify that the golden silkworm is indeed from Tongchun Hall."

Chen Shao responded calmly: "So, you all know that Luo Zhengxin forcibly bought the golden silkworm from Tongchuntang?"

"We can't guarantee whether we bought it by force or not." Fan Zhirong said without leaving any room for doubt, "But golden silkworms are rare and you definitely can't buy them with ten taels of silver."

As he was speaking, Chan Yi came back.

Chan Yi was holding a two-foot-long sandalwood box in her hand. She walked quickly into the second hall and stopped in front of the table. She carefully placed the sandalwood box on the table and opened it carefully. Among the green mulberry leaves, two fat golden silkworms were eating as if no one was around.

"In addition to these two golden silkworms," ​​Chan Yi stood aside, glanced at Fan Zhirong and Fan Chuanfang, and introduced them to Chen Shao, "I also brought back the servants who were responsible for raising these two golden silkworms."

The servant who raised silkworms was also a man over fifty years old, white and fat, with an angry face. He followed Madam Gao into the second hall, and just as the sound of a cold snort rose to his throat, he suddenly saw Fan Zhirong and Fan Chuanrong. After a burst of joy in his heart, he couldn't help but speed up his pace and came to complain to them.

Fan Zhirong calmly spoke first, "Master Luo even has a partner with someone who raises golden silkworms. It seems that he is a person who likes rare things just like me. It's a pity that we had a rift a few years ago because of the golden silkworms, and missed the opportunity to make friends."

The servant paused for a moment, and immediately understood what he meant: they wanted to sacrifice the rook to save the king!

Luo Zhengxin was abandoned.

The servant couldn't help but look at Chen Shao.

Chen Shao also looked at him calmly.

The servant quickly retracted his gaze and bowed politely, "I am Wu Dong, your Excellency."

Chen Shao glanced at him, then at Fan Zhirong and Fan Chuanfang, and finally glanced back at him, "Who are you to Luo Zhengxin?"

Wu Dong said cautiously, "I am a servant of Luo Jianyuan."

Chen Shao asked casually, "How many years have you followed Luo Zhengxin?"

Wu Dong became more cautious, "At least thirty years."

"At least thirty years, that should mean he has Luo Zhengxin's trust." Chen Shao became more and more nonchalant. "Tell me, where is Luo Zhengxin's ancestral home?"

Wu Dong's heart trembled slightly. Where is Luo Zhengxin's ancestral home? The prefectural government has the household registration book to check, so there is no need to ask him. Asking him means that the following question is the key. While being alert in his heart, Wu Dong honestly replied: "Luo Jianyuan's ancestral home is in Huating County, Wujun."

Chen Shao nodded: "Are you also from Huating County?"

Wu Dong should be.

Chen Shao looked at Fan Zhirong and Fan Chuanfang again, and the two of them quickly bowed. Chen Shao smiled and said, "If I remember correctly, there is a prominent family named Fan in Wu County. I wonder if they are related to you?"

Before Fan Zhirong and Fan Chuanfang came, they had already prepared for her interrogation, so although they were alert, they were still calm. Fan Zhirong replied, "The Wujun Fan family is our original clan. Our great grandfather served as the magistrate of Hanyuan County under the jurisdiction of Hongyuan County for several years. He really liked the pleasant scenery here, so he stayed here after taking office, and the family has been passed down to this day."

"The scenery here is indeed very pleasant, and it is very different from the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River." Chen Shao agreed calmly, and then his eyes fell back on Wu Dong, "Where did Luo Zhengxin get this pair of golden silkworms?"

Wu Dong looked at the shopkeeper of Tongchuntang and others and replied, "I bought it from the shopkeeper of Tongchuntang."

"Have you been taking care of it since you bought it?" Chen Shao asked.

Wu Dong said yes.

Chen Shao looked at the black spots on the golden silkworm's body and asked, "Are the black spots on the golden silkworm's body originally there?"

Wu Dong hesitated for a moment before saying, "No."

"How did that come about?" Chen Shao asked patiently and kindly.

"Yes..." Wu Dong hesitated for a while before answering, "It was left behind when Supervisor Luo took the golden silkworm poison."

Chen Shao asked slowly, "What does he use the golden silkworm poison for?"

Wu Dong quickly knelt on the ground, "I don't know!"

Chen Shao laughed, asked Li Tianliu to bring Luo Zhengxin up, then turned around and asked slowly, "You just said that you have been following him for at least thirty years?"

"My Lord..." Wu Dong looked up, and was a little slow to react to her half-smiley gaze. The next moment, as if he had just seen the talisman paper and the black donkey hoof on the table, his face changed drastically and he said, "This, this is..."

Chen Shao gestured to Xu Guang: "Take it and let him take a closer look."

Xu Guang picked up the talisman paper and the black donkey hoof and turned around. Wu Dong was so scared that he kowtowed repeatedly and said, "It's none of my business. It was Supervisor Luo who killed them. It has nothing to do with me. Your Excellency can see clearly!"