Born a phoenix? The husband I picked up is the young emperor

Chapter 1875

Three hundred and seventy-seven thousand six hundred taels! According to the law, such a huge amount of corruption should be sentenced to death by slow slicing or immediate execution, with absolutely no possibility of pardon.

Confiscation of property was inevitable. If the Northern Wing court had not abolished the law of collective responsibility long ago, the entire Song family would have been implicated, with no one spared.

Thinking of this, Shi Anxia couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

After all, Song Shenzhi and Song Xizhi were both pillars of the country during the reign of Emperor Zhaowu. It would be a pity if the entire family was brought to justice because of the crime of one person.

Shi Anxia personally interrogated Jiang Zhongxin, trying to pry out from him the reason why Song Yuanjiu took bribes.

She didn't believe that someone who had no greed for money would accept bribes for no reason.

At the same time, Xiao Yunde also found the name "Song Yuanjiu" in the corner of the little notebook.

His memory of the dream had become increasingly faint. Even after seeing the words "Song Yuanjiu", he could no longer remember what achievements he had made in his previous life.

But he knew one thing: this person could not die and had to be saved.

When Xiao Yunde was interrogating Song Yuanjiu, the other party was relaxed and calm in the prison.

The man sat cross-legged and asked the jailer for paper and pen, and wrote down in detail the unfinished government affairs in his hands, his handwriting neat and clear.

After writing, he raised his hand and handed the paper over, saying calmly, "Please pass it on to Mr. Li, the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Clan, Mr. Dong, the Minister of Rites, and Mr. Wang, the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Ministry of Rites. They are familiar with the follow-up matters and can handle them accordingly."

How could the jailer dare to act on his own? He was about to report it when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the prison. It turned out to be the retired Emperor Xiao Yunde.

The paper fell into Xiao Yunde's hands in an instant.

He lowered his eyes and scanned it, and saw that the handwriting was smooth and neat, and it was actually the handwriting of Japanese calligraphy, which was obviously due to daily practice. He looked at the content in detail, and it was all about the arrangements for unfinished court affairs, without a single word about his own sins.

Xiao Yunde signaled to the jailer to open the cell door.

The iron lock clicked open and the cell door creaked harshly in the dank air.

Xiao Yunde stepped into the prison, stood with his hands behind his back, the hem of his black dragon-patterned uniform remained motionless, and looked solemnly at the Minister of Zongzheng Temple who was once known for his "diligence".

Song Yuanjiu had already stood up to greet him, his eyes slightly lowered, and he bowed respectfully, "I, your humble servant, pay my respects to the Supreme Emperor."

His voice was calm, without any fear or resentment, as if it was just an ordinary official greeting.

Xiao Yunde glanced at the ink in front of him that had not yet dried, and said lightly, "Song Qing has always been diligent. He still remembers government affairs even when he is in prison."

Song Yuanjiu did not dare to look up, and only replied, "It is my duty, and I dare not slack off."

Xiao Yunde was silent for a moment, then sat on the stool carried in by the jailer, looking gloomy, "Do you have any difficulty with the 377,600 taels of silver?"

Song Yuanjiu knelt on the rammed earth floor, and rough dirt flew up with his trembling breathing.

His nails dug into the cracks in the ground had already cracked, but he didn't feel the pain at all. "I am a sinner... I deserve it, there is no hardship. I deserve to die..."

"Your death is not a pity!" Xiao Yunde sneered with a hint of dissatisfaction, leaning forward slightly, "But your two sons were implicated by you. They could have brought honor to the family, but now they can't even enter the examination hall. They were originally going to be the pillars of the country, but because of your words 'the death of a guilty minister is not a pity', they were thrown into the mud."

A drop of cold sweat slid down Song Yuanjiu's temple, leaving a dark mark on the rammed earth ground.

He recalled how Shenzhi would always copy ten pages of Yiwen Zhangju in the study room at dawn before he would have breakfast. When Xizhi was practicing calligraphy, he didn't even notice that his sleeves were being burned by the candle.

Those days and nights of studying hard, those worn-out brushes and torn ink scrolls... After ten years of hard work without any achievement, he had to give up his official career forever.

After all, he was too selfish.

"Now," Xiao Yunde stood up, "I'll ask you again - do you have any difficulties?"