After the salted fish is married

rain from heaven

After coming out of the Governor's Mansion, Yan Xining originally wanted to go back to the Palace, but as soon as he walked to the door, he saw Bai Tao stretching his neck and looking towards the long street to the west.He also looked over curiously, and saw a lot of people running madly past the intersection, shouting: "Run! I'm going to behead!"

Yan Xining was stunned for a moment: "What's the situation?" Could it be that someone committed a crime in the street in broad daylight?

At this time, the Chiling Army generals around him explained: "The common people should go to Caishikou to watch the beheading."

While recruiting people, Ji Song did not give up interrogating corrupt officials. Once the investigation is clear, no matter what the identity of the criminal is, he will be dragged to Caishikou and beheaded.Today's interrogation is Yao Qingzheng, the magistrate of Pingchang County. He has covered the sky with one hand for many years in Pingchang City, and the people of Pingchang have suffered from him for a long time.Knowing that he was about to be beheaded, the people rushed to tell each other, and only then did the excited crowd run wild.

Yan Xining, who was born in a peaceful era, had never seen a beheading scene. Growing up, the scariest thing he ever experienced was being assassinated in the royal enclosure with Ji Song.At that time, the assassin was killed by Ji Song, and the scene was not too bloody.

There was an opportunity to witness the beheading in front of her eyes, Yan Xining's curiosity and curiosity emerged little by little.He and Bai Tao looked at each other, and both of them saw strong expectations in each other's eyes: "Come on, let's go and have a look."

There is no fixed vegetable market in Pingchang City. Every morning, people outside the city will carry their vegetables, poultry and livestock to sell on the three long streets in the city.There is a small square at the intersection of the three streets in the city, which is usually used to sell livestock. At this time, this square is the execution ground for beheading corrupt officials.

When Yan Xining arrived near Caishikou, the area around the square was already surrounded by soldiers from Chi Ling Army.The common people crowded around the square on the inner three floors and outer three floors, and surrounded the square tightly. At a glance, only dark heads could be seen.

Yan Xining was holding her short legs, it was really difficult to squeeze in.Moreover, the urban construction of Liangzhou is not as good as that of the capital city. There is still a stone pavement in front of the governor's mansion, and the foot here is already covered with loess.The people of Liangzhou also don't have the awareness of caring for public health. When they are inconvenient, it is convenient to find a small corner.When the hot wind blows, all kinds of smells hit his face, making his face turn blue.

Bai Tao tried to climb up on the little short leg, but the little short leg snorted unhappily, and he could only get off the horse in embarrassment: "Master, I can't see anything..."

Just when Yan Xining was feeling a little discouraged, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tall figure walking towards him quickly.Turning his head, he saw that it was Wu Chengkai, the general of Chiling Army.Wu Chengkai saluted and asked with a smile: "Princess, why are you here?"

Yan Xining laughed awkwardly: "I wanted to watch the beheading, but maybe I won't be able to."

The people in Liangzhou were generally tall, and they stood in front of Yan Xining like a human wall.Wu Chengkai took a look and smiled: "The princess belongs to the future, and there will be a great place to watch it." Yan Xining followed Wu Chengkai's guidance and saw a two-story restaurant in the southeast of the square. The second floor of the restaurant was open The windows are facing the direction of the square.

Yan Xining raised her brows, look, this is called getting the moon first if you are close to the water.He was also lucky, he didn't expect to meet Wu Chengkai here: "Why is General Wu here?"

Wu Chengkai respected Yan Xining very much, he held the reins of his short legs with his own hands to lead the way for the princess.He said slowly, "I am responsible for the safety of the corrupt officials."

Yan Xining didn't understand: "You're in charge?" He didn't understand for a while, did Wu Chengkai make a mistake?Did he mean to say that he and his soldiers are responsible for the safety near the execution ground?

Wu Chengkai tied his short legs to the hitching post, watching his movements, Yan Xining was inexplicably familiar.After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "I heard that you and Qi Zhong are cousins?" Qi Zhong's body shape and height are similar to Wu Chengkai's, and the way they do things is indeed very similar.

Wu Chengkai smiled and said, "Yes, Qi Zhong is my cousin. Do we look alike?"

Wu Chengkai is very talkative, and he got acquainted with Yan Xining after a while.He led Yan Xining to the room on the second floor, and sure enough, looking down from the window of the room, the whole square was in Yan Xining's eyes.

Even though it was almost evening, the weather was still hot.At the recommendation of the buddy, Yan Xining ordered a pot of almond milk for Bai Tao and the others.Liangzhou produces almonds and walnuts. The store here is not vague at all when making almond milk. It is full of almond flavor in one bite, which is much more fragrant than the almond milk in the capital.

Bai Tao couldn't stop drinking the almond dew, "It's really delicious, young master."

And Wu Chengkai's attention was obviously not on the almond milk, he was leaning against the window with the almond milk in his hand, his sharp eyes glanced at the crowd below from time to time.Just when Yan Xining wanted to talk to him, Wu Chengkai whispered, "Here we are."

The crowd became agitated, shouting and cursing endlessly: "Dog officer! Dog officer! Kill them!" Wave after wave of voices reached Yan Xining's ears. There were also ripples in the sound waves.

Yan Xining hurriedly stood up and went to the window, followed the sound, and saw dozens of soldiers of the Chi Ling Army walking from the Northwest Long Street.Standing beside each soldier is a gangster, presumably these are the criminals who will be executed today.

The criminal had heavy shackles around his neck and thick iron chains on his feet, and the chains would be pulled with every step he took.The weight of the iron lock prevented them from walking quickly, but they could only walk forward slowly step by step.

A few days ago, these perpetrators were all well-dressed officials, who were superior and disregarded the life and death of the people.However, at this moment they are unkempt and sad, and they are completely different from before.

At this moment, Yan Xining finally understood what Wu Chengkai meant by "responsible for the safety of corrupt officials".

From the moment the criminals appeared on the long street, the angry people took out the things they had prepared and threw them at the group of people: "Dog officer! Desperate! Die badly!"

For a while, rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs flew around. Of course, rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs would not cause much damage when they hit the body. What the soldiers had to beware of were the stones and knives mixed in.King Rong ordered these corrupt officials to be beheaded, and Wu Chengkai could not let them die halfway.

Amidst the shouts of the soldiers of the Chiling Army, the criminals walked towards the execution ground step by step.In just a short distance, this group of prisoners had already been smashed and bruised.They used to only inflict pain on the people of Liangzhou, but now they finally tasted the bad results.

Yan Xining suddenly realized: "So that's how it is..." If there was no Chi Ling Army to maintain order, the corrupt officials would be beaten to death by the people the moment they appeared?

Wu Chengkai looked at the ashen-faced criminals with joy in his eyes: "Actually, in the eyes of the general, this group of people should be hacked into pieces. It is too cheap for them to hack them to death."

However, the state-owned state law, Wu Chengkai can not do things according to his own ideas.

Seeing the team of criminals passing by in front of him, Yan Xining was stunned after counting the number: "Hey? Didn't you mean to cut off the head of the Pingchang county magistrate? Why are there so many people?" There are eighteen.Among them were old and young, and even two women.

Wu Chengkai explained: "Yao Qingzheng, the magistrate of Pingchang County, is the one who walked in the front. Do you feel pitiful for him now?"

At this time Yao Qingzheng had already passed by Yan Xining, Yan Xining could only see his stooped body and gray hair.He walked extremely slowly, his hands and feet were worn out by the iron chain, and his body trembled a little with every step he took.It wasn't the shackles that were pressing on his neck, but the death talisman.

Wu Chengkai sneered: "This old man is very bad. He has been domineering in Pingchang these years. Under his protection, his clansman seized the houses and searched for the people's fat and anointing. Princess, you must not have imagined that a mere county magistrate could be greedy. The disaster relief money distributed by the imperial court to the people. The Yao family has occupied half of Pingchang City in these years, and the family property confiscated is more than 300 million taels of silver."

Yan Xining took a deep breath: "Good guy..." Among other things, the treasures and coins that Emperor Pingyuan generously rewarded Ji Song were only 800 million taels of silver. The property of a mere county magistrate is actually that of the prince's. half.

We must know that Liangzhou is a barren land, how much is the annual tax for the people?A county magistrate dares to corrupt so much, not to mention there are bigger officials above the county magistrate?

His teeth itch a little: "Hacking him to death is indeed cheap for him."

Wu Chengkai was still angry, he pointed at the young man behind Yao Qingzheng and gritted his teeth: "Did you see the person behind Yao Qingzheng? That's his eldest son. He is just a beast. He spends his time drinking and doing all kinds of evil. There are countless girls who have been harmed by him over the years." .”

Most of the soldiers of the Chi Ling Army were bachelors, and they didn't even dare to look at the girls they met on the road.And the good girls in Liangzhou were harmed by this kind of person. Thinking of this, Wu Chengkai wanted to stab him a few times.

Yan Xining became even more angry: "You should be killed!" Who can tolerate his family members being ruined by such beasts if they don't have a wife and daughter?Yan Xining said angrily: "This kind of person should be punished by the Nine Clans!"

Speaking of the Zhujiu Clan, Yan Xining pointed to the two middle-aged women in the team: "Why are there two female relatives in there? What's the situation?" Chu Liao rarely had women beheaded in public, and the head of a family was usually beheaded. After the crime, the female relatives will be exiled or used as official prostitutes.Unless the circumstances are particularly bad, the death penalty will be imposed.

It’s okay not to mention this, but Wu Chengkai gritted his teeth in anger when he mentioned this: "They are human teeth, they used their status to lure women from good families to harm the men of the Yao family. During the interrogation, it was found that they had kidnapped and trafficked children. Originally, these two were I want to be exiled, but the prince said that such a person is an unforgivable crime of abducting women and children."

Yan Xining's blood rushed to his head, and his hands trembled slightly: "Human traffickers are unforgivable!"

No matter in which era, children are the treasures of their parents.If a child in a family is abducted, the blow to the entire family is devastating.Yan Xining gritted his teeth with hatred: "You're right, hacking them to death is really too cheap for them."

These people should be lingering, throwing pieces of minced meat to the dogs.

Wu Chengkai's eyes flashed with a strange brilliance: "But for those people who are greedy for life and afraid of death, the road to the execution ground is not easy."

While speaking, the criminals had slowly walked to the edge of the square.Seeing the gleaming knives in the hands of the executioners, some of them were already paralyzed uncontrollably, and some of them even urinated and made a lot of ugly appearances.

The soldiers of the Chiling Army carried these people like chicks and placed them in the field. The people on the edge of the square shouted angrily: "Kill them! Kill them!"

The tidy shouts resounded throughout the world, and everyone's chest resonated. They wanted this group of fish and meat villagers who did all kinds of crimes to pay the price in blood.

As the soldiers of the Chi Ling Army removed the shackles from the prisoners' necks, the prisoners seemed to have lost all their strength.Some of them were crying, some were paralyzed, and some had passed out after rolling their eyelids.

Seeing their ugliness, the onlookers felt extremely happy.

The executioners have long been accustomed to this kind of scene, and they have special tools to deal with people who are limp on the ground.I saw that they took out a small wooden stool from behind. There was a groove in the middle of the stool, which was just right for people to rest their necks on.

When each prisoner had a small stool under his neck, the shouts of the people became more and more orderly.Everyone's eyes were fixed on the movements of the executioners, for fear of missing something.

The executioners drew out the long knives around their waists, and each of them took a big gulp from the water and wine on the side.After hearing a "poof", water and wine were sprayed on the bright knives by the executioners.

As one person shouted loudly: "The time has come—" the sharp long knife was raised high and swung down heavily.The voices of the people seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, and there was a moment of silence in the execution ground.

In the next moment, more than a dozen round human heads rolled down, and the headless body began to sway.Thick blood splashed out from the neck of the corpse, and as the beating of the heart weakened, the height at which the blood could splash became lower and lower.After a while, the blood stopped splattering and flowed down quickly, staining the underground loess red.

The tight string in Yan Xining's heart finally broke, and his eyes couldn't help but get wet.Dead, this group of people who endangered one side is finally dead!

After a moment of silence, the people burst into loud cheers: "Kill it! Kill it!"

Hearing the cheers of the people, Yan Xining sniffled: "It's not easy..." He, an outsider, would feel happy seeing such a scene, let alone the authorities?The people of Liangzhou have been looking forward to this moment for too long.

The common people gathered at the entrance of the vegetable market and were reluctant to leave. Wu Chengkai saluted Yan Xining: "Princess, the corpse of the corrupt official will be disposed of first, so excuse me."

Yan Xining nodded slightly: "Thank you, General Wu." If Wu Chengkai hadn't brought him here, how could he have seen such a shocking beheading scene?

After a pause, Yan Xining asked a question: "By the way, what should we do with the corpses of these corrupt officials? Will the government be responsible for burying them?" The family members of the corrupt officials have been exiled, so they probably have no chance to collect the corpses of the corrupt officials.

Wu Chengkai cleared his throat: "The lord has ordered that the corpses of all beheaded corrupt officials must be hung on the city wall for half a month. If someone claims it after half a month, they can leave with the body. If no one claims it after half a month, the officials will find another Bury them everywhere."

Yan Xining:! ! !

As expected of Ji Song, it really was Thunder's method.It's just that the corpse hangs for half a month... Yan Xining looked up at the sky, this weather hangs for half a month, can people leave near the city wall?However, the climate in Liangzhou is dry, maybe it will dry out?Like old bacon.

After drinking the almond milk, Yan Xining and Bai Tao went downstairs with emotion.Bai Tao rubbed his chest and said, "Master, I thought I would be very scared when I saw a murder. But seeing a corrupt official being killed, why am I so happy?"

Yan Xining smiled and said, "Me too. Maybe it's because corrupt officials are so hateful?"

Just as the two were holding their short legs and preparing to leave, an uncertain voice came from the side: "Princess?"

Yan Xining turned her head in surprise, only to see a white-haired old man looking at her excitedly.Yan Xining remembered that he had met this old man on the official road before.The light in the old man's eyes lit up: "It's the princess! Folks, he is Princess Rong! If it weren't for him, the Yao family would still be running amok."

The old man's property was taken over by the Yao family, before he met Yan Xining, in order to get justice for himself, the old man tried various methods.However, the officialdom in Liangzhou only showed him what it means to protect each other between officials and officials, and what it means to reverse black and white.

It was precisely because of Yan Xining's yelling on the official road that the poor people had the opportunity to sue.The old man brought a lot of evidence to find Princess Rong, and then the Yao family was beheaded.

In his opinion, Rong Wang and his wife are the ones who bring him hope.Now that he could meet the princess again in Pingchang City, the old man was so moved that he was almost speechless.

The old man tremblingly wanted to kneel down for Yan Xining, but Yan Xining quickly helped him up: "Old man, please get up."

The old man held Yan Xining's hand tightly: "Thank you, Princess, thank you..."

Yan Xining spoke righteously: "You don't need to thank me, Mr. Actually, I didn't do anything. Corrupt officials who do unrighteous actions will kill themselves."

The old man's call attracted the attention of the surrounding people, and Yan Xining was immediately surrounded by the people.They rushed to greet Yan Xining, and everyone had grateful and trusting smiles on their faces.

Looking at the smiling faces, Yan Xining felt as if her head had been hit by something.Ask yourself, he really does very little for the people.After entering Pingchang City, all things were done by Ji Song and Chiling Army soldiers, and he just lay flat, so what qualifications do he have to be appreciated by the people?

He deserves the gratitude of the people.This feeling of guilt reached its peak when he managed to squeeze out of the crowd - he found that the basket on the back of his short legs was full of fresh vegetables and fruits.

The people of Liangzhou have been persecuted by corrupt officials for many years, and their lives are poor.However, in this case, they still gave themselves the best things.

Yan Xining's heart was heavy. On the way back, he kept thinking about a question: What can he do for the people of Liangzhou?

By the time Ji Song finished dealing with today's affairs and returned to Prince Rong's mansion, it was already very late.He looked up at the sky, the sky was dark without a single star, today's sky was so stuffy that people couldn't breathe.

Yan Ke pushed Ji Song towards the yard, suddenly he sniffled: "Master, do you smell anything?"

After sniffing, Ji Song said firmly, "The smell of beef noodles." It was indeed a wise decision to bring the cook, Zhang Zhang, to Liangzhou, at least the subordinates could still have something warm to eat at home after a tiring day.

Yan Ke became excited: "Yes, it's beef noodles, the master has a better sense of smell."

Ji Song lowered his voice and said: "You should keep your voice down, the concubine may have fallen asleep, don't wake him up."

Yan Ke quickly lowered his voice: "Yes, let's keep it quiet."

However, when they got to the yard, they found that the main room was lit with lights.Ji Song murmured in his heart: "Could it be that Ah Ning hasn't slept yet?"

Just as he finished speaking, Yan Xining came out from the arched door beside the west corridor: "Are you back? Just in time, Lao Zhang is making beef noodles for us, come quickly."

Ji Song thought that Yan Xining's "we" was referring to Bai Tao and him, so he looked over to the arched door, good guys, Pang Wenyuan, Wu Chengkai, Han Jin, Wang Chunfa and the others were holding bowls bigger than their heads and eating. .Take a closer look at more than a dozen brothers squatting in the courtyard, and there are still people queuing at the door of the kitchen.

Ji Song: ...

Yan Ke froze on the spot: "Brothers, you are going too far. You are eating and drinking here, and you don't wait for us?"

Wang Chunfa said: "Boss, you have wronged us. We only let Lao Zhang serve noodles after seeing you leave the gate of the governor's mansion. By the way, boss, the beef noodles with chili oil are so delicious, do you really like it?" Why don't you come?"

Lao Zhang, the cook in the kitchen, is very busy. Liangzhou noodles are of good quality. After kneading and proofing, they can be pulled into noodles. Everyone can ask Lao Zhang to pull out noodles of different thicknesses according to their preferences.Lao Zhang also prepared fried eggs, each egg is golden and oily, soaked in beef soup, the taste is amazing.

Fearing that Lao Zhang would not perform well in the presence of himself, Yan Xining and Ji Song sat together under the eaves of the courtyard.After a busy day, it's a treat to sit down and have a quiet conversation.

Hearing the sound of eating noodles in the small courtyard, Ji Song missed Wen Zhangyuan a little bit: "This wall is a little in the way." The kitchen of the new palace is in a separate small courtyard, separated from the courtyard by a wall.In fact, this is the correct way to open the Gaomen compound. After all, in the traditional cognition of Chu Liao, a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen. It is not a good thing to see the kitchen as soon as you go out.

However, after staying in Wenzhangyuan for several months, Ji Song felt that the kitchen was a very good place.There is food in the kitchen, so I don't panic.

Yan Xining smiled and said: "I think so too, let's tear down this wall when brothers are free." He likes to enter the kitchen without obstacles, and it is difficult to talk through a wall.

At this time, Yan Ke walked out of the kitchen with a large bowl of beef noodles: "Master~ the noodles you want are here~"

The beef soup stewed by Lao Zhang is fragrant for miles, and thin noodles are soaked in the clear soup.The noodles are covered with thick slices of meat and green coriander. Next to the coriander are two golden fried eggs, plus the chili oil cooked by the princess... Smelling it makes my mouth water, Yan Ke resisted drinking The impulse to take a sip of soup quickly walked towards the eaves of the corridor.

But after he took a step or two, something landed on his forehead.

"Pa" a large drop of rain fell on Yan Ke's forehead, and before Yan Ke could react, more raindrops fell.At this time, there was a faint sound of thunder in the sky, and Yan Ke was overjoyed: "Master! It's raining!"

A sound of thunder exploded over Liangzhou from far and near, and the bean-sized raindrops hit the dry land. The land that had been thirsty for two months finally ushered in a hearty rain.