The poetry meet of Skycloud Pavilion was divided into two parts. The inner part was the garden inside the hall. It was surrounded by rockery, lakes, and pavilions. The oil lamps on the stone lamp bases illuminated the whole garden like a splendid fairyland. The snowflakes were like dandelions drifting from afar, creating a snow-white romantic atmosphere.
Of course, only the nobles who received the invitation could enter the inner part. They were either from aristocratic families or officials. Ordinary people were not qualified to step into the garden unless they were extremely talented.
The outer part was limited to the outer court and the hall. The outer court was deserted and empty with nothing interesting, let alone the scenery inside the garden. Naturally, no one lingered around. The hall was brightly lit. The poor scholars and the rich gathered in groups of three to five. There were two long rows of tables in the middle with delicacies on them. The wine was the best Huadiao wine, all of which was free.
Occasionally, the attendants in the garden could be heard announcing something. This was also what everyone was looking forward to, because they wanted to know who would get the chance to make a wish today.
Every time Skycloud Pavilion held a poetry meet, they would select the best work and the author would get a chance to make a wish. It was said that any wish could be fulfilled in Skycloud Pavilion.
The attendant first announced the young master's name in a loud and clear voice. Then, he read out his work for today and what kind of evaluation it had received from so-and-so. After that, he read out the score given by the scholars of Heavenly Cloud Pavilion. If all seven scholars gave an excellent evaluation, he would be the top scholar for today.
There was only one quota for making a wish in every poetry meet. Of course, there was only one literary champion. Whoever was chosen first would be the winner. Even if there were more excellent works after that, they would not get the chance to make a wish.
As usual, Chang Zhizhen disguised herself as a rich man and entered the outer part with two of her friends. Of course, not everyone could enter the outer part. One needed to compose a poem and register it in the register. Moreover, the poem could not be repeated every time. This was the most basic requirement of Skycloud Pavilion. Otherwise, the entire Fengyue Manor would not be able to accommodate anyone if they could just come in.
Chang Zhizhen had done some research on poetry in addition to cultivation, so it was not difficult for her to compose one.
The three of them entered one after another, pretending to be ordinary scholars. The people outside gathered in groups of three to five and discussed the poem. Occasionally, someone would have a flash of inspiration and recite an excellent poem. At this time, the servants would send the poem to the Pleasing Heart Pavilion for the scholars to evaluate it. If the poem received seven excellent grades, they would also get a chance to make a wish.
Admitting that he had no talent, he waited by the window as usual, waiting for the climax of today's poetry meet.
Chang Zhizhen was mixed in with these people, observing the situation at Happy Heart Pavilion.
The Pleasing Heart Pavilion was located in the middle of the lake. Looking from the main hall, it was the side of the Pleasing Heart Pavilion. The seven scholars sat facing the lake as usual, with attendants coming in and out from time to time.
The young masters and ladies who were invited lingered in the pavilions, small boats, and artificial mountains, chatting with each other. Their topics ranged from poetry to national affairs, from national affairs to the situation, from the situation to dressing up, from dressing up to taste, and from taste to cultivation. They covered a wide range of topics, many of which were beyond the imagination of commoners.
Listening to their discussion, Chang Zhizhen had to admit a fact: a person's status determined his height. His vision, knowledge, and way of speaking would also increase correspondingly. The first generation was nouveau riche, the second generation was also nouveau riche, but after accumulating for three generations, he would become a noble. One's foundation was indispensable, and there was indeed a world of difference between them and ordinary people.
There were many people in this world who did not dare to face reality, but sadly, the hard work they put in could not bear the weight of their ambitions.
This time, Chang Zhizhen observed very carefully, focusing on the people behind the few most influential families.
After an hour, there was finally a trace of abnormality. The number of people in the hall had decreased again. At this time, a person dressed as an attendant was whispering something into Wei Jun's ear.
Hearing this, Wei Jun's face revealed an expression of ecstasy, and he immediately said, "Quick, take me there!"
No matter how high Chang Zhizhen's cultivation was, he could not hear the attendant's whisper. He could only watch as Wei Jun was taken away. His heart was anxious, but he did not dare to act rashly.
At this time, a subordinate came over and whispered, "Milord, the brothers watching outside have sent out a signal."
Chang Zhizhen's eyes flashed, and she said, "You guys continue to keep watch!" She then pretended to leave and walked out of Wind Moon Manor, entering a private residence.
The bailiff who was watching here immediately reported, "Milord, someone has been taken away."
"Is it Wei Jun?" Chang Zhizhen asked excitedly. This was the first time she had found a clue.
"It's Miss Fang," the bailiff said.
"Fang Junyi?" Chang Zhizhen was startled.
"Yes," the bailiff said.
Chang Zhizhen frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Don't worry about Wei Jun for now. Where has Fang Junyi been taken?"
"Milord, the brothers tracking her will leave marks along the way. We will know once we follow them."
"Lead the way."
In about the time it took to drink two cups of tea, the two of them followed the marks to the outside of a residence. The bailiff in charge of tracking hurried over and said, "Milord, they've gone in."
"Is there anyone else besides Fang Junyi?" Chang Zhizhen asked.
"No, it's just her," the bailiff said.
Chang Zhizhen said, "The two of you keep watch outside. Send a signal if anything happens. I will go in and take a look."
After speaking, she went around the wall to the backyard, leaned against the wall, and listened for a moment. She tapped the ground with her toes and lightly leaped over the wall. The moment she landed, she hid behind a tree.
This was a small residence. The front yard was empty, and there was no smell of smoke. It did not look like someone lived here.
There was a light in the direction of the master bedroom, illuminating the two of them.
"Where is Lord Lu? Didn't Young Master Yan want to see me? Why, why is it … it's you … "
Chang Zhizhen could tell that it was Fang Junyi's voice. She carefully moved closer to the master bedroom.
"Do you know me?" A deep male voice spoke.
"You, you are …" Fang Junyi seemed to want to reveal his identity.
"Say no more. I have no status here. I hope that Miss Junyi will also forget your own status. Let us go together and have a good time," the male voice said.
"What are you saying … I, I want to go home. It's too late. Father will be worried …" Fang Junyi's voice was a little panicked.
The male voice let out a low laugh, and said, "Where's your pride? I like your high and mighty attitude. You're a little like her. I really can't stand it … "
Chang Zhizhen felt that the voice sounded familiar, but she could not remember who it was.
"Ah, no, let go of me …" Fang Junyi cried for help. "What are you doing? You bastard, pervert, disgusting bug! Don't, don't, let go of me …"
Chang Zhizhen's eyes were about to spit fire, but because she did not want to alert the enemy, she restrained herself.
"That's right, that's right. You have to display your pride. Otherwise, how are you any different from a woman in a brothel?" The male voice seemed to have a hint of joy in it, and the sound of ripping cloth continued.
"Save me, save me … someone, save me … no, I beg you, let me go … wuwuwu … I don't want to …"
"No, no, begging for mercy so soon? That's too disappointing …"
Chang Zhizhen could no longer hold himself back. Just as he was about to rush in, he was suddenly enveloped by a terrifying killing intent. His body stiffened, and in the next moment, a boundless force of Qi pressed down from above his head.
He had no choice but to leap backwards. When he raised his head, his expression changed greatly. "It's you!"
A black-clothed man stood on the roof, holding a staff in his hand. He said with a smile that was not a smile, "Since you know something that you shouldn't know, I can only ask you to die."
With that said, he suddenly waved his staff, and a visible circular force of Qi tore through the air.
"A first-grade martial artist!" Chang Zhizhen's pupils suddenly contracted, and he leapt backwards again, landing on top of the wall. But just as he landed, he felt a sense of danger. He did not know when two black-clothed men had appeared under the wall, but two black sabers silently slashed at his ankles.
His feet did not move, but his wrists turned, and two Emei Piercers appeared in his hands. At the same time, a cold light flashed, and two heads flew into the sky. He took the opportunity to block the hidden weapons that filled the sky.
Two more black-clothed men appeared from the snow. Chang Zhizhen spun in mid-air, and the Emei Piercers pierced into their chests from both sides. Then, with a golden hook, he kicked the two men away, and borrowed the force to fly backwards.
All of these movements were done in one go, and only a second-grade martial artist could do it.
The black-clothed man on the roof smiled coldly, and slightly loosened his hand. The staff carried an indescribable momentum, and suddenly broke through the obstruction of space, arriving in front of Chang Zhizhen in the blink of an eye.
Chang Zhizhen only had time to block the attack with the Emei Piercers, and the copious force broke through the surface of his body, and his internal organs were instantly smashed. He flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, and then fell on the horse path a dozen steps away. There were already two corpses there, and they were the two constables.
He vomited blood, and the ground below him was soon covered in blood. But he did not give up, and while vomiting blood, he crawled towards the house beside the horse path, as if he still wanted to ask for help.
His eyes were fixed on the brass ring on the door, and he used all of his strength to grab it. Unfortunately, he lost his strength halfway, and his body softly slid to the ground. His hand scratched the white red paper on the door — an old "fu" sticker from last year — and left a long bloody handprint.
He fell under the door, and his eyes gradually lost their spirit. "Bao 'er, Yue Jiao, I'm sorry …"
A black-clothed man ran over, and took his pulse. He stood up and reported, "Sir, he is dead. What should we do with this family? "
"Kill them all."
…
The next day, after the morning court.
In the main hall of the Supreme Court, Yan Li looked at the small mountain of documents, and only felt a headache. He sighed, and reluctantly opened an official document. On it was a case of a concubine of an aristocrat in a small county of Jiangling, who had colluded with her husband to kill him. The county magistrate judged that she had lost her chastity, and was extremely vicious, and sentenced her to capital punishment.
The capital punishment here meant death, and the difference was the method of death. For a woman like this who did not abide by the ways of a woman, the way of death was usually more miserable.
But this aristocrat's concubine refused to admit it, and even accused the county magistrate and the aristocrat's younger brother of colluding to frame her. The county magistrate was accused, and the state government could not decide on their own, so the case was sent to the Supreme Court for a decision.
At this time, if the Supreme Court could not make a decision, they would have to send someone to investigate.
But Yan Li could tell at a glance that the concubine was lying. If the county magistrate was that kind of person, she had no way to appeal, much less have the Supreme Court "refute according to the law," and "argue."
Other than those sent by the local magistrate, there were also those sent by the capital magistrate. Yan Li's duty was to examine the cases one by one to avoid any unjust or false cases, and then convict. If it was capital punishment, it had to be sent to the Hall of Governmental Affairs for the Emperor to make a decision, and the Supreme Court officials could only give suggestions.
These were Yan Li's daily work.
In less than five minutes, he was already beginning to feel annoyed.
Just as he was thinking of a way to get rid of these trivial matters, Zhao Qiping walked in, cupped his hands, and said, "Sir, Sir Fang requests an audience."
"Which Sir Fang?" Yan Li said lazily.
"Assistant Minister Fang, Sir Fang," Zhao Qiping said.
Yan Li suddenly smiled, "Oh, that idiot woman's father, let him in."
Fang Xianhuai entered the door and bowed to Yan Li, then said, "Sir Yan, please save my daughter!"
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