Chapter 582 A scholar dies for his confidant
Mou Bin was frightened when he saw this special way of greeting between the old friends.

Zhang Luan was about to step forward.

Zhang Yanling hurriedly stopped him: “Father, you are the imperially appointed investigator. If you go to meet with the criminals before receiving the official order, you will be criticized.

“How about this? Let me go and talk to Minister Li first. This way it won’t hinder your handling of the case… What do you think?”

“This one……”

Zhang Luan was hesitating, but when he saw his son winking at him, he nodded immediately, “Yes, I should really avoid suspicion at this time. Captain Mou, what do you think?”

Mou Bin was helpless. Are you two playing a double game? You have already linked the matter to whether or not to trust the emperor. What else can I say? Of course, I can only be a yes-man.

So Mou Bin tried hard to smile, clasped his fists and said, “It would be best if the father-in-law could avoid any contact with the criminal in advance.”

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said, “Then go ahead. Your father will wait for you here.”

“Yes, Father.”

Zhang Yanling was like a good boy. After paying his respects, he quickly walked forward, following Mou Bin, who was feeling very attached to him.

……

……

“Isn’t this Nephew Zhang? Oh, that’s not right. I should call you Uncle Zhang.” When Li Zisheng saw Zhang Luan and his son coming, he suddenly straightened his back for some reason.

He even looked at the prisoners in the surrounding cells whose eyes were red with envy as if in protest.

You guys, weren’t you still mocking me when I came in?
Look, my backer is here!
Although he just came to visit me, I could still feel the strong brotherhood, which is not comparable to ordinary people.

“Minister Li.”

Zhang Yanling stepped forward and bowed respectfully, then introduced the current situation: “My father entered the palace earlier and was personally appointed by His Majesty to supervise your case, but the official order has not yet been issued, so it is not convenient for him to come over and talk to you, so he asked this junior to come over and say a few words to you.”

When Li Zisheng heard this, he was so excited that he almost cried.

Not only did he come to visit me, but he also told me such exciting good news.

My brother Laizhan actually got the authority of presiding judge?

Doesn’t that mean that I… am fine?

Li Zisheng said passionately: “Since Zhang Guozhang is personally judging the case, I will tell you everything I know and will not hide anything… But, I don’t know what caused this case? I have no idea and I really don’t know where to start…”

Until now, Li Zisheng still doesn’t know why he was imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Mou Bin looked nervous and wanted to go over to help Zhang Yanling, meaning that you can’t leak this.

Zhang Yanling seemed to sense something, and glanced at Mou Bin. After using his cold eyes to frighten him, he smiled at Li Zisheng and said, “Minister Li, this case has not been made public yet, and few people know about it. I believe you will understand the specific reasons soon, and it is really inconvenient to reveal it here now.

“Besides, my father did not tell me about this important matter, so I cannot tell you.”

“Ah? Oh, right, right, look at my brain, I won’t ask questions that I shouldn’t ask.”

Li Zisheng responded with an understanding smile.

Zhang Yanling looked at Mou Bin again and asked, “Captain Mou, do you think there is anything wrong with what I said?”

Mou Bin thought, we cut off Li Zisheng’s contact with the outside world, leaving him isolated and helpless, trying to gradually break down his psychological defenses, destroy his confidence, and slowly make him collapse… OK! Now that you and your son are here, all our efforts have been in vain.

The fact that you and your son are standing here, and you personally telling Li Zisheng that your father will be the judge of the case, is enough to make this guy determined and determined.

You have the nerve to ask me if I have any questions?
Of course, Mou Bin did not dare to blame Zhang Yanling, so he could only force a smile and said, “Of course you can.”

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, “Then I have brought my words to you… Because of my father’s special status, he cannot come over to chat with Minister Li for the time being. Please forgive me.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Li Zisheng’s eyes were moist. He looked up at Zhang Luan who was not far ahead. He mustered up his courage and asked in a trembling voice, “Zhang…Uncle Zhang, may I…may I ask you a question, was this case…ordered by His Majesty to be handled urgently?”

“No, no, it was my father who immediately left home and went to the palace to ask for the job from His Majesty after hearing the news about you.”

Zhang Yanling told the truth.

Li Zisheng couldn’t hold it back any longer. Tears welled up in his eyes and he really wanted to burst into tears. However, he suppressed his inner excitement and choked up:
“Please tell your father that I will cooperate with him in solving the case no matter what. Even if it means my death, I will never make it difficult for him.

“Please rest assured. A man will die for his friend. Since he is in charge of supervising this case, my life is not worth mentioning. He will tell me everything he knows. It doesn’t matter if I die. I must get to the bottom of the case and live up to his reputation.”

Mou Bin, who was standing nearby, was a little dumbfounded when he heard this.

I thought, how can this be possible?
Are you, Li Zisheng, just pretending to be important here?
If Zhang Guozhang were to preside over your case, would you be able to confess all the truth without reservation?
If the emperor sends Zhang Guozhang to serve as the chief judge, can this effect be achieved?
Are you guys just cooperating in acting in front of me and letting me be your witness for free?
Zhang Yanling comforted him, “Minister Li, please relax. This case is only at the stage of routine questioning. There is still a process to go before the formal trial!”

“Yes.”

Li Zisheng nodded and said, “Please tell your father that if he needs to ask questions, he can come anytime. I will not hide anything.”

“That’s good.”

Zhang Yanling turned around and said to Mou Bin, “Captain Mou, I have completed the task my father entrusted to me. Can I leave now?”

“please.”

Mou Bin was somewhat embarrassed.

Faced with the complicated situation before him, he himself was somewhat caught off guard and was in a completely passive state of acceptance!
At this moment, Mou Bin had no choice but to take Zhang Yanling back to Zhang Luan.

“Zhang Guozhang, I may never have the chance to drink and chat with you again in this life, but we can still be friends in the next life. See you there.”

Li Zisheng was probably too excited, and he took the initiative to tell others that he had a savior to help him, and he shouted at the top of his lungs in the cell.

This made the unlucky officials in the surrounding cells extremely envious.

Li Zisheng is just extraordinary.

On the first day in the imperial prison, Zhang Guozhang, a powerful official who is now famous in the court, came to visit him in person. Maybe he would turn around and get out, but what about us?
They were both involved in the case of treason, and Li Zisheng himself was the most notorious traitor in the previous dynasty. Why was there such a big difference in their treatment?
……

……

Northern Pacification Office.

main courtyard.

After Zhang Luan came out, he nodded politely to Mou Bin and asked, “Captain Mou, am I being too abrupt by doing this?”

Mou Bin thought to himself, this is not only rude, it’s almost like colluding with the prisoner.

But since Li Zisheng said he would tell you everything he knew, we can’t make a final conclusion about whether this matter is good or bad right now. We have to wait and see. “Minister Zhang, you have the emperor’s order to supervise this case. It is your right to do so.”

Mou Bin said respectfully, “I will do my best to cooperate.”

Zhang Luan smiled slightly and continued, “Since you said so, I won’t be polite. I think it’s a bit cold today. I wanted to ask Minister Li’s family to send some things to the prison, but it seems that it’s not very convenient, right?”

“Uh……”

Mou Bin felt embarrassed.

You are the chief judge appointed by the emperor. You have come in person to support him and sent him some warm things. What else can we do?

It’s just a matter of your words!

We should just let it go, how dare we say anything against it?

“How about this.”

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said, “I will pay for it myself, and Captain Mou will find someone to help him get it. This way he will avoid any contact or communication with outsiders.

“I wonder what you think?”

“This… is not necessary. The Northern Pacification Office has everything.”

Mou Bin said quickly.

Zhang Luan shook his head, smiling warmly, “Ah, this won’t do. As a court official, I can’t spend public money… The government should give him what he deserves, and he can’t get any special treatment.

“This money is my sympathy for an old friend in trouble. It is also to prevent the suspect from getting sick from hunger and cold before the formal trial. I can’t report it to my superiors, so I am paying out of my own pocket to buy some things for Li Zisheng… You must not refuse!”

“This this……”

Mou Bin didn’t expect Zhang Luan to do this, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Then Zhang Luan waved to his youngest son.

Zhang Yanling hurriedly took out a small cloth bag from his arms and handed it to Mou Bin, who was stunned on the spot.

“Captain Mou, this is the fifty taels of silver my father asked me to pass on to you. Please accept it!”

Zhang Yanling asked, “I think that’s enough, right?”

“This… is too much money. It doesn’t cost that much to buy winter clothes. Father-in-law, uncle-in-law, you should take the money back!”

Mou Bin quickly pushed it out.

Zhang Luan smiled and said, “Just listen to me. Use the remaining money to buy a glass of wine for the brothers to keep warm. It’s freezing cold, and we may have to trouble them later. Also, I’ll give the gift to Captain Mou later.”

“How…how is this okay?”

Mou Bin was even more shocked. He never expected that Zhang Luan, as a “boss”, would actually give gifts to him, a “subordinate”!

Because no matter what, Mou Bin and Zhang Luan are not people of the same level.

Being able to work for Zhang Luan, a popular figure in front of the emperor, is something that many people in the Jinyiwei would love to do!

He still dares to accept gifts?
Zhang Luan consoled him, “Yes, because I will trouble you a lot from now on. Everyone in the court knows that I have a good relationship with Li Zisheng, but public affairs are public affairs and private affairs are private affairs. In private, I take care of him and take into account our friendship. I will not let him be treated badly… But in official business, I will never show mercy to him. It is what it should be.”

Mou Bin thought to himself, yes, Li Zisheng also said that as long as you are the presiding judge, he is willing to risk his life to tell you everything.

The way you two get along…

Wow, this is something I have never seen before.

How about saying that you guys sympathize with each other?
Or is it more suitable that you two have similar tastes?
“gone.”

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said loudly, “I have to go to court tomorrow morning, so I won’t bother you, Captain Mou. Oh, by the way, Commander Zhu…if you see him, tell him you’re sorry, I can’t wait for him to come over here.”

“Yes, I will convey your meaning to Governor Zhu.”

Mou Bin said quickly.

……

……

Zhang Luan and his son left the Jinyiwei Beizhenfusi Yamen.

“My son, how have you behaved as a father?”

In the carriage, Zhang Luan listened to the gurgling sound of the lake water caused by the north wind and said proudly.

Zhang Yanling said: “There is no good or bad, anyway, our goal has been achieved, and Li Zisheng in the imperial prison has known what is going on.

“And with your support, the people from the Northern Pacification Office will not dare to take unconventional measures against Li Zisheng in advance, making the situation passive from the beginning.”

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: “No matter what Li Zisheng said, he is still the Minister of Rites in a temporary position, a second-rank official in the court, and he has not resigned yet. Who dares to do anything to him?”

“As the saying goes, it’s easier to deal with the King of Hell than with the little devils. The factory guards have thousands of ways to deal with Li Zisheng. They don’t even need to do it themselves. They just need to put Li Zisheng together with the prisoners who have grudges against him. That will be enough to give Li Zisheng a hard time, and no one can find fault with him.”

Zhang Yanling said with a serious face.

“Damn it, why didn’t your father think of such a sinister method?”

Zhang Luan broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.

Zhang Yanling sighed, “In fact, in this case, it is obvious that someone is using Li Zisheng as a scapegoat and then trying to implicate you. So, it is the best strategy for you and Li Zisheng to advance and retreat together. You are not only helping your friend, but also yourself.”

Zhang Luan had a sad expression on his face: “It’s all my fault, father. Maybe I should have listened to you… Now that I’m the father-in-law of the emperor, there’s really no need to get so close to Li Zisheng. This is why… Alas!”

Zhang Yanling smiled and joked, “Dad, are you willing to part ways with Li Zisheng? How generously he treats you? All kinds of beauties are sent to your bed, and all kinds of extravagant enjoyments are satisfied… I guess this is also the reason why you can’t refuse him, right?”

“Bah, you little brat, you’re making fun of your father again, aren’t you?”

Zhang Luan quickly changed the subject, “Father, I remember now, you said that those people wanted to target you this time, but you are actually in the same boat, right?

“Haha, it’s rare that we are all together and in the same boat. Now that Li Zisheng is trapped, I don’t have any ideas… Who would have thought that we would have to rely on you to come up with a plan to resolve the crisis?”

Zhang Yanling asked, “Isn’t there still a huge housekeeper running around outside?”

Zhang Luan said disdainfully: “He is just a commoner who relies on Li Zisheng for his existence. Now that Li Zisheng is about to fall, what can he do? If he asks for help, he will only run into a wall! Who knows, someone might arrest him and send him to the government office.

“The atmosphere in the court is really bad. When you are in high spirits, everyone tries to curry your favor. But once you lose power, everyone starts to push you down, as if they are determined to do something to the end!”

(End of this chapter)