I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 40 Everyone has their own intentions, and the case is strange

soon.

The news spread that Ouyang Xiu was suspected of "using Zhang's capital to buy land and establish a household."

As a Hanlin bachelor of the imperial court, he not only committed incest, but also embezzled the bride price from his niece.

As soon as this news came out, there was an uproar among the people.

The common people don't distinguish between true and false, they are only responsible for scolding.

Ouyang Xiu's reputation was disgraced.

Like a mouse crossing the street, everyone shouts and beats them.

His articles and calligraphy were also torn up and burned by some angry scholars.

A generation of Emperor Wenzong turned into a beast in disguise in the blink of an eye.

Jian Yuan right said Qian Mingyi took advantage of the situation.

Immediately, an impeachment memorial was submitted, saying that Ouyang Xiu "had personal interests in the Zhang family and defrauded his wealth" and should be sentenced severely.

Jia Changchao and Chen Zhizhong immediately petitioned Ouyang Xiu for a heavy sentence.

These memorials clearly put pressure on Su Anshi, the judge of the Third Division of Household Affairs who presided over the trial.

Soon, Su Anshi got the Ouyang family's land deed and confirmed that the field deed was indeed exchanged by Ouyang Xiu for Zhang's dowry.

The evidence is getting increasingly unfavorable to Ouyang Xiu.

……

into the night.

After Su Liang left Kaifeng Mansion, he did not go home. Instead, he rented a carriage and came to the back door of Ouyang Xiu Mansion.

Wearing a bamboo hat and black clothes, he knocked on the back door of Ouyang's house.

As the supervisor overseeing Ouyang Xiu's incest case, Su Liang found it against the rules to meet Ouyang Xiu in private.

But he couldn't help but wanted to ask Ouyang Xiu himself.

The person who opened the door for Su Liang was a middle-aged man.

Seeing Su Liang wearing a cloak and looking unfamiliar, he couldn't help but ask, "May I ask who the master is?"

"Su Liang and Su Jingming invite Bachelor Ouyang to meet him!"

Although Su Liang is not a high-ranking official, his reputation in Bianjing City is still quite high.

"Please wait a moment, Censor Su."

Immediately, the middle-aged man quickly reported inside.

After a while.

Su Liang was led to the back hall.

Ouyang Xiu, who had withered hair and a tired look, and seemed to have aged ten years suddenly, walked out slowly.

"Su Xiaoyou, as the supervisor, it is against the rules for you to come to see me secretly at this time. If someone finds out, your future will be ruined." Ouyang Xiu said.

Su Liang said sternly: "In Su Liang's eyes, Bachelor Ouyang Yong is the backbone of the Song Dynasty and a role model for scholars all over the world. Su Liang came here and just wanted to ask Bachelor Ouyang to tell him personally that he had incest with Zhang. Is this the truth? "

"Ugh!"

Ouyang Xiu sighed and sat down slowly.

"Even if I'm full of mouths now, I'm afraid I still can't explain it clearly. No matter how shameless I, Ouyang Xiu, am, I can't do such a dirty thing!" Ouyang Xiu almost choked with sobs.

At this time, no one would believe him no matter what he said, and this helplessness made him almost desperate.

Hearing this, Su Liang felt relieved.

""Wang Jiangnan" is..."

"It was definitely not my doing!"

"Then...then...what about using Zhang's capital to buy land and establish a household?"

"This matter...this matter is indeed my fault. My sister lost her husband early and was in a depressed mood. As for Mr. Zhang, her husband's family is rich, so I thought of using this money as my sister's pension expenses, but I never thought... Alas, I have never misappropriated a penny!"

Hearing this, Su Liangquan understood.

The incest with the Zhang family is false, and the fact that the Zhang family bought land and established a household is true, but Ouyang Xiu never embezzled a penny, and all of it was bought by the Ouyang family.

Su Liang chose to believe Ouyang Xiu.After the two chatted for a few words, Su Liang stood up.

"Sister Ouyang, I know the truth and am willing to believe you. I will definitely not let you suffer unjust injustice!"

After saying that, Su Liang left quickly.

……

The next day, dusk.

The presiding judge Su Anshi handed over the compiled case to the chamberlains Wang Zhaoming and Su Liang.

When the two of them saw it, they couldn't help but frown.

Before Su Liang could speak, Wang Zhaoming spoke first.

"Judge Su, is it too hasty to conclude the case like this?"

"Based on Zhang's confession, how can you conclude that your nephew and uncle committed incest? Then how can you be sure that "Wang Jiangnan" was written by Bachelor Ouyang?"

"And the household established by 'purchasing land with Zhang's capital' is Ouyang's household, not Ouyang Xiu's household. Can it be deemed that Ouyang Bachelor has embezzled Zhang's property?"

"Today you have concluded the case like this. If the officials start to investigate carefully tomorrow, you are not afraid of death, but I am afraid of losing my official position!"

These words suddenly confused Su Anshi.

There is actually insufficient evidence for Ouyang Xiu's crime of incest, but there is no evidence for this old incident that happened several years ago.

He could only regard what Zhang said and the song "Wang Jiangnan" as personal and material evidence.

This move can be seen by anyone with a discerning eye, and officials will make their own judgments.

As for Ouyang Xiu's embezzlement of Mo's niece's betrothal money, Ouyang Xiu could not escape punishment because of the land deed.

Su Anshi can be regarded as telling the truth.

But in his words, he was still a little biased towards punishing Ouyang Xiu severely.

After all, the negative impact caused by this matter is too great!

The questioning by the chamberlain Wang Zhaoming was obviously to protect Ouyang Xiu.

Su Anshi and Su Liang are both smart people.

After thinking about it for a moment, the two of them understood everything.

Any chamberlain who can stay in prison for more than five years is definitely a very smart person.

How could Wang Zhaoming not see that Jia Changchao recommended him to supervise the case because he wanted him to avenge his private revenge and convict Ouyang Xiu of a felony.

If he was punished severely, he would have fallen into Jia Changchao's plan.

Wang Zhaoming has been with officials for many years and is very good at figuring out the holy will.

He knew that officials were unwilling to punish Ouyang Xiu severely.

And knowing that Su Liang had an old relationship with Ouyang Xiu, he would also protect Ouyang Xiu.

That's why he dared to speak so favorably to Ouyang Xiu.

Wang Zhaoming added: "Since there is no definite evidence for those old stories, I will write that there is no solid evidence!"

Wang Zhaoming also knew that Ouyang Xiu's crime of defrauding money was difficult to eliminate, so he tried to reduce his crime of seduction.

Su Anshi looked at Su Liang and asked, "What does Su Yushi think?"

"I don't believe that Ouyang Xuesheng committed incest. I suggest that Judge Su try Zhang again to see if he is being used by some people. If this case cannot be found out, why did Zhang insist on having an affair? It is absolutely impossible to close the case if the old story between Ouyang Xueshi and her is revealed!" Su Liang said very firmly.

Su Liang got to the point immediately.

This case was originally an affair between Zhang and Chen Jian. During the confession, Zhang suddenly confessed that he had an affair with Ouyang Xiu, which was already strange.

"Then...I will investigate again!"

Su Anshi nodded, and Su Liang's answer surprised him.

Su Liang not only believed that Ouyang Xiu was innocent, but also believed that someone must be framing Ouyang Xiu.

……

Note: According to the Southern Song Dynasty Li Tao's "Xu Zi Zhi Tong Jian Chang Bian", Ouyang Xiu was demoted to the prefect of Chuzhou because he "sit down and use the items in Zhang's box to buy Ouyang coupons for fields." There is no conclusion on whether he had incest with his niece.In my eyes, although Ouyang Xiu was romantic, he would not do such dirty things. Moreover, Ouyang Xiu was the last official in the court to support the New Deal at that time, so I regarded this matter as a frame-up by Ouyang Xiu's political enemies.

(End of this chapter)