I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 22 Child Bride

After waiting for half an hour, the people from Shuntian Prefecture had not arrived yet.

Lin Shisan looked at the innocent and lovely Wang Xiaochuan.

She was already an orphan, and if no one adopted her she would have to be sent to the orphanage in Shuntian Prefecture.

After Emperor Taizu founded the country, he set up orphanages in all prefectures and counties to adopt widows, widowers and orphans.

By this dynasty, the nature of the orphanage had changed.

Widows and widowers who live in an orphanage will die within half a year. Even if they die, they are not removed from the list, and the head of the orphanage can get an extra share of the orphanage money.

Orphans sent to the orphanage would not die without knowing why, but when they were in their teens, the orphan would be sold by the orphanage head to rich families as tenants or domestic slaves.

Girls would be sold to brothels to be servants or skinny girls, and when they grew up they would inevitably become prostitutes.

The original intention of Taizu to establish the orphanage was to provide support for the homeless old and young. However, during the Jiajing period, the orphanage became a den for murder and human trafficking. This den was nominally established by the government.

Many of the Ming Dynasty's "ancestral rules" were like this. They were all well-intentioned in their original inception, but more than 180 years later, they were all distorted by the officials who implemented them.

The "ancestral system" has become a protective umbrella for officials to make huge profits and make a fortune. Otherwise, why do civil servants always like to say "the ancestral system cannot be violated"?
Lin Shisan couldn't bear to send Wang Xiaochuan, the innocent little girl, to the orphanage.

He rowed his head and muttered to himself, "How could I forget about this?"

His son Hu'er was the only son in three generations. As a grandfather, Lin Youniu doted on this fat grandson. A few days ago, Lin Youniu was still nagging Lin Shisan: "Hurry up and find a way to buy a child bride for my eldest grandson."

Chen Ju asked, "What did you forget?"

Lin Shisan said perfunctorily: "Nothing."

He thought to himself: This little girl is two or three years older than Hu'er, and they are a good match in age. Look at her fair and tender face, she will definitely be a beauty when she grows up. It would be better to take her home and let Hu'er be a child bride.

When she grows up, if she is willing to marry Hu'er, I will arrange a wedding for them. If not, I will treat her as my daughter and send her off to marry.

Thinking of this, Lin Shisan has made up his mind to adopt this poor girl.

Lin Shisan is a very kind person and always likes to do good things.

He knew his own limitations well. Just because of the word "good", he would never work for the Northern Pacification Office in his lifetime.

In the Northern Pacification Office, people with good intentions will not have a good end. Those who can get along there are all cruel and vicious beasts.

Having said that, Lin Shisan couldn't choose not to join the Northern Pacification Division if he wanted to. Of course, this is a story for later.

At about 3 p.m. in the afternoon, Master Hong led the prosecutor of Shuntian Prefecture, the chief clerk of the criminal department, the chief detective of homicide, the coroner, the constables, and several dozen others to the Niangniang Temple.

The detective in Shuntian Prefecture was named Liang. He had been a veteran in the field for thirty years and was very good at investigating homicide cases.

Master Hong introduced Liang Tui Guan: "They are the witnesses who found the body. One is the lieutenant of the elephant training school, one is the servant of the rich man in Wanping County, and the other is a fat lieutenant. Hey, where are the people?"

Lin Shisan bowed and said, "I am Lin Shisan. I'd like to greet you, Master Tuiguan."

Liang Tuiguan stroked his white beard and said, "No need for polite words. You two are witnesses. After we have inspected the crime scene, performed an autopsy and moved the body, you two will follow me back to Shuntian Prefecture to record your testimony."

Lin Shisan said, "Master Magistrate, we still have work to do. We have to wait until tomorrow to record the evidence."

Liang Tuiguan looked displeased: "You are quite busy. Don't you know that human life is at stake?"

Master Hong chimed in: "Lin Shisan, how can taking a private job to help a local rich man in Wanping find his lost stupid dog be a serious job?"

Although Lao Hong took a total of six taels of silver from Lin Shisan twice, he did not dare to protect Lin Shisan after thinking about it. At most, he would return the silver.

Liang Tui Guan said sternly: "According to the Ming Dynasty official system, Tangtie Xiaowei is not considered a member of the Jinyiwei. He is just a white-collar servant who helps the Jinyiwei. Right?" Lin Shisan bowed: "Master Tui Guan is right."

Liang Tuiguan said, "I am a sixth-rank magistrate of the imperial court, in charge of criminal cases and lawsuits in Shuntian. I have the authority to take a white-collar soldier back to the yamen in lockup."

Master Hong echoed: "Lin Shisan, if you were a registered lieutenant of the Jinyiwei, even our prefect couldn't arrest you. But you just paid for the Tang Tie, so our Magistrate can arrest you at any time."

Lin Shisan was helpless and looked at Chen Ju.

Chen Ju was helpless. Although Gao Zhong had told him to keep a low profile, at the critical moment, he had to reveal his identity and use his power to gain influence.

Chen Ju said to Liang Tuiguan: "Come closer."

Liang Tuiguan cursed: "Where did this filthy and filthy person come from? How dare a servant let me get close to him?"

Chen Ju had no choice but to show his badge: "I am Chen Ju, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department. We are working for the former eunuch Gao, the seal holder of the Imperial Horse Department."

Upon hearing this, Liang Tuiguan did not dare to disregard it, and asked Mr. Hong to take the badge and pass it to him.

Master Hong stole a few glances at the badge and cursed in his heart: Lin Shisan, you didn't tell me the truth! You are actually looking for Gao Zhong's dog! No, I have to report this news to the Dali Temple.

The Dali Temple was one of the three judicial departments of the Ming Dynasty. Zhao Zhenji, a student of Xu Jie, the second assistant of the cabinet, was now the Minister of the Dali Temple.

Since ancient times, nobles have all had a dagger in their sleeves.

Emperor Jiajing controlled the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard; Yan's party controlled the Ministry of Justice's Inspectorate; and Xu's party controlled the Left Temple of the Dali Temple.

The left wing of the Dali Temple was responsible for reviewing illegal cases of officials from the six ministries, the imperial guards, and the five prefectures. Among them were a group of experts who specialized in handling secret missions.

Mr. Hong is not only a secret agent of Shuntian Prefecture, but also the eyes and ears of the Left Temple of Dali Temple stationed in Shuntian Prefecture.

Mr. Hong - a henchman who assists Xu Jie.

Liang Tuiguan looked at the badge and said, "Oh? Are you working for Eunuch Gao?"

Lin Shisan bowed and said, "That's right. The mission is urgent. Please forgive me for not being able to go back to Shuntian Prefecture with you tonight."

Liang Tuiguan said, "That's fine. But the testimony must be recorded. When you finish your work, come to Shuntianfu to find me when you have time."

After saying this, Liang Tui Guan led his men into the Niangniang Temple to investigate the murder case.

After an investigation, Liang Tui Guan concluded that the dog rider Wang Laochuan was killed as revenge for the person who lost the dog.

The inquest continued until the sun went down, when the coroner placed the body on a shoulder pole and covered it with a white cloth. The people from Shuntian Prefecture took the victim's body away from the Niangniang Temple and returned to the government office.

Lin Shisan and Chen Ju looked at Wang Xiaochuan, waiting for Sun Yue to return.

At 2:15 pm on the evening of You, Sun Yue finally returned to the Niangniang Temple, leading a dwarf mule that carried the dog-catching equipment that his master had instructed him to get.

Lin Shisan carefully counted the supplies for catching dogs: "Dried datura flowers, honey, empty wine jars, hares, axes. Oops!"

Chen Ju's expression changed: "What's wrong?"

Lin Shisan was a little annoyed: "I forgot to ask Sun Yue to buy something important."

Chen Ju asked, "What is it? Is it too late to buy it now? Will it delay our search for the dog?"

Lin Shisan panted heavily while speaking: "That's not the case. I forgot to ask him to buy our dinner and midnight snack."

(End of this chapter)