第五十一章(2 / 2)

春时恰恰归 申丑 0 字 2022-01-06

朱家客气接了请帖,回头见了朱县尉拿主意。朱县尉拿火点了请帖,道:“叔父只当没见,苟家这滩混水,不与朱家相干。苟二恶行,天理难容,此番想翻身,难于上青天。”

朱族长沉吟,问道:“百足之虫,死而不僵。苟二是个有见地的,这些年经营下来,非朱家可及。宜州通判与苟家有交,不知得了苟家多少金银,少不得要与苟家周旋一番。”

朱县尉摇头:“季明府何等身份?苟家撞在他手里,也是老天开眼,要与那二十四亡魂做主。”

朱族长摸着胡子来回踱步,又问:“不可为?”

朱县尉摇头:“不可为。”又道,“苟家此案骇人听闻,不说明府,便是我也想为那些亡魂得一个公道。”

朱族长默然不语,低声问道:“那苟二怎会做下丧心病狂之事。一个两个便罢,竟有二十四人之多,真是……真是……”

他摇摇头,定了主意。不去苟家,却带着长随去了牛家,行到半途,拐去药材铺买了鹿茸虎鞭,拿匣子装了探望要死的牛父。

苟老翁等得菜凉也不见人上门,凄然长叹:“世态炎凉,从来只有锦上添花,哪有雪中送炭的。”

苟家上下顿时呜咽一片。

苟老翁仗着年老,见了季蔚琇,求探苟二一面。季蔚琇深思片刻,同意他去探监,却又令沈拓跟着。

苟老翁长眉长须,面目平和,倒是和善模样,对沈拓道:“人之境遇委实难料,都头少年之时只在街头巷尾厮混。我还与家中老妻道:少年行差踏错,好生的模样,将来一个无赖流氓。不曾想,都头竟投了明府的眼,年青有为。”

沈拓不理,只走在他身侧领路,不发一语。

苟老翁微皱下眉头,复又呵呵一笑,道:“是老夫无趣了。”又问,“都头可怜老汉,让老汉与苟二私下说话?”

沈拓不肯,道:“明府有令,重犯不得私见,苟老还是依命行事比较妥当。”

苟老翁无奈,见了苟二。苟二正靠那发呆,见了苟老翁,目中灼灼之光,扑将过来道:“阿翁救我。”

苟老翁老泪纵横,道:“二郎,阿翁无能。”伸手摸摸苟二面颊,“牛朱两家生性凉薄,自古人情相见只在初,有几个桃园杀白马?二郎,鱼死网破啊。”

苟二听了怔愣半晌,埋头痛哭。

沈拓皱眉,将苟老翁的话一字一字在心中默记。事毕回头见季蔚琇,将牢中之事一点不漏,从头到尾学了一遍。

季蔚琇坐在书案前,刚写的信字迹未干,皱眉听了,道:“此案我细理一遍,那苟二必然不肯如何束手。”

沈拓惊道:“他莫非想脱罪?可是白日发梦。”

烛光在季蔚琇的眉目间跳跃,染了一片晕黄,他慢声道:“苟二犯案已逾十多年,最早身死的都已腐朽白骨,观他行事,并不隐密,杀了之后抛尸河底。桃溪隔年便要征役夫挖泥通河,那些尸骨如何藏得住?偏偏,偏偏他就是藏了十多年。那二十四具尸骸,除了卖花女与那曾阿久,其余竟不知来历名姓,纵是奴仆买卖也要备与县衙,可他们呢?竟似不在人间。”

沈拓喉中发涩:“历任县令……”

“他们便是不知十,也知之□□。”季蔚琇一掌拍在案上,“却是收受苟家的银两,与他遮掩,为他瞒下了滔天的罪过。”

沈拓抬眸,道:“明府不与他们相同,此案大白天下,告二十四亡魂安灵。”

季蔚琇轻笑一声,道:“沈拓,你可知桃溪历任的县令,现在都在何处为?桃溪富庶之地,无关系脉络,何幸来此为官?”

沈拓听得心头发寒,问道:“他们都升迁至何处?又有何人脉依仗?”

季蔚琇不答,只将手中信纸折好放入封中,封了口,递与沈拓:“都头可愿去一趟禹京?这非公文,当是我家信。我与你信物,你去见我兄长,将信交与他,别个无需多问。”

沈拓双手接过信,贴身放入怀中,迟疑片刻又问:“苟家案,可会拖累明府?”

季蔚琇笑起来,理了下袖口道:“拖累?他一个桃溪豪绅,恶贯满盈,何德何能能拖累得我?不过费事些。”

沈拓放下心,又道:“只一封书信,怕是惹人起疑。”

季蔚琇道:“我阿兄体弱,常年温养。千桃寺上好的桃胶,可入药,你替我送与兄长。”

沈拓揖礼领命。

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