二鬼索命

明朝隆庆年间，湖广德安府孝感县有一个年方十八的秀才，叫许献忠，长得眉清目秀，举止斯文。和许献忠同街居住的屠户萧辅汉，有一个女儿叫萧淑玉，年十七，体态轻盈，容貌秀丽。萧淑玉每天都在临街的楼上绣花，一次许献忠路过，见到萧淑玉，两人四目相望，彼此互生好感。天长日久，两人开始言语交往。

一日，许献忠暗示萧淑玉，想进她房内叙情，萧淑玉默许。当夜许献忠从楼下架起梯子，爬上楼去，和萧淑玉情交意美。两人情意缠绵，不知不觉天已破晓，许献忠恋恋不舍，和萧淑玉约定明晚再来。萧淑玉说在楼下架梯子太明显，一旦有人路过看见，事情就麻烦了，她将准备一匹白布系在一根圆木上，把白布悬在楼下。他只需抓紧白布，她会在楼上拽拉圆木将他拉起。许献忠听后不胜喜悦，次日晚便如此上楼。二人往来半年，邻居们都有所觉察，唯独萧辅汉还蒙在鼓里。

一天早饭后，萧淑玉母亲见女儿还未起来，就上楼来叫。她推开房门一看，女儿已死在血泊之中，身上的首饰都不见了。萧辅汉的邻居中，有一人素来对许献忠和萧淑玉的暗中交往看不惯，就告诉萧辅汉他家女儿和许献忠交往已有半年多，昨夜许献忠在朋友家喝酒，想必是喝醉了酒杀人。萧辅汉大怒，当即赶到县府告许献忠奸杀女儿。

当时张淳任孝感县知县，此人清廉公正，断案如有神助，他接了状纸后，马上派差役传来原告、被告及证人。张淳先提讯证人，左邻、右邻都称萧淑玉闺房在路边楼上，她和许献忠私下往来已有半年多，因此不能说是强奸。至于萧淑玉为何被杀，夜深之事，众人难以知晓。张淳又问被告，许献忠说如果单单以他和萧淑玉有私情这事定罪，他绝无辩词，但萧淑玉不是他杀的，他和她私下相亲相爱，本来就担心别人知道，怎么还会做忤逆之事，操刀杀她？

张淳见许献忠面目清秀，性情温和，不像凶暴之徒，就问：“你和萧淑玉往来时，有什么人在楼下经过吗？”许献忠说本月有巡街和尚明修，常常在夜间敲木鱼经过。张淳听后心生一计，脸上却一变温和之态，厉声对许献忠说：“你杀死萧淑玉，还想狡辩？”他又命衙役打许献忠20大板，关入监狱。

众人见许献忠入狱，以为此案就此完结，张淳却暗中叫来两个差役，问明修在何处住宿，差役说在玩月桥观音庵前。于是张知县对二人耳语一番，并说事成有赏。

当晚，明修仍然敲木鱼巡街，约三更时回去歇宿。这时四下一片死寂，夜色深重，忽然桥下发出三声鬼叫：一男叫“上”，一男叫“下”，一女低声啼哭，声音凄厉惊人。明修万分惊恐，忙在桥上打坐，口念弥陀。这时又听第三鬼边哭边叫：“明修、明修，我阳数未尽，你无故杀我，又抢我首饰。我已向阎王告你，阎王命二鬼使陪我来取你命。现在你若付钱帛给我，并打发鬼使，就可以私了。否则我将再奏天官，定要你命，到时就是诸佛也难保全你。”

明修早已吓得魂不附体，急忙手执佛珠，合掌答道：“现在首饰就在我住处，明日再买钱帛一并还你，并念经卷超度你，请千万不要再奏天官。”这时两公差突然出现在明修面前，用铁链锁住明修，又收取其住处的衣物、蒲团等物，押解回县府。原来张淳早已命两公差雇一妇人，三人在桥下发出鬼声，吓得明修吐露实情。

第二天張淳搜出明修藏在破袄内的首饰，让萧辅汉辨认，确认是他女儿平日插戴之物。明修无可抵赖，只得一一承认杀人罪行。

原来，那晚许献忠去朋友家喝酒，夜深未归。明修巡街叫更，行至萧淑玉楼下，见楼上有白布垂地，以为萧家白天晒布，夜晚忘记收回，就拉扯白布，起意偷走。不料他却发现有人在往上吊扯，当下心里明白，这是偷情女子以此接应意中人，但他也不言语，听任楼上吊扯上去，上楼一看，果然是一个美貌女子。明修对萧淑玉说：“小僧与娘子有缘，今日娘子若肯留我一宿，福深似海，德高如天，纵在九泉之下也不会忘记。”萧淑玉见是和尚，心中早已懊恼无比，又闻和尚口出此言，更是恼怒，说自己已鸾凤相配，决不失身于他，但可将一根簪子给他，让他快点儿下楼。明修也怒了，说是萧淑玉把自己吊上来的，说罢强去搂抱淑玉求欢。萧淑玉高声叫喊，明修担心被人发觉，即拔刀将萧淑玉杀死，摘其首饰逃下楼去。

之后张淳从狱中提出许献忠，道：“和尚杀死萧淑玉，该由他偿命。但是你身为秀才，却私下和女子偷情，也应该革去前程。不过你尚未娶妻，萧淑玉尚未嫁人，虽是私下偷情，也如结发夫妻一般。更何况此女子为你垂布下楼，才误引来杀人凶僧，且她为你守节而死，并未玷污名节，也不愧是你的妇人。现在你若想再娶，须革去前程；如果想保留前程，就将萧淑玉作为正妻，你收埋供奉，不许再娶。这两条路你何去何从？”许献忠答：“萧淑玉生前曾要我娶她。我也向她发誓，待金榜题名时一定娶她，没想到遇见这贼僧。萧淑玉为守节而死，我心中为她悲痛万分，求生尚且无暇，现在我只想收埋萧淑玉，以她为正妻，决不考虑再娶。”张淳听后十分高兴，随后即作文书，向提学道禀报此案，拟判明修死刑，请求保留许献忠前程。提学道批示，同意张淳的判决。

到万历年间，许献忠参加乡试，一举中魁。他对张淳感恩不尽，亲自道谢。张淳问他现在是否考虑再娶了，许献忠说不敢。张淳说：“你今日成名，萧夫人在天之灵定会喜悦无比。”于是请许献忠的一位同年举人做媒，为许献忠纳了一名霍氏女为妾，仍然以萧淑玉为正妻。

Introduce:Between Ming Dynasty Long Qingnian, lake wide heart installs county of feeling of government office filial piety to have year a scholar of 18, call Xu Xianzhong, grow have delicate features, bearing is gentle. Be the same as the butcher Xiao Fuhan that the street lives with Xu Xianzhong, a daughter calls Xiao Shuyu, year seventeen, posture is lightsome, pretty. Xiao Shuyu is in everyday the upstairs embroider that faces a market, xu Xianzhong is transient, see Xiao Shuyu, 4 eye photograph looks at two people, each other each other gives birth to good impression. After a considerable period of time, two people begin verbal association. One day, xu Xianzhong alludes Xiao Shuyu, consider condition of the appraise inside her room, xiao Shuyu acquiesces. When nocturnal Xu Xianzhong from wear a ladder downstairs, mount a building, with Xiao Shuyu affection meets meaning beauty. Lingering of two favor meaning, imperceptible day already dawned, xu Xianzhong be reluctant to part with, with Xiao Shuyu the agreement comes again tomorrow evening. Xiao Shuyu says to wearing ladder downstairs too apparent, once somebody is transient,see, the thing was bothered, she will prepare a calico to be fastened on a log, hang calico in downstair. He needs to clutch only calico, she will be upstair drag pull log to pull him. After Xu Xianzhong listens deeply happy, morrow evening goes upstairs so. Half an year of 2 people come-and-go, neighbour people become aware somewhat, only alone Xiao Fuhan returns be kept inside a drum-be kept in the dark. After a day of breakfast, xiao Shuyu mother sees the daughter has not risen, go upstairs will cry. She pushs a door to look, the daughter already died in pool of blood, the headgear that goes up personally disappeared. In Xiao Fuhan's neighbour, one person always is opposite of Xu Xianzhong and Xiao Shuyu interact in the dark cannot bear the sight of, tell Xiao Fuhan his home daughter and Xu Xianzhong to association already had half an year much, yesterday evening Xu Xianzhong drinks in friend home, most propbably is malty wine commits murder. Xiao Fuhan bate, hurry to prefectural government office to accuse Xu Xianzhong evil to kill a daughter at once. Zhang Chun holds the post of county of filial piety feeling to know a county at that time, this person is clean-fingered and fair-minded, if conclusion has a god to aid, after he received shape paper, send v/arc corvee to transmit accuser, the accused and witness immediately. Piece witness of Chun Xiandi dispatch, left adjacent, right adjacent says Xiao Shuyu boudoir is in roadside is upstairs, furtive come-and-go already had she and Xu Xianzhong half an year is much, because this cannot say,be a rape. Why be killed as to Xiao Shuyu, late at night thing, everybody hard witting. Zhang Chun asks respondent again, if have personal relationship with he and Xiao Shuyu only,Xu Xianzhong says this thing convictions, he does not have argue word absolutely, dan Xiaoshu jade is not homicide, he and she is deeply attached to each other under the counter, fear others knows originally, how to return the thing that can do disobedient to go against, hold a knife to kill her? Zhang Chun sees Xu Xianzhong appearance is comely, softhearted, the apprentice with fierce and brutal unlike, ask: "When you and Xiao Shuyu come-and-go, what person is be passed downstairs? " Xu Xianzhong says to there is bonze of street of make one's rounds this month bright long, often be in nightly knock wooden fish course. The heart after Zhang Chun listens is unripe one plan, on the face however the condition of one relent, say to Xu Xianzhong in a stern voice: "You are killed