Chapter 58
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Night time, the mighty Marquis’s mansion.
Marquis Weiwu, who had the appearance of a wealthy middle-aged man, sat on the chair with an ugly expression.
There were two beautiful women in the hall, one of them kneeling and crying her heart out.
Another beautiful woman consoled in a low voice.
His second daughter had mysteriously disappeared today, and combined with the carriage crash before the incident, the mighty Marquis concluded that his daughter had been kidnapped.
He ran through the possible enemies in his mind, but it was unlikely to be a political enemy. After all, the title of nobility had been passed down to his generation, and he had gradually been excluded from the edge of the power stage in the capital.
Of course, the nobles who gathered together were still an Interest Group that could not be ignored.
However, there was still a difference between the whole and the individual. The mighty Marquis did not remember having such a political enemy who would risk everything to kidnap the women of his family.
As for his enemies, he didn’t make any enemies recently.
“The old master has already informed the officials and the Golden guards at the city gates. Don’t worry, Ying ‘er will be found.”
“Elder sister, Ying ‘er is a weak woman. If she, if she encountered something … Even if we find them, we won’t be able to live.”
The mighty Marquis’s face twitched and his expression became gloomier.
At this moment, a servant rushed in and shouted, “”Lord Marquis, the young lady has been found …”
Marquis Weiwu and his two madams rushed to the front hall and saw their daughter, who looked Haggard and had tears on her face, as well as the Imperial saber guards who had sent her back.
After asking the housekeeper to send the Royal saber guards away with a reward, the Weiwu Marquis examined his daughter for a moment and heaved a sigh of relief.”Ying ‘er, what’s going on?”
Zhang Yuying was held in her mother’s arms as she cried, ” it was Assistant Minister Zhou’s son who kidnapped me. Not only did he want to Sully my innocence, he also wanted to kill me.
He immediately told them what he had seen and heard, vividly adding how he had escaped from the Wolf’s Den while the guards were careless.
“Lord Marquis, you must seek justice for this concubine and for Ying ‘er.” Zhang Yuying’s mother was trembling with anger.
“Lord Marquis, that Zhou Li has repeatedly humiliated Ying ‘er. He’s also humiliating the Marquis’s residence.” The principal wife said in a deep voice.
The mighty Marquis was furious and smashed the table with his palm. He was so angry that his entire body trembled, “”That Zhou fellow is going too far!”
The next day.
Meridian Gate, East Gate.
The civil and military officials in the court were surprised to find that the Weiwu Marquis came in armor today, but there was no weapon hanging at his waist.
…..
On this day, an interesting thing happened in the Imperial court.
The mighty Marquis put on his armor and went to the hall, bringing up his ancestor’s merits and accusing Assistant Minister Zhou with a tearful voice.
They shouted,”our ancestors fought for the Emperor and risked their lives. The daughter of the descendant was bullied, but the Emperor didn’t protect her. Wouldn’t it chill the hearts of the soldiers …”
The matter was blown up.
The main culprit, Zhou Li, was dumbfounded. when did I kidnap the second miss of the Zhang family? why didn’t I know? ”
Emperor yuanjing flew into a rage and ordered the Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, and Imperial Censorate to deal with the case and give a result within two days.
As the suspect of the case, Zhou Li’s first stop was the Imperial Censorate.
The one in charge of interrogating him was the Imperial censor.
The rank 6 official sat in front of the table and without a word, he gave young master Zhou a beating.
After beating Zhou Li up to the point where he was crying for his father and mother, he hit the gavel and said,”Zhou Li, is the courtyard where the daughter of the Weiwu Marquis is being held in your private residence?”
“Yes!” Zhou Li could only admit it.
It was a very common phenomenon for powerful nobles to buy private houses in the inner city. When Zhou Li bought the courtyard, he did not go through anyone.
His name was on the title deed, and the government had the procedure to purchase the house.
“Since it’s your courtyard, then there’s no need to say anything more. Sign here!”
Two bailiffs came forward. One of them took out a letter of confession, while the other forced Zhou Li to sign it.
According to the process of the review of the three departments, after the Imperial Censorate’s trial, the verdict was handed over to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice did not agree with the Imperial Censorate’s result and wanted a re-trial.
Hence, young master Zhou was sent to the Ministry of Justice. Here, his treatment had undergone a complete change.
After filling his stomach with wine and meat, the Ministry of Justice’s doctor in charge of the investigation considerately found a doctor to apply medicine on young master Zhou’s bloodied butt.
After a few hours of “interrogation,” the Ministry of Justice overthrew the Imperial Censorate’s results and determined that Zhou Li was innocent and that someone had framed him.
The dossiers were handed over to the court of judicial review.
Without another word, the Supreme Court gave Zhou Li another beating. After a “strict” interrogation, the Supreme Court overruled the Ministry of Justice’s verdict and found Zhou Li guilty.
The next day, seeing that the Supreme Court, Imperial Censorate, and Ministry of Justice each had their own arguments and did not give a result, Emperor Yuan jing ordered a joint trial between the three departments, and the case escalated.
The court of judicial review had sent a chief and two Deputy.The Ministry of Justice had sent two doctors and four managers.The Imperial Censorate had sent two imperial censors to patrol the city.
A total of 11 officials were trying the case together.
The camp of the joint trial was that the Ministry of Justice felt that Zhou Li was innocent and that he had been framed by thieves. The Supreme Court and Imperial Censorate unanimously determined that Zhou Li was guilty.
The two sides wrangled for an entire day without a Victor being decided, so naturally, there was no result.
At dusk, a white-robed Directorate of Celestials was invited to the Yamen by an official.
“I’m here to assist in the case under His Majesty’s orders.” After the white-robed man from the Directorate of Celestials stated his purpose for coming, he looked at Zhou Li, who was kneeling in front of the hall, and shouted, ”
“Zhou Li, did you kidnap the daughter of the mighty Marquis, Zhang Yuying?”
Zhou Li shook his head. I didn’t. It wasn’t me. I was wronged.
All the officials stared at the Directorate of celestial, Bai Yi.
“He’s lying!” The white-robed man said righteously.
Zhou Li’s face was bloodless.
…..
Three days later, Assistant Minister Zhou was removed from his post and demoted to the Army because he embezzled the money and grain of the mo Kingdom’s National Treasury and didn’t teach his son well. His son, Zhou Li, was exiled to the southern border.
…..
The 50 cavalrymen rode slowly on the official road. Second uncle Xu led the way on his horse, galloping forward proudly.
After the news of Assistant Minister Zhou’s fall, Xu Pingzhi had Xu Qi ‘an and Xu Erlang drink all night. There was the carefreeness of taking revenge, but also the relief of lifting a heavy burden.
The two brothers rode behind Xu Pingzhi. Xu Erlang said, “”There’s something I’d like to ask big brother.”
Xu dalang tilted his head and looked at him. I’m curious why Zhou Li would admit to this crime. Or, could it be that the Marquis of Weiwu and the other big shots of the Imperial court could not see through this not-so-brilliant framing? ”
Xu Erlang muttered, ” I’ve only thought of a part of it. To Assistant Minister Zhou’s political enemies, it doesn’t matter whether Zhou Li is innocent or not. They would use this bargaining chip to bite Assistant Minister Zhou to death.
“And to the mighty Marquis, this is a chance for revenge. In the past, he had not been able to defeat Assistant Minister Zhou because he did not have any helpers. Now was a heaven-sent opportunity. That was why the entire court was talking about him when he went to the palace that day.
“As for whether or not his daughter was kidnapped by Zhou Li, he may have his suspicions, but without sufficient evidence, it is clear that this eldest young master Zhou who has repeatedly humiliated his daughter is even more hateful.
“What I can’t figure out is that this matter was not done by Zhou Li. Assistant Minister Zhou and his accomplices are well aware of this and should have made a response.”
“Why do you think I went to the Directorate of Celestials that day?” “Do you still remember the name of an eighth-grade Directorate of Celestials?” Xu Qi ‘an laughed.
a grade eight aura watcher … Xu nianxin’s eyes bloomed with a strange color, and he suddenly felt enlightened.
during the tax case, the sorcerers of the Directorate of Celestials were involved in the tracking and trial of the case. This shows that the Emperor is very dependent on the Directorate of Celestials. Xu Qi ‘an looked ahead and said proudly, ”
“The case doesn’t seem reasonable at first glance, but if we investigate it carefully, we’ll find that there are no clues left behind … Well, I’m a professional in this area. In addition to the factional dispute, the case is bound to be troublesome and difficult to investigate. The simplest and most effective method is, of course, to find a sorcerer from the Directorate of Celestials.”
“That’s why big brother bribed the astrologers,” Xu niannian said.
“Vulgar!” Xu Qi ‘an spat and said frankly, “”It’s an Alchemist’s business. How can you call it bribing? it’s an equivalent exchange!”
After a pause, he said, ” farewell. Remember, in this world, other than blood relatives, any friend or enemy is because of the word ‘benefit.’ This is especially true in the officialdom.
“No one will treat you well for no reason, and no one will hate you for no reason. Even if he’s your best friend, he’s only befriending you because your existence is of positive use to him.”
“In the future, when you enter the court as an official, big brother hopes that you can be a capable official and not an honest one.” Xu Qi ‘an told his younger brother about his personal goods and said slowly, “”Remember, be with the light.”
In order to nurture his little brother to become the great Minister, he had to first make him take his own form. Otherwise, what was the use of cultivating a chief and assistant who had different paths?
Xu xinnian looked into the distance and said in a clear voice, “”The light … What if I get lost in the fog of power in the future?”
that’s your own good fortune. Of course, if you resign and become a traitor, big brother will clean up the house. Xu Qi ‘an said half-jokingly.
“Alright!” “If big brother becomes a martial artist who wreaks havoc in the future, I’ll do the same,” Xu niannian argued.
Why do I feel like I’ve raised a flag … Xu Qi ‘an coughed and looked at Xu Pingzhi. “Second uncle, you have to be our witness.”
“Get lost!” Xu Pingzhi turned around and scolded,”you keep saying that we’re brothers from the same family. Do you think I don’t exist?”
[ PS: originally, I wrote a total of 6000 words to highlight the factional dispute and the despair of the evil villain, young master Zhou. ]
For this reason, I even looked into the process of solving cases in ancient times.
Later on, I thought, why did I give so much ink to a small supporting role? wasn’t this messing up the main focus? With so much ink and brush, I can write ‘aunt’. ..
Therefore, the essence was extracted, the factional dispute was highlighted, and the process of the trial was reduced. That thing is not interesting to write, so I don’t think you’ll like it.
Assistant Minister Zhou’s plot was the beginning of the entire volume.