Chapter 218: I really want it, but I dare not ask
It is true that the exposure of this court hearing far exceeds that of a private investigation of the case.
Within a few days after the trial of the disobedience case, the words "Of course I forgive her" had spread throughout the streets and alleys, becoming the most popular malicious word in and around the capital this spring.
However, Sun Shaozong had no time to care about these things. After the recommendation letter from Mr. Zhao, the Right Censor-in-Chief, was submitted, he never received a reply from the court, so the position of the Judge of Criminal Law had remained vacant.
This made Sun Shaozong very miserable. Not only did he have to shoulder the duties of Zhizhong and Tongpan , but there was also a lot of official business piled up during the New Year holidays. He was so busy that he had no time to rest and even forgot to take the usual five-day rest.
In this way, I was busy until the end of the month, and finally I had taken care of all the affairs of the Criminal Law Department.
So Sun Shaozong immediately signed up for three days of rest without saying a word, preparing to recuperate at home.
The four words 'recharge your energy' really mean exactly what they say.
Ruan Rong was in confinement after giving birth, and Xiangling was more than two months pregnant. Sun Shaozong could not touch either of them now and could only sleep alone in the study.
This was exactly what my cheap eldest brother was thinking. He had been anxious to get his daughter married off at the Rongguo Mansion. The engagement letter was just exchanged a few days ago, and now he was looking for monks and Taoists to calculate the wedding date.
Let’s talk about the twenty-ninth day of the first lunar month.
Sun Shaozong slept in the study until noon, then he climbed out of the couch and called the maid on duty to come in and help him wash up.
After everything was tidy, he prepared to go to the backyard to play with his son.
Unexpectedly, just after he took a few steps, a servant caught up with him and said that Captain Xu Shouye of the Patrol Battalion came to visit, and that Butler Zhao was now talking to him, so it was up to the Second Master to decide whether to meet him or not.
Xu Shouye came to visit?
Sun Shaozong thought for a while and suddenly realized that Xu Shouye's visit at this time must be for the "reunion of classmates".
After all, the 'class reunion' in the past two years was scheduled in February, and this year will naturally be no exception.
Last year there was a troublemaker like Zhu Peng who insisted on being the host, but this year it is Sun Shaozong who is the only one in power. According to current practice, he should naturally be the initiator.
However, Sun Shaozong has been busy with official duties recently and busy enjoying family happiness in his spare time, so how could he think about such trivial things?
Xu Shouye's visit really served as a reminder to him.
Thinking of this, Sun Shaozong hurried back to the front hall.
"Brother Sun, you have three good things in the space of ten months. You are really the envy of others!"
As soon as I entered the door, Xu Shouye came to greet me with a hearty laugh. It seemed that he was quite concerned about the affairs of the Sun family, otherwise he would only know about the two good things [the birth of a son and promotion].
Of course, it is also possible that the cheap brother drank too much cat urine and made a noise in the patrol camp and got out.
Sun Shaozong also laughed. Knowing that this man was a straightforward person, he was too lazy to be polite with him. He raised his hands and said directly, "Brother Xu, you came here this time, I'm afraid it's not just to congratulate me, right?"
Unexpectedly, Xu Shouye was slightly startled, and he lowered his voice and said in a deep voice: "Why, Brother Sun, have you also heard the news?"
Rumor?
What kind of rumors could there be about this "classmates' reunion"?
Besides, even if there really was any "rumor", it should have come from the mouth of Sun Shaozong, the organizer.
"how?"
Sun Shaozong motioned him to go in and take a seat, and asked curiously, "Could it be that Brother Xu came to see me to discuss the 'classmates' reunion next month?"
"Ouch~!"
Xu Shouye slapped his forehead and said in annoyance: "If you hadn't told me, I would have completely forgotten about it!"
Sun Shaozong was speechless. He thought it was him who reminded him just now, but now it seemed that he was the one who reminded him.
"What did Brother Xu just say?"
"this……"
Xu Shouye hesitated for a moment, but still said seriously: "Brother Sun, do you know that Xu Tai has been ordered to return to the capital to report on his work, and will arrive in Shuntian Prefecture soon?"
As mentioned earlier, Xu Tai was a classmate of Sun Shaozong, and he ranked second in the first class.
After Xu Tai transferred to a civil service position, he served as a county magistrate in the southeast coast for more than a year. Later, because of his good command and the severe damage he inflicted on the Japanese pirates who came ashore to plunder, he was promoted to the fifth-rank prefect.
Therefore, before Sun Shaozong was promoted to Zhizhong, this official rank could be said to be the highest one among those in the same period.
However, it has been less than two years since Xu Tai was promoted to prefect, and this trip to Beijing was obviously not a normal report at the end of his term.
Sun Shaozong then asked: "Is it a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Of course it's not a good thing."
Xu Shouye shook his head and said, "He just offended the Nine Provinces Inspector Wang Taiwei. What good can he get from going to the capital this time?"
Offended Wang Ziteng?
Although Wang Ziteng held the title of Inspector General of Nine Provinces and could mobilize officials of all ranks in the coastal provinces, in the final analysis, he controlled military power rather than civil affairs. How could Xu Tai, a small local official, come into conflict with him?
"Alas, it's just that Old Xu is too full and has nothing better to do!"
Xu Shouye said half complaining and half admiringly: "A few years ago, he actually wrote a letter to the emperor, saying that Wang Taiwei's strategy of suppressing the Japanese was too conservative and too optimistic about the situation. In the long run, it would only waste national strength and make it difficult to eradicate the Japanese threat."
Tsk~
This Xu Tai is really brave!
Today, Wang Ziteng holds the military power of nine provinces. Although there are not many regular troops in the southeastern coast, he can still be regarded as a leader among the provincial governors. Ordinary local officials are busy trying to curry favor with him, so how dare they criticize him like him?
After hearing this, Sun Shaozong also vaguely guessed Xu Shouye's intention, so he asked: "Brother Xu, do you want me to help take care of Xu Tai?"
Xu Shouye's thoughts were exposed by him, and he rubbed his hands a little embarrassedly and said, "I shouldn't have forced Brother Sun, but among the people I know, I'm afraid you are the only one who can put in some effort."
After a pause, he quickly added: "We have no right to interfere with how the court decides. I just think that a man like Xu Tai should not be humiliated by those villains who seek to curry favor with the powerful!"
Sun Shaozong naturally understood what he meant. As the saying goes, it is easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with little devils. Wang Ziteng himself might not care much about this matter - even if he really had a grudge, he would be proud of his status.
However, after some villains knew about this, they couldn't help but step on Xu Tai in order to make a step for themselves.
For example——
People like Jia Yucun!
But even if it's just dealing with those sycophants, it's probably not an easy job...
Sun Shaozong pondered for a long while, then suddenly laughed out loud, " Brother Xu , when Xu Tai arrives in the capital, how about you and I go to the city to greet him?"
Xu Shouye was overjoyed and clasped his fists and said, "That's what I really want, but I dare not ask for it!"
