Chapter 774: Birthday Banquet (I)
Is there a code of conduct for thieves?
After reading for a long time, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but laugh.
Regardless of whether these words came from the heart or he was trying to get me to let him go, it was enough that the child could survive!
Sun Shaozong shook the letter in his hand and ordered impatiently: "Come on, take me over to have a look at the child..."
"Sun Shaozong!"
This time, it was Wei Yi's turn to jump out and interrupt the conversation. He shouted angrily: "Shouldn't you give me an explanation first?!"
"Confess?"
Sun Shaozong turned around and asked in a half-joking but half-serious tone, "Why should I give an explanation to the Lord of the Court of Justice? Didn't I do my best to supervise the case you gave me?"
"this……"
Wei Yi's momentum was dampened. After all, he had tried every possible means to get this case into Sun Shaozong's hands. Now, not only had he caught the murderer, but he had also traced the mastermind behind the scenes. Logically, what could he not be satisfied with?
Before Wei Yi could figure out what was going on, Sun Shaozong sneered, "If you mean the matter of 'suspension pending impeachment', then there is no need for that - I will take full responsibility for this matter and will never implicate the Minister of Justice!"
This statement is a blatant slap in the face.
He risked being punished by the court to complete the task assigned by his superior, and was prepared to take full responsibility afterwards - as a superior, how could he have the face to ask for an "explanation"?
Wei Yi's face flushed red, and he was furious. He finally gritted his teeth and pointed out the problem: "However, how can I deal with the Ministry of Revenue in the future if you are so reckless?"
"Hahaha!"
Sun Shaozong laughed three times and sneered, "Your Excellency, what you said is really ridiculous! We, the officials of the Dali Temple, are paid by the emperor and help the people. We are not beggars begging on the streets. Why should we be servile to the Ministry of Revenue?"
At this point, he clasped his fists neatly and said, "But I still want to thank you for your reminder, sir. I will go home and wait for the court's decision!"
Before he finished speaking, Sun Shaozong called Chen Jingde and Hong Jiu and strode out of the courtyard.
From a distance, I could hear him repeatedly asking how the child was.
Wei Yi stood alone in the middle of the courtyard, his face changing constantly. After a long time, he finally sighed and returned to the office of the Chief Justice dejectedly.
…
Time flies.
In the blink of an eye, it was October 17th, the birthday festival.
During the past two days, Sun Shaozong has been "reflecting" at home while remotely controlling the progress of the case.
By the way, he also let Hong Jiu secretly build up momentum and spread the news that he was willing to disobey the imperial order in order to save a child from a commoner's family, so as to use public opinion to force the court to make a ruling in his favor.
However, everything that needed to be done was done, but there was no response from the court.
Until the day of the Longevity Festival, everything was calm, as if nothing had happened.
Of course, the lack of any reaction was actually equivalent to a statement - at least Sun Shaozong's qualification for the birthday banquet was not revoked by the palace.
And seeing that there were only six or seven hours left before the Wanshou Festival dinner, another long-awaited piece of news finally came back.
After several psychological struggles, the prince finally made up his mind to let the "prince" appear on stage at the birthday banquet.
But this guy is really a piece of rotten wood!
Even at this time, he was still cautious, fearing that the emperor would blame him on the spot.
So, although they will appear on the scene, it will not be led by him as the 'father', but by the Crown Princess - when the time comes, he will also avoid this 'grandfather-grandson meeting' in the name of inviting the Queen to a banquet.
Alas~
Although he did not have Zhuge Liang's wisdom, nor his loyalty to the end, Sun Shaozong now realized the helplessness of the Prime Minister - this damn A Dou is really hard to help!
To the extent that Sun Shaozong even considered that if Jia Yuanchun really gave birth to a son, he might as well give up his evil ways and join the good, so as to avoid being caught between two odds.
Of course, this is just a thought.
If she really turned against the emperor, she would have a mortal feud with the prince. If Jia Yuanchun gave birth to a son but failed to become emperor in the end, it would be a tragedy for Sun Shaozong.
All in all, no matter what Sun Shaozong thought in his heart, the birthday dinner still took place as scheduled.
It is not yet midnight [two o'clock in the afternoon].
Except for a very small number of those who were terminally ill and unable to get up, all the fourth-rank officials in Beijing had lined up in a pyramid formation outside the Meridian Gate according to the size of their official rank and age.
According to the ceremony process, everyone had to wait here for about an hour, and only after Shenzheng (four o'clock in the afternoon) could they enter the palace for the banquet.
Fortunately, the weather has warmed up recently. If it had snowed heavily like the past few days, those old men in the front row would have been frozen to death.
Of course, not everyone had to wait here. Several ministers and royal family members had already entered the palace to celebrate the birthday before noon.
However, it is said that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. I don’t know whether they are happier in there or more free and easy outside.
Thinking about all this, Sun Shaozong suddenly felt some emotion.
Three years ago, he was also guarding in front of the Meridian Gate at the Emperor's Birthday Banquet. However, at that time, he was not qualified to enter the palace to celebrate the birthday, so he could only stay outside and take charge of the aftermath.
Three years later, he had become a legitimate member of the group - and that was thanks to his official status, not because he had lived to the age of a dog.
I don’t know what the situation will be like in three years.
"Brother, Brother Shaozong."
As I was recalling the past, looking at the present and anticipating the future, I suddenly heard someone calling my name from the front.
Sun Shaozong looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was none other than Jia Yucun, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.
Seeing Sun Shaozong looking at him, he immediately stood up and winked, obviously wanting to find a private place to talk to Sun Shaozong.
At this moment, what did Jia Yucun want to find me for?
You can't be trying to intercede on behalf of Yang Kui, who is from the same hometown, right?
Sun Shaozong didn't understand the point for the moment, but he also wanted to give Jia Yucun some suggestions for improving the beggars' guarantee system.
So he stood up and followed Jia Yucun out of the circle, finding a place near the palace wall that was not surrounded by anything.
"Brother."
Jia Yucun had a bitter look on his face, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
But Sun Shaozong's attention was not on him. Instead, he was attracted by the passing convoy .
This group of big and strong women should be the entourage of Princess Beijing, right?
Wasn't it said that the close relative Zong had entered the palace before noon ? Why did she wait until this time?
"Brother? Brother!"
Jia Yucun raised his voice, and finally made Sun Shaozong come back to his senses. Then he solemnly asked: "Brother, I am in trouble now, you must not stand by and watch me die!"
It's strange. Since Jia Yucun became the prefect, everything has been going smoothly. Is there anything he needs my help with?
And he acted as if he was about to die.
