Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 262 Autumn Wind Sweeps Fallen Leaves
Zhang Shou and the Zhu family did not make a big fuss about the unsuccessful assassination attempt on the night of the twelfth day of the first lunar month, but an assassin was sent directly into the Shuntian government office, and two gangs of thugs who were deceived into fighting without knowing the truth were caught red-handed. Such a big event naturally caused a lot of rumors. By the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, it had become a hot topic on the streets.
Of course, there were people who criticized Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying for traveling together in the same car at night even though they did not have a marriage certificate. However, because Zhao Guogong's eldest son Zhu Tingfang was also present, such voices soon died down. Instead, officials and the public were all very curious about who would use such a sinister method to assassinate this young couple who looked like a perfect couple.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, during the grand court meeting, Wang Jie, who had not yet handed over his post as the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, announced the result of Song Tuiguan's trial in the Fengtian Hall. The assassin who failed to assassinate was executed immediately, and the two gangs of thugs were each beaten with 40 sticks and sentenced to two years of hard labor. As for the mastermind behind the scenes, who everyone was most concerned about, Wang Jie gave an answer that surprised many people.
"That assassin was one of the spies that the rebels of Linhai Camp had placed in the capital. He had previously mingled with all kinds of people, trying to get all kinds of information inside and outside the court. However, the rebels who had escaped were all caught because of Dr. Zhang. He held a grudge in his heart, so he took advantage of the conflict between the Censor and the Duke of Zhao's Mansion to try to fish in troubled waters, but he didn't expect to end up being caught by the law."
Knowing that this was an answer that would relieve many people, the outgoing governor of Shuntian Prefecture looked coldly at the ministers who had different reactions, taking in everyone's expressions, and then looked at the emperor on the throne.
In fact, he had seen the emperor a day earlier. The short man was indeed a stubborn man. He refused to confess at first, but later changed his statement repeatedly. Sometimes he said it was the censor's instructions, and sometimes he said it was the empress's order. No matter how severely he was tortured, he could not get an accurate confession. Therefore, after reporting to the emperor, since the emperor also acquiesced, he used this answer that could be made public.
Seeing that the officials gradually quieted down after whispering, he said calmly: "In addition, the old beggar woman who banged her head against the drum to report a certain imperial censor for framing a local prominent family did so because her granddaughter was kidnapped and threatened. She was forced to report the case at the risk of her life. Fortunately, she survived, and I also found her granddaughter."
The case that happened on New Year's Eve had already had a result within the fifteen days when the government office was sealed - this included the investigation of the case involving the assassin and the local thugs sent by Zhang Shou and the Zhu family of Duke Zhao's mansion - with such efficiency, the court officials looked at Wang Jie with a different look.
As expected, Wang Datou, who has taken on so many messy unsolved cases in recent times, really refuses to pass the buck to his successor even after leaving office!
The emperor had not heard Wang Jie mention this yesterday, so he could not help but have doubts in his heart. Hearing the unfinished meaning in these words, he immediately asked: "Since the granddaughter who was taken hostage was rescued by Wang Qing, could it be that you got the exact truth from this old beggar woman who falsely accused a certain censor?"
Wang Jie glanced expressionlessly at the group of censors standing very close to the emperor, and a sneer appeared on his face - censors, like the imperial secretaries, were of low rank and high position, which could be seen from the positions of these censors in the court. It was a pity that they were supposed to be the mouthpieces, but behind the false appearance of not fearing the powerful, they were often used as guns by another group of powerful people.
So he lowered his eyelids slightly and said calmly: "The old beggar woman said that the person who asked her to file a complaint was none other than the censor whom she had reported by banging her head against the drum ."
Although there had been similar speculations in the officialdom, when Wang Jie really said it so bluntly, it still caused an uproar. Among them, the already nervous Chen Yushi was even more shocked and angry, and even jumped out without caring that this was a grand court meeting on the Lantern Festival.
"Wang Datou, you are colluding with the Zhu family and slandering others!" How could the old beggar woman know that he did it!
Zhang Shou was not supposed to attend the court today, but Wang Jie told him yesterday that he needed to be present to watch the court, and the emperor also ordered him to attend the court, so he had to come. Now, he felt that he had made the right decision to come today.
Because it's so rare to be able to watch other people's fights so comfortably!
Sure enough, facing the angry retort, Wang Jie still said calmly: "A few days ago, a doorman of your family loudly declared that it was the Zhu family of Zhaoguo Mansion who framed you, and at least dozens of people witnessed it on the spot. Although you locked the person up at home after you found out that the matter had become a big deal, the granddaughter of the old beggar woman has pointed out that this doorman had seen the person who kidnapped her."
After hearing this, the square-faced and righteous censor was furious. He couldn't believe that Wang Datou, who was always known for his uprightness, had learned to frame others. He was so angry that he trembled: "This is ridiculous! The little girl is only eight years old, what does she know!"
Facing that angry face, Wang Jie suddenly smiled meaningfully: "Oh? How did Censor Chen know that the old beggar's granddaughter was only eight years old? Have you seen her?"
Seeing so many eyes suddenly focused on his face, Censor Chen immediately cried out inwardly, realizing that he had been fooled by Wang Datou because of his impatience. However, at this point, he could only grit his teeth and hold on: "That old woman falsely accused me first, so can't I send someone to investigate her background?"
"It's easy to check her background. The old beggar woman has been begging in the outer city with her granddaughter for two years. However, people only know that she is with her granddaughter, but few people know how old the little granddaughter is." Wang Jie paused and suddenly emphasized, "What's more, the little girl is poorly clothed and fed. She looks like she is only five or six years old when she is seven or eight years old!"
When Zhang Shou saw that Censor Chen was angered by Wang Jie, he realized that Wang Datou was using deception. However, after deceiving Censor Chen into speaking, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture actually found a flaw in such a subtle detail and then tore open a gap to go deeper. He still had to admire his meticulousness.
"So what? The people I sent out to investigate asked very carefully, and found out that the old beggar woman's granddaughter is exactly eight years old!"
Seeing that although Censor Chen was trying to remain calm, his forehead was gradually covered with sweat, Wang Jie continued to speak calmly, "The old beggar woman often appeared in a fixed area in the outer city. Magistrate Song personally led people there for three whole days and asked everyone, but no one knew the age of her granddaughter. So, I would like to ask Censor Chen, from whom did you know that her granddaughter was only eight years old?"
Unexpectedly, Wang Jie would actually investigate the matter thoroughly, and that Judge Song was so thorough. He realized that the more he spoke, the more wrong he was. Censor Chen simply gritted his teeth and kept silent. However, he couldn't help secretly hating his confidant who secretly bribed a local tyrant to do the job.
What's so important about the little girl's age? He actually told him specifically that these were words he got from the little girl, and even boasted that although this eight-year-old girl was unkempt, she would be a beauty after washing herself, and would become a lovely beauty after a few years of nurturing... Otherwise, how could he remember such an insignificant little thing!
He was angry and anxious, but what Wang Jie said next made his scalp tingle for a moment as he already felt something was wrong!
"Just when Lin Lao Hu, the head of the prison in Shuntian Prefecture, led his elite troops to rescue the old beggar's granddaughter, when they broke into the house, the person who kidnapped her inside actually shouted that people from the Zhaoguo Mansion had come to attack! It's really a coincidence that a despicable and shameless person who kidnapped a young girl used the same method as your doorman who was shouting outside that the Zhaoguo Mansion had framed you."
Censor Chen didn't know how the other censors behind him reacted. He only knew that he was pushed to the edge of a cliff by Wang Datou! He didn't care about that. His eyes widened and he shouted in anger, "If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. Wang Datou, if you have the guts, show us the witnesses and evidence. Don't use these empty words to frame me!"
Wang Jie glanced at the crowd and saw that many people looked at him with complicated eyes. He knew that some people thought that he was in cahoots with the Zhu family, and some people thought that he had no evidence, so they played a verbal trap in the Fengtian Hall. He sneered and said directly: "Evidence? Of course there is."
Seeing that Censor Chen was struck by lightning, he looked straight into his eyes and said, "Censor Chen, your doorman who claimed that the Duke Zhao's mansion had framed you is still at home, right?"
Trying his best not to look at the eyes around him, Censor Chen pretended to be calm and said, "This man is talking nonsense. I have put him under house arrest to prevent him from going out and talking nonsense again, ruining my reputation..."
"Does Censor Chen know that the guy who abducted the old beggar woman's granddaughter couldn't stand the beating when he fell into the hands of Tiger Lin, and confessed that he did happen to see your doorman. That time, the guy contacted the local boss above him and asked him to abduct the person?"
"You probably couldn't imagine that the trusted steward you sent out to do this didn't know any local tyrants in the capital, so he used this flattering concierge to deal with people? And it was this smart guy who claimed to the local tyrant that he was from the Duke of Zhao's mansion, and let the local tyrant order the kidnapped guy to shout like this when something happened."
"It's a pity that your doorman thinks he's smart. He used your name to lobby for favors in Shuntian Prefecture and Daxing Wanping County more than once, and he has a criminal record. The Shuntian prefects before me were all conciliatory, and the county magistrates were all irresponsible and incompetent, so they didn't touch him. But he shouldn't have been so smart and ended up in my hands!"
Wang Jie's voice became louder and louder, and finally the fierce rebuke echoed in the Fengtian Hall. Censor Chen's face turned pale little by little, and he stepped back unconsciously, and finally he sat down on the ground subconsciously.
When he finally woke up from his dream, he could only look up at other people's eyes. Seeing those eyes of contempt, disdain, sighs or pity, he knew that he was probably in trouble this time.
Even if the eldest prince could enter the East Palace and ascend the throne as the emperor in the future, I am afraid he would never be able to turn things around!
The other censors who were originally quite calm, saw that Chen Yushi was beaten to a pulp by Wang Jie's step-by-step offensive and finally defeated. Who would have thought that Chen Yushi was actually defeated by his doorman! Do they have such servants in their family? Thinking more deeply, do they have such family members?
Therefore, when Wang Jie turned to look at them, they felt as if his eyes were full of murderous intent, and their knees became weak, their scalps became numb, and their backs began to sweat. However, while they were waiting for the verdict, Wang Jie only smiled at them, but that smile seemed a little cold.
Almost subconsciously, Sui Yushi, who had always had a good relationship with Chen Yushi, immediately stood up and said with great sorrow: "Your Majesty, I failed to discipline my subordinates. There were several servants in my family who accused Duke Zhao without any evidence. I really deserve death! Regardless of whether the previous case involving me in the government was true or false, it shows that my reputation as an official is flawed."
"I have failed the emperor's trust. I resign as the Censor!"
Rather than being accused of all sorts of crimes by Wang Datou, it would be better to get out of here right away. Maybe you can still save your reputation!
With Sui Yushi taking the lead, the other three Yushis suddenly woke up as if from a dream, and stood up to confess their crimes. They first avoided the main point and said that they were not good at managing their subordinates, so that there were such and such hateful and mean slaves in their families. Then they did not dare to say that the crimes they reported to the yamen were all fabricated. They could only admit their mistakes vaguely like Sui Yushi did, and finally resigned sincerely with tears in every word.
Seeing that the enemy fell into a total rout after Wang Jie opened a gap, Zhang Shou couldn't help but laugh to himself. But the next moment, he saw Wang Jie looking at him, narrowing his eyes and smiling at him. Then, this strong man who everyone said was serious said a few words lightly.
"You are so sincere in resigning, it is really noble. But I have not yet finished investigating all the cases."
Zhang Shou clearly saw that when Wang Jie finished speaking, everyone who had just sincerely resigned turned to look at Wang Datou, their eyes full of hatred, as if they wanted to swallow him up! Although he expected that Wang Jie would not be so capable as to investigate all the false accusations, he was still surprised that he had already accomplished his mission but still revealed his cards.
However, the emperor knew what kind of person Wang Jie was. Wang Datou was still as strong and upright as ever, and he didn't care about other people's eyes or opinions. So after using trickery to expose the trickster's true colors, the Shuntian prefect was unwilling to continue to be tricky, and chose to lay out in front of everyone.
Although such a minister is not liked by most people, he likes him very much.
At that moment, he signaled the eunuch Gao Xuan to be quiet, and then under the gaze of many court officials, he said in a deep voice: "Remove Chen Ji from his post as Supervisory Censor, and hand him over to the Censorate, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case of his servant framing ministers, colluding with traitors, and abducting women. The rest of you who wish to resign will be approved."
The several censors who had just glared at Wang Jie shuddered and no longer dared to have any lucky thoughts. The emperor had already directly used the three judicial departments to try Chen Yushi. If they continued to linger, wouldn't they be included in the three judicial departments' joint trial?
