Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 406: Conflict with Confucians
As Xu Jin spoke, he was filled with resentment.

When Zhou Zhao first came to the Court of Justice, he could still order Zhou Zhao around to serve tea and water, although the girl didn't appreciate it at all and instead embarrassed him.

But no matter what, Zhou Zhao was considered his subordinate at that time.

Look at him now, he's already the Left Supervisor of the Court of Justice, second only to Zhao Tingwei.

"Xu Jin, how sour are you! You're sourer than my family's pickled cabbage that's been fermenting for ten years!"
You're a perfectly normal person, so why are your two mouths reversed? When you speak, it's absolutely foul.

Last time, Zhou Zhao faked his death to capture Li Huaishan and wipe out the remnants of the previous dynasty, so he suppressed his merits and did not get promoted. This time, he solved the mystery of Shanming Changyang, found the murderer who killed Princess Changyang and Zhou Yan, and also captured the traitor Huo Taiwei and entered the palace to defend the emperor.

If she doesn't get promoted, why can't she promote you?
"What, you want to plaster four of those eight characters on each side of your face, calling them a 'good-for-nothing' and 'a disgrace to newcomers,' and treat it as your achievement?"

Min Cangzhi rolled her eyes at Xu Jin impatiently, then looked at Li Youdao.

"What's the point of keeping this kind of person around? Is the Court of Judicial Review some kind of filthy, stinking sauerkraut vat?"

As he spoke, his gaze finally fell on Zhou Cheng'an, who shuddered and lowered his head, wishing he could disappear into a hole in the ground.

"Don't listen to this sauerkraut's provocation. When Zhou Zhao was learning martial arts, memorizing laws, and reading case files, you were still clinging to your mothers and acting like spoiled children! Didn't she risk her life to get where she is today? You were all there when she faked her death to capture Li Huaishan. Why didn't you step forward and fight back?"
Is it because you're afraid?

Min Zangzhi said, shrugging his hands.

"Of course I'm not here, and even if I were, I wouldn't dare. So I'm not envious at all. I chose to be a mortal and go up the mountain, so why should I envy those immortals who defy the heavens and ascend to heaven?"

If I hear you saying such shameful things again in the left courtyard, don't blame me for disrespecting that person.

Everyone listened, blinking their eyes obediently.

What do you mean, "Don't give people face next time"?

From the very first day he entered the Court of Justice, Min Zangzhi never gave anyone any face, not even the former Court of Justice Li, whom he still criticized without hesitation.

Moreover, could it be that he held back in his words just now?
The crowd looked at each other, and finally their gaze fell on Xu Jin. They all felt embarrassed for him.

……

Zhou Zhao was unaware that such a thing had happened after she left the Court of Justice.

Su Changying escorted her to the palace gate, where the eunuch led her into His Majesty's study, where His Majesty was not alone this time.

As soon as Zhou Zhao entered the room, she felt five pairs of eyes looking at her.

Without raising her eyes, she bowed to His Majesty before straightening up to examine the people in the room.

His Majesty sat in the highest seat, and he looked much more amiable today.

Further down, on the left and right sides are the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Chen. The Crown Prince has fair skin and gentle, affectionate eyes. He doesn't seem like someone who holds power in the court, but rather like a gentle, kind-hearted older brother who listens attentively to others and is considerate of them.

Prime Minister Chen was a tall but somewhat thin old man with dark skin and not particularly handsome.

His eyes were narrowed to slits, and Zhou Zhao guessed he had eight hundred schemes up his sleeve.

When Zhou Zhao looked at him, he smiled back, his eyes revealing a mystery.

The Crown Prince's subordinate was Liu Zongzheng.

He was also a member of the imperial family, in charge of the Imperial Clan Court, and in charge of the affairs of the imperial family and nobles. Zhou Zhao had met him when Zhou Wan got married.

He was old and looked somewhat fierce.

Chen Chengxiang's subordinate was the Marquis of Huaiyang, who was also the new Minister of Justice of the Court of Justice.

After Zhou Zhao had looked through everyone in the room, His Majesty finally spoke, "Tell me Zhou Zhao's memorial regarding the abolition of using titles to offset crimes." "Discussable!"

"This is open to discussion!"

"be opposed to!"

"be opposed to!"

Hearing the four people's voices, Zhou Zhao couldn't help but smile, his whole body becoming excited.

Of the four people, not one explicitly offered support.

Zhou Zhao was not surprised to encounter such obstacles, because it was a pipe dream to expect a group of vested interests to reduce the preferential treatment he received.

Who would willingly cut their own flesh with a knife?

She was somewhat surprised that the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Chen did not strongly object.

“The title was earned by our fathers with their lives. If it weren’t for protecting their descendants, who would be willing to charge into battle?” Liu Zongzheng’s tone was somewhat intense as he took the initiative to attack Zhou Zhao.

"You all followed His Majesty to conquer the world, isn't it because His Majesty is a wise ruler of our time, and you are willing to be loyal to your lord and give your life for him?"
His Majesty values ​​loyalty and righteousness, and rewards merit accordingly. They risked their lives to gain titles, fiefdoms, gold and silver, and even secured bright futures for their descendants. Isn't this considered protecting one's descendants?
"For the Imperial Clan Court official to say this is to underestimate His Majesty and the entire court."

Liu Zongzheng opened his mouth wide. What a long speech! How was this any different from when he said at the wedding banquet that the newlyweds would grow old together and have many children and grandchildren?
They're all just grand and auspicious words!

If anyone were to refute the previous statement, saying that you are getting married today but will divorce tomorrow and have no descendants, then everyone at the wedding banquet would probably slap them across the face.

That's utterly shameless, and those are the most shameless things he's ever said.

Liu Zongzheng trembled with anger. He cupped his hands towards His Majesty and said, “Your Majesty, which family doesn’t have a few arrogant and unworthy juniors? They are young and made mistakes in a moment, and they are willing to be demoted and fined to atone for their sins.”

They have already been punished, so why can't we give them a chance to reform?
Those children are all children we've watched grow up. As the saying goes, like father, like son. How bad could they possibly be?
As the saying goes, "A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold!" The glory our forefathers fought so hard for has now been tarnished; isn't that enough?

As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Zhao and asked, "Can you guarantee that you won't have a need for it?"

Zhou Zhao gave Liu Zongzheng a deep look. "A tree will not stand straight if it is not pruned."

I wonder which unfilial child in your family you were thinking of when you said these words?
How high is your rank? How many people can you afford to kill? I cannot guarantee that no scoundrels will appear among my descendants, but if he commits a serious crime, I, Zhou Zhao, will be the first to not tolerate him, without even troubling Liu Zongzheng.

You are right. Which family doesn't have unfilial children? Which family's title wasn't earned through hardship?

That is precisely why they should know that murder is punishable by death, so that they will not dare to be reckless, kill, or make mistakes.

However, if there are stubborn and unrepentant individuals, they should be judged according to the law. This way, unfilial descendants will be eliminated, and those remaining will all be heroes. There's no need to demote their titles, nor will it bring shame to their ancestors. Isn't it a good thing to cleanse the family tradition?

Liu Zongzheng should think about this: if that troublesome person you're imagining didn't exist, would you still be jumping up and down in anxiety every day?

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at Liu Zongzheng, who was dumbfounded.

"When His Majesty entered the city, he promised the people that those who kill would pay with their lives. Some crimes can be redeemed. But how can the grave crime of murder be redeemed?"

Chu Heng killed his concubine Jiang Yan, readily admitting it and showing no concern, even declaring that he could be demoted to a lower rank to atone for his crime. Jiang Yan was orphaned and of humble origin, and everyone felt that Chu Heng was far more noble than Jiang Yan, and that it was inappropriate to use Chu Heng's life to pay for Jiang Yan's.

The reason you, Liu Zongzheng, are standing here today and strongly objecting is simply because you have Chu Heng in your family, and you expect him to kill Jiang Yan as well.

Now, if it were a prince, a duke, or the son of Chancellor Chen who killed your descendants, Liu Zongzheng, they would be willing to lower their rank to atone for their crime. In that case, your descendants would die in vain. You would set up a mourning hall at home, while the murderer would hold a wedding banquet next door. You would cry your heart out, and he would still make a joke about the details of killing your children and grandchildren in front of everyone.

My life is more precious than the lives of Liu Zongzheng's descendants; killing him is no crime.

At that time, could you still stand here and rightfully demand a title as atonement for your crimes?

(End of this chapter)