The prince is more stable

Chapter 173: Noble Grass
It feels great to be a domineering CEO in your own territory, but the only thing missing is the admiring gaze of a naive girl.

Strictly speaking, this matter has actually exceeded the jurisdiction of the Imperial City Bureau. When Emperor Taizong established the Imperial City Bureau, there was a principle, which was that the Imperial City Bureau was not allowed to interfere with the judiciary.

Over the years, the Imperial City Bureau has indeed not interfered with the normal judicial affairs of the Song Dynasty. It is more like a department that investigates and fills in the gaps. The Imperial City Bureau will only take action when the judiciary is not convenient to do it openly.

But the Imperial City Division under Zhao Xiaoqian was different.

A long time ago, he was granted greater authority by Zhao Xu. It can be said that the current Imperial City Bureau is gradually approaching the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty.

Wang He was quickly captured.

Although this guy is a commoner with no official title, he is the indispensable right-hand man of the water conservancy department on the dike construction site. Among the river officials and tens of thousands of river workers, Wang He is actually the hidden second-in-command on the construction site.

When Wang He was brought to the Imperial City Division, his face looked very ugly and his expression was hard to read.

He was a bit domineering like the son of the Water Envoy, but also a bit timid. It was obvious that he had heard of the reputation of the Imperial City Bureau.

Zhao Xiaoqian sat in the main hall, looking him over, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

The real person has finally arrived.

Not to mention the withholding of wages for river workers, it was this man who ordered the idlers to beat Zhang Xiaoyi half to death. It was also because of him that Zhao Xiaoqian used the Imperial City Administration to handle this matter.

First, avenge personal grudges, then settle public grudges. Official affairs must be handled impartially, but the Prince of Chu can be willful, and the two roles switch back and forth without any violation.

It seemed that this was the first time that Wang He appeared in court as a defendant, and he dared to look up and look directly at Zhao Xiaoqian.

"Tsk, he looks like he's really got some guts..." Zhao Xiaoqian praised him, "Take him away and give him ten beatings. We'll talk business when he comes back."

The officers dragged Wang He down the hall and beat him violently in the courtyard of the Imperial City Office.

Wang He was beaten so badly that he screamed in pain. He scratched the muddy ground in the yard with his fingers and shouted for mercy.

With just ten blows, all his strength was broken.

After being dragged back again, Wang He was unable to stand and could only lie on the ground for trial.

Today Zhao Xiaoqian decided to conduct the interrogation personally.

Slowly walking up to Wang He, Zhao Xiaoqian said with a pleasant expression, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Zhao Xiaoqian. I won't mention my identity or title. Here, I work for the Imperial City Department, and I was appointed by the government."

"Do you know why I brought you to the Imperial City today?"

Wang He was in so much pain that his face was covered in tears and snot, making him look both disgusting and pitiful.

"I am a student taking the exam next year. How can a county marquis insult such a gentleman..."

Zhao Xiaoqian scoffed, "If there's no exam, then there's no exam. If there's no exam, then you're just a commoner. What's wrong with the Imperial City Bureau insulting a commoner?"

Wang He was stunned. This logic... was flawless.

"Marquis, my father is..."

Zhao Xiaoqian interrupted him: "I know, I know. Wang Zao, the Water Commissioner, is a fifth-rank official. After he's dealt with you, the Imperial City Division will look for your father. Don't worry, we'll finally get your family together."

Wang He was silent for a long time, and his mood gradually became desperate.

He understood that the Imperial City Bureau came today just to target him and his father, and they didn't care about his father's official position at all.

He had heard of Zhao Xiaoqian, a man he had heard of. He was the emperor's most trusted minister and also the emperor's cousin. It was said that he had made several significant contributions to the Song Dynasty.

In terms of background, royal favor, and origin, Wang He's father could not compare to him in any way.

The question now was, what had the Wang family father and son done to offend this county marquis that made him resort to such formal means to use the Imperial City Bureau to settle their grudge?

Only by finding the root of the problem can Wang He save himself.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at Wang He's distracted eyes and whispered, "Young Master Wang, right? Do you know why we arrested you today?" Wang He shook his head, his tone much more humble, "I don't know. Please explain clearly, Lord. If I have offended you, it was not my father's intention..."

"Think again, what bad things have you and your son done since your father took over the construction of the dike? If you can't think of them, you will be beaten with ten sticks again." Zhao Xiaoqian counseled earnestly, like a teacher teaching the mentally retarded rehabilitation.

Wang He lowered his head and gritted his teeth.

This morning, the Imperial City Division went to the construction site to inquire about a supervisor, but he had actually heard about it.

First they took the supervisor, then they took him, most likely because they were withholding the wages of the river workers.

Wang He hesitated for a moment and said, "I secretly withheld a small amount of the river workers' wages, and the Imperial City Bureau must have arrested me for this."

Wang He confessed very frankly. He had no intention of hiding anything. Since the supervisor had been arrested, it was impossible to conceal the withholding of wages. He might as well confess directly.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head. "No, okay, it counts as one thing, but it's not worth the Imperial City Division making such a big fuss about arresting you. That's the job of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. Let me give you a hint. What did you do the night before last?"

Wang He opened his eyes blankly and couldn't figure it out for a long time.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt more and more resentful.

He didn't care about the life of a grassroots person like Zhang Xiaoyi at all, and he couldn't even think about it afterward.

His father was just a fifth-rank official, and in his eyes, all living beings were worthless.

As Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes gradually turned cold, Wang He finally had a flash of inspiration and said suddenly, "Could it be... him? The Marquis of the County, it can't be for that, that..."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled, his expression full of encouragement: "Speak out boldly."

Wang He looked at him in shock. "Is the Marquis doing this for that... idler who caused trouble?"

Zhao Xiaoqian asked with great interest, "Do you think I would mobilize so many troops just for that idle guy?"

Wang He still couldn't believe it, saying, "That guy... was just an idler. He gathered hundreds of people on the construction site to protest for wages. I didn't let the government arrest him, I just gave him a little lesson... Besides, how could the county marquis do that for him..."

"I am a county marquis, and he is an idler. How could such a noble man attack a fellow nobleman like you for a lowly commoner? Is that what you mean?"

Wang He was stunned and nodded subconsciously, then he noticed the coldness in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes and shook his head hurriedly.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed. This was the aristocratic education he had received since childhood. The idea of ​​superiority and inferiority was deeply rooted and could not be reversed.

Even if he was beheaded, he still felt that he was noble, while Zhang Xiaoyi was still as lowly as dirt.

Zhao Xiaoqian was too lazy to say anything more, and had no interest in changing his deeply rooted ideas. He didn't have the time.

"Master Wang, the man you taught a lesson the night before yesterday was named Zhang Xiaoyi. He's indeed a slacker, but... he's also my friend."

Zhao Xiaoqian grinned, "You can't believe it, can you? A noble marquis has a friend who's just an idler. And in the eyes of the marquis, the life of an idler friend is much more valuable than a noble young man like you. Tell me, aren't you angry?"

Wang He finally realized the seriousness of the matter at this time, and his eyes were filled with deep panic.

"Marquis, I know I was wrong. I am willing to apologize to that idler. I will compensate him in any way. Marquis, please forgive me this time, considering that my father served in the same palace with you. I know I was wrong..."

Zhao Xiaoqian patted his face, his expression filled with regret: "It's too late. We are all adults and must be responsible for our own actions. I am not your father and have no obligation to educate you, but if you make a mistake, I have the responsibility to slap you."

"Just copy what Zhang Xiaoyi looks like after being beaten. I'll also add some interest to help my friend."

His expression grew colder as Zhao Xiaoqian stood up and said in a deep voice, "Wei Jie, right outside the main hall, break one of Prince Wang's arms and legs, and cripple one of his arms as well. Oh, and take care of his face and body too. I don't want to see any skin or flesh."

Wei Jie clasped his fists and accepted the order. Several imperial city officials immediately dragged Wang He to the courtyard outside the main hall.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Wang He, who was howling in the courtyard, and said calmly, "Wei Jie, after dealing with him, throw him into the ice well. Tell Liu Dan to question the river officials about withholding wages and embezzling money from the national treasury..."

"After the confession is confirmed, arrest the Water Commissioner Wang Zao and other officials. The confession will not be sent to the Dali Temple, but directly to the Council of State for the decision of the officials."

(End of this chapter)