The prince is more stable

Chapter 264 Killing a Chicken to Establish Authority

Zhou Zhi’s logic is very simple: I can kill you, but you can’t kill me.

That's it.

It would be best if you could actively cooperate with me when I kill you, lying flat on your back with your legs spread out, waiting for me to cut you.

If you want to fight back, that would be treason and rebellion against the Heavenly Gang.

Although this kind of unreasonable logic may be irritating, there are actually many such people in the world. If you don't believe it, go and see what the fairies will behave like a thousand years from now.

Zhou Zhi thought the same thing. "I want to kill you, how can you resist? I just want to use your future to seek credit in front of Mr. Zhang. Can't you help me do that?"
It is understandable if a person is unreasonable. There are too many injustices in the world. If you can't be unreasonable, you can just follow the law of the jungle. Whoever is weak should die, and there is nothing to say even after death.

What's funny is that according to the law of the jungle, Zhou Zhi had no chance of winning. Whether in terms of weight, power or background, Zhao Xiaoqian was far superior to him.

What Zhou Zhi could rely on was Zhang Dun's tacit approval and the low profile of the father and son of the Prince of Chu.

Bending down slightly, Zhao Xiaoqian looked Zhou Zhi in the eye. The two were so close that they could hear each other's breathing.

"Imperial Censor Zhou, the only thing I'm curious about now is where do you get the confidence to think you can control me? When a dying man is about to die, his words are kind. Why don't you help me solve my doubts?" Zhao Xiaoqian said with a smile.

"Incite the students of the Imperial College to petition, align court officials with a joint petition, and create a massive outcry, both inside and outside the court, to dissuade the emperor from revoking the imperial decree of the award. Is this your plan?"

"Have you never considered in your plan that I might fight back and take your life?"

"What makes you think that in the face of your conspiracies and attacks, I will swallow my anger, compromise and give in, and let you trample on me like a fish waiting to be slaughtered?"

The smile on Zhao Xiaoqian's face grew deeper and deeper as he slowly spoke, "I, Zhao Xiaoqian, am a descendant of the royal family. The government relies on me as the pillar of the nation. When I'm at home, I lead the Imperial City Bureau to eliminate threats for the Emperor. When I'm outside, I lead the army to fight and punish those who are disloyal to the Emperor..."

"My soldiers have been unstoppable throughout the journey, amassing tens of thousands of enemy heads. We've entered enemy territory, burning, killing, and looting, committing all sorts of atrocities. Censor Zhou, do you really think I'm a good, patient person? No way, no way? No one could be so naive, could they?"

Looking at Zhou Zhi's ashen face, Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Believe it or not, I was actually not happy to accept the official reward."

"However, it is my own choice not to accept it. If someone is eager to help me give up the official position I have obtained, then I will not be happy. Why can't I take what belongs to me? I, Zhao Xiaoqian, have accepted all four rewards from the government."

Staring into Zhou Zhi's eyes, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "You're still holding onto hope, aren't you? You still hold out hope that Mr. Zhang will come forward to rescue you, right?"

Zhou Zhi's eyes suddenly showed horror. He didn't expect Zhao Xiaoqian to be so smart that he could guess what he was thinking.

Zhao Xiaoqian chuckled: "Don't be silly, since the Imperial City Division has arrested you, it means that I have made all the preparations. From the moment you were arrested, your evidence and confession have all been confirmed. Mr. Zhang is not your father, he will not let himself be stained by such a scandal."

"It's a pity that you can no longer see the wonderful future of the Song Dynasty court."

Turning to look at Liu Shan, Zhao Xiaoqian said coldly, "Liu Duzhi, Zhou Zhi colluded with officials and incited students. This could not have been done alone. There must be accomplices behind this. I hand this person over to you. Find a way to find out who the accomplices are."

Liu Dan laughed, and his perverted smile was creepy.

"Don't worry, my Lord. I don't think this censor is a hero. I am sure I can make him confess before midnight today."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded lightly.

Since everyone bullies him for his good temper, he might as well make a big move this time. In addition to Zhou Zhi, he will also implicate a group of officials to be held accountable, so that all officials in the Song Dynasty court can open their eyes and see clearly what kind of temper the Prince of Chu has. In the future, they will have to think twice before provoking him.

Zhao Xiaoqian turned around and left without any reluctance.

Bingjingwu is a very weird place. As soon as you step into the yard, you can feel the cold wind and the ghosts haunting you. Zhao Xiaoqian is a little scared. He will try not to enter this yard in the future if possible.

After respectfully seeing Zhao Xiaoqian off, Liu Dan straightened up and looked at Zhou Zhi with a smile.

"Censor Zhou, I apologize for my offense. From now on, our relationship may not be so pleasant. I hope you can hold on for a while longer and not give in right away. Otherwise, I will be very disappointed."

"Come here, respectfully invite Censor Zhou into the Bingjing Office and serve him well!" Zhou Zhi's fear had reached its limit at this time. When he was carried by someone to the Bingjing Office, Zhou Zhi struggled hard, but found that he could not struggle anymore, so he screamed miserably and fainted immediately.

At his feet, a pool of yellow liquid flowed, spreading across the muddy ground like an ink painting.

Liu Dan was not surprised. The prisoners in Bingjingwu had all kinds of character, so Zhou Zhi's reaction was normal.

However, Liu Shan still glanced at him with disdain and said sarcastically, "What a man of steel! Take him in and serve him just the same!"

…………

The Imperial City Office questioned the Censor Zhou Zhi, causing a huge uproar in the court of Bian Jing that day.

It is not surprising that the Imperial City Office arrested officials, mainly because the charges against Zhou Zhi were too outrageous.

How could a seventh-rank censor, merely a bit vicious and a bit unpleasant, be accused of "treason"? Isn't that a bit too much?
The court officials were shocked and furious.

On the surface, the actions of the Imperial City Bureau this time clearly fall into the category of "perverse actions" and "harming loyal and good people". Without going through the Kaifeng Prefecture, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, or the Censorate, they just questioned and hastily convicted people on their own. Isn't this lawlessness?

The court officials were angry and submitted memorials to impeach Zhao Xiaoqian. Memorials flew into the Secretariat like snowflakes. The workload of the prime ministers in the Council of State suddenly increased several times, as they were all memorials from the court officials impeaching Zhao Xiaoqian.

At the same time, the students of the Imperial College remained silent.

The letter that Zhao Xiaoqian sent to the Imperial College in the name of the Imperial City Administration did work after all.

After Zhou Zhi was really brought into question, the Imperial College's chief academic officer also realized that the Imperial City Administration was serious this time, and that anyone who dared to cause trouble again would be dealt with by the Imperial City Administration.

It would have been fine if the students had been dealt with, but the main reason was that the Imperial City Administration had already sent an official letter to the Chief Priest of the Imperial College in advance, and the Chief Priest still failed to control the students. So after the Imperial City Administration dealt with the students who made trouble, it was hard to say whether they would also deal with the Chief Priest as well.

So the chief academician of the Imperial College also became intimidated and immediately ordered the gates of the Imperial College to be closed and all the students to be put under house arrest. He strictly ordered the students not to go out and cause trouble, otherwise they would be expelled from the college and would never be allowed to take the imperial examinations again.

The Imperial College became quiet, but the court became more lively.

Zhou Zhi was only a seventh-rank censor. His life and death was a small matter. What was important was that the Imperial City Office had exceeded its authority and was becoming more and more arrogant. It even treated the court officials like chickens in a cage, arresting whoever it wanted. This temper must not be tolerated, otherwise who would be the boss in the future?

As an agency directly under the emperor, how can you have power over court officials?
So Zhao Xiaoqian inevitably became the target of public criticism. Within one day, the number of memorials impeaching Zhao Xiaoqian broke the historical record. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, no court official had been so hated. He was almost unanimously criticized by all the civil and military officials in the court.

There were too many memorials and the incident was serious, so the ministers in the Council of State were unable to suppress it, and Prime Minister Zhang Dun was intentionally or unintentionally making the conflict between the court officials and Zhao Xiaoqian more acute.

The conflict escalated completely at the court meeting the next morning.

Nothing was mentioned in today's court meeting. The ministers took turns to leave the court. All they reported were about the censor Zhou Zhi being questioned for no reason and the Duke of Anle, Zhao Xiaoqian, being lawless and persecuting and framing loyal officials.

Zhao Xu, who was sitting in the Golden Palace, was stunned.

After only two days of not seeing each other, Zi'an quietly caused another big incident.

The thing is, you should at least discuss this with me before you take action!

He was in such a passive position now that Zhao Xu didn't know how to speak to defend Zhou Zhi. He had no idea why Zhao Xiaoqian was questioning Zhou Zhi, nor did he know how Zhou Zhi had offended Zhao Xiaoqian.

Watching the ministers line up like old men at the pharmacy to get eggs, one after another took turns to leave, some weeping, some filled with righteous indignation, denouncing the emperor for indulging his relatives, and the country is about to fall apart. Alas, the spirit of the late emperor in heaven, please open your eyes...

Zhao Xu was almost going crazy sitting in the hall. He realized that this matter was a bit serious and even as the emperor he was afraid he could not suppress it.

So an imperial edict was hurriedly sent out of the palace.

An urgent imperial decree ordered Zhao Xiaoqian, the Duke of Anle, to enter the palace immediately and attend the court meeting.

(End of this chapter)