The prince is more stable

Chapter 304 Brave and Cowardly

The bureaucracy of the Song Dynasty was extremely bloated. Even though it was slightly streamlined after the Yuanfeng Reform, the situation was only slightly improved and could not be fundamentally resolved.

A bloated organization means that there are too many people and too little work, and work efficiency is extremely poor. A simple official business often takes many days.

But Zhao Xiaoqian did not expect that the Three Courts would act so decisively in investigating and prosecuting Su Shi.

The decision made at the morning meeting was implemented this afternoon.

Didn’t Zhang Dun hide his desire to kill Su Shi?
Zhao Xiaoqian was anxious. He had spent so much effort to convince Zhao Xu. If Su Shi entered the Ministry of Justice, things would be difficult.

Su Shi's old bones could not withstand the torture of the Ministry of Justice before Zhao Xiaoqian came to rescue him. Before Zhao Xiaoqian led his men into the prison of the Ministry of Justice, Su Shi had already lost his arms and legs. Even if he was rescued, the nickname given to him by the world of martial arts, "The Great Literary Giant with a Mutilated Body and a Defective Body", might not be so nice.

After getting on the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered his men to rush to the Su Mansion.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian's mood gradually calmed down.

He suddenly remembered something. Yesterday he dispatched a team of royal guards to the Su Mansion to prevent someone from assassinating the Su brothers. Today, the Ministry of Justice was interrogating Su Shi, and the guards at the gate of the Su Mansion could finally come in handy. At least they could hold off the enemy for a while and buy time for Zhao Xiaoqian.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but give himself a thumbs up.

What a clever little ghost!

The carriage quickly arrived at the Su Mansion. Before it stopped, Chen Shou said hurriedly, "Sir, there's a crowd gathering outside the Su Mansion. It's very chaotic."

Zhao Xiaoqian's face darkened and he said coldly, "Open the way, the Imperial Guards charge in!"

After receiving the order, Chen Shou naturally would not be polite. He immediately ordered dozens of imperial guards who were protecting Zhao Xiaoqian to push through the crowd and rush to the gate of Su's mansion.

Zhao Xiaoqian got off the carriage and was shocked to see chaos outside the Su Mansion.

A team of imperial guards sent yesterday to guard the Su Mansion drew their swords and confronted a group of officers in black robes.

Several injured people in white clothes were lying on the ground, rolling around and crying in pain.

It is obvious that the two groups have already started fighting.

Judging from the results, the royal guards were still very powerful, and those who fell to the ground were all officers from the Ministry of Justice.

Behind the group of black-robed runners stood an official in purple robes, staring at the palace guards with a sullen face.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at it and couldn't help laughing.

It was another old acquaintance, Xing Shu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

What benefits did Zhang Dun give to this guy that made him act like an old bootlicker? He is everywhere as long as it is related to Zhang Dun.

I would think you are infatuated if you licked a stunning goddess, but what about licking that old bastard Zhang Dun?

The two sides were on the verge of a fight, but Chen Shou led his brothers in the imperial guards and rudely pushed aside the onlookers, leaving a path in the middle.

Zhao Xiaoqian walked slowly with his hands behind his back, and arrived at the gate of Su's mansion without any hurry.

When Xing Shu saw Zhao Xiaoqian's sudden arrival, his face turned pale. He had clashed with Zhao Xiaoqian several times before, and the fear of being dominated by Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly rose in his heart, and his momentum immediately decreased.

The team of imperial guards who were confronting the officers from the Ministry of Justice sheathed their swords and saluted Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian ignored Xing Shu and nodded to the imperial guards, saying with a smile, "Well done. Go back to the palace accounting office and give each of you ten taels of silver as a reward. Take it to a feast, brothers."

The imperial guards cheered and thanked him with tears of gratitude.

Zhao Xiaoqian quickly glanced at the gate of the Su Mansion and saw that the gate was closed. There was a faint sound of footsteps through the gap inside the door. He couldn't help but smile slightly and then looked at Xing Shu.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed before speaking, then smiled and said, "Minister Xing, we are truly destined to meet. I always run into you for everything. You're almost like an NPC. Every time I see you, I have the urge to run over to you and sign in for a mission..."

Xing Shu didn't know what NPC was, but he was sure that this was not a good thing to say, and he stared at Zhao Xiaoqian with a grim face.

"Lord Zhao, the emperor has ordered the three courts to investigate the Su Shi case. I am acting in accordance with the order and am bringing Su Shi before the court today. I hope you will not interfere with my official duties."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Minister Xing, we are old acquaintances. Stop being so official and reminisce about the past first, can't you?" "No, I have official duties to attend to, so I'm sorry I can't reminisce. Please ask the Lord to ask your subordinates to move aside, as we are going to the Su Mansion to arrest someone." Xing Shu said stiffly.

Zhao Xiaoqian's smile gradually faded, his eyes became sharp and aggressive, staring into Xing Shu's eyes and saying, "Since you insist on doing things impartially, then I won't be polite."

"The Imperial City Bureau has investigated and found hidden secrets in the Su Shi case. Officials in the Imperial Censorate have committed crimes, and there are many suspicious aspects to the case. The Great Song Dynasty enforces the law impartially and without leniency. If the Ministry of Justice wishes to question Su Shi, they must first wait for the Imperial City Bureau to thoroughly investigate the case before handing it over to the Ministry of Justice."

Xing Shu was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage: "Lord Zhao, you're going too far! You're clearly protecting Su Shi and obstructing the Ministry of Justice's enforcement! How dare you disobey the emperor's order?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said coldly, "The Imperial City Division is directly under the Emperor's command and does not respond to orders from the Council of State or the Privy Council. I will explain the hidden facts of this case to the Emperor myself. You may return with your men."

In the past, Xing Shu was a little timid when he met Zhao Xiaoqian. After all, even Zhang Dun was afraid of Zhao Xiaoqian. But today he stood up.

Things are different now. Today, Xing Shu is acting in accordance with the emperor's orders and has the imperial decree to protect him. He is sure that Zhao Xiaoqian dare not do anything to him.

"If the Imperial City Bureau wants to investigate, they can do it themselves, but Su Shi must appear before the Ministry of Justice today. If you, Lord Zhao, dare to act rashly, you will not be able to escape the charge of disobeying the imperial order!" Xing Shu said sternly but weakly.

Zhao Xiaoqian chuckled. "Minister Xing, I really should get you a mirror so you can see what you look like right now... How can you be so brave and yet so cowardly?"

Xing Shu was furious. Looking at the onlookers around him whispering and staring at him with different expressions, Xing Shu felt more and more embarrassed.

Xing Shu gritted his teeth and was about to order the officers to rush into the Su Mansion, but he heard a chaotic sound of footsteps behind him.

Turning around, he saw Wei Jie leading nearly a hundred subordinates from the Imperial City Bureau. When they arrived at the gate of Su's mansion, his subordinates drove the onlookers over, and then surrounded Xing Shu and the officials from the Ministry of Justice without saying a word, staring at them with unfriendly eyes.

The officers of the Ministry of Justice suddenly became panicked. Some of them threw away the knives in their hands unconsciously, while others even squatted down obediently with their hands on their heads. Their movements were so skillful that it was heartbreaking. I wonder what their occupation was before they became officers of the Ministry of Justice.

Xing Shu was about to collapse.

Again!
Once again slapped in the face!

This Zhao Xiaoqian has become his nemesis. Every time he conflicts with him, he is madly crushed. I am the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and you are almost pressing my face into a road to heaven!
Should I continue to endure it or fight back?

Xing Shu hesitated. He was clearly about to explode with rage, but reason told him to hold back...

After a moment's silence, Wei Jie clasped his fists and said, "The Imperial City Division, under the order of the County Lord, has taken over the Su Shi case."

Zhao Xiaoqian raised his chin towards Xing Shu and said angrily, "How rude! Can't you see Minister Xing is here? Mr. Zizhan is indeed a great writer of the time. Even if he commits a crime, people still rush to hire him."

Wei Jie glanced at Xing Shu and said in a sinister tone, "Minister Xing wants to snatch someone from my Imperial City Division?"

Xing Shu also said with a cold face: "This official is ordered to arrest someone. No matter how powerful the Imperial City Bureau is, can it be more powerful than the emperor's family?"

"The Duke of the County said that the Imperial City Division has taken over the Su Shi case, and the Duke of the County will report to the government."

"I only obey the orders of the emperor!"

Zhao Xiaoqian yawned and said lazily, "Minister Xing, I'm sorry I won't join you in a verbal battle. It's too boring."

"How about this, I'm going to the Su Mansion now and have a feast with the Su brothers. If you think you're stubborn, you might as well lead your men in to capture Su Shi. But let me be frank, I won't be responsible for the consequences. You'll have to decide for yourself."

Zhao Xiaoqian then said, "Old Wei, Chen Shou, take your men and get out of the way. If Minister Xing wants to enter, do not stop him. Today we will test Minister Xing's courage. Perhaps he is a hero who has been tarnished by the dust."

Finally, Zhao Xiaoqian knocked on the door of the Su Mansion.

The side door of the Su Mansion creaked open a crack. Zhao Xiaoqian took a step forward, then suddenly turned around and smiled at Xing Shu, saying, "Minister Xing, there's wine and food, music, and beauties inside. I'll be waiting for you."

Zhao Xiaoqian walked in with a swagger, and Wei Jie and Chen Shou also led their men to clear the door of Su's mansion.

Wei Jie even gave Xing Shu a sinister smile and raised his hand as a gesture to invite him in, his malice almost overflowing.

Xing Shu stared at the closed door of the Su Mansion with red eyes, his teeth almost broken.

After a long moment, Xing Shu raised his hand and called over an officer, saying in a deep voice, "Hurry and go to the Censorate and the Dali Temple and tell them what's going on here. The Ministry of Justice can't arrest anyone today. If the three courts come together, Zhao Xiaoqian won't be able to stop them!"

"Also, hurry to the government hall and report to Mr. Zhang!"

(End of this chapter)