The Red Mansion

Chapter 68 Jia Zhen Convicts and Punishes
The Beijing Camp is divided into five camps: the Infantry Camp and the Patrol Camp. Among them, the Infantry Camp is responsible for guarding the inner city of Shenjing City.

At this time, there was a solemn atmosphere inside and outside Ningguo Mansion.

Over a hundred soldiers from the infantry battalion, fully armed and armed, surrounded the Ningguo Mansion. The late spring sun shone on the armor, but it cast a cold light.

Lukodo stood in the main courtyard with a stern expression, and behind him stood Peng Jizhong, whose face was still bruised.

Jia Zhen came in a panic from Tianxiang Tower in Huifang Garden, staggering.

He saw Lukodo and Peng Jizhong, and then he suddenly realized that today's disaster was caused by Qin Keqing and Peng Jizhong!

He was shocked, angry, and puzzled.

In his opinion, this matter was not a big deal. How could it have alarmed the retired Emperor Jingning so quickly? How could the Emperor Jingning even order the governor of the Beijing camp, Lu Kodo, to arrest him?
"Lu...Lord Lu."

Jia Zhen walked up to Lukodo tremblingly, his voice trembling like a candle in the wind.

A sense of absurdity welled up in him.

His grandfather Jia Daihua was once the governor of the Beijing Camp, and his patron Wang Ziteng was the governor of the Beijing Camp not long ago. He never imagined that one day he would be surrounded and captured by the Beijing Camp governor's infantry camp.

Lukodo pointed at Peng Jizhong and said to Jia Zhen, "This is Peng Jizhong of the Qin Ye family. You must be familiar with him. He accused you of violating human ethics and defying the laws of the country. The emperor ordered me to arrest you. I'm sorry!"

Lukodo immediately ordered: "Come here, take him down!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers immediately stepped forward and tied Jia Zhen's hands behind his back.

Jia Zhen struggled and cried out, "Unjust! Unjust! Peng Jizhong has falsely accused me! How have I ever violated human ethics? How have I ever defied the laws of the land?"

Lukodo remained unmoved. "Yesterday, you ordered the slaves to beat up Peng Jizhong. They've already captured two of them. Who are the others? Where are they now?"

Among the two slaves who had been captured was Lai Er, the chief steward of Ningguo Mansion.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen's face paled even further. He caught a glimpse of Lai Er being held aside by the soldiers, his hands tied behind his back, his face terrified. However, he still managed to plead his innocence: "Your Excellency, please understand! When did I order the slaves to beat up Peng Jizhong? This fellow is clearly making a false accusation! Please excuse me for a moment."

Lukodo didn't give him a chance to speak. His expression turned stern and he said in a deep voice, "The Emperor has decreed that this case be handled by Lord Wang, the acting Minister of Rites, and I will assist in the investigation. I have been ordered to do nothing but judge the case. No favoritism is allowed. The case must be heard and reported immediately without delay. If you do not confess and try to deny your guilt, Lord Wang and I will make it clear in the memorial, and your crime will be increased! You must think carefully!"

Jia Zhen's body trembled violently, his legs shaking like sieves. He gazed at the armored soldiers wielding sharp weapons throughout the courtyard, feeling the cold light glare and the sharp edge as if it would pierce him at any moment. He had never experienced such panic and pressure before, and his defenses quickly collapsed, his courage completely gone.

He raised his hand tremblingly, pointed at Lai Er, and said in a voice as weak as a mosquito: "Yesterday... yesterday's group of servants, Lai Er knows..."

After he finished speaking, Jia Zhen, who was usually arrogant and pretentious, shrank back like a cicada in autumn.

Lukodo stroked the gilded dragon pattern on the hilt of his sword, looking down at Jia Zhen with disdain. A sneer curled up the corner of his mouth, and he sneered inwardly: "Is this the descendant of Ningguo Duke Jia Yan? This is the grandson of Jia Daihua, the former governor of the Beijing camp? How can he be so cowardly! Ha!"

……

……

The Ministry of Justice was Daqing's judicial organ, accepting local appeals, reviewing serious local cases, and hearing cases involving officials in the capital and the imperial district. Its office was located in the southwest corner of the Imperial Palace, forming a solemn parallel with the Censorate and the Dali Temple.

What Jia Zhen did this time should be tried by the Ministry of Justice.

The chief judge of this case was Wang Tingyu, a trusted and trusted minister of Emperor Jingning.

Wang Tingyu currently holds positions such as Assistant Director of the Southern Study, Minister of Rites, and Tutor to the Imperial Princes, and is also acting Director of the Ministry of Justice. He previously served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, handling major cases. Notably, Wang Tingyu has been appointed Chief Examiner for the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination, held next month...

Lukodo led the soldiers of the infantry battalion, marching with vigorous steps, escorting Jia Zhen, Lai Er, and a group of powerful slaves to the Ministry of Justice. As they arrived, a few sparrows perched on the eaves of the yamen seemed to sense the tense and oppressive atmosphere and took flight with a startled flutter, circling and chirping in the air, as if playing a prelude to the impending trial.

Jia Zhen's hands were tightly bound, his face was pale, and he staggered, as if every step he took was difficult. He was like a walking corpse without a soul. His former prestige and power were gone at this moment.

At this time, Wang Tingyu was staying in a room in the Ministry of Justice.

The room wasn't spacious. A rosewood desk sat in the center, piled high with documents. Official documents were neatly arranged, each one carrying a case or matter, large or small. To one side of the desk sat a Duan inkstone. The stone was as smooth as jade, and the pine soot ink within, ground to a thick consistency, exuded a fragrant aroma.

Wang Tingyu sat upright on the official chair in front of the desk. His official robe was spotless, and the cranes on it looked lifelike, as if they were about to spread their wings and fly high.

Lukodo walked slowly to the threshold. He stood still and saluted Wang Tingyu in the room, "Master Wang."

Wang Tingyu stood up to greet him, his movements neither hurried nor slow, and he smiled faintly: "Master Lu, please come in."

Lukodo walked into the room, his body straight as a pine tree, and said in a loud voice, "Jia Zhen and his gang from Ningguo Mansion have all been brought in."

Wang Tingyu nodded slightly, his eyes inadvertently passing over the sweat oozing from Lu Kodo's forehead, and said softly: "Master Lu, you have worked hard."

Lukodo smiled and said, "Master Wang, you are too polite."

Wang Tingyu's expression instantly became solemn: "The two saints are paying close attention to this case. We must quickly investigate and report to the emperor."

Lukodo clasped his fists again and said, "Lord Wang is in charge of the trial. I am just assisting in the criminal investigation. Everything is at your disposal."

Wang Tingyu raised the corners of his lips slightly: "Lord Lu is too modest."

……

……

It only took two days to complete the trial of Jia Zhen's case.

Wang Tingyu and Lu Kodo jointly submitted a memorial to the Emperor Jingning, the retired emperor.

Emperor Jingning read the memorials of the two and after deep thought, he wrote in red ink:
“That is:
1. Jia Zhen's hereditary rank of Third Rank General Weilie was revoked; the Ministry of Works was immediately taken back from Ningguo Mansion;

2. Jia Zhen was caned 80 times and sent to the coastal areas to work as a soldier to atone for his sins;

3. Six second-class evil slaves, each of whom shall be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and exiled for 3,000 miles;

4. Jia Zhen paid Peng Jizhong two hundred taels of silver for medicine.

The Ministry of Justice has been ordered to issue a public notice regarding this case, instructing the nobles to take it as a warning!
"I admire this"

As the last stroke was made, the cinnabar dripped like blood.

After putting down his pen, Emperor Jingning fumbled for a piece of crystal-clear and smooth Hetian jade paperweight on the desk. The dragon carved on it seemed to be about to break through the paper. He thought of Jia Daishan, with whom he had a deep friendship as an emperor and his subject, and Jia Daihua of Ningguo Mansion, and could not help but sigh.

(End of this chapter)