The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 388 If you don't follow the rules, then I won't follow the rules either.

Looking at the three large characters "You Zhen Ne" (meaning "I am here") written in red ink by Emperor Qianxi, which were so forceful they seemed to penetrate the paper, a cold glint flashed in Shen Ye's eyes.

This time, he was truly cornered!
The current situation is like being dealt a terrible hand.

Not only did the other party act unpredictably, but they also went so far as to spend money to win people over. His insistence on upholding the law impartially is almost becoming a joke.

If he continues to be so obedient and rule-abiding, without knowing how to be flexible, the position of crown prince may truly become a permanent member of the "honest man card"!
Shen Ye gritted his teeth and hardened his heart. If you are heartless, don't blame me for being unjust!
He immediately ordered Zhou Bao, "Go and fetch Longkodo for me!"

……

Near the headquarters of the Infantry Commander was a teahouse called "Kaide Teahouse," which had always been a resting place for wealthy people who came to do business.

Recently, because of Lü Baizhou's incident, this place has become as lively as a vegetable market, crowded with onlookers craning their necks to wait for news.

Zhang Tingyu, waving a folding fan that read "Leisurely Clouds and Wild Cranes," strolled into the teahouse, looking completely at ease, and called out:

"Waiter, bring me a pot of good tea!"

The waiter came running over excitedly, his face plastered with a fake smile.

Zhang Tingyu calmly took out a silver coin and slammed it on the table with a "thud".

The waiter's eyes lit up immediately, and his mouth almost stretched to his ears in a wide grin.

He skillfully picked up the silver coin, weighed it in his hand, and then brought it to his lips and blew on it with a "whoosh"—oh my, what a pleasant little sound!
It's definitely hard currency issued by Yuqing Bank!
This thing is in high demand. You don't even need to weigh it on a small scale; people are even willing to pay extra to get it!
"Please wait a moment, sir, it will be right there!"

The waiter was so friendly, as if he had met a god of wealth who was even closer than his own father. He quickly led Zhang Tingyu to a private room and hurried off to prepare tea.

Zhang Tingyu had just sat down when he heard someone at the next table talking animatedly: "Have you heard? Tian Wenjing's family was so moved by the Seven Gentlemen of the Hanlin Academy's plea for the people that they've already submitted a petition to the Infantry Commander's Office!"

"I think these seven gentlemen should be released soon!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a middle-aged man in his forties shook his head and chimed in: "You're thinking too simply!"

"Although the Seven Gentlemen of Hanlin accidentally killed Tian Wenjing this time, they originally intended to kill Zhen Yan!"

"I heard that a very important person has already declared that the Seven Gentlemen of the Hanlin Academy must be severely punished!"

"Sigh, it's good that young people have passion, but unfortunately, they've hit a brick wall this time!!"

The first one to speak immediately said indignantly, "Who is so heartless as to want to kill the Seven Gentlemen of the Hanlin Academy?"

"Aren't you afraid of inciting public outrage?!"

The middle-aged man quickly lowered his voice: "Shh! You'd better keep your voice down. I heard even a Grand Secretary has to listen to him. He's someone you can't afford to offend!"

"Anyone who dares to anger him is like an old man hanging himself—they're tired of living!"

"Old Zhou, you dare not say it, but I dare to say it! Who else but the Crown Prince is determined to put the Seven Gentlemen of the Hanlin Academy to death!" The speaker was a scholar in his thirties dressed in brocade robes.

He said indignantly, "His Majesty is praying for the late Emperor, but the Crown Prince is acting recklessly here."

"If this continues, the world will be in turmoil!"

Zhang Tingyu frowned as he listened.

Although they are now rivals of the Crown Prince, this statement is far too outrageous.

To be fair, the Crown Prince is quite capable.

Putting everything else aside, just look at his bank; it has made things convenient for so many people.

The waiter came over with the teapot, his face pale with fright.

He pleaded in a low voice, "Gentlemen, I'm just running a small business, please be careful what you say!"

Although he didn't say these words, if they got out of the teahouse, he would be in trouble and suffer the consequences.

Distracted by the waiter, the group exchanged glances and their voices indeed dropped considerably.

Zhang Tingyu was too lazy to pay attention to these folk commentators.

He's the son of a Grand Secretary, and he still has a long way to go to climb the ranks; he can't afford to get involved with these people.

Otherwise, not only would his father Zhang Ying lose face, but he might also be blacklisted by the royal family, which would be a great loss.

This time, the crown prince, who will be punished according to the law, will probably have no choice but to swallow his anger and resentment.

"Ladies and gentlemen—the verdict is in! The verdict is in!"

A scholar who looked to be in his early twenties rushed in.

Although he was panting heavily from exhaustion, his face was beaming with joy.

He seems quite satisfied with the verdict.

"Scholar Cheng, what was the verdict?" someone asked impatiently.

Zhang Tingyu also put down his teacup. He had thought that the Crown Prince would delay.

Unexpectedly, the day after the petition was submitted, the Infantry Commander's Office issued a verdict!

This efficiency is almost abnormal!

Could it be that the Crown Prince felt there was no point in continuing this matter, so he took the initiative to back down?

But this doesn't seem like the Crown Prince's style!
Why did the Crown Prince retreat so decisively? Could it be that the Crown Prince has another plan?

As Zhang Tingyu was pondering this, he heard Cheng Xiucai say, "The Infantry Commander's Office has decided to strip Lü Baizhou and six others of their official titles and exile them to Ningguta."

Zhang Tingyu was not surprised by this result.

Although Lü Baizhou and others obtained a petition from Tian Wenjing's family that could lead to a lighter sentence, they had still killed someone.

Sentencing someone to exile is considered a normal procedure.

Going from a death sentence to exile is already a victory.

The Crown Prince's plan to have officials and gentry pay taxes together is likely to be stalled.

Just as Zhang Tingyu was pondering what to do next, he heard Cheng Xiucai add, "And one more thing—each person should be given thirty strokes of the cane!"

The caning administered by the Infantry Commander's Office was generally not fatal.

At most, they would just beat someone until their skin was torn and bruised, and that would be the end of it. But when Zhang Tingyu heard that this was supposed to be the lightest punishment, his expression changed drastically.

He felt that this caning was definitely part of a conspiracy!
Forgetting all about maintaining his refined gentlemanly image, he rushed to the side of the eloquent scholar Cheng and asked, "Brother Cheng, has the caning begun yet?"

"It's already started!" Cheng Xiucai said, "I couldn't bear to watch, that's why I ran back."

"Someone has already arranged for doctors to treat the Seven Gentlemen of the Hanlin Academy. They will receive treatment as soon as the caning is over!"

"Alas, Lord Lü and his men are really in for a beating this time."

When Zhang Tingyu heard that the caning had begun, his face turned pale.

He felt that what he had a premonition about had most likely already happened.

He couldn't stop it!
Even if his father, Zhang Ying, came, he wouldn't be able to stop him, let alone him.

This is a judgment from the Infantry Commander's Office!

Although his father was a Grand Secretary, he could not influence the decisions of the Infantry Commander's Office.

Just as thoughts were racing through his mind, and he was praying that he was wrong, he heard someone outside shout loudly, "Something terrible has happened!"

"Someone was beaten to death!"

Upon hearing this shout, Zhang Tingyu dropped the teacup in his hand to the ground with a thud.

Immediately, someone shouted, "Who died? Explain clearly!"

Then the hurried voice rang out again: "Lord Lü... was beaten to death when he was being flogged!"

"And Lord Xu, he too did not survive the caning!"

Upon hearing this, those who had just been cheering because Lü Baizhou had not been sentenced to death turned pale.

Some people thought it was an accident, but many more people understood: this accident just happened at the worst possible time!

The Infantry Commander's Office beats people with sticks almost every day. Why is it that they never kill anyone on ordinary days, but Lü Baizhou was beaten to death?

Is this an accident?
"Let's go and see!" someone shouted. "Let's go see if Lord Lü has been wronged!"

Following the shout, many people responded and came downstairs.

Zhang Tingyu hesitated for a moment, but still decided to go and take a look.

Regardless, he should go and see for himself.

Moreover, he and Lü Baizhou had some kind of relationship.

A while ago, Lü Baizhou visited his home quite often.

When Zhang Tingyu arrived at the Infantry Commander's Office, a considerable number of people had already gathered there.

Among the gathered crowd, there were many people dressed in official robes.

"You...you actually dared to kill an official of the imperial court! You...you are simply audacious and lawless!"

The speaker was Xu Chunping, the Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy. His voice was slightly hoarse at this moment!
He rushed over after receiving news that Lü Baizhou and others had been sentenced by the Infantry Commander's Office.

He had originally thought that he would be able to welcome Lü Baizhou and the others away this time.

But to his surprise, what he received was not a living Lü Baizhou, but a cold corpse.

The person Xu Chunping was criticizing was a constable from the Infantry Commander's Office, but he said with a grin, "Sir, the one we flogged to death was not an official of the court, but a criminal."

"Besides, we don't want to kill him!"

"This was purely an accident!"

"Thirty strokes of the cane rarely kill a person. The fact that he's so resistant to beatings can only mean that he had some kind of pre-existing health problem!"

At this point, he spread his hands and said, "He's too weak and can't take a beating, who can he blame!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Chunping nearly coughed up blood on the spot. Why did this reason sound so familiar?

Oh, right, he suddenly remembered the reason they came up with for Tian Wenjing's death.

Tian Wenjing is sick!
He was beaten to death not because Lü Baizhou and the others who attacked him used excessive force, but because his body couldn't withstand the blows.

If you can take a beating, then you can't be killed!

Now, the yamen runner returned the same reason exactly as it was!

What are you trying to do? Are you trying to retaliate in kind?
"What a terrible health condition!"

"I want to submit a petition!"

"I request His Majesty's judgment!"

"Tell Longkodo that he can't cover up the truth in this world!"

At this point, Xu Chunping was so angry that he was panting heavily.

The constable was not afraid of such intimidation at all, and still said with a smile, "Sir, you can go and impeach our lord, but we can't do anything about it."

"But you really can't blame us adults for this."

"You have to be reasonable!"

"It's really because Lu Baizhou and the others are too weak. When we punish them, we don't care if the speed is fast enough or the posture is cool enough; we treat everyone equally!"

Xu Chunping was already panting, and when he heard these infuriating words, he almost fainted on the spot.

He never expected that he would encounter such an infuriating thing.

But faced with this situation, he was helpless, and his hands trembled with anger.

Just then, someone shouted, "Let's go find Longkodo and demand an explanation!"

A group of people stood up in response and surged toward the gate of the Infantry Commander's Office.

(End of this chapter)