Doctor Amnesiac, but not completely amnesiac

"I can let everyone in the Ministry of Labor know the truth, but I need evidence, and I don't have enough prestige. Empty talk will only be regarded as a false accusation."

"I understand. The next step is to find someone to stand up for us and tell those people that what we are talking about is the future that is bound to happen, and they have no other choice but to resist."

Qiao Yelan nodded.

"Who are you going to find?"

"The judge of the empire."

"They? They won't get involved in the affairs of the peasants. Don't think they can be won over just because Oleg is so vehemently opposed. In fact, he opposes Anatoly only because he is trampling on the laws he wrote."

Qiao Yelan realized what was wrong with Yegor.

This person is too hostile to classes other than civilians.

After the Speaker and the new emperor both "backslided" to varying degrees, he no longer trusted anyone else. He treated everyone with that face, which meant that he thought everyone was his enemy.

"Egor Terekin, do you know how many laws were changed and amended during the reign of His Majesty Vladimir?"

The sudden question made the man stunned.

"...several hundred?"

"Yes—all of them."

Qiao Yelan gave the answer solemnly.

"Your Majesty Vladimir revised all the laws of Ursus since the founding of the country, not just the Serf Amendment Law. The Ministry of Justice was once larger than any other government department, just to ensure that every town in the empire has a judge who can explain to the people the rights they have."

Yegor was stunned.

He is only in his thirties this year. He entered politics after the Tenth Uka War because he admired His Majesty Vladimir, so he doesn't remember much about the past.

But he recalled one conversation.

A conversation before he came to the Holy Eagle Castle -

"Grandpa Judge, I am just a commoner. Do I have the qualifications to be an official like the nobles?"

"Of course, little Yegor - because this is a right that our holy Majesty Vladimir has won back for us."

Chapter 48 Justice

"But...how do you know? I haven't experienced this, and I haven't even heard of it from other channels. You are younger than me..."

"Grand Duke Koschei always stands on the side of the Empire."

Qiao Yelan did not answer this question directly.

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to talk more, Yegor did not dwell on this issue, but turned around and asked about the plan.

“Will the Department of Justice really be on our side?”

"I will visit you personally."

Qiao Yelan replied calmly.

"if......"

"There is no such thing as an if. I always plan my plans based on the worst-case scenario. In other words, I have even considered your rejection."

Yegor stared at Qiao Yelan. The other party's calmness and confidence made him have an illusion that even if he was alone, he would be able to stop this.

"I will be ready. I will prepare the personnel, communications, and channels as quickly as possible."

"And your family - it's best for them to leave before the plan begins and go to the territory of Grand Duke Kosice first. I will arrange for them to go abroad later. Da Yan or Colombia are both good places to go."

"Well, let my widow choose when the time comes."

Yegor nodded.

Qiao Yelan stretched out his hand and held it tightly with the other person.

---------------------------------------------

There was not a moment of joy in winning Yegor over, as the next place they arrived at was the Smirnov family residence.

When Qiao Yelan came to visit, he was received by Judge Oleg's wife. He was wondering why Oleg was also working overtime when Qiao Yelan saw the judge follow a dignified old man into the reception room.

He blinked to make sure he was not mistaken - the man with a red slap mark on his left cheek was Judge Oleg Smirnov who attended the meeting with him at noon.

"I am Yevgeny Smirnov, this guy's father. There are no deals that are done behind closed doors in the Smirnov family. If you have anything to say, Mr. Joe, please speak up."

Qiao Yelan was caught off guard by this sudden situation. He originally thought it would be difficult to convince Oleg, but looking at the momentum of the old man now, it seemed that things could turn around.

"I'm here to discuss with Judge Oleg about today's noon meeting."

"What is your opinion?"

"We have to stop this from happening."

Qiao Yelan's tone was firm.

"No matter from the legal or moral point of view, this should not happen. The advancement of the empire may require the sacrifice of the people, but it will never be driven by the flesh and blood of the people!"

The old man nodded approvingly, then glanced at Oleg who was standing with his head lowered.

"Speak up—I'm here to discuss something with you!"

"...I refuse."

"you--!"

Yevgeny almost jumped up. Only then did Qiao Yelan see clearly that the old man was not leaning on a cane, but a long sword with a scabbard.

"Father! I told you, this matter was not pushed by Anatoly, not even by Grand Duke Nicholas, not by the nobles, but by everyone - everyone is looking forward to this happening!"

Oleg said painfully.

"Your Majesty, Speaker, Grand Duke Nicholas, the three top decision-makers in the empire have all chosen this policy. When this meeting was held, it actually showed that no one could stop this!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Oleg, but not everyone - at least Grand Duke Koschei doesn't want this to happen."

Qiao Yelan was still flattering Black Snake, who was watching the live broadcast at the time.

"Then why doesn't His Excellency the Grand Duke come to the Saint Eagle Castle in person?"

The judge asked back.

Uh, actually here it is.

"Mr. Qiao Yelan, I admire your courage and justice at the meeting, but this cannot be accomplished by courage alone!"

"You left with Alexander in the car, so you must have met Speaker Witte, right? Then please tell me, does the Speaker have any plans to stop this?"

Oleg asked loudly, completely ignoring his old man's right hand that was ready to move.

"No, Mr. Speaker. It can even be said that everyone, including His Majesty the Emperor, is happy to see this happen."

Qiao Yelan said calmly.

"Isn't that proof enough?"

"Prove what?"

"——It proves that the push for this matter can no longer be stopped!"

"Then why did I come to see you?"

Oleg was stunned by this question.

"Your Majesty and the Speaker's idea is to let it go first and then oppose it, to mourn for those innocent victims, to redress their innocence, and to use it as ammunition to counterattack the military and Nicholas."

"May I ask you, Mr. Judge Oleg - do you also think that this is the right approach?"

Qiao Yelan asked back.

Oleg fell on the sofa, holding his head in his hands, looking painful.

"Of course...not right."

"So if you think it's wrong, but you think you can't stop it, what do you want to do?"

Men's questions are aggressive.

"Are you going to live your whole life with this guilt and regret?"

"Or do you think this is a necessary sacrifice, and that you can console yourself by finally bringing justice to those imperial civilians who died in vain?"

Yevgeny turned his gaze from his son to Qiao Yelan, with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"I'm not trying to comfort myself—"

"What is that? As a judge, do you actually believe that justice delayed is also justice?"

"If justice does not come when injustice occurs, then there is no justice at all - any subsequent actions, to put it bluntly, are just revenge disguised as 'justice'."

Qiao Yelan's words were like poison, pouring into Oleg's heart and burning his soul.

"The so-called 'late arrival' is just a way for those who were standing there at the time but chose to stand by and watch to comfort themselves, because this way they can talk about this matter with a clear conscience from now on—"

"It's as if the sin corresponding to this "justice" has nothing to do with them."

"Tell me, Judge Oleg, when a crime is being committed, how many identities can we have as people present?"

"two."

It was not Oleg who answered, but Yevgeny.

"An obstructor—or an accomplice."

This sentence was like a heavy hammer, smashing all the excuses and disguises to pieces, exposing all the truth nakedly under the scorching sun.

“I was there.”

"And you, Judge Oleg—"

Were you there too?

Chapter 49 The Most Upright Backbone

The man suddenly slapped himself in the face without mercy.

Now there are bright red slap marks on both sides of his face.

"Yes—I was there, too."

He straightened his back and looked at Qiao Yelan.

"I am the one who is obsessed. I am a judge, so I am just a judge. I only need to consider the law. Those bullshit political considerations have nothing to do with me."

"That's more like my son."

The old man laughed, patted his son on the shoulder, then looked past Oleg and looked at Qiao Yelan.

"Well, tell me about your plan, Mr. Administrator—you are not here with just your mouth, are you?"

"Of course not. Before I came to seek the help of Judge Oleg, I went to the home of the Minister of Labor, Yegor Telekin, who was willing to stand on the same front with us."

The Ministry of Labor...

Yevgeny's eyes narrowed slightly. Qiao Yelan's words and actions all showed that he was actually very familiar with His Majesty Vladimir's past governing philosophy and methods.

Considering Qiao Yelan’s age, he should have worked with the other party’s father or even grandfather, but he really couldn’t remember if there was anyone he knew who had such a junior.

"Yegor has enough channels for public opinion dissemination to let us convey our voice to those who really need to know the truth, but he needs evidence and prestige."

"We have both."

Oleg has fully recovered.

"Whether it's Saint Eagle Castle University or Imperial University, the necessary internship experience for law students before graduation is to popularize the law in various regions of the empire. In Saint Eagle Castle, the number of judges that a commoner knows is even greater than the number of noble lords that he knows."

"Oleg will mobilize other judges in the Ministry of Justice, and I will be responsible for gathering the old guys. When we stand up, I believe those students will also stand up - the blood of the Ursus boys is not cold yet, and neither are we old guys."

Yevgeny's aura was as sharp as the sword in his hand.

"If His Majesty the Emperor wants to wait for a good price, then we will have no choice but to force him to leave early. If His Majesty Vladimir's descendants are so weak and only know how to manipulate power, it will be the greatest shame for the late Emperor!"

[Are all the people in the Ministry of Justice like this? ]

Kosice was obviously not used to the behavior of these guys. The judges and nobles in her impression seemed to be completely different from the two in front of her.

"You haven't been back to Ursus for a long time, Your Excellency. I suggest that when you are expanding the territory of Ursus, you should occasionally look back at the reforms within the empire. In fact, if Vladimir had your support at that time, Ursus would not have fallen into such an embarrassing situation today."