Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Page 44

“You have disobeyed and defied your superiors. Your memorial is called a congratulatory message, but it is in fact a rebellious statement. It is both disobedience and deception of the emperor.”

"May I ask, Vice Minister Zuo, how should this crime be judged?" Jiang Zhao looked at the Vice Minister Zuo of the Ministry of Justice.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice sighed.

He didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing at all.

But there was no other way; the trial process had to be presided over by officials from the Ministry of Justice.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice pondered for a moment before replying, "The crime of deceiving the emperor can result in demotion and imprisonment at the very least, and exile or even execution at the most serious level. Disobedience and rebellion can be punished with caning in court, exile, or dismissal."

Generally speaking, scholar-officials and those who submitted memorials to the emperor were not killed.

This matter is also governed by the ancestral instructions of Emperor Taizong.

However, there are also some precedents of using the guise of "granting death" to carry out executions.

"it is good!"

Jiang Zhao nodded and looked at the others: "Huang Jing has confessed his crimes and sought fame through honesty. Why don't we all submit a memorial to the emperor and have him executed? We can also ban his descendants for three generations from taking the imperial examinations."

Huang Jing was startled.

That's how it was decided?

Can you be a little more professional?

Originally, according to his expectations, it was Liu Xianggong who would win and send people to investigate the case.

In this case, going through the proper procedures and dismissing the official from office is not out of the question.

This is already a serious crime!

As a result, Jiang Zhao was a man who would commit capital crimes and implicate his descendants for the slightest disagreement.

"Of course, it would be somewhat frivolous to make a judgment so hastily."

Jiang Zhao added, "This person is disobedient and rebellious, and his crime is unforgivable. It would be better to set the maximum penalty as death and barring his descendants from taking the imperial examinations, and make him vomit something. If he vomits a lot, the sentence will be reduced; if he vomits little, the sentence will remain the same."

"Gentlemen, how is it?"

Jiang Zhao looked at the group with a gentle expression.

The Right Vice Censor-in-Chief rubbed his temples, his mind in turmoil.

“What Jiang Xiuzhuan said just now was a bit too much,” Feng Yuan said in a deep voice.

"It wouldn't be a problem if Lord Feng were to conduct the interrogation; we just need to get him to reveal who was behind it all." Jiang Zhao shook his head indifferently: "Anyway, as long as the Emperor is satisfied before him, that's all that matters."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yuan's heart sank.

How can one satisfy the officials? Naturally, it's by having a powerful figure behind the scenes.

More than three hours have passed since the political struggle began at dawn.

By this time, Feng Yuan had realized his mistake and knew he had done something wrong.

There was no problem with his appearance. If he could put Jiang Zhao in a weakened state in just a few moves, then his appearance would have been worthwhile.

But the problem is he failed to win over Jiang Zhao!

As time went on, the waters remained undisturbed, which naturally led the officials to realize the situation and make some guesses.

This trial was almost like searching for the process while already having the answer.

The difference lies in whether the person behind this answer was involved with the two kings.

"Tell me the truth!" Feng Yuan said in a deep voice. "This court has always treated scholars well. If you, a fifth-rank official, tell the truth, your wife, children, and elderly parents will have no worries about making a living."

"Did you submit this memorial at the behest of someone, to sow discord between the emperor and his subjects?"

After speaking, Feng Yuan closed his eyes.

That's all the advice he can offer.

If nothing unexpected happens, Liu Xiangong will collapse in a few days.

As one of Liu Xiangong's men, he was now in a predicament—like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river—barely able to save himself!

The bond between ruler and subject?

Huang Jing looked over.

The "relationship between ruler and subject" mentioned here could refer to Jiang Zhao and the Emperor, Minister Han and the Emperor, or Prime Minister Liu and the Emperor.

But it could also be the two kings and the emperor!

Both kings were subjects!

Furthermore, the congratulatory memorial he submitted stated that the Prince of Yong was suitable to inherit the throne, a scheme intended to flatter him and ultimately destroy him.

Could it be?

Huang Jing had an answer in his mind.

"Is what Jiang Xiuzhuan said about reducing the punishment true?"

Even though he had the answer, Huang Jing didn't say it directly, but instead deliberately deflected the question.

The trial process was recorded by the Ministry of Justice and the eunuchs. It could not be too abrupt, otherwise it would have the opposite effect.

“That is the truth.” Jiang Zhao nodded.

All these words were recorded, and at that time, they would simply be repeated to the officials.

Furthermore, Huang Jing's crime was nothing more than being instructed by someone to submit an untimely memorial recommending the Prince of Yong, which was almost certainly not punishable by death.

Emperor Taizong decreed: Do not kill scholar-officials or those who submit memorials to the emperor!

This statement is quite significant. It is rare for someone to die from illness, and even being sentenced to death is uncommon. More often, the punishment involves repeated exile and transfers, or making someone fall ill.

Of course, Huang Jing's case was special because the emperor was furious, and Huang Jing could not guarantee that the emperor would not order his execution.

Since he couldn't guarantee it, even the slightest probability was worth taking seriously.

Huang Jing felt relieved; the winning side's promise was quite valuable.

He couldn't help but sigh: "I have always been devoted to the public good and concerned for the wise king. I admit that I may have made some inappropriate remarks in my memorial!"

At this point, whether or not one pleads guilty will no longer significantly affect the outcome.

From the moment Liu Xianggong failed, his guilt was already established.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and Rong Xian, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, both breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that the results have been obtained, it's easy to report back.

After all, even if they don't actually handle the case, the two are still on the case-handling list and are considered "case-handling personnel." If there are no results, they will be held accountable.

With the Emperor's birthday celebration approaching, which will be the 26th in two days, this case definitely needs to be resolved into an ironclad case before then.

"Who ordered this?" Jiang Zhao asked again.

The main purpose of this trial is twofold.

Make Huang Jing confess.

Get Huang Jing to reveal who's behind it all.

This time, the person behind the scenes even included the government.

Throughout history, there have been many instances of scheming against rulers, yet almost never the rulers themselves realize they have been targeted.

This time, such blatant scheming is unprecedented.

The emperor was furious about such scheming against the monarch and would not allow it to happen.

He wants to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys!

As of now, this chicken is either Liu Hang or one of the two kings.

Huang Jing shook his head. "Nobody's here."

Jiang Zhao frowned.

"Tell me the truth!" Before Jiang Zhao could ask any more questions, Feng Yuan snapped, "Stop talking nonsense and quickly reveal who's behind this."

"It's all for the sake of the people!" Huang Jing said calmly. "Previously, I advised the emperor on the matter of establishing an heir, but the emperor did not take it seriously. Grand Secretary Liu Hang is a man of insight."

Liu Xiangong has already lost, and the answer Jiang Zichuan wants is Liu Xiangong.

Huang Jing slowly began to explain.

However, in his own words, Liu Hang was merely someone who helped him achieve his goals.

He said that he had submitted memorials for a long time but had not received the emperor's attention. Liu Hang took pity on him and gave him a suggestion.

He was instructed to take advantage of the Emperor's birthday celebrations to submit a memorial advising him to establish an heir.

Grand Secretary Liu Hang's intentions were good, but unfortunately, he misunderstood them as "presenting a congratulatory memorial to the emperor," thus doing more harm than good.

After speaking for a while, Huang Jing sighed, seemingly from the bottom of his heart: "Prince Yong is virtuous and capable of ruling the world. In ancient times, there was the beautiful story of Yao, Shun, and Yu abdicating their positions to each other."

"shut up!"

Jiang Zhao gave Huang Jing a deep look, and a guess formed in his mind.

By now, he had put together most of the plan.

That phrase "abdication" is really off.

The Prince of Yan had already bribed Huang Jing and secretly set a trap, making Huang Jing appear as "selfless" and seemingly biased towards the Prince of Yong, but in reality, he was planting a thorn in the Emperor's side.

The one who was sacrificed was Liu Hang, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who was already very likely to "fail".

In fact, the favoritism of Grand Chancellor Fu Bi had already made the competition less of a suspense.

However, Liu Hang was somewhat unwilling to give up and chose to take a gamble!

Huang Jing's congratulatory letter, intertwined with the conflict between the two kings, dragged Han Zhang into the fray.

Han Zhang and Huang Jing are direct superiors and subordinates. Once Han Zhang is implicated, Huang Jing's congratulatory letter will be enough to cause a great deal of trouble.

At the very least, Han Zhang's entry into the cabinet will be delayed by several years.

In severe cases, Han Zhangde could be demoted again.

The price was that Huang Jing and Han Zhang were traded one for one.

Even in the worst-case scenario, Han Zhang cannot be dragged down with him.

Thus, in the struggle between the two kings, Huang Jing, who was on trial, would become a key figure, using words to frame the Prince of Yong and lower the Prince of Yong's image in the emperor's eyes.

The price, however, was the exposure of Liu Hang, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet who had already lost the political struggle.

Because of Huang Jing's embellishment, Liu Hang didn't even need to pay any price; at most, he would be demoted and his reputation would be slightly tarnished.

Two ways to cook one fish!

Liu Hang lost this political struggle; he may suffer a huge loss or he may gain a small profit.

If the emperor favors the Prince of Yong, then he will suffer a great loss.

If the emperor favors the Prince of Yan, then he has gained something.

Han Zhang won, so naturally he couldn't possibly lose.

The real losers are actually the Emperor and the one of the two princes whom the Emperor suspects.

Jiang Zhao shook his head and waved his hand: "It's on record!"

The person behind it all is either the Prince of Yan or the Prince of Yong, but he doesn't care who it is.

At that time, all trial procedures will be submitted to the authorities.

The government can decide however it wants!

Anyway, the Korean brands have already won!

"Since you have shown remorse, write another congratulatory letter."