"What do you mean by that, Lord Deng?"

Zhao Cheng frowned and said, "Even the emperor is subject to the law. You, the Minister of Justice of the Eastern Capital, are there any people you cannot punish?"

“That’s true,” Deng Fugui said with difficulty, “but I need to figure out first, what crime does the young prime minister want to punish them for?”

Zhao Cheng said, "You are the Minister of Justice."

"Young Prime Minister, let's stop beating around the bush. What kind of relationship do we have? I will always remember your kindness in introducing me to the Right Prime Minister."

"If that's how you put it, Lord Deng, then I won't mince words! Tonight's incident may have appeared to be a drunken brawl, but it was actually a one-sided, premeditated murder, and in broad daylight no less. Yanchuan is the Eastern Capital, the second largest city in Dajing after the capital. It represents the face of Dajing. And wouldn't you say it, the Minister of Rites of the Western Capital, Lu Zhao, is in Yanchuan! If this matter isn't handled seriously, once Lu Zhao brings the news back, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to His Majesty, won't it?"

Zhao Cheng became increasingly agitated as he spoke, and said sternly, "This matter has already aroused public outrage. Public outrage is public opinion, and public opinion is paramount. On behalf of the unified opinion of the people of Yanchuan City, I hereby order these nine people to be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public!"

Deng Fugui wiped his sweat and said, "According to the criminal law, these nine people do not constitute a crime punishable by beheading, especially considering their identities, it may be difficult to sentence them..."

Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully, "Just who are they? Are there any powerful figures in Yanchuan City I don't know?"

Deng Fugui said, "Young Prime Minister is right. Most of them are not from Yanchuan. Five of them are from Jiangyang County."

"Then what's with their arrogance?!"

"Young Prime Minister, listen to me. One of them is named Xue Feiren, who is Xue Gai's son."

"And who is Xue Gai?"

Deng Fugui was taken aback for a moment, then realized that Zhao Cheng had only been back for a few days and it was normal that he didn't know this person. He quickly explained, "Xue Gai is from Jiangyang and is considered a person of some importance in the local area, but the Xue family is not ranked in the entire Jiangyang County. They are just a minor family."

"But Xue Gai had a younger sister named Xue Yun, who was the wife of General Wang Ren. After Wang Ren's successful northern expedition, Xue Yun brought Xue Gai's family to Yanchuan, where Xue Gai began to build connections and influence. After the state banquet, Wang Ren went north to oversee the three northern prefectures, while Xue Yun was left in Changsui, where she entrusted all of Yanchuan's properties to Xue Gai to manage."

"Xue Gai then transferred most of his clansmen from Jiangyang County to Yanchuan, occupying the Yanchuan General's Mansion. Riding on Wang Ren's coattails, he quickly became a rising star in Yanchuan. The General's Mansion is no longer the neglected place it once was. Xue Gai is also good at managing it, and the area in front of the General's Mansion is bustling with activity every day. He has a very close relationship with the Eastern Capital court and the powerful figures in Yanchuan."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng laughed in extreme anger.

The Xue family.

It is also related to Xue Yun.

Zhao Cheng said, "Are you on very good terms with the Eastern Capital court and the powerful figures of Yanchuan? Are you on very good terms with my father?"

"This...this..." Deng Fugui choked, saying, "I've never heard of this before."

Zhao Cheng asked, "Then what is he anyway?"

"You can't even get through the gates of my Right Prime Minister's residence? You dare call yourself a new nobleman?"

“Wang Ren is Wang Ren, and Xue Gai is Xue Gai. Even if Wang Yuluan commits murder in the street, he should be executed. Who gave this mere Xue Feiren the audacity to do that?”

"I know, it's alcohol!"

Zhao Cheng suggested, "When we execute Xue Feiren, let's first soak him in a wine vat so he can die knowing why!"

Deng Fugui exclaimed in surprise, "Does the young prime minister mean that we must kill him?"

Zhao Cheng shook his head, gently patted Deng Fugui's shoulder, and said, "It's not that I have to kill him, nor that you have to kill him, but the mighty law and the overwhelming public opinion dictate that he must be killed!"

As he spoke, Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully, "Did Lord Deng receive any tribute from the Xue family?"

"Absolutely not!" Deng Fugui said confidently, "I don't lie to the young prime minister. Although I am not exactly an incorruptible official, I am in charge of the Ministry of Justice and know what should be accepted and what should be refused. I have absolutely no connection with the Xue family!"

“But…” Deng Fugui sighed and said, “If we really kill them, I will have offended the Wang and Xue families to death.”

“Lord Deng, I know what you want, and I won’t let you work for nothing.”

Zhao Cheng gave Deng Fugui a look, then looked at Chai Xin and said, "Lord Chai, it's the same. Either don't do this, or if you do, don't be soft-hearted!"

"I've said everything I needed to say. As for the decision, you can weigh it yourselves." Zhao Cheng clasped his hands in a fist salute to the two men, then turned and left.

Just as Zhao Cheng had predicted, the next morning, when people woke up and learned what had happened the night before, the entire city of Yanchuan was in an uproar.

If it were a group of thugs fighting or a regular murder, the people wouldn't be so agitated.

However, when a group of men failed to harass a woman, they violently beat several of her, leaving the victim still unconscious. The story spread like wildfire, infuriating the public to the point that they could no longer tolerate it!

Before noon, the entrance to the Zhongyashu (Central Government Office) was already packed with people, urging the Ministry of Justice to severely punish the murderer.

Some say he was imprisoned in a death row cell, some say his hands were chopped off, some say he was castrated and sent to the palace, some say he was simply beheaded...

There are various opinions, but public opinion is overwhelmingly against such inhuman thugs!

Otherwise, the people of Yanchuan City will lose their sense of security and their morale will be unstable!

The Ministry of Justice has not yet issued a verdict; they only say that the investigation is still ongoing. The Xue family and the families of other murderers have made several trips to the central government office.

The power of an ordinary citizen is very weak, but a group of ordinary citizens can create countless possibilities. Someone had already found out Xue Feiren's identity, and immediately more people surrounded the gate of the general's mansion.

Originally, fine horses and carriages used to be parked in front of the General's Mansion every day, but today it was filled with common people eating steamed buns on the spot, threatening to block the central government office and the General's Mansion every day until the verdict was issued.

Xue Gai paced anxiously in the general's mansion, never expecting things to escalate to this extent.

He ignored it on the first day, thinking that the people were just looking for a moment of excitement. But on the second day, even more people came to block the gate, and he couldn't help but feel alarmed.

My sister and brother-in-law entrusted the General's Mansion to me, but I've ruined it like this. It's truly shameful!

He could no longer tolerate it and ordered his men to drive the people away.

He thought to himself that they were a bunch of rabble and he shouldn't show them any mercy. If he could just drive a few away, the rest would be scared and would naturally scatter.

Then the gates of the general's mansion opened, and the evil servants of the Xue family came out with their dogs and began whipping the people in the front row.

"Get out of here! Is the General's Mansion a place where you can cause trouble?!"

"roll!!"

The people did not scatter like birds and beasts, but instead fought against the evil servants of the Xue family. However, they were forced back a few steps because the servants had weapons and dogs.

Swoosh—

A long spear suddenly flew over and landed directly in front of a wicked servant, piercing his foot.

Clang clang clang...

A sound came from behind the villagers, and they saw forty or fifty people coming from both sides to block their way.

These people...

Black armor, long spear.

The sharp-eyed locals immediately recognized it.

Right Chancellor's Army!