Originally, Wei Yingfang and his men hoped to use the salt households' contraband salt sales to cause trouble for the public security, procuratorate and courts. After all, they were trying to gain a big return with a small investment, and no matter what the public security, procuratorate and courts decided, he would not lose anything.

But I didn't expect that it would happen to me.

The previous interrogation of confessions had already made people panic. After all, everyone had a dirty trick. Originally, they thought that was the end of it, but they didn't expect that the big stone hanging on their chest had not yet fallen, and the subpoena from the royal court came again.

Subpoena?

What the hell?

They have never heard Zhang Fei's lectures, so they are not very clear about the concept of the rule of law, and their impression of the judiciary is still stuck in the past.

That's bad.

Because according to the previous judicial system, you either don't go to court, or nothing good happens if you go.

If you are not a suspect, you rarely come to court to testify.

In the court, the presiding judge questions the prisoner.

...

...

I wouldn't let two people go to class and have an argument.

For a time, there was a panic.

This routine is too familiar, just to exaggerate the case!

Can’t go!

You absolutely can’t go!

But is it okay not to go?

"Prefect Cai, the Imperial Court is clearly trying to frame someone for a wrongful conviction. Those officials have tried their best to cooperate with them, but they still received a subpoena from the Imperial Court. They have nothing to do with this case. How can this be possible?"

Wei Yingfang immediately found Cai Yanqing to complain.

At this moment, he felt a little regretful. Why was the fire getting bigger and bigger?

Isn't this all your doing? Cai Yanqing muttered to himself, but asked, "Have they figured out why they were summoned to court?"

Wei Yingfang said: "The royal court's explanation is just to testify in court."

Cai Yanqing frowned and said, "Since it is a testimony, then it cannot be said that it is a false accusation."

"But who knows what will happen in court? It is said that Zhang San is a native of Erbi, and his ability to frame people is amazing."

Then Wei Yingfang added: "Moreover, if we receive a subpoena from the imperial court, we officials must go. Then who has the final say in Hezhong Prefecture?"

Cai Yanqing hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay. I'll ask Zhuo Zhubu to go and ask what this subpoena means."

These officials are all administrative. In the past, there was no distinction between politics and law. Whoever had a higher rank had to obey them. It was simple and clear. But now that politics and law are separated, it is not clear who is in charge.

As the head of a prefecture, when his subordinates were summoned, he naturally had to ask for clarification. Otherwise, how would he manage the officials under him in the future?

Shuiyun Pavilion.

"Yanei, Master Fu, the cavalry, how about the delicacies of our Hezhong Prefecture?"

Qin Yiji asked Cao Dongdong and the others.

Cao Dongdong said: "Although it is not as good as the food in Baifanlou, it is still pretty good. Thank you Brother Qin and everyone for your hospitality today. I would like to offer a toast to everyone."

After finishing his cup, Qin Yijie suddenly asked, "By the way! Has Yanei heard that the imperial court has issued many subpoenas?"

As soon as these words were spoken, several young officers around Qin Yijie immediately put down their chopsticks and looked at Cao Dongdong with a slightly nervous expression.

Fu Shichun saw it all and thought to himself, he came here for this matter indeed.

"I know about that."

Cao Dongdong nodded vaguely while eating.

Qin Yijie asked again: "I wonder what this subpoena means?"

Fu Shichun was about to explain when Ma Xiaoyi suddenly spoke up: "It's very simple. It's just going to the court to testify. I've always wanted to go but never had the chance. This time I might be able to testify."

Fu Shichun glanced at Ma Xiaoyi, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and quickly drank a glass of wine.

Qin Yijie looked at Ma Xiaoyi in surprise, "Captain Ma really wants to testify in court?"

Ma Xiaoyi nodded and said, "Yes! That's very interesting."

".interesting?"

Qin Yijie began to doubt his life.

"Brother Qin, don't listen to Xiao Ma's nonsense."

Cao Dongdong said, "What fun is there? When the Grand Secretary Wang and the Grand Secretary Sima were giving testimony in the court, they all found it boring. I remember that one time, Grand Secretary Wang almost fell asleep and just closed his eyes to rest."

"Grand Secretary Wang, Grand Secretary Sima?"

Qin Yijie said in disbelief: "But what about Wang Jiefu and Sima Junshi."

"yes!"

"Do they have to testify in court?"

"What's so strange about this? If it involves a case, of course you have to go to court to testify." Cao Dongdong looked at them in confusion.

".?"

Qin Yijie and his companions looked at each other in bewilderment.

This imperial court is truly unfathomable!

Fu Shichun looked at the two guys with grease in their mouths and wondered, are these two guys really confused or just pretending to be confused?

Royal Court.

"People are panicking?"

Zhang Fei looked at Zhuo Qun in confusion, "Why should people be so panicked?"

Zhuo Qun hurriedly said: "You don't know, this is related to the official's career."

"ah?"

Zhang Fei was shocked and asked, "What does this have to do with my career?"

Zhuo Qun couldn't help but look at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei seemed to understand his eyes and said, "Sorry! I really don't know."

Zhuo Qun said: "If this official gets into trouble, it will definitely affect his career."

"lawsuit?"

Zhang Fei hurriedly said, "No, no, no, Zhuo Zhubu, you really misunderstood. The reason why our imperial court issued a subpoena to them was just to ask them to testify in court, not to cause them to get into trouble. This can be understood as providing help to the imperial court, which is beneficial to their careers. Sima Xueshi and Wang Xueshi both testified in court. This is nothing."

Zhuo Qun was surprised and asked, "Even Scholar Sima and Scholar Wang must testify in court?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Yes, if Zhuo Zhubu doesn't believe it, you can ask an official who was recently transferred here from Kaifeng Prefecture. He should know. If there is no legitimate reason, you still have to appear in court, unless you say you have urgent official business, then you can come and explain it."

It seems that this imperial court is much more powerful than the previous prison department! Zhuo Qun was also a little nervous. He glanced at Zhang Fei and hesitated to speak.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Master Zhuo, don't worry. We are only focusing on this case and will not involve other issues. Moreover, the Imperial Court will never suddenly judge whether a witness is guilty or not. If someone does not take the initiative to file a complaint in the Imperial Court, it is usually the Procuratorate that files a lawsuit first, and then we will open a trial.

The public security, procuratorial and judicial organs supervise each other. Just imagine that we would investigate the evidence so carefully for a suspect of smuggling salt. How could we use judicial power at will?"

Zhuo Qun said: "But wouldn't it be too cumbersome to try the case in this way?"

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "This is the rule. The purpose is to prevent wrongful convictions. I also think that if we do this, it will make everyone feel more at ease instead of panicking."

At this point, he chuckled and said, "Of course, I can understand that. After all, it's the first time. I'll get used to it slowly."

Will you get used to it slowly?

When Zhuo Qun heard this, he felt mixed emotions.

But since both Wang Anshi and Sima Guang have to appear in court, there is nothing we can do.

We can only wait and see what is going on.

After seeing Zhuo Qun off, Zhang Fei came to the courtyard again, where he saw more than a dozen craftsmen hammering and hammering inside.

"Judge Zhang is here."

The big dog came over immediately, bent over, hunched over, with a fawning look on his face, pretending to be quite talented.

Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "Can it be completed before the court session the day after tomorrow?"

Da Gou immediately said, "Don't worry, Judge Zhang. I guarantee it will be completed on time."

"Um!"

Zhang Fei nodded, walked to the corridor, looked at the rows of benches with backrests, and sat on them. "Not bad, quite comfortable."

Having said this, he looked around and asked in a low voice, "What's the situation outside now?"

Da Gou said hurriedly, "People are really panicking. They never thought that this case would become so big. They all think that Judge Zhang is using this case to investigate the salt administration. Recently, officials have been visiting each other, and not even a grain of smuggled salt can be seen outside."

Zhang Fei asked again: "No one would want to do something desperate."

The big dog said, "That's not the case. We don't know anything about the current situation, so we won't do anything desperate."

"That's good!"

Zhang Fei nodded and laughed, "You still want to mess with me? I'll scare you to death. Haha!"

This really scared the salt officials. They were very afraid of going to court. As an official himself, how could he not know the ins and outs of the matter? But the problem was that the imperial court downplayed the matter, and it was difficult for them to refuse to go to court to testify, as that would prove that they had something to hide.

Cai Yanqing didn't know how to say much about this. After all, the salt households were managed by the salt officials, so there was still a slight relationship between them.

The royal court also guaranteed that each case would be treated separately.

I can only go and take a look at the situation.

But I definitely won’t be able to sleep this time.

This morning is the day for the court to open, and the time is set at noon.

It was still dark that day, but the entrance to the Imperial Court was already crowded with people, even more than last time.

"Who is pushing? Stop it!"

"Ah! You young man want to take advantage of me."

"You squeezed towards me, okay?"

"Grandma Lu, you've had your fill last time, it's our turn this time, you go stand at the back."

"Why? I got here first."

There was a huge crowd in front of the door. Based on the last time, everyone was not so afraid of the Imperial Court. At the same time, everyone wanted to stand in the front so that they could have a taste of the excitement when they went in later.

"Stop pushing! Stop pushing!"

A Royal Police officer came over and said, "We won't let anyone in this time."

"Why?"

Mrs. Lu Cha was surprised and said, "Could it be that we said something wrong last time?"

"I don't know either, but that's what it says. Just stand still. If you crowd, we will expel you all from the Imperial Court."

When everyone heard that no one would be invited to serve as a jury, they all stood there obediently, but no one left. Matters like smuggling salt really attracted widespread attention.

Moreover, everyone is very interested in the royal court trial.

The courtyard was also crowded.

The number of people who came back this time is twice as many as last time, which shows that interests are more important than morality.

However, the chairs placed in the corridor last time were all benches with backrests this time, so they could accommodate everyone, but everyone had to squeeze together. But at this moment, everyone's minds were on the lawsuit and they didn't care about these details.

At this time, there was almost no one sitting still. Where could they sit peacefully? They all gathered in groups of three or four, whispering to each other, and their eyes were darting around while they spoke.

"Police Officer Ou, am I sitting here too?"

He Chunlin came to the corridor and looked at Ou Jun with a little surprise.

Ou Jun nodded and said, “Yes.”

He Chunlin asked again: "Am I not a witness? Why am I sitting here?"

Ou Jun explained: "According to the rules of the Imperial Court, only key witnesses in major cases will sit in the witness room inside. Ordinary witnesses sit here."

"Ordinary witness?"

He Chunlin was surprised and said, "I am an ordinary witness."

"Yes."

Ou Jun hurriedly said: "But this is not meant to be humiliating!"

"I know."

He Chunlin said quickly: "I don't mind. Haha."

He liked this ordinary witness, and he felt a little relieved.

Ou Jun added: "The judge may summon He Yanjian to testify in court later, but he may not. If he does not, I hope He Yanjian will not mind."

"No! No!"

He Chunlin would rather you not pass it on to him.

As they were talking, Su Che and Chen Qi came into the hall. There were two fewer people than last time, because in this case, their procuratorate was just going to appear in court and there was nothing much to say.

Su Che also didn't want to waste manpower, so the procuratorate was now preparing to recruit people.

Meanwhile, the Four Young Warriors of the Imperial Court also entered the hall and sorted out their documents. They were currently in the internship stage and had to attend every court session.

After seeing this, everyone immediately took their seats.

After a while, Zhang Fei, Xu Zhiqian and Li Si entered the hall from the left.

This time everyone understood what was happening. When they saw the Four Little Golden Warriors and Su Che and the others stand up, they also stood up.

Zhang Fei came to the presiding judge's podium, nodded slightly, and then said: "Everyone, please take a seat."

So he sat down.

The rest of the people also sat down, all with unhappy looks on their faces. As long as they came here, their status seemed to have been lowered.

Xu Zhiqian placed some documents on the table, then retreated to a small table at the back and sat down.

She was standing last time. Usually, when trying a case, the chief clerk would stand next to the chief judge. But how could Zhang Fei bear to let her suffer, so he specially asked Da Gou to arrange a small table in the back.

After everything was ready, Zhang Fei said to Cai Jing, "Let's get started."

Cai Jing immediately stood up and said in a loud voice: "Today, our court is trying the case of Huang Tong, a salt farmer in Xue Nu Township, selling illegal salt. The court is now officially in session."

(End of this chapter)