Chapter 242 Judging Others by One's Own Judgment: Killing Three Birds with One Stone

Standing a step away from Jin Shu, Yan Zhao, who had been standing with her in the cold wind the whole time, snorted when he heard her call him a "fool": "There are too many sycophants and flatterers. Speaking the truth makes one seem like a fool."

He glanced at the gate of the Taiji Hall, listened to the palace bells ringing in the wind at the four corners, and shook his head: "In this round, the Crown Prince lost because he judged others by his own standards."

“He was certain that Prince Jing would, for his own greater good, take the opportunity of ‘balancing merits and demerits’ that he offered.” Yan Zhao raised his head slightly. “Firstly, you will save your life, so even if Prince Jing is unhappy, he will not be provoked. Secondly, once you become a commoner and leave the Six Doors, all the evidence you used to protect your identity and the autopsy will become invalid.”

"Thirdly..." Yan Zhao sneered, "he can still earn a reputation for cherishing the virtuous and capable, and for being kind-hearted."

"Killing three birds with one stone," he said. "In this round, Prince Jing has a very good chance of winning."

A breeze swept by, ruffling the strands of hair at Jin Shu's temples.

The winter chill seeped slowly from the cold ground, down to her kneeling legs, and spread throughout her body.

She held her hands in her palms, breathed out warm air, rubbed them together a few times, and then shook her head, saying, "Not necessarily."

Yan Zhao paused, glancing down at her from above.

"The outcome is uncertain, and there are many variables. Whether we live or die is still unknown."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhao first frowned, then a look of surprise appeared on his face: "You actually managed to understand this level?"

Jin Shu glanced at her face, smiled, and said nothing.

Whether they live or die remains to be seen. Whether they win or lose is also still uncertain.

As Li Jin played his trump card, the Crown Prince's trump card was also itching to be played.

In the main hall, the Crown Prince, who had been slapped twice across the face by Li Jin, silently reorganized his thoughts for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

“Prince Jing has been in charge of the Six Doors for more than five years,” he said. “During this time, he has personally handled all cases, big and small. No matter who died or who the murderer was, even if they fled thousands of miles away, they could still be brought to justice.”

"I admire you."

Li Jin glanced at his cold face from the side and instinctively became wary.

Unjustified praise is met with either condemnation or condemnation.

Moreover, the Crown Prince has been in court for so many years, and he did not rely on being a vegetarian to gain his position. His sudden speech at this moment must mean that he has already thought of a way to deal with the situation.

"Prince Jing, take another look at the civil and military officials at this grand court assembly. Which one of them hasn't studied diligently for decades and established himself in this world based on his true abilities? Which one of them isn't more dedicated than Jin Shu?"

“She is a coroner, and it is her duty to examine corpses and find the murderer. She did her best. We cannot allow other prefectural governments to neglect their duties and fail to do their jobs just because she solved a case.”

"Everyone has their own area of ​​expertise; Prince Jing should understand this principle."

The crown prince smiled slightly, but a murderous intent lurked beneath the smile.

These words, while putting Li Jin in opposition to the civil and military officials, also drew a chorus of agreement from the courtiers.

He raised his chin slightly, and waited until his voice gradually faded before continuing, "Furthermore, it is not that I do not acknowledge Jin Shu's achievements. I believe that in terms of her knowledge and abilities, she is far superior to a coroner in the Six Doors in terms of virtue, appearance, speech, and merit."

The Crown Prince glanced at Li Yi, whose face had darkened behind him: "Just like the Empress Dowager, and just like Consort Xiao."

After he finished speaking, another chorus of agreement arose in the Taiji Hall.

They are indeed a formidable opponent.

Li Jin took a deep breath and couldn't help but admire the Crown Prince's meticulous thinking.

Even after suffering two injustices in silence, he didn't lose his composure or his ability to strategize.

It's not surprising at all that the gentle and refined former Crown Prince Li Mu was defeated by him.

At this moment, Li Yi sat on the throne, holding the dragon head, his face extremely grim.

For sixty years, women have been unable to advance even a single step in their official careers, all because of this same phrase.

The statement, "If they can excel at what men do, they can certainly do it even better than women," is quite apt.

These words revoked the seal of Prime Minister Zhao, who had reformed and revised the laws, and the tiger tally of General Xiao, who had resisted the barbarians and recovered lost territory.

Virtue, appearance, speech, and merit are the four virtues of women in the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, which have been passed down for thousands of years and have been like shackles around the necks of every woman in the Great Wei Dynasty.

Li Jin's grandfather was unable to solve the problem, and neither was Li Jin's father.

Just when all the officials thought Li Jin was out of options, he suddenly frowned with extreme disdain and raised his voice a few decibels: "Does the Crown Prince even believe what he's saying?"

Seeing the Crown Prince's surprised expression, Li Jin raised his hand and pointed in the direction outside the hall: "Your Highness, you've had tea brewed by Jin Shu, haven't you?" He chuckled, "I saw you pour the whole cup on Miss Chen's face."

The prince paused.

“It’s not the Crown Prince’s fault.” Li Jin shook his head. “It’s been half a year, and I’m almost ready to give up tea.”

The room was completely silent.

All the officials were stunned, unable to react for a moment after hearing Li Jin's words.

Outside the hall, Jin Shu knelt on the ground, her mouth slightly open, staring blankly in the direction of the hall.

Yan Zhao, who was standing next to her, held back for a while, but still managed to cover his mouth and turn away with a "pfft," his shoulders trembling.

On the throne, Li Yi stood there stunned for a long time, utterly perplexed, wondering what Li Jin was up to.

“You can learn tea ceremony if you’re not good at it.” The Crown Prince looked Li Jin up and down, but he couldn’t figure out what Li Jin meant.

Could it be that he's been blocked off and gone crazy from desperation?

Li Jin chuckled, stepped forward, stared intently at the Crown Prince's face, and said solemnly, "The Crown Prince doesn't know how to lead troops and deploy troops, and he can't fight on the front lines against the barbarians. Why can't the Crown Prince learn from him?"

The courtiers were all astonished.

"Could it be that a woman can learn and master military strategy and tactics, and that His Highness the Crown Prince, who is exceptionally talented, is inferior to her?"

Li Jin smiled broadly, his eyes like crescent moons: "If the Crown Prince can achieve such success in governing the country, then with your abilities and talents, you should learn from him how to lead troops into battle. You will surely be even more outstanding than Consort Xiao back then!"

He chuckled: "Unfortunately, I cannot give any examples like my grandmother or my mother."

Seeing the stunned expressions on the faces of the court officials, he flicked his sleeve and said, "Why don't you gentlemen give me a few examples?"

He said, "Give me a few examples of women who excel at what women are supposed to do, and therefore excel even more at what men are supposed to do!"

Inside the Taiji Hall, the officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

When it comes to outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions, we can name a lot, but they also need to know some needlework, or even be good at it...

Li Jin pursed her lips and looked at Xu Weiyou with a smile: "Lord Xu, how is your embroidery?"

Xu Weiyou pursed his lips into a straight line, looked away, and after a long while, managed to utter a few words: "This old minister does not."

Li Jin raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Prime Minister Zhao Wencheng, who hadn't spoken for a long time.

"Then Prime Minister Zhao..." He held up his palm and gestured up and down, "you can do things like brewing tea, arranging flowers, or sewing, right?"

Zhao Wencheng stared at Li Jin and said coldly, "Everyone has their own expertise, has His Highness Prince Jing forgotten that?"

But Li Jin's smile deepened: "I just think that a man as wise and capable as the Prime Minister should at least be able to do needlework to an excellent standard, right?"

He withdrew his hand and placed it in front of him: "Could it be that the entire court of officials can't even produce a decent piece of embroidery?"

After saying that, his voice turned colder: "You are all the most outstanding people in the Great Wei! You are court officials who stand here in the Taiji Hall based on your true abilities!"

"What kind of power makes you believe and endorse her virtues, appearance, words, and achievements, even though you can't do them?"