Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Why is he so careless every time I see him...
It was not until the afternoon that Qu Zhoubai found the materials Zhu Song wanted.
Zhang Feng is 28 years old this year. Three years ago, his uncle fell in love with the daughter of a farmer in Xiliu Village. He offered a betrothal gift but the farmer disagreed, so he forcibly abducted the girl. The farmer reported the matter to the Jingzhao Prefecture, but fortunately they arrived in time and the girl was not raped. Zhang Feng's uncle was imprisoned for abducting a girl and sentenced to ten years in prison.
After some manipulation, the sentence was changed to a fine of three hundred taels and compensation to the farmer's family. The farmer agreed to the settlement and released the man on the spot.
Zhu Song looked at the file and asked Qu Zhoubai, "Make some arrangements? How could he, a mere pawn in the Eastern Palace, make it to your place?"
Qu Zhoubai stretched out his finger and shook it at him. "You don't understand this, do you? No one cares about Wen Fengxuan, but everyone in the Eastern Palace is watching. Who can be a pawn in the Eastern Palace without a big tree behind them?"
This was beyond Zhu Song's expectations. "Who is it?"
Qu Zhoubai replied, "Come to think of it, you're not unfamiliar with this place. It's Chen Yurong."
Zhu Song raised an eyebrow, "Is a steward in the Prince's Mansion worthy of such a big honor from you?"
"I haven't finished speaking yet, don't be anxious." Qu Zhoubai tapped his finger on the table, and when Zhu Song lowered his eyes to look over, he whispered, "I'm here with a message from Prince Jin."
"Tsk." Zhu Song let out a disdainful sigh and then asked, "Have the farmers who agree to the settlement signed yet?"
"Of course," Qu Zhoubai answered swiftly, but paused deliberately, "No."
Zhu Song raised an eyebrow and said, "You dare to release him without your help? Aren't you afraid of the Dali Temple investigating?"
Qu Zhoubai said nonchalantly, "Jingzhao Prefecture is afraid of Prince Jin. If Dali Temple isn't afraid, then just go and confront it head-on."
Zhu Song stood up and picked up the file. "I'll treat you to dinner tonight."
Qu Zhoubai asked curiously, "How did Zhang Feng offend you?"
"Chun Chun can't stand it." Zhu Song turned and left. Qu Zhoubai warned him, "Don't go too far."
Zhu Song didn't even turn his head, "Don't worry, I know what to do."
Zhu Song returned to the Dali Temple with the files. Gu Huaiyu was drinking tea in the front hall. Seeing him coming, he greeted him, "I thought you weren't coming today."
"How can I do that? If I don't come and the Censorate finds out, they'll throw a memorial impeaching me in my face tomorrow."
Gu Huaiyu looked at the file in his hand and asked, "Did you go to Jingzhao Prefecture?"
Zhu Song replied, "Well, I had some free time so I went to check the recent files of Jingzhao Prefecture."
The Dali Temple was in charge of the trial of criminal cases involving officials and cases punishable by imprisonment or above, and had the right to review cases tried by the Jingzhao Prefecture. However, Zhu Song had never gone to the Jingzhao Prefecture to check the case files. It was always Gu Huaiyu who went there, so Gu Huaiyu did not believe his words, but Zhu Song did not say anything and did not ask any more questions.
"What did you find out?"
Zhu Song replied, "We found a small problem. It's not a big deal, but I have to go. You can go back when it's time to go off duty. You don't have to wait for me."
Gu Huaiyu didn't ask any more questions and just responded.
Zhu Song brought the yamen runners to the East Palace and knocked on the door aggressively. It was Zhang Feng who opened the door. He had originally looked impatient, but when he saw Zhu Song and the yamen runners behind him, his expression quickly changed. "I wonder what the lord wants?"
Zhu Song tilted his head slightly and looked down at him, with a half-smile on his face, "Are you Zhang Feng?"
Zhang Feng shuddered and immediately responded, "Yes, I am Zhang Feng."
Zhu Songyang waved his hand gently and said, "Take it away."
The bailiffs came forward and arrested Zhang Feng. Zhang Feng immediately let out a horrified howl, "Sir, I don't know what I have done wrong, why are you arresting me?"
Zhu Song did not say anything, but just took a deep look into the East Palace. The other servants and maids in the East Palace all looked over here secretly. Zhu Song smiled slightly, and the maids blushed.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see Wen Fengxuan.
Zhu Song turned around and shouted, "Retreat."
Zhang Feng's howling continued. Zhu Song gave a wink to the yamen runner, who immediately stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth, and the howling finally stopped.
Back at the Dali Temple, Zhu Song entered the hall and sat down at the head of the table. The bailiffs led Zhang Feng to kneel before the hall. Zhu Song slammed the gavel and said, "Zhang Feng, do you admit your guilt?"
A handkerchief was stuffed in Zhang Feng's mouth, and he could only mumble and could not utter a word.
The yamen runners looked at each other, and no one spoke to remind Zhu Song that Zhang Feng still had a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth. After all, the adults were not blind.
Zhu Song said sternly, "You have disrespected the court and refused to repent. Your crime is even more serious."
Zhang Feng was anxious. After a lot of chattering, he finally pushed the cloth out of his mouth and said quickly, "Sir, I really don't know what crime I have committed. I have always obeyed the law and would not even dare to step on an ant. Sir, please be careful."
Zhu Song flipped open the file on the table and asked, "Zhang Ze, do you know him?"
Zhang Feng nodded in acknowledgement, "I know him. He's my uncle."
Zhu Song continued, "Just admit it. Three years ago, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a woman, but he was released after only three months."
There was a loud bang, the gavel hitting the table was particularly loud, frightening Zhang Feng so much that he trembled. Zhu Song took the opportunity to raise his voice and questioned in a cold voice, "I have found out that you are behind this, and you still say you are not guilty?"
Zhang Feng opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't say it. If he exposed Prince Jin in public, he would be in danger of losing his life.
But his life was at stake, so he thought quickly and said, "Sir, it's not me who is behind this. The Wang family accepted the money and voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit."
Zhu Song asked, "Where's the evidence for withdrawing the lawsuit? I haven't seen any evidence signed by the Wang family."
Zhang Feng said, "He must have signed it. I'll go find him right away. He'll definitely acknowledge it after he's paid."
Zhu Song said coldly, "You released him without even having all the evidence, and you still say you weren't behind this."
At this time, Zhang Feng also realized that something was wrong. Thinking about the visiting card he had returned today, he immediately understood what was going on. He prostrated himself on the ground and said, "It's my fault. I will be more careful with my words and actions in the future. Please forgive me this time."
Zhu Song didn't really want to kill him, so he relaxed his expression and said, "Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue."
Zhang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. "Thank you for your teachings, sir."
Zhu Song changed the subject and said, "You've worked hard in the Eastern Palace. This matter isn't a big deal, but since there's a mistake, we can't just ignore the punishment."
Zhang Feng's heart was lifted again, "Sir, this..."
He wanted to beg for mercy, but he didn't know what Zhusong's punishment would be. If it was a light punishment or a severe warning, he would accept it.
Zhu Song said considerately: "Just punish him with ten sticks, and it will teach him a lesson. If you don't punish him with sticks, then you can spend three months in jail, or fine him 100 taels of silver. It's your choice."
Zhang Feng thought that he didn't want to go to jail, and he was reluctant to spend the money, so ten strokes of the cane wouldn't be a big problem, so he agreed.
"I accept the punishment of ten strokes of the cane."
Zhu Song ordered the yamen runners, "Take him away for execution."
The bailiff dragged Zhang Feng to the yard, pressed him on the torture bench, and beat him with "pa pa". Zhang Feng had been well-maintained over the years, and his delicate skin and tender flesh could not withstand the beating. He screamed loudly after each beating.
After ten strokes of the board, Zhang Feng was already half dead, but the bailiff did not stop. Zhang Feng quickly shouted, "Ten, ten is enough."
The yamen runner explained, "Disrespecting the court is a heavier punishment, a total of twenty lashes."
Zhang Feng had no words to express his grievances. If he had known that he would be beaten with twenty boards, he would have paid the money. But now that he had already been beaten with ten boards, it was not worthwhile to pay any more. So he endured ten more boards.
After being beaten with the twenty boards, Zhang Feng lay on the torture bench like a dead fish, unable to move.
Zhu Song squatted down in front of him and patted his face, which was flushed red with shock. "Son, don't be so snobbish, or you won't get away with such an easy punishment."
Zhang Feng's head swelled with pain, but his mind was clear. He knew that this was a warning to him, so he responded, "I will remember your teachings."
Zhu Song sneered and asked, "Is there anyone coming to pick you up?"
Zhang Feng was taken away so suddenly that he didn't have time to notify his family. He replied honestly, "I can go back by myself."
Zhu Song said, "It's dark now, and you're walking down the street covered in blood. I'm sure you'll scare a few timid people to death. For the sake of peace in the capital, I'll make an exception and give you a ride."
Zhang Feng's forehead was covered in cold sweat again. He was unsure of Zhu Song's thoughts, but he didn't dare to go against him. He could only accept it and said, "Thank you, sir."
Zhu Song stood up and said, "Let's go."
Zhang Feng spoke faster than he could think, and asked, "Walking back?"
Zhu Song asked him back, "Didn't you just say you could walk? Do you want me to carry you back?"
Zhang Feng quickly waved his hands, "No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Those who can leave can leave."
Zhu Song led Zhang Feng towards the East Palace, but because Zhang Feng walked too slowly, he had to take ten steps for every one Zhu Song took. However, Zhu Song was not in a hurry. He walked and waited all the way. It was almost midnight when they arrived at the East Palace.
Arriving at the gate of the East Palace, Zhang Feng had almost been fished out of the water. He stood at the door and thanked Zhu Song, "Thank you, sir."
Seeing that he had no tact at all, Zhu Song was genuinely worried. "I've been escorting you for two hours, and you didn't even get a glass of water, did you?"
Zhang Feng was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly, "Yes, sir, yes."
Zhang Feng went forward and knocked on the door. It opened quickly. A young man opened the door and asked subconsciously when he saw Zhang Feng, "Brother Zhang, are you okay?"
After he finished speaking, he saw Zhu Song. Because Zhu Song was still wearing the official uniform of the Dali Temple, the man hurriedly called out, "Sir."
Zhang Feng's tone was not very good. "Don't just stand there. Go make tea for the adults."
"Yes." The man responded and left immediately.
Zhu Song didn't come just for the tea, so he said to Zhang Feng, "You go lie down, no need to wait, I will drink the tea and leave by myself."
Zhang Feng was already in great pain and had long since stopped wanting to serve. Hearing his words, he felt as if he had been pardoned. He responded and went back to his room.
It was already late at night, and the East Palace was quiet. Zhu Song was wandering around the palace at ease.
As they walked, they came to a familiar courtyard. Zhu Song recognized it as Wen Fengxuan's courtyard and walked in as if possessed. As a result, as soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Wen Fengxuan in thin clothes standing in the courtyard, picking flower petals and putting them into his mouth.
Wen Fengxuan was as beautiful as a fairy under the moonlight. If the flower was not oleander, Zhu Song would definitely appreciate it.
Why do I feel so uneasy every time I see him?
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