Chapter 311: Beating the Drum
A case was brought to the desk in the East Palace.
A man beat the drum to report the incident to a higher authority, alleging that Mrs. Chang had beaten and killed her maid in the street.
Bei Jingchu didn't receive many civil cases.
Only when the common people had nowhere else to turn to and nowhere to appeal would they strike the drum at the palace gate to let their grievances reach the ears of heaven.
Because when a citizen sues an official or a servant sues his master, they must first be punished themselves before they can file the lawsuit.
It is impossible for an emperor to handle all civil grievances, but if someone is willing to bear even such a price, they must have suffered great injustice and can appeal directly to the emperor.
The person who filed the lawsuit may not know that the emperor has gone to the border, but he is willing to risk everything and believe that the person he places his hope in can bring justice to the deceased.
After reading the complaint, Bei Jingchu asked someone to summon the Jingzhao Yin.
After entering the hall, the man knelt down and apologized, and it seemed that he knew he had done something wrong.
Bei Jingchu saved time and, while reviewing another document, asked him without looking up, "Mrs. Chang beat an innocent maid to death in the street, and people who witnessed it came and went."
"Anyone of them can be a witness. How can she escape the blame?"
"Jingzhao Yin, give me a reasonable explanation."
The people below were sweating profusely, but they didn't even dare to raise their sleeves to wipe it off.
"Reply, reply, Your Highness."
"That Madam Chang was just scolding me for beating her. She accidentally killed me. It was unintentional."
"I saw that she was just a little girl and was frightened, so I thought of showing some mercy, giving her a warning, and letting her go back to reflect on her mistakes."
This reason is not reasonable at all.
Bei Jingchu asked: "How should those who kill innocent slaves be punished?"
"One year as a disciple."
That means one year in jail.
The punishment was already light enough, yet they refused to accept even the injustice they had suffered this year.
It's a life after all.
Bei Jingchu twisted her wrist and wrote the last word in blue on the paper.
She raised her head and asked in confusion, "Are you confused yourself, or did you accept the benefits of the Chang family?"
"What did they promise you? Wealth or an official position?"
The collar of Jingzhao Yin's clothes was wet with sweat.
"You'd better pray that I don't catch you with evidence of corruption and dereliction of duty."
"Go back first. I'll make up for my mistakes before I settle accounts with you."
Jingzhao Yin stood up and said hurriedly, "Yes, yes, yes. I'll take my leave."
Soon, someone came from the Chang family, and the Minister of Personnel Chang Tingyi asked to see him.
It was nothing more than a plea for his sister. Bei Jingchu was too lazy to deal with irrelevant people, so he refused: "No."
The palace maid went to reply, but after a while, she came back again.
"Your Highness, it was Princess Mo Qing who brought people in."
Bei Jingchu was slightly stunned and asked, "Cousin?"
Why would Bei Hua help the Chang family?
Seeing her confusion, Haoyue answered: "Your Highness, the princess is the daughter of the Prince of Haixu."
"The Chang family is the gatekeeper of Haixu, and they are very powerful there. I believe the county lord would not want to offend the Chang family and cause trouble for the county lord."
Bei Jingchu poked his forehead helplessly with the end of his pen, "Bring them in."
Is he the Minister of Personnel? He really knows how to find people.
When Bei Huan came in, she looked very uneasy and uneasy.
I was even a little afraid to face her, like a child who had done something wrong.
Bei Jingchu sent her away: "Cousin, there are some account books in my warehouse. Xu Chengzhu is not good at calculating. You can go and teach him."
Bei Hua heaved a sigh of relief as if she had been saved, and happily accepted the order: "Yes."
Having tricked someone into giving him free labor to help Xu Chengzhu, that guy should be happy today.
Bei Jingchu withdrew his thoughts and looked at the family of the offender.
To be promoted to the Minister of Personnel at such a young age must be either a very talented person in Beijing or have a prominent family background.
Or both are indispensable.
Bei Jingchu had some impression of this young talent, but she didn't like him.
Local tyrants have always been a thorn in the side of the royal family. In places where the aristocratic families are powerful, even the government has to give way.
But after Aye gave them a beating, there were fewer and fewer such places.
And it definitely does not include the capital.
No matter how powerful they were in the sea, once they arrived at the feet of the emperor in the capital, they had to bow down and submit obediently.
It is impossible for the aristocratic families to be eliminated. After one wave is cut off, a new wave will appear.
But you have to suppress it from time to time.
Bei Jingchu even became more alert.
The Haixu Chang family is so terrible that even the prince is jealous of them. He will find a good opportunity to carry out another major purge.
When Chang Tingyi saluted, every movement was completely in line with the standard, as if it had been measured with a ruler.
He said in a gentle voice: "My sister beat the servant to death. She is indeed ignorant."
"I even bothered Your Highness because of this. Your Highness is already busy with all kinds of affairs, and he has to spend his energy on my sister's affairs."
"I know that Your Highness has always been sympathetic and close to women. Now that the ladies can go out and make a living, it is all thanks to Your Highness's efforts."
"My sister is just an ignorant girl. If she spends a year in prison, it will waste her youth and have a great impact on her."