Chapter 147: The Three Courts Jointly Hear and Go to Court
"I thought the person coming would be Zhou Cheng."
Zhao Duan sat on the ground, looking through the bars of the cell at the green-robed civil servant outside.
The brazier on the wall burned quietly, and the light slanted onto the face of the Dali Temple Secretary, adding a sinister layer to his facial features.
He Zheng led two clerks from the Dali Temple, followed by two jailers from the prison.
"Oh, are you worthy of being interrogated by the Supreme Court Justice himself?"
He Zheng sneered, his mustache curled up, and his eyes showed undisguised pleasure.
Being beaten repeatedly by Zhao Duan was the most humiliating thing he had ever experienced in his life.
Now, the situation has changed, how can we not be happy and proud?
At this moment, standing in the corridor with his hands behind his back, overlooking the prisoners in front of him, He Zheng felt light all over and was in a happier mood than ever before.
However, the next words that came out of the cell destroyed his good mood.
"Hey, why is your face so swollen? I don't remember hitting you in the face last time." Zhao Duan suddenly spoke.
Then he shook his head, showing undisguised disdain:
"You clown! You think you can convict me before the trial even begins? Or do you think you can make me confess with just your mouth?"
He Zheng took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and sneered:
“Death is approaching, and you don’t even know it.
Haha, I didn’t come here today expecting you to surrender to the law. I just came to help you face the reality.
You must know that the order to arrest you was issued by a saint. Now countless people outside are hoping for your death. This is what people want!
Do you still think you are a favorite around His Majesty?
Lord Zhou asked me to tell you that he will be waiting for you in the court where the three judges will hold their trial, and he will personally send you, the traitor, to the execution ground."
"Are you done?"
Zhao Duan closed his eyes:
"Just get out of here right away. Zhou Cheng is stupid, and you're even stupider than him."
"You...good! Very good! Let's see if you can still be stubborn in court!" He Zheng turned away.
Today, he was ordered by Zhou Cheng to punish Zhao Du in the name of interrogation, but was rejected by Yuan Li.
The meeting was just a formality, and the interrogation was never important.
"Hmph. I'll let you live for a few more days."
He Zheng's mood became cheerful again, and he was looking forward to the court trial in two days.
…
Over the next two days, public opinion continued to ferment.
As the Dali Temple began to investigate, pieces of "evidence" were found one after another.
More and more details about the "Wang Family Concubine" case have become the topic of conversation for many people after dinner.
Zhao Duan's situation became increasingly worse, and as the evidence became known, many people who did not know the truth also joined the ranks of condemning the "thief Zhao."
Everyone believed that Zhao Duan was really finished.
However, the empress, the only person who could possibly save him, never spoke a word from beginning to end.
So it went on until the evening of the third day.
Empress Dayu, who was in the imperial study, received the latest developments of the case submitted by the three judicial departments.
"Your Majesty, these are the files sent by the Dali Temple."
The "female prime minister", dressed in a female official's robe and a wingless black gauze on her head, and dressed in a neutral style, bowed as she entered the room and delivered the documents to the empress's desk.
Xu Zhenguan sat upright behind a large bright yellow table, her face as ethereal as ever, cold and aloof.
When she was in the throne room, she was a majestic emperor, but in private, she always gave people the impression that she was like an immortal, about to ascend to heaven.
"oh?"
Xu Zhenguan closed a volume of memorials, placed the fine wolf hair of the jade coiled dragon handle on the pen holder with his slender jade fingers, and casually opened the file.
After a while, he turned to the last page, on which was a sentence announcing the trial to be held tomorrow.
"knew."
Xu Zhenguan said this in a cold tone and was about to bury his head in government affairs.
After a moment, she raised her head with a hint of doubt:
"Anything else?"
The female official Mo Chou's expression changed, and she finally said:
"Your Majesty, there has been a lot of talk in the city recently about Zhao Jisi."
Xu Zhenguan looked puzzled: "So?"
Mo Chou hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth and said:
"I believe that public opinion is trending in a different direction now, and there are many signs of being misled. Zhou Cheng and Zhao Du'an have a grudge, and if he were to try this case, I'm afraid it would be unfair."
Xu Zhenguan's fair, crystal-clear face showed a look of surprise. She slowly sat up straight and said with interest:
"You actually speak for him?"
Mo Chou is hostile to Zhao Duan.
This was no secret in the palace. She had spoken ill of Zhao Duan several times.
Public opinion was outraged this time, but Mo Chou, who should have applauded, remained silent.
"Your Majesty," Mochou said seriously with a stern face:
"I do dislike him. But Mo Chou was first a court lady who shared His Majesty's worries, and then a person with her own likes and dislikes.
Public is public, private is private. When I spoke of his faults in the past, I was doing my best to fulfill my duty as a subject and to correct Your Majesty's vision and hearing.
If Zhou Cheng said that Zhao Duan had bad conduct, was corrupt, accepted bribes, bullied the weak, used any means necessary... and so on, I would believe it.
But when it is said that he defiled and murdered women, I do not believe it."
Xu Zhenguan was surprised:
"Why? Didn't you investigate him and always say he was a mean-spirited person who bullied the weak and fawned over the strong? Isn't it normal for him to do something like this?"
Mo Chou shook her head and said:
"It is precisely because I have investigated him that I believe that this man is at least admirable in his loyalty to Your Majesty."
The strange smile in Xu Zhenguan's eyes became more intense, and he nodded slightly:
"I understand, please leave."
"Your Majesty..." Mo Chou wanted to say something, but swallowed it back: "Yes."
After taking two steps, the Empress's voice came from behind:
"By the way, Grand Tutor Dong will be coming to the palace tomorrow, so don't forget."
…
Taiwanese prison cell.
A beam of light shines through the top of the wall and into the tall "品"-shaped vent, a straight beam.
Dust floats in the beam of light.
Zhao Duan sat cross-legged on the ground, letting the beam of light shine on his face.
Beside him, there were dozens of books placed on the ground, all of which were requested from the jailers - with Yuan Li's care, this convenience was still there.
If he remembered correctly, this was his fourth day officially here.
During the four days, except for someone who came to disturb him at the beginning, no one came later, so he was able to read quietly and efficiently.
However, this morning, he closed the book and looked intently towards the city gate.
"It's already the seventh day. If everything goes well, Haitang and Zhang Han should already be on their way back to Beijing, or even very close."
Zhao Duan was thinking.
The joint trial by the three courts was enough to make Zhou Cheng focus all his energy on himself and not pay attention to the investigation of Xue Lin.
But being imprisoned, he has lost control of the outside world.
Even though everything was as he planned, several days in prison still made him feel a little anxious and uncontrollable.
"However, Zhou Cheng should be impatient now."
Zhao Duan thought.
While he was thinking, he heard footsteps in the corridor, and then the sound of the cell door opening.
Several jailers walked in, looking at his back as he sat cross-legged, holding handcuffs and leg irons meant for warriors:
"Zhao Jisi, the three courts will hold a joint trial today. Please follow us."
…
The court for today's trial is in the Dali Temple.
When Zhao Du'an, wearing prison clothes and shackles, was escorted to the scene by the censors and officials of the Censorate, he found that many people had gathered outside the Dali Temple.
These are not ordinary people - for such a major case, people are not allowed to listen outside as shown in TV dramas, and any gathering will be driven away by clerks.
Therefore, those who gathered here were mainly people from the Three Judicial Offices, and there were also some other officials whose specific offices were unknown.
Among them, the most conspicuous group of people was a group of Jinyi officials headed by Lihuatang.
"grown ups!"
The round face of Qian Kerou, the new confidential secretary, was full of haggardness.
The rest of the people, although better, were obviously in low spirits.
When they saw Zhao Duan from afar, they all started shouting loudly, attracting a lot of attention.
Zhao Duan smiled and nodded, then stepped through the familiar high threshold of the Dali Temple and was escorted all the way to the largest court.
When he stepped in, he found the hall was still empty.
The seats prepared for the chief and deputy judges of the three judicial departments were empty.
In the entire court, there were only two rows of Dali Temple officials standing on both sides, holding water and fire sticks.
At this moment, everyone looked at him with complicated eyes.
"Am I the only one?"
Zhao Duan suddenly smiled, looked around, and said to an officer:
"I haven't made a judgment yet. Is there not even a chair?"
You still want a chair?
The officers looked at him coldly.
However, the young censor who followed in later and was in charge of escorting him from the Censorate and who had arrested him that day frowned slightly.
He walked over and picked up a chair from the corner and placed it behind Zhao Duan.
"Thank you very much."
Zhao Duan sat down casually and nodded to the young censor, confirming that this person must be Yuan Li's confidant.
A group of officers wanted to stop them, but given their status as clerks, they did not dare to offend an imperial censor.
At this moment, as Zhao Duan arrived, the clerk at the door said loudly:
"Open the court!"
“Knock, knock, knock…”
On both sides of the court, the officers worked in unison, hammering the ground with water and fire sticks, and the sound of dull and rapid drums could be heard from the door.
Zhao Duan looked up and saw figures walking out from the left rear of the court.
The old enemy, the Dali Temple Minister Zhou Cheng, dressed in crimson, and the imperial censor Yuan Li, who came on behalf of the Censorate to supervise the trial, were dressed in blue and black.
There was also an official from the Ministry of Justice whom he did not recognize, who was also wearing a crimson official robe. Judging from the pattern embroidered on his chest, he should be the Minister of Justice.
The heads of the three judges took their seats one by one, and several figures suddenly appeared in the "jury seats" on both sides:
He Zheng, the young censor...
As well as, Ma Yan, the supervisor of the imperial court, and Sun Lianying, the supervisor of the Baima prison.
Zhao Duan was stunned. He didn't expect them to come too.
But if you think about it carefully, it is not surprising. After all, he holds the positions of "White Horse Supervisor" and "Imperial Court Justice" at the same time.
Then it is reasonable for the heads of the two yamen to come as jurors.
Well, it’s a pity that Eunuch Hai can’t come, otherwise it would be a wonderful sight to see three men who have a close relationship with him but have severed ties with him together, accompanying him to try a case.
With strange thoughts in his mind, Zhao Duan's eyes met theirs.
Ma Yan frowned, full of worry, and seemed quite concerned about the trial.
Sun Lianying's face showed no emotion, making it difficult to read.
In the majestic atmosphere, the drums stopped beating.
"Open the hall!"
Zhou Cheng slammed the gavel and shouted harshly.
…
Asking for monthly tickets at the end of the month
(End of this chapter)
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