allonlinenovel Chapter 1133 Nice to meet you
Chapter 1133 Nice to meet you
At 1:15 PM, the court adjourned.
Although the people did not understand, they did not question it at all and obediently left.
"If Lord Shen says three days, then three days it is. It's just three days. We'll be able to come to the government office to watch the court hearings again in the blink of an eye."
"Exactly! What's three days? Just look at the spectacle we saw today, we could talk about it for thirty days!"
"But I'm still not sure about Wu Shun's promise of the Xiucai degree, especially since Wang Ang actually passed. You guys think... Huai Gongwang's handwriting was never clean to begin with, so was there really something fishy about this year's prefectural exam results?"
"That's hard to say... Even if Wu Shun doesn't have the ability, what about Huai Gongwang? He's the governor!"
"Then I won't recognize this year's batch of scholars!"
"Yes, I don't believe it either! Maybe someone's degree was bought with money, it's not clean!"
"..."
The murmurs of the people gradually faded away, and the courtyard suddenly became deserted.
Wang Huai'an and his wife, along with Tang Cai, were taken away by the constables, leaving only Wu Shun and Huai Gongwang kneeling below the hall.
Huai Gongwang pressed his aching knees with both hands and asked Shen Zheng with his head down, "This humble official does not know... what does Lord Shen mean by this?"
"What do you mean?" Shen Zheng stood up, slowly walked to him, and bowed her head, saying, "Someone has accused Lord Huai of accepting bribes. As a newly appointed official, I must investigate carefully and give Lord Huai justice."
justice?
Huai Gongwang stared intently at Shen Zheng's robes, and continued her words: "Since Your Excellency wishes to give me justice, then I will return to my residence and await Your Excellency's good news."
Upon hearing this, Wu Shun became anxious and immediately shook his head at Shen Zheng, signaling her not to let Huai Gongwang return to the mansion.
Shen Zheng laughed: "Lord Huai is joking. Someone, take Lord Huai down to rest properly."
Constable Sun strode over, grabbed Huai Gongwang by the armpit, and said, "Lord Huai, shall we go with me?"
Huai Gongwang disliked Constable Sun's touch and flung his hand away, saying, "Lord Shen, are you trying to arrest me?"
Shen Zheng looked at him, but remained silent.
Constable Sun frowned, pulled out the arrest warrant from his pocket, held it up in front of Huai Gongwang, and said loudly, "Lord Huai, have you looked carefully? What are the first two characters on this warrant? 'Arrest'! 'Summon'! If that's the case, why can't the government arrest you?"
Huai Gongwang didn't even glance at the document; his gaze was fixed on Constable Sun's hand, and his heart was filled with surging anger.
Since when did even a dog in the government office dare to talk to him like that?
"Lord Huai, do you intend to resist arrest?" Shen Zheng took the document and knelt on one knee in front of Huai Gongwang. "If Lord Huai insists on resisting arrest, I will have no choice but to act in accordance with the law."
If a suspect doesn't obey, just tie him up.
"Resist...detain?" Huai Gongwang raised his eyes to meet Shen Zheng's gaze, a hint of threat flashing in his eyes. "Lord Shen, just because of someone's casual slander, you detained me without distinguishing right from wrong. Aren't you afraid it's a wrongful detention? Furthermore, you and I serve in the same court. If this matter gets out of Liuyang Prefecture and reaches the ears of other officials, aren't you afraid it will damage your reputation?"
"Damaged reputation?" Shen Zheng laughed: "As the assistant minister of the Six Ministries and the prefectural school administrator is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, how can I sit idly by after receiving Wu Shun's accusation against you? Lord Huai, there is no point in saying more. Just wait patiently for three days. After three days, I will definitely clear your name."
Constable Sun then reached for Huai Gongwang's armpit.
Huai Gongwang's anger finally surfaced: "Lord Shen! You hold the high position of Assistant Minister of the Six Ministries, yet you act so arbitrarily. Are you truly not afraid that this matter will spread to Liuyang Prefecture and chill the hearts of many local officials!"
"Disheartened?" Before the words were even finished, Jiang Zhiming walked in from outside the hall, looked around, and said, "What disheartened? Lord Shen, this is called investigating cases and redressing grievances! Lord Huai, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"
It was only then that Huai Gongwang noticed there was another unfamiliar official present.
He frowned and looked at Jiang Zhiming for a while, but couldn't recall having such a person in Liuyang Prefecture.
Jiang Zhiming flicked his sleeve with a flourish and laughed, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Jiang Zhiming, the newly appointed prefect of Fuzhou. Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet you! Lord Huai, it's a pleasure to meet you too."
Nice to meet you?
Shen Zheng was almost amused by Jiang Zhiming.
One of them was kneeling, his eyes filled with anger; the other was standing, his face full of mockery, seemingly oblivious to any sense of "pleasant encounter"...
Clearly, Huai Gongwang didn't find the encounter "pleasant": "Is Lord Jiang here to kick me when I'm down?"
Jiang Zhiming jumped back, looking surprised: "Lord Huai, what are you saying? I came here only to say that Lord Shen's arrest of you today, in accordance with the law, will not only not discourage us local officials, but will actually make us feel at ease! Lord Huai, please rest assured, if it is later proven that you were wrongfully arrested, then I..."
As he spoke, Jiang Zhiming looked at Shen Zheng and said, "Then I will also speak up for Lord Shen."
"..."
Jiang Zhiming's words stunned everyone.
What a perfect example of siding with one's "kin" over what is right.
Huai Gongwang was so angry that he was practically dragged away by Constable Sun. Wu Shun, on the other hand, didn't need anyone to escort him; he got up on his own and obediently followed the constable.
After their footsteps faded into the distance, Shen Zheng looked at Jiang Zhiming and said, "Lord Jiang, the affairs of the yamen are busy today, and I may not be able to..."
"It's alright, it's alright!" Jiang Zhiming immediately waved his hand. "It's just that I've come at the wrong time, Lord Shen. Please continue with your work! To be honest, this is my first time visiting Liuyang Prefecture, so I'm just taking a stroll around the estate..."
As he spoke, he walked out of the hall with a smile, adding, "No need to see me off, no need to see me off! Lord Shen, if you need anything these next few days, just send someone to give me instructions!"
Shen Zheng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
Judging from Jiang Zhiming's words, it seems that he will stay in Liuyang Prefecture for a few more days.
Before he could ask any further questions, Jiang Zhiming had already led his men out of the government office.
Yu Zhengqing watched his retreating figure, hesitated, and then asked, "This guy... is he a sycophant?"
He had heard of Jiang Zhiming's heroic act of testing smallpox on himself long before, and he greatly admired him.
But seeing you today...
Well, that's hard to say.
Shen Zheng smiled and said, "Lord Jiang is like this. He may seem unreliable, but he has a good heart and... he's not exactly a sycophant, is he?"
By the end, Shen Zheng was somewhat uncertain.
Yu Zhengqing immediately understood what was going on and shook his head with a smile: "Forget it, let's not talk about him anymore. Shall we go to the Huai residence ourselves?"
Shen Zheng pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Let's go."
Although Huai Gongwang has been detained, his family and close associates are still out and about. To be on the safe side, they need to go there in person.
The carriage clattered away from the government office, and along the way, one could hear the people discussing the day's events.