Chapter 103: The Essence of Politics is Compromise

The two walked quickly back to the small house, closed the door, and sat down, after which Zhang Yunxiu instructed: "No rush, tell me slowly."

Zhang Fu nodded, dragged his stool toward Zhang Yunxiu, and then began to recount the ins and outs of the matter: "Zhao Yong beat someone into a cripple, and he is currently being held in the Jinyiwei prison."

"Ah? Who did he beat? How is the person? And didn't he go back to Nanyang? How did he end up thrown into the Jinyiwei prison?" Zhang Yunxiu stood up abruptly, firing off three questions in a row.

Zhang Fu paused and replied: "The kid snuck back into the capital. Seeing that Han San was not around, he wandered about the city. Ten days ago, he went to Zhaoning Temple and beat a monk into a cripple."

"Originally, the bailiffs under the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate were preparing to arrest him and bring him to justice, but the kid was clever enough to actually report the Young Master's name."

Speaking of this, Zhang Fu's expression turned strange, and he snuck a glance at Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu's eyes widened in anger, the fury in his chest enough to boil a cow. He stewed for a moment, then cursed: "Damn it, when there's something good, he doesn't think of me, but now that he's done something disastrous, he's the first to report my name!"

Zhang Fu, standing to the side, shivered, then continued: "It's not entirely a disaster. It is said that the monk first molested a female patron who came to make a wish, and only then did Zhao Yong strike out in anger."

"He said that?"

"Yes, but this one doesn't think he is lying."

Zhang Yunxiu calmed down. Although he had spent very little time with Zhao Yong, he knew that the kid was certainly not the type to bully others by relying on power.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhang Yunxiu asked about the monk's injuries: "How is the person who was beaten?"

"Not dead for the time being."

"What do you mean 'not dead for the time being'?"

"Several ribs are broken, one eye was blinded, and also... also that thing he uses to do his business was stomped flat by Zhao Yong. I'm afraid he won't be able to harbor evil thoughts for the rest of his life."

Zhang Fu stammered as he said it in a low voice.

Hiss. This little beast really has a ruthless hand.

A chill rose up Zhang Yunxiu's spine. He raised his eyes to look at Zhang Fu, stared into his eyes, and asked: "Since it was punishing evil and promoting good, then why was Zhao Yong arrested?"

"It was fine at first. I thought that since the person didn't die and the monk was in the wrong, we would just pay money to settle it." Zhang Fu hung his head and said with difficulty, "I don't know which beast it was that poked this matter all the way to the Empress Dowager."

"Young Master, you know that the Empress Dowager goes to Zhaoning Temple to offer incense every year. The abbot there, the monk Yiru, is a guest of honor to the Empress Dowager. Once the Empress Dowager found out, she was furious and ordered Zhao Yong to be severely punished."

"If it weren't for the fact that the kid is being watched in the Jinyiwei, I'm afraid he would have already been sentenced to death."

"Didn't the person not die? How could he be sentenced to death?" Zhang Yunxiu was full of disbelief. "He's a lecherous monk who molested a female patron; he deserved it if he was beaten to death. He even has the face to file a complaint!"

"Aside from you and me, no one can prove that the monk molested her first."

"What about witnesses?"

"Don't know. It's as if they vanished overnight."

A chill grew in Zhang Yunxiu's heart. He felt a giant net all around him, gradually closing in and trapping him in the center.

But this chimney was one he had to crawl through; for a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.

"Let's go to the Jinyiwei prison first to see this beast."

"Alright, I'll go prepare."

The two tidied up and headed straight for the North Bureau of the Jinyiwei.

By rights, for a case involving a commoner like Zhao Yong, the Five Cities Patrol Battalion should generally be able to handle it.

If the nature of the case were particularly egregious, it should be under the custody of the Ministry of Justice.

The Jinyiwei usually only mobilizes to deal with officials who have committed crimes. But the Jinyiwei, the Eastern Depot, and the Ministry of Justice all have the authority of the Imperial Prison, and furthermore, the Jinyiwei is the Emperor's personal army.

Therefore, their prestige is significantly greater than that of the Ministry of Justice bailiffs.

After Zhao Yong was transferred to the Jinyiwei, he had hardly suffered any hardship.

Walking quickly into the cell block, Zhang Yunxiu saw from afar that Han San was jumping back and forth in front of the cell like a frantic cat.

He knew that Han San had also come for this hotheaded fool, Zhao Yong.

Zhang Yunxiu walked up quickly. When Han San saw Zhang Yunxiu, he hurriedly shouted: "Young Master, something has happened."

"Is it that beast Zhao Yong?"

"The Young Master already knows?"

Han San was startled, then nodded.

"Go bring him to the interrogation room. I want to ask that beast myself." Zhang Yunxiu said with a cold face. Han San knew the situation was urgent and moved as if his feet were on wheels to bring Zhao Yong out.

The group sat down in the interrogation room.

Zhang Yunxiu sat in a chair with Han San standing behind him, while Zhao Yong, with a bruised and swollen face and wearing a washed-out white prison uniform, sat on a bench opposite the two.

"Speak." Zhang Yunxiu lifted his left hand slightly.

"There's nothing to say. My conscience is clear; I only regret not beating that lecherous monk to death back then." Zhao Yong's face was full of indignation.

"Oh, you're quite tough." Zhang Yunxiu chuckled, then suddenly stopped laughing, his voice turning as cold as winter frost the moment he spoke: "Then why the hell did you report my name after beating him? Do you also want to say that I was the one who told you to go and back you up?"

Han San, standing to the side, knew that the Young Master was truly enraged.

Of course, he wasn't angry that Zhao Yong beat someone, but that this guy was at death's door and still had such a devil-may-care attitude.

Zhao Yong trembled at this shout, then suddenly stretched his neck and replied: "At worst, at worst I'll let him beat me up too, and then the matter will be settled."

Zhang Yunxiu took a step forward, suddenly raised his leg, and kicked out.

Zhao Yong was caught off guard, stumbled, and fell backward onto the ground. He quickly struggled to get up, wiped the blood from his face, and shouted grimly: "Good, well kicked."

"You beast, you're at death's door and still don't know it. Do you think you're a hero now? You're just a violent thug who struck out, and they are going to take your head at any moment." Zhang Yunxiu was so angry he was fuming.

At this, Zhao Yong panicked. His lips trembled as he replied: "It... it can't be, right? It was that monk who first molested the female patron offering incense, and only then did I strike out in anger."

"Who can prove it?"

"That female patron who was offering incense."

"The person cannot be found now, so no one can prove it for you."

Zhang Yunxiu said it nonchalantly. Zhao Yong grew anxious and argued with a red face, "How could she not be found? It must... it must be that group of bald donkeys. Those bald donkeys hid the girl for the sake of their reputation."

"You... you guys hurry and search the temple. If you go too late, that girl will suffer." Zhang Yunxiu was almost laughed to anger by him.

He was like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river, unable to even save himself, yet he was still concerned about someone else's life or death.

"Speak, tell us the situation of that person clearly, the clearer the better; whether you can keep your life depends entirely on yourself," Zhang Yunxiu signaled for him to sit back in his original seat and instructed.

Zhao Yong did not dare to be arrogant and told everything one by one.

It was said that in the middle of the eleventh lunar month, seeing that the farm work at home was over, he brought silver and headed straight for the capital to find Han San.

As a result, upon inquiring at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he learned that Han San had gone to Songjiang Prefecture with Zhang Yunxiu.

Thinking he still had some spare money in his hands, he toured the capital while waiting for Han San. After wandering around for a few days, he thought of going to Zhaoning Temple for a visit.

During the Jiajing Era, because the emperor practiced Daoism, this Zhaoning Temple was heavily suppressed; when the Longqing Emperor ascended the throne, the status of Daoist priests plummeted, and Zhaoning Temple took the opportunity to rise.

However, what truly brought this Zhaoning Temple to its peak was the Wanli Era.

In the Wanli First Year, Empress Dowager Li personally came here to offer incense and donated two large Buddha statues to the temple. From then on, the incense at Zhaoning Temple became increasingly prosperous, attracting countless pious men and women to come and make offerings.

That day, just past the hour of Chen, Zhao Yong walked into Zhaoning Temple, swaying with every step. Looking at the surging crowd, he began to have second thoughts in his heart. But he thought, since he had already come, wouldn't it be a wasted trip if he didn't offer a stick of incense? Thus, Zhao Yong braced himself and, using the strength of nine bulls and two tigers, finally squeezed into the main hall.

After hurriedly offering a stick of incense, he felt as if his feet were stepping on burning iron blocks and strode out of the main hall.

Turning left and right, Zhao Yong finally turned into a side hall. Looking at the scenery around him, he could not help but let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, a sound of calling for help came from inside the hall.

"Master... please don't be like this," a female voice trembled and hummed.

"What are you afraid of? This Buddha has already been enlightened by the Buddha himself. Since you are a Buddhist believer, after dual cultivation with me, you will surely receive the protection of the Buddha and ascend to the Buddha Land soon," another slightly lewd voice rang out.

"No... no, Master."

"Come, little beauty, let the two of us ascend to the Buddha Land together."

Zhao Yong, who had been eavesdropping outside for a while, was furious and stepped into the main hall in a few strides.

Then he saw a monk with a fat head and big ears, of medium build, standing on one side of the main hall with his back to him, his clothes in disarray.

In front, there was a woman of about twenty years old, dressed as a young married woman. Her clothes were half-undone, and her face was flushed red.

Her snow-white breasts and fair, greasy neck were completely exposed to the air.

"No, Master, someone has come in."

"Little beauty, don't worry, no one comes here, just submit to me."

Seeing that the monk was so bold, Zhao Yong knew that this was definitely not the first time he had done such a thing, so he gritted his teeth and rushed forward in a fit of anger.

He grabbed the monk by the collar and shouted angrily, "You damn lecherous monk, watch how this young master deals with you, you beast."

At this moment, the monk also came to his senses. Looking at the furious Zhao Yong, he knew he was no match for him, so he hurriedly defended himself: "This... this female benefactor said her chest was uncomfortable, so I was just, ouch."

"Uncomfortable your mother, I'm going to beat you to death today, you bald donkey."

With the hot blood of a youth, how could Zhao Yong listen to him? He raised his fist and struck.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, he didn't know his own strength; in no time at all, the monk was lying on the ground wailing.

"Later, several monks rushed in and pinned me to the ground. They sent me to the government office, and when I reported your name, I was brought here," Zhao Yong finished speaking and looked at Zhang Yunxiu pitifully, fear and dread flashing for the first time in his big, dark, rolling eyes.

"What about the woman?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"I don't know." Zhao Yong shook his head.

"Han San, from now on, you go find her. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, you must find the woman," Zhang Yunxiu turned his head to look at Han San and instructed, "Remember, you must be fast. Only when that woman is found can he be saved."

"Yes." Han San accepted the order and left.

Zhang Yunxiu asked Zhao Yong some other questions, and without realizing it, more than an hour had passed. Zhang Yunxiu stood up, intending to leave.

Just as he was about to walk out the door, Zhao Yong suddenly stood up and asked nervously, "Will... will I die?"

His footsteps paused. Zhang Yunxiu did not look back, his face cold, and squeezed three words through his teeth: "I don't know." Then he strode away, and with a clang, he closed the door of the interrogation room.

Zhao Yong felt a sense of loss, sat down on the stool with a thud, his face looking utterly dejected.

On the other side, Zhang Yunxiu left the interrogation room, called the jailer, and instructed, "Don't let this kid go hungry. If anything happens to him, I will hold you accountable."

"Yes."

The jailer respectfully agreed, then bent his waist and watched Zhang Yunxiu walk away.

At this time, a fine snow began to fall from the sky. Zhang Yunxiu faced the wind and snow and came to the office of his fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu.

The two brothers met. Zhang Jianxiu brushed the snowflakes off his body for him and then said, "If you are here for that kid Zhao Yong, I advise you to give up that idea."

"Isn't the person still with you Embroidered Uniform Guards? Could it be that someone dares to come and take him by force?" Zhang Yunxiu asked, puzzled.

Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Zhang Jianxiu took out a white official document: "Look at this first."

Zhang Yunxiu took it and looked, but his face turned ugly. This was actually a transfer document from the Ministry of Justice; this matter was going to be brought to the Three Judicial Offices for a joint trial.

Moreover, the tone and phrasing were clearly from his own father.

"That's right, this is Father's intention," Zhang Jianxiu met his younger brother's gaze and sighed, "You also know that if Father, as the Senior Grand Secretary, does not have the support of Empress Dowager Li, he will be unable to move an inch."

"Empress Dowager Li has issued an order from her side, saying that the perpetrator must be severely punished."

"But Zhao Yong had a reason for hitting someone," Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly defended him.

"Who can prove it?"

Zhang Jianxiu asked with a cold face. Zhang Yunxiu opened his mouth to speak, but Zhang Jianxiu interrupted him rudely, "Fine, fine, fine. Even if someone can prove that the monk had ulterior motives, so what? People can have a thousand and one reasons to explain it."

"But the fact that Zhao Yong acted violently and beat someone into a state of semi-paralysis is an ironclad fact!"

"Are we just going to watch the monk rape a civilian woman?"

Zhang Yunxiu was furious, roaring in an almost hysterical voice.

"He could have completely restrained the person and then sent him to the government office to be dealt with by the law," Zhang Jianxiu's face was frosty, and then his voice couldn't help but rise a few degrees: "If everyone were like him, seeing an illicit act and then using lethal force, then what would we need the government for?"

"It is precisely because there are too many people like you that illicit elements are never eradicated!" Zhang Yunxiu mocked coldly.

"Heh, you aren't in my position, so it's easy for you to say."

"Even if I were in your position, I would not treat human life so recklessly, treating a young and innocent life like trash."

"You bastard!" Zhang Jianxiu slapped the table and cursed through gritted teeth: "Who do you think you are? If it weren't for Father, do you think Feng Bao would look at you with any respect? Do you think the Xu Family would marry into your family? Do you think that with one word from you, Wang Zuan would wholeheartedly send you the grain transport ships?"

"I think everything has gone too smoothly for you, making you a bit arrogant and ignorant of the heights of the world. You think you've jumped out of the well? In reality, you are just a toad sitting at the mouth of the well; Empress Dowager Li could kick you back down with one foot."

"Do you have the strength to go against Empress Dowager Li?!"

The voice of Zhang Jianxiu was deafening, almost roared out.

This was also the first time the two brothers had fallen out; Zhang Yunxiu was left hanging his head, silent and speechless.

Zhang Jianxiu felt he had spoken a bit too harshly, so he was silent for a moment, patted his younger brother on the shoulder, and continued: "Politics is never about life or death, but about compromise. Using small interests to trade for greater interests."

"As long as Empress Dowager Li can vent this pent-up anger, Father's position as Senior Grand Secretary can be as stable as Mount Tai, and by then, how many of the common people under heaven will be able to benefit from Father's New Policy?"

"You are right." Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly, then stared into the eyes of Zhang Jianxiu and asked: "So, what exactly is Empress Dowager Li's intention regarding Zhao Yong?"

"I don't know." Zhang Jianxiu shook his head.

"Take a guess."

Zhang Yunxiu asked with reddened eyes.

"Don't you already have the answer in your heart?" Zhang Jianxiu let out a long sigh and paced to the window.

At this moment, the snowflakes outside the window grew even larger, covering the filth on the earth completely.

(End of this chapter)