Chapter 574: Taking the lead in rebelling against the Emperor

The Xu and Wei families colluded in private to resolve this conflict and contradiction.

The Wei family opened their mouths like a lion, and the Xu family bargained.

Both sides had advances and retreats.

The Wei family saw that the matter of breaking Xu Wei Laosan's life root was afraid it wouldn't work. That Chen Guanlou in the Heavenly Prison was dead for money and his attitude was very arrogant. It seemed that he had already chosen a side, standing on the Xu family's side.

"Dignified noble family member, actually chose to stand on the side of civil officials, it is simply outrageous."

"Father, I must break Xu Wei Laosan's life root. Otherwise, I can't swallow this breath."

"Xu Wei Laosan is locked in the Heavenly Prison, the Heavenly Prison side doesn't loosen its mouth, this matter is hard to handle. Our family rarely walks with the Ministry of Justice on weekdays. This time, I am afraid..."

"I don't care! Xu Wei Laosan robbed my woman, injured my descendant root, this hatred is not reported, it doesn't matter if the son loses face. The key is that we Wei family follow to lose face, and will be pointed at the spine and laughed at. Father, we can't admit defeat! The Xu family says it nicely, wanting to seek understanding. But they don't want to show sincerity at all. It's okay not to break Xu Wei Laosan's life root, but it's not too much to break one of his legs. Father, you have also seen the attitude of the Xu family. If you really accept the Xu family's conditions, outsiders will only think that our Wei family has declined, and anyone can step on it twice. Father, can you swallow this breath?"

After being nagged and incited by his own son, the Marquis of Xuanwei finally made up his mind.

The next day in the morning court, he decisively impeached Xu Jinsong, impeached the other party for failing to teach his son, fighting in the street and injuring people, and treating the court's laws as child's play. What's more, Xu Wei Laosan also forced good into cheap, stole a woman with an owner, and took the initiative to provoke the incident. Any one of these could cure his crime.

Emperor Taixing finished reading the impeachment memorial and asked Xu Jinsong, "Minister Xu, what do you say?"

"The minister is guilty!" 【574-13

"The Marquis of Xuanwei accuses you of failing to discipline your son; do you admit it?"

"Your subject admits it! My third son has a perverse temperament and has refused to be disciplined since he was young. Causing such a great disaster is entirely because I failed to discipline my son. I ask Your Majesty to punish me."

Xu Jinsong admitted his mistake and accepted the punishment cleanly and decisively, without excuse or evasion. His attitude in admitting his mistake was excellent.

Originally, Emperor Jian Shi wanted to reprimand him a few times, but seeing his attitude was so good, he skipped that step. He instructed the Ministry of Justice to handle the case properly.

As for Xu Jinsong, he was ordered by Emperor Jian Shi to go home and reflect behind closed doors.

This... is a bit heavy.

For a dignified Minister of the Secretariat, a salary deduction would have been enough for his son's mistake. Yet, he was required to reflect behind closed doors, for an unspecified number of days.

The officials looked at each other, all realizing that Emperor Jian Shi seemed to have other plans. Could it be that he wanted to use this matter to shake up the Secretariat?

This was a bit too impatient.

It had only been half a year since he ascended the throne, and the dragon chair beneath him was not yet stable, yet he was already reaching out impatiently. Compared to the methods of the late Emperor's reign, it was a cut below. Just in terms of patience, he couldn't compare to the late Emperor when he was young.

Some wanted to advise him, but seeing Emperor Jian Shi's unquestionable expression, they swallowed their words of advice.

Xu Jinsong accepted the punishment cleanly and went home to reflect behind closed doors.

The Marquis of Xuanwei was very proud.

Unexpectedly, the very next day, a censor official impeached the Marquis of Xuanwei. Just looking at the Marquis of Xuanwei's sons, the things they had done over the years added up to several baskets; there were many handles to hold against him.

Wasn't it said that he failed to discipline his son?

The censors also impeached the Marquis of Xuanwei for failing to discipline his sons.

Marquis of Xuanwei:...

What a sinister Xu Jinsong; he hadn't been idle even while reflecting behind closed doors.

With the Xu and Wei families in a lawsuit, Sun Daoning was worried to death.

Emperor Jian Shi told him to handle the case properly, but how exactly should he handle it? How should he handle it to satisfy Emperor Jian Shi?

He pondered back and forth, but couldn't get a grip on it.

The private secretary by his side gave him an idea: just sentence the third Xu son to three months in prison.

"Will that work?" Sun Daoning couldn't be sure; he was completely unfamiliar with Emperor Jian Shi's temperament and preferences, and couldn't guess the Emperor's thoughts.

"Whether it works or not, we'll know after trying."

Sun Daoning flipped through the "Great Gan Code" again to ensure his verdict had a legal basis and to ensure he had something to say when summoned by the Emperor. Thus, he followed the advisor's suggestion and issued the verdict, sentencing the third Xu son, Xu Lin, to three months in prison.

The entire verdict process and result were reported to the palace and notified to the Xu and Wei mansions.

As a result, the Wei family was dissatisfied, complaining that the sentence was too light.

The Xu family was also dissatisfied, complaining that it was too heavy.

Emperor Jian Shi also seemed dissatisfied with this verdict.

Sun Daoning's head grew large for a moment.

What to do?

Just when he was overwhelmed, he suddenly remembered Chen Guanlou. This kid had many ideas, and most of them were quite sound, plus he was in charge of the Heavenly Prison.

Thus, he hurriedly summoned Chen Guanlou for a meeting.

When Chen Guanlou arrived at the Ministry of Justice and saw Sun Daoning, he learned of the other party's predicament. He didn't rush to help, but instead took his time drinking a cup of tea first.

Sun Daoning was anxious, but he couldn't show it, so he simply accompanied him in drinking tea.

After Chen Guanlou finished his cup of tea, he coughed lightly.

Sun Daoning put down his teacup. "Do you have an idea?"

"Old Sun, you've overcomplicated this matter. You should think in a simpler direction."

"Let's hear it."

"First of all, this is the Ministry of Justice. When the Ministry of Justice judges a case, it doesn't need to satisfy anyone. Even if it is His Majesty the Emperor, he cannot interfere with the law, at least on the surface, that is how it should be. The Emperor is a new emperor; he doesn't dare to act recklessly and also cares about his face. If he really wanted to interfere in the case, he would have sent someone to hint at it long ago. Since no one hinted, your verdict has a legal basis, so there is no problem at all. At most, add twenty heavy strokes; seeing blood might make the Wei family shut up."

Sun Daoning frowned and said slowly, "If the Wei family is satisfied, the Xu family won't be."

"I already said, when the Ministry of Justice handles a case, it doesn't need to satisfy anyone. If they are not convinced, let them appeal. Even if they appeal to the Emperor, it will still be this verdict. Because the 'Great Gan Code' is written clearly: seducing someone's wife, fighting in the street, and injuring someone's manhood—three months in prison is considered light. If this were among the common people, seducing someone's wife would be more than three months."

"That woman is a concubine, not a wife."

"Whether it's a concubine or a wife, did the third Xu son seduce someone's woman? In the end, his biggest charge is sleeping with the third Wei son's woman, which is why the Marquis of Xuanwei accused him of forcing a good woman into a lowly status. It shows that the concubine was a proper 'good' concubine, not a 'lowly' one."

A 'lowly' concubine can be disposed of at will, but a 'good' one cannot. A 'good' concubine must first be a good citizen and enjoy the basic human rights of the Great Gan Dynasty. A 'lowly' concubine has no human rights and is equivalent to a slave. The life and death of a slave are held in the hands of the master.

"She is indeed a 'good' concubine!" Sun Daoning nodded. "So, my verdict is not a problem?"

"You've already flipped through the 'Great Gan Code'; what problem could there be?"

"But His Majesty seems dissatisfied." This was what Sun Daoning was worried about.

Chen Guanlou stood up abruptly, righteous and extremely serious. "Even if the Emperor is dissatisfied, you must not compromise. Old Sun, you are a dignified Minister of Justice; you must have a position, and your position is the 'Great Gan Code'.

Even if the Emperor points at your nose and curses, you must insist on the 'Great Gan Code'! This is both your amulet and your shield. Your integrity and your reputation all depend on the 'Great Gan Code'! You cannot act recklessly just because the Emperor is dissatisfied. One careless move, and you could ruin your reputation.

You scholars all care about your reputation during your life and after death. You have been upright for most of your life; you cannot ruin your reputation in your old age. I tell you, if His Majesty curses you, you must curse back. Curse His Majesty for breaking ancestral rules and taking the lead in destroying the law; it is simply rebellious. You must take the lead in impeaching His Majesty!"

Sun Daoning:...

This bastard Chen Guanlou can really talk!

And take the lead in impeaching His Majesty.

Why not say take the lead in rebelling against His Majesty?

Little bastard, he has no good intentions.