HLnovel Chapter 541 Playing in Court
Chapter 541 Playing in Court
Chapter 541 Playing in Court
Dali Temple.
The three judicial departments heard the case of Wang Wenzhou today.
The presiding judge was Chen Qianfu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and the other two jurors were Zheng Sanjun, the Minister of Justice, and Zhang Yandeng, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.
Of the three judges, Zheng Sanjun was naturally the most senior in rank. However, Zhu Youjian insisted on appointing Chen Qianfu as the presiding judge. Zheng Sanjun understood that Chen Qianfu was Wang Wenzhou's man, and Zhu Youjian was deliberately letting Wang Wenzhou off the hook.
Zheng Sanjun had no intention of letting Wang Wenzhou go. As soon as he entered the courtroom, he snatched the gavel from Chen Qianfu's hand and took control of the proceedings.
"Bang!" Zheng Sanjun slammed his gavel and said coldly, "Bring the criminal Wang Wenzhou to the court."
"mighty……"
In a short while, Wang Wenzhou, supported by Liu Rushi, slowly walked into the main hall.
Zheng Sanjun pointed at Wang Wenzhou and shouted sternly, "You audacious criminal, how dare you refuse to bow to the officials!"
Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Lord Zheng, you are a high-ranking official of the court, watch your words. What do you mean by 'criminal'? I am here to assist in the investigation! I am the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate."
Wang Wenzhou pointed at Zhang Yandeng and said with a smile, "Hey Lao Zhang, we're colleagues in the same government office. You can't just stand by and watch me get bullied, can you?"
Zhang Yandeng shook his head with a wry smile. "Wang Wenzhou, you mad dog, I am not your colleague. I do not have the guts. Besides, your position as Right Censor-in-Chief is just a nominal one. Since the Emperor appointed you, you have never once reported to the Censorate."
Zhang Yandeng said helplessly, "Lord Zheng, the Emperor has not yet dismissed Lord Wang from his post."
Zheng Sanjun knew that Wang Wenzhou had not been dismissed. He said this to give Wang Wenzhou a warning.
Wang Wenzhou curled his lip and said, "Xiao Chen, hurry up and bring me a chair. I'm busy with official business and I'm here to cooperate with your investigation. You should at least have some manners. Don't be like some ill-mannered kids who yell at me all the time."
Chen Qianfu quickly ordered, "Quickly bring a chair for Lord Wang."
"Hmph!" Zheng Sanjun snorted coldly. "Wang Wenzhou, you mad dog, you've been so arrogant. Today, I will make sure you are utterly disgraced."
Upon receiving the order, the yamen runners quickly brought a chair for Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou sat down in a chair and pulled Liu Rushi to sit on his lap.
"Buzz..." The scene suddenly became noisy.
Today's trial of Wang Wenzhou attracted many victims and their families of terrorist attacks. They all believed Wang Wenzhou was responsible and deeply resented him. Upon seeing Wang Wenzhou's reaction, they immediately began hurling insults at him.
"Wang Wenzhou is shameless and despicable!"
"The traitor Wang Wenzhou dares to roar in the courtroom! This is outrageous!"
"Clap clap!" Zheng Sanjun slammed the gavel a few times and shouted, "Silence!"
The scene gradually quieted down. Zheng Sanjun pointed at Wang Wenzhou and angrily rebuked him, "Wang Wenzhou, this is the Dali Temple courtroom, not a brothel! How can you let a girl sit on your lap in the courtroom? What kind of behavior is that?"
Liu Rushi blushed. She knew that going out with her nemesis would be embarrassing. But even if she didn't want to, she had to give him face. As his wife, if he lost face, she would also lose face.
Wang Wenzhou curled his lip and casually reached his hand inside Liu Rushi's clothes. He muttered, "You surnamed Zheng, are you blind? Where is this girl? This is my follower. The imperial physician specially instructed that since I am recovering from a serious illness, I need to have massages from time to time. This is necessary for my condition."
"Pfft..." Zheng Sanjun was furious. Wang Wenzhou, you mad dog, you can really spout nonsense!
"Bang!" Zheng Sanjun slammed his gavel and said coldly, "This is a courtroom. If you wish to seek medical treatment, please go home. For now, Lord Wang, please bear with us and cooperate with our investigation."
"Wait!" Wang Wenzhou curled his lip, pulled out an imperial edict from his robes, and said, "You surnamed Zheng, I knew you'd make trouble for me. His Majesty is so considerate of his subjects; he specially gave me this edict. Lord Zheng, please take a look!"
The bailiff received the imperial edict and handed it to Zheng Sanjun.
Zheng Sanjun looked down and was both amused and exasperated. "Your Majesty! Is Wang Wenzhou your real father? How dare you allow him to flirt with girls in court? This is outrageous!"
Even though Zheng Sanjun was very angry, he did not dare to disobey the imperial decree and could only let Liu Rushi sit on Wang Wenzhou's lap.
"Bring the plaintiff to court!" Zheng Sanjun said.
Plaintiff? Wang Wenzhou frowned. What was going on? Zhu Youjian had told him that he was just here to go through the motions and clear his name. Why was he suddenly being called a plaintiff?
Chen Qianfu was also completely baffled. As the presiding judge, he had no idea how there could be a plaintiff.
Chen Qianfu cupped his hands in greeting and hurriedly asked, "Lord Zheng, who is the plaintiff?"
Zheng Sanjun smiled slightly and said, "Lord Chen, don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."
In a short while, the three injured men walked into the main hall with the help of the yamen runners.
"Thump!" The three men knelt on the ground, crying and pleading, "Please, Your Honor, do us justice and kill this traitor Wang Wenzhou!"
Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly. It seemed that Zheng Sanjun, that bastard, wanted to pin the blame for the terrorist attack on him. Luckily, he was prepared.
"Ruru, Ruru, have a drink!" Wang Wenzhou gently stroked Liu Rushi's cheek and whispered.
"Sigh..." Liu Rushi sighed softly. "My nemesis, do you even know what's going on? So many victims' families want to tear you apart alive. And here you are, in the courtroom as the defendant, drinking and carousing right in front of them."
"Ruru, Ruru, hurry up!" Wang Wenzhou urged.
Liu Rushi really couldn't do anything about Wang Wenzhou, so she quickly took out a wine pot, took a sip of wine, and fed it to Wang Wenzhou.
"Buzz..." The onlookers were instantly enraged. This was outrageous!
"This is a courtroom, not a brothel!"
"Wang Wenzhou has shown contempt of court; Your Honor, please punish him!"
"Bang! Bang!" Zheng Sanjun slammed the gavel and roared, "Silence!"
"mighty!"
The room quieted down, and Zheng Sanjun pointed at Wang Wenzhou and angrily rebuked him: "Lord Wang, please have some self-respect. What kind of decorum is this in court? Guards, take these two men away and give them thirty lashes as a warning to others!"
"Wait!" Chen Qianfu hurriedly said, "Lord Zheng, Lord Wang holds an official position; how can torture be used against him?"
"Hmph!" Zheng Sanjun snorted coldly and said irritably, "Whatever happens, I will take responsibility!"
Zheng Sanjun was furious. According to Ming Dynasty law, apart from the emperor, no other official could torture other officials. But Wang Wenzhou was drinking and carousing in court. If he didn't make a move, he, as the Minister of Justice, would be laughed at.
"Wait!" Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly, then took out an imperial edict from his robes and said with a smile, "Lord Zheng, you are unaware of this. I have just recovered from a serious illness and still need to take medicine. His Majesty specifically instructed that even while I am cooperating with your investigation, I must not forget to take my medicine."
Zheng Sanjun retorted angrily, "If you're going to take medicine, then take medicine. What kind of behavior is it to take medicine from someone else's mouth?"
Wang Wenzhou feigned grievance and said, "I was forced into this situation. There are always people who want to harm me. A few days ago, I was almost poisoned to death. This was actually ordered by the Emperor. From now on, all my food and drink must be passed through other people's mouths to prevent villains from poisoning me!"
"Pfft..." Zheng Sanjun was completely dumbfounded. Wang Wenzhou, you mad dog! How could the Emperor be so indecent as you, eating from girls' mouths every day? You can even find a suitable excuse to drink with courtesans. I really admire your shamelessness!