Chapter 887: Asking about the case and going to the old appointment again caused jealousy
By this time, Xiangling should have already set off, right?
In the office of the Left Temple of the Dali Temple, Sun Shaozong was holding a few files in his hands, but he was rarely distracted.
But it was no wonder that he was in low spirits. Before the situation changed, most of the files submitted to the Dali Temple were just leftovers from the Censorate. There was no need to go through the trouble of examining them. All they had to do was to make a judgment based on the evidence and confessions submitted at the same time.
This is naturally the best thing for those who just want to get by or those who lack the ability.
But every time Sun Shaozong saw these case files, he felt suffocated in the pit of his stomach.
The Dali Temple, the supreme authority of the country, actually has to rely on charity to survive. How can this be tolerated...
"Dong Weng."
Qin Kejian's cold voice suddenly came from behind the door curtain: "It's time to go to court for questioning."
"I'll be right there."
Sun Shaozong responded weakly, gathered the several files on the table together, grabbed his official hat, and strode out.
He handed over the cases transferred by the Censorate last month to the Temple Secretary Yang Zhiming for trial, but this is not a long-term solution after all, not to mention that there is a "relative" in the Censorate who is keeping an eye on him.
There was nothing I could do but to pull myself together and pick a few cases to try.
Because the case had not been filed to the public and there was no need for a public trial, the court to be held today was not the main hall of the front yamen, but the inner hall of the left temple yamen - the right temple and the inner yamen also had an inner hall for questioning.
Since it is the inner hall exclusively for the Zuo Temple, it is not too far from the government office.
Zhao Nan led the way holding the official seal, files and other items, and soon they arrived at the entrance to the back hall.
Sun Shaozong and Qin Kejian pushed the door open and walked in, but Zhao Nan went around to the front and solemnly put the official seals and files in order on the desk, then bowed to Chen Jingde who had been waiting in the hall.
Chen Jingde checked the evidence and confessions of several cases one by one, then waved his hand, and the twelve yamen runners on both sides banged their water and fire sticks. The head of the police, Huang Bin, put one hand on his waist and one hand to his mouth and shouted, "The master is in court~!"
This is formalism, as the case is heard in the inner hall and no outsiders can see it.
Sun Shaozong was pouting and muttering in the back hall - he was unhappy and naturally disliked everything he saw. Even though he was already used to these routines, he couldn't help but complain a few words.
He stood up and put his hands behind his back, then Qin Kejian hurried forward to lift the door curtain. Sun Shaozong then walked out of the back hall with an official step and sat down steadily under the plaque with a bright mirror hanging high.
Since Chen Jingde was in charge of recording the confession, Qin Kejian, who had no official status, stood diagonally behind Sun Shaozong.
Sun Shaozong removed the paperweight that was pressing down on the case file, and without even looking at it, he gently moved the first copy two inches to the left.
Qin Kejian understood what he meant and looked over, then immediately shouted, "My Lord has ordered that the case of Jiangxi Provincial Governor Shi Rengui soliciting bribes be tried first!"
Chen Jingde immediately picked up his pen and wrote down his joy on the confession.
After he stopped writing and signaled, Sun Shaozong grabbed the gavel and said in a deep voice: "Bring the prisoner."
"Bring someone to capture Shi Rengui!"
"Bring someone to capture Shi Rengui!"
After a series of shouts, Shi Rengui, who was smelly and skinny, was dragged into the court by two yamen runners.
When Shi Rengui knelt crookedly in the middle of the hall, Sun Shaozong asked according to the script: "Shi Rengui, do you admit your guilt?"
Shi Rengui slowly raised his head, his two red eyes fixed on the desk for a long while, and suddenly laughed miserably, "Why do you need to ask more, sir? I just want to die quickly!"
Actually, there is really nothing to ask.
The amount of bribes this guy received was not large, but he forced people to death and violated a taboo in officialdom. Even if Sun Shaozong tried to show mercy, he would not be able to pass the review of the Ministry of Justice.
"Whatever."
Sun Shaozong didn't want to waste time with him, so he nodded and said, "Since you are determined to die, I will grant your wish. Chen Jingde, hand over the physical evidence and confession to him for confirmation, and then sign your name in court as a record."
Chen Jingde found the corresponding items, motioned to Huang Bin to hold them, and spread them out in front of Shi Rengui one by one.
Shi Rengui looked at the physical evidence and confessions, and a hint of self-mockery gradually appeared on his thin face. Finally, he shook his head and sighed, "Misfortunes sent by heaven can be forgiven, but those brought upon oneself cannot be forgiven."
Having said this, he picked up the pen without hesitation and signed his name on the confession. In less than half a quarter of an hour, it was time for the final verdict.
This is also the reason why Sun Shaozong couldn't muster up the energy.
But no matter how impatient you are, you still have to complete the necessary procedures.
"The criminal official Shi Rengui disregarded the emperor's grace..."
"While serving as the Jiangxi Provincial Governor, he accepted bribes of more than 2,760 taels..."
"Ignoring the friendship between us, he threatened and extorted a bribe from Zhu Guang, the magistrate of Fenyi County, causing Zhu Guang to commit suicide in his official sedan chair outside the government office..."
A bribe of two thousand seven hundred taels was nothing for a powerful inspector. The mistake was that this guy, while being so complacent, humiliated his classmate Zhu Guang in public.
Unfortunately, Zhu Guang was a man with excessive self-esteem. After he left the house, he felt more and more aggrieved and actually committed suicide with a dagger in the sedan chair.
As Shi Rengui was charged with the crime of soliciting bribes and forcing his classmate to death, he naturally had to be buried with him.
Speaking of which...
With his precedent, it is estimated that future inspectors will pay attention to the principle of making money through harmony.
…
Since these are all cases with established facts, there is really no room for quibbling.
Therefore, it only took more than half an hour to try several cases one by one - and nearly half of this time was consumed in routine procedures.
After adjourning the court, seeing that there was still some time before noon, Sun Shaozong thought about going to visit Right Shaoqing Li Wenshan. After all, the third memorial on "Popularizing the Law in the Countryside" drafted by Li Wenshan and led by Wei Yi was about to be presented.
As the initiator, Sun Shaozong naturally had to take a look first.
However, before he could set off, Zhang Cheng came over with a servant from the Rongguo Mansion, saying that Jia Lian was hosting a banquet in the evening and invited Sun Shaozong to come over for a drink.
Jia Lian did mention this matter at Wangjiang Tower two days ago, and even said that he would discuss the details of handing over Ping'er at the banquet .
But today is really unfortunate, as Sun Shaozong had already decided to perform a "Shedding Tears and Executing Ma Su" play in his mansion, so it is naturally inconvenient for him to go to Rongguo Mansion for the banquet.
So he asked the servant to tell him that he would visit in the evening of the next day instead.
After receiving the reply, the servant rushed back to Rongguo Mansion without stopping.
He passed through the corridor of the second gate and was about to go to the study in Xiyun Pavilion to reply to Master Lian when someone suddenly shouted from the side: "Stop!"
When the servant turned around, he saw Wang Xifeng and her servant.
Naturally, he did not dare to be negligent and hurried forward to greet him.
Wang Xifeng asked him right away what he was doing in such a hurry.
Because he felt that there was nothing to hide, the servant recounted the whole story of how he was ordered to invite Sun Shaozong but the event was postponed to the next night.
Wang Xifeng didn't care and threw her sleeves after hearing this: "Go and do your thing. I don't think anything has happened."
However, when the servant walked away as if he had been pardoned, Wang Xifeng's face gradually darkened. She was silent for a long while, then suddenly stamped her feet and gnashed her teeth and said, "What a shameless thing! I will not let you get what you want!"
