RPAGF Chapter 354 Wan Jia Seeks Fame and Reputation
Chapter 354 Wan Jia Seeks Fame and Reputation
Suppressing her sadness, the second sister forced a smile and said, "That's because I'm now at his service. I've observed that His Highness takes good care of his subordinates."
Feng Zizhou nodded: "That's true. Serving Prince Ning is much better than serving my elder brother. My elder brother is really difficult to deal with."
The second sister thought of Feng Ziheng. Although they often worked together on compiling legal texts, he was taciturn and rarely spoke. He was especially cold towards her.
There was something she didn't understand, so she asked Feng Ziheng, but he simply turned and left, completely ignoring her.
Lord Li told her privately, "Don't provoke Lord Shaoqing. He was the one who led the other officials to petition His Majesty and prevented you from serving in the Dali Temple."
Therefore, the second sister also disliked Feng Ziheng.
Inside Dali Temple.
Prince Ning was reviewing the newly revised laws and regulations, discussing them with Feng Ziheng from time to time.
“Miss Si’s insights are quite unique, especially regarding the regulations for the protection of women. She mentioned many local cases, and I think it would be helpful to go down to the local areas to conduct interviews.”
Feng Ziheng said, "Perhaps it would be more convenient to have local authorities compile the case files and send them to the Dali Temple."
Prince Ning shook his head: "Miss Si once told me that although the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty are the main law in various places, the popularization of law is insufficient in many remote and backward areas, and many laws and regulations cannot be truly implemented. There are relatively few cases related to women being harmed, and the documents from various places inevitably contain their own judgments and are not accurate enough."
“In that case, it seems that visiting him is the most appropriate course of action,” Feng Ziheng said, then pondered, “How about this, I will go to the palace tomorrow to report to the Emperor, and I will personally lead a team to handle this matter.”
Prince Ning looked up at him: "Your Highness, do you have a problem with the Second Miss?"
Feng Ziheng chuckled: "Her talent is beyond doubt, but I don't want to work with her."
Prince Ning knew that the Feng family and the Si family were not on good terms, so he said nothing.
At this moment, Asong came in with a letter and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, someone has brought some information over."
"What is it?" Prince Ning asked.
Ah Song paused before saying, "It's about the Second Prince...
"The Second Prince?" Prince Ning took the letter, glanced at it, and saw several points inside, all about the Second Prince forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices. "Anything else?"
Ah Song nodded: "They said it's important evidence and will be sent to the Prince's residence later."
Prince Ning frowned: "Who delivered it?"
Ah Song was unaware of this.
Feng Ziheng, however, said calmly, "Your Highness, the Feng family holds a high position and wields great power, and I am a minister highly regarded by His Majesty. I never participate in factional struggles in the court."
After saying this, he bowed respectfully and left first.
Ah Song was somewhat puzzled: "Your Highness, what does the Crown Prince mean by this?"
Prince Ning carefully put the letter away and calmly said, "He said that I am already in such a high position and have no need to be a tool for others. Put these away and don't worry about them."
After a long pause, Ah Song said, "I thought Your Highness intended to stand up for the Second Miss of the Si family, and therefore impeached the Second Prince."
Thinking about Feng Ziheng's words, Prince Ning suddenly understood why the Emperor had placed him in the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but arranged for Feng Ziheng to be by his side.
It is suppression, but also guidance.
He acted too aggressively, while Feng Ziheng was the one who truly knew how to weigh things.
Three days later, what was presented to the emperor was evidence of the Wan family head's oppression of the people.
It turned out that when Lord Wan's third son was riding his horse in the suburbs, he encountered several people blocking his way. He then pulled out his whip and lashed the people. One of them, an old man in his seventies, died on the spot. Of the other two, one was seriously injured and the other broke his leg after falling while trying to avoid the whip.
This incident was caught red-handed by Prince Ning, who was on official business nearby.
Therefore, before Wan Jia could react, Prince Ning took everyone back to Dali Temple.
When they arrived at the Dali Temple, Wan Sanlang refused to comply. He kept shouting that he had beaten his own family members, that it was a family matter, and that it had nothing to do with the Dali Temple.
Therefore, Prince Ning directly brought the man before His Majesty's palace for His Majesty's judgment.
"Your Majesty, this is a matter of great importance. If a precedent is set, won't all members of aristocratic families live in constant fear? Even those who have been enslaved cannot be killed at will, yet are clansmen even worse off than those who have been enslaved?"
When Prince Ning met with the emperor this time, he not only brought back the people involved, but also summoned all the important officials from the three judicial departments.
Everyone looked at each other, and of course, no one dared to say that this was someone else's family matter.
Prince Ning added, "Moreover, according to my investigation, the clansman who was beaten to death was, according to seniority, Wan Sanlang's great-uncle!"
A courtier then advised, "Your Majesty, only barbaric lands resort to violence and disregard etiquette. The Great Zhou governs with propriety. If Wan Sanlang doesn't even respect his own clan elders, how can he expect to respect others?"
Prince Ning continued, "In addition, there are two others who were just visiting relatives in Mahe Village and are not members of the Wan family, yet they have suffered an undeserved calamity because of it. Wan Sanlang shows no remorse and only shouts that he is a member of the Wan family. Is this because Lord Wan has not restrained him in the past?"
Wan Sanlang was only eighteen years old and had not yet come of age. How could he dare to make a single boast in the main hall? He was trembling with fear and actually wet himself.
A foul odor filled the air.
Even the lords who usually remained unfazed by anything couldn't help but cover their noses and turn to look at Lord Wan kneeling beside them.
Wan Daren cursed his son in his heart, and also hated his mother and wife for spoiling him so much that they didn't even listen to him.
The Emperor was furious: "Wan Jiasanlang's words and actions were inappropriate. He committed murder in the street, a crime that cannot be forgiven. I hereby order the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to close the case as soon as possible in accordance with the law."
Lord Wan was shocked. The Emperor said to judge according to the law, which meant there was no way to turn things around. Even if he tried to pull strings to get a lighter sentence, there was no way. Murderers must pay with their lives, and his son could only pay with his own.
He immediately crawled forward on his knees, weeping bitterly: "It is all my fault, Your Majesty, please forgive me and spare his life!"
He kowtowed repeatedly, choking back tears, saying that he had failed to manage his household properly and had not been able to control his subordinates effectively. He also said that Sanlang was young and ignorant, which was why he had committed such a serious offense.
But no sooner had he finished speaking than Prince Ning spoke again.
"Lord Wan is certainly guilty, but it's not just a matter of the steward's negligence."
Prince Ning stepped forward, placed a stack of files on the Emperor's desk, and said in a cold voice.
“Your Majesty, I have investigated all the actions of the Wan family after Lord Wan entered the court as an official. The Wan family is said to be upright and honest, and they have never shown favoritism. They do not have much property, and they have even declined Your Majesty’s many rewards. However, the Wan family’s food, clothing and daily life are no different from other aristocratic families.”
Some officials had long harbored this suspicion and couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that they are merely seeking fame and fortune while engaging in improper activities in private?"
Lord Wan kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I absolutely did not do it! Your Majesty, please see the truth!"