Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 430 - 405: I Reject Your Judgment!

Chapter 430: Chapter 405: I Reject Your Judgment!

Shen Wei’s words were powerful and resonant.

At this moment, although Zhang San’s face was filled with calmness, there was also a hint of panic in Zhang San’s heart.

However, Zhang San knew that panicking was useless.

Therefore, his brain was working at top speed, thinking of any possible solutions.

After all, if he were truly pinned with the crime of being the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, then he would be completely doomed.

Indeed, being a double agent is no easy task!

At that time, a noisy commotion came from outside the main hall.

Shen Wei frowned and bellowed, "What’s happening out there?"

At this juncture, Yang Hongming stood up and, clasping his hands, said, "Minister Shen, it seems to be people from the Zheng family. They must be here because Zhang San killed Zheng Fang, and they want our Ministry of Punishment to severely punish the murderer."

Before this, Zhang San had only felt that Yang Hongming was somewhat targeting him.

But now, it seemed clear that this old fellow was up to no good.

We haven’t heard what the people outside are saying; we only vaguely hear a noisy clamor approaching, yet you already know everything?

At this moment, Zhang San’s eyes flickered, and he instantly understood.

Yang Hongming must be one of the Crown Prince’s men, after all, being an imperial relative, it would be normal for the Crown Prince to seek his help.

Moreover, this man’s way of speaking changes by the minute; nothing about it seems normal.

The people from the Zheng family who’ve come now, I’m afraid, are also summoned by the Crown Prince on purpose, just to create a disturbance, so that the Ministry of Punishment would immediately try me.

After all, with the Great Sui having lost thirty percent of its Qi Luck, it’s impossible for Emperor Kaihuang not to be angry.

While he is angry, the Ministry of Punishment just happens to catch a scapegoat.

Regardless of whether this goat is innocent, placating Emperor Kaihuang comes first.

Zhang San couldn’t help but lament that he was still too naïve; he always thought he was on the side of righteousness, with villains sending their underlings for him to gain experience.

But how could he not have anticipated that after dealing with the Crown Prince for so long, the Crown Prince, being the Crown Prince, would naturally not be too foolish and might have grown as well.

By then, people from the Zheng family had rushed to the outside of the Ministry of Punishment’s main hall and were stopped by the Martial Artists. However, the shouting and the cursing directed at Zhang San were incessant.

All were voices demanding the Ministry of Punishment to severely punish Zhang San, the murderer.

Zhang San turned around and saw, aside from people from the Zheng family, there were also many others who had come.

At this time, the Head of the Wen Family, Wen Chudao, also arrived, entered the main hall, and gave a bow to Shen Wei.

"What wind has brought Head of the Wen Family here?"

Wen Chudao gave Shen Wei a slight smile and said, "I originally didn’t want to come, as there had been misunderstandings between the Wen Family and Zhang San before. It wouldn’t look right for me to come. But many from the Zheng family serve in the military, and this morning, people from the Zheng family were kneeling outside my door as the Minister of War—I really had no choice!"

With that, Wen Chudao looked at Zhang San, even nodding with a smile, and said, "Rest assured, Military Chief Zhang, I, Wen Chudao, always strive for fairness in my actions. I’m here today only for fairness and won’t pressure anyone, nor will I make things difficult for you. I just seek the truth."

After finishing his words, Wen Chudao smiled and found a place to sit down.

Even though Wen Chudao spoke lightly, many had already guessed what he was truly thinking.

Zhang San turned back and noticed that many from the Baili Family had also arrived, including the Baili Family Head.

Many from the Baili Family seemed to be gloating over his misfortune, but no expression could be read on Baili Family Head Baili Tu’s face.

Was he here to kick a man while he was down?

Or was he here to offer help in a desperate time?

The moment this thought crossed Zhang San’s mind, he chuckled bitterly, feeling he was overthinking.

Why would they offer help in a desperate time?

And the Baili Family would need to have coal to offer in the first place!

At that moment, the noisy crowd suddenly parted, and someone walked in.

The Crown Prince!

Zhang San knew that at a time like this, the Crown Prince would surely come to watch the excitement.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince had arrived.

Only, the Crown Prince of today had indeed grown; although his eyes were filled with joy, he managed to put on a sorrowful face.

"Minister Shen, greetings to everyone."

"We’ve seen Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince repeatedly waved his hands and said, "Everyone is being too polite. The Floating Corpse Case is of great importance, affecting the laws of our Great Sui... the national law!"

The Crown Prince became so agitated that he almost blurted out the words "national fate".

The Crown Prince also knew that he shouldn’t mention the nation’s fate, otherwise, it would inevitably cause unnecessary panic.

After all, it was a major incident involving the loss of thirty percent of the country’s Qi Luck!

If it were to leak out, it wouldn’t just shake the court, I’m afraid all the regions in Great Sui would be in unrest.

Saying so, the Crown Prince glanced at Zhang San, then pretended to sigh with a face full of sorrow.

"Zhang San, oh Zhang San, I really wish these things weren’t done by a crucial official like you!"

Zhang San immediately bowed to the Crown Prince.

"I knew it, when Empress Dugu took me in as her adopted son and asked us brothers to support each other, she was right! With a brother as benevolent and righteous as you are, I trust that with the position of the Crown Prince, you would vouch for me in front of Emperor Kaihuang. Surely Emperor Kaihuang will give me some leeway and spare me!"

The Crown Prince originally only came to pretend to exchange pleasantries with Zhang San, following Yun Shengxu’s advice, to show the magnanimity of an enlightened monarch.

Yet, Zhang San’s words made him feel worse than swallowing flies after a meal.

However, the Crown Prince now had become smarter and he didn’t engage in a direct confrontation with Zhang San.

Arguing about this matter was useful for his people under him, but useless for outsiders.

So the Crown Prince just smiled awkwardly and sat down in the closest position to Shen Wei at the side of the Ministry of Punishment’s main hall.

Shen Wei had not expected that interrogating Zhang San would draw such a large crowd.

"Zhang San, we have both human and material evidence."

"You are suspected of plotting against Zheng Family Head, assistant minister Zheng Fang. The suspicion is serious!"

"You are suspected of joining the Heavenly Punishment Sect and becoming one of the Demon Cult Followers, with conclusive evidence!"

"You are suspected under the identity of the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, of orchestrating the Floating Corpse Case, causing disorder in the Capital, and harming the national body. The suspicion is serious!"

"Zhang San! With ironclad evidence, what else do you have to say?"

Zhang San smiled faintly, glancing at the gleeful crowd around him.

"You accuse me of killing Zheng Fang, but that is just a serious suspicion, not irrefutable evidence!"

"You say I am a member of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, even the Saint Heir, yet I solved the Floating Corpse Case, warned Emperor Kaihuang, and stopped crimes! The so-called suspicion is merely the one-sided word of the Demon Cult Followers; the so-called evidence is just a scheme of the Heavenly Punishment Sect. It’s barely a bit of suspicion."

"Minister Shen, as the Minister of Punishment, you should know that ’a tiny misstep in the law can destroy a person’s entire life.’ Is such a hasty conclusion really in line with what Legalism stands for?"[Note 98]

Shen Wei sneered, "All the evidence in this case points to you. Looked at individually, perhaps no single charge could be conclusively attributed to you. But when you take everything together, there is no one else but you! Zhang San, just confess."

Zhang San knew that the current situation meant that there were many human witnesses and some material evidence, and though he could argue, his defense might sound somewhat feeble.

But also, pinning the charges solely on him with these witnesses and evidence was not that easy.

One could say that the outcome of the case entirely depended on who was judging.

Shen Wei also needed to report to Emperor Kaihuang; with Great Sui Nation’s Qi Luck reduced by thirty percent, someone has to be blamed, or else the Ministry of Punishment would be in trouble.

The Shen Family speaks of power, where power is not only authority but also commands from above.

Given the Shen Family’s style, they would naturally take into consideration Emperor Kaihuang’s thoughts even more.

However, what truly infuriated Emperor Kaihuang was the loss of thirty percent of Great Sui’s national Qi Luck. Thinking of how he himself had not received any Qi Luck, Zhang San suddenly felt his thoughts clear up.

This wasn’t a modern court proceeding, so why play fair and just with you?

You want to pressure me with power and need to catch someone to quench Emperor Kaihuang’s anger, right?

Then why shouldn’t I add fuel to the fire, letting you know who really calls the shots in Legalism!

With this in mind, Zhang San, who originally wore a slightly worried expression, couldn’t help but laugh.

"Minister Shen, I think what you just said makes a lot of sense."

For some reason, when Zhang San frowned slightly as if in deep thought, it gave Shen Wei a sense of comfort, but now that Zhang San was laughing, it somehow made Shen Wei feel panicked.

"Zhang San, are you finally ready to confess?"

Zhang San chuckled and said loudly in front of everyone, "I do not accept your verdict!"

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[Note 98]Reference Explanation

The phrase "a tiny misstep in the law can destroy a person’s entire life" is taken from Professor Luo Xiang’s "Criminal Law Lecture Notes".

When you use this sentence to draw parallels elsewhere, don’t mention me; it has nothing to do with me!