EBE Chapter 338 Three Trials
Chapter 338 Three Trials
Chapter 338 Joint Trial
The case of Wang Qiang killing innocent people was tried jointly by the three judicial departments.
The Censorate, together with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, were collectively known as the "Three Judicial Offices." Only exceptionally serious cases were jointly tried by these three offices. In fact, Wang Qiang's case wasn't particularly serious; the key issue was his powerful connections, which is why it was jointly tried by the three offices, with the highest-ranking officials from each office presiding over the hearing.
The Censorate was similar to a modern procuratorate, and Tang Shiji, the Left Censor-in-Chief, was a member of the Donglin Party.
The Ministry of Justice was similar to a modern public security bureau, and the Minister of Justice, Zheng Sanjun, was also a member of the Donglin Party.
The Court of Judicial Review was equivalent to the modern-day court system, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Cheng Guoxiang, was completely subservient to Emperor Chongzhen.
Cheng Guoxiang, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, was the presiding judge in this case. He slammed his gavel and said, "Bring the criminal Wang Qiang to the court."
A moment later, Wang Qiang swaggered into the lobby.
Zheng Sanjun frowned. Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, dared to be so arrogant even with his usual accomplices.
"Bang!" Zheng Sanjun slammed the gavel and shouted angrily, "How dare you, Wang Qiang, not bow to an official in the main hall!"
Wang Qiang curled his lip and said disdainfully, "I am General Mingwei, why should I bow to you?"
Emperor Chongzhen instructed Cheng Guoxiang to give Wang Wenzhou face and not to go too far.
Cheng Guoxiang quickly whispered, "Lord Zheng, the case has not yet been tried, and the Emperor has not dismissed General Wang from his post, so General Wang does not need to kneel."
Zheng Sanjun shook his head with a wry smile, pointed at Wang Qiang, and asked, "Wang Qiang, do you know your crime?"
"What crime have I committed? Don't talk nonsense!" Wang Qiang said disdainfully.
"Hmph!" Tang Shiji asked coldly, "You slaughtered unarmed civilians and still dare to refuse to confess! Guards, take him away and give him thirty strokes of the cane!"
"Lord Tang, please calm down!" Cheng Guoxiang quickly said, "General Wang is an official appointed by the imperial court and cannot be subjected to torture without authorization."
Seeing that Wang Qiang was stubborn and refused to confess, Zheng Sanjun knew he couldn't torture him. He then remembered that Liu Rushi was still in prison. Zheng Sanjun said, "Bring the criminal, Liu Rushi, to the court."
A moment later, Liu Rushi carried her son and slowly walked into the main hall.
"You audacious sinner, kneel down right now!" Tang Shiji shouted.
"Hmph!" Liu Rushi snorted coldly, saying irritably, "I am a third-rank imperial consort!"
Cheng Guoxiang quickly cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Madam Wang!"
Liu Rushi nodded to Cheng Guoxiang.
Liu Ru pointed to the child in her arms and said, "You three are all important officials of the court. Surely you are not ignorant of etiquette? My son is the consort of Princess Kunxing. Why don't you come over and pay your respects?"
Cheng Guoxiang stood up, walked down from the main hall, knelt on the ground, and said, "Your subject Cheng Guoxiang pays respects to Your Highness the Imperial Son-in-Law."
"Pfft..." Zheng Sanjun and Tang Shiji exchanged a glance. Wasn't Liu Ru a concubine of Wang Wenzhou? How could her son be the prince consort?
"Lord Cheng, please rise!" Liu Rushi said softly.
Cheng Guoxiang stood up, waved to the yamen runners, and ordered, "Quickly bring a chair over for the prince consort."
Cheng Guoxiang waved to Zheng Sanjun and Tang Shiji and said, "Why don't you two hurry up and pay your respects to Princess Kunxing's husband?"
When Wang Wenzhou was dealing with the civil and military officials, he once bragged in front of them, holding Princess Kunxing in his arms and saying that the princess was his daughter-in-law.
Zheng Sanjun and Tang Shiji also knew that they had no choice but to go and pay their respects.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness, the Imperial Son-in-Law." Zheng Sanjun and his companion quickly bowed in greeting.
"Please rise, gentlemen!" Liu Rushi, holding her son, sat down on the stool.
Zheng Sanjun shook his head with a wry smile. How should this case be tried?
After the three presiding judges paid their respects, they returned to their seats.
"Bang!" Zheng Sanjun slammed the gavel down hard.
"Waaah..." The child was frightened and burst into tears.
Wang Qiang pointed at Zheng Sanjun and cursed, "What do you mean? You scared my young master to tears? Are you taking advantage of the fact that my young master isn't here?"
Zheng Sanjun held the astonishing wooden stick, momentarily at a loss for words.
Tang Shiji asked, "Liu Ru, do you know your crime?"
Liu Rushi shook her head and said, "What crime have I committed?"
"Hmph!" Zheng Sanjun said coldly, "Liu Ru, you instructed Wang Qiang to indiscriminately kill innocent people, and you still don't know your crime?"
Wang Qiang cursed and said, "You surnamed Zheng, don't talk nonsense! I take responsibility for my own actions. I killed the man, and it has nothing to do with my sister-in-law!"
"Bang!" Zheng Sanjun slammed the gavel and declared, "Since Wang Qiang has confessed, I hereby sentence him to be immediately dismissed from his post..."
"You son of a bitch!" came an angry shout from outside the yamen.
"Who are you? How dare you roar in court!" Zheng Sanjun asked coldly.
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and ordered, "Brothers, charge! Arrest the traitor who colluded with the Tartars!"
In an instant, Wang Wenzhou's men swarmed in.
"Ruru, Ruru, I missed you!" Wang Wenzhou ran over and hugged Liu Rushi and her son tightly.
The constables of the Three Judicial Offices and the men led by Wang Wenzhou drew their swords and confronted each other, pointing at each other and cursing loudly.
The scene was chaotic, and Wang Wenzhou's son, who was still young, was so frightened that he burst into tears.
Wang Wenzhou pinched his son's cheek and said with a smile, "Ruru, is this the little rascal who eats his grandparents' food?"
Liu Rushi frowned and said irritably, "This is our son, and you haven't named him yet!"
"Hmm..." Wang Wenzhou casually said, "Let's call her Liu Xiaohua!"
"Pfft..." Liu Rushi was both amused and exasperated. This rascal named his son so casually.
Wang Wenzhou picked up Liu Xiaohua and handed her to Gao Guilan behind him, saying, "Xiaolanlan, you hold the little rascal."
Wang Wenzhou embraced Liu Rushi and kissed her.
It would be a lie for Liu Rushi to say she didn't miss her enemy after not seeing him for so long.
After the kiss, Liu Rushi quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at the crowd, knowing that her nemesis was never serious.
"Damn it!" Wang Wenzhou wanted to reach inside Liu Rushi's clothes and touch her, but the clothes Liu Rushi was wearing today didn't have any openings for him.
Wang Wenzhou complained, "Ruru, Ruru, you don't love me anymore!"
“Sigh…” Liu Rushi sighed softly and quickly said, “Wang Wenzhou, don’t be ridiculous, this is a courtroom.”
“That’s right!” Wang Wenzhou nodded, pointed at Zheng Sanjun and the others, and cursed, “You still want to resist?”
"Wang Wenzhou! What do you mean? You're leading men to forcibly break into the Dali Temple?" Zheng Sanjun asked coldly.
"Swish!" Wang Wenzhou drew his imperial sword and shouted, "Look carefully! This is the imperial sword bestowed by His Majesty. Zheng Sanjun and others colluded with the Tartars. I am here to arrest them. Anyone who dares to resist will be executed in court!"
"Slander!" Zheng Sanjun almost fainted from anger. I am the Minister of Justice, and you, Wang Wenzhou, you mad dog, have fabricated this and slandered me out of thin air!
Cheng Guoxiang quickly asked, "Lord Wang, please don't be angry. Is there some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding my ass!" Wang Wenzhou cursed, "I risked my life in enemy territory, and you guys were in the rear, yet you dared to capture my wife and children!"
Zheng Sanjun blushed and retorted, "Wang Wenzhou, there are some things you don't know! Your concubine, Liu Rushi, instructed Wang Qiang to indiscriminately kill innocent people!"
"Innocent my ass! Xiao Qiang killed only Tartar spies!" Wang Wenzhou cursed.