I Am Stupid, Who Do I Fear? Chapter 29

Chapter 29 How to convict

“What is it?” Zhong Langyao clearly knew but still asked.

Zhong Langxi replied: “It's the case of fourth brother, what kind of crime are you going to convict him with?”

Zhong Langyao thought then said: “Well, I just thought about it. According to Dayou's law, for those who embezzle more than 12000 of silver, we have to behead!”

Zhong Langxi sucked in a cold breath: “Crown Prince, fourth brother is paying for we two brothers' sins, you cannot be so cruel ah!”

Zhong Langyao grinded his teeth: “This is called non-toxic and not a husband. Father just said clearly, to have me act according to the law, you can't let me tailor the law to suit my own selfish gain!”

Zhong Langxi pleaded: “Crown Prince brother, it's not right! At least fourth brother is our brother, and you can't make the decision to chop of his head!”

Zhong Langyao sighed: “The prestige of heaven is unpredictable! Father is clearly testing whether I will act according to the law!”

Zhong Langxi lowered his head, because no matter what things couldn't be compared with the status of the Crown Prince: “That, big brother, can't fourth brother escape this?”

Zhong Langyao lifted his head: “It will be difficult! There has been a clear practices since ancient times. If a prince breaks the law, as common people do, he should be put to death, what else can I do!”

Zhong Langxi secretly thought he was wicked:” Crown Prince, but what if he talks to father?”

“What are you afraid of? I'm the presiding judge, his voice will not pa.s.s to father's ears at all, you can rest a.s.sured! Come, drink, don't speak of this again.” Zhong Langyu said, pouring him a drink.

Zhong Langxi was full of thoughts, he vaguely felt that there was something wrong, but couldn't say anything for a while. He also took a sip: “That, I'll listen to you.”

In the public hall of the criminal department, Crown Prince Zhong Langyao looked at the prisoner as if he were a dog. The prisoner was no one else, but his fourth brother, Yin Junw.a.n.g, Zhong Langyu. When Zhong Langyu saw that it was his royal hlighness the Crown Prince who was the presiding judge, he felt at ease: “This sinner, Zhong Langyu, kowtows to his royal highness!”

Zhong Lang whose eyes were not raised, said stiffly: “What's your name?”

Wow, no way! As a presiding judge, even your brother you don't know: “Crown Prince, it is me! I'm Zhong Langyu, your fourth brother.”

Zhong Langyao hit the wooden table: “Speak well, this is the public court, what brother? There are only officials and prisoners here, speak! What's your name?”

Zhong Langyu looked at Zhong Langyao's official business face, and began to feel a little diffident. I'm doing this for you. Although I also took 3200 of silver in bribes, it was you who took more bribes, you made me carry this alone, and now you're still doing this to me. There's really no bottom in my heart.

Zhong Langyu thought about something in the twinkling of a second. Was it possible that the Crown Prince was putting on a show? After all, this was the public hall, and it was understandable that the Crown Prince would show off. Zhong Langyu sneaked a glance up. He had a serious and strange face, which was too scary. You don't have to put so much effort into the show! Zhong Langyu looked at Zhong Langyao in panic: “His royal highness the crown prince, my name is Zhong Langyu, Yin Junw.a.n.g in this dynasty.”

Zhong Langyao looked at Liu Duanzhen, the criminal secretary sitting on the side, then continued to ask Zhong Langyu: “a.s.sistant Minister Zou of the housing department offered you a bribe of 20,000 silver. What happened?”

Zhong Langyu froze, thinking in his heart whether he should admit it or not? Looking at the performance of the Crown Prince just now, pretending he didn't know him, if he took the blame for him, then he was stupid ah. He was just about to say that he was wronged when he say Crown Prince Zhong Langyao standing in front of him, giving him a look in secret in the hall, which undoubtedly meant, admit it! I'm here!

Zhong Langyu was relieved. You just winked at me just now, so I'll admit it! He arched his hands to the court: “Your Highness, this sinner indeed received 22,000 from a.s.sistant Minister Zou, and now the silver is still in this sinner's fu. May his Highness send someone to go pick it up.”

Zhong Langyao nodded with satisfaction, he looked at Liu Duanzhen: “Is it time for him to sign the confession?”

Liu Duanzheng cupped his hand: “The Crown Prince is wise, since the criminal has confessed, then he gas to sign and thumbprint, and then later give it to His Majesty the holy one to judge.”

As soon as Zhong Langyao waved his hand, the clerk immediately put the written record in front of Zhong Langyu. Zhong Langyu looked at Zhong Langyao, finally sighed and pressed his thumbprint.

Zhong Yehan frowned at the Prince's confession and judgment. Because he clearly saw the Crown Prince's handwriting, ‘To be beheaded! ‘

There was sadness in Zhong Yehan's heart. In fact, Zhong Yehan didn't want to kill Zhong Langyu at all. He just tried to test their feelings as brothers. Zhong Yehan had listened to too many stories of brothers in the imperial family. In spite of his feelings as a brother, the Crown Prince would hurt his brother by killing him. Was he really so perfectly impartial, that he thought he was enforcing the law? He didn't think it was necessary, because even if he decided according to the law, he should also speak a few good words for his brother, and not be as cold and ruthless as he was being.

Zhong Yehan said to the officials with an expressionless face: “What do you think about Yin Junw.a.n.g's acceptance of 22000 silver, and the Crown Prince's decision to behead?”

There were many discussions held among the officials, some saying that the law should be strictly enforced, some saying that mercy should be imposed outside the law, and others saying that the sentence should be rescheduled. Anyways, there were all kinds of suggestions.

Zhong Yehan Looked at Zhong Langyao “In your judgement, you suggested the decision of beheading, explain your reasons.”

Zhong Lang arched his hand, and began to speak generously: “To govern a country, the laws must be strict, the so-called no rules are not a square, my brother has made a big mistake, I am also very sad as a brother, but the prince committed the same crime with the common people. As a brother, I also want to excuse him, but as the Crown Prince of the country, the law is unbearable. When father handed the case to Er Chen, he once explained to Er Chen that he must make a judgment in accordance with the law, so Er Chen boldly proposes that fourth brother be immediately executed!”

Although Zhong Yehan's heart was very unhappy, his face did not show it at all. He nodded and said: “Well said! Jia Junw.a.n.g, what do you think?”

Jia Junw.a.n.g Zhong Langxi cupped his hands: “Father, Er Chen has the same views as the Crown Prince.”

Zhong Yehan glanced at Zhong Langxi and said in his heart, this was also a power-driven villain of no use: “And what do you think of this, Ling Junw.a.n.g?”

Ling Junw.a.n.g, Zhong Langfu, bowed and said: “Answering father, Er Chen feels wrong. Although fourth brother committed a capital crime, but after all, he is also this son's brother, the Emperor's son. Since the ancient times there is a saying that the standardization of the crime should fit the punishment. Why should it be death when it comes to fourth brother? Moreover fourth brother has withdrawn all the stolen money, and it should be said that it is good he has admitted his mistake. So Er Chen thinks that fourth brother should be given a chance and let him bear this crime by doing a meritorious service.”

Although Zhong Yehan very much agreed with Zhong Langfu's views, he still ‘slapped' the dragon book case: “Nonsense, national law is bigger than the heavens. Is it because he is Zhen's son that he can do whatever he wants?”

Zhong Langfu was not timid, pleading again: “Father, a poisonous tiger still does not eat it's children. Er Chen is imploring Father to forgive fourth younger brother.”

Zhong Yehan's heart was glad, he finally had a son with a conscience. However, this man was bold but unskillful, spoke bluntly, didn't have a bit of shrewdness at all, and didn't seemed to be made of the stuff that made a Crown Prince. Zhong Yehan thought of this, and was surprised. How did he get the idea of abolishing the Crown Prince? No, although the Crown Prince was fickle, there was no big mistake. I shouldn't do this to him. Zhong Yehan looked at the Crown Prince and Zhong Langfu and murmured after a while: “Let's so this! Zhen will go and ponder on this matter. Is there anything else?”