I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 37: Debate and Punishment

Li Chengzong had known for a long time that Lai Mingcheng would report him, but he actually had no intention of revenge or targeting him at first. After all, he was a prince after all, and he wasn't that petty.

But there was something in Lai Mingcheng's report that made him angry, so he decided to teach Lai Mingcheng a lesson.

The prince was framed and his entire family was executed.

This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing the entire hall to talk.

Many officials couldn't help but feel nervous again. Lai Mingcheng was cruel enough, as he wanted to kill the Third Prince, but the Third Prince was even more cruel, as he wanted to slaughter Lai Mingcheng's entire family.

Lai Mingcheng's heart also tightened. He originally wanted to use this opportunity to remind the powerful people in Kyoto not to disregard the laws of the country, so he deliberately exaggerated his words.

He never thought of putting Li Chengzong to death, but he didn't expect Li Chengzong to be so cruel. He asked Emperor Qing to execute his entire family.

Although Lai Mingcheng was not afraid of death, he was also afraid of bringing trouble to his family.

With the Feng family as a precedent, who knows whether Li Chengzong will take action against his family.

Lai Mingcheng was anxious and was about to speak, but he heard Emperor Qing laugh and say, "One wants me to enforce the law, and the other wants me to execute my entire family. Who do you think I should listen to?"

As soon as Emperor Qing opened his mouth, the hall suddenly became quiet.

Li Chengzong cupped his hands and said, "Since your father doesn't know who to listen to, then let me have a debate with Censor Lai."

"Lai Mingcheng."

"The minister is here."

"Li Chengzong wants to debate with you, what do you have to say?"

"I am willing to debate with Your Highness the Third Prince."

"Okay, you guys just debate in court and let all the court officials be witnesses."

Emperor Qing looked down at Lai Mingcheng from a high position, and said something that made Lai Mingcheng shudder: "If Li Chengzong loses, I will approve your request and execute him to uphold the law. If you lose, you should know what crime you will be punished for framing the prince."

Even saying something like beheading the prince came out, Lai Mingcheng knew that he had made things a big deal and he already felt regretful, but now he was in a dilemma and could only go ahead.

Of course, Lai Mingcheng did not think that he would lose. After all, so many sons of officials saw what happened yesterday. Even if Li Chengzong argued cleverly, he would not be able to escape the blame.

Just as Lai Mingcheng was thinking this, Li Chengzong spoke.

"Censor Lai, did you see me committing murder yesterday? If I say I did not leave the palace yesterday, then I don't think any of the officials and sons of the government would dare to say they saw me kill someone."

Lai Mingcheng became stupid.

Thinking about Li Chengzong's deterrent power, he knew that this was not an empty statement.

Unexpectedly, Li Chengzong suddenly changed the subject.

"It's a pity that I have no interest in bullying you. You said that I am arrogant and pervert the law, abuse private punishment, and set up a private torture hall. I admit it."

Lai Mingcheng was a little confused and couldn't understand Li Chengzong's approach at all.

After a pause, he followed the conversation and said, "Since Your Highness has admitted it, why do you accuse me of framing you?"

"First, you said that I abused the imperial court officials and punished them privately. I would like to ask you, are there any officials in Feng Yuan's family?"

Lai Mingcheng thought about it and could only shake his head to indicate no: "It's because I didn't use precise words."

Li Chengzong ignored him and continued, "Secondly, you said that I took human life lightly. Then I want to ask you, have you seen the evidence of the Feng family's crimes? Their crimes are unforgivable, so how could I take human life lightly? What does the phrase "take human life lightly" mean? Don't you, a dignified Left Censor-in-Chief, know? If you don't know, how can you, Lai Mingcheng, have the face to hold a high position? If you know, how can you say that I took human life lightly?"

Lai Mingcheng was speechless after being scolded, and his old face turned red.

Li Chengzong had no intention of letting him go. "Lai Mingcheng, you may not believe this, but I really admire you. You are an upright official and you are not afraid of the powerful. So when you reported me, I didn't mean to argue with you. You are a censor, and sometimes your words are exaggerated. I can understand that, but you said something that really upset me."

"I don't know what I said that displeased Your Highness."

"You said that the tragic death of 18 members of the Feng family can be called the most tragic case since the founding of Daqing."

Li Chengzong sneered: "What do you mean by the first tragedy since the founding of Daqing? If the Feng family's case is the first tragedy, then what are the people who were oppressed by the Feng family, and the families whose entire families were wiped out by the Feng family?"

Li Chengzong's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, resounding throughout the Chaoyuan Hall: "Lai Mingcheng, tell me, what kind of tragedy is it that 346 people died at the hands of the Feng family?"

Lai Mingcheng opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Li Chengzong glanced at Lai Mingcheng, and said in a daze, "Oh, I forgot. You, Lai Mingcheng, are the Left Censor-in-Chief. You are an official. In your eyes, only the affairs of officials are important. The common people of Daqing are nothing to you! It's just that 346 people died, some women were raped by the beasts of the Feng family, and some people had their legs broken. In your eyes, it's not a tragedy. I'm afraid it's not even a case."

"Your Highness, why do you insult me ​​like this?!"

Lai Mingcheng was so angry that his face turned red: "I have done everything I can think of in my life. Although Feng Zheng is guilty, the child should be innocent."

"I never thought that the Left Censor-in-Chief would be so stupid. According to what you said, why are there three tribes in the law?"

Although Feng Zheng's crime was not serious enough to punish the extermination of his entire clan, it was definitely enough to execute his entire family.

According to Daqing law, the children of the Feng family were naturally among those to be executed, so they could not be considered innocent.

So, Lai Mingcheng was speechless again.

Lai Mingcheng’s fighting ability is not good enough.

Come to think of it, Lai Mingcheng is not very successful in the TV series. Fan Xian left him speechless with just a few words.

Li Chengzong thought so in his heart, looked at the officials in the hall, searched carefully, and called out, "Mei Zhili."

The prefect of Kyoto, who had always been keeping a distance from the matter, suddenly heard Li Chengzong calling him and quickly stood up.

"The minister is here."

"Prefect Mei, come and tell our Grand Censor Lai that those little beasts of the Feng family are innocent?"

Mei Zhili glanced at Lai Mingcheng, then bowed to Emperor Qing and said, "Your Majesty, after my humble servant's investigation yesterday, I found that more than 20 people died at the hands of the Feng family's child. Some were beaten to death because they accidentally bumped into the Feng family's child, and some were starved to death because the food was not to the Feng family's child's liking... According to my preliminary statistics, these people died because of minor abuses. The crimes committed by the Feng family's child are too numerous to list."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Chengzong in the hall asked directly: "Lai Mingcheng, Lai Da Yushi, tell me now, are the little beasts of the Feng family innocent?"

"This, this, this..."

Lai Mingcheng was shocked by Mei Zhili's words. He never expected that the young man from the Feng family would be so careless about human life. He lowered his head, trembling all over, and could not utter a complete sentence.

At this time, Emperor Qing spoke.

"My dear ministers, have you heard clearly? Tell me, who is right and who is wrong in this matter? Who should I punish?" None of the officials in the hall answered.

As for punishing Li Chengzong, he will definitely bear a grudge against him. Just look at what happened to Lai Mingcheng and you will know that this Third Prince is not someone who is easy to deal with.

The Third Prince alone is not easy to deal with, not to mention that he has His Majesty and the Qin family behind him...

As for punishing Lai Mingcheng, what if Your Majesty does not intend to execute Lai Mingcheng?

Even if Lai Mingcheng was finally sentenced to death, the censors of the Censorate would still bite people madly for Lai Mingcheng.

So the best thing is not to offend either side.

Seeing this, Emperor Qing had no choice but to name him directly.

"Prince Jing, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, I was free yesterday and looked through the files. The Feng family is the descendant of my aunt, the ancestor of the Li royal family, and can be considered as the descendants of the imperial family. Your Majesty once said that the imperial family members who work in the Zongzheng Temple have the power to deal with the children of the royal family, the imperial family, and the imperial family. I think that the third prince is not only innocent, but also has made contributions, and he should be rewarded. I am old, so why not let the third prince take over my position."

"General Qin, what do you think should be done?"

"Your Majesty, the crimes committed by the Feng family are too numerous to list. Your Highness has eliminated harm for the people and traitors for the country. I think you deserve a reward."

"One of you is his uncle, and the other is his uncle, but you both speak in his favor. Your words do not count."

If it doesn't count, then why are you asking?

Emperor Qing laughed and asked, "Prime Minister Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Ruofu stood up and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, I feel that Censor Lai lost. However, the Third Prince confessed to Censor Lai's abuse of private punishment and privately setting up a torture chamber, so it can't be said that it was all a frame-up. After thinking about it, I feel that both Lai Mingcheng and the Third Prince should be punished. How to deal with them is entirely up to Your Majesty's decision."

Emperor Qing glanced at Lin Ruofu, without commenting, and said with a smile: "The Minister of the Dali Temple."

"The minister is here."

"I heard that you arrested Li Chengzong for questioning yesterday. How do you think you should deal with him?"

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince set up a private punishment hall, and he should be severely punished, but there are reasons for it. He has eliminated harm for the people and made contributions to the country. He has acted fairly and strictly. I think the Third Prince should be confined to reflect on his mistakes, and then transferred to the Dali Temple to serve as the Dali Temple Minister."

"Oh, then how should you, as the Minister of Justice, deal with it?"

"I am willing to learn from Your Highness."

"You learned from him?"

Emperor Qing was amused: "Don't you know that he is ignorant and incompetent?"

"I have never heard of it."

Shang Lian had naturally heard of it, but now everyone knows that the Third Prince is extremely talented, and the so-called lack of knowledge is just a rumor.

Emperor Qing didn't say anything more and made the final decision.

"Issue an imperial decree that Li Chengzong be confined to his home for half a year to awaken himself. Considering his contributions to the country, he will be promoted to the position of Minister of the Imperial Clan Temple after the next year."

"Father."

"What do you have to say?" Emperor Qing was a little unhappy. He knew without thinking that his son would raise objections.

"I think Uncle Prince Jing is still young and can at least work for another ten years. You want me to take over as the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, which will destroy the uncle-nephew relationship between me and Uncle Prince Jing. I hope that father will take back the order."

I knew it would be like this, Emperor Qing laughed angrily.

"So it's still my fault?"

"That's right. Uncle Prince Jing is doing a good job, but you let me take over the Zongzheng Temple. Doesn't this make people think that I am competing with Uncle Prince Jing for the position? If you really think I have made contributions, you... I don't seem to need anything, so give me some money."

The palace recently redeemed seven or eight women from Zuixianju, each of them cost several thousand taels of silver, so the expense was really huge.

Why do I say again? Because I have redeemed more than a dozen before.

Although the palace is not short of this little money, any money earned is good, and who would complain about having too much money?

"Humph, you useless bastard, if you don't want to, then don't do it. Li Chengzong will be confined to his house for a year to wake up."

All the officials in the court were shocked.

Once again witnessing Emperor Qing's favor towards Li Chengzong, it seemed that the punishment had been increased, but in fact it was a disguised step backward.

You must know that His Majesty's words are golden, but now because the Third Prince has changed his will, I'm afraid that only the Third Prince in the entire court can do it.

"My son, I would like to thank my father."

Emperor Qing glared at his son and continued, "Left Censor-in-Chief Lai Mingcheng spoke out frankly and should be rewarded, but he framed the prince and should be fined one year's salary to serve as a warning to others."

"My lord, thank you, Your Majesty."

"Lai Mingcheng."

"Chen is here!"

"Are you satisfied with my judgment?"

"I am extremely ashamed. I hope Your Majesty will give a lighter punishment to the Third Prince!" Lai Mingcheng knelt down directly.

Emperor Qing did not comment, but smiled and said, "It seems that Censor Lai is satisfied. Li Chengzong, are you satisfied?"

"I don't really care, but Lai Mingcheng's words made me feel upset and I couldn't help but speak out. As long as Father is happy, I don't care."

"Since you are all satisfied, let's just call it a day today."

Emperor Qing waved his hand, and then Eunuch Hou announced the adjournment of the court and left quickly.

As soon as Emperor Qing left, all the officials slowly dispersed with their own thoughts, but they couldn't help but glance at Lai Mingcheng when they left.

In fact, what happened yesterday morning was already very clear. His Majesty had never thought of punishing him, and the Third Prince was not guilty either. After all, he was a prince, and it was normal for him to have some privileges. If he had to find someone to bite, he deserved to be punished.

Many officials considered a one-year salary fine too light a punishment.

There was no other way. Lai Mingcheng would report anyone he caught, and he had offended too many officials.

(End of this chapter)