Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 333 The New Court Judge
Lose money!

Zhao Yizhou froze on the spot, never expecting to hear those two words.

"Don't want to pay? Does Prince Zhao mean to say it has nothing to do with you? Aren't you the best evidence? Go inside, it's a tight seal."

Chang Zuoping raised his voice a notch, and his eyes clearly said that if he didn't pay compensation, he would go to jail, as ruthless as a bandit in the mountains.

Zhao Yizhou snapped out of his daze and looked at the hole in the wall with a complicated expression. Sure enough, if he went up there, it would fit perfectly.

He was too ashamed to admit that Su Changying had pressed him down so hard that he was embedded in the wall; it was simply too humiliating.

He quickly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Chang Zuoping, saying, "It was my fault, Chang Zuoping. Don't worry, I'll make amends."

As Zhao Yizhou spoke, he pulled out a silver ingot from his sleeve pocket, his teeth clenched.

Chang Zuoping stared at him with his large, bell-like eyes, not reaching out to take it, but simply staring intently.

Zhao Yizhou understood instantly, took out two more silver ingots from his sleeve pocket, and handed them over.

Chang Zuoping reluctantly accepted the document, his voice tinged with displeasure: "Destroying the walls of the Court of Judicial Review is punishable by a fine of three times. Considering this is your first offense, if you repeat this offense, the fine will be doubled, and if you repeat this offense again, the fine will be doubled again, resulting in a severe punishment."

As Chang Zuoping spoke, he stuffed the three silver ingots into his sleeve pocket and swaggered away.

Zhao Yizhou stood there, stunned.

Why did he feel that Chang Zuoping wished he would come and damage the wall every day? Was this a way for the Court of Justice to make money? What wall? It's all about compounding interest!

He hadn't been away from Chang'an for very long, so why did he encounter so many people who seemed somewhat insane upon his return?

Zhao Yizhou shook his head, glanced in the direction of Zhou Zhao, pursed his lips, and walked towards the gate of the Court of Justice. When he arrived at the gate, he saw that it was crowded with people.

A young man dressed in the official robes of the Court of Judicial Review was surrounded by a crowd, whose faces were full of excitement.

"Wu Wenshu, tell my fortune! Tell me when my old man will pass away. This old woman really doesn't want to cook for him anymore!"

"What's the point of fortune telling? Wu Wenshu, let's talk about last night's case. I heard that a eunuch killed ten people and forced the corpses to marry him. Is that true? It's said that one of the corpses even got pregnant after death!"

"You heard wrong. I heard there was a madman who not only castrated himself, but also cut people indiscriminately! And he only cut the pretty ones..."

Zhao Yizhou felt the speaker's gaze fall on his face and suddenly became excited. The man winked at him and said, "Young man, you look unfamiliar. You're not from the Court of Justice. What case are you here for?"

Zhao Yizhou almost lost his composure. Although the group of elderly women didn't say anything, their fierce gazes told him something.

They thought he was the victim in last night's case...

Zhao Yizhou felt a slight chill between his legs, and quickly boarded the carriage. The driver, watching him, couldn't help but mutter, "Young Master, are we going home now? I think we should go back and tell the master that the Court of Justice is a bit strange; he should take precautions..."

Zhao Yizhou sat in the carriage, looking extremely uncomfortable.

It wasn't just strange; it was a veritable gathering of monsters and demons, with everyone doing things out of the ordinary.

……

Zhou Zhao was unaware that Zhao Yizhou had feigned leaving, and even more unaware that Su Changying had boasted about those four words she had spoken, even grabbing onto the stone lion in front of the Court of Justice.

She and He Tingshi submitted their memorials while the iron was hot, and it has been three days since then. The snow had just melted, and a second snowfall began to fall in Chang'an.

Snowflakes danced haphazardly in the air, first sprinkling a layer of coarse salt on the ground.

In Kyoto these past few days, the talk of the town, in teahouses and taverns, has been all about the Bai Li murder case, with corporal punishment being mentioned again and again.

A heated debate also broke out in the Court of Justice, but no one could convince anyone else. Recently, even the chickens raised in the small canteen have shown a tendency to turn into fighting cocks.

"Zhou Zhao!"

Zhou Zhao put down the pen he was using to grade the documents and looked towards the main gate of the left courtyard. He saw Chang Zuoping, Guan Youping, and several court officials from the right courtyard escorting a man as he walked in.

The man was tall and handsome, and compared to Zhao Yizhou, he possessed a composure that came with the passage of time.

Zhou Zhao had seen him before; the man who came was none other than the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Marquis of Huaiyang.

Everyone in the Left Court stood up. No secrets stay hidden forever; the news that the Marquis of Huaiyang was the new Minister of Justice had already spread far and wide.

Marquis Huaiyang smiled and nodded to everyone, "Everyone, continue with what you are doing. Zhou Zhao, you and He Tingshi will come with me to the palace."

Zhou Zhao put down his pen and ink, straightened his clothes, and walked out from the left courtyard, bowing and addressing himself as the Minister of Justice.

Marquis Huaiyang waved his hand, "No need for that. I've watched you grow up, Zhou Zhao. Call me Zhao Tingwei in the Court of Justice, and call me Uncle in private. There's plenty of time in the future, we can talk about it later. His Majesty summoned you and He Tingshi to the palace because of that memorial about corporal punishment."

Are you two prepared for this situation?

The Marquis of Huaiyang's voice was unhurried, and his whole demeanor was very gentle.

Zhou Zhao had seen him cry while holding Wu Yun, and knew his true colors.

This guy is nothing more than a god in public, but a wretched fellow whose ears are twisted by the Lady of Huaiyang in private. He would even cry while holding a molting sparrow and lie on the Lady of Huaiyang's lap, insisting that she pat his head.

No matter how you look at it, it's a bit hard to explain.

Marquis Huaiyang looked at Chang Zuoping and Guan Youping, "I'll leave the matter of the Court of Justice to you. I'll take them to the palace first."

Entering the palace to meet the emperor was a major event, and no one dared to delay.

Zhou Zhao and He Tingshi exchanged a glance and followed behind the Marquis of Huaiyang. The carriage in front of the gate was already parked. The driver was a man of about thirty years old with puffy eyes and a big nose. He looked rather ordinary and was probably an official under the Marquis of Huaiyang.

Zhou Zhao couldn't help but think of Jing Yi. After Li Huaishan was arrested, Jing Yi also left the Court of Justice.

As soon as the three of them boarded the carriage, the Marquis of Huaiyang took out two oranges and handed one to Zhou Zhaotong and one to He Tingshi.

"His Majesty is a wise ruler and does not get angry easily. If you are nervous, you can smell the orange peel to refresh yourselves. Don't worry, I will put in a good word for you when the time is right. However, if there is anything next time, it would be even better if you could discuss it with me in advance so that we can make more preparations."

As the Marquis of Huaiyang spoke, he narrowed his eyes, "Zhou Zhao has met His Majesty before, hasn't he?"

"I've seen him a few times, all when I was young."

She had attended palace banquets before and met His Majesty several times, but at that time she was the daughter of an important court official and a rare playmate of Prince Chu, Ahuang, not Zhou Zhao, the court official of the Court of Justice.