Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 408 Battle with Prime Minister Chen
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhao smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards His Majesty.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, another family of treacherous traitors with wolfish ambitions has been eliminated."

If that person hastily plots rebellion, he will be nothing more than the next Grand Commandant Huo, and there is nothing to fear; if that person has been prepared in advance, then he has long harbored rebellious intentions and should be killed.

No matter how you look at it, it's a great thing.

Upon hearing this, His Majesty looked at Zhou Zhao for a while and then suddenly laughed.

But he didn't say anything, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Zhou Zhao did not press further, but said to Prime Minister Chen, "When nobles commit crimes and are punished according to the law, they will harbor resentment and rebel. What about the common people? They watch nobles commit evil deeds and kill their own relatives, but are told by the only law they trust that if they are killed, so be it, what can you do to them?"

Wouldn't such people harbor resentment and eventually rebel?

To paraphrase what Zhao Tingwei just said, why did the previous dynasty perish?

The peasant uprisings of the previous dynasty spread like wildfire, directly annihilating the entire dynasty. Even His Majesty, sitting in the high hall, was once just a commoner.

The room was silent. Liu Zongzheng's expression was subtle, and Zhao Tingwei, who had been called out, dared not respond.

Prime Minister Chen looked at Zhou Zhao with great interest and said something shocking: "It's just a matter of letting unfilial descendants live a little longer, so that their titles can be reduced and their bodies weakened. Isn't that good? Besides, it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature."

If this unfilial descendant had not committed this offense, given his abilities, the family would have perished within two generations.

If he continues to commit these offenses, sooner or later his title will not be able to cover up his mistakes, and he will still be sent to the execution ground.

Isn't it about fighting without bloodshed?

This time, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Zhao never expected that, despite her own radical thoughts, Chen Chengxiang would speak so radically in front of His Majesty.

Everyone here is intelligent; who doesn't understand? The relationship between Your Majesty and your ministers is one of mutual support and mutual power struggle.

In the early days of His Majesty's founding of the dynasty, he needed his good brothers to help him conquer the world. At that time, he made promises he could keep, such as "the ruler of all under heaven," "the enfeoffment of princes," and "being superior to others." These were all bargaining chips he offered when conquering the world. Among them, the nine chapters of law that allowed people to use titles to offset crimes were a special privilege given to meritorious officials and nobles.

If you don't offer any benefits, who will be willing to risk their life for you?

But everything is constantly changing.

After His Majesty ascended the throne and secured his position, he sought to consolidate imperial power, while the nobles sought to jointly govern the country, thus weakening and balancing each other.

Liu Zongzheng opposed it from the perspective of the vested interests of the imperial relatives and nobles. Zhao Tingwei was an official of the Court of Justice. He disliked that Zhou Zhao submitted memorials directly without going through him. He had mentioned it in a veiled way when she and He Tingshi submitted memorials to revise the laws related to corporal punishment last time.

Personally, he wanted to save Chu Heng's life, which is why he strongly opposed it.

As for Chancellor Chen, he was His Majesty's right-hand man and a true "national advisor." He saw the big picture and did not care about the lives and deaths of ordinary people.

And Zhou Zhao was the person standing closest to the victim.

She was demanding justice for the victims, and this justice, apart from herself, was sought by everyone in the room…

Zhou Zhao pondered for a moment, then looked at the Crown Prince beside him.

Noticing her gaze, the Crown Prince opened his big eyes and looked over curiously. Zhou Zhao saw admiration and worry in his gentle eyes.

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Aside from her, and perhaps the Crown Prince, nobody really cares.

She understood perfectly well, so she didn't elaborate on how miserable Jiang Yan was, nor on the despair of the maid who nearly had her head bitten off by a snake last night—they didn't care. She could only talk about what they cared about, what made them feel they were getting something out of it, so that she could take this "piece of meat" from their bowl.

This is different from abolishing corporal punishment, which sounds lenient and would improve one's reputation.

This time it was a true "snatching food from a tiger's mouth," forcing them to concede and make concessions. "If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault. As the Prime Minister wishes, we will fight without bloodshed," Zhou Zhao calmly replied.

Prime Minister Chen was taken aback. He didn't speak, but pointed at Zhou Zhao through the air with his finger and laughed.

Who says that someone sentenced to death can't have their title demoted?

Chu Heng's parents were fully aware of his actions, yet they protected and indulged him. They used their power and position to raise such a wicked person. Why shouldn't they be punished and demoted?
His title was also demoted, which pleased Prime Minister Chen.

The villain was executed, and Zhou Zhao was overjoyed.

Who dares to say it's not a win-win situation?
The atmosphere in the room became strange again. Chen Chengxiang and Zhou Zhao exchanged a glance with smiles on their lips, while Liu Zongzheng and Zhao Tingwei were sweating profusely, their minds racing. They felt that not only were there traitors in the ranks of the nobles, but each one was more ruthless than the last.

They raised their knives and looked at their flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered with smiles.

They suddenly wondered, with so many high-ranking officials, nobles, and members of the royal family present, why had His Majesty singled out only a few of them to debate the law with Zhou Zhao? Was he implying something? Or was there some deeper meaning behind it?
Before they could come up with anything, Prime Minister Chen spoke up again.

"Your Majesty, look! Finally, a witty person has arrived in the court who can catch this old minister's jokes!"

His Majesty laughed heartily, and everyone in the room burst into laughter.

His Majesty waved his hand, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He stood up and looked at Zhou Zhao, "Can you swim?"

"It can easily cross the river."

His Majesty shook his head, pointed at Zhou Zhao, and said to Prime Minister Chen, "Look at her, she not only dares to answer your question, she's not even afraid of me!"

As he spoke, before Prime Minister Chen could answer, he continued, "Zhou Zhao accompanied me fishing today. Last time, he was dragged into the water by a fish. I wasted my trust in your boasting, Prime Minister. You were nothing but a dog-paddler in the water. I had to save you."

Prime Minister Chen covered his face with his sleeve in embarrassment and remained silent.

His Majesty was delighted to see this and walked toward the door. Zhou Zhao quickly followed behind him, falling half a step behind.

The palace has its own large lake, and it is not yet deep winter, so there is no sign of the lake freezing over. A wooden boat that had been prepared long ago is moored on the lakeside.

His Majesty leaped onto the boat and sat down on the stool with his legs spread wide. He began to put earthworms on the fishing hooks. His skillful movements were clearly honed from his days as a layabout.

Zhou Zhao leaped lightly and sat cross-legged next to His Majesty, picking up a fishing rod.

The boatman didn't say a word, silently rowing until the boat stopped on the lake, and then remained still.

Do you know how to fish?

Zhou Zhao baited the hook with an earthworm and cast it into the water. "I can. But I'm better at spearfishing than fishing."

His Majesty looked over with great interest. "Oh, what's the difference?"

"Fishing requires waiting for the fish to bite, which is the fish's initiative; spearfishing is when I stab the fish, which is my initiative."

His Majesty chuckled softly, "I was like that when I was young too."

Zhou Zhao verbally agreed, but inwardly he thought, "No, when you were young, you were a notorious idler in the surrounding villages, spending your days eating and drinking for free. Sure enough, once a person becomes emperor, he starts to embellish his own image in the annals of history."

They are all reincarnations of true dragons, blessed with auspicious omens, and destined by Heaven.

"You have dared to speak out several times. Aren't you afraid of angering me and being punished?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "The monarch is broad-minded and can accept advice. What is there for a subject to serve a wise ruler to be afraid to say? Didn't His Majesty not only not blame me, but also promote me and make me rich, and let me come here to fish?"

His Majesty was taken aback, then chuckled a few more times, "You're much more shameless than your brother. The first time he flattered me, his face turned bright red, like he was drunk. Unlike you, you just spout off whatever comes to mind..."

He paused, then smiled and said, "I like to hear it. I'd like to hear you say a few more words."