Daming: Internship also counts as work experience

Chapter 94 Rank and Status
At this moment, Wu Bing hurriedly came to the backyard and said, "Someone from the yamen has come and said that the chief secretary of the Prince of Han's mansion wants you to return to the yamen immediately to discuss the matter of transporting the grain back."

Jia Chuan snorted and said, "Let him wait. Tell the messenger not to go back yet. He'll only get scolded if he goes back. Wait for me. It'll be soon."

Wu Bing turned and left without even glancing at Wang Shunfa, who was slumped on the ground.

“Logically speaking, regardless of who you’re trying to frame, it’s perfectly normal for the bookshelf to be stained with blood when this person made a move. Why did you take the bookshelf away?” Jia Chuan squatted down and stared at Wang Shunfa as he asked.

Wang Shunfa dared not look Jia Chuan in the eye; fear left him at a loss, and his gaze darted around.

"Because there were many bloody handprints on the bookshelf, right? You and your second uncle had an argument, and then in a fit of anger, you went out to find an axe. It wasn't dark yet, was it? Your second uncle didn't believe you would do anything, so he stepped forward to take the axe from your hand. Don't underestimate your youth; you're not very strong, and you might not be as strong as your second uncle. During the struggle, the bookshelf fell over, which may have been an opportunity for you to hit your second uncle with the axe... Seeing so much blood gushing out, you panicked and didn't know what to do. In your panic, all you could think of was to prop up the bookshelf first, and you put the body aside. Alas, you might not even be able to prop up a bookshelf when you're calm, let alone when you're in a panic."

Gao Yuntian understood and continued, "He wanted to restore the hall to its original state, so the first thing he did was to lift the bookshelf. He must have tried it over and over again. The bookshelf was covered with his bloody handprints. You could tell whose it was by comparing the size of the items. So he took the bookshelf away afterwards."

Jia Chuan stood up and said, "At first, his mind was in a mess. He didn't know how to deal with it and even thought about throwing the body into the well. It was the appearance of those two servants that made him more aware and realize that dumping the body was wrong. As I just said, this happened during the day. If it had been at night, he might not have thought of moving the bookshelf."

Chen Mo asked, "Why?"

"Because he did not commit premeditated murder, but rather a crime of passion, uh, that is, without prior planning, he acted impulsively. If it happened to be at night, the darkness could easily blind the mind and eyes, and one might not notice things like this that leave traces. Even during the day, if it is a crime of passion, due to excessive concentration, it is easy to overlook some things. The brain does not give the reaction, just like being blind. But if it is premeditated, it is different. In this kind of case, if the investigators are more meticulous, they should have found out on the same day, and they would not have arrested the wrong person."

Gao Yuntian looked at Chen Mo, wanting to ask: Did you understand?

Chen Mo happened to look at Gao Yuntian, and seeing the doubt in Gao Yuntian's eyes, he felt relieved.

"Tell me, what's the reason? Your second uncle has been pretty good to you, what else do you want?" Jia Chuan sat down in the chair, crossed his legs, and asked.

Wang Shunfa stared blankly at the ground, without saying a word.

Chen Mo stepped forward and kicked him, shouting sternly, "I'm asking you a question!"

"With his physique, you could kick him to death with one more kick," Jia Chuan warned, frowning.

"Don't worry, I'm holding back. Otherwise, he wouldn't have just collapsed to the ground."

Gao Yuntian said, "If you ask me, take him back and torture him. He'll confess when he feels the pain."

"I heard you've become a father? How many kids do you have? Boys or girls? How old are they?"

As if asking a casual question, Jia Chuan suddenly made Wang Shunfa, who was lying on the ground, cover his face and burst into tears.

The commotion wasn't loud, but the crying startled both Chen Mo and Gao Yuntian.

Just as Jia Chuan was about to seize the opportunity to say something more provocative, Wang Shunfa spoke up.

"Did you arrest Zhang San and Li Si?" Wang Shunfa's voice trembled. "If it weren't for their idea, I wouldn't have framed the carpenter. But, but I had no other choice at the time. My eldest uncle's family knew my family had fallen on hard times, and they haven't let me into their house for years. My second uncle did help a few times, but each time I had to beg and plead. My eldest uncle's family was one thing, with my two cousins ​​around, I couldn't really get anything from them. But my second uncle's family was different. He had no sons, and the Wang family's property would naturally be left to the Wang family. Rather than begging every time, he simply let me manage the shop. That way, my second uncle could rest, and my family would have some income..."

"Your second uncle is not even forty years old yet, and you want him to rest?" Gao Yuntian asked, glaring at him.

"Even if you don't get a break, you can still let me help out at the shop..."

"You weren't helping out at the shop?" Jia Chuan asked, puzzled.

“The helper I’m talking about isn’t a shop assistant. How can a month’s wages be enough? Wouldn’t it be better for me to get started sooner? I’ve patiently persuaded him many times, but he always brushes me off. That day, he even said that once he had a grandson, the shop could be handed over to his grandson to manage in the future. How could I not be anxious? He knows how to plan for his grandson, so why can’t I plan for my own children?”

Chen Mo frowned and asked Jia Chuan, "Why does it sound like Wang Wenyuan brought this trouble upon himself? If he were like his elder brother, closing the door and ignoring it, he should still be alive."

Jia Chuan nodded, stood up and said, "The story of Mr. Dongguo and the wolf is common in every dynasty. Tie him up and take him back to the yamen."

"No, listen to me, it wasn't that I wanted to kill him, it was that he brought an axe to try and drive me away, I..."

Jia Chuan had no interest in listening to Wang Shunfa's explanation. He strode out of the house. The old carpenter had been in prison for more than five months, and he didn't know how his family would survive. Getting him out of there was the most important thing. Gao Yuntian stepped forward and skillfully tied up the agitated Wang Wenfa.

Jia Chuan had already reached the door when he suddenly stopped and turned around, saying, "Your second uncle made you start as an apprentice in the shop because he planned to hand it over to you to manage in the future. He and his wife have talked about this privately many times. Unfortunately, you take what your second uncle does for your family for granted. You become resentful at the slightest dissatisfaction. The more your second uncle is considerate of you, the more you take advantage of him. If you hadn't said something about what should have been done on the day of the incident, your second uncle would never have said that the shop could be given to his grandson."

Gao Yuntian tied up Wang Shunfa and said, "You're wasting your breath talking to him. If he could understand, he wouldn't have done such a thing."

Wang Shunfa's mouth remained open, but he did not utter another word.

……

When the group returned to the yamen, Qian Xun was already impatient. He couldn't wait for Jia Chuan to come to the second hall to see him, so he went straight to the front office, but there was no sign of Jia Chuan. He was so angry that he stomped his feet and ordered the yamen runners to go look for him again.

The constables searched around and found out that Jia Chuan had first gone to the inner quarters and then to the prison.

Jia Chuan went to the back house to ask for compensation for the old carpenter. Lin Wei knew that Qian Xun had not left, so he could only lie on his sickbed. But Jia Chuan had already investigated the first case and even brought back the criminal. How could Lin Wei believe it?
Jia Chuan then had Gao Yuntian give a brief account. Lin Wei hadn't expected the case to be so obvious, like a louse on a bald man's head. What was he thinking back then? How could he have believed the old carpenter was responsible based on just a few items? The old carpenter refused to confess, and even when he reported it to the Ministry of Justice, it was sent back for review. So the case was put aside. He hadn't actually received any money from anyone because of this case.

"You really haven't received any?"

Jia Chuan asked in a deep voice, and Lin Wei immediately remembered that the deceased's nephew had asked someone to give him some money. At the time, it seemed that the family wanted to bury the deceased as soon as possible, and since they hadn't made any excessive demands, the amount of money given couldn't have been much. But now Jia Chuan wanted an amount that would allow the old carpenter's family to have a peaceful New Year. Lin Wei felt a little pained, but he had no choice but to give it. Jia Chuan also instructed that Zhang San and Li Si should be arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible, as such servants would be a disaster in any household. Lin Wei nodded repeatedly.

When Jia Chuan got the money, he went to the prison and personally helped the old carpenter remove his shackles. He then handed the money to the old carpenter and ordered the yamen runners to take him home in a carriage. Before parting, he told the old carpenter, "Find a good doctor to treat your illness. I will come to see you in a couple of days!"

These words weren't meant for the old carpenter, but for the yamen runners who were escorting him. Jia Chuan dared not let Wu Bing send anyone; anyone traveling alone without Jia Chuan would be in danger. But the old carpenter still had a lot of money in his pocket, so only in this way could the yamen runners escorting him not act recklessly.

When Qian Xun learned that Jia Chuan had asked him to wait only to bid farewell to an old carpenter who had been wrongly accused, his anger reached its peak. All his previous caution and caution vanished in his rage. When he saw Jia Chuan, he demanded sharply, "Do you have any sense of respect or hierarchy?!"

Jia Chuan was preoccupied with the thick files in the office and didn't want to deal with Qian Xun, but he knew that the Prince of Han's mansion wouldn't let it go without giving him a reply, so he reluctantly came to the second hall.

As soon as Jia Chuan entered, he was questioned by Qian Xun. He answered seriously, "Yes, so I went to see the old carpenter off first."

Qian Xun didn't quite understand at first.

Jia Chuan then asked, "What do you want with me?"

Qian Xun took a deep breath, his face darkening, and said, "Originally, the Prince of Han's Mansion and the State Government had a very harmonious relationship, and the Prince of Han's Mansion had always helped the State Government. Knowing that the State Government's granaries were unusable, they..."

“I have official duties to attend to; matters concerning grain are not my responsibility.” Jia Chuan turned and left.

Qian Xun was momentarily stunned. Jia Chuan was almost stepping out the door when he quickly stepped forward and grabbed Jia Chuan, saying, "Didn't you ask Hao Wen to transport the grain back within three days?"

"Yes, didn't he tell you the second half of the sentence? If they don't bring the grain back, I'll write to the Emperor and say that the Prince of Han's mansion is hoarding grain. I've never heard of anyone having nowhere to store their grain and storing it at someone else's house. But the matter of bringing the grain back is not my responsibility. You should go find a good comrade."

Jia Chuan pushed Qian Xun's hand away and started to walk out.

Qian Xun stood there stunned for a moment, then chased after him.

"Do you know who I am?" Qian Xun grabbed Jia Chuan again and questioned him.

"It's not important that I know who you are, what's important is whether you still know who you are?" Jia Chuan asked sincerely.

Qian Xun's mind was in complete turmoil, but he still had a clear goal.

"The Prince of Han has been waiting for you for a long time. You must come with me to the Prince of Han's residence to pay your respects immediately! This is the proper etiquette!"

"Dream on!" Jia Chuan glared at him. "Etiquette? Does he even know anything about it? I just told you I understand respect and hierarchy. What, didn't you hear me? If you're willing to be a dog, then don't waltz into the crowd."

"You, how dare you insult an official appointed by the imperial court?!"

"You still know you were appointed by the imperial court? Go back and tell the Prince of Han, if you have the guts, kill me; if not, suffer the consequences. I have official duties to attend to and don't have time to listen to your nonsense."

Enraged, Qian Xun lost his composure and shouted, "Guards! Tie this man up and take him to the Prince of Han's residence!"

Qian Xun did have two attendants with him, but they were only two in number. The two men glanced at Chen Mo, took a symbolic step forward, and then stopped. They were glad that one of the short men next to Jia Chuan had spoken up.

"The Chief Secretary is in charge of the political and legal affairs of the Prince's Palace, assisting the Prime Minister in advising and correcting the Prince's mistakes. If the Prince makes a mistake, the Chief Secretary will be questioned! The Chief Secretary is responsible for carrying out the Prince's orders and ensuring that they are carried out properly. If there are any obstacles or difficulties, the Chief Secretary is responsible for loyally advising and stopping them. If the Chief Secretary harbors evil intentions, relies on power, sells personal feelings, or harms the local area, the Governor, the Censor, and the Three Judicial Offices will jointly impeach and punish him! The Chief Secretary has the important responsibility of advising the Prince to respect the Emperor and be respectful of etiquette, and to maintain local peace and tranquility."

After Wu Bing stepped forward and said something that Jia Chuan seemed to understand but didn't quite grasp, he stepped back.

Qian Xun was panting heavily, wondering who this person was.
Jia Chuan sighed and asked Wu Bing, "Is there a fixed term for the Chief Secretary of the Prince's Palace?"

Wu Bing stepped forward again and replied, "There is no fixed term, but it follows the rule of a preliminary examination every three years. The court can adjust the term at any time."

"Oh, so you mean the chief secretary can be replaced at any time."

"Yes."

When Wu Bing said, "If the King has done anything wrong, then the Chief Clerk will be questioned!" Qian Xun's mind cleared up. It was because of this sentence that he had pledged allegiance to the King of Han. The Chief Clerk who had been imprisoned by the King of Han was fortunate, just like when he was first transferred here. Imprisoned and sidelined, he knew nothing about the King's affairs. How wonderful! But there was one condition: he had to be transferred again before the King of Han rebelled. Otherwise, he would definitely be killed with a sword when the King of Han rebelled.

After the late emperor ascended the throne, he frequently changed the chief secretary of the Prince of Han's residence. One reason was to strengthen the monitoring of the Prince of Han's residence, and the other was to prevent the chief secretary from colluding with the Prince of Han. So, at this time, who would be willing to come to Le'an to serve as the chief secretary?

The new emperor transferred him here after his ascension to the throne. He didn't want to come for long. After he arrived, he was left out in the cold by the Prince of Han for a few days, and then he was isolated for a few days as if under house arrest. Then Zhu Heng came and talked to him. He was very direct and used the phrase, "If the prince has made a mistake, then question the chief clerk."

what for?

Although you have a mouth, it's useless. If the King of Han rebels during your term, you will be sentenced to death.

Can you be a loyal subject? Yes, Zhu Heng made it very clear: "You've just been transferred to the Prince's residence, and it's probably not going to happen so quickly. You know the Prince's temper to some extent. Being a loyal subject isn't easy. You know best the responsibilities of the Chief Secretary. Failing to do certain official duties is a crime. Moreover, if the Prince does certain things, whether you know about them or not, you'll be sentenced to death. On the contrary, if you sincerely assist the Prince of Han, in the future... you will definitely be a member of the cabinet. To put it bluntly, since that person in the capital sent you here, it means they have already abandoned you."

Qian Xun had struggled with his thoughts. He recalled that before taking office, the emperor had specially summoned him to the palace and instructed him face to face: "...Now that you have been appointed as the chief secretary, you should wholeheartedly assist the emperor, instruct him in virtue and righteousness, and make him study the classics and history extensively so that he may know the deeds of the ancient sages and the way of self-cultivation and family management. Keep away from evil and wicked people, befriend the loyal and good, and admonish him in all matters so that he may return to the right path. You must not flatter or be obsequious, nor should you be timid and silent, so as not to betray the trust I have placed in you."

Qian Xun felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. The Prince of Han was not a child; could he be re-educated?

(End of this chapter)