The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

early morning.

Li Jinglong stood in front of the Ministry of Justice's main hall, holding a sesame seed cake in his hand. He took a bite and sighed.

"How did I end up at work?"

"Am I not observing mourning? According to the rules, in this situation, I should be exempt from mourning."

"The privilege of being granted a 'deprivation of mourning' was something only Zhang Juzheng could receive. The Emperor himself issued an edict saying that the country couldn't do without him, and that he should stop guarding the palace and come back to work. That's what you call prestige."

"Me? I was fooled by Zhu Baba, that old scoundrel."

The sesame seed cakes are all gone, and so is the rant.

He straightened his clothes and walked into the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Inside the main hall, Wang Huidi, the Minister of Justice, and Wang Xizhe, the Vice Minister of Justice, were both present. Upon seeing Li Jinglong enter, they immediately greeted him with smiles.

"The Young Duke has arrived!"

"Good morning, Young Duke!"

Li Jinglong looked at them suspiciously, then sighed, "I didn't see Lü Yang yesterday. Like I said, I'm a good-for-nothing. You guys handle the case from now on. I'll just watch from the sidelines and learn something."

Wang Huidi shook his head with a smile: "Young Duke, we've all heard that you beat up His Highness the Imperial Grandson yesterday. You're really brave."

"I admire you, I admire you." Wang Xizhe said with deep respect.

Li Jinglong looked regretful: "Sigh, I acted impulsively."

"It was a bit impulsive, but no matter how urgent it was, we shouldn't have hit the imperial grandson," Wang Huidi said.

"Yes," Li Jinglong said with a face full of regret, "I should have hit that old bastard Lü Ben."

Wang Huidi: "..."

Wang Xizhe: "..."

Hit Lü Ben? That's the Minister of Rites, the Crown Princess's biological father, and the maternal grandfather of the imperial grandson Zhu Yunwen.

"My lord, Minister Lü has arrived with Lü Yang," an official reported as he entered.

The three of them were stunned.

Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao will arrive.

Soon, Lü Ben brought Lü Yang in.

Wang Huidi smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Lü, what brings you here?"

"Didn't Li Jiujiang order me to personally deliver Lü Yang?" Lü Ben said coldly. "I have delivered him."

Li Jinglong clasped his hands in greeting: "Please call me Lord Li."

"Very well, Lord Li, I have brought the man. What are you going to do with him?" Lu Ben suppressed his anger.

Li Jinglong looked at Wang Huidi: "Your Excellency, the prisoner has been brought here. You may proceed with the proceedings."

Wang Huidi glanced at Lü Ben, then at Lü Yang, and coughed twice. "Well..."

He turned to look at Wang Xizhe, who looked up at the roof beam.

"Lord Wang, there's no need to make things difficult. Just do it according to the law," said Lü Ben.

"Good!" Li Jinglong clapped his hands sharply. "Men, take Lü Yang to the Ministry of Justice prison."

The four people in the hall were all taken aback.

Even the two officials standing on one side were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

"You dare to imprison me?" Lü Yang roared in anger.

Li Jinglong shrugged: "Isn't it being done according to the law?"

Lu Ben glanced coldly at Wang Huidi.

"Huh?" Li Jinglong feigned sudden realization. "Not following the law? You should have said so earlier. Then I'll take my leave. You should handle this kind of thing quietly, the fewer people who know, the better. I understand, I understand."

"Lord Li!" Wang Huidi exclaimed anxiously, "Stop playing around!"

Li Jinglong turned around: "I'm not playing anymore, you guys play, I won't hold you back."

Wang Huidi's face turned green.

Lu Ben coldly shouted, "Fine, then throw him in jail. If Lu Yang has broken the law, you can deal with him according to the law. If not, and you have wronged him, I will not let you off."

"Lord Lü, that's not right," Li Jinglong stepped forward. "You're threatening the Ministry of Justice."

"I don't have any," Lü Ben shook his head.

Li Jinglong turned to the official beside him and instructed, "Record it. Minister Lü said, 'I will not let you off the hook.' Write it down."

"That's not what I meant," Lü Ben hurriedly explained.

Li Jinglong raised his eyes: "Then what did you mean just now?"

"I said we must not wrong an innocent person," said Lü Ben.

Li Jinglong turned to the official in charge and said, "It's recorded. Minister Lü said that Lü Yang is a good person."

"That's not what I meant," Lü Ben retorted.

Li Jinglong shrugged: "So what exactly do you mean?"

"I say, we must not wrong an innocent person," Lü Ben said through gritted teeth.

Li Jinglong nodded thoughtfully: "It's recorded. Minister Lü said that the Ministry of Justice wronged an innocent person."

Lu Ben nearly choked on his own blood: "Fine, fine, then you can interrogate me however you want."

Having said that, he turned and left.

The hall fell silent.

Wang Huidi slowly turned her head and looked at Li Jinglong.

Wang Xizhe slowly turned his head to look at Li Jinglong.

Lu Yang stood below the hall, dumbfounded.

"What are you all standing there for? Throw him in jail!" Li Jinglong waved his hand.

Lü Yang was taken away by two yamen runners.

Li Jinglong leaned back in his chair, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

Wang Huidi and Wang Xizhe exchanged a glance, put on smiling faces, and happily surrounded her.

"Lord Li," Wang Xizhe bowed, "would you like to interrogate Lü Yang yourself?"

"Also, take a look at the previous case files, account books, confessions, and lists of witnesses and physical evidence. Keep track of everything," Wang Huidi said.

Li Jinglong gave him a knowing look: "Just leave this kind of thing to the people below. We can just have some tea."

Wang Huidi's eyes lit up: "Perfect! I have some good tea here."

"Was it delivered by someone below?" Li Jinglong blinked. "Next time, think of me for these kinds of good things."

Wang Xizhe chuckled from the side, "Lord Li, you just arrived."

"If Lord Li could come to the Ministry of Justice, it would be a great honor for the Ministry," Wang Huidi said with anticipation.

"Yes, yes, yes," Wang Xizhe echoed.

Li Jinglong took a sip of tea, smacked his lips, and said, "It's almost noon, isn't it? We've had a long morning of work. Where should we go for a drink?"

Wang Xizhe was taken aback: "Drinking it at noon?"

"What's wrong?" Li Jinglong looked at him. "Can't we drink at noon? Does your Ministry of Justice have a rule that drinking is prohibited at noon?"

No, not at all.

"That's fine then, Lord Wang, what do you say?"

Wang Huidi waved his hand: "If Lord Li wants to drink, then let's drink. Let's go to Taibai Tower, it's on me."

"Taibai Tower?" Li Jinglong looked disgusted. "I'm sick of it. It's not that I'm not giving Lord Wang face, it's just that I've eaten there twelve times this month."

Wang Huidi was silent for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "I have a place that's both delicious and fun."

Wang Xizhe quickly waved his hand, "Lord Wang, Lord Li just arrived, isn't this inappropriate?"

Wang Huidi shook her head: "Lord Li's reputation in the capital makes him the most suitable candidate for that place."

What is Li Jinglong's reputation in the capital?

A spoiled brat.

Foundation General.

He's an expert in all sorts of entertainment, but not good at anything serious.

"You've got me so excited!" Li Jinglong exclaimed. "Let's go!"

The three of them left the Ministry of Justice and soon arrived at the banks of the Qinhuai River.

The spring sunshine was bright, and the painted boats drifted slowly on the river.

"Is there any wine here?" Li Jinglong asked.

Wang Huidi pointed to a painted boat on the river: "Young Duke, let's go drink on the boat."

Li Jinglong squinted and looked over. The largest of the painted boats was the one with the sounds of string and wind instruments coming from inside, accompanied by the giggles of young women.

"Hurry up!" His eyes lit up.