Yang Fan furrowed his brows.
Leaves were already falling from the forest. The trees here were mainly elm and poplar trees. The leaves on the branches were dark green, and as the wind blew, some of the yellowed leaves fell off the branches and rolled on the ground, quietly gathering into a pile.
When the two of them stepped on it, there was no clear sound of breaking leaves, only a rustling sound, like a silkworm swallowing mulberry leaves.
When the two of them circled the forest for the second time, Feng Xihui had already explained everything.
After Pan Junyi's death, the case was reported to the Luoyang government. This was because, other than major cases of rebellion, all other cases could not be reported to the higher authorities and had to go through this procedure.
After the Luoyang government received the complaint, they used the excuse that Pan Junyi's father was a member of the Ministry of Justice's Board of Examiners and that he himself was a scholar with scholarly honors. Without a trial, they directly transferred the case to the Supreme Court.
In the division of responsibilities of the three departments of law, the Supreme Court was responsible for the trials of cases involving officials in the capital, except for cases specially ordered by the Emperor. For example, Yang Fan was an official in the capital. He was involved in a rebellion and should have been tried by the Supreme Court. However, the Emperor had designated it to be tried by the Office of Imperial Messengers, so the Supreme Court did not have to interfere.
When the Supreme Court received the case, they did not pay much attention. This case was clearly a case of injury and death, and the victim was a descendant of an official while the other was a normal commoner. What was so difficult about this case? The facts were clear and the verdict was well-founded. The Supreme Court quickly made a verdict, "The murderer will die, and Chang Zhiyuan will pay with his life!"
When the verdict was made, the Supreme Court realized that they had been tricked by the Luoyang government. They had poked a hornet's nest.
There was only one reason why the Luoyang government had transferred the case to the Supreme Court without a trial: to avoid trouble.
As it turned out, the case of the Chang family's old woman beating her daughter-in-law to death had already spread like wildfire. A beautiful woman who had died an innocent and tragic death would always arouse sympathy. In this case, the mother-in-law was imprisoned, the son lost his wife, the grandson lost his mother, and the innocent woman died tragically. The cause of all this was Pan Junyi, who was still at large.
Whether it was those who spoke for the mother-in-law or those who sympathized with the daughter-in-law, everyone hated this person. However, in this murder case, although his role was not honorable, he did not need to bear any legal responsibility.
It had not even been seven days since Madam Cheng's body was laid to rest in her house, yet he had come to her door to force her to pay her debt. He had even fought with Chang Lin in front of the memorial tablet of the deceased. Chang Zhiyuan, the son of the Chang family, had attacked him out of anger and used his mother's memorial tablet to smash him to death. In the eyes of the common people, this was retribution.
Chang Zhiyuan's mother was killed by Pan Junyi, and now the government wants to kill her son. Three generations of the Chang family are all in prison because of this case. Is there still justice in this world?
The people of the Tang dynasty still had a little bit of fierce spirit in their bones. In addition, Wu Zetian often mobilized the masses to fight against the bureaucrats over the years, so the people really did not have much respect for the officials. As a result, the common people first gathered together, indescribably angry. When the anger was at its peak, there was one person who took the lead. Everyone made a rallying cry and organized themselves to rush to the Imperial Envoy Platform in a grandiose manner, to cry out for justice on behalf of the Chang family's brat.
What was the Monster Trainer Station for?
One of their important duties was to impeach the officials.
When the officials from the Ministry of Works wrote their work reports, they wrote about how many roads they had built, how many bridges they had laid, and how many major projects they had presided over. When the officials from the Ministry of Rites wrote their work reports, they wrote about how many examinations they had taken this year, how many schools they had opened, how many people they had educated …
As for the Imperial Envoy, they wrote about how many officials they had sued! This was their main political achievement. Seeing that this year's examination of merit was approaching, the Imperial Envoy Station immediately followed the will of the people and impeached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court insisted that they had judged the case according to the evidence, and that it was fair, just, and open. The two sides were in a deadlock.
Luo Ling had gone to the Supreme Court to inquire about this case. It was obvious that Chen Dong wanted to use this case to do something.
Yang Fan pondered and said, "The Supreme Court is responsible for the cases of the officials in the capital. Pan Junyi is not an official, but the son of an official in the capital. Although his scholar status is a scholarly title, he is not considered an official. The Supreme Court does not need to try this case, but they have neglected it. Since they have already accepted the case and pronounced the verdict, they naturally cannot withdraw the case and return it to Luoyang for trial."
Feng Xihui said, "Yes! The reason the Luoyang government transferred the case to the Supreme Court without even trying it is probably because the Chang family's misfortune has aroused great public anger. They have already heard about it. After all, the Luoyang government has direct jurisdiction over the people of Luoyang. It is impossible for them not to have noticed it. "
Yang Fan nodded and said, "Yes. Which Imperial Envoy from the Imperial Envoy Station brought up the impeachment? Xu Yougong? "
In Yang Fan's impression, the Imperial Envoy Station seemed to have only one good official left. The one who followed the will of the people to impeach the Supreme Court was most likely Xu Yougong.
Feng Xihui said, "It is not Xu Yougong. It is … Wan Guojun!"
Yang Fan suddenly stood still and looked at Feng Xihui in surprise. Feng Xihui nodded his head and said, "Yes, it is Wan Guojun!"
Yang Fan said suspiciously, "Wan Guojun? He is Lai Junchen's confidant. He has always been hiding behind the scenes and advising Lai Junchen like a military adviser. After Lai Junchen was demoted to Tongzhou to join the army, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Censor. He has been flying low and retracting his wings, and the entire Imperial Envoy Station has become quiet. This time … the victim is an official from the Ministry of Appointments, and the Supreme Court is the one handling the case. He has been making things difficult for these two yamens at the same time. If we say he is really pleading for the people, I am afraid we are giving him too much credit. What does he mean by this? "
Feng Xihui frowned and said, "Flying low and retracting his wings might not really be willing to stay silent. Perhaps he is about to attack!"
Yang Fan thought for a moment and slowly nodded. "Yes! I think he is also unwilling to let the power of the Imperial Envoy Station fall to someone else. The reason he is willing to interfere in this matter is probably because he wants to coerce the will of the people, rebuild his image, and restore the prestige of the Imperial Envoy Station. Perhaps this is also a test, a test of the Emperor's attitude towards the Imperial Envoy Station. That is why he chose this not too big of a case as a stepping stone. "
Yang Fan asked, "What does the Imperial Envoy Station suggest?"
Feng Xihui said, "The Imperial Envoy Station thinks that Pan Junyi has lost his morals and made the first mistake. At that time, he was fighting with Chang Lin. Chang Zhiyuan, in order to save his father, hurriedly intervened. This is a show of filial piety. It was not his intention to kill by mistake. Moreover, he is young, so his punishment can be reduced by one class and sentenced to exile."
Yang Fan looked at Feng Xihui and said, "Then, in your opinion, what does Chen Dong want to do?"
Feng Xihui's face had a hint of bitterness. "Right now, the Imperial Envoy Station and the Supreme Court are at loggerheads. The Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Imperial Envoy Station are the three law departments of the imperial court. Since the Imperial Envoy Station and the Supreme Court are at loggerheads, then … this case will have to be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for review. "
Yang Fan touched his nose and asked curiously, "So what? Should I be the judge of this case? "
Feng Xihui imitated him and "pinched" his nose and said, "The case of Chang Lin's mother beating her daughter-in-law to death was snatched by you, Lang Zhong. This related case should naturally be judged by you. These two cases are intricately linked. "
Feng Xihui's voice contained a hint of bitterness. He was probably complaining that Yang Fan did not use the case that had been decided in advance to challenge him. Instead, he rashly chose this case that did not seem complicated at the time and got himself involved.
Yang Fan smiled and said, "Don't make such an expression. It is not the end of the line yet."
The two of them continued to walk forward. Yang Fan counted his fingers and said, "In that case, I think I understand a little. In the name of filial piety, Chen Dong reduced the punishment of the old woman from the Chang family, but I insist that he should be sentenced to death according to the law. Now that the Supreme Court wants to hand over this case, if I follow the Supreme Court's judgment and sentence the Chang family's son to death … "
Feng Xihui said, "Then Lang Zhong will not be able to escape the name of a cruel official. Not only will he lose the support of the people, but the Imperial Envoy Station will also have an excuse to attack you. As for cruel officials, everyone used to look at them with a respectful distance. Ever since a handsome official was demoted, it has become a little like everyone wants to beat him up. Lang Zhong, you have just taken up a post in the Ministry of Justice, and you are sitting in the position that Zhou Xing used to sit in. If Lang Zhong shows even the slightest inclination, the officials in the court will definitely stifle a possible new cruel official in the bud. "
Yang Fan said, "Mm, what if I follow the Imperial Envoy Station's decision and reduce the punishment of the Chang family's son by one?"
Feng Xihui said, "Then, the Supreme Court will make a big fuss about this, saying that you sentenced the old woman from the Chang family to death and sentenced the Chang family's son to life is differential treatment, trying to buy people's hearts. It is still hard to say now, but what can be predicted is that Sir will definitely offend the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Appointments, and also Wei Wang."
Yang Fan's eyebrows slightly raised and asked, "What does this case have to do with Wei Wang?"
Feng Xihui said, "The Ministry of Appointments' Vice Counsellor is now Wei Wang's disciple!"
Yang Fan was stunned for a moment, then laughed involuntarily, "Without drawing a knife, he can cut off the enemy's head. Doctor Chen is really good at scheming! "
Yang Fan was determined to make things difficult for Chen Dong, so he had to start with Chen Dong's case. No matter how many tricks he did in the dark, they were all in the dark. In the end, he had to use these things that were laid out in the open, and defeat the other party fair and square. Only then could he ensure his position. As for which case he chose to make things difficult for, it was not important. Any case was just a weapon, a weapon used in the battle between Chen Dong and Yang Fan.
Therefore, when Yang Fan heard that the wife of the Cheng family, whom he once knew, had died unjustly, he was stirred up by righteous indignation and changed his opinion on his own accord, choosing this case as a breakthrough point. But man proposes, God disposes. At that time, no one would have thought that this case would have a follow-up development. Not only did it become more complicated, but it also involved the Imperial Envoy Station and the Supreme Court, and even the Ministry of Appointments and Wei Wang. This case actually involved all three law departments, and all of them were involved.
"Wei Wang … Wu Cheng Si …"
Yang Fan suddenly remembered Wan 'er's earnest advice to him, "At this moment, Langjun, you can touch anyone but the Wu family. You must never touch them. The Emperor's mind has been made up. I'm afraid the Crown Prince will come from the Wu family. If it's not Wu Cheng Si, then it's Wu San Si. But it's still hard to say who the Crown Prince will fall on. Langjun is still young, and the future is long. You can't easily decide who your family belongs to! The Ministry of Justice is the Emperor's eyes and ears. Langjun only needs to do his best to be the eyes and ears. "
When Yang Fan thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh softly. He raised his head to look at the treetops above his head. The treetops swayed under the light breeze. The sunlight followed the swaying of the treetops. Sometimes it shone on his shoulder, and sometimes it became a shadow. "The tree wants to be quiet, but the wind does not stop. What can I do?"
…
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