RWNEFE -Chapter 590 Compete Again!

Shen Lanxi said with a gratified expression, “With words like yours, I can be at ease, and the people of the realm can also be at ease.”

Liu Mingxin said, “Your Majesty, now that the suspicion has been cleared, I would like to ask the Chancellor in front of everyone: will Madam Wu be buried in the ancestral grave of my Liu family?”

The question left Wu Yanzhi somewhat embarrassed. If she were not buried in the Liu family’s ancestral grave, was she supposed to be buried in the Wu family’s?

A married daughter, even if divorced, could not return to her natal family.

His daughter was already dead, yet the Liu family still wanted to use divorce as a humiliation—this was simply not putting him, the current Chancellor, in their eyes.

“Lord Liu, although my daughter’s death was an accident, it happened in the Liu family. If our Wu family were to pursue the matter, you would not fare well either.”

If he pursued a charge of negligence in supervision, he could very well win the case.

Shen Lanxi intervened at the right moment to smooth things over.

“The domestic affairs of you two ministers can be discussed privately later. I still have an important matter here that requires both of you to make a decision together.”

A decision? What decision? What did it have to do with them?

As soon as they heard there were interests involved, the two of them immediately forgot the minor details and focused their full attention on Shen Lanxi.

“Historically, duels do not end in draws. I believe both of you are aware of Mr. Ruohua’s reputation for talent.”

Liu and Wu both nodded.

“Right now, all the citizens of the capital are watching this matter. You must ensure that it has a result.”

Wang Shen’s expression turned unpleasant. He had thought the draw would allow the matter to be smoothed over, but he had not expected His Majesty to pursue it further.

“Then let them compete again!” Liu Mingxin blurted out at once after glancing at Wei Jie.

Wu Yanzhi’s expression darkened slightly. Wang Shen was his man; many of his people had already been replaced. If Wang Shen were also replaced, his network would shrink even further.

“Chancellor, what is your opinion?”

Wu Yanzhi was naturally not foolish enough to oppose it openly at this time.

“I have an idea. Since both are experts in judging cases, why not let them compete in solving a case?”

Mr. Ruohua was merely a teacher. Reading from books was fine, but when it came to actually solving cases, he would surely be at a loss.

Wang Shen, on the other hand, had worked in officialdom for many years; even a stone should have absorbed some experience by now.

Shen Lanxi did not make a decision immediately but asked, “What do the ministers think?”

“I think it is feasible!”

“I also think it is feasible!”

“I agree as well!”

“I second the proposal!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Very well, then it will be a case.”

Wei Jie stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I have a case here.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at him and reminded him deliberately, “If it is an unsolved cold case, there is no need to waste time.”

Wei Jie replied, “It is a case that is nearly solved, but difficult to pass judgment on.”

“In what way is it difficult?”

Wei Jie explained truthfully:

“Outside the capital, a murder occurred at a farmhouse. The cause was a bowl of medicinal soup. The son was ill, and the daughter-in-law invited a village doctor to treat him. One of the herbs in the medicine was extremely precious. While the daughter-in-law was speaking with the doctor, the mother secretly added more of that herb, causing the son’s condition to worsen gradually until he died.”

“After the son’s death, the old woman accused the doctor of prescribing the wrong medicine. The doctor retained the prescription and was able to prove his innocence.”

“Afterward, the old woman also accused the daughter-in-law, claiming she had failed to care for her husband properly.”

“It has now been confirmed that the medicine was secretly altered by the old woman. How should the crime be judged?”

Mr. Ruohua already had a conclusion in mind.

“Your Majesty, I request permission to write my judgment on paper.”

“Granted,” said Shen Lanxi.

“Lord Wang, for fairness, you should also write yours on paper.”

Wang Shen said stiffly, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The origin of the case was that the old woman, acting out of misguided good intentions, had caused her own son’s death. She had not intended to harm him; she had simply coveted the precious herb, thinking that adding more would make him recover faster.

Morality was morality, and law was law—but how exactly should the crime be judged?

Everyone was curious to see what verdict the two men would give.

According to the laws of Great Zhou, regardless of the reason, the old woman could not escape a death sentence.

But to make a mother pay with her life for her son—morally, that was hard to accept.

While the officials were still pondering, Mr. Ruohua had already finished writing and submitted his judgment.

Wang Shen, meanwhile, could only wipe his sweat and hurry to finish.

Soon, his judgment was also submitted.

The Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice each took one judgment and read them aloud.

“First, the old woman committed theft; second, she caused a death; third, she made two false accusations. With multiple crimes combined, according to Great Zhou law, theft is punished by cutting off the hand. Causing death, whether directly or indirectly, is punished according to severity by beheading or exile to forced military service. False accusation, depending on severity, is punished by tongue-cutting or fifty to one hundred strokes of the cane.”

When the officials heard this, their eyes widened.

A mere teacher was actually well versed in the laws of Great Zhou.

Only then did the officials recall that the introductory text at the women’s academy had been the laws of Great Zhou.

Since when had the Bailu Academy also begun to study them?

Mr. Ruohua continued: “The old woman indirectly caused a person’s death. Regardless of whether the victim was her son, it still constitutes a homicide. My judgment is beheading or exile.”

As soon as the Dali Temple finished, the Ministry of Justice began reading Wang Shen’s judgment.

“The law does not stand apart from human feeling. The old woman acted out of urgency to save her son. Her accusations against the doctor and daughter-in-law were due to grief and confusion after losing her son.”

“I suggest a lighter punishment, substituting penal labor in place of harsher penalties.”

With the two judgments placed side by side, Shen Lanxi said, “Gentlemen, have you reached a conclusion regarding these two verdicts?”

Wei Jie said, “Mr. Ruohua clearly listed all the old woman’s crimes, with orderly reasoning and detailed charges. The judgment is also correct.”

Wang Shen’s face turned pale. As early as when the Dali Temple had read Mr. Ruohua’s judgment, he had already had a bad premonition.

Compared with that judgment, his own was too general, too soft-hearted.

But perhaps that was not entirely bad—he might leave an impression of kindness and benevolence in His Majesty’s mind.

Now it depended on how His Majesty viewed the case.

An official from the Ministry of Justice said, “Your Majesty, I also support Mr. Ruohua’s judgment. Although the law does not stand apart from human feeling, if it is not enforced strictly, others will treat the laws of Great Zhou as nothing.”

Shen Lanxi nodded.

“Both of you make good points. Lord Wu, Lord Liu—what do you think?”

Liu Mingxin said, “I agree with the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. Mr. Ruohua’s judgment can serve as a model, allowing the people of Great Zhou to understand that one must not alter a doctor’s prescription privately. Precious herbs are not better in greater quantities, and one must not falsely accuse others without evidence.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Well said, Lord Liu. I will entrust this matter to you.”

“I accept the decree,” Liu Mingxin replied.

Wu Yanzhi glanced at Wang Shen, his expression somewhat grim.

“According to the wager, since Mr. Ruohua has won, he shall replace the position of Vice Minister of Works.”

Wang Shen’s face turned deathly pale.

Although His Majesty had not said what would become of him, everyone had heard the wager clearly.

His Majesty was waiting for him to speak up on his own.