King of Creation Chapter 2093 - 2078: The Old Scoundrel and the Villain
Previously on King of Creation...
As soon as Feng Tingji, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, spoke, he pleaded for pardon, which slightly improved the complexion of Benevolent Emperor Ji Long of Great Zhou.
In fact, this is considered a tradition.
The sound of the Sky-Shaking Drum is a hit to the face of the monarch and ministers of Great Zhou, but if it hits the emperor’s face, it means the entire Great Zhou’s face is being struck.
Therefore, the moment the Minister of Justice steps forward, he pleads for pardon.
This demonstrates an attitude to Benevolent Emperor Ji Long—regardless of the circumstance, as Minister of Justice, he is willing to be the scapegoat, so the emperor and the imperial court can save face.
"The sound of the Sky-Shaking Drum indicates great injustice, but it is not necessarily the fault of negligence on your part, Minister. Let us wait for all ministers to gather, clarify the case, and then discuss further."
Upon hearing this, Feng Tingji slowly got up, stood aside, but still held his official hat in his hand, representing an attitude of awaiting punishment or willingness to be the emperor’s scapegoat.
Subsequently, Tao Yii, the Right Prime Minister of the Secretariat of Great Zhou, hurried to the Imperial Study Room. The first thing he did after entering was, like Feng Tingji, hold his official hat and kneel to plead for pardon.
This also represents an attitude of being a scapegoat.
No matter what, until the sky falls, the emperor’s face must not be struck. Whatever happens, give the emperor a piece of cloth to save face.
Now, it depends on how much impact this matter itself will have.
Benevolent Emperor Ji Long also felt slightly reassured, with the Minister of Justice and the Right Prime Minister voluntarily stepping up as scapegoats; at least his image wouldn’t be overly tarnished.
Subsequently, relevant ministers from all departments, the Prince of Political Affairs in Luoyi, and various left and right assistant ministers rushed to the Imperial Study Room.
At this time, Yu Chaoen, the Chief Eunuch who had not yet appeared, hurriedly arrived and lightly placed a Jade Scroll in front of the Holy Emperor Ji Long.
With Divine Light sweeping across the Jade Scroll, the expression of the Benevolent Emperor turned bizarre, glancing at Yu Chaoen with a puzzled look.
Yu Chaoen quickly nodded, with a touch of perplexity in his expression.
Seeing this, the hurried ministers were somewhat confused.
Following closely, the arrival of Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu drew the attention of the ministers.
Because everyone understood that Wu Yu’s arrival would often bring firsthand information to Benevolent Emperor Ji Long.
"Your Majesty, this is the situation known to me at the moment." While speaking, Wu Yu also presented a Jade Scroll.
After Divine Light swept through the scroll, Benevolent Emperor Ji Long’s eyes revealed even more surprise.
However, as an emperor, such surprise vanished in an instant.
"Great Attendant, are all ministers gathered? If so, let us proceed according to ancestral protocol," said Benevolent Emperor Ji Long.
"In response to Your Majesty, currently, the Minister of the Military Department Ban is yet to arrive, as well as the two Assistant Ministers of the Military Department," Yu Chaoen softly replied.
"Minister Ban hasn’t arrived yet? Urge him on," with that said, the emperor remained silent.
At this moment, outside the Imperial Study Room, the eunuch’s announcement sound echoed.
"Chief Priest Bai of Ancestor God Temple has arrived."
All the courtiers were taken aback because Bai, the Chief Priest of the Ancestor God Temple, rarely showed up even at grand meetings. How could he appear at this emergency assembly stirred by the Sky-Shaking Drum? Could this matter be related to Ancestor God Temple?
"Spirit Hall Master of Ancestor God Temple Barbarian Spirit Hall—Princess Changle has arrived!"
This announcement made the ministers more certain that the matter of the Sky-Shaking Drum was likely related to Ancestor God Temple. Given its relation to Ancestor God Temple, the situation was indeed complicated.
Yet, the major figures of the Military Department were still missing. What was going on?
Fifteen minutes later, after continuous urging from Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, Military Department Minister Ban Di and the left and right Assistant Ministers finally arrived in haste.
Minister Ban Di of the Military Department had a sullen expression, which instantly provided many ministers with useful information—the matter of the Sky-Shaking Drum was related to the Military Department and Ancestor God Temple.
A few moments later, Ye Zhen appeared, along with Ren Xinsu, who had been beaten to a bloody, miserable state by Ye Zhen. After layers of inspection, they were brought to the Imperial Study Room.
Seeing who had arrived, the courtiers expressed their astonishment—Ye Zhen, the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy of the Heavenly Patrol Department and Third-class Earl of North Sea, had struck the Sky-Shaking Drum?
Feng Tingji, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, stepped forward with a blank expression, coldly stared at Ye Zhen and Ren Xinsu, and asked, "Which of you struck the Sky-Shaking Drum? Or did both of you strike it together?"
"Your Excellency, it was I who struck the Sky-Shaking Drum."
"Not me!"
Ye Zhen and Ren Xinsu’s responses showed one firm and energetic, the other confused and anxious, clearly contrasting.
"Ye Zhen? Are you aware of the Sky-Shaking Thirteen Executions?" Feng Tingji continued questioning.
"Your Excellency, I am aware."
"Are you aware of the Sky-Shaking Soul-Returning Whip?"
"Your Excellency, I am aware."
Upon receiving affirmative answers, the Minister issued a cold laugh, "Since you are aware of both, state your grievances directly before His Majesty. If there is any falsehood or discrepancy, the Sky-Shaking Thirteen Executions won’t spare you, and you must experience the Sky-Shaking Soul-Returning Whip as well!"
Acknowledging this, Ye Zhen recounted today’s events in full detail and without a word of exaggeration.
Finally, Ye Zhen said to the Benevolent Emperor Ji Long, "Your Majesty, this subject was unreasonably harassed by Deputy Director Ren Xinsu of the Military Armory Division. Nearly a thousand officials in our North Sea County and one hundred and twenty thousand auxiliary Sky Wave Army are all facing the military law of being executed for missing the deadline. Out of desperation, I sounded the Sky-Shaking Drum. I beg Your Majesty to stand up for the one hundred and twenty thousand sons of the North Sea who swore to fight to the death against the Demon Clan!"
Almost as soon as Ye Zhen’s words fell, Vice Minister Wangg Zizhen of the Military Department stepped forward and petitioned the Benevolent Emperor Ji Long, "Your Majesty, regardless of whether Ye Zhen’s words are true or not, just based on his statement of merely being harassed and not resolving this matter through any other channels,
he immediately sounded the Sky-Shaking Drum. Such actions, where do they place the Sovereign Father? Where do they place the dignity of our Great Zhou? I ask Your Majesty to execute according to the law of Sky-Shaking Thirteen Executions!"
"May I ask Lord Wangg, which government office should this officer seek redress from to resolve this matter?" Ye Zhen, who was not an ordinary official, directly challenged the high-ranking Vice Minister of the Military Department.
"This... the Ministry of Justice oversees all the penal affairs of the world. You should lodge a petition with the Ministry of Justice for investigation and resolution." Wangg Zizhen replied.
"The Ministry of Justice, very well!"
Ye Zhen then looked at Minister of Ministry of Justice Feng Tingji, "May I ask Lord Feng, will your Ministry of Justice take on such a case? Is it within your Ministry’s jurisdiction?"
Having figured out the situation, Minister of Ministry of Justice Feng Tingji let out a sigh of relief long ago.
Earlier, he thought there was some kind of miscarriage of justice, and he was so scared that he took off his official hat, ready to take the blame at any moment. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be an internal dispute within the Military Department.
If he were to take on this matter, it would be utterly foolish.
"Our Ministry of Justice handles all the world’s penal affairs and various lawsuits, but this case involves significant military issues and critical military gear. Furthermore, there is no clear reason for a case and no established fact of a crime, so it does not fall within our Ministry’s jurisdiction." Feng Tingji neatly pushed the matter aside with a single sentence.
Vice Minister Wangg Zizhen of the Ministry of Justice’s face darkened suddenly.
Ye Zhen, however, turned to Wangg Zizhen again and asked, "If it’s not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, then please, Lord Wangg, instruct me on how to appeal?"
"Our Great Zhou’s Censorate oversees all the officials of the world. If you are dissatisfied with Ren Xinsu, the Deputy Director, you can lodge a complaint with the Censorate about Ren Xinsu’s misconduct." Wangg Zizhen pointed out another path for Ye Zhen.
Before Ye Zhen could refute, the Deputy Imperial Censor of the Censorate, who had been given authority, leisurely stated, "Lord Wangg, according to Count Ye’s words, everything Deputy Director Ren did was in accordance with the regulations of the Military Department. Our Censorate can’t find a single flaw.
Therefore, we can’t blame Deputy Director Ren for this matter."
Upon hearing this, the face of Vice Minister Wangg Zizhen of the Military Department darkened. Two of the Three Law Departments had already pushed it away, and the last one certainly wouldn’t mind.
At this moment, Minister Ban Di of the Military Department, who had been maintaining a dark expression, suddenly stepped forward and shouted, "Our Military Department is not the kingdom of Ren Xinsu; I’m still here, and justice is here! Since you feel it’s unjust, why didn’t you reach out to me but instead sounded the Sky-Shaking Drum to disturb the Holy Majesty?"
Military Department’s prominent figure Ban Di finally could not stay silent.
Honestly, this query put Ye Zhen in a bit of a difficult spot.
Because everyone knew that if Ye Zhen approached Minister Ban Di of the Military Department for an explanation, he would get nothing in return.
The officials present were not fools. The Deputy Director of the Military Armory’s deliberate harassment had escalated to the point of causing the North Sea Sky Wave Army to miss the deadline. Anyone would be naive to believe that there was no one behind it.
In such a situation, what use would it be to reason with your Military Department Minister?
But the problem is, this thought, while you can speculate on it in private, should not be spoken aloud.
Because that would be questioning the character and official conduct of the Military Department Minister, which would be a major taboo.
As Ye Zhen pondered how to handle this, suddenly he heard a dull sound of a staff hitting the ground. It was Great Sun Priest Bai Xiang of the Ancestor Temple striking the Great Sun Scepter hard, stepping forward.
"Old fellow Ban, stop using your age to try to hoodwink us with these high-sounding words! You think we don’t know the character of your Military Department?"
"Ye came to you for an explanation. Would you provide justice for him? That would only be possible if the sun rose from the west!
Using such words before the sovereign, are you trying to fool idiots?" Bai Xiang spat angrily.
"You old fool Bai!"
Minister Ban Di of the Military Department, reddened with anger, was about to retaliate with a curse.
Yet, Emperor Ji Long on the throne let out a discontented cold snort.
No emperor is not skilled in manipulating people’s hearts, so he already saw clearly the causes and effects of this matter but had not acted.
However, if this continued, it would be a great disgrace.
At the right moment, Grand Overseer of Internal Affairs, Yu Chaoen, serving below the throne, gave Ye Zhen a look.
Ye Zhen, understanding immediately, hurried forward, knelt, and petitioned, "I ask Your Majesty to stand up for the more than one thousand eight hundred officials of North Sea County and the twelve thousand Sky Wave Army sons who swore to fight the Demon Clan to the death!
According to military law, missing the deadline is a capital offense and means complete execution!
The sons of our North Sea Sky Wave Army are all hot-blooded men, willing to fight the Demon Clan to the death, loyal to the country, but absolutely unwilling to be framed by petty people and subjected to military law. That is why they beat the Sky-Shaking Drum. I ask Your Highness to stand up for this subject and the sons of our North Sea Sky Wave Army!"
Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Ren Xinsu of the Military Armory’s face turned pale.
Who is the petty person?
He is the petty person!
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