Chapter 226: Chapter 226: What Future Is There for a Military General?
The Ministry of Justice was by no means a place of leisure, with everyone hustling and bustling about in ceaseless activity. And, as if to add insult to injury, one unpleasant thing after another kept piling up.
Jiang Zhao strode in from outside: "My lord, this is the interrogation record provided by the Ministry of Justice after questioning Zhou Zhangping."
Cui Yun continued flipping through the case files, showing no intention of taking the document. He merely said indifferently: "Zhou Zhangping is the Hengzhou Prefect, and his achievements are there for all to see; no one can overlook them. He’s indeed courageous and resourceful. Yet he’s stubborn to a fault, clinging only to his rigid principles."
Such obstinate people are often the ones who most easily offend others in the bureaucratic arena. Yet to say he suppressed the common people, and extracted their flesh and blood - that, Cui Yun did not believe.
As he spoke, he sneered softly to himself.
"Guess who he has offended this time: the Fourth Prince or the one from the Eastern Palace?"
Jiang Zhao did not dare to guess.
Both the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince were full of deceit and trickery.
Jiang Zhao: "The Ministry of Justice has already placed him into custody."
Cui Yun paused as if he had heard something ridiculous.
"Who gave the Ministry of Justice the audacity to do so without the approval of the Ministry of Justice for a retrial?"
"My lord." The Director had matters to report.
"We’ll talk about that later." Without concern, Cui Yun uttered these words and strode out with a grave expression.
Leaving the Director and Jiang Zhao exchanging bewildered looks.
"What’s happening now?"
Jiang Zhao was also harboring a belly full of anger. Ever since the case involving Zhong Chu, the Crown Prince didn’t dare to vent his anger on Cui Yun and consequently often disrespected the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Moreover, the Minister’s son had committed an offense and was punished by Cui Yun with impartial justice according to the law, and was still lying at home recovering from a beating.
Hence, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice harbored deep resentment toward the Ministry of Justice. These days, there were loud complaints coming from that end. In the recent matter involving the Xuan Family, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice had also tried to exploit the situation.
In the end, Imperial Censor Shu, who loathed the Chong Family’s method the most yet placed great importance on traditions and regulations, scolded him wretchedly in front of Emperor He.
— How could you even speak out in defense of the Chong Family? His demotion came from insufficient virtue and capability, an instruction personally issued by the official family. Do you have objections? If you genuinely wished to stand up for him, why haven’t you married your own legitimate daughter to him for his ruin and disaster?
Therefore, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice also made things unpleasant for the Ministry of Justice both openly and secretly.
Up to now, Cui Yun had been too lazy to bother with it.
But that doesn’t mean their superior was of a saintly patience.
Zhou Zhangping is a Magistrate, and the case arose from the official family’s fury, ordering the Three Law Departments to investigate. The only reason the Minister of the Ministry of Justice dared to act in such a way was entirely deliberate.
If this matter blew up, it would be the Ministry of Justice that ended up losing. After all, the confession and all the required procedures were already handled by the Ministry of Justice; his early detention of the person also accounted as consideration for the suffering of the people.
There’s always an excuse and a reason. And, as it happens, these precisely align with the benevolence that Emperor He values most.
Jiang Zhao: "Might as well visit the Ministry of Justice to speak with that old guy. If he’s really so capable, he might as well take the position of Minister of Ministry of Justice."
The Director chuckled at this: "Don’t even think about it. What’s the point of making him Minister of Ministry of Justice? I have no desire to see that old man’s face every day, ugh, what a creature! If he’s really that capable, he should just overturn the Ministry of Justice and Imperial Examination Hall with his own power and leave only the Ministry of Justice to wreak havoc."
It was at this moment, Ji Qing came back and forth in a hurry.
"Lord Jiang."
"Our lord has some urgent business to attend to. As for the Ministry of Justice, you’ll have to make the trip personally. Release Mr. Zhou and do us the favor of escorting him to the Imperial Examination Hall."
Jiang Zhao: ...
He understood; Cui Yun didn’t want to deal with the troublesome matter of Zhou Zhangping, yet he wasn’t willing to be manipulated by the Ministry of Justice. Thus, he tossed the issue to the Imperial Examination Hall.
Indeed, it’s within the three legal departments: with the Ministry of Justice administering punishments, the Imperial Examination Hall monitoring, and the Ministry of Justice Review, that mutual checks and balances take place.
Jiang Zhao subconsciously thought Cui Yun had gone to attend far more important matters.
He was unaware that Cui Yun had only gone to the First-tier Sky Restaurant to meet someone.
There, upon Cui Yun entering the private room.
"Marquis Cui."
Cui Yun looked over and saw Xie Xun, who had been feigning illness for half a month. Standing before the window, he was wiping a sword in his hand, which under the light of the sun, emitted a faint white gleam on its blade.
"Heir Xie."
Xie Xun sheathed his sword.
The girl on the table was sound asleep; Cui Yun’s gaze lingered on Shen Hua for a moment, then he heard Xie Xun speaking in a warm voice.
"The Third Prince has also been notified. Since you’ve arrived, I’ll take my leave."
"Wait."
Cui Yun stopped him.
He saw Shen Hua’s face turn bright red, stepped forward to check her pulse, and finding no other abnormalities, finally felt relieved.
"Fifth Princess will probably enter Shengjing on her palanquin in the next day or two. You might find it hard to avoid. Once you become a Prince Consort, I fear your military honors will dissipate, and you’ll no longer be able to rush into battlefields."
A Prince Consort is not permitted to hold an official position.
Upon hearing this, Xie Xun’s tone was incredibly casual as he said.
"Marquis Cui has indeed awakened me to reality."
"On the battlefield, amid the flash of swords and shadows of spears, one’s life may vanish in a twinklet—it does seem to be a way to stay in Shengjing permanently."
Cui Yun remained indifferent.
But he didn’t believe it.
He didn’t think a smart man like Xie Xun would marry a Princess and willingly lead an unremarkable life.
Xie Xun, however, suddenly spoke with profound meaning: "What bright future could a military general have? What does Marquis Cui think?"
Cui Yun narrowed his eyes. A sharp look crossed his face.
No one in the world was more entitled to respond to that question than he was.
Xie Xun didn’t dodge or hide. He met Cui Yun’s gaze directly and openly.
There was no probing or hostility, merely an offhand remark, yet by some coincidence, the two most outstanding men of Shengjing reached the same conclusion on this judgment.
After watching Xie Xun for a moment, his eyes became calm, and he spoke emotionlessly, "Indeed, what does it matter if a military general is brave and skilled? When heaven decrees, all one’s life’s glory gets obliterated."
What they risk their lives to protect is the Emperor’s realm.
After sacrificing themselves for their country, it is their families who are left with shattered hearts.
Just like Cui Bai, what was he fighting for?
Was it to leave behind a widow and orphans?
Was it so that Cui Rong would have no father, Qiao Si no husband?
If one cannot even take care of their own family, how can they be expected to care for the common people of the world?
The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince play the game of loving their people as their children, so why don’t they try going to the battlefield themselves?
Is it because they are too precious?
Xie Xun’s peripheral vision fell upon Shen Hua.
He said: "I am also extremely good at writing. Marquis Cui is doing a stable job as the Minister of Ministry of Justice. Which civil service position do you think suits me in the imperial court?"
Cui Yun looked at him as though he wasn’t pretending. The dreary and monotonous officialdom could use some color.
"A civil servant would indeed be underselling your talents."
Cui Yun’s tone was flat as he asked in earnest: "How about the position of Minister of the Ministry of Justice?"
Footsteps approached from afar outside, and both men tacitly stopped talking. Before long, someone knocked on the door.
Ji Teng entered with restraint.
He still looked the way he was remembered, with his head bowed so low that even his posture was hunched, making him seem particularly modest.
Seeing the two people standing in the room, Ji Teng subconsciously fumbled with his clothes in disarray.
"I... I’ve come to fetch someone."
Cui Yun remained silent with his gaze lowered.
Xie Xun said kindly: "Miss Wei is right here."
Ji Teng nodded, moving forward to pick up the completely inebriated Wei Yingying. He then looked towards Cui Yun, with whom he was comparatively more familiar, and said softly, "Then I’ll be leaving first."
"Third Prince, take care," the man replied with a voice as indifferent as the solitude of frost.
Ji Teng bowed his head and hurried out, awkwardly fleeing the restaurant. After he climbed into his carriage and the curtains were drawn, Ji Teng looked down at Wei Yingying in his arms, his emotions indiscernible, and muttered to himself.
"Getting drunk is really... troublesome."
Meanwhile, Cui Yun was also not keen on lingering. He was just about to leave with Shen Hua.
Xie Xun: "Perhaps Marquis Cui would consider taking Lady Yan along with him—"
Cui Yun interrupted.
"Please leave Lady Yan in the care of Heir Xie, farewell."