The wind blows the shackles and the whole city is filled with fragrance, and people are eager to see the official...
Yang Jisheng, with his battered body, carrying heavy shackles and dragging his chains, strode forward, reciting loudly "Reciting on the Way to the Trial" as he headed for a trial that was destined to be unfair.
This scene perfectly demonstrates his sense of righteousness and his willingness to sacrifice his life for justice.
The eyes of the onlookers couldn't help but become moist. The image of Yang Jisheng dragging his shackles and fetters fearlessly forward was deeply imprinted in their minds, shining brightly.
"Lord Yang is innocent."
"Lord Yang is a righteous man. Why should Lord Yang be put in shackles? Why don't you put the shackles on that old traitor?"
"God is blind..."
"Good people don't get good rewards, while evil people enjoy great blessings... ... It's so unfair..."
"Master Yang, we support you."
The onlookers were filled with indignation, sighing, and cursing, but because there were so many people and the scene was chaotic, and the law did not hold everyone responsible, they could express their true feelings without worrying about being held accountable later.
Hearing the noise outside, Left Vice-Chief Censor Yan Maoqing pulled an official from the Ministry of Justice closer and scolded him in a low voice.
The officials from the Ministry of Justice were submissive and waited for Yan Maoqing to finish his scolding before turning away with a hunched back. They called over a few officers and ordered them unhappily to maintain order and suppress the outside speeches.
"Silence! This is a very important place for the trial, no noise allowed!"
The officer took the order and left, sternly reprimanding the crowd watching outside.
It worked a little at first, as the people were still afraid of the police. But after a few minutes of silence, when someone took the lead, order got out of control again, and the people groaned and commented even louder than before.
No matter how much the officers scolded him, it was of no use.
"waste!"
The officials from the Ministry of Justice could not help but scold the officers who were maintaining order.
"Yang Jisheng secretly colluded with the two princes and forged the prince's order. His behavior is tantamount to conspiracy to commit treason. It is this kind of prisoner who should be shackled!" Yan Maoqing shouted loudly at the crowd outside, and ordered the officers to repeat loudly.
"The crime has already been determined before the trial?! You are really good! Conspiracy! Conspiracy!"
"Convicted without trial?!"
"From this point on, the court trial is a joke!"
... ...
When Yan Maoqing's explanation reached the ears of the onlookers, it not only failed to suppress public opinion, but also had the opposite effect, inciting the crowd to speak even more vigorously.
"Forget it. It's better to open it than to block it. It's better to prevent the people from talking than to prevent the flood. Let's get down to business and conduct a good trial. These common people can only talk, and their words... ... are useless."
Yan Shifan, who was sitting in the Ministry of Justice, saw this scene, called Yan Maoqing, shook his head at him, and curled the corner of his mouth in disdain.
At this moment, Yan Song, Zhao Wenhua and others were also sitting in the yamen, silently watching the court trial outside.
After Yang Jisheng walked into the Ministry of Justice, the trial began.
The Ministry of Justice presided over the trial, with the chief judge being the Minister of Justice He Ao, and the Vice Minister of Justice Wang Xueyi and the Doctor of Justice Shi Chaobin sitting in the center of the trial seat. The secondary trial seats on both sides were occupied by officials from the Dali Temple, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Imperial Guard. Further down, there were the audience seats where Zhu Pingan and others were sitting.
Yang Jisheng was standing in the hall wearing shackles and shackles.
"Who is this person in the hall?!"
The Minister of Justice He Ao slammed the gavel and asked the question even though he knew the answer.
"I am the upright and guilty minister Yang Jisheng, Yang Jisheng!" Yang Jisheng replied proudly.
"good!"
When they heard Yang Jisheng's self-introduction, the crowd watching outside couldn't help but burst into applause and cheers.
The Minister of Justice He Ao couldn't help but frown.
Wang Xueyi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, was a die-hard member of the Yan Party. Seeing Yang Jisheng so confident, he couldn't help but flash a fierce light in his eyes. He sneered and shouted at Yang Jisheng, "You bold criminal Yang Jisheng, how dare you not kneel in the court? Do you want to despise the court?!"
"Mighty..."
Following the suggestion of Wang Xueyi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, the officers on both sides of the government office immediately cooperated and slammed the water and fire sticks in their hands against the ground with great force, making loud and powerful sounds to put pressure on Yang Jisheng who was standing in the hall.
"Wang Xueyi is a well-known member of the Yan Party. This is no secret. He is known for his lack of moral integrity. Yang Jisheng naturally despised him. He raised his head and glanced at Wang Xueyi, and spat with disdain, "What crime have I, Yang Jisheng, committed in impeaching a traitor who has brought disaster to the country and the people? Moreover, I am a second-class Jinshi selected by the emperor. What qualifications do you, a traitor and lackey, have to ask me to kneel down!"
Wang Xueyi's face turned black when he heard this. He slammed the table in anger and stretched out his hand to grab a stick, ready to throw it at Yang Jisheng, "You are so bold, you dare not kneel down during the trial, and you insult the judge. You are defying the court, stubborn and unyielding, and you think that my power is not enough? Come on, beat me up!"
Damn, how can there be a trial like this!
This is an abuse of public resources!
This is a court trial, not a county court in the countryside!
Seeing this, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but stand up.
"Zihou, calm down, we are just listening." Yin Shidan grabbed Zhu Ping'an in time and shook his head at him.
Zhu Ping'an calmed down after hearing this. Yin Shidan was right. He was just an audience and had no right to speak in the court. Even if he spoke at the top of his lungs, it would not have any effect. He would definitely be driven out of the trial by Wang Xueyi and others on the grounds of disturbing the court.
A little lack of patience will ruin great plans!
So Zhu Pingan laughed dryly and said, "Haha, my butt hurts after sitting for too long. I'll get up and move around."
After saying that, Zhu Ping'an stretched out for a while and sat down again.
Fortunately, Wang Xueyi's stick was stopped by Shi Chaobin, a doctor of the Ministry of Justice, who was standing nearby.
Shi Chaobin reached out and pressed the stick in Wang Xueyi's hand, shook his head gently, and whispered, "Sir Wang, Yang Jisheng has a reputation for merit, so he doesn't have to kneel. As for insulting the judge, since he is the first offender, just give him a warning. If he does it again, it won't be too late to beat him again."
Wang Xueyi looked impatient, but thinking that it would be a bit ugly to just start fighting, he gave Shi Chaobin some face.
"Yang Jisheng, let me ask you, who instructed you to submit a petition to slander and defame Lord Yan Song?"
The Minister of Justice He Ao had received instructions from Yan Song before the trial, so he asked according to Yan Song's instructions.
"First, I impeached the traitor Yan Song, not to frame him or slander him. The 'five treacherous crimes and ten major crimes' committed by Yan Song are all true, with irrefutable evidence, and can be found out with a simple investigation. Second, I impeached Yan Song to plead for the people and to eliminate traitors and flatterers for the Ming Dynasty. This is out of my passion, so why should I be instructed by others!!!"
Yang Jisheng sneered and made an impassioned speech.
"Not instructed by anyone? Well, then let me ask you again, why did you say 'or ask the two princes' in your memorial? Why did you involve the two princes?" He Ao was prepared for Yang Jisheng's answer, and then asked another question.
Hearing He Ao's question, Yang Jisheng couldn't help but think of Zhu Ping'an's reminder yesterday morning.
"Why did I say 'or ask the two princes'?" Yang Jisheng laughed up to the sky, his eyes sweeping over everyone in the main and secondary trial seats, "Why don't you ask yourself, Minister He?! In today's court trial, how many of you present here are Yan's accomplices? I don't need to point them out one by one, right?! Can you judge the case impartially?! Humph, just like all of you present here, most of the court officials are Yan's close friends. Only the two princes are young and not afraid of Yan Song, and dare to tell the truth in front of His Majesty. I said 'or ask the two princes' because I hope His Majesty can learn the truth from Prince Yu and Prince Jing."