After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine-Chapter 39
After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine Chapter 39
The news that Jiang Suizhou was going to the Ministry of Justice had already spread. When he got off the carriage, the Minister of Justice was waiting for him outside the door.
When the Minister of Justice saw him get off, he greeted him with a smile and, seeing that Jiang Suizhou was walking weakly, even reached out to help him.
Jiang Suizhou didn’t show him any deference and evaded him sideways, as Meng Qianshan was steadily supporting him.
"I’ve been waiting for Your Highness for a long time. Your Highness, please," the Minister of Justice smiled, moved sideways and said.
Jiang Suizhou spoke indifferently: "You and I are of the same rank, so there is no need to be polite. Besides, I’m here today to be tried."
When the Minister of Justice heard this, he laughed and replied, "What are you talking about, Your Highness? Our Ministry of Justice is investigating this case, but because Your Highness had a sickness some days ago, you had no part in this matter. Even if we want to investigate, we also can not investigate Your Highness..."
Jiang Suizhou raised his hand to put a stop to his speech.
"There are some things that I have handled." He said indifferently. "Even if you do not check, I need to personally ask."
Hearing him say this, the Minister of Justice responded repeatedly and invited him in.
The cause and effect was just an ordinary case of embezzlement. The funds received by the Ministry of Rites were approved by the Ministry of Revenue. The total sum and where it was spent were all recorded in the accounts. However, when sorting the accounts this morning was coming to an end, someone suddenly found that many of the gold and jade arranged as banquet furnishings were all substandard. After accounting for all of it, there was a considerable discrepancy in the numbers.
"Our Ministry of punishment has roughly calculated that Lord Ji has embezzled at least this number!" The Minister of Justice held up for fingers at Jiang Suizhou.
“Be frank, and don’t speak in riddles with me,” Jiang Suizhou said coldly.
The Minister of Justice replied, "At least four thousand taels."
Four thousand taels, though not an enormous amount, was taken from the emperor’s birthday banquet. Embezzling behind the emperor’s back, no matter if it was only four thousands taels, was a major crime for ordinary officials, with sentences ranging from exile to beheading.
Jiang Suizhou did not say anything.
On the other hand, the Minister of Justice continued chattering, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. From now on, even if our Ministry of Justice goes to your house to investigate, it will only be a routine check. This matter is mainly about Ji You and has nothing to do with you..."
However, Jiang Suizhou returned lightly, “I need to see Ji You.”
The Minister of Justice was stunned, and a bit of reluctance surfaced on his face.
“This...Ji You is currently being detained…” he faltered.
Jiang Suizhou remained unperturbed.
"There is a batch of raw materials that I took over," he said. "I need to ask him privately about this matter before I can be at ease.”
Hearing these words, the Minister of Justice probably understood.
Ji You was corrupt, but King Jing wasn’t a good man either.
King Jing was probably not at all clean about handling His Majesty's birthday banquet, so he was so anxious and rushed to the Ministry of Justice. Moreover, he also wanted to interrogate Ji You privately.
However, the Minister of Justice had long received an order from the top that this matter today must be settled and pinned on Ji You. Well, it wouldn’t be a big deal if His Highness King Jing wanted to pass the blame to Ji You.
After all, what could His Majesty say even if His Highness King Jing, his royal relative, embezzled some silver?
With this thought in mind, the Minister of Justice also put his guard down and reluctantly agreed to take Jiang Suizhou to the Ministry of Justice’ prison.
Most of the criminals held in the cells of the Ministry of Justice were those who were still under suspicion, still on trial, or were relatively guilty of minor crimes. Therefore, the security of the Ministry of Justice’s prison was not so strict compared with the Imperial Court’s Prison. The environment was also better. There were even small windows everywhere for light and ventilation in the cells.
Jiang Suizhou followed the Minister of Justice all the way to the depths of the prison. After turning a corner, he saw Ji You, who was detained in a cell.
Ji You was sitting alone on a straw-covered bed in his cell. As he had only just been imprisoned, his clothes were still tidy, and he was in good spirits.
Hearing someone coming, Ji You lifted his head.
Then he saw Jiang Suizhou, who stopped at the door of the cell and raised his hand to signal the Minister of Justice to go out and wait.
“Err…” The Minister of Justice hesitated.
"Half a stick of an incense," Jiang Suizhou said.
The Minister of Justice hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Then Your Highness must cut the long story short. I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance of the cell."
The minister thought to himself: after all, Ji You had already been sent to prison, so His Highness King Jing must have nothing too important to ask him. Ji You was not a high ranking official and did not have any backing, so it would not be worthwhile to provoke King Jing over this trivial matter.
The Minister of Justice retired.
Seeing that he was far away, Jiang Suizhou stepped forward: "Lord Ji."
Ji You got up from the bed and walked to the door of the cell, staring at Jiang Suizhou through the iron bars.
"Your Highness King Jing..?" He was awashed with disbelief.
Jiang Suizhou paused and said unhurriedly, "...I originally wanted to return your books today."
His words caught Ji You off guard, and then he smiled bitterly.
"Your Highness doesn't need to return them," he said, "Unexpected situations may happen any time, and people have their own destiny. I guess my destiny is right here."
Jiang Suizhou felt deeply uncomfortable when he saw Ji You’s appearance.
