Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 357: Killing the Chicken (Part 2)

Three days later, Yang Shi accompanied Qin Hu to the West E County Government.

"Greetings, Commandery Princess!" Yang Zheng cupped his hands and saluted the Commandery Princess.

To be honest, back then, Yang Zheng didn’t respect the young Commandery Princess very much. But in the past three years, Jiang Shaohua firmly controlled the Nanyang Prince Mansion and Nanyang County, making Yang Zheng more cautious.

Jiang Shaohua had previous interactions with Yang Zheng’s eldest uncle, Vice Minister Yang, from the Ministry of Justice back in Capital City. Respecting Vice Minister Yang, Jiang Shaohua was pleased to give Yang Zheng proper consideration, smiling: "Yang Shi, the journey must have been tiring."

Yang Zheng was almost overwhelmed by the favor, hurriedly saying, "It is only right for me to share the burdens of the Commandery Princess as I receive the Prince Mansion’s remuneration. I dare not speak of hardship. Command me as you please!"

No one is perfect. Yang Zheng had many faults but some barely tolerable merits; with proper guidance, he was still usable.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Chen Jinyu, who understood immediately, stepped forward, and recounted the Chief Clerk Zhao’s embezzlement of grain.

Yang Zheng understood at once and said gravely, "According to Da Liang Law, official embezzlement is a serious crime. If the embezzlement of silver taels exceeds a certain amount, it can result in the death penalty."

"Death seems a bit too severe." Jiang Shaohua said calmly, "Spare the life of Chief Clerk Zhao."

Yang Zheng cupped his hands in agreement.

The next day, announcements were posted outside the West E County Government. The government officials posted the announcements and loudly addressed the crowd that had gathered to watch, "Chief Clerk Zhao embezzled grain and will undergo a public trial in two days. Everyone can come to witness the trial outside the main hall of the county government."

The news spread like wildfire throughout Xi’e County.

The date for the public trial was set for two days later intentionally so that the informed citizens could all come and watch the trial.

Even in the settlements set up to help the hungry, people were excitedly discussing this matter.

As for the trial itself, everyone had seen trials before. However, a public trial questioning a Chief Clerk was a novel event for the citizens. In the eyes of the citizens, even the lowly-ranked Chief Clerk was a significant figure.

"Grain was given to us by the Commandery Princess. That Chief Clerk Zhao dared to withhold the grain, and the Commandery Princess naturally would not let him go!"

"That’s right. Our Commandery Princess cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in her eye."

At some point, everyone started referring to her as "our Commandery Princess."

The two elderly people who had been questioned by the Commandery Princess herself that day were surrounded by the crowd, standing proudly with bright faces: "The Commandery Princess is standing up for us. No one can embezzle our food."

"Wild vegetables may be edible, but the Commandery Princess can’t bear to let us eat them. She wants us to eat grain to fill our bellies. That Chief Clerk Zhao, truly black-hearted and bold, dares to deceive the Commandery Princess. This time, there’s no hope for him!"

"Why don’t we also go watch the public trial?"

"Can we really go?"

"Why not! The Commandery Princess said that those of us who have come to Xi’e County are citizens of Xi’e. If the Commandery Princess is holding a public trial for Chief Clerk Zhao, we should go watch."

This suggestion immediately garnered responses and support from the hungry people.

Leaving one’s homeland and settling in unfamiliar places often brings unease and insecurity. Yet somehow, after this incident, everyone stood a little taller and felt significantly more assured.

On the day of Chief Clerk Zhao’s public trial, the able-bodied men among the hungry people continued to cultivate the barren land, while the elderly and weak who could not work in the fields all came to the county government’s exterior.

The citizens of Xi’e managed to live relatively well in the past two years, each wearing clean cloth attire. The newly arrived hungry people had pale faces and ragged clothes, only slightly better than beggars.

Standing outside the county government formed a natural divide. The hungry people who had initially summoned the courage started to hunch their already straightened backs under the watchful eyes of Xi’e’s citizens.

At this moment, the main hall of the county government opened its doors. Two tall and strong aides came out, walking up to the hungry people: "The Commandery Princess has ordered that for Chief Clerk Zhao’s embezzlement case, the plaintiffs are you. We now invite some of you to step into the public hall and accuse Chief Clerk Zhao face to face. Who dares to go?"

The hungry people suddenly became excited and chaotic. Soon, the two elderly people who had spoken with the Commandery Princess on that day stood up, along with three other men of varying ages.

Meng Sanbao then loudly addressed the citizens of Xi’e: "Among the citizens of Xi’e, anyone who wishes to enter the hall and personally witness may nominate themselves."

Everyone loves excitement, but stepping into the hall to witness requires exceptional courage. After some commotion in the crowd, three men finally stepped forward.

Qin Humeng led these eight people into the main hall of the county government.

Yang Shi sat solemnly in the position of the chief judge, with the Commandery Princess on the left side, and County Magistrate Zou on the right.

Having been kept in the county jail for several days, Chief Clerk Zhao was soon brought out. Puffty Chief Clerk Zhao had lost a circle of weight in just a few days, kneeling in the public hall and began crying bitterly.

"Smack!"

Yang Shi slammed the gavel heavily and sternly rebuked: "Silence! No shouting in court!"

He was hardly shouting in court; he was clearly crying and begging!

Chief Clerk Zhao was filled with grievance but dared not speak again.

Yang Shi had served for years as the judicial officer in Nanyang County, overseeing the criminal justice. Yang Shi was proficient in criminal law, skilled in handling cases, and had quite an authoritative presence. These past three years, Yang Shi frequently accompanied the Commandery Princess in inspecting and judging cases, always following her orders, earning the nickname of a "dogged judicial officer."

The nickname might not be pleasant, but he firmly maintained his position as the Judicial Officer of the Nanyang Prince Mansion.

Yang Shi first inquired the five hungry people who entered the hall: "Initially, how much grain did you receive daily? From when was your food ration halved?"

After the hungry people answered one by one, he coldly asked: "Chief Clerk Zhao, is what they said true?"

Chief Clerk Zhao had confessed his crimes days ago and dared not argue further, only kowtowing and pleading for mercy.

Jiang Shaohua was undisturbed.

Yang Shi, cold-hearted as iron, announced in court that Chief Clerk Zhao’s embezzlement of grain was indeed factual. According to Da Liang Law, his penalty would be removing his official’s hat, struck forty heavy lashes, then banished from Nanyang County.

Chief Clerk Zhao’s face turned pale as he cried "Commandery Princess forgive me," but before he could utter another word, a foul-smelling tattered cloth was stuffed into his mouth, silencing him entirely.

He was promptly dragged outside the public hall to a clearing, where he received forty fierce lashes in front of all the citizens.

The Commandery Princess watched coldly while the government officials dared not hold back, swinging the wooden sticks with all their might. After a dozen or so strikes, Chief Clerk Zhao’s skin was torn, his back bloody and raw, and his cries grew weaker.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Yang Zheng.

Yang Shi immediately called out loudly: "Pause for now. Carry Chief Clerk Zhao inside and fetch a doctor to check on him. The remaining twenty lashes will be given once Chief Clerk Zhao recovers."

Jiang Shaohua was quite satisfied with Yang Shi’s handling. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

County Magistrate Zou, sitting beside him, felt chills running up his spine.

An hour later, Chief Clerk Zhao was revived with a bowl of restorative soup, and was again carried out, receiving the remaining twenty lashes.

After the lashes, the half-dead Chief Clerk Zhao was placed on a carriage and sent out of Xi’e County that very day. Days later, he exited Nanyang, never to be seen again.

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