Chongzhen: Why is the emperor's head square?

Chapter 24 The Totem of Immortality

Back to the Wuying Hall.

Take out the Undying Totem you just obtained from your inventory.

I don't know about the real world.

Is the Undying Totem activated simply by being carried, or does it need to be held in your hand?

Anyway, there are ten immortal totems.

Using one for the experiment is fine.

The key is finding someone to conduct the experiments.

As the emperor, I can choose anyone to try it out, but if the protection effect of the Undying Totem is not triggered, people will die.

Indiscriminate killing is not in my nature.

"Wang Chengen".

"This servant is here."

"Where are the prison cells in the Ministry of Justice?"

Using death row inmates for experiments is the most suitable method.

These people were already guilty of a capital offense; this is considered letting them contribute their final value.

"The Ministry of Justice's prison is located on the west side of the Imperial City, adjacent to the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review."

"Take me there directly."

Wang Chengen immediately led Zhu Youjian to the Ministry of Justice prison.

Those imprisoned there are mostly political criminals.

In other words, offending officials were basically imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's prison.

Very few ordinary people are imprisoned here.

When Zhu Youjian decided to go to the Ministry of Justice.

Wang Chengen had someone inform Feng Ying, the Minister of Justice, in advance so that he could receive the guest and avoid any mishaps.

When Zhu Youjian arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review all came to greet him.

As the dragon carriage sank.

All the officials bowed their heads.

Zhu Youjian said calmly, "Get up, all of you. There's nothing else. Ministers, please go about your business."

After dismissing everyone.

Minister of Justice Feng Ying stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, has something important to discuss with you today?"

The emperor personally visited the Ministry of Justice prison.

This seems to be the first time, right?

When Zhu Youjian wanted to kill someone, he only needed to issue an imperial edict; he didn't need to go in person at all.

Seeing Feng Ying's hunched back, Zhu Youjian patted his shoulder and said, "Minister Feng, there's no need to be so nervous. Compile the recent death penalty cases from the Ministry of Justice and show them to me."

Upon hearing this, Feng Ying's expression turned sorrowful.

After a moment of silence, he replied, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment while I go and do it."

When Feng Ying returned to the Ministry of Justice and began organizing the case files...

Holding a case file in his hand, he hesitated to make a decision.

I don't know whether this case file should be shown to the emperor.

Chen Ying, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was standing to the side, watched this scene and made a decision for Feng Ying, placing the case file in Feng Ying's hands directly into the pile of case files.

"Minister Feng, we don't need to wait any longer for the outcome of this case."

Feng Ying looked at Chen Ying.

After thinking it over, I still took out the file.

Just as Feng Ying was about to take this file out of the case file.

Chen Ying grasped Feng Ying's hand.

"It's not worth offending the Grand Secretary for the sake of Zheng E."

Feng Ying pondered for a moment, then sighed softly.

"His Majesty's personal presence is Zheng E's only chance."

"Don't be naive. His Majesty won't give Zheng E justice. Have you forgotten that His Majesty didn't interfere when Wen Tiren and others tried to install the Crown Prince?"

"Even something like this can't shake Wen Tiren's position in His Majesty's heart, so how could Zheng E possibly do so? You're only pushing yourself into the abyss by doing this."

"It's not worth risking your future, or even your life, for a complete stranger!"

Feng Ying remained silent.

"To sentence someone to death without sufficient evidence is a trampling of the laws of the Ming Dynasty!"

Just as the two were arguing about whether or not Zheng E should be listed as a death row inmate.

A person appeared at the entrance of the criminal investigation department.

Grand Secretary Wen Ti-jen.

Upon learning that the emperor had gone to the Ministry of Justice prison, Wen Tiren rushed to the Ministry of Justice immediately.

He looked at Feng Ying, the Minister of Justice, and the dossier in his hand.

Wen Tiren smiled faintly and said, "Minister Feng, the Zheng E case is settled."

"He beat his mother and raped his sister; he is sentenced to be executed by dismemberment."

"Since Your Majesty requires the case files of death row inmates, why isn't this one included?"

Feng Ying looked at Wen Tiren and explained, "Your Excellency, if the evidence is true and Zheng E is indeed guilty, then I have no objection to sentencing him to death by dismemberment."

"But if the evidence is conclusive, why don't you agree to let us go to Zheng E's hometown to search for it?"

"Or is this not an ironclad case to begin with, but rather a deliberate frame-up by Grand Secretary Wen?"

Was it a deliberate frame-up?

Wen Tiren was not angry; he simply smiled calmly and said, "He is a member of the Donglin Party."

Feng Ying responded without hesitation: "I don't care whether he's a member of the Donglin Party or the Zhejiang Party. All I know is that criminal cases are based solely on evidence."

"Regardless of party affiliation, no one should suffer undeserved calamity. Criminal law is not a tool for your partisan struggles. Criminal law is about right and wrong; wrong is wrong, and right is right!"

He's getting on in years.

Such naive ideas.

Wen Tiren simply smiled calmly: "Minister Feng has just taken office this year and is unfamiliar with many of the rules of the court, which is understandable."

"But in the Zheng E case, no matter how hard you argue, it will all be in vain."

Just as the two sides were at an impasse.

Wang Zhong walked in.

"Minister Feng, His Majesty is pressing us for more information. Haven't the death penalty case files been compiled yet?"

Feng Ying glanced at Wen Tiren, but still decided to confront him head-on.

The case file of Zheng E was placed among the pile of case files.

A chill flashed in Wen Tiren's eyes as he watched this scene.

……

The Ministry of Justice prison.

Feng Ying brought a pile of death penalty case files to Zhu Youjian.

"Your Majesty, these are the death penalty case files."

Zhu Youjian nodded.

I picked up a few at random and glanced at them.

Those who failed to provide adequate reinforcements after Zhang Xianzhong captured Fengyang were sentenced to death.

These people have all been executed.

Because it was late autumn, most of the death row inmates had already been executed.

Finding a death row inmate to test the effects of the immortality totem is quite difficult.

Just then, a close attendant reported that the Grand Secretary, Wen Tiren, was requesting an audience.

Zhu Youjian was somewhat surprised.

Why is Wen Tiren here?

"Let him in."

Immediately afterwards, Wen Tiren brought the Zheng E case file to Zhu Youjian.

"His Majesty."

"Why is Grand Secretary Wen here in the Ministry of Justice prison?" Zhu Youjian asked while reviewing the case files.

"I heard that Your Majesty wishes to review all death penalty cases. I have a death penalty case file here for Your Majesty to peruse."

Feng Ying remained silent.

Zhu Youjian glanced at Feng Ying beside him, then gestured for Wang Chengen to hand it over.

After taking the case file and scanning it, I could roughly understand its contents.

Zheng E was impeached for beating his mother and raping his sister, and is currently under joint trial by the three judicial departments.

If nothing unexpected happens, the death penalty is inevitable.

Beating one's mother with a cane was considered unfilial, and in the Ming Dynasty, which placed great importance on filial piety, it was already a heinous crime. Raping one's sister was an even more serious crime.

"Minister Feng, why isn't this case among these case files?"

Feng Ying knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty! In the case of Zheng E, the evidence is insufficient, and he cannot be sentenced to death!"

Insufficient evidence?

Zhu Youjian looked toward Wen Tiren.

Wen Tiren immediately explained, "Your Majesty, the evidence in this case is conclusive, and this is the prevailing opinion in the countryside."

Feng Ying quickly retorted, "How can mere rural gossip, rather than official court opinion, serve as evidence?"