Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 171

Regarding the man from the Zhao Kingdom she was raising, Song Qingzhan and Qin Mo had already gone to look for him. The two had not yet sent back any news, but they were not in a hurry.

After sending off the two princesses, the Magistrate Zhao immediately drafted a dossier and presented it to the palace.

Unlike the royal palaces of other dynasties, the current Emperor’s palace was harmonious, with the concubines and their children all getting along well.

The incident involving Princess Zhao Yue being sent to the palace caused quite a stir and commotion.

When the Empress received the news, she fainted at the mahjong table.

The Emperor was so furious he spat blood and nearly died on the spot.

The entire palace was in chaos.

At the same time, the house of Gu Zongming was also in an uproar.

Huang Yunsheng had already gotten into trouble. The old case in Jinling was ironclad, and it was brought to light by a prince who had real military power.

No matter how capable Huang Bangyuan was, he couldn’t rescue his son.

All his hopes were pinned on Gu Zongming, hoping that Gu Zongming could secure a reprieve from the death penalty for his son. Then he could find another way.

As long as they could delay, there would always be a way.

The death penalty could be commuted to life imprisonment, and life imprisonment could eventually be reduced. After two or three years, when the situation calmed down, perhaps his son could be released. Moreover, if a new Emperor ascended, he might even declare his son’s case a miscarriage of justice.

Then his son could continue his official career.

But now, He Yujiao was in trouble.

Huang Bangyuan didn’t know how deep the connection between Gu Zongming and He Yujiao was, but during the construction of the Liyang Dam years ago, they had used Jiang Yi’s engineering plans, and He Yujiao had contributed significantly.

If He Yujiao exposed this matter, many people in the Ministry of Works would be implicated.

All the people he had nurtured in the Ministry of Works over the years would be wasted.

Moreover, over the years, for various projects, Huang Yunsheng didn’t understand water management; every case was handled by He Yujiao with information from Jiang Yi.

Huang Bangyuan was so worried he felt he might go bald. “My Lord, what should we do about He Yujiao? It seems that besides silencing her, there’s no other choice. Fortunately, everyone’s attention is on Princess Zhao Yue’s case now. We still have some time. Once the case of Princess Zhao Yue is over and the Three Judicial Offices have time to investigate other matters, we are doomed.”

Gu Zongming was also extremely anxious.

With his hands behind his back, he paced back and forth.

After pacing for a long time, he said, “Why are you panicking? Let me see the Magistrate Zhao first. There’s something odd about this; the key isn’t He Yujiao, it’s the Magistrate Zhao.”

He had never seen the Magistrate Zhao behave like this.

It was as if he had become a different person.

Something unusual must be going on.

If the Magistrate Zhao could act like this today, there must be an unspeakable reason behind it.

“But the Magistrate Zhao was so righteous today, clearly intending to put He Yujiao to death without leaving any room for maneuver. Is it useful to see him?” Huang Bangyuan was uneasy.

Gu Zongming said firmly, “Useful or not, I must go. I need to find out why he is acting this way.”

Late at night.

The busy Magistrate Zhao finally fell asleep, filled with immense shock and sorrow.

He had a very strange dream.

In the dream, he alternated between being Judge Bao delivering justice, Hai Rui with his unyielding integrity, Yu Qian who faced death unflinchingly, and Zhou Yafu.

In the dream, he even beat up the current national hero, He Yujiao.

My goodness!

With a jolt, the Magistrate Zhao woke up in fright.

Panting heavily, he looked out the window.

Moonlight streamed in through the large window, and the northwest wind howled, making the branches tremble violently.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he closed his eyes and got out of bed.

Fortunately, it was just a dream.

Oh my, how could he really beat He Yujiao? She was the fearless national hero, even the Emperor revered her.

Unless he wanted to end his family line, he wouldn’t dare say a harsh word to her, let alone beat her.

Walking to the table, the Magistrate Zhao habitually poured a cup of tea. When woken up in the middle of the night, he usually drank a cup of tea before going back to sleep.

Others might not sleep after drinking tea, but he was different. A sip of hot tea helped him sleep soundly.

With the tea warming his mouth, his breathing steadied. His peripheral vision caught sight of something on the table, an unfinished case file.

A case file?

What case had he been investigating today that he brought the register home?

It had been many years since he had been this diligent.

Tsk~

Rubbing his temples, the Magistrate Zhao suddenly couldn’t recall what he had investigated today. It felt like he had done many things, but now everything seemed vague, like a shadow, and he couldn’t remember anything clearly.

Setting down the teacup, he picked up the register.

Clang!

The moment he saw the register, his eyes widened, and he staggered backward, falling to the ground.

Good heavens!

What had he done!

Bang!

As he fell, he instinctively grabbed the table for stability, but the sudden fall caused him to yank the sturdy pearwood round table down with him.

The table crashed to the ground, shattering the teapot and cups.

The Magistrate Zhao sat on the floor, staring at the register in his hand, utterly shocked.

The noise disturbed the servant on night duty outside. “Master, are you alright?”

Licking his lips, the Magistrate Zhao murmured, “I’m fine.”

His gaze fell on the register.

Today, in court, had he really tortured He Yujiao?

Using a paddle?

Beating her?

The Magistrate Zhao shivered, feeling cold all over.

But soon, the chill spread from his body to his heart and organs.

Today, had he entered the palace and forced the Emperor to let him take He Yujiao back to the Magistrate Zhao’s Office for interrogation?

To force the Emperor, had he insisted to the point of near death in the imperial study?

The Magistrate Zhao instinctively touched his forehead.

He hoped to feel his smooth bald head.

However, reality was cruel. He felt a scar, which ached and made him shudder.

Damn!

He continued to read the record.

Today, in the Three Judicial Offices, he had presided over He Yujiao’s trial. He shamelessly sat in the main seat in front of the Minister of Justice, the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, and the Censor-in-Chief?

Had he gone mad?

The Magistrate Zhao was terrified by the record.

Just then, the servant’s voice sounded again, “Master, the Minister of War, Lord Gu, wishes to see you.”

The Magistrate Zhao’s eyes landed on a line in the register, showing that today in the public court, he had angrily rebuked Gu Zongming.

Devastated!