Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 173

Early the next morning.

When Magistrate Zhao woke up, his mind was filled with thoughts of the case from the previous day.

The threads of the case were tangled and confusing, and he felt extremely anxious. He scolded himself, “With such a complicated case, how could you sleep like a pig! You are supposed to uphold justice. The case isn’t resolved yet, how can you sleep! How can you face the wrongly killed Princess Zhao Yue!”

Filled with regret, Magistrate Zhao dressed faster than usual.

By the time he was ready, his servant had just brought in water for washing his face. Seeing his master already in his formal attire, the servant’s eye twitched. “Master, you haven’t washed your face yet.”

Magistrate Zhao waved his hand. “No time. I need to visit the prison first, then go straight to the court.”

The servant, who had been with Magistrate Zhao for many years, quickly asked, “Did Lord Gu ask you to go so early? Master, there are some things I shouldn’t say, but I can’t hold back. Regarding He Yujiao’s case, His Majesty appreciates your efforts. If you suddenly…”

Before he could finish, Magistrate Zhao interrupted, puzzled.

“Lord Gu? Which Lord Gu?”

Servant: “Huh?”

Stunned for a moment, he said, “The Minister of War, Lord Gu.”

Magistrate Zhao looked even more puzzled. “What’s Lord Gu got to do with my visit to the prison? He’s not the main judge of this case. Do I need to inform him? Ridiculous!”

Servant: “…”

Ridiculous? You are the ridiculous one!

Seeing his master acting as if he had forgotten everything after a night’s sleep, the servant reminded him, “Master, Lord Gu visited you late last night. Didn’t he mention He Yujiao’s case?”

Magistrate Zhao looked as if he had heard a ghost story, staring at the servant. “Last night, Gu Zongming visited? Visited me?”

Servant: “…”

Who else would he visit?

“Master, you don’t remember?” the servant asked carefully, feeling that something was wrong with his master’s mind.

Magistrate Zhao glared at him. “Should I remember?”

Servant: “…”

Swallowing, the servant continued bravely, “Well, after Lord Gu left, he gave you something, and you asked me to keep it. Should I bring it to you to jog your memory?”

A cup of tea later.

Magistrate Zhao looked at the thick leather envelope in his hand, his face darkening. “This is from Gu Zongming? What else did he say?”

Servant: “…”

“You said to notify the young master to report to the first class of the Imperial Academy today.”

Magistrate Zhao’s face, already dark, turned even darker.

“The Imperial Academy is a place for selecting the nation’s pillars. What’s it become? Lord Gu’s private tutor? He can just place anyone he wants there? Even Zhao Yu’s character would be a miracle if the third class accepted him, let alone the first class!”

Fuming, Magistrate Zhao grabbed the leather envelope and stormed out. The servant hurried after him. “Master, you haven’t washed your face yet.”

Magistrate Zhao snapped, “With villains running amok, I have no time to wash my face!”

Servant: “…”

Is my master crazy?

Instead of going to the prison to check on He Yujiao, Magistrate Zhao, filled with anger, went straight to the palace.

In the Golden Hall.

Because He Yujiao had been captured, the case of Princess Zhao Yue had surfaced, and the entire court was discussing it.

Some suggested sending envoys to Zhao Kingdom to inquire about it, some said not to fully trust He Yujiao’s words, and others mentioned He Yujiao’s collusion with Zhao Kingdom.

The Emperor listened to the chaotic discussion with a splitting headache.

Amid the noise, a thunderous voice rose, startling everyone into silence as they turned to look.

Magistrate Zhao stood there with an aura of righteousness, eyes straight ahead, full of momentum. “Your Majesty, I have a report!”

The Emperor raised his hand slightly. “Speak, beloved official.”

Magistrate Zhao slapped the leather envelope onto the floor.

Seeing the envelope, both Huang Bangyuan and Gu Zongming turned pale.

What is the meaning of this?

Magistrate Zhao stood tall, his usual somewhat sleazy posture replaced with one of upright integrity.

“Your Majesty, last night, the Minister of War, Lord Gu Zongming, visited my residence and attempted to bribe me with this envelope, asking me to keep him informed about the progress of He Yujiao’s case. Such an outrageous act of treachery is intolerable. I thought it best to present this evidence in court.”

After speaking, the entire court fell silent.

Yesterday, Magistrate Zhao’s sudden anger and harsh interrogation of He Yujiao had already shocked everyone in the court, but it was just rumors as no one had seen it with their own eyes.

But now…

The usually unprincipled Magistrate Zhao was publicly exposing Gu Zongming’s bribery?

This was madness!

Only the Minister of Justice, the Imperial Censor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court remained calm.

“Your Majesty, I am innocent!”

After the brief shock, both Huang Bangyuan and Gu Zongming knelt and pleaded their innocence.

The Emperor, who had been suffering from a headache, suddenly felt relieved and sat up straight.

“You say this was sent to your residence by Lord Gu. Do you have any evidence?”

Magistrate Zhao replied, “Inside the envelope are three property deeds. If Your Majesty investigates the ownership of these properties, you will find the truth. Additionally, last night, Lord Gu also suggested that my unworthy son should attend the first class of the Imperial Academy. I know my son’s character well. He is not fit for such a prestigious class.  I have always believed the Imperial Academy is a sacred place, and I never imagined it could be influenced by someone like this. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and ensure fairness for all scholars. Students study hard for many years to succeed. We cannot allow their efforts to be undermined by those with ill intentions.”

Magistrate Zhao’s clear and firm voice was like the bells of the Grand Buddha Temple, echoing through the hall.

Gu Zongming looked at Magistrate Zhao in disbelief.

What was he doing?

Was yesterday’s behavior all an act?

Did he deliberately lure me into a trap?

How despicable!

The Emperor looked at Gu Zongming. “Lord Gu, do you have anything to say?”

Gu Zongming’s heart skipped a beat. Suppressing his anger, he quickly replied, “Your Majesty, it is true that I visited Magistrate Zhao last night, but it was to apologize. Regarding He Yujiao’s case, I spoke out of ignorance, almost causing a great disaster and delaying the investigation. I was so troubled that I went to Magistrate Zhao’s residence to express my regret. As for the first class of the Imperial Academy, Magistrate Zhao must have misunderstood me. I offered to lend him some notes from a teacher in the first class for his son to study. I have never tried to influence the Imperial Academy. As someone from a humble background, I understand the struggles of poor scholars.”