As long as he is here, how can we achieve what we want?
King Xiang insisted that Shen Ao was guilty, and no matter how he defended himself, he looked like sophistry. Shen Ao shook his head lightly, no longer looking at him, but faced Emperor Qianwen and said: "Your Majesty, I am stupid and have several problems. I don’t know, but I wonder if I could ask the three adults for advice.”
"Well, if you have any questions, you can ask me in person. The three of you should tell me everything you know." Emperor Qianwen replied calmly. He wanted to see what Shen Ao was up to and what he wanted to do next. .
If things are settled well, Emperor Qianwen can pretend that this matter never happened. If not, although he will not be severely punished, after all, there are still too many places to rely on him. But a beating is indispensable.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Ao seemed not to have thought of this. After bowing and saluting, he raised his head again and his eyes fell on Fan Shitong, Bai Ligui and Du Jin.
These three officials were originally just watching the excitement. Now it is obvious that King Xiang wants to take this opportunity to deal with Shen Ao, and His Majesty also wants to beat up a loyal Duke. With father and son working together, Shen Ao's ending will definitely not be good. Wherever they go, at least they are bound to suffer a loss, because even if they stand in Shen Ao's current angle and position, they may not be able to escape the fate of being punished. But at this time, Shen Ao actually wanted to ask them a question. The three of them His complexion couldn't help but change.
"This Shen Ao, it's not like he has done something wrong and can't shirk it, so he wants to bring us in to talk about it and share the responsibility."
The three of them had almost the same idea, and when they looked at Shen Ao, they were all more focused. They were afraid that Shen Ao would dig a hole next and make them jump into it.
The three of them, Fan Shitong, were all serious and had solemn looks on their faces. When they fell in Shen Ao's eyes, he couldn't help but laugh. It seemed that these three people had some wrong ideas. Shen Ao did everything based on his heart, and it was right. If it is right, he will insist on it. If it is wrong, it is wrong, and he will apologize and compensate.
How can you blame others for your mistakes?
Shen Ao shook his head nonchalantly. Shen Ao no longer considered the three adults' thoughts of protecting themselves wisely. Instead, he first came to Zuo Pushe and Fan Shitong, stood still and asked, "Master Fan, what is the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce?" His Majesty discussed it with several adults and approved it, right?"
"Well...yes." Fan Shitong did not answer immediately, but considered whether there was any trap in it. After confirming that there were no other questions, he answered aloud.
"Then Mr. Fan, if you want to destroy the Chamber of Commerce, are you violating the national policy set by His Majesty and several other adults? Is it illegal?"
"This... of course." Fan Shitong didn't quite understand what Shen Ao meant, but these questions could be answered without thinking at all, and he couldn't wait too long.
"Then there's no problem." Shen Ao didn't wait for Fan Shitong to think about anything, then turned his head directly and came to the right servant She Bailigui. "Master Baili, may I ask if the slave is subject to the law of the dynasty?" Legal protection?”
"Of course." Bailigui was stunned by Shen Ao's sudden question, because it was completely unrelated to the question just now. But he still answered based on his instinctive reaction.
"Then I would like to ask Master Baili, if a domestic slave does something wrong, and it is not a heinous crime, is it usually the master who takes the lead in punishing it, instead of the Yamen handling it privately?"
"This is natural. The life of a domestic slave is in the hands of the master. This is known to everyone." Bailigui nodded in response, as if he was afraid that he would not understand clearly and added: "It is precisely because the master controls the slaves. The public order in Daqian is so stable and individuals take care of themselves, which is why Daqian is now prosperous and prosperous. This is also closely related to His Majesty's governance."
He deserves to be able to hold the position of right-hand servant, and no one has been able to shake him for many years. At this time, Bailigui did not forget to flatter Emperor Wen. With this reaction, it is not Common people can do it.
"Thank you Lord Baili." Shen Ao also smiled, showing an expression of admiration, and then walked up to Du Jin and asked: "Master Du, according to the laws of the dynasty, if someone rapes a daughter of the people, he should be treated What crime?"
"Depending on the seriousness of the case, the punishment ranges from five years in prison to execution at the earliest." Du Jin answered steadily. After Shen Ao's questions just now, when he arrived at his place, he was no longer so nervous.
"Oh, it's so serious. I wonder if there is any provision in the law that an official cannot beat someone who does evil?"
"Um...no." Du Jin thought for a while and then answered affirmatively.
Shen Ao also nodded as if he knew everything, and then added another question: "Then if someone insults the superior in public, what is the crime?"
"There is no distinction between superiority and inferiority. You can force him to apologize or slap him." Du Jin is worthy of being called the internal minister. He has a deep understanding of the laws of the dynasty. Naturally, he has already understood these basic issues, and he can also Answer quickly.
"Thank you, Lord Du, for clearing up the confusion." Shen Ao said with clasped fists. Then he turned to face Emperor Qianwen who was sitting on the dragon chair and said, "Your Majesty, I have finished asking."
"Okay." Emperor Qianwen nodded lightly, seeing everything in his eyes. Then there was the sound of silence that filled the hall.
Prince Xiang also had a suspicious look on his face and a confused forehead at this moment.
He saw Shen Ao asking three important ministers questions, but what did this mean? It shouldn't be how Shen Ao answered his own questions. Why did it become a question for him to ask others? What on earth was going on?
And at this moment, Shen Ao actually kept silent. It was as if he had not asked a question just now. How dare he ignore himself like this? Based on this, isn't it just the following, regardless of superiority or inferiority?
King Xiang was very angry, angry because of Shen Ao's sudden silence. Emperor Qianwen and others became much quieter at this moment. They were thinking about the questions Shen Ao had just raised, with doubts in their eyes, and they were slowly Slowly chewing on the meaning of those words. Shen Ao didn't say anything at this time, but they didn't pay much attention.
Emperor Qianwen and others didn't speak because they were thinking about something in their hearts. But King Xiang was different. He didn't understand what happened. He just saw Shen Ao's silence and thought it was a deliberate transfer by the other party. He couldn't even face his own question, so he became more energetic and reprimanded: "Mr. Zhongguo, you haven't answered my question yet? Why, aren't you feeling guilty and not daring to answer?"
"Huh? What do you mean by this, Your Highness?" Shen Ao looked at Prince Xiang with a very confused look. When he found that the other party was about to speak again, he spoke preemptively: "Regarding the questions raised by His Highness Prince Xiang, Didn’t I already ask three adults to help answer the question?”
Prince Xiang was about to continue questioning, but before he could say anything, Shen Ao's words came. He suddenly felt like he was being interrupted, and felt like a heavy punch hitting the air. Depressed. "How come I don't know what I have already answered?"
"Didn't His Highness King Xiang hear the answers of the three adults?" Shen Ao said with surprise. Then he said as if talking to himself, "Is it possible that there is something wrong with King Xiang's ears and he can't hear?" The sound outside? If there is really a cure, then it must be cured."
It was said that he was talking to himself, but the sound came out so clearly that several people in the palace could hear it very clearly. Involuntarily, several people almost couldn't hold back their laughter and laughed out loud.
Prince Xiang's expression changed first, and then became cold. He knew that Shen Ao was teasing him again, and just when he was thinking of taking the opportunity to scold him, Shen Ao spoke again. "Your Highness, Prince Xiang." Mr. Fan had already said just now that the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce are national policies. According to the previously established rules, the merchants of the Chamber of Commerce must be protected by national laws. As long as they have not done anything illegal or committing adultery, they cannot do so without reason. Looking for trouble. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Yin Qu went to Baohua Street to promote horizontal looms. It was originally a normal business behavior, but he was beaten up by Wang Tong and other gangsters. He was beaten, and the incident also attracted a group of headhunters, but they ignored the things that were smashed, and saw the person being beaten without seeing them. Because Wang Tong's younger brother was the headhunter Wang Ben, they insisted on If you want to take someone away, should such a head catcher be beaten?"
"Is there such a thing?" King Xiang looked stunned, because the incident happened suddenly, and he really didn't understand some of the details. He only knew that the matter involved Kang An, and Kang An was his person, and he needed to come Paul, so this is it.
Seeing King Xiang's surprised expression, Shen Ao smiled brightly and ignored the surprise, and then said: "Master Baili also said that domestic slaves are protected by the laws of the dynasty, unless they are committed. What he did was extremely heinous, otherwise the master of the family should be taught to punish himself. Xu Heng was already a domestic slave in the Zhongguo Palace and had already signed a contract to sell himself. He was beaten by the yamen and the arrester just because he was eager to save his daughter and stepped forward to complain. ,Isn’t this against the rules?”
"There is also Feng Xun, a guard of a certain person, who only said that he would wait for the officials to leave after the arrival of a certain person, but because of this he was tied up in chains. If someone in Prince Xiang's palace is treated like this, His Highness will be the master. What do you think?"
"Well..." Prince Xiang wanted to say that this was absolutely not possible. If that was the case, he would have to talk to those government officials and arresters. But after all, he was not stupid, and he was smart enough to suppress these words. heart.
Shen Ao ignored what Prince Xiang thought and continued: "Master Du also said that someone who robs a daughter of a common man will be severely punished. Wang Tong fell in love with the daughter of Xu Heng, a slave in the Zhonggong Mansion, so he He wanted to take it for himself. When the arresters and government officials saw it, they ignored him and helped him commit evil. May I ask, Your Highness, King Xiang, should such a person be beaten?"