Wang Tingxiang, like Master Xia, traveled in plain clothes and in a light carriage, and came to Qin Dewei in a low-key manner.
At the gate, Wang Tingxiang waved back and walked inside alone with Qin Dewei.
As he walked, he scolded Qin Dewei: "Look at the good things you have done, you are embarrassing me!"
Qin Dewei was already a little guilty, but he became even more uneasy when he heard this. Could it be that his little plan to expose Cao Zu's case had happened? Is that why Wang Tingxiang came to question him?
But don’t be so excited, Wang Da Sikou! Evil plots are equivalent to conspiracy. If the emperor insists on convicting him like this, then it’s not just a matter for the Ministry of Punishment!
It was either a prison interrogation by the Jinyiwei Dongchang, or a joint trial by the Three Law Divisions with the Jinyiwei from the Dongchang as observers. It was considered a collective act, and it was not Wang Tingxiang himself who took the blame.
Besides, all the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty, from the cabinet to the ministry, were all trying to persuade the emperor. Under this situation, it would not be too abrupt for your court to kill Zhang Yanling.
"It's not that big of a deal, sir, and you have nothing to be embarrassed about." Qin Dewei explained.
Wang Tingxiang reprimanded unbearably: "Why aren't you embarrassed? You actually took the Ministry of Punishment certificate issued by me and went to show off in the Qin Lou Chu Pavilion!
Others thought it was a free prostitution! Others found out about this, but they laughed at me in person and made me feel ashamed!"
Qin Dewei quickly defended: "That's because there is a beautiful woman who is plotting against me, which makes me very uneasy.
Old-timer, you also know that many people want to hit me, so I have to find out!"
No matter who asked, Qin Dewei explained it this way, as a cover for his role as the mastermind behind the scenes.
Anyway, Si Cong came in secret and was not a famous person, so not many people noticed.
As for the fight with Dongchang fanzi, Dongchang would not go around shouting about what the fight was about.
Wang Tingxiang snorted coldly and asked: "Are you really going to investigate the matter? Later, I heard that you were jealous of others and got into fights!
I issued you a certificate from the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Is this how you use it to commit mischief?
And I heard that you took the Metropolitan Procuratorate’s driving notice that I gave you before to scare others!”
Qin Dewei asked doubtfully: "The matter has spread? Can't it? When I was in the West Courtyard, I always reported Xu Miaojing's name in public. Who recognized me?"
"The girls in the courtyard recognize you, so of course they are happy to mention you to the outside world!" Wang Tingxiang felt that Qin Dewei had become inexplicably smart today.
Qin Dewei seemed to be very concerned and asked: "There won't be a censor to impeach the old senior, right?"
Wang Tingxiang said very dissatisfied: "Many people know about your relationship with me, and someone will definitely implicate me!
The Metropolitan Procuratorate heard that a censor wanted to submit a memorial, and I was acting arrogantly and issuing certificates indiscriminately, so I am trying to find a way to suppress it."
"No!" Qin Dewei said quickly: "Let him impeach him! It's been a troubled time recently, and the old man can take this opportunity to avoid it!"
According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, once a minister was impeached, he had to symbolically resign, and then the emperor retained him. This was a prescribed action.
This is great! Finally, there is a chance to make up for the mistake! Qin Dewei, who is quick to make up for his mistakes, continues to give advice:
"Old senior, after you are impeached, you can stay home and say no to guests, pretending to be at home waiting for the crime!
In this way, you have nothing to do with the ups and downs of the Zhang Yanling case and the seniors who are waiting at home to deal with the crime. Maybe it is a good thing to be impeached at this time!"
Wang Tingxiang looked at Qin Dewei with confusion and remained silent for a long time.
Qin Dewei still felt guilty and felt numb after being looked at: "What are you thinking about, old man?"
Wang Tingxiang said bluntly, "There is something I can't understand. Most of the time, you, Qin Dewei, are very reserved no matter who you face.
If someone encounters something and needs advice, they will have to ask questions before you can give them some advice.
But I haven’t mentioned anything today, so why did you take the initiative and enthusiastically come up with ideas to tell me to avoid the Zhang Yanling case?”
Qin Dewei: ""
Wang Tingxiang concluded: "All in all, you seem to be extremely abnormal today!"
Qin Dewei excused himself and said: "Don't worry about the motives for now, old man, just tell me whether this method is feasible or not!"
Wang Tingxiang refused sternly and said: "It is possible, but I am the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments. Others can escape, but I cannot!"
If the Minister of Punishment just shuts himself up when faced with a case, wouldn’t he become a laughing stock?”
Then Qin Dewei doesn't understand. If it's not to seek a way to protect himself, then what on earth are you, Wang Tingxiang, here to do?
Wang Tingxiang sighed: "As the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, I cannot allow unjust imprisonment to occur. Is there any way you can save Zhang Yanling from death?"
Qin Dewei said: "I wonder if the old man understands? Zhang Yanling will not die now. If you sentence him to death again, you will save his life."
This means that if the death penalty is not imposed, Emperor Jiajing will keep shouting for death, but if the death penalty is imposed, Emperor Jiajing may stop shouting. Wait until the autumn judgment every year, and just keep dragging his name without mentioning it.
It was not that Wang Tingxiang didn't understand, but he still said: "The emperor has always been unpredictable. Killing or not killing can only be a matter of thought. How can we completely eliminate the intention to kill?"
Qin Dewei sighed, these ministers still haven't figured out the experience and routine of dealing with Emperor Jiajing.
In the past fifty or sixty years, the imperial ministers have experienced three generations of emperors: Chenghua, Hongzhi and Zhengde.
Although these three generations of emperors had different personalities, they all had one common characteristic: they were careless, and the Jiajing Emperor was a genetic mutation.
The ministers had been accustomed to the careless emperor, but when they suddenly encountered someone like Jiajing, their old experience was not enough.
It was not until the middle and late Jiajing Dynasty that ministers gradually adapted to Emperor Jiajing's style and developed routines to fool the emperor.
But in the twelfth year of Jiajing, ministers were still groping hard.
That's why Wang Tingxiang was confused. As a minister of the Ministry of Justice, how should he discuss the Zhang Yanling case with Emperor Jiajing?
After understanding Wang Tingxiang's dilemma, Qin Dewei gave some advice: "First of all, seniors had better not write clear memorials, but dense memorials.
If there is no confidential document, then ask for an audience, and do so alone, and speak in private, without other ministers present!"
Wang Tingxiang was puzzled. He wanted to ask about the content, not the form. "Are these forms important?"
Qin Dewei replied: "It is very important! The emperor likes private communication! Besides, what I am going to say next is not suitable for speaking in public!"
Wang Tingxiang became even more interested: "Then what do you want me to say?"
Qin Dewei said almost disrespectfully: "Don't talk about laws or anything with the emperor, it's useless! The emperor is unreasonable at all!
Just say that there are rumors in the capital that His Majesty wanted to kill Zhang Yanling in order to gain access to the Zhang family's property!
People also rumored that Ouchi will build a lot of construction this year, including two palaces for the Queen Mother and the Great Gaoxuan Hall, etc. The emperor’s inner treasury is running out of money, so he has to use the Zhang family, the richest man in the capital, to fill it!”
