Chapter 53

Chapter 53: His Crimes Deserve Death

Zhou He didn’t know what his son had done to make Prince Chang’an punish him like this. He had served as prefect in Nanzhou for ten years. In this yamen, others always knelt to him; he had never had to kneel to anyone. But now Prince Chang’an sat high on the court, looking down on them.

Trembling, Zhou He said: “This official, Nanzhou Prefect Zhou He, greets Your Highness Prince Chang’an. May I ask what crime my son committed to have his right hand cut off and be bound here?”

From above, Huo Zheng looked down and said: “What kind of person your son is and what he would do, Zhou He, do you truly not know at all?”

Of course Zhou He knew. His son Zhou Rong was lecherous and had even caused several deaths. Only because his father was the Nanzhou Prefect did big matters become small and small matters disappear without causing a storm. Ever since Prince Chang’an came to Nanzhou, Zhou He was afraid Zhou Rong would make trouble under the prince’s nose, so he sent him to live for a while at the old house in Linshui Town. Who knew the boy would still fall into Prince Chang’an’s hands.

He had already guessed that Zhou Rong must have set his eyes on some young woman and tried to force her when Prince Chang’an caught him. But he kept his face calm and said: “I do not know. I am afraid.”

After losing his right hand, Zhou Rong had almost fainted. Seeing his father now was like seeing a life saver, and he cried: “Father, save me! You must save me!”

“Be quiet,” Zhou He snapped.

Blood still dripped from Zhou Rong’s stump, and the big court was thick with the metallic smell.

Huo Zheng gave Jiang He a look. Jiang He stepped forward and announced loudly: “The criminal Zhou Rong bullied men and women in Nanzhou City and trampled human life. His crimes deserve death.”

“Your Highness,” Zhou He said at once, “words alone cannot prove a crime. To judge a case, there must at least be a complainant.”

He had already looked around when he came in. There were no complainants in the court, only the bound Zhou Rong and Prince Chang’an’s people. Prince Chang’an was known in the Capital for acting decisively, not shielding the powerful, and standing up for the people. But this was Nanzhou City, the fief of Prince Ning. Far from the emperor’s reach, even Prince Chang’an should weigh his own standing. Also, women forced by a man often took their own lives; even if they survived, they usually didn’t dare report it. Counting on that, Zhou He dared to say there was no complainant and the case could not be judged.

Huo Zheng had expected this and said: “Summon the complainants.”

Moments later, about a dozen complainants were brought in by the Shadow Guards. Zhou He’s face changed at once. These were the very people he had once driven away. After Zhou Rong seized and violated their daughters, they had come to the yamen to protest. To quiet things down, Zhou He used every trick to make them unable to stay in Nanzhou, forcing them to flee far away. He did not know what method Prince Chang’an used, but somehow he had found them all and brought them back.

From the high seat, Huo Zheng said: “If you have grievances, speak them one by one.”

The first to speak was a couple in their fifties. They had only one daughter, very pretty. Last year, on the street, that dog Zhou Rong set eyes on her, dragged her away in public, and defiled her. Their daughter could not bear the shame and hanged herself. The couple swore to get justice, but the Zhou Household threatened them in all kinds of ways. Even their house was burned down, so they had to flee to relatives far away.

The second to speak was a blind old woman. She said: “I had a son who studied. He married the prettiest girl for miles around. That dog Zhou Rong was my son’s classmate. One time, my daughter?in?law brought clothes to the academy for my son. Zhou Rong saw her and wanted to defile her. He even forced my son to watch. The husband and wife fought back, but they were beaten to death together.” The old woman spoke through tears.

Then the third and the fourth spoke in turn. In Nanzhou, Zhou He covered the sky with one hand, and his son Zhou Rong harmed the countryside. With no place to seek justice, the people were full of anger. As they stated their cases, they wanted nothing more than to kill Zhou Rong on the spot to avenge their own.

Hearing them call him worse than a beast one after another, Zhou Rong shouted: “You lowly commoners! Your lives aren’t worth anything!”

Huo Zheng flicked his eyes at Jiang He. Jiang He strode over and kicked Zhou Rong in the chest, knocking him flat so he could no longer cry out.

Zhou He wanted to reach out to help his son but did not dare move without permission.

“Criminal Zhou Rong,” Huo Zheng said, “what do you say to the complainants’ words?”

Kicked breathless, Zhou Rong could not speak. Even if he had objections, he couldn’t voice them.

Zhou He quickly said: “Your Highness, you must not listen to only one side. If they say they are complainants, where are the victims? Where are the witnesses? Where is the physical evidence…”

Huo Zheng slammed the gavel block, cutting him off, and said: “Summon the witnesses.”

The victims were dead. The evidence had long been erased by the Zhou father and son. Only witnesses remained. The Shadow Guards had visited the common folk who had once feared the prefect’s power and, after much persuading, brought them to testify today.

At each cry of “Summon the witness,” people entered and, for every case, pointed to Zhou Rong as the man who had done evil, and to Zhou He, the prefect of Nanzhou, as the father who covered up his son’s crimes.

Outside, the townspeople watching Prince Chang’an judge the case talked in low voices. In the past, officials who came to check on Nanzhou only went through the motions. They never thought this prince would do real work, and the first thing he did was take down the Zhou father and son.

Coldly, Huo Zheng asked: “Zhou He, Zhou Rong, what else do you have to say?”

Zhou He rose and said: “I must remind Your Highness, this is Nanzhou. Even if you want to judge me, it should be decided by Prince Ning.”

“Is that so?” Huo Zheng’s voice was icy. He flipped the gavel block in his hand and flung it like a hidden weapon. It struck Zhou He’s knee and forced him to kneel, unable to stand.

Pain shot through Zhou He’s leg, sweat pouring down his face.

Huo Zheng pronounced: “Zhou Rong and Zhou He have committed many evil acts. Their crimes deserve death. Zhou He is stripped of his post as Nanzhou Prefect. The Zhou father and son are sentenced to death. In three days they will suffer the ultimate penalty and be beheaded in public.”

With that, he took out a Command Token and threw it down in the court.

“Father, I don’t want to die!” Zhou Rong screamed. A few Shadow Guards stepped up, took off Zhou He’s official hat, and tore off his robe.

Zhou He had not expected Prince Chang’an to ignore Prince Ning altogether. He was Prince Ning’s man.

Hearing the prince’s judgment, people inside and outside the court cheered. Just then, a loud cry came from outside: “The Heir Apparent of Prince Ning has arrived!”