Chapter 91

On the second day, it was time for the morning assembly again. Yang Zaixing got up early, and Ajiu was already waiting outside the door. By the pillar, Yang Zaixing stood straight, his face tense.

"Shao Lie, what are your thoughts on the first day?"

Zhao Yougong asked with a smile, but Yang Zaixing didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he finally replied, "This... it's okay..."

"..." Seeing Yang Zaixing so restrained, Zhao Yougong decided not to press further. Over time, he believed Yang Zaixing would adapt.

Outside the Dading Hall, Zhao Yougong waited for a long time, but the old eunuch Yang finally arrived late. As expected, the morning assembly was canceled again.

Walking out of the palace gate, Yang Zaixing was momentarily stunned. If it was the morning assembly, why did it end so quickly?

Following behind, Yang Zaixing frowned deeply. After hesitating for a long time, he cautiously asked, "Your Highness, isn't it the morning assembly? Is there nothing to do today?" Yang Zaixing was clearly puzzled. In his mind, the morning assembly should last at least an hour before it could end.

Zhao Yougong stopped, paused, and then burst into laughter. Turning his head, he pointed at Yang Zaixing and shrugged, "Shao Lie, do you know how many times the emperor actually attends the six monthly assemblies?"

"This... I don't know..."

"Twice is the most. Most of the time, they just disperse directly!"

Taking the cloak from Ajiu, he wrapped himself in it and continued walking. Yang Zaixing, however, looked somewhat dazed. Out of six monthly assemblies, only two were truly effective. This was the current court?

No wonder those with aspirations find it hard to serve the country. With such a court, what hope is there?

He had wanted to experience the atmosphere of the morning assembly in the Song Dynasty, but instead, he received a heavy blow.

The sky was not yet fully bright, and the three of them did not return to the mansion. At the intersection of North Street, they had a bowl of tofu pudding. The old tofu was fragrant, but without chili, it always seemed a bit off. Zhao Yougong could only sigh inwardly; there were no chilies in the Song Dynasty, and no matter how rich he was, he couldn't buy them.

After a simple meal, Ajiu took out several coins from his waist and placed them on the table. Yang Zaixing's face turned awkward because he also wanted to pay, to thank the young prince for his previous help, but he was so poor that he only had a few coins left. Thinking about his situation, Yang Zaixing couldn't help but feel depressed. For the next five years, he wouldn't get a single penny. How was he supposed to live?

Before the hour of Si, the three arrived at Kaifeng Prefecture. Zhao Yougong called a few key personnel and briefly introduced Yang Zaixing. Facing so many people, Yang Zaixing was not intimidated and bowed respectfully.

Xie Dahuizi kept staring at Yang Zaixing. Finally, he whispered to Ma Rulong, "Is this pretty boy capable? Look at him; how strong can his skills be?"

"Shut up! The person the prince chose, why are you questioning? Do you want to be his personal guard?"

Ma Rulong rolled his eyes and retorted. Xie Dahuizi, fearing Zhao Yougong might hear, quickly shut his mouth. Being a constable in Kaifeng Prefecture was more enjoyable; if he needed money, he could just take it. Following the young prince was always restrictive.

After waiting for a while in the back office, Zhu Lian, dressed as a man, walked in. Scanning the room, she noticed Yang Zaixing standing beside the chair. Though young, he had a heroic aura and a handsome appearance, clearly a rare talent.

Ha, the young prince was quite good at hiding his abilities. He had quietly recruited a capable person.

"Shao Lie, this is Lady Zhu!"

Yang Zaixing had heard about the relationship between Zhao Yougong and Zhu Lian, so he stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "This humble servant, Yang Zaixing, greets Lady Zhu!"

"Hmm, you may rise. In the future, you must protect His Highness well!"

Sitting in a chair, Zhu Lian sipped some hot tea and began discussing the case.

It turned out that Zhu Lian had indeed found a clue from the coffin. After a thorough examination, she noticed a small, intricate pattern on the top of the coffin, which must have been carved by a skilled craftsman. Noting this, she sent the constables to visit all the coffin shops in the city to check the materials and patterns on the coffins. As expected, after several hours of work, they identified one shop.

"Since you know, why not directly interrogate the owner of Anji Coffin Shop?"

"People have already been sent to Anji Coffin Shop, but today, Secretary Gongsun is sick at home, so the interrogation will have to be handled by Your Highness!"

"Hmm?" Zhao Yougong couldn't help but feel uneasy. Gongsun Kang, that old fox, was sick in a very suspicious way. He was fine yesterday; what sudden illness could make him unable to handle the interrogation?

Gongsun Kang had served in Kaifeng Prefecture for over a decade and was a seasoned official. If he was sick today, it was likely because he had heard some rumors. This case seemed more complicated. Although he understood, Zhao Yougong didn't show it. He chuckled and stood up excitedly, "I will preside over the court!"

People knew that Zhao Yougong had been in Kaifeng Prefecture for months, but this was the first time he would preside over a case. This was truly a rare event.

Yang Zaixing's eyes darted around, and he was quite surprised. Seeing the young prince so excited, he wondered if he had never handled cases before.

At the hour of Si, the court convened, and the young prince, dressed in official attire, sat confidently at the desk. He slapped the gavel and imitated a county magistrate's tone, shouting, "Bring... the prisoner!"

Finally sitting in court, he had to act the part. Even if he was pretending, his voice was a bit off, slightly hoarse. Everyone in the court remained silent, careful not to laugh and disrupt the prince's mood.

The constables then shouted, and soon, the owner of Anji Coffin Shop, An Hongtai, was brought in. As soon as he entered the court, An Hongtai trembled and knelt down.

Slamming the gavel, Zhao Yougong leaned forward and shouted, "Bold An Hongtai, do you know your crime?"

"Your Excellency... this humble servant... I really don't know..."

"Nonsense! If you don't know, who does? I ask you, what about the coffin outside? Don't tell me it wasn't made by your shop. In Bianliang City, only your shop has the skill to carve such intricate patterns. Don't tell me you don't recognize the coffin. If you don't tell the truth, do you think I won't give you a few dozen lashes?"

The young prince's threats terrified An Hongtai, who kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing, "Your Excellency... I really don't know..."

"Shut up! Do you recognize the coffin or not?"

"No... I don't recognize it!"

An Hongtai's denial made Zhao Yougong furious. His eyes widened, and he rolled up his sleeves, running down from the platform. The people in the court were momentarily stunned. They were in the middle of a trial; why did the prince run down?

The answer soon became clear. Zhao Yougong approached An Hongtai, grabbed his ear, and slapped him hard.

"Slap, slap, slap" — the sound was loud. After a few slaps, Zhao Yougong's hand hurt. "Do you dare to deceive me? I've already investigated. Only your shop can carve such patterns on the coffin. Do you still dare to deny it?"

An Hongtai was stunned, tears streaming down his face, afraid of angering the magistrate. He quickly kowtowed, "Your Excellency... the pattern does resemble our work, but... I really haven't seen that coffin..."

"Still denying! Fine, have it your way. Bring this dog out and give him twenty lashes!"

Seeing the young prince's determination, the constables didn't hesitate. They dragged An Hongtai out.

Twenty lashes would be a severe punishment, likely leaving a person half-dead. An Hongtai was terrified, crying out his innocence. When they dragged him to the door, he struggled and shouted, "Your Excellency... I have something to say... don't beat me... I have something to say!"

"Bring him back!"

Kneeling again, An Hongtai trembled violently, "Your Excellency... I remember something... two months ago, one of my craftsmen took two days off... This craftsman was responsible for coffin engraving..."

"What's the craftsman's name, and what was his illness?"

"His name is Kuai Zhengliang. I don't know what illness he had, as a fellow villager named Wu Qi came to inform me..."

Zhao Yougong didn't react, but Zhu Lian, who was recording, frowned. Wasn't Wu Qi the one who delivered the coffin from Laohuixing Coffin Shop? Everything made sense now. Kuai Zhengliang must have made the coffin while pretending to be sick, and Wu Qi had carried out the switch.

"Your Highness, we should search the city for Wu Qi and Kuai Zhengliang!"

"Agreed!" Zhao Yougong nodded and ordered the Five Great Warriors to capture them. As for An Hongtai, he was sent to the prison.

Although the case was making progress, Zhao Yougong was not at ease. He didn't know what else this investigation might uncover.

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