Chapter 5370 Unexpected Events

Chapter 5370 Unexpected Events
As the morning drums sounded, the gates of the 108 neighborhoods of Chang'an opened one after another, and then the city gates were opened wide. The people and merchants who had been waiting at the city gates to enter and leave the city had already formed long queues.

Because the West Market is located inside the Golden Gate, caravans from the Western Regions, the Northern Court, and even Central Asia began to arrive from night onwards, forming long queues outside the gate. The scene was spectacular, with carriages and horses moving about and people bustling around. The white breath exhaled by the people and horses lingered in the air.

Caravans of mules and camels defecated everywhere, creating a strong, nauseating stench.

When the city gates opened, those entering the city entered through the south gate, and those leaving the city exited through the north gate, filing in one orderly line.

Amidst the ringing of camel bells, pedestrians entering Chang'an through the city gates dispersed to different destinations as the sun rose in the east.

A group of about a hundred young men rode into the city gate. The sunlight shone on their youthful faces, full of vigor. They rode in an orderly formation. When they arrived near the West Market, a congestion formed in front of the gate because camel and horse caravans were waiting to enter the market, and merchants were waiting to leave after making their purchases.

Despite being over a hundred people, they remained orderly, marching forward slowly in neat formation under the guidance of the lead group.

Some young people looked around and started a conversation.

"I heard that Minister Xu has returned in triumph today?"

"It should be around the afternoon. The palace has already sent people out of the city to welcome you."

"Xu Jingzong is impressive! This negotiation has brought him prestige overseas, and perhaps he can even go further?"

"His contributions are indeed significant, but he is already the Minister of Rites. How easy would it be for him to advance further?"

"Everyone has their own spot; if he wants to move up, someone else has to step down. But the ones ahead of him in line are all very secure."

These students all came from Zhenguan Academy and were quite close to Xu Jingzong, who had once served as the academy's director of studies. They naturally considered him "one of their own" and paid close attention to Xu Jingzong's voyage for negotiations.

After all, it's also a kind of glory for the academy...

The team leader, Shao De, turned to his classmate and smiled, "It's indeed difficult for Minister Xu to advance further, but if the Grand Commandant can lend a hand, he might actually succeed..."

Before he could finish speaking, his classmates' expressions changed drastically, and they all shouted, "Restrain your horse!" "Get out of the way!" "Damn it!"

Zhi Shi Shaode was startled and instinctively pulled on the reins, but his warhorse let out a long neigh and then reared up, kicking its front hooves.

"oops--"

A scream rang out, and Zhishi Shaode struggled to keep his warhorse from being startled, but the sight on the ground terrified him so much that his face turned pale.

An old woman lay down in front of the horse, let out a scream, curled up and struggled a few times, then lay still...

Zhi Shi Shaode was stunned. He quickly dismounted and went forward with his classmates to check on the old woman. They saw that there was a bloody hole in her head from which blood was gushing out. Her eyes were closed, and she was barely breathing. She was clearly about to die.

This is simply a bolt from the blue!
Zhi Shi Shaode looked up in bewilderment: "When did this old woman appear? How did she end up bumping into my horse's leg?"

The group of people moved forward in unison, maintaining a strict formation. Due to the large number of people and traffic congestion nearby, the horses were not moving fast, so there was no reason for them to collide with pedestrians.

A classmate next to him said, "I saw it clearly. The old woman suddenly darted out from the crowd and charged at the warhorse. The warhorse was startled and trampled, which caused her injury. It has nothing to do with us."

"I saw it too. I don't know what's wrong with that old woman. How could she crawl under a horse's legs like that?"

"This is no way to court death! Isn't this just setting people up for trouble?!"

Seeing that his classmates confirmed that the old woman had run into him on her own, causing the tragedy, Zhi Shi Shaode breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was inevitable to feel pity when someone was about to die, after all, it wasn't his own fault for trampling her with his horse...

However, before he could call his classmates to find a doctor to treat him, a middle-aged official in a scarlet robe pushed through the crowd and stepped forward to ask, "What happened?"

When the onlookers saw the xiezhi crown on the official's head, they knew he was an imperial censor and rushed forward to tell him.

Some people initially thought that the old woman had accidentally fallen and startled the warhorse, causing it to be trampled, but the wind direction quickly changed.

"The group of people rode their horses across the street, and the horses were startled and trampled the old woman."

"Although riding horses is not prohibited in Chang'an, it's still inappropriate for them to parade around in such large groups."

"A life for a life, a debt for a debt. Since this young man trampled the old woman to death with his horse, he should pay with his life!"

"This young man seems to be from a wealthy family, a nobleman. How could he possibly pay for the life of a widowed old woman?"

"Isn't it said that princes are subject to the same laws as commoners? What's wrong with nobles? Does being a noble give you the right to disregard human life? Does it give you the right to run rampant and commit murder?"

"This censor appears to be fair and incorruptible; please do justice for this old woman!"

……

At first, the classmates defended Zhi Shi Shaode, but they soon realized that something was wrong.

While ordinary people enjoy watching a spectacle, they usually keep their distance to avoid trouble when it comes to recounting the case or even testifying. However, many commoners and merchants at the scene took the initiative to approach the censor and chatter incessantly.

Furthermore, they distorted the truth and called a deer a horse, portraying an accident as a premeditated murder. Many onlookers who were not aware of the details were incited, and for a time, Zhi Shi Shaode was condemned by everyone.

Zhi Shi Shaode made a quick decision: "You all continue on to the East Palace. I will stay here to handle the aftermath. Also, someone go to my house and deliver a message to my family."

"How can we abandon our leader and leave?"

"It is precisely the duty of this person to take on this responsibility!"

"Shut up, everyone!"

Zhishi Shaode was tall and burly with dark skin, and looked very dignified and imposing.

"This matter is not simple. We cannot let it delay our troop rotation mission. Everyone, leave immediately. I will handle this myself!"

"Here!"

The others dared not say anything more and prepared to leave.

The censor listened to the opinions of the surrounding crowd, then stepped forward to check on the old woman lying on the ground. He found that she had bled to death, so he stood up and spread his arms to stop them: "You have been riding your horses through the streets and causing people to die. How can you just walk away like this?"

Zhi Shi Shaode showed no fear: "I rode the horse and I hit the person. What does it have to do with others? My classmates have important matters to attend to. Let them leave. I will stay and handle the aftermath and provide compensation."

Although death is a big deal, it was an accident after all, so surely I shouldn't have to pay with my life?
It's just a matter of losing some money.

The censor shook his head: "I am Wei Renyue, a supervising censor of the Censorate. I have just heard many testimonies from the scene. The case is quite complicated. I ask you all to stay and investigate the matter to prove our innocence."

Zhi Shi Shaode had a vague feeling that things were not good. Not to mention that he was completely innocent, even if he was responsible for the old woman being trampled to death by the warhorse, he would only have to pay compensation. Why was he making such a big deal out of it?
He said in a deep voice, “I am a student of Zhenguan Academy. This time, my classmates and I entered the city to go to the Eastern Palace for a change of guards… My father is the Duke of Anguo and my mother is the Princess of Jiujiang. I am a member of the imperial family and a descendant of meritorious officials. If I am guilty, I will only be punished with a fine. However, you cannot bear the responsibility for delaying our important business.”

He thought that if he moved out of the academy and his parents, the censor in front of him would surely let him leave.
Once you leave this place temporarily, your family will naturally come to handle the rest.

Unexpectedly, Wei Renyue not only refused to back down, but instead glared at him and pointed his finger, shouting: "Those descendants of meritorious officials, who share the fate of the nation, should be even more law-abiding and cautious in their words and deeds. Don't they know that even 'discussing crimes' requires reporting and deliberation at each level? Instead, they rely on their meritorious status to disregard the law and act arrogantly! I am an investigating censor, and it is my responsibility to uphold the law. No matter if you are a descendant of a noble family or a member of the imperial family, I will uphold justice even at the cost of my official robes!"

Then, glaring angrily at the dumbfounded Zhi Shi Shaode, he spoke with a firm and resounding voice: "A true man should be upright and honorable in his duties, and will openly and boldly repay the country's kindness!"

"it is good!"

The onlookers applauded and cheered when they saw that the young censor was upright and fearless of powerful figures.

Zhi Shi Shaode's face turned ashen, filled with shock and anger. He knew he was in deep trouble; if he couldn't go to the Eastern Palace to relieve the troops on time, he would be violating military discipline.

The consequences are far more serious than killing an old woman...

He turned to look at his classmates on either side and said in a deep voice, "You may leave. I will stay here to deal with this."

"Here!"

The others, knowing the consequences of violating military discipline, said no more, mounted their horses, and charged ahead, disregarding Wei Renyue's attempts to stop them.

Wei Renyue's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and he immediately took Zhi Shi Shaode to the Chang'an County Government Office.

……

When Yuwen Jie heard that a student from Zhenguan Academy had killed someone by riding a horse in the street, and that an imperial censor had filed a complaint in court, he was greatly surprised and quickly convened the court.

When he arrived at the court and saw that the censor who had come to file the complaint was Wei Renyue, his heart sank, knowing that the matter would not end well today.

This man was born into the Wei clan of Jingzhao, but was from a distant branch. He was known for his filial piety from a young age, but his parents died early. He was a renowned figure in the Censorate, known as the "Iron-Crowned" and "Stubborn Censor," who was inflexible and refused to give face to anyone.

Since he brought the person to the county government office and filed a lawsuit in court, the evidence must be conclusive and undeniable.

But this young man was not only a student of Zhenguan Academy, but also the eldest son of Duke Anguo, Zhishi Sili, and Princess Jiujiang…

After a brief inquiry into the case, it was learned that today was the day when the students of the academy were going to the Eastern Palace to change shifts at the "Shenji Camp," and the accident occurred when they entered the city.

Zhi Shi Shaode insisted it was an accident, while Wei Renyue claimed that there were conflicting accounts from eyewitnesses and that a thorough investigation should be conducted.

Yuwen Jie sensed that something was amiss.

The "Shenji Battalion" had rendered meritorious service in protecting the Crown Prince during the Prince of Jin's coup and was now stationed in the Eastern Palace, a fact known to all. However, recently, most of the leaders of the six battalions of the Eastern Palace have been dismissed, which is vaguely related to the rumors circulating in the court and among the public about the change of heir. The "Shenji Battalion," composed of students from the academy, is considered the stabilizing force of the Eastern Palace. Now, it has suddenly and coincidentally encountered trouble. Is there any connection between this and the events?

Whether it was true or not, Yuwen Jie did not feel that it was something he should be involved in.

Already implicated in Changsun Wuji's rebellion and already "carried out a crime," if he were to plunge headlong into the succession crisis, he would surely be dead.