Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

That night.

The Imperial Prison of the Court of Justice.

The dark, cold, and damp prison cell was lit by only a few oil lamps.

The adjacent cells were separated by wooden planks as thick as an arm.

The cell floor was covered with dry straw, and traces of dried blood could be faintly seen on it.

In the innermost cell of the prison, a figure lay curled up motionless on the floor.

Before long, two prison guards carrying torches walked through the passageway between the two cells.

As the guards passed each cell, they would stop and illuminate the cells with their torches.

The prisoners in the cell, after being awakened, covered their eyes to face the blinding firelight.

Only after witnessing this scene will the prison guards, who are conducting a routine inspection, proceed to the next cell.

Upon reaching the last cell door, two jailers routinely lit the cell with torches and then tapped on the wooden door with the scabbards at their waists.

But after knocking twice, the figure curled up on the ground did not move.

The two prison guards exchanged a strange glance.

"Hey, wake up, don't sleep!"

One of the jailers shouted loudly.

However, the figure in the cell remained motionless.

After shouting twice, the jailer realized something was wrong.

So the two men drew their swords from their waists, unlocked the chains on the cell door, and entered the cell one after the other, each carrying a torch.

The two men first poked the figure on the ground twice with the knives in their hands.

After there was still no response, one of them, holding a knife in one hand, used the other to flip the person on the ground.

When the person curled up on the ground was turned over, the two men's eyes widened in surprise.

Because a dagger was already stuck in the man's chest, and the bright red blood beneath him was hidden by his curled-up body.

"Quick...quickly go and inform the magistrate that someone has died," the jailer said in a panic.

The Court of Justice.

The study of Guo Hong, the Minister of Justice, was lit.

Inside the brightly lit study, two braziers of charcoal kept the room warm.

Guo Hong, dressed in black casual clothes, sat in the study, holding a calligraphy brush and writing something.

Nearby, the young Guo Jia was brewing wine.

Guo Jia, who was brewing wine, would occasionally glance up at Guo Hong. When Guo Hong wasn't looking at him, he would secretly taste the wine in the wooden spoon, and a satisfied expression would immediately appear on his face.

"grown ups."

A sound came from outside the study.

Guo Hong, holding a calligraphy brush, looked up at the door, while Guo Jia, who was secretly drinking wine, was startled and quickly put down the wooden spoon in his hand.

"Speak," Guo Hong uttered calmly.

"My lord, Zhang Feng, the imperial physician imprisoned in the dungeon, has committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

Guo Hong's expression didn't change at all upon hearing the voice; he simply nodded indifferently.

"I understand. Properly dispose of the body, then place it in a coffin. Tomorrow, send someone to notify Zhang Feng's relatives to come and claim the body. Go."

"only!"

Upon hearing this, the servants outside the study quietly withdrew.

Guo Jia became somewhat unsettled at this point, blinking his eyes as he said, "Uncle... what about Zhang Feng..."

Guo Hong slowly shook his head, then handed the document in front of him to Guo Jia, who was standing to the side.

"Blow dry the ink stains and seal it."

Guo Jia took the document blankly, then gently blew on the ink stains, but his breath carried a faint smell of alcohol.

Guo Hong, who was sitting to the side, stretched and smiled slightly, then raised his hand and gently patted Guo Jia on the back of the head.

"You're so greedy and drink so much. I should never have let you drink in the first place."

However, Guo Jia was drawn to the contents of the document.

The document is a letter of apology.

The gist of the story is that due to negligence, Zhang Feng committed suicide out of fear of punishment. The investigation yielded no results, but Zhang Feng had already admitted to deliberately plotting to harm His Majesty, without giving a specific reason.

After reading the contents of the document, Guo Jia stared wide-eyed at Guo Hong beside him.

"Uncle... was it... was it you who killed Zhang Feng?" Guo Jia asked incredulously.

"Ah."

Guo Hong chuckled, picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and shook his head, saying, "What are you thinking? I'm an official enforcing the law; how could I kill someone?"

Guo Jia: "......!"

That's not right.

This document was already written when the messenger came to report Zhang Feng's death.

If not, then does that mean...?

"Did Uncle know Zhang Feng would die?"

"Hmm." Guo Hong nodded in satisfaction: "That's about it."

Guo Jia was stunned again.

But since they knew Zhang Feng was going to die, why didn't they protect him more carefully?

Guo Jia scratched his head, and suddenly a glint of clarity flashed in his eyes.

"Does Uncle not want the Jade Pill case to escalate further?"

Guo Hong shook his head again: "Almost there."

Guo Jia fell into deep thought once again.

Guo Hong, on the other hand, was in a leisurely mood, tapping the table while humming a tune and sipping his wine.

"First, answer one question: What is law?" Guo Hong asked.

Guo Jia replied almost without hesitation, "Law is a system of rules centered on the will of the state, regulating the world through coercion, balancing rights and obligations, and achieving orderly operation. It is a powerful tool of the state, it is..."

Guo Hong raised his hand to interrupt Guo Jia, shaking his head and saying, "Remember, the law is always a tool to serve those in power, not a means to balance or regulate anything."

"This is a set of rules set by the upper echelons, a boundary drawn by those in power for the common people."

"Above the common people are the gentry, above the gentry are the powerful, above the powerful are the aristocratic families, and above the aristocratic families is the imperial power. These are established layer by layer and implemented downwards."

"The law should follow not regulations, but rules, the rules of rights."

"The Empress Dowager does not want Zhang Feng to live, because if this matter is investigated further, it will cause unnecessary trouble. Since everything has been settled, why bother with any more trouble?"

"Duan Yu didn't want Zhang Feng to live either. There's no hatred without a reason. Whatever the cause, whether it's a scandal or a personal grudge, since we've already won, we should end it as soon as possible."

"And the people behind Zhang Feng don't want him to live either. Although this matter may not cause too much trouble, even a small trouble is still trouble."

"Finally... why do so many people not want Zhang Feng to live? If I let him live, wouldn't I offend the Empress Dowager, fail to befriend Duan Yu, and sow the seeds of future trouble for myself?"

"Instead of waiting for others to harm you, it's better to go with the flow."

"Law is the boundary set by the upper class for the lower class to follow, and it is a weapon to protect the rights and interests of the upper class."

"Who performed the ritual?"

Who set the boundaries?

"You need to look carefully."

Upon realizing what had happened, the smell of alcohol on Guo Jia's face instantly dissipated.

“Go to Liangzhou and follow Duan Yu closely. You can learn a lot from him and the people around him.”

"In today's world... the laws and regulations are in chaos. When the laws have become so chaotic, new people will step forward to formulate a new set of laws."

"The emperor is in disgrace, the empress dowager holds power, and officials are pursuing personal gain... This world is probably not far from chaos."

As Guo Hong spoke, he drank more and more, becoming increasingly intoxicated.

............

Fortified outpost outside the city.

Duan Yu's personal guards were already packing their bags.

In the bedroom, He Lingman nestled against Duan Yu's chest, her slender fingers gently tracing his granite-like muscles, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with a dreamy look.

Duan Yu then threw the unfolded paper into the charcoal brazier under the bed and lit it.

A small flame flickered in the dim brazier.

As it burned and finally turned into a cloud of ash, it was like a brilliant life bursting forth with its last light.

"Zhang Feng is dead."

Duan Yu said softly.

He Lingman's body suddenly tensed.

"Then... can I go to Liangzhou with you?" He Lingman looked up at Duan Yu, her eyes full of expectation.

Duan Yu slowly shook his head: "It's not the right time yet."

He Lingman's expression immediately turned resentful: "You only see the new brides laughing, but not the old ones crying. You've married so many wives, and now you have another one, the Princess of Yangdi. Who knows if your mansion will still be able to accommodate everyone in the future?"

Duan Yu chuckled.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

The wedding date that had been agreed upon with Liu Hong had arrived, and it was time to bring Princess Yangdi to Liangzhou.

They also needed to bring Liu Bian along, as well as Guo Jia, who had come to them willingly.

Mengde, I really didn't mean to do this. Guo Jia delivered himself to me, so don't blame me.

............

In early February, spring has arrived, and all things on earth are reviving.

Yanzhou, Taishan Commandery, Bian County.

It was noon, and Cao Cao was sitting in the main hall of the county government, holding a letter in his hands.

[Dear Brother Mengde: It is as if we are face to face upon receiving this letter. Several months have passed since we last met, and I have missed you dearly. I wonder if you are well in Yanzhou. I often think of you in my dreams. When I entered Luoyang, I was in a hurry and did not have the opportunity to meet you. I do not know when I will be able to meet you and Yuan Shao again. Bian is doing well... she is pregnant...]

"I......"

Upon seeing this, Cao Cao clutched his heart, his face contorted in pain.

[To express my gratitude to my brother, I specially selected five dancers from the Western Regions to come to your home from Loulan...]

"Ziyi... Ziyi is still a kind person, he's my brother!"

Cao Cao immediately beamed with joy.

Just as Cao Cao was continuing to read the contents of the letter, Cao Ren, dressed in armor, strode into the hall with one hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Brother, that big-eared scoundrel Liu Bei is here again."

Ok?

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao raised his head and looked at Cao Ren.

"Is Liu Du'er not finished? Where are his troops now?" Cao Cao asked, frowning.

"The scouts report that his troops have set out from Linyi and have now reached Fangting. They are heading north along the Wu River and will soon arrive at Fei State," Cao Ren said.

The wonderful mood that had just been filled with from Duan Yu's letter vanished instantly.

Cao Cao waved his sleeve and had someone bring him a map.

Then he began to study the map.

After looking at it for a while, Cao Cao slammed his hand on the table.

"That damned one-eared bandit, he just wants to take over the Yellow Turban territory in Qingzhou."

"Immediately muster the troops to intercept the One-Eared Bandit's forces!" Cao Cao roared.