How did a street urchin from the film crew end up in a Northern Song Dynasty drama called "The

Zhu Manniang caused a scene at the Yu family home, so much so that Old Madam Yu fainted. This incident, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up ripples. The news spread like wildfire, and Yu Yanran's life instantly became difficult. While not the most favored member of the Yu family, Yu Yanran had her own space, but after this incident, her status plummeted. Although Old Madam Yu felt deep pity for her, she was powerless to change Yu Yanran's dire situation. Ultimately, Old Madam Yu made the decision to marry Yu Yanran to the second young master of the Mu family in Yunnan, who had recently lost his wife.

Yu Yanran was deeply opposed to this marriage. Despite her reluctance, her upbringing and reverence for family authority forced her to submit to fate, leaving her only with sorrow and resentment.

As Jin Shuai recalled the plot, he unknowingly arrived at the gate of the Three Departments. He paused, composed himself, and then slowly stepped down from the carriage, steadily entering the gate.

Upon entering the yamen, Commander Jin did not linger and headed straight for the offices of the Three Departments. Along the way, the yamen runners he encountered bowed to him, to which he nodded slightly. Upon arrival, his expression remained calm, and he immediately instructed a clerk: "Go, summon Lord Liu and the other relevant officials immediately, and tell them I have important matters to discuss." The clerk obeyed and hurried away like a gust of wind.

A short while later, hurried footsteps approached, and Lord Liu and his entourage rushed in. They entered the room, and Jin Shuai's face broke into a faint smile, a smile that seemed to hold a deeper meaning. He then pulled a list from his robes, handed it to Lord Liu, and said, "The people on this list have all come before me, trying to defend themselves. Have you investigated these cases thoroughly?"

Lord Liu accepted the list with both hands and respectfully replied, "Your Excellency, after a thorough investigation, the case is basically clear. Most of them were infiltrated by the Hebrews who saw the potential and value of these people and secretly used various means to entice and bribe them. However, the ones who truly committed serious crimes were only a few high-ranking officials who provided them with convenience and committed serious crimes, truly betraying the trust of the court."

Jin Shuai walked to the table, sat down slowly, and then instructed, "Go through this list one by one and mark those whose crimes are relatively minor."

Lord Liu quickly scanned the list, then picked up a pen and began marking it. After a moment, he finished marking and handed the list back to Marshal Jin.

Jin Shuai took the list and looked at it closely. He saw that Yu Yanran's father was also on it, and he felt a little relieved. This would make it easier to advance the plot. He cleared his throat, a warm smile on his face, and said, "Gentlemen, as the saying goes, no one is perfect. Everyone inevitably has close friends, which is only human nature. I also know that many powerful people may approach you, trying to exonerate their relatives and friends. But as officials of the court, we must adhere to the principles of fairness and impartiality in handling matters."

He paused briefly, glancing around, before continuing, "Therefore, I have an idea. We might compile a list of these individuals and then categorize them into three levels based on the severity of their crimes: minor offenses, slightly serious offenses, and serious offenses. Those who have committed serious crimes should, of course, be dealt with strictly according to the law to give the authorities a satisfactory explanation. As for the others, we might consider showing some leniency. After all, the authorities' goal is to 'learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones, and to cure the disease to save the patient,' primarily to ensure that everyone can learn from these experiences, take them as a warning, and avoid repeating the same errors. What do you gentlemen think?"

After listening, Lord Liu exchanged glances with the other officials, who all nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Lord Liu said, "Your Excellency, your method is indeed comprehensive, and everyone agrees. However, the issue of the severity of the punishment still needs further discussion. I wonder if Your Excellency has any insightful suggestions?"

"Those with minor offenses will have their salaries reduced by one to three years, be demoted one rank and placed on probation as a warning to others, and must write a letter of repentance and a guarantee to be read aloud in public. If they commit the offense again, the punishment will be increased. Those with slightly more serious offenses will be fined ten times the amount of silver embezzled and confiscated, demoted three ranks to dismissal, paraded through the streets for three days as a warning, and sentenced to one to three years of hard labor. Those who cannot pay the fine will have their property confiscated. As for those who commit serious crimes, whether their property is confiscated, they are exiled to the army, or they are punished in other ways will be decided by the officials. Does anyone have anything to add?" Jin Shuai asked softly, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at the officials present.

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials had different thoughts. Most of them thought that once the serious criminals were in the hands of the officials, they were powerless to intervene, but there was still room for maneuver in the other two crimes. Lord Liu frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "What does the Duke mean by this? Is he testing our impartiality? This is definitely a trap. If we are not careful, we will lose our official hats. We must not fall into this trap."

Jin Shuai, of course, was unaware of what Lord Liu was thinking. If he had known, he would probably have laughed and said, "Use this to test the officials." However, at this moment, he had no time to speculate on the officials' thoughts. Looking at the few who were deep in thought, he decided not to waste any more time and said, "Go back and think about it some more! Lord Liu, you stay. Also, gather those who have committed less serious offenses together. In a few minutes, we'll hold a small admonition meeting for them."

After the officials left, only Commander Jin and Lord Liu remained in the room. Commander Jin's lips curled into a faint smile as he slowly said, "Lord Liu, you must understand my intentions now!"

Upon hearing this, Lord Liu's heart tightened, and a look of astonishment flashed across his face. He hesitated for a moment, chuckled twice, and said, "I only have a slight understanding of Your Excellency's intentions."

Upon seeing this, Jin Shuai's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible hint of disappointment. He thought to himself, "This old fox is very cautious." But he quickly regained his smile and continued, "Lord Liu, the Three Offices are an important power institution of the government, like a sharp blade in the hands of the emperor. Their importance is self-evident. In this crucial position, there is no room for any muddle-headed person."

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "Lord Liu, you are a smart man and should know how to act. If you want to repay a favor, you can use other methods, but you can't keep all the benefits for yourself."

Having said that, Jin Shuai's smile grew even brighter, but behind that smile lay a chilling intent. Lord Liu felt a chill run down his spine, keenly sensing the deeper meaning behind Jin Shuai's smile, and thought to himself: Among these three departments, there are probably a few unlucky fellows who don't know their own limitations and are about to stumble in front of this ridiculously young nobleman.

However, Lord Liu quickly recovered, after all, he wasn't the one who was unlucky. He secretly rejoiced, and at the same time, he greatly admired Marshal Jin's meticulous thinking and profound shrewdness. This nobleman was so young, yet so adept at the ways of officialdom. Lord Liu thought that Marshal Jin must have had a deeper meaning in saying these things to him, so he composed himself and asked, "Your Excellency, I still don't quite understand your intentions. I hope Your Excellency will be kind enough to enlighten me and clear up my doubts."

Jin Shuai smiled slightly, a sly glint in his eyes, and said softly, "Well, Lord Liu, if those corrupt officials could truly repent and not only donate money to pave roads and benefit the people, but also sincerely repent and admit their mistakes, wouldn't the Emperor show them leniency?"

Upon hearing this, Lord Liu suddenly understood, instantly grasping Marshal Jin's meaning. This was leaving room for corrupt officials to maneuver! As long as they were willing to bleed and pay a sufficient price, the emperor would naturally turn a blind eye. Lord Liu sighed inwardly, realizing this was the true value of the Three Departments!

Having understood this, Lord Liu quickly said, "Thank you for your explanation, Your Excellency. I understand completely now."

"Okay, those who overstepped their bounds, you'll handle them after this is over! Don't disappoint the officials! Hehe." Jin Shuai said with a smile.

"This humble official thanks Your Excellency for your guidance," Lord Liu said, bowing.

"You're too kind. We're all working for the government, so we should support each other. Let's go and teach these reckless fellows a lesson," Jin Shuai said with a smile.

In a spacious area of ​​the Three Departments' office, when Commander Jin arrived, he saw more than twenty officials who had committed offenses already gathered there. Commander Jin didn't waste any words, instructing the officials of the Three Departments to severely reprimand them first. Although this was merely a formality, it was extremely effective in this era. Then it was Commander Jin's turn to speak. He didn't delay either, immediately beginning his admonition: "Gentlemen, I have gathered you here today because I have some heartfelt words to say. Since the founding of our Great Song Dynasty by Emperor Taizu, we have always upheld the principles of benevolent governance, love for the people, and integrity, which has led to our current prosperity. You have all endured ten years of arduous study to serve in the court, shouldering the heavy responsibility of the nation and the earnest expectations of the people."

Officials should uphold integrity and public service as their fundamental principles, always keeping the people and the nation in their hearts. Yet, for petty gains, you have betrayed the trust of the government and the people, placing the hard work of successive emperors of the Song Dynasty in peril. If this continues, it will surely shake the very foundation of the nation.

Some may think these are trivial matters, seemingly insignificant behaviors not worth mentioning. But remember, a thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole; small evils, if left unchecked, will surely become major problems!

The Emperor, mindful of your years of hard work, understands that human nature is prone to selfish desires. However, the law of the land is solemn and cannot be trampled upon in the slightest. This time, the Emperor is issuing you a minor punishment as a warning, and hereby solemnly warns you that from this day forward, you must all abide by your duties and the law. If you are found to have engaged in such conduct again, regardless of the severity of the offense, you will be severely punished without exception! I hope you will all act accordingly and not ruin your future because of momentary greed. After signing the confession, you may go home. Specific punishments will be issued in writing. Dismissed!