Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

West Market, Guofanjia.

Dou Fengjie, holding a piece of black-boned chicken, enjoyed a hearty meal with the newly appointed Censor Li Xingma Zhou.

Ma Zhou enjoys fine wine and delicious chicken, but he is not picky about quality.

The positions of Lihang and Gongfeng were additional staff members outside of the regular positions. Except for a slight reduction in the number of servants, their treatment was similar to that of the regular positions.

In short, a Tang Dynasty version of a temporary worker, or rather, a temporary official.

"Back then, I was young and arrogant. I was even a Doctor of the State Academy, but after resigning and going to Chang'an, I realized that it was not easy to obtain an official position."

Ma Zhou took a sip of the sake from the old woman at Hama Ridge and sighed softly.

He drank wine, while Dou Fengjie drank tea; neither of them interfered with the other's time.

If he hadn't written such brilliant memorials for Chang He when he was a retainer, he would never have had the chance to show his face in front of the emperor, let alone become a high-ranking official.

Years of experience have smoothed out many of Ma Zhou's rough edges, but he still retains his sharpness.

"Brother Binwang is a man of great talent; a mere censor is but the beginning."

Dou Fengjie praised it.

This is not flattery. Ma Zhou may not have such a broad vision now, but he is down-to-earth. His suggestion of a street drum saved the street officials from the hardship of running around desperately.

It's not that other officials can't see the hardships of the street clerks, but rather that the street clerks are not worthy of their attention. Running around is no big deal; they can just consider it exercise.

"What's so great about it! I was just lucky to catch the emperor's eye and get a few places to use my talents."

"It is Duke Zan who impressed Ma Zhou with his success in turning Murong Xiaojun against his cause, demonstrating his remarkable ease in handling relations with foreign states."

Ma Zhou felt that the Court of State Ceremonial was a perfect place for Dou Fengjie to showcase his talents.

Seeing that most of the whole chicken had been eaten by Ma Zhou, Dou Fengjie shouted, "Waiter, bring another black-boned chicken!"

Ma Zhou stroked his beard and laughed.

This duke is an interesting person; he enjoys the food to his liking and speaks in a pleasant manner.

If I ever succeed in the future, I might as well cheer for me, as long as it doesn't violate the law or my conscience, just to show my support.

Dou Fengjie knew, of course, that the famous Ma Zhou could not be bought off with two chickens. This meal was merely a pre-emptive gamble to gain Ma Zhou's favor.

Don't think Ma Zhou has no temper. His words in impeaching Bai Mingda and Hu Sizheng were sharp as knives, almost embarrassing the court musician and horse trainer.

After a hearty meal, Ma Zhou patted his round belly and asked the bartender to bring a food box containing the remaining half chicken: "Shan Jing is still eating simple food, so I'll let her try Guo Fan's cooking."

His wife stayed by his side when he was down on his luck, so their relationship must have been excellent.

Dou Fengjie looked at Ma Zhou with a smile: "Brother Binwang and his wife are deeply in love, which is the envy of others."

Ma Zhou wanted to suggest Dou Fengjie as well, but then he thought of the persistent Princess Yongjia and could only sigh.

"How about we wait until the time comes, and then Duke Zan can go to a slave trader and buy one or two Silla maids as concubines?"

Even Ma Zhou could only come up with this terrible idea.

The Silla maid was not a Tang person after all, so even if Princess Yongjia was angry with her, she didn't feel that much pity.

Great minds think alike.

Coincidentally, Dou Fengjie thought the same thing.

-----------------

The Dali Temple Courtroom.

Yang Fei, the magistrate of Liucheng County in Yingzhou, said with deep sorrow, "My nephew has lost his father, so it's inevitable that he has thoughts of revenge."

"There is a case in this dynasty where Wang Juncao, a man from Jimo in Laizhou, killed his enemy Li Junze to avenge his father. The emperor, mindful of his filial piety, pardoned his crime."

"I humbly request the court to invoke this precedent and pardon my nephew's death sentence."

It can only be said that Yang Fei, having been in officialdom for so many years, is quite capable; this example is used flawlessly.

The newly appointed Dali Chief Justice Duan Baoxuan chuckled: "However, the source of the bow and arrows used by your nephew and the places where he usually practices have not been investigated, so the Dali Temple cannot close the case and present its case."

"His plight is pitiful, but his actions are deserving of death. Surely the Prefect is aware that assassinating an official and killing a commoner are two different things?"

Zanfu is another name for the county magistrate.

Yang Fei nodded: "Therefore, I only dare to beg for mercy, not for pardon."

Upon receiving the news, Liu Dewei, the Chief Justice of Dali, pondered for a long time: "Investigate all relevant personnel, temporarily suspend the punishment of the criminals, and submit a memorial to the court for the Emperor to decide."

Liu Dewei, who surrendered to Wagang from the Sui Dynasty and then to the Tang Dynasty, was much more cautious in his actions.

Whether or not to pardon the novice monk Yang should not be decided by the Dali Temple; the decision should be left to the emperor.

The case of Wang Juncao is a special case, and a pardon under specific circumstances cannot become the norm.

Liu Dewei believes that whether or not a pardon can be granted depends on the attitudes of the victims, Liu Heng and Dou Fengjie.

Liu Heng was a little better; he just wanted to calm down.

Dou Fengjie was much more troubled. The two sides had become mortal enemies. Since they were determined to fight to the death, why should Dou Fengjie be asked to let go?

-----------------

Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin sat at the head of the table, Liu Heng and Dou Fengjie sat on the left, and Princess Yongjia and Yang Fei sat on the right.

Liu Dewei, this old bureaucrat, did not participate in this matter at all.

The Dali Temple is just a messenger without emotion or bias.

"The case of Wang Juncao occurred during a specific period, which is different from the present."

"Besides, Li Junze is merely a commoner, while I and the Duke of Zan are officials appointed by the imperial court!"

Liu Heng made his stance clear.

The specific period refers to the first year of the Zhenguan era, when it was necessary to stabilize public sentiment and the emperor needed to grant leniency outside the law.

Besides the filial son Wang Juncao, Li Shimin later pardoned the virtuous woman Wei Wuji, and the cases were similar.

However, Liu Heng clung to the point of being an "official appointed by the imperial court" and refused to budge, which even troubled Li Shimin.

"My nephew was young and ignorant, and all his grievances turned into this arrow. He must have made a mistake."

"But, my two superiors, please spare his life, for he is an orphan?"

Yang Fei lowered his stance.

"Exactly, Dou Fengjie, he's so pitiful, can't you at least lend a hand?"

Princess Yongjia blinked her peach blossom eyes.

Dou Fengjie scoffed, "I am also an orphan. During my mourning period, I was even attacked at my door, and no one showed me any pity!"

Princess Yongjia and Yang Fei blushed and were speechless for a moment.

Dou Fengjie's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Moreover, the generals in the army are rewarded and punished according to military orders, and the court will make a fair judgment on right and wrong."

"If His Majesty executed those soldiers who disobeyed military orders back then, and later generations followed suit in assassinating them, would there still be any law?"

"As this trend grows, will the generals in the army dare to lead troops and enforce military law?"

Li Shimin gave Zhang Anan a wink, and Zhang Anan raised his voice: "This matter involves military law and cannot be used for personal revenge. The Yang family criminals are to be taken to the Lone Willow in the West Market and be executed immediately."

"The abbot, the chief monk, and the senior monks of Guangming Temple went to Aizhou to spread Buddhism."

"Regarding the origins and history of the bow and arrow, relevant personnel are in Illinois."

There was no way around it; Dou Fengjie's suggestion was too ruthless. If Li Shimin dared to grant a pardon, the generals in the army, and even the emperor himself, might not be able to live in peace.

Princess Yongjia looked at Dou Fengjie's handsome face, which remained unchanged. She was still a little reluctant to part with him, but not as strongly as before.

The key is that the moment I see him, I can't help but think of the lingering, unique smell of sheep's dung.

Even when she tried not to think about him, his outstanding appearance and domineering methods made Princess Yongjia unable to help but think of him again.

Even the stunningly beautiful Zhang Xizang paled in comparison to him.