Chapter 151 Are you convinced now?
Ninth Prince said it was a basic operation, but he was already overjoyed in his heart.
Seeing everyone's admiring gazes, he had only one word in his mind.
Awesome!
This sense of accomplishment, using his brain to arrange people clearly and thoroughly, was ten thousand times more satisfying than fighting crickets!
This was a feeling he had never experienced before.
Previously, these civil and military officials looked at him as if he were a good-for-nothing; although they were respectful in words, their eyes were full of disdain.
But today, he took in all their surprised gazes.
It turned out that being a good official and handling the affairs of the common people was so interesting.
These past few days, after he handled trivial matters for the common people, they were incredibly grateful to him; the feeling was indescribably good.
Some common people even gave him eggs as a token of their gratitude.
It was just an egg, something the Ninth Prince usually wouldn't even bother to look at.
But he cherished the eggs given by the common people as if they were priceless treasures, showing them off to everyone he met.
These were given by the common people.
This sense of accomplishment was something he had never experienced before.
Let alone raising wolves, even raising a tiger wouldn't give him this feeling.
Under everyone's doubtful gazes,
the old woman, clutching a few white steamed buns, walked out of the yamen gate, feeling content.
As she walked, she kept muttering, "Ninth Prince is truly a good person; he gave us food again..."
Everyone was very sharp and heard the old woman say "again."
This indicated that the Ninth Prince had done many practical things these past few days.
In just a few days, he had already deeply won the hearts of the people.
It was not easy.
The old woman, with faltering steps, had just turned the street corner when a shifty-eyed middle-aged man darted out from a nearby alley and grabbed her.
"Madam!"
The man lowered his voice, his eyes darting around.
"What did Ninth Highness ask you just now? What did you say?"
The old woman was hard of hearing and couldn't make out his words.
"Huh? What did you say? Speak louder."
The man was anxious, so he leaned in closer and spoke even louder.
"I said, did you say anything out of turn in the courtroom!"
Just then!
Suddenly, a loud shout came from behind.
"Don't move!"
From the nearby alley, a dozen yamen runners rushed out.
In an instant, they pressed the man to the ground and tied him up securely.
The man was stunned on the spot.
Damn, entrapment?!
The man was escorted back to the yamen, where he remained stubborn, kneeling on the ground and repeatedly crying out for injustice.
"I've been wronged! Your Highness! I just felt pity for the old woman and asked her a question; I didn't do anything!"
Ninth Imperial Prince sat behind the official desk, his face stern, imitating the upright officials in plays, and slammed the gavel.
"Impudent! Still daring to quibble! Bring forth the torture for this prince!"
The yamen runners immediately brought out the finger-crushing device.
They roughly inserted the man's ten fingers into the device and pulled hard.
"Ah—!"
A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the courtroom; the man writhed on the ground in agony, a terrible sight.
But he still stubbornly refused to admit anything.
He knew very well that admitting it meant a death sentence; not admitting it still left him a chance.
They couldn't possibly beat him into a confession, could they?
Emperor Ren, watching from behind, frowned. Although this method was clever, it seemed ineffective against a stubborn person.
Wang Shushi and Li Deguang exchanged glances, a cold sneer playing on their lips.
He was still just a child; his methods were too naive.
Just then, Ninth Imperial Prince suddenly leaned close to a yamen runner's ear and whispered a few instructions.
The yamen runner understood, nodded, circled the outside of the yamen, and then rushed back in through the main gate.
He held a money bag high in his hand and said excitedly,
"Your Highness! Found it! Found it!"
"We found the deceased's money bag under the bed board in his home! There's even a blood-stained dagger inside! The evidence is undeniable!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the man, who was being tortured to the brink of death, suddenly shrieked.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"I didn't hide anything at home at all! You're framing me! This is a setup!"
The words had just left his mouth.
The entire courtroom once again fell into a deathly silence.
The air seemed to solidify.
After shouting, the man himself froze, the color instantly draining from his face, his pupils filled with endless fear and despair.
It's over.
He was barbecued.
He had condemned himself.
Ninth Imperial Prince had been waiting for this very sentence; he suddenly stood up and slammed the gavel hard on the table.
"If not hidden at home, where did you hide it?"
"Confess honestly now, or this prince will pull out your fingernails!"
The man immediately collapsed to the ground; he had already let slip the truth. If he still didn't confess, he would definitely face severe torture.
"Your Highness, spare my life. Your humble servant was momentarily confused and wanted to steal some money, but I accidentally stabbed him to death. Your Highness, spare my life..."
The Ninth Prince snorted, "Murder for profit is an unforgivable crime! Take him away, he will be executed tomorrow!"
"Court dismissed!"
...At this moment, all the civil and military officials, including Emperor Ren on the dragon throne, were completely petrified.
Each one was dumbfounded, as if they had all been struck by lightning.
This psychological tactic!
How in the world could the Ninth Prince have thought of this?
Besides bird-walking and dog-fighting, could the Ninth Prince also solve cases?
Even Shen Yulou was shocked.
If you told me this was a scene from "Young Justice Bao," I would believe you!
Emperor Ren trembled with excitement, his old face slightly flushed.
He grabbed Shen Yulou's arm, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Minister Shen! Was this also taught by you?"
Shen Yulou said,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your humble servant did not teach this. Your humble servant merely told Ninth Highness to learn more from the Prefectural Magistrate, and I never expected His Highness to be so talented."
"Ninth Highness is inherently an unpolished jade, with keen intellect and extraordinary talent.
However, his nature was previously suppressed by those dull, dead books, which led to a rebellious mindset.
Now, with a little guidance from Your humble servant, allowing him to be himself, his inherent talent has emerged."
After he finished speaking, everyone looked towards the Grand Tutor and the Junior Tutor.
Every word of that statement was like a resounding slap across both their faces.
Saying that what they taught were dead books?
Saying that they suppressed the Prince's nature?
It was practically pointing at their noses and scolding them for misleading students!
The faces of the two old men instantly changed from a liver-like red to a purplish-black.
Their beards bristled with anger, yet they couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
The facts were laid bare before them; how could they argue?
Emperor Ren found it amusing to see the two old officials in such a predicament.
He cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the two.
"Grand Tutor, Junior Tutor, now, are you convinced?"
Wang Shushi and Li Deguang exchanged glances, their mouths filled with bitterness, and finally could only hang their heads dejectedly, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth.
"This subject is utterly convinced."
"Very good." Emperor Ren nodded, in a much better mood.
"Since the guidance of the two princes has shown initial results, it proves that Shen Yulou indeed possesses the talent to guide princes."
"Therefore, the matter of the Imperial Academy can be put on the agenda."
"Everyone, you should have no objections now, right?