Chapter 494: Treating everyone as idiots
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Chi Hou didn't know what Wan Chong was planning, but he knew that he wasn't just planning to arrest Fang Zhengzhi.
"Hand over the criminal, hand over the criminal..."
"Let him be punished for his sins!"
"He has to face the music!"
The voices of the crowd reverberated through the air. Their chants grew louder by the minute, causing more and more people to stop and see what the ruckus was all about.
Chi Hou squinted and looked at the smiling Wan Chong. He was analyzing his current situation.
Should he hand Fang Zhengzhi over? Or should he stick to his guns and oppose the Ministry?
As the leader of the Divine Constabulary, this crime would not result in much of a punishment. However, if word got out that he broke the law despite knowing it...
It would be disadvantageous to him.
Chi Hou clenched his fists and nodded to Fang Zhengzhi when he thought about their mission.
The meaning was clear, Fang Zhengzhi would have to serve some time.
Chi Hou knew that he did not need much time to get to the palace and meet with the Emperor. He could regain control of the situation once the Emperor gave his approval for him to preside over this case. He could then go to the Ministry of Law and get Fang Zhengzhi.
That was what Chi Hou thought...
However, he was shocked to see that Fang Zhengzhi didn't seem nervous at all. In fact, he seemed rather detached from the situation.
Chi Hou nodded to Minister of Law Wan Chong.
Wan Chong heaved a sigh of relief. As long as Chi Hou didn't stop him from arresting Fang Zhengzhi, Fang Zhengzhi would never manage to escape.
"Arrest him!" Wan Chong bellowed.
"Woosh woosh woosh!" The guards drew their swords immediately. The blades glowed icily in the evening sun.
Yan Xiu moved.
However, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see a face with a wide smile.
Then, he placed his hands back on the reins.
At the same time, four figures surrounded Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi. These were four cloaked and veiled figures.
All of the citizens shouted and ran to the side when they saw this.
"Oh no, they are about to fight!"
"Fang Zhengzhi is a rebel! He does not intend to accept his punishment!"
"But this is the capital! Where can he run to? Is he going to make enemies with the entire court?"
The citizens screamed at the top of their lungs. Everyone retreated to the side in fear and horror.
Wan Chong chuckled happily.
Everything was going according to plan. Fang Zhengzhi resisting was even more beneficial to him.
If Fang Zhengzhi had simply given up, then he would be stripped of his title if anything untoward happened to Fang Zhengzhi.
However, if Fang Zhengzhi resisted...
Then he may not lose his position! If Fang Zhengzhi resisted, there would be a battle. When there was a battle, 'accidents' could happen.
Most importantly...
They didn't need to kill him on the spot!
Wan Chong had at least 100 people to pin this 'accident' on. Even if he had to take some responsibility, it would be minimal.
"Show no mercy to anyone who resists!" Wan Chong ordered.
At that moment, four of the guards attacked. They brought their shiny blades down on the four veiled and cloaked figures.
Show no mercy indeed!
However...
They never hit their mark.
The simply stopped in mid-air, almost as if they were being blocked by something.
"No!" Chi Hou's voice rang out. He remembered telling Fang Zhengzhi that they had to keep a low profile.
Yet, Fang Zhengzhi had ignored it all!
He went against the Minister of Law at the gates of the capital and resisted arrest! How much more attention did he want to attract?
He wanted to stop Fang Zhengzhi, but it was too late.
By the time his voice rang out, the four swords had fallen to the ground, together with the hands that held them.
Blood spattered everywhere.
They splattered on the ground, staining the road at the gates of the capital.
Chi Hou's expression was ugly.
He was afraid that Fang Zhengzhi would cause trouble upon entering the capital. He was even more afraid that Fang Zhengzhi would resist arrest and injure the guards.
The severity of the crime...
Was extremely great!
"Fang Zhengzhi, you killed the Crown Prince of the Southern Region, violated their Princess, and injured our Crown Prince. Now, you resist arrest and harm our guards! We will definitely prosecute you!" Wan Chong chuckled icily when he saw the hands fall to the ground.
Fang Zhengzhi attacked!
He knew that Fang Zhengzhi was an audacious person, but he never expected that Fang Zhengzhi would be this audacious! Things would go even better than he expected.
"Are you talking to me?" Fang Zhengzhi's voice echoed through the air. He seemed lost.
"Nonsense, who else is named Fang Zhengzhi here?" Wan Chong was stunned but he replied icily.
"I don't know." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head. He turned to look at the crowd, "Are any of you named Fang Zhengzhi?"
"..."
"Is this guy stupid?"
"Doesn't he know his own name?"
The citizens looked at Fang Zhengzhi in confusion. They didn't understand where Fang Zhengzhi was going with this.
Wan Chong was equally confused.
As for Chi Hou...
He grit his teeth in anger. He was in no mood to hear what Fang Zhengzhi had to say. He regretted believing Fang Zhengzhi in the first place. If he knew this would happen, he would have tied Fang Zhengzhi up.
He wouldn't have let Fang Zhengzhi do what he was doing.
He was prepared to tie Fang Zhengzhi up now and prevent escalation.
His gaze was icy and he prepared to strike. At that moment, a voice echoed out beside him.
"Official Wan, I just asked the crowd for you. There is no one named Fang Zhengzhi. Oh, yes, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Fang Zhengzheng. May I know why Official Wan is blocking my way?"
"Fang Zhengzheng?!" Wan Chong was stunned. He simply couldn't react to what he had just heard.
The crowd was equally stunned.
"Fang Zhengzheng?"
"What did he just say? His name is Fang Zhengzheng?"
"Yup, that's what I heard..."
"Is this guy stupid? Has he forgotten his own name? Does he really think that... this would work?"
All of the villagers were shocked to hear this. None of them knew what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do.
Chi Hou was equally stunned.
Fang Zhengzhi had shown himself in broad daylight at Huai An County. Why would he choose to lie in front of such a big crowd in the capital?
Fang Zhengzheng?
Who would believe him?!
If he wanted to change his name, he should have changed his dressing and put on some makeup. Chi Hou could have arranged for someone to change his appearance.
Most importantly...
He should have changed his name to something more believable. By choosing the name Fang Zhengzheng, he was effectively treating everyone else as an idiot.
Chi Hou didn't understand what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking.
Wan Chong didn't understand it either, but he recovered quickly. He chuckled, leaning backward and on the verge of rolling on the floor.
"Hahaha... Fang Zhengzhi, are you dumb? In five years as Minister or Law, I have never come across a criminal like you. You actually went to change your name, Fang Zhengzheng, hahaha... I may have bought it if you dressed up like a girl or disguised yourself. But this... do you think I am stupid?"
"Official Wan, why do you want this honest citizen to admit that he is stupid?" Fang Zhengzhi replied calmly.
"Fang Zhengzhi, you can forget about convincing me. Even if you wore a mustache and dressed as a lady, I will still be able to recognize you!" Wan Chong chuckled, his expression icy.
"So Official Wan doesn't believe me?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Wan Chong.
"Do you think I will believe you?" Wan Chong smirked.
"Since that is the case, can you prove that I am Fang Zhengzhi?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded and replied calmly.
"You want evidence?" Wan Chong's smile froze. He had no evidence to prove that Fang Zhengzhi was actually Fang Zhengzhi.
In fact...
No one would have prepared such evidence!
This was supposed to be a given! Everyone knew that this man was Fang Zhengzhi! There was no evidence needed!
"Fang Zhengzhi, we had your portrait drawn up! There are posters everywhere and all the citizens here can be my witness! What evidence do I need?" Wan Chong replied.
"Portrait? Official Wan, as the Minister of Law, I am sure that you are smarter than that. How can you arrest someone based on a portrait? There are too many people who look alike in this world." Fang Zhengzhi replied.
Wan Chong's expression changed.
Fang Zhengzhi was right. He couldn't arrest him based on a portrait. He actually had to prove that this man was Fang Zhengzhi.
However, he never expected that Fang Zhengzhi would have come up with this.
Changing his name?
This was the most ridiculous thing that he had heard of?!
Was he trying to game the system?
Wan Chong chuckled icily. He had to admit that he had never expected that Fang Zhengzhi would be able to find this gap in the system. No one would have expected that Fang Zhengzhi, who had announced himself in Huai An County...
Would say that his name was Fang Zhengzheng...
Upon entering the capital!
If Fang Zhengzhi had disguised himself from the start, then Wan Chong would have prepared accordingly. However, Fang Zhengzhi had kept a high profile in Huai An County! Wan Chong didn't even think that he would change his name or disguise himself.
Wan Chong was slightly flustered.
However...
He would not let Fang Zhengzhi just get away so easily. He was still the Minister of Law.
"Fang Zhengzhi, even if I can't prove your identity now, I can still arrest you under suspicion!" Wan Chong chuckled.
"Are you saying that you can't prove that I am Fang Zhengzhi?"
"So what if I can't prove it? When you are sitting in jail, I will have my ways to prove that you are Fang Zhengzhi!" Wan Chong knew he was still in control.
He didn't need any evidence to arrest a suspect.
"But... what if I can prove that I am Fang Zhengzheng?" Fang Zhengzhi was calm as well.
"You can prove that you are Fang Zhengzheng?" Wan Chong was stunned.
"Of course." Fang Zhengzhi nodded and took out a document. He opened it up.
The words "Fang Zhengzheng" were clear for all to see.
More importantly...
There was a red stamp at the bottom. The words "Huai An County Stamp" were clear for all to see.
"Birth certificate?!" Wan Chong was in disbelief.
Never before had a suspected criminal have a valid birth certificate proving that he was someone else.
Wan Chong couldn't believe it.
In fact, everyone else, from Chi Hou to the citizens, couldn't believe their eyes.
Fake!
This must be a fake! That was the thought in everyone's minds.
"Official Wan, this is my evidence." Fang Zhengzhi presented the birth certificate confidently.
The crowd was stunned when they saw Fang Zhengzhi's actions and expressions.
How could someone be that shameless?
He could try and act dumb, but how can he treat us all as idiots? This is clearly a forgery! Who would believe him?
"Fang Zhengzhi, do you think that a fake document will convince me? Do you think that I am as stupid as you?" Wan Chong was not going to fall for it.
"Aish... it seems that Official Wan is still unconvinced. No worries, I don't just have physical evidence, I have a witness too." Fang Zhengzhi sighed, unsurprised by Wan Chong's reaction.
"Witness?!" Wan Chong was stunned.
He couldn't think of someone who would be willing to testify to something this ridiculous.
Who would be stupid enough to do such a thing?