Tang Dynasty Prison Administration

Chapter 115: Like Fire and Water

Cui Lingyu blushed slightly and said, "As Su Lang's future wife, it is only natural that I should lend my husband a hand!" (Here, "妾" is a soft, self-reference, similar to "犬子" and "贱内" in Chinese.)

At this moment, Cui Bi looked on with envy, while Xu Ge stared at the food on the table and said, "Master, can we eat now? I'm starving! I haven't had a proper meal in so long!"

Su Wen smiled and said, "Eat!"

......

After that, for a period of time, Su Wen summoned Jiang Fengyu, Ye Chujiu, Zhao Wanfeng (Cheng Nianci), Cui Changfeng, Ji Ming, and Li Xingguo.

Li Xingguo is the Warden of the Prison and a Judicial Advisor (a fifth-rank official). (His duties include arresting, guarding, and interrogating prisoners!)

Zhao Wanfeng is a prison warden and a secret agent captain (lower eighth rank). (His job is to investigate and build an underground information network for the prison warden!)

Cui Changfeng is the Warden of the Prison, a low-ranking officer (eighth rank, lower grade). (His job is to arrest criminals!)

Ji Ming was the Warden of the Prison and the Chief Physician (a low-ranking ninth-grade official). (His duties included treating the sick and saving lives, as well as inspecting poisons.)

Ye Chu Jiu was appointed as the prison warden, acting as the vice minister (a fifth-rank official).

Jiang Fengyu is a prison warden and forensic doctor (rank nine, upper). (His specialties are autopsies and profiling!)

After Su Wen wrote down the memorials for these people, he submitted them to the Emperor. The Emperor granted permission, but was particularly interested in the term "forensic medicine"!

After talking with Su Wen for a long time, Su Wen also suggested changing the title of coroner to forensic doctor and formally incorporating it into the government as an official position. However, the emperor did not agree immediately, but said that he would consider it.

Su Wen has been extremely busy lately, but nothing else has happened, so things have been relatively peaceful.

......

The prison is undergoing intensive renovations.

As usual, Su Wen and Cui Lingyu were inspecting the repairs in front of the prison gate on this day.

An elderly woman dressed in white slowly approached. Upon seeing that the prison office was still under repair, she knelt down at the entrance and began to wail and cry out, "Sir, I'm innocent! I'm innocent!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen and Cui Lingyu immediately stepped forward to help Su Wen up, asking, "Madam, what happened to you?"

Upon seeing Cui Lingyu dressed in brocade robes, the old woman immediately said with a hint of a sob, "I've heard that this is a newly opened prison, and I have a grievance to appeal!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen walked up to the old woman and said softly, "I am the Warden of the Prison, madam. What grievance do you have? Tell me. If you are truly wronged, I will surely help you clear your name!"

Upon hearing Su Wen's words, the old woman hurriedly kowtowed to him, pleading, "I beg you, sir, to seek justice for my daughter!"

Su Wen quickly helped the old woman up, saying, "Madam, please tell me!"

The old woman said, "My daughter was beaten to death by her husband a few days ago, but the Dali Temple issued a notice today saying that it was an accidental killing because he was angry about something!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen first helped the old woman up, saying, "Madam, please don't worry, let me go and find out what happened!"

The old woman nodded. Su Wen looked at Cui Lingyu and said, "Lingyu, please take care of Madam for now. I'll go to the Dali Temple to review the case files!"

Cui Lingyu nodded and said, "Young Master Su, you can use your reputation and the authority to act expediently when necessary!"

Su Wen nodded.

After all, Su Wen is now the Minister of the Prison, and he has made it clear that he wants to fight against the Court of Judicial Review. There is no reason for the Court of Judicial Review to be so harmonious!

......

Not long after.

When Su Wen arrived at the Dali Temple, two constables promptly stopped him, saying, "No unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter the Dali Temple!"

Su Wendao said, "How dare you! I am the Chief Prisoner, where can't I enter? Get out of my way!"

Before he could finish speaking...

A voice came from inside the door. Su Wen looked up and saw that the man was over seven feet tall, with handsome features and extraordinary good looks. He looked at Su Wen and said slowly, "Oh, isn't this the soon-to-be-appointed Warden of the Prison? What brings you to my Dali Temple today instead of inspecting the repairs of the Warden's Office?"

Su Wen looked at the man and asked, "Who are you?"

"Xia Wenyu!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen immediately understood and said, "So you are Xia Wenyu, the Acting Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. My apologies for not recognizing you. I am Su Wen, the Minister of the Prison!"

Xia Wenyu smiled and said, "I know. May I ask what brings Minister Su, the Prison Chief, to my Dali Temple?"

Su Wen smiled and said, "Although my prison office has not officially started handling cases, someone came to my prison office today to appeal for justice. After inquiring, I learned that the case files are in the Dali Temple. Therefore, I have come to review the case files. Is that alright?"

Xia Wenyu said, "Since it hasn't officially started yet, it means we don't have the authority to handle cases. Cases handled by my Dali Temple are handled by my Dali Temple, and your Prison Warden's Office has no need to interfere!"

Su Wendao said, "Although my prison office has not officially started yet, since someone has reported a case, my prison office must investigate. Since the Emperor has ordered me to establish the prison office, and I have been appointed by the court, how can I not have the authority to handle cases? I can't possibly take the salary given by the Emperor and do some foolish things or do nothing, can I? What's the difference between that and being a useless person?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Wenyu was furious, but still coldly sneered, "Hmph, the Court of Judicial Review only has one case today, which has already been settled. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice have both stamped and signed it, so it's a done deal. Does the Chief Justice of the Prison intend to contradict the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice?"

"If there is truly no objection, then why have people come to appeal?" After saying this, Su Wen took a step towards the Dali Temple. Two constables reached out to stop him, but Su Wen deliberately raised his voice and shouted.

"I am Su Wen, personally appointed by the Emperor, serving as the Chief Prisoner of the Ministry of Justice, equivalent to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Acting Prefect of Shazhou, Acting Prefect of Qingzhou, Vice Chief Prisoner of the Ministry of Justice, equivalent to the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, former Magistrate of Luoyang County, Chief Prisoner of the Ministry of Justice, County Commandant of Jiaoshui County, and Doctor of Criminal Justice. I am hereby granted the authority by the Emperor to act expediently!"

After finishing this long speech, Su Wen coldly looked at Xia Wenyu and said, "The Sage did not strip me of my title. I still hold this official position and title. Seeing the Imperial Envoy is like seeing the Sage. How dare you stop me!"

Upon hearing the last four words, the two constables immediately took two steps back, lowered their heads, and dared not stop them any longer.

Su Wen turned and strode towards the Dali Temple, coldly snorting, "I never do anything foolish or thoughtless!"

Hearing this, Xia Wenyu was so angry that her teeth itched, but she couldn't refute it. She could only watch Su Wen's figure gradually enter the Dali Temple, clench her fists, and her eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Su Wen took the case files from the Dali Temple and hurriedly left in front of Xia Wenyu.

Back home, Cui Lingyu was already waiting for him.

Su Wen looked at Cui Lingyu and said, "Lingyu, the Dali Temple is probably very dissatisfied with me right now. It seems this position is indeed difficult to hold!"

Cui Lingyu smiled and said, "Of course. You've taken half of someone else's rights, and it involves criminal charges. How could the other party possibly accept something so serious?"

Holding the case file, Su Wen said, "Luckily, I had enough credentials to get it back!"

Cui Lingyu smiled and then began to examine the case files with Su Wen.

A few days ago, a man named Fang Hao from Changshoufang, Chang'an County, beat his wife, Qian, to death at home. According to Fang Hao's own confession, the death was caused by a fight between the couple. However, the coroner found no injuries on Fang Hao's body.