When Zhu Pingan walked into the courtyard, he was inspected again by the Jinyi guards standing on both sides of the door. They checked Zhu Pingan's seal and the official documents of the Ministry of Justice before being allowed to enter.
Entering the courtyard, Zhu Pingan's attire also attracted everyone's attention. He stood out from the crowd. Everyone was in official uniforms. Zhu Pingan was in regular clothes and had a cloth bag slung across his body. It was difficult not to attract attention.
When Zhu Pingan was checked by Jin Yiwei at the door just now, everyone had noticed it. Especially when they knew that Zhu Pingan was one of the protagonists of today's petition, it attracted everyone's attention.
"Are you Zhu Pingan?"
As soon as Zhu Pingan walked into the courtyard, an official in his forties came over. He had a long beard and was wearing a three-ping red peacock official uniform. He walked up to Zhu Pingan with a gloomy look and asked condescendingly.
"My subordinate, Zhu Ping'an, has met your lord."
As soon as he saw the peacock-simple official uniform, Zhu Pingan knew that this was a third-rank official or a deputy ministerial official. So Zhu Pingan took half a step to the right, bowed his head, and saluted twice with long clasped hands to say hello.
In the Ming Dynasty, when subordinate officials met with superior officials, the custom was to move to the right, clasping hands twice, and saluting hello. The so-called clasping hands means that the arms are folded and straightened forward, the right hand is slightly bent, the left hand is placed on the right hand, and the arm is moved from
Move from the top of the forehead down to the chest, and bow the body at a forty-five degree angle while clasping hands.
Of course, if the official positions are very different and you have to go further to show respect or flattery, you can also bow your head or bow your head. Bowing your head and bowing your head are a kind of kneeling ceremony. Of course, it is not mandatory, it is purely
Voluntary. If you do it, no one will stop you; if you don’t do it, no one will say you are rude.
After Zhu Pingan clasped his hands and saluted, he heard a dissatisfied snort coming from above his head.
Hearing the cold snort, Zhu Ping'an didn't wait for the person to reply. Instead, he smiled slightly and straightened his back. Anyway, his etiquette was in place. You always love me, so I won't serve you anymore. No matter what you do,
Being respectful will not satisfy someone who already has a prejudice against you.
Seeing Zhu Pingan straighten up, the third-grade officer in front of him was even more dissatisfied. He exuded a cold aura, snorted, looked at Zhu Pingan with a gloomy look and asked, "Who did you learn etiquette from? When you meet me,
Why don’t officials kneel? Where are the etiquette in officialdom?”
kneel?
This is the Ming Dynasty, not the Manchu Qing Dynasty, where the remnants of slavery are strong. You are a third-rank official, and I am also a sixth-rank official after all. I have fame and honor, and I am not a white servant. Why should I kneel down to you in a servile manner.
"I don't understand what you mean." Zhu Ping'an curled his lips slightly and shook his head.
"According to the etiquette of our Ming Dynasty, all officials are distinguished according to their rank. Anyone who is lower than the second or third rank will bow to the venerable. The venerable will sit down and receive the courtesy. If there is something to do, he will kneel down and worship. And Taizu taught: Every minister is subordinate
Those whose official rank is lower than that of their superiors should kneel down when asked." The third-rank official stared at Zhu Ping'an with a gloomy gaze and said slowly, the cold light in his eyes was like the tip of a sharpened knife, slowly breathing out the chill.
The third-grade officer's whole body was like a knife piercing him, testing the pressure on Zhu Pingan.
The confrontation between the third-rank official and Zhu Ping'an naturally attracted other officials in the courtyard, who all focused their attention.
"Thank you for telling me, sir." Zhu Pingan bowed his hand.
Just when everyone thought Zhu Pingan had given in, they heard Zhu Pingan ask again, "I wonder where you are, sir?"
"I am the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War." The third-rank official glanced at Zhu Pingan and replied proudly.
Oh, no wonder you bite me when we meet. It turns out you are Zhao Qiu, Zhao Daying’s uncle.
"It turns out he's from the Ministry of War." Zhu Ping'an nodded when he heard this, and then changed the topic, "I just heard what you said, and I thought you were a senior official in the Hanlin Academy."
"Um?"
Zhao Qiu looked at Zhu Pingan.
Ye Wei, another official, shook his head. This newly promoted No. 1 scholar really didn't know enough about official etiquette. The head of the Hanlin Academy was only a fifth-rank official. Mr. Zhao was the left minister of the Ministry of War. He wore a plain peacock on his official uniform.
How obvious it is that Peacock Puzi is the symbol of a third-grade official. How could he be a Shangguan of the Hanlin Academy?
"My lord has just said that any subordinate officer whose rank is lower than that of his superior officer will kneel down when asked to do something. Your lord is the superior officer of the Ministry of War, and the lower officer is the Attendant of the Hanlin Academy. The department belongs to the Hanlin Academy, not the Ministry of War, and the lower officer is now
It’s not a matter of innateness. It’s just that, no need.”
Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly and explained that there was no need to go on. Everyone knew what he meant after hearing it.
No need to kneel down.
Taizu’s instruction is that subordinate officials who are lower in rank than their superiors should kneel when reporting matters; that is to say, subordinates in the same department must kneel when reporting matters to their superiors. This is only applicable to the same department. Moreover, Taizu’s instructions
This instruction has not been truly implemented. Just like the "Da Gao" issued by him, when Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was alive, every household had a copy, but after Zhu Yuanzhang died, it lost its legal effect and became waste paper.
.
Zhao Qiu originally wanted to give Zhu Pingan a show of strength, so that Zhu Pingan could lose momentum before the love affair even started. He thought that Zhu Pingan was young and mentally fragile, and would usually collapse under such pressure. Unexpectedly, Zhu Pingan was
Ping An's mental quality was beyond his expectation despite his young age.
I quoted the scriptures myself, but I didn't expect that he would use his spear to attack his shield.
But it doesn't matter. Although there are some surprises, it is still under control. I still have backup plans. Zhao Qiu smiled slightly, then looked at Zhu Pingan again, and said slowly: "You must have received the official document from the Ministry of Punishment.
I just came here. This time, the Ministry of Justice's petition will be jointly presided over by our Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, Jinyiwei, Dali Temple, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. I am the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War, and I am here on behalf of the Ministry of War. I am one of the presiding judges of this petition.
one."
"I believe that your Excellency will judge the matter as a princess." Zhu Ping'an said without any humiliation or uttering a word.
"Of course." Zhao Qiu nodded, and then continued, "I will naturally judge the case as a princess. I have carefully studied the Chen Qing case. If you impeach Zhao Daying for killing a good man and taking merit, Zhao Daying will also sue you.
Framing a false accusation against Zhongliang and avenging a private vendetta. In order to show fairness and impartiality and strict official discipline, you and Zhao Daying and others will be temporarily dismissed from their official positions during the appeal period. After the case is found out, rewards and punishments will be given. How should you salute when you meet this official? No need
Let me continue."
Aren't you holding on to your fame and refusing to kneel down? Then I will temporarily remove your fame. Don't say it's unfair. You didn't listen to me. I will also strip away Zhao Daying's fame. Now you have no objection, right?
.
Wouldn't a person with no fame kneel down when he saw his official? Zhao Qiu looked directly at Zhu Ping'an, not expressing his authority.
"Our Ming Dynasty legislation clearly distinguishes rewards and punishments, and crimes and punishments are determined in accordance with laws such as the Ming Dynasty Code. There has never been a direct conviction and punishment without a trial. Now, before the case has begun and the guilt has not been determined, your Excellency has temporarily dismissed it.
What is the reason for the official title and what laws are it based on?"
Zhu Ping'an glanced at Zhao Qiu and shook his head slightly, "Do you think you can change your name if you ask for it? There must be procedures. In order to give yourself a prestige, you don't even have to give up your face!"
"There is a precedent." Zhao Qiu narrowed his eyes slightly.
There are precedents, that is, there have been examples before, whether it was a few years ago or hundreds of years ago, hoare.
Zhao Qiu was not afraid of being ugly. Firstly, it was to vent his anger on Da Ying. Secondly, it was a time to show loyalty to old cousin Yan Ge. It didn't matter whether the appearance was ugly or not, as long as the wind blew into old Yan Ge's ears, it was worth it.
Okay, this is acting rogue, but who doesn’t know how to act rogue?
Seeing this, Zhu Ping'an raised the cloth bag slung around his waist, looked at Zhao Qiu with stern eyes and asked loudly: "In my bag are the notes given by the Holy One, and the book of sages written by Kong Sheng, Your Majesty,
Mr. Kong, I would like to ask you, Sir, do you want us to kneel down and salute?"
"You..." Zhao Qiu looked at Zhu Ping'an, angry and annoyed, and finally walked away, leaving the salute in vain.
All the officials in the courtyard couldn't help but glance at Zhu Ping'an a few more times.