บท 94: Chapter 94: "Kicking Them While They’re Down"
Chapter 94: "Kicking Them While They're Down"
A few judges from the Royal Court then stepped aside, allowing Count Wadier, a senior judge of the High Court, to step forward. Trembling, he read out the previous verdict again, signed his name, and stamped it.
Because the Royal Court didn't actually have the authority to pass judgments, Wadier had to step in to make it official. Only then was Vézinier formally convicted.
Immediately, some people in the crowd began to voice their discontent:
"Judgment power! The Royal Court needs judgment power!"
"These shameless judges can't be trusted to judge themselves!"
"The High Court is full of cronies!"
"Yes! They have no right! Let the Royal Court handle the trials!"
As a few people led the chant, it quickly turned into a shout from thousands, with "judgment power" echoing across the sky.
In fact, it was Joseph who had arranged for the Royal Court to get involved, and the people leading the chant today had been prepared in advance.
Joseph had spent an enormous amount of effort to finally create a crack in the High Court, and he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to kick them while they were down—well, more like capitalize on his victory and tear this monstrous institution supported by the noble class to pieces!
Only after Vézinier was carried away, and the judges of the Royal Court promised to convey the people's demands for judgment power to His Majesty the King, did the crowd begin to calm down.
That afternoon, the entire High Court was engulfed in a gloomy and disheartened atmosphere, but everyone was busy. Vézinier had presided over far too many cases, and the task of reexamining them all was enormous. The entire court's energy was now focused on this work.
Meanwhile, in a meeting room on the third floor, five judges who served as senior members of the court were voting on the new tax bill.
"I vote to approve the registration," DePaul said, raising his hand first.
Wadier raised his hand even faster than Grette, who was aligned with DePaul's faction, saying, "I agree too."
The image of Vézinier's body covered in horrific injuries was still fresh in his mind. Now, all he wanted was for all of this to end quickly so he could return to his peaceful life.
With no one to suppress them this time, four of the judges swiftly agreed to register the bill. Only Luyo, from the old aristocratic faction, abstained with a scowl on his face.
A beam of sunlight streamed through the meeting room window, casting its light on the document on the table.
DePaul looked around at the other judges, then opened the file, shielding the sunlight with his left hand while signing "Approved for Registration" with his right, and then firmly stamping it with the seal of the Paris High Court.
The tax bill, which had been delayed for over a year, rejected several times, and even led to the dismissal of a finance minister, used as a tool by the noble class to suppress the royal family, was finally approved at this moment!
Thanks to Joseph's careful planning, the balance of power shifted, with the expansion of noble power and the retreat of royal authority finally being reversed.
At Versailles Palace, in a comfortable and elegant music hall, Queen Marie Antoinette was so excited to hear that the tax bill, which had tormented her for nearly a year, had finally been approved that she almost broke into a dance on the spot. She immediately showered Brienne with praise, sparing no compliments.
Later, the judges of the Royal Court reported to her the protesters' demands for judgment power.
Having been disgusted by the High Court for so long, the Queen wasn't about to pass up this chance to vent her frustration. Without hesitation, she signed a decree granting the Royal Court the authority to handle all cases involving Vézinier.
The nobles, although eager to oppose this, dared not express their dissent. With the Vézinier affair causing such an uproar, anyone who dared to say "no" now would surely be branded as an accomplice of the corrupt judge, condemned by all of Paris.
The nobles no longer controlled public opinion, so there was no chance of spinning this in their favor.
However, the Queen was also deeply concerned about the thousands of protesters who had been causing a commotion at the High Court for more than a month—any ruler would be uneasy about large-scale street demonstrations.
So she instructed Brienne to quickly disperse the crowd and restore peace to Paris.
When Joseph learned that the decree regarding Vézinier had been issued, he felt a wave of relief. This would make the subsequent actions much easier.
He had expected that, given the Queen's hesitant and indecisive nature, he and Brienne might have to persuade her carefully. He hadn't anticipated her acting so decisively this time.
Perhaps the successful passage of the tax bill had given her a subconscious boost in confidence.
Next, as long as the judges of the Royal Court kept up the pressure, the High Court would likely collapse entirely.
In the Prince's reception room, three judges from the Royal Court sat respectfully on the sofa, listening intently.
From the hints Brienne had dropped, they understood that the only reason they had this opportunity to preside over a case at the High Court was because the Prince had given it to them.
Joseph smiled at the three and asked, "I wonder what thoughts you have about the future of the Royal Court?"
The judges exchanged glances. What could they hope for beyond serving as legal advisors to the nobles at Versailles?
Joseph continued to gently guide them, "If the Vézinier case is handled well, it could set a precedent. In the future, trials involving judges or prosecutors might all be handled by the Royal Court."
The three judges' eyes lit up immediately.
The oldest judge quickly grasped the key point in the Prince's words and eagerly asked, "Your Highness, what would it take for the trial to be considered well-handled?"
Joseph said sternly, "Punish Vézinier severely and restore justice to those who were wronged."
"You mean the reexamination of the cases he handled?"
Joseph nodded. "Resolve them quickly and impose severe sentences."
The judges had already reviewed the case files, and one of them hesitantly said, "Your Highness, many of these cases are very old, and much of the evidence is missing..."
Joseph smiled coldly. "Did Vézinier care about evidence when he handed down those verdicts?"
The oldest judge immediately understood and nodded, "Your Highness, we know what to do."
Joseph reassured them, "Vézinier is now the symbol of evil. Everyone wants to see him die immediately. No one will care if the trial process has any irregularities."
The next day, in the square in front of the High Court, Vézinier's public trial continued.
Some victims of the wrongful convictions he had overseen were present, many of whom had been brought in by Marat.
As the trial began, the thousand-strong crowd fell silent.
To everyone's surprise, in less than half an hour, a case from three years ago was announced as overturned. The murderer, who had been acquitted at the time, was ordered to be recaptured. Vézinier faced additional charges of accepting bribes, protecting criminals, and tampering with evidence.
The crowd erupted into sustained cheers, and the victim's family in that case fell to their knees, weeping as they crossed themselves.
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