Chapter 550
550 The mastermind behind the scenes that surfaced (big chapter) -4
“Lord Vice Minister, why not use torture?” Shaoyin raised his doubts.
Minister sun’s orders, ” the assistant Minister explained, then said disdainfully, ”
“That Xu niannian is just a little brat. I’ll give him a heavy blow later to make him lose his composure, and then I’ll slowly interrogate him. When the time comes, I’ll have to trouble Lord shaoyin to make a good face.”
The official’s young master nodded. you can also use criminal law to threaten them. The students these days may be sharp-tongued, but once they see blood, they’ll be scared to death.
All the officials smiled. They were all experienced interrogators, and dealing with a young student was a piece of cake for them.
The jailer left the cell with Xu niannian and came to the interrogation room. He bowed to the officials in the room and said, ”
“My Lords, I’ve brought a New Year’s celebration.”
After he finished speaking, he tactfully retreated.
Xu niannian stood at the door and glanced at the scene in the interrogation room. Behind the main table sat two officials in red robes. They were the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the magistrate of the magistrate’s office.
On both sides were many officials who accompanied the interrogation, clerks who took notes, and a white-robed sorcerer from the Directorate of Celestials.
“Pa!”
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice grabbed the wooden gavel and slammed it on the table. He said in a deep voice,”Xu niannian, someone reported that you bribed the head Examiner, Zhao tingfang, and participated in the imperial examination. Is this true?”
“Nonsense,” Xu niannian shook his head.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice sneered and continued, “”Through Zhao tingfang’s butler, you bribed him with three hundred taels of silver. Using the Butler as a medium, you obtained the exam question in advance.
Zhao tingfang’s butler, Zhu You, has already confessed. This is his statement. Take a look for yourself.
As he spoke, he took out a confession from his sleeve and asked the clerk to hand it to Xu niannian.
Xu niannian took it and read it carefully. The confession was very detailed, even accurate to the time of the ” transaction ” between the two parties. There were almost no loopholes.
“As expected of someone from the Ministry of Justice, even I, the person involved, couldn’t see any flaws. However, I also have a certificate here. Would you like to see it?” Xu xinnian said.
“What proof?” The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice asked.
“Get a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.” Xu Erlang said indifferently.
Immediately, the clerk moved a small table and placed brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on it.
Xu niannian was wearing handcuffs and shackles. He stood by the table, dipped his brush in ink, and wrote quickly.
After a while, the paper was filled with tiny words. Xu Xinian dipped his thumb in ink and pressed his fingerprint on the paper. He threw the pen and said, “”Please take a look, my Lord.”
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice ordered someone to bring it over. When he looked at it, his expression suddenly froze, and his breathing gradually became heavy. He suddenly tore up the paper and pointed at Xu Xinyi. He said in exasperation,
“Torture me, torture me.”
Shaoyin was stunned. This was different from what he had said just now. The person had not lost his mind when he had committed the crime, but the Vice Minister had lost his mind first?
The officials present subconsciously looked at the torn pieces of paper and guessed what was written on Xu New Year’s paper to make the great assistant Minister so angry and hysterical.
“Look, even Lord Vice Minister thinks that this student is speaking without thinking?”
Xu niannian spread his hands and sneered in disdain. “If I write down the time, place, person, and the specific process, then leave a fingerprint, it will prove that I bribed some Butler.
“Then, Lord Assistant Minister, oh no, my son, call me father. Everything that your father and mother did is written clearly and clearly.”
The officials looked at the paper again, as if they knew what was written on it.
“Torture him, torture him! I want this crazy bastard to suffer a fate worse than death!” The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s eyes were about to pop out.
A mere student dared to insult his dead mother. A mere tribute soldier dared to humiliate him, a rank four Assistant Minister, in public.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s blood rushed to his face, and his anger boiled.
“Vice Minister, please calm down. The Minister has ordered that no torture is allowed.” An official from the Ministry of Justice hurriedly went up to comfort him and whispered in his ear.
“Hmph!” The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice took a sip of tea and forced himself to suppress his anger, but he did not say anything else.
The magistrate of the magistrate’s office coughed and took over the responsibility of the interrogation. He asked,”Xu niannian, did you cheat?”
no, ” Xu niannian said righteously. I’m an upright and honest man. I’ve never cheated.
Shaoyin looked at the white-robed Warlock from the Directorate of Celestials.
This man was young master Xu’s cousin. Young master Xu had come to the Directorate of Celestials this morning to warn him that everything Xu niannian said was true … “I’m not lying,” the white-robed sorcerer nodded.
“That” the road is hard “was written by you?” shaoyin asked again.
Xu niannian puffed out his chest. no, I didn’t. It’s a student’s work.
“I’m not lying,” the white-robed sorcerer replied mechanically.
Shaoyin and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice looked at each other. The former muttered, “”This case is complicated. Why don’t we wait for another day?” he asked.
The Minister of Justice nodded.
The two of them left the prison and entered the side hall to chat over tea.
“As expected, the Directorate of Celestials is indeed siding with Xu niannian.” The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice said in a low voice.
The magistrate of the magistrate’s office chuckled but did not say anything. In the “imperial examination fraud case,” the magistrate had adopted the attitude of quietly observing the situation and going with the flow.
“There’s no need to invite the Directorate of Celestials for warlocks today.” The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice said.
“Sure.” Shaoyin nodded.
………..
The next day, the magistrate of the magistrate’s office came to the Ministry of Justice to participate in the interrogation of a criminal to celebrate the new year. However, he was led by an official to see Minister sun.
“Please take a seat, Lord shaoyin.” Minister sun sat on the big chair and greeted them with a smile.
“This humble servant greets the Minister,” Shaoyin cupped his hands in greeting before taking his seat.
Minister sun took a sip of hot tea, held the teacup and sighed, “”His Majesty has attached great importance to this case and has ordered us to find out the truth as soon as possible.
“Now that Zhao tingfang’s butler has pleaded guilty, we only need to pry open Xu niannian’s mouth and the case will be closed. Don’t you agree?”
Shaoyin straightened his back and said somewhat cautiously,”This … If the Minister isn’t willing to use torture, then how can Xu niannian plead guilty?”
“It’s not necessary to use torture to make someone confess,” Minister sun said with a smile.
Shaoyin understood tacitly and revealed a difficult expression.
Minister sun smiled warmly. there’s no hurry. Go back and ask magistrate Chen. Then, you can make a decision.
………..
Shaoyin returned to the magistrate’s office and passed on Minister sun’s words to magistrate Chen.
“Sure, we’ll do as Minister Sun says,” magistrate Chen replied without any hesitation.
“My Lord, this is against the rules.” Shaoyin said awkwardly. If that Xu Xinyi is innocent …”
Magistrate Chen sat behind the table and smiled awkwardly. “It doesn’t matter if Xu niannian is innocent or not. He’s just a minor character. Those people wanted ‘evidence’, not the truth.
“They can only fight in the Imperial court with evidence of their crimes.With evidence, they would be in the right. His Majesty would also think that they were reasonable. There would be a show to watch in the court tomorrow.
if we don’t agree, this case will be stuck here. By then, you won’t be able to bear the blame.
What else could shaoyin say? he cupped his hands and said,”Your Excellency is wise,”
Magistrate Chen shook his head and said,”Duke Wei didn’t do anything. Strange, strange …” Send Lu Qing to the Yamen and secretly disclose this matter to Xu Qi ‘an.”
Shaoyin left the magistrate’s office and went to the Ministry of Justice. He still didn’t interrogate the criminal, but only passed on magistrate Chen’s reply to Minister sun.
Minister sun smiled with satisfaction,”Lord shaoyin, after this case is over, I will hold a banquet in the manor. I will definitely attend.” There are a few Lords who wish to get to know you.”
…………
The next day, at dawn.
All the officials remained silent and passed through the meridian Gate in an orderly manner to attend the court meeting.
After another 15 minutes, Xu Qi ‘an, who was dressed in the night watchman’s uniform, slowly walked over. On his left was huaiqing, who was wearing a plain Palace dress. He was as cold as a fairy in a painting.
On the right was Lin ‘an in a fiery red dress, charming and amorous, with seductive eyes.
“How confident are you?” Huaiqing tilted his head and looked at Xu ningyan.
Xu Qi ‘an bowed to the sky and mumbled, “”Equal, please bless us.”
……….