Chapter 80 Chapter 80 "I wonder if the pregnant woman has any chance of survival? ...
Jasmine picked up the scissors and said, "I casually grabbed the handles, and the tips happened to be facing outwards. That's how the disaster happened."
The Jingzhao prefect sneered, "You're lying again. You said earlier that you accidentally left the scissors on the bedside. If you did, and Liu Erhei pounced on you, even if you got up, how could you have just happened to grab the handle of the scissors and stabbed him to death!"
"I didn't lie!"
The Jingzhao prefect glared at her fiercely, raised his hand and called over his trusted officials to whisper to him.
The trusted official went down, and soon two people came back carrying a door panel.
The scissors were snatched from Jasmine's hand. A yamen runner lay on the bed, the scissors casually placed on the headboard. Another yamen runner rushed to the door from a few steps away and pounced on the lying yamen runner.
The yamen runner on the door panel suddenly sat up and fumbled around until he found a pair of scissors. However, he couldn't pick them up immediately and his hand was accidentally cut by the tip of the scissors. He was then pinned down by the yamen runner who rushed over.
Jasmine stiffened her neck and her face was pale.
The Jingzhao prefect asked sternly, "Qin Baixiang, do you have any further explanation?"
Jasmine didn't even need to turn around to know how proud those three were. She regretted that if she had been more cautious and taken precautions earlier, things wouldn't have turned out like this.
It’s a pity that she never had another chance.
Mr. He was right. It turns out that bad people never have a good ending. She deserved it.
"Will I die?"
Jasmine was so scared that she asked subconsciously.
Jingzhao Prefecture Governor: "Killing someone means paying with one's life, what do you say?"
He Congde looked at her with pity in his eyes, and pain was evident on his face.
He truly regretted it. If only he had asked his parents to take her with them. It was he who didn't have the courage to ask. It was him who was incompetent!
Even though the woman before him was full of lies and a murderer, He Congde was not annoyed at all. He thought he would never blame her for the rest of his life.
"Your Excellency!"
He Congde emerged from the darkness.
Although the prefect of Jingzhao gave him the opportunity to attend the trial, he was neither a witness nor a lawyer, so how could he be qualified to speak?
The Jingzhao prefect kindly reminded: "This matter has nothing to do with Lord He."
"Qin Baixiang is my fiancée, I can't ignore her."
Jingzhao Prefecture Governor: "Pleading for mercy is useless to me."
"I'm not begging for mercy. I just want to say a few words in Qin Baixiang's defense. I hope the prefect will grant me that."
Jasmine hadn't noticed He Congde was there, but when she saw him come out, her eyes were filled with hope, like someone who couldn't swim clinging to a piece of driftwood.
Even though this would make her owe him even more, she was about to die, so she didn't care about that. She just hoped He Congde could really save her.
After all, they were colleagues, and the one before them was a newly crowned runner-up who had made great contributions. The Jingzhao prefect nodded in courtesy.
He Congde gave Jasmine a soothing look and then spoke, "Even if Qin Baixiang committed murder intentionally, she was forced into it. Before she even married, Liu Erhei and Lame Foot were just strangers to her. How could they possibly enter a woman's boudoir? Their intentions are clear. Therefore, Qin Baixiang was merely defending herself, not actively attacking. Even if she is guilty, she certainly does not deserve the death penalty. Your Excellency, I ask for your understanding."
Jingzhao Prefecture Governor: "Master He, you know that when investigating a case at the prefectural government office, the suspect's attitude is crucial."
He Congde was shocked.
Jasmine's face grew paler.
The Jingzhao prefect then continued, "If the suspect had confessed her guilt, she wouldn't have received the death penalty. And two years ago, if she had surrendered herself, the government would have handled the matter appropriately. But she hasn't. Not only that, but I just produced evidence that repeatedly pointed out her lies, and she's still denying them. How can I show mercy to this stubborn and incorrigible suspect?"
He Congde bowed and said, "Sir, Qin Baixiang is a helpless girl. It's understandable that she's afraid. But everyone wants to live, so her crime doesn't deserve the death penalty!"
Jingzhao Prefecture Governor: "Sir He, you should know that you have no right to say these words."
He Congde lifted his robe and knelt down: "I only want to protect her. I beg you to give me a few days to judge the case and allow me to..."
"Sir, why do you ask for a meeting with me with such courtesy? I said I have important documents to deliver to you." A yamen runner came up and reported.
He Weili failed the imperial examination, but because he had the title of Juren, Li Fuyin let him work as a clerk by his side.
However, because the suspect in this case was related to him, the Jingzhao prefect did not use him to try the case.
The Jingzhao prefect glanced at He Congde and said without further hesitation, "Let him in."
He Congde was about to say more when the Jingzhao prefect raised his hand to stop him: "Wait a minute."
He Weili hurried into the yamen, went straight forward to kowtow to the prefect, and said, "I left a document behind, and I was afraid you would blame me, so I rushed to deliver it. Please don't blame me, sir."
The Jingzhao prefect was very easy to talk to: "It's just a small matter."
"Also, I have two things I would like to tell Master He. I hope you will grant my permission."
"allow."
Mr. He turned his head away, his eyes passing over Jasmine's expressionless face and looking at He Congde, whose face was determined. "Your mother is critically ill. I'm afraid if you delay any longer, you won't be able to see her again."
He Congde was stunned for a moment, then looked at his father in disbelief: "How is that possible?"
He Weili said nothing more. He rushed forward and bowed again. When he reached He Congde, he said, "Come back with me. You are your mother's only child. She has lived for you all these years. We can't let her miss you one last time."
He Congde was no fool. He knew it was his mother who was forcing him to do this.
He turned to look at Jasmine with a confused look on his face.
Jasmine was apprehensive, afraid he would truly abandon her. Madam He must be lying; he certainly wouldn't do that.
"Jasmine, I'm sorry."
These words exploded in Jasmine's ears.
He Congde's eyes were red, and he looked at her with pain and distress.
Then she saw He Congde stand up, rush forward to salute, and then stride away behind Mr. He.
Jasmine didn't blame him, and right now she didn't have the time to blame him. She looked up at the leader and, before the Jingzhao prefect could speak, quickly asked, "I wonder if there's any way for me to survive?"
The Jingzhao prefect frowned, feeling that something was about to happen. He had tried countless cases, big and small, including cases involving female suspects, but no female suspect had ever remained so calm after seeing no hope.
The woman's eyes were bright, and she looked like she was struggling to death.
The Jingzhao prefect didn't know what was going on and said coldly, "No."
Jasmine then asked, "Then I wonder if there's any way for the pregnant woman to survive?"
The prefect of Jingzhao looked surprised.
According to the Daqi law, if a female suspect is pregnant, she can be exempted from the death penalty but imprisoned for life.
This law was established a year after Emperor Jingxuan ascended the throne. A child in a pregnant woman's belly is a new life, a new life that cannot be taken away, and a new life cannot be without its mother.
In order to ensure the healthy growth of children, if a female death row prisoner becomes pregnant, she can give birth to the child in prison, or raise the child in prison until the age of five, and then send the child to be adopted by her family or others.
If it were another female suspect, the Jingzhao prefect might not have thought of it, but he was sure that the woman before him had planned this day long ago.
She must have conceived the child on purpose!
Such meticulous and vicious thoughts. It is truly amazing!
Before the Jingzhao prefect could speak, the woman excitedly said, "Your Excellency, I am four months pregnant, and I am carrying Duke Yan's child!"
The Jingzhao prefect was even more astonished, glaring at her fiercely. "How dare you deceive me? You will be executed immediately!"
"I dare not."
"Someone, go get the doctor."
One yamen runner ran out, and another rushed in quickly and whispered in the ear of the Jingzhao prefect.
The Jingzhao prefect's jaw nearly dropped. "Who can stop him? Let him in."
The bailiff turned around and ran away again.
Jasmine smiled with relief. She glanced at the three people beside her and raised her eyebrows proudly.
Of course, the three of them looked very unhappy and were whispering to each other.
Jasmine heard something like "What should we do? Will they not give it to us? Will they deny it?"
Jasmine was just trying to figure out what these words meant when she heard the Jingzhao prefect stand up. Looking up, she saw the prefect respectfully bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, you are well. If you have anything to say, you can just send someone to pass on the message. Why bother coming here in person?"
Jasmine subconsciously turned her head and saw that the person coming in from outside the government office was undoubtedly her Duke.
...
"What is her crime?"
"According to the law, he should be executed."
Not only was Jasmine unsure, even the Jingzhao prefect wasn't sure of the Duke's purpose. He guessed the Duke was after the female suspect, but wasn't sure if he was there to rescue her or simply to see her in amusement.
Logically speaking, the Duke is not that kind of person.
But who knows.
The Jingzhao prefect carefully observed the Duke's expression and tone without any expression, and his answer was extremely cautious.
"I have heard the story, and her crime does not deserve death."
After hearing what the Duke said, the prefect felt that he had guessed right!
Why didn't he lock her up for ten days or half a month, but instead opened the court early? It was because he remembered that the suspect was the Duke's former concubine. After all, she was once an official's wife, and if she went to the Jingzhao prison, she would suffer a lot.
If the court opened earlier, the Duke would come forward and the negotiations would be easier. If the Duke didn't come forward, the battle would be resolved quickly. In any case, he wouldn't lose anything.
The Duke's words were very cold, but what he meant was to save her life.
Jasmine was so surprised that she stared at him in a daze.
If he compromised too quickly, it would appear that he, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, was afraid of power and overly flattering.
The Jingzhao prefect sighed and said, "Your Excellency, you may not know that not long ago, Assistant He was also in the court, attempting to exonerate the suspect. I told him then that if the suspect had confessed his guilt upfront, the court would have granted him leniency. But the suspect refused to do so, and even if beaten, he would have refused to confess. With the Jingzhao prefecture under the watchful eyes of countless citizens, I cannot be unfair."
If he agreed too quickly, the favor would seem too easy. The Jingzhao prefect felt that he had to make sure the Duke would never forget the favor he had done.
"You are right. I was presumptuous." said the Duke.
He...wasn't going to save her again? Jasmine was utterly disappointed.
The Jingzhao prefect was equally stunned: "Um... Duke, I think there might be room for improvement..."
The Duke raised his hand: "Don't be embarrassed."
Seeing that there was nothing else to say, the Duke stood up and was about to leave.
The Jingzhao prefect was stunned. He hadn't even finished his words, so why did he leave? How could he remind this man that he wouldn't be embarrassed at all?
Seeing the Duke about to leave the government office, the Jingzhao prefect was filled with regret. What a great opportunity had been missed!
"Sir, the doctor is here!"
The bailiff stood at the door and said loudly.
The Duke suddenly turned to look at the Jingzhao prefect: "Who are you treating, doctor?"
The Jingzhao prefect hurried forward and replied, "It's the suspect Qin Baixiang."
The Duke knew back when he was on Lu Island that the name his aunt had given him was all fabricated. Her name was not Jasmine at all, but Qin Baixiang.
There was really no truth to him.
"What happened to her?"
The Duke glanced at the figure from behind and saw nothing wrong.
The Jingzhao prefect said, "The suspect said she was pregnant. This humble official has called in a doctor to confirm this."
The Duke glanced at the figure again, this time not looking away for a long moment. Suddenly, the image of He Congde slipping through the courtyard gate one evening flashed through his mind.
The Jingzhao prefect could clearly sense that the Duke of Chuguo was unhappy this time. But why?
Logically, the Duke has no children. Even though the child is in the suspect's belly, once the suspect gives birth, the Duke's Mansion can take the child away without anyone noticing, and then say that the child's mother died a long time ago. Isn't that how they can get away with it?
But the Duke was no ordinary man. Perhaps he couldn't do such a despicable thing, and didn't want his eldest son to be the child of a suspect.
Thinking of this, the prefect of Jingzhao had a clear idea in his mind.
The doctor got the diagnosis and went forward to take Jasmine's pulse.
Just as she said, she was about four months pregnant.
Jasmine wanted to say something but hesitated and looked up at the Duke, but the Duke kept a serious face and didn't even look at her.
Is he unhappy?
Jasmine felt bitter in her mouth and even more bitter in her heart. She sniffed and lowered her eyes.
After the doctor left, the Jingzhao prefect thought for a while and decided to congratulate the Duke: "Congratulations, Duke! Congratulations, Duke! In five or six months, you will have a baby boy!"
The thin face of the Jingzhao prefect was filled with a smile.
The Duke's expression darkened even further as he looked at her: "Who told you the child is mine?"
The Jingzhao prefect pointed at the suspect in disbelief and spoke cautiously, "...Isn't that so?"
Jasmine also looked up at him.
After a while, the Duke replied, "Yes, that's right."
Why such a sad and forbearing expression? Jasmine thought his expression was strange.
The smile returned to the face of the Jingzhao prefect, but the next moment, the Duke simply walked out.
The Jingzhao prefect's smile faded. Why did he leave again?
How much he hated her. But their child was innocent.
Jasmine was pregnant, so the Jingzhao prefect couldn't do anything to her. Since the Duke didn't say anything, the Jingzhao prefect followed the rules and imprisoned the man.
The lame man and the Qin trafficker exchanged a glance, then, with a forced smile, said to the Jingzhao prefect, "If your Excellency is alright, we'll be leaving first. Thank you, Excellency, for upholding justice for us. My brother can rest in peace in his grave."
The Jingzhao prefect asked curiously, "You guys finally found someone, don't you want her to make amends for you? Don't parents need to look after their daughters to support them in their old age?"
The lame man just wanted to leave quickly and waved his hand immediately: "No, no, I just want my brother to rest in peace, I dare not ask for anything else."
Qin the trafficker then said, "That's right, my wife and I don't need her to support us in our old age, so let her repent in prison."
Watching the three Qin merchants leave, the Jingzhao prefect stood at the door and called out to his trusted subordinates, "Find two people to follow them."
After leaving Jingzhao Prefecture, the three of them all had rosy faces.
Qin Kushi: "I was so scared. I thought the Duke was here to save her. If he had, our money would have been wasted. Fortunately, it was a false alarm."
Qin the dealer nodded: "If he is not sentenced to death, it is the same as going to jail."
The lame man glanced at the Qin dealer and asked pretentiously, "After all, she is your daughter, how could you be so cruel?"
Qin the dealer: "That girl has been cold-blooded since she was young. She was a little wolf when she was young, and she will be a wild wolf that can eat people when she grows up."
Qin the dealer: "She should have been drowned!"
"If he drowned, would we be in this situation today? Don't say anything, just go away."
When Lame Man heard what Qin the trafficker said, he no longer had the heart to tease him. After he finished speaking, he jumped forward quickly, one foot high and one foot low.
"You're right. It's more important to go find that man and get the silver." Qin the trafficker nodded repeatedly and followed closely.
The yamen runner followed the three men all the way, and only turned back and rode back to the yamen after they left the city gate.
After hearing the bailiff's report, the Jingzhao prefect rubbed his chin and smiled smugly, "It seems the Duke still owes me something. Let's go to the Duke's Mansion."
A trusted official asked: "Sir, wouldn't it be a bit hasty for you to go now?"
Jingzhao Prefecture Governor: "If I don't go now, do I have to wait until the Duke finds out himself before going? I'm here to do you a favor, so you can see it, understand?"
The trusted official hurriedly said, "Your Excellency is wise."
The Jingzhao prefect sighed, "You're too stupid. I was planning to let you stay with Youyou, but you're so stupid, I'm really worried."
The trusted subordinate thought of the dark-faced young man and immediately shuddered. He shook his head and begged: "Sir, I only want to serve you at your service. Please keep me!"
How could the Jingzhao prefect not know what his trusted subordinate was thinking? He said with a complicated expression, "Youyou is still a child."
The trusted official thought to himself, "That's not a child, it's clearly a Rakshasa!"
The Jingzhao prefect said no more. No one knew Li Youyou better than him. Thinking back to when the child was ten years old, he still lamented that the child had his father's style, but now he was fifteen.
The prefect of Jingzhao had to admit that Li Youyou was much more cruel and ruthless than his father. Not only that, the child was also stubborn.
I don't know who he looks like. The prefect of Jingzhao was worried.
Don’t think about it! Let’s get down to business first.
...
"Goodbye, old lady."
The old lady smiled sweetly and ordered the steward to escort him out the door: "Goodbye, Jingzhao Prefecture Governor."
The words of the Jingzhao Prefecture Prefect were spoken by the Duke of Heguo in the main courtyard. The old lady was not aware of this. The Jingzhao Prefecture Prefect had come specially to say goodbye to her.
When the eldest young lady's wife saw the others leave, she came up to the old lady and asked, "Why is the Jingzhao prefect here?"
The old lady was also curious, but how could she know?
Qiuhong ran back to report: "Madam, the Duke has sent Deputy General Zuo He out."
"Do you know what it is?"
Qiu Hong shook her head: "In the second month after my aunt came into the family, I was assigned to stay outside the courtyard. It was difficult to get information."
The Fourth Young Master's wife blamed him: "Now that Auntie is gone, can't you be smarter?"
Qiu Hong shook her head even faster: "How dare this servant? Concubine Qiu Huai took the initiative that time, but was beaten out by the Duke. If it were me, the end would definitely be even worse. Please, Madam, take back your order!"
The old lady sighed and didn't embarrass her. "Get up now. Just remember to report back if you have any questions."
"Thank you, old lady!"
...
The Duke did not think that the concubine was innocent, and the prefect of Jingzhao did not say that the concubine was framed when he came this time.
The prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture only said who the three men had accepted bribes from, but the case had already been decided, and this matter was outside the case and had nothing to do with Jingzhao Prefecture.
The prefect of Jingzhao and the Duke spoke in a tactful way, but their meaning was similar.
The Duke understood, thanked the Jingzhao prefect, and immediately sent Zuo He to arrest the three men.
The Jingzhao prefect, whose carriage had not yet gone far, saw Zuo He hurried out and led his men on fast horses towards the exit of the city, and he knew that everything was safe.
He said he must have guessed right!
He turned around and whispered to his trusted officer on horseback, "Clean up Qin Baixiang's cell when you get back, and make sure the food is clean and fresh."
"I understand."
The Duke sat alone in the large living room of the main courtyard again. No one dared to disturb him. He sat there from dawn till dusk.
...
Jasmine walked into the dark prison. She was not familiar with the road and was afraid of falling, so she walked slowly. The jailer behind her pushed her shoulder impatiently.
"Go!"
Jasmine turned around fiercely and said, "I'm carrying Duke Yan's child. You can't afford to let me fall!"
The jailer snorted coldly, but said nothing more.
Jasmine walked forward carefully and stood in front of a cell. Not seeing Shancha, she turned around and asked, "Where's my girl? Where is she?"
Shancha was clearly walking in front of her, so she should have arrived at the cell before her.
"I'm asking you a question."
The jailer had never seen a suspect so aggressive in prison. Just as he was about to tell her, a shouting voice came from the cell door.
"Ma'am! I'm here!"
The two of them hugged each other and cried bitterly.
"Where have you been?"
Shancha: "They asked me some questions alone. The torture instruments looked scary, so I confessed everything before they asked."
Jasmine: "Smart girl."
The jailer was surprised, as they thought she would scold the girl for betraying her.
She is so generous!
"Okay, go in."
The jailer opened the cell door and ordered them in with a fierce look on his face.
Jasmine took the lead and went in, with Shancha holding her arm and following closely.
There was only a dim light flashing in the corridor of the cell, and it was pitch black inside.
"Ah!" Something fell on Shancha's instep. Shancha looked down and found it was a mouse. She screamed in fright.
The rats here don't seem to be afraid of people, as if Jasmine and the others have occupied their territory and they want to drive out the enemies.
Several rats came towards Jasmine, but she remained calm and stomped each fist-sized rat to death. One was particularly large, and Jasmine, aiming at the yamen runner who had just pushed her, grabbed the rat by the tail and threw it out.
"Ah!" This time the jailers were frightened. After all, the rat was really big.
"what you do?"
The jailer threatened her with a ferocious look.
"I'm not doing anything, just revenge." Jasmine retorted, pinching her waist.
Shancha held her breath, fearing that the jailer would open the door and come in to cause trouble for them again.
Fortunately, the jailer who was caught with the rat was dragged away by two other yamen runners.
Shancha breathed a sigh of relief and advised his wife, "My wife, we are prisoners now, so shouldn't we be less arrogant?"
Jasmine: "Don't be afraid of them. The more you show weakness, the harder it will be for you. We've reached this point now. They can't help us, and they don't dare to do anything to us."
Shancha was overwhelmed with sorrow when she heard this: "Will we never be able to leave?"
"I'm sorry, I've gotten you into trouble." Jasmine apologized.
If there was one person in the world she owed the most to, Jasmine felt it was undoubtedly Shancha. "You didn't get to live a good life, and in the end, you ended up in jail. It's my fault."
"Don't say that. My life was saved by my wife."
The two hugged each other for a long time before Jasmine let her go. She looked around and said cheerfully, "This will be our home from now on. Let's clean it up."
Shancha knew that she could adapt anywhere, but she didn't expect that she could adapt in this hell on earth, a place where even ghosts dared not live.
Shancha scratched her head in worry. Seeing that her wife had already neatly cleaned up the weeds and broken mats, she had no choice but to join in the fun.
There were a bunch of mice under the mat. Shancha threw away the black mat and jumped three feet high.
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The author has something to say: Li Youyou: Black-faced Rakshasa, the male lead in "Princess Coroner"!
There is a person as bright as the sky, and of course the story begins with the heroine.
Sweet and silly love + crime-solving suspense!
Please accept! [Kiss][Please]
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