Jiang Dawei was stared at by the extremely oppressive gazes of the Emperor and Prime Minister Cui. His mind went blank and cold sweat dripped down his face, blurring his eyes and making him feel sore and uncomfortable.
Not only Jiang Dawei and his men were anxious and panicked, but Liu He was also nervous and his heart was in turmoil.
"Why don't you speak quickly?" Zhao Xin slammed the gavel again and urged in a cold voice.
The gavel seemed to hit his heart suddenly, frightening him so much that his whole body trembled.
"Guilty, guilty minister..."
Jiang Dawei shivered like a guilty criminal for a long time and couldn't even fart.
Zhao Xin narrowed his eyes. "If you don't tell me, I'll assume that your confession last night was true."
Jiang Dawei shuddered again and shook his head subconsciously, but halfway through he nodded in panic, and it was impossible to tell whether he agreed or disagreed.
After shaking for a moment, he suddenly kowtowed and cried bitterly:
"Your Majesty, I was obsessed with money and embezzled the silver...
I know I deserve death! I sincerely hope that the Emperor will grant me the opportunity to die..."
Jiang Dawei knocked his head extremely hard, smashing it against the ground as if it wasn't his own head. After a few hits, blood came out of his forehead.
Seeing this, other officials also cried and apologized, and kowtowed one by one, but no one mentioned Liu He.
Cui Cen's expression eased a little, and he stood up and bowed to Zhao Xin.
"Your Majesty, these people have acknowledged their guilt and confessed to corruption and bribery.
Moreover, the ministers have also read their confessions. Regardless of whether what they said about Liu He is true or false,
However, solving a case does not rely solely on the confessions of these people; it also requires evidence such as witnesses, physical evidence, documentary evidence, and inspections.
Evidence is the core content of the trial case. Only on the basis of the facts can guilt or innocence be determined.
"Now, there is clearly insufficient evidence to prove Lord Liu's crime. According to the laws of the Qin Dynasty, he cannot be convicted."
After hearing Cui Cen's words, Liu He's anxious heart finally calmed down a little.
He banged his head on the ground and said sadly, "Prime Minister, I am truly wronged! I hope Your Majesty and the Prime Minister will see clearly!"
Liu Han felt bitter in his heart. Thinking of his wife and five-year-old daughter at home, he closed his eyes sadly.
He took all the blame himself, Liu He was safe, and his wife's life was saved.
He said in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty... I was confused before and lied...
The trafficking of illegal salt and the buying and selling of official titles were all done secretly by me without my third brother's knowledge and under his name... None of this has anything to do with my third brother, he is completely unaware of it..."
Liu Yishan suddenly looked at his father: "Dad! What nonsense are you talking about? Obviously..."
"Shut up!"
Liu Han interrupted him harshly, staring at his son with his red and bloodshot eyes.
"You've been doing evil all the time, ruining your uncle's reputation. Our family already owes him a lot. How can you frame him now that something's happened?"
Liu Yishan stared at Liu Han blankly and suddenly became speechless.
I just felt that he seemed to have aged many years in an instant, and his back became hunched.
Cui Cen said, "Your Majesty, Liu Han has admitted that he deliberately framed Lord Liu, so his original testimony is no longer valid.
It seems that Liu Han and his son are indeed taking advantage of Lord Liu's status and position to seek personal gain.
Even if Lord Liu really wanted to be punished, at most he would be accused of failing to supervise his own brother.
I believe that after this lesson, Lord Liu will reform himself and strictly control the people in his clan.
Be careful not to let them repeat the mistakes of Liu Han and his son."
Liu He also hurriedly said, "This matter was my own fault! From now on, I will remember this lesson and strictly discipline the children of the Liu family!"
Zhao Xin was furious. How could he just say "strict discipline" so casually?!
"Even if there is insufficient evidence to confirm Liu He's involvement in the corruption case,
But he not only deliberately shielded Liu Yishan from murder, but also aided and abetted the evil.
Together with Liu Mu, the captain of the capital, they framed Ma Youjiang and Liang Xiping and put them in jail. The evidence is irrefutable."
Zhao Xin stared coldly at Liu He, whose face was stiff and pale, and sneered in his heart.
Even if I cannot punish you for the crime of corruption, I will punish you for the crime of framing loyal and good people!
The evidence for this matter is solid, and he wants to see what Cui Cen has to say!
Liu He kowtowed hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! It was my nephew Yishan who came to beg me.
He said he was framed. I didn't know the situation at the time, and I was too concerned and confused to investigate, so I misunderstood Lord Liang and the others...
I know I was wrong, and I am willing to accept the punishment. I hope Your Majesty will punish me!"
Liu Yishan was holding back his anger, and now he thought his uncle was hypocritical.
He almost couldn't help but curse back, but Liu Han held his hand tightly and warned him to shut up with his eyes.
Liu Yishan didn't know what he was thinking about, but he didn't say anything in the end.
Cui Cen frowned, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, Lord Liu probably put family ties above everything else, and that's why he was confused and made a mistake.
Fortunately, since Ma Youjiang and Liang Xiping were innocent, they were allowed to return to their posts.
Your Majesty, please grant us some more money and property as a token of appeasement. As for Lord Liu, since this is his first offense and he has actively admitted his mistake, please show some leniency."
God damn, this is his first offense! Liu He has protected Liu Yishan countless times! Zhao Xin couldn't help but curse in his heart.
But he also knew that today's battle had reached its limit.
The old man Cui Cen was determined to protect Liu He.
If he went any further, Cui Cen would definitely counterattack, and the end result would be disadvantageous to him.
Zhao Xin said coldly, "As an official appointed by the imperial court, Liu He not only neglected his duties but also abused his power.
Since Prime Minister Cui has pleaded for him, I will give Liu He a lighter sentence for Prime Minister Cui's sake.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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