Chapter 142 The case is not difficult, but the human relationship is difficult
Bai Zhi's case was simple. Yan Xiaoxiao set fire and committed murder, resulting in four deaths. He deserved to be executed.
The problem is that Yan Xiaoxiao's father is the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards, and Yan Xiaoxiao's father-in-law is the prefect of the capital.
As soon as Yan Xiaoxiao was captured by the Sixth Prince, the prefect of the capital, Shen Xuan, went straight to the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple.
He wanted to take the case back to the capital for the prefect to hear the case.
But who is Zhao Zhuoran? Not to mention that this case is being watched by many people, just the fact that Lao Jiu is keeping a close eye on this case makes it difficult to let him abuse his power for personal gain or commit fraud.
"Sir Shen, do you think you have the qualifications to transfer the case? If I remember correctly, the defendant went to your yamen to file a complaint, but your subordinates
Your daughter-in-law didn't even accept the lawsuit and just kicked the person out."
Shen Xuan felt that his subordinates were useless. If he knew the whole story of such an important matter first, he would definitely not let everyone know about it.
As long as it is not known to everyone, everything is fine. At least his daughter-in-law can keep her life.
He didn't feel sorry for his daughter-in-law, but he couldn't stand the criticism from his in-laws.
Shen Xuan knelt in front of the Sixth Prince Zhao Zhuoran and answered with gritted teeth.
"Your Highness, I am also following His Majesty's orders..."
Zhao Zhuoran snorted coldly: "The emperor's order? Do you know what crime your daughter-in-law Yan Xiaoxiao committed?"
Shen Xuan moved his lips for a while before he began to make excuses: "She didn't commit murder or arson. She was just a 14 or 15-year-old girl at that time. How could she be so cruel? Besides...does the prince have any solid evidence?"
As he spoke, Shen Xuan took out the files of Jingzhao Prefecture.
"When the Bai family clinic was burned down, I also sent people to investigate. The cause of the fire was that they took too long to boil the medicine and burned down the kitchen. Because it was night, the whole family was fast asleep, so nothing was left..."
Zhao Zhuoran was so angry that he laughed: "Did you check it yourself, or did your subordinates check it? Each of you should be given twenty lashes..."
"The Bai family's kitchen is separated from the rooms where several people live by a yard. Even if there was a fire, the neighbors next door would know it earlier than they did. How could it be possible that no one in their family could escape?"
Shen Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He thought it was just a small case and he could just cover it up, but he didn't expect the Sixth Prince to be involved.
He was the one who watched the fire start that year, with both sides on fire, so he didn't think too much about it. He thought everyone was dead and hastily closed the case.
I really didn't expect that someone else escaped, and that person was the key figure.
Shen Xuan hated his son to death at this moment. If he had not insisted on marrying that woman, how could Yan Xiaoxiao have suffered such a terrible misfortune.
Seeing that Shen Xuan could no longer say anything, Zhao Zhuoran sneered and drove him away.
"Master Shen, go back. I have a piece of advice for you. Make a decision as soon as possible. Otherwise, your black veil hat will be in jeopardy."
Bai Zhi was taken to the Dali Temple. Jiang Jiu was afraid that she might get into an accident, so he actually followed her.
Also coming was Shen Zelan from the Shen family.
Zhao Zhuoran opened Baizhi's papers, read them one by one, and asked questions in class.
"You said that when your house caught fire, you saw Yan Xiaoxiao nearby, but there were many people trying to put out the fire. Why did you only accuse her of being the murderer?"
Baizhi took out a token from her arms. It was a little damaged from being burned, but the words on it were still clearly visible.
"I found this in the fire..."
Zhao Zhuoran took it and looked at it carefully, then raised his eyes and glanced at Yan Xiaoxiao. It was indeed the token of the Yan family guard.
Jiang Jiu suddenly said, "If they were burned to death, the shape of the body would be different from that of a murdered person. Although it has been three years and has become nothing but bones, we can still find out whether the body died before or after the fire."
Zhao Zhuoran frowned: "Do you suspect that the murderer killed someone first and then set the fire?"
Jiang Jiu nodded: "Otherwise, considering the distance between the kitchen and the main room, if the fire had started, wouldn't they know how to run away if they were still alive?"
Zhao Zhuoran pursed his lips and didn't want to talk anymore.
This case was actually full of loopholes, but due to the inaction of Shen Xuan, the prefect of the capital, the murderer was not even found.
It is a good omen that the people will not sue and the officials will not pursue.
The morale of the court officials was ruined by this group of people who were eager to gain advantages.
If an official does not serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.
He meant that the current emperor also worked hard every day, so why was the atmosphere in the court getting worse and worse, and the people becoming less and less trusting of officials?
It seems that what my father said was right. The eldest prince is cowardly and is indeed not fit to be an emperor.
It’s a pity that the third prince is already dead.
He was disabled and could not be emperor.
The image of Zhao Zhuoxi's lazy look emerged in my mind.
"It's been three years, and the body has disappeared. Even if we want to open the coffin and perform an autopsy, we can't do that."
When Zhao Zhuoran went to court, he found that the commander of the imperial guards was also standing in the crowd.
Bai Zhi was just about to say something when Jiang Jiu noticed a sharp look in the crowd and suddenly pinched her hand.
"Yes, Your Highness, this kind of thing is not something that weak women like us can do. Please, Your Highness, please make the decision for the people."
Bai Zhi also knelt down: "Please, sir, make the decision for me."
Zhao Zhuoran was arrested, the case was spread everywhere, and all the officials in the court were watching. Even if he wanted to show favoritism, he couldn't.
The first hearing ended hastily.
After everyone went back, Commander Yan was already waiting at the gate of Dali Temple.
Zhao Zhuoran didn't want to pay any attention to him and got into the carriage directly.
The Dali Temple and the Sixth Prince's residence were not in the same place, and Zhao Zhuoran's carriage gradually stopped only after they entered the inner city.
Commander Yan dismounted, hurried to his carriage, and knelt on one knee.
"Please, Your Majesty, please save my daughter. My wife has been seriously ill for many years. I only have one daughter. If she is sentenced to death, I am afraid my wife will not survive..."
Zhao Zhuoran never expected that the strict commander of the Iron Cavalry Fanggang was actually a sentimental person.
Although he had only a sick wife in the family for so many years, he never took a concubine, let alone any other children.
But his daughter is really...
"Commander Yan, I want to help you, but that's murder and arson... Unless it's the emperor's decree, otherwise, you're really making it difficult for me."
Commander Yan thought about it carefully and suddenly said, "If the prince sentences my daughter to death, it's not impossible. Please wait until the autumn to execute her. Maybe then I will have a way to save my daughter..."
Zhao Zhuoxi knew that Commander Yan had only one solution for him, which was to delay.
The case was delayed until everyone forgot about it, until Bai Zhi left the capital, and the Ninth Prince Zhao Zhuoxi also left the capital. Not many people paid attention to the matter anymore, so he did another favor to Commander Yan.
Zhao Zhuoxi acquiesced.
However, when he returned home, he felt something was wrong.
I saw Zhao Zhuoxi already in his study room for some reason.
"Sixth brother, are you also planning to help Commander Yan save his daughter?"
Zhao Zhuoran was suddenly startled, and his face instantly turned ugly: "No."
Zhao Zhuoxi snorted coldly: "It is common to delay the execution of death row prisoners until the autumn. However, it is hard to say whether it will be Yan Xiaoxiao who will be executed or someone else who will take her place."
"After all, Commander Yan really did owe me this favor, and it will be of great benefit to my sixth brother in the future."