Chapter 176 Public Opinion Can Melt Metal; Ji Chen Should Be Sentenced to Death
Zhang Anyu personally took Zuo Si to convey this decision to Ji Chen.
Jiang Fenghua suddenly said, "Lord Zhang, Lord Zuo, please wait. As for Ji Chen drugging Yun Fang and then assaulting her... how should this matter be handled? There should be a provision in the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
Zhang Anyu looked at Zuo Si and said, "Officials from the Ministry of Rites should know more about this."
Zuo Sidao said, "Ji Chen is a student who will take the exam next year. He is of bad character. According to the law, the Ministry of Rites should disqualify him from taking the exam and even impose corresponding punishments. As for whether he is guilty or sentenced to beheading, the law also has provisions. In serious cases, he can be sentenced to immediate execution, depending on the circumstances. If he participated in the murder and the evidence is conclusive, the Ministry of Justice and the Jingzhao Prefecture can handle it."
The implication is that to convict him, the Ministry of Justice would have to come, which is unnecessary for a mere examinee.
Jiang Fenghua understood the meaning behind his words, so she didn't ask any more questions.
Ji Chen and Madam Zhang's adultery was consensual, and both men and women were guilty. At the time, the Zhang family did not report it to the authorities, in an attempt to cover up the scandal and indirectly show that the Zhang family had forgiven their behavior. They only divorced Madam Zhang and did not pursue the matter further.
He drugged and assaulted Yunfang, but did not report it to the authorities at the time. The two even became husband and wife, which suggests that she forgave his behavior, making it difficult to sentence him to death.
Torture and imprisonment are both acceptable measures for him. If such a person is not punished, how can we give an explanation to the world?
Jiang Fenghua was not familiar with the relevant laws and regulations. She only learned a general idea through the explanation. In fact, there is no unified law and the laws are not perfect.
Yunfang was also confused after hearing this, but she had previously hoped that Ji Chen would pass the imperial examination so that she could also become an official's wife. Now that he could not participate in the imperial examination, her dream of becoming an official's wife was shattered.
She stared at Jiang Fenghua, "Does Your Highness really allow me to sever ties with Ji Chen?"
"As I just said, according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he should sign a divorce decree, and from then on, you will have no relationship. This is all handled by the Ministry of Rites. Now that the officials from the Ministry of Rites are here, they will naturally make the decision for you." She said in a deep voice, "Does Aunt Yunfang want to divorce him? If you want to continue living a miserable life, then get him out of here!"
She believed that Yunfang was not stupid; Ji Chen did not covet wealth or power.
"Of course I want to," Yunfang blurted out.
"Then please ask Ji Chen as well, Lord Zhang, whether he is willing to divorce his wife!"
Before Jiang Fenghua could finish speaking, the people continued, "Such a shameless man should be imprisoned. Miss Yun should just divorce him. If he doesn't agree, torture him until he's willing."
A moment later, Zhang Anyu came out and said to them, "Ji Chen is unwilling to divorce. He even said that he would drag Miss Yunfang down with him even if he died. Alas, since he doesn't agree, there's nothing Lord Zuo can do."
Yunfang was completely misled. She wanted to save Ji Chen and get him out of there. He had been imprisoned for so many days, and since they couldn't find out that he was the murderer who assassinated the princess, he should be released. Once Ji Chen was released, she would seek justice from Jiang Fenghua or the Jingzhao Prefecture, smear them for their disregard for human life, and bring Jiang Fenghua down from her pedestal.
Even if he were released now, no one would believe what a person of questionable character says.
Yunfang wouldn't have thought of that.
Now she only wants a divorce from him, so naturally she doesn't want the authorities to release him; she'd rather he die in prison.
She said, "Many people in the Prince's mansion saw it. Ji Chen drugged me. I was forced by him. I'm going to sue him..."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face as she showed everyone the frostbite on her hands. "I serve him like a maid every day, and he still beats me, sob sob sob... Since I got together with him, I've never had a proper meal. He even makes me give him my money, which is all the monthly wages I saved when I was a maid. He's taken it all. When I don't give it to him, he beats me. He's not human, he's a beast..."
Yunfang is indeed beautiful, and she cries beautifully, which aroused everyone's sympathy and pity.
Jiang Fenghua believed in Yun Fang's acting skills. In her previous life, she was able to seduce Xie Shang and get into his bed, which showed that she was capable. Yun Fang was proud, arrogant, and selfish. How could she possibly live a hard life for someone like Ji Chen? Knowing that there was no hope in following Ji Chen, she would cut her losses in time.
After she cried and complained, everyone felt indignant on her behalf, saying, "Why can't he get a divorce if he doesn't want to? The government should be able to grant a divorce directly and give Miss Yunfang justice."
"Give Miss Yun justice..."
Immediately afterwards, the crowd started making a scene at the Jingzhao Prefecture government office, shouting, "Make him divorce, then sentence him to death. He harmed people, and he even tried to drag people to their deaths. Is there no law anymore?"
Zhang Yumo also stepped forward at the right time and told the people the truth, "If Ji Chen hadn't seduced my second aunt, how could my second aunt have been having an affair with him? My second aunt is over forty years old. It was all because of him that my second uncle divorced her. Then she hated my second uncle and set fire to the Zhang family home, causing my grandparents to perish in the fire. They were so old and had to suffer the pain of burning. It was all because of Ji Chen. He still dares to cry foul and distort the truth. Such a despicable person should be torn to pieces. I will also sue him for murdering my grandparents."
"So, the Duke of Zhang and the old lady both died because of him. Such a person is truly unforgivable and should be sentenced to death."
"Sentence him to death..." The people shouted loudly: "Maybe he instigated Madam Zhang to set fire to the Zhang family home. He's really wicked."
Zhang Anyu did not expect that public opinion would suddenly point to the killing of Ji Chen. Although there was no evidence to prove that he wanted to assassinate the Princess Consort of Heng, just based on his two crimes of seducing a married woman and drugging and raping her, he could be sentenced to death directly!
Lord Zhang said, "As the saying goes, of all evils, lust is the worst! It must be eradicated!"
Zuo Si said, "It's really outrageous. Without rules, there can be no order. If there were no laws to restrain the world, wouldn't it be in chaos? Ji Chen is a scholar, so on top of the multiple crimes, he should be punished even more severely."
He cupped his hands in greeting to Jiang Fenghua, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I still need to report this case to the Minister for a decision."
Since Yunfang and Zhang Yumo both want to sue Ji Chen, the Ministry of Rites has to accept the case. Even if the Su family has people in the Ministry of Rites, they won't stand up for Ji Chen because the matter has escalated so much.
Jiang Fenghua nodded, “Yunfang was originally a maid in my Hengwang Mansion. I only found out today that she married the wrong person and is living such a miserable life. If Lord Zuo can help them get a divorce, it will save her from her suffering.”
"I will do my best to handle it." With that, he left.
The matter had escalated to such a great extent that the crowd outside the yamen showed no sign of dispersing. They were all waiting for the Ministry of Rites' decision, wondering if they could send someone like Ji Chen to the executioner's block as a warning to others.
Now, because of him, two more lives have been lost. If this matter is brought before the Emperor, the Emperor will not forgive him.
Jiang Fenghua brought Yunfang into the yamen and then had his men secretly take control of the people Yunfang brought, preventing them from leaving.
Even if Su Tingwan arrives after receiving the news, it will be too late. If she wants to save Ji Chen, she should be prepared to be smeared.
Jiang Fenghua thought: If Su Tingwan really comes, that would be great. She'll make sure Su Tingwan's reputation is ruined too.
The truth is, things have escalated to this point, and even if Su Tingwan came, she wouldn't dare show her face. If she were to act as foolishly as before, she would have lived in vain.
If you speak up for Ji Chen now, everyone will point the finger at her.
Jiang Fenghua is truly ruthless, inciting so many people to cause trouble.
At this moment, Su Tingwan was indeed sitting in a carriage in the distance, quietly watching as that fool Yunfang was actually turned against her by Jiang Fenghua.
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