The lobby instantly fell silent, and everyone knew that things were awkward because it was difficult to handle the situation.
During the interrogation by the East Factory, the evidence was conclusive and Liu Guojin and Yao Zongwen confessed everything.
But when they arrived at the lobby of the Sanfashi, they all recanted their confessions. What should I do? Continue the interrogation?
Then I guess the rest of the people will change their statements.
And then close the case? Conclude that Wei Zhongxian framed the censors? What would His Majesty think?
Not to mention anything else, everyone who tried the case this time will suffer the consequences.
His Majesty will think you are deceiving the emperor, and may even suspect that you are connected to Liu Guojin and Yao Zongwen. Even if there is no connection, at least you are incompetent and can't even judge a case clearly.
Jiang Xu, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, was already helpless. Who had he offended?
Whether it was Liu Guojin, Yao Zongwen and others who framed Xiong Tingbi, or it was Wei Zhongxian who framed Liu Guojin and Yao Zongwen, he didn't care or pay attention. But now that things have turned out like this, he is afraid that he will be in trouble.
Yang Lian was also furious at this point, but he tried desperately to suppress his anger. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot, knowing that he had miscalculated this time, and so had the Donglin Party.
From the Donglin Party's perspective, this matter was simple: all you had to do was plead guilty and be dismissed from office. Li Ruzhen was charged with the biggest crime, and since he had watched Tieling fall, he was simply beheaded. This matter would be resolved to the greatest extent possible.
But now it seems that this is impossible. These people actually refuse to plead guilty and have all retracted their confessions. What should we do?
Yang Lian really wanted to hang these people up and beat them up!
Torture, but that's not allowed! The East Factory can torture people with impunity, but if I torture myself, what will happen to my reputation?
Not only can torture not be used, but also politeness is required. What should be done? Thinking of this, Yang Lian slammed the gavel and said directly: "Liu Guojin and Yao Zongwen have retracted their confessions. This case needs to be thoroughly re-investigated. This ends here today. I am adjourning."
After saying this, Yang Lian stood up and walked outside. It was obvious that he didn't want to stay here for a moment.
Wei Zhongxian looked at Yang Lian's back and smiled. He stood up slowly and said with a smile, "Is that it? It's really neat and tidy. We can't delay any longer. We must go to the palace and report to His Majesty immediately."
Forbidden City, Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Zhu Youxiao looked at his creation expressionlessly and nodded in satisfaction. Putting aside other matters, the knife skills inherited from Emperor Tianqi were truly impeccable.
"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian is here." Chen Hong came to Zhu Youxiao and said softly.
"Let him in!" Zhu Youxiao nodded.
A moment later, Wei Zhongxian walked in from outside and respectfully saluted Zhu Youxiao before speaking, "Your Majesty, the interrogation by the Three Judicial Departments is complete. Liu Guojin and Yao Zongwen have retracted their confessions, saying that their servants framed them. Their signatures were not their own confessions. They were all signed by the officials in the East Factory's prison after they were knocked unconscious."
Wei Zhongxian did not hide anything and directly told Zhu Youxiao the whole story. There was no change on his facial expression and he was extremely calm, as if what he was talking about was not his own business.
When Zhu Youxiao heard what Wei Zhongxian said, there was no sign of anger on his face.
Glancing at Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Let them be! When they come to court, just go over and listen. You've done a good job. I'm curious how you got them to change their confessions. Tell me."
Yes, that’s right. It was Wei Zhongxian who made Liu Guojin and others change their confessions. Of course, the one who instructed them behind the scenes was Zhu Youxiao.
"Your Majesty, it's very simple. I told them that as long as they were willing to recant their confessions this time, I could save their lives, and even make a comeback in the future. The night before the Three Justices, I told them that if any of them dared to disobey, I would let them die quietly that night in the East Factory prison."
"Even if they go out and keep their confessions, and the charges are proven, I can't sentence them to death, but I can send them to Liaodong as exiles."
"Liaodong is now Xiong Tingbi's territory. Let them think about the consequences of going to Liaodong. They all agreed to my request."
Zhu Youxiao laughed again after hearing Wei Zhongxian's words. He couldn't help laughing. It took him a while to recover. He asked again, "What about Li Ruzhen?"
"I told Li Ruzhen that as long as he was willing to pay me tribute every year, I would guarantee his life and even reinstate him. If he doesn't listen to me, even if he can get through this time, the Liaodong issue is not over yet, and he will still be imprisoned and sentenced to death. I will find a way to sentence him to death." At this point, Wei Zhongxian fell to the ground with a thud and slammed his head against the ground. "I deserve to die."
Zhu Youxiao knew why Wei Zhongxian said this. The reason was very simple, that was because he used the emperor's name to make his argument.
How could Wei Zhongxian accomplish all the things he said? Didn't he use the emperor to deceive Yao Zongwen and others?
However, Zhu Youxiao didn't care about this at all. If you want someone to do something for you, can't you let them talk about you?
He waved his hand, signaling Wei Zhongxian to stand up.
After Wei Zhongxian stood up, Zhu Youxiao ordered: "This is the end of the matter. You can go and listen to the court session."
"I understand," Wei Zhongxian agreed. Seeing that Zhu Youxiao no longer looked at him, he bowed and said, "If Your Majesty has no other instructions, then I will take my leave."
Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and Wei Zhongxian retreated.
After Wei Zhongxian left, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Chen Hong and ordered, "Have someone clean up the West Garden and find some craftsmen. Good ones, skilled in any field, will do. Send them all to the West Garden. Tell them I want to build a Hundred Craftsmen's Academy because my skills haven't improved much lately and I need to exchange ideas with these craftsmen."
If you want to gather craftsmen for research, you can't do it by taking the right path. You never know how many people will advise you and try to trip you up.
The simplest way is to follow the path of a tyrant. What the ruler likes, the subordinates will like even more.
When his own Academy of Craftsmen is built, he will find a few people with good skills and reward those who recommend them. By then, officials from all over the country will be recruiting good craftsmen for him.
This is much faster than looking for it yourself, just like Emperor Jiajing making elixirs, so many people collected good materials for him.
This was the same as Zhu Youxiao's practice of recruiting craftsmen, except that their purposes were different. Of course, this would ruin his reputation again, and he would be on the road to becoming a tyrant.
However, Zhu Youxiao didn't care. It was not easy to be a wise ruler these days, because the referees were scholars, and you had to follow their rules.
But can we follow their rules?
Just give up treatment!
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