Confession in jeopardy
The Jingzhao Prefecture Prison, traditionally a place for the imprisonment of serious criminals, was eerie and damp, its air perpetually filled with the pungent odor of blood and mold. Since the two survivors of the night raid on Han's residence were brought here, the security presence had more than tripled. Jointly supervised by the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Dali Temple, and even the Emperor's own Imperial Guards, it was a fortress so strong that not even a bird could penetrate.
The order for a joint trial by the three courts has been issued, but the presiding officials each harbor their own agenda. The Minister of Justice is mature and prudent, intent on achieving victory; the Supreme Court Justice is known for his integrity, yet he also possesses intricate connections with the nobility; and the Prefect of Jingzhao, personally promoted by Xiao Jingche, is considered a trusted confidant of the emperor. This interrogation team is inherently rife with checks and balances and power struggles.
The two survivors were held separately and placed under strict guard. During preliminary interrogation, both men unequivocally insisted they were acting under the orders of Duke Wei Zheng, using the same reason Zhao Kai had given in court: to destroy evidence in the military supply case and frame loyal officials. Their confessions were fluent and consistent, as if meticulously rehearsed.
However, this overly perfect confession aroused the suspicion of Han Mingyuan and Lu Qinglan, who was secretly following the case.
"Your Majesty, those two men insisted that the killing was ordered by the Duke of Wei, but they are vague and inconsistent in their details about how they contacted the Duke's Mansion, who handled the matter, and how much they were paid." Fu Yu presented the latest secret report. "Also, although they are disguised as border soldiers, the distribution of calluses on their knuckles and certain subtle jargon indicate that they are more likely to have been in the inner city for a long time, which is inconsistent with the customs of border soldiers."
Lu Qinglan stood at his desk, copying a landscape painting by a master of the previous dynasty. His brushstrokes were light and sparse. He didn't stop writing when he heard the words, but simply said, "The more they try to cover up, the more obvious it becomes. The more they rush to pin the crime on Wei Zheng, the more it proves that Wei Zheng isn't the real murderer. The real mastermind behind this is trying to kill two birds with one stone: eliminate the witness who might get in the way, and drag Wei Zheng, the biggest threat, into the water."
She put down her brush and looked at the misty ink on the canvas. "Let our people, from the perspective of 'bystanders,' 'accidentally' reveal these suspicious points to the clerk in charge of recording the case files at the Dali Temple. Also, find a way to have our people in the Jingzhao prison pass a message to the two survivors..."
Deep in the night, deep within the Jingzhao Prefecture prison, in a solitary confinement cell, an assassin dozed against the wall. Suddenly, a tiny stone ricocheted through the vent and landed precisely at his feet. He opened his eyes alertly, but saw no one around, only the vague silhouette of a guard outside the cell door. He quickly picked up the stone and found it wrapped in a thin layer of paper. In the dim light, he could make out a line of small words on it:
"Your family has been targeted. Telling the truth may save your life, but resisting will only bring disaster to your family."
The assassin's hand trembled violently, the note clutched tightly in his palm, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back. Most of them engaged in this bloody business to ensure a good life for their families, fearing nothing more than bringing disaster upon their families. Who had passed the note? Was it someone from the imperial court, or... someone who hired them to silence them?
At the same time, a similar incident occurred in another cell. Panic spread quietly in the hearts of the two assassins like a plague.
During the retrial the next day, the two men began to soften their stance. Although they did not completely retract their confessions, there were more loopholes in their descriptions of details, and their eyes became flickering.
This change was immediately reported to Xiao Jingche.
Inside the Imperial Study, Xiao Jingche listened to the Imperial City Supervisor's secret report, his expression shifting from gloomy to bright. "Is someone secretly contacting prisoners? People are coming and going freely in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison like they're at a market?" His tone was filled with a storm. "Investigate for me! Who is spreading this information? And who is threatening his family?"
"Your Majesty," the Imperial City Supervisor knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse, "the person who delivered the message was extremely skilled, utilizing the prison's hidden ventilation passages and knowing the guard change times perfectly. Therefore, they weren't apprehended on the spot. As for the threats against his family... preliminary investigations point to... several underworld gangs indirectly connected to the Cheng'en Mansion."
The Cheng'en Mansion! Xiao Jingche's pupils suddenly shrank. His maternal family! Why were they interfering in this matter? Were they trying to clear the way for Lin Wanru, or... were they themselves implicated in this behind-the-scenes affair? A chilling feeling of betrayal by a loved one instantly washed over him.
At this moment, a dramatic scene unfolded in the courtroom where the three judges were holding a joint trial. One of the assassins, on the verge of a mental breakdown after repeated questioning, suddenly shouted, "I say! I... we are not the Duke of Wei's men! It's... it's Zhao..."
Before he could finish his words, a thin needle imbued with deadly poison shot out from the shadows of the crowd outside the hall and pierced his throat with pinpoint accuracy! The assassin's eyes widened, and he gurgled a few times before dying instantly!
"There's an assassin!" There was chaos in the hall!
In the chaos, another survivor looked ashen and collapsed to the ground. No matter how he was interrogated, he kept his lips tightly shut and refused to utter a single word.
The news spread, shocking the court and the public. The silencing had taken place in a courtroom where three judges were present! This wasn't just arrogance; it was a blatant challenge to the court's laws and imperial authority!
Upon hearing the news, Xiao Jingche smashed his favorite Duan inkstone. He ordered a thorough investigation of the person who had launched the attack, but the person was like a ghost, disappearing without a trace after the successful attack.
Inside Kunning Palace, Lu Qinglan listened to Fu Yu's report with a cold expression. The other party's swift reaction and ruthless tactics were beyond expectations. Although one key witness was killed and the other disabled, this move undoubtedly exposed the other party's desperate attitude and the depth of their influence in the capital.
"The Cheng'en Mansion... Zhao Kai... the Jianghu gangs... and that ever-elusive 'Ninth Brother'..." Lu Qinglan whispered softly, connecting the dots. "The crazier they get, the more it shows we've touched their core."
"My Lady, what should we do next?"
"Although that survivor dares not speak again, he is evidence in his own right. We must strengthen his protection and absolutely not allow him to get into any more trouble." Lu Qinglan's eyes were sharp. "At the same time, secretly send the evidence we have regarding Duke Cheng'en's mansion threatening the witness's family through gangs, as well as clues about the possible source of the poison needle, to the Imperial City Department. Have His Majesty's people investigate his in-laws."
She wanted to direct the emperor's wrath where it belonged. The water was already muddy enough, so she might as well throw in a huge rock and see what truth would emerge.
Though the confession hung in the balance, the murder had already been committed. The bloodbath in the courtroom had completely pushed this complex case into an irreversible abyss. The foundation of trust had been shattered, and what followed could only be an even more brutal confrontation.
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