Chapter 204: Citizens Suing Officials Should Be Punished with a Cane
Su Qianqian looked around and then pointed at her nose: "Are you talking about me?"
"How dare a small clerk interfere in the court trial? He should be severely punished for exceeding his authority. How can the three judicial departments use such a person to try a major case? Please replace the clerk!"
Mi Ziyong unknowingly displayed his official authority again.
"My Lords! I am not interfering. I just have doubts and do not dare to make decisions on my own. I am asking for answers for fear of making mistakes. I am not like Lord Mi... Oh no... Mr. Mi... That's not right... Mi Ziyong. He dares to make decisions on his own without evidence. I admire him!"
Su Qianqian stood up and bowed to the three people sitting above, then gave Mi Ziyong a sarcastic smile.
"You..." Mi Ziyong's face turned red with anger, and he pointed at Su Qianqian and was about to scold her.
"Mi Ziyong, there is indeed a precedent for the recorder to ask questions in doubt, and it is also for the cautious attitude of the trial. It should not be replaced but deserves praise. Stop making a fuss and continue the trial."
Minister Yin spoke without waiting for Mi Ziyong to say anything more.
Next was the evidence that the wealthy businessman Fu Zhixing privately sold arsenic and colluded with Zhang Kuinian. Liang Xun used various excuses to leave Beijing over the years, and each time he traveled day and night to the scene where the arsenic case occurred.
“The funny thing is that many years after my father’s death, the arsenic infestation in these places became even more rampant.
Pills and plasters used as medicine to treat poisonous sores, as well as ointments sent to brothels and syphilis to treat syphilis, were blatantly sold in large quantities in those places. The amount far exceeded the amount deducted by Hun'an Prefecture by more than a hundred times. Who did my father take the blame for, and why did no one investigate? ”
Liang Xun accused angrily, and in the court, Yin Heng produced another thick stack of witnesses and evidence related to Fu Zhixing.
"It is said that the merchant Zhang Xinhe from Jinning and the merchant Liu Zhenqi from Pingyu."
Minister Yin called the witnesses again, and the two of them knelt down hurriedly when they entered the courtroom. Zhuang Shizhao only asked one question, and they rushed to tell the truth, stating in detail that Fu Zhixing had resold a huge amount of arsenic, and they even had account books from previous years as evidence, going back to their father's generation, when Gu Yunqing was the prefect.
Fu Zhixing's face was pale, and he was staggering with his big belly. Not only was he sweating, but he also felt darkness in front of his eyes. The more wealthy a person is, the more reluctant he is to give up the splendor he has created.
"Fu Zhixing, do you admit your guilt?" Lord Zhuang asked sternly.
Fu Zhixing knelt on the ground with a plop, and his heavy body made the ground tremble:
"My Lord, I did not do this voluntarily. I was... coerced by Zhang Kuinian and his son Zhang Yong to do this for me. I also have a family in Hun'an and we are under the control of Zhang Kuinian. I dare not disobey!"
Fu Zhixing kowtowed and cried bitterly, with snot and tears all over his face. The police officer next to him couldn't help but poke Fu Zhixing with a stick. Fu Zhixing shivered with fear, stopped crying and looked secretly. The police officer pointed to the pool of snot on the floor tiles with his eyes...
[This man is extremely cunning and highly vigilant. Liang Xun led the guards of the Princess's Mansion many times but was unable to catch him, and he managed to escape every time.
As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. When he went out on weekdays, he would always go out in four or five identical carriages one after another, and no one knew which one he was in.
He had no less than ten places to sleep, not to mention the dozen beds in the yard. His wives, concubines, and children had no idea where to look for him every day. If the government had not posted a notice on his door threatening to search his house if he did not show up within the deadline, he would probably not have appeared in the lobby today. 】
When the system talks about Fu Zhixing, it’s hard to describe him in words.
[However, he is a filial son. No matter where he sleeps every day, he always goes to pay his respects to his parents first. If Liang Xun knew about his habit, he might have caught him. 】
[Now his filial piety will turn into a knife to kill his parents, which is more cruel than that of an unfilial person. 】Su Qianqian said in her heart.
"Fu Zhixing! You are a shameless businessman. You have committed many evil deeds and you still want to frame me!
My three lords, I have been an official for many years and have always performed my duties conscientiously. The case of Gu Yunqing was personally tried by Lord Mi, and there was witnesses and evidence. It was also approved by the Ministry of Justice. Why are you pushing this case onto me now? ”
Zhang Kuinian spoke with grief and anger, tears streaming down his face, and he looked as if he had really been wronged.
"Zhang Kuinian! You scoundrel! My father supported you and advised you against it. I was still very young at that time, and I didn't know the truth until I found the nanny who served my mother.
I wish I could drink your blood and eat your flesh to avenge the murder of my parents. Please stop crying and don't pollute this clean world. On the day of your death, I will set off fireworks for three days to see you off. You'd better walk slowly, and I will talk to you in the palace of Hades! ”
Madam Shaohua turned her head suddenly, her eyes were bloodshot. The person who looked like a fairy now looked like a ghost. She spoke with gritted teeth, as if she wanted to bite Zhang Kuinian off inch by inch.
"Don't roar in the court!" He Liansheng slammed the gavel and shouted harshly.
"Madam Shaohua, since you are a slave of the Imperial Music Bureau and have been granted the grace to return to good status, you should abide by your duty. If the Ministry of Justice reviews the case and wants to re-examine it, civilians must be punished with fifty strokes of the cane. Liang Xun is the general manager of the Princess's Mansion and can be exempted from punishment, but you have not yet been sentenced. If you withdraw your complaint, this punishment can be exempted. Otherwise..."
He Liansheng said in a deep voice, looking at Madam Shaohua with gloomy eyes.
"Sir! Shaohua doesn't have to be punished. I am the only one who reported it..." Liang Xun spoke hurriedly.
"No, as a child, how can we retreat to protect ourselves for fear of punishment? I am willing to be punished." Madam Shaohua said calmly and walked towards the bench for caning in the hall.
"Sir He, Shaohua is Liang Xun's sister. If we jointly file a complaint, we may not be punished as a citizen suing an official." Zhuang Shizhao said with a frown.
"Sir Zhuang, this joint complaint is not a first. In the past, civilians who sued officials would also be punished with caning. Why is Madam Shaohua exempted?" He Liansheng's expression was serious and impartial.
[Some of the witnesses Madam Shaohua knows about cannot be confronted in court if they are beaten. He Liansheng is clearly entrusted by others. Is he worthy of being the Chief Censor?
Moreover, if the plaintiff dies or is seriously injured as a result of the punishment, the case will have to be postponed for trial. He is planning something bad! 】
The system said angrily at this time.
Su Qianqian certainly sympathized with Madam Shaohua, but she did not admire her for her unscrupulous means. Although her move to drag the Wuning Marquis' Mansion into the water was clever, the people in the Wuning Marquis' Mansion were innocent, so she watched the development of the situation indifferently.
This matter is indeed ambiguous, and it makes sense no matter which side is followed, so Minister Yin frowned and was unable to stop it.
But he also knew that if something happened to Madam Shaohua, the case would have to be postponed. However, the longer the night, the more troubles he would have. As long as these witnesses were in Xijing, he would have trouble sleeping and eating, not knowing what unexpected events might have occurred.
Madam Shaohua had already walked to the side of the torture bench and leaned over it with a calm expression. Mi Ziyong and Zhang Kuinian in the hall both breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wait! The Empress Dowager's decree!" An urgent voice came from downstairs in the hall, and the adults in the hall suddenly looked over.
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