Chapter 101 Imprisonment
The man who tried to stage an accident at Mingyue Tower the day before yesterday but failed has died.
Zhu Mingyue didn't even have time to react before being thrown into jail overnight, completely bewildered.
The deceased was 28 years old and an ordinary citizen of Shangyang County. Before his death, he had taken the owner of Mingyuelou to court after failing to extort money from him. The next day, he was found dead in his home. The coroner's report indicated that the death was a homicide. There were obvious signs of forced entry on the windows of the deceased's home, suggesting that the crime was not committed by an acquaintance.
Furthermore, apart from a conflict with Zhu Mingyue, the deceased had no other entanglements with others during his lifetime.
Very good, exceptionally good; almost every word precisely targets him.
The prison was dark and gloomy. Zhu Mingyue huddled on the damp straw, silently hiding her hands in her sleeves.
Ask him to confess and sign a confession? Impossible. He may not understand the laws of the Li Dynasty, but he knows that once he puts his fingerprint on that piece of paper, he'll be permanently locked up in prison. And even if he can't get out, murder is punishable by death; he'll most likely be sentenced to death.
He was also caught in a bad time. The ancients believed that executions should be carried out after autumn, and this autumn refers to the autumnal equinox. In the blink of an eye, the beginning of autumn was approaching, and he didn't have many months left to live.
"Are you really unwilling to sign?" the jailer threatened, holding up the confession.
Zhu Mingyue said sullenly, "Why should I sign anything if I don't plead guilty?"
The jailer sneered, "Since that's the case, then let's begin the torture."
Zhu Mingyue's forehead broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat. He gritted his teeth and said, "This is a futile investigation! Do you really think you can make me admit to this fabricated crime?"
If he still doesn't understand now that he's been set up, he's being incredibly naive.
The person who framed him behind the scenes really had some clever tricks up their sleeve.
First, he bribed others to frame Mingyue Tower. If he eventually pays money to settle the matter, it won't be long before rumors spread that are detrimental to Mingyue Tower. At that time, a large number of customers will definitely be lost, especially on the second floor, which caters to scholars and wealthy families and will be the first to be affected.
If he refuses to pay, and the other party has no leverage over him, they will simply kill the person they bribed, thus framing Zhu Mingyue.
Judging from the current situation, the head of the county government must have colluded with the person who framed him, otherwise the jailer would not be so eager to force him to confess.
Zhu Mingyue clenched her fists tightly, her fair wrists aching from the rough iron lock. She watched helplessly as a fleshy face approached her, the strong smell of alcohol mixed with the stench of sweat assaulting her senses. Zhu Mingyue was so overwhelmed by the stench that she could barely open her eyes and couldn't help but gag.
The next moment, a large hand gripped his neck tightly. "I'll give you one last chance. Will you confess or not? Considering your delicate skin, I advise you to confess now and suffer less."
Zhu Mingyue's breathing gradually weakened, and his vision became increasingly blurry. He knew that these people wouldn't let him die yet, but seeing the red-hot branding iron in front of him, he felt it would be better to just strangle him to death.
He was terrified of pain, especially this kind of torture.
The agony of near-death experience, ironically, made the confused mind slowly become surprisingly clear.
"Heh, you're welcome to try," Zhu Mingyue provocatively said. "Strangle...strangle me to death, or use vigilante justice..."
A hint of hesitation crossed the jailer's face, then the grip on his neck loosened until he released his grip, and he said fiercely, "What do you mean?"
The hand was removed, but a dark bruise appeared around the neck, which looked particularly noticeable.
Zhu Mingyue gasped for air, and it took a long time for her violently beating heart to calm down.
He sneered, "Do you really think I can run Mingyue Tower so successfully all by myself? Go back and tell your superiors that there are always people more capable than you, and there's always a higher level to reach. Before you mess with me, you should think carefully about whether you can bear the consequences."
The jailer was skeptical. He waved his hand and ordered the brazier with the branding iron to be removed. "Who is behind Mingyue Tower?"
Zhu Mingyue glanced at him disdainfully, snorted arrogantly, and said, "You think you're worthy to know? If you want to know, then call your county magistrate over."
The jailer was clearly intimidated. He didn't know if what Zhu Mingyue said was true or false, but he was just a nobody working under the magistrate. He dared not gamble. If he lost the gamble, he would definitely be the first one to be executed.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke again in a much gentler tone: "I will go and report this to the magistrate. If you have told even a single lie, you know the consequences." He glanced at Zhu Mingyue indifferently, then turned and left.
Once the person had gone far away, Zhu Mingyue felt all her strength give way, and her hands began to tremble unconsciously.
He told more than a single lie; not a single word he uttered was true.
The reason why Mingyue Tower is so successful is that it is seven parts strength and three parts luck; there is no big shot behind it.
But if he hadn't lied and fooled people, he would probably be being tortured by now.
The most urgent task is to keep them in suspense for as long as possible.
This corrupt official deliberately went to arrest him at night and even tried to torture him to extract a confession. His eagerness was impossible to hide; he clearly wanted to convict him without anyone knowing, so that there would be no room for maneuver.
I don't know if He An already knows.
Xie Peiyuan is in Jizhou, and he has no relatives or friends in Shangyang County. The only person he can rely on is He An...
The cell reeked of decay and earthiness. Zhu Mingyue huddled in a corner, burying his face in his arms, closing his eyes to rest. He was powerless to do anything now, only able to passively wait for He An to rescue him.
During this time, a jailer came in to deliver food. A black cornbread was thrown into the cell. Zhu Mingyue looked up and saw a rat scurrying over. His stomach instantly felt acidic, so he simply closed his eyes again, out of sight, out of mind.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard hurried footsteps getting closer and closer.
The jailer unlocked the cell door and let He An in. "Manager, I've come to see you."
He An was carrying a food box, and it seemed he had run all the way here. He was speaking breathlessly and his head was covered in sweat.
The jailer left after opening the door. He An opened the food box and took out the food: "I came in a hurry, the shop wasn't open yet, so I just made something myself. Please make do with this, shopkeeper."
Zhu Mingyue glanced at the cornbread being carried away by a rat, quickly shoveled down a few mouthfuls of rice, and mumbled a reply, "I won't settle." What good conditions could there be in prison? As long as it's edible, that's fine. Besides, now is not the time to be picky.
He An watched him finish eating before asking, "Shopkeeper, what exactly happened? Brother Zhengming came to my house before dawn today and told me that you were taken to jail last night."
He was stunned when he heard this. What had the shopkeeper done to be arrested in the middle of the night? Could it be that the government had discovered that the shopkeeper was harboring his benefactor?
He An had a bad feeling about this, so he quickly prepared some food, packed up, and went to the yamen to check on things.
He wasn't supposed to be allowed in, but the guard on duty today had drunk with Li Zhengming a few times and they were practically acquaintances. He An was also generous in giving him two taels of silver, so he was allowed to come in.
Zhu Mingyue wiped her mouth and dropped a bombshell: "The person who caused trouble at Mingyue Tower the day before yesterday is dead."
He An was shocked and couldn't come to his senses for a long time: "What... no, why would they arrest you if he's dead? You didn't kill him."
“His death was indeed unrelated to me, but they are now insisting that I killed him, simply because I harbored a grudge against him. Moreover, the timing of his death was also very clever, as it happened to be the day after our argument with him.”
He An was quick-witted and immediately understood the intricacies of the situation: "Someone wanted to destroy Mingyue Tower, but instead, they wanted to kill you."
Zhu Mingyue nodded: "The mastermind behind this colluded with the county magistrate to frame me for this matter."
He An swallowed nervously: "How did the shopkeeper know?" It wasn't that he didn't believe Zhu Mingyue's words, but if it was really as he said, and even the county magistrate was involved, then getting Zhu Mingyue out would be even more difficult.
Zhu Mingyue: "I'm asking you, under normal circumstances, if someone suspects me of murder, shouldn't there be a trial?"
He An nodded repeatedly: "Of course."
Zhu Mingyue: "They bypassed the process and tried to torture me to extract a confession."
He An's last glimmer of hope was completely shattered. He murmured, "How could this be..." If even the county magistrate wanted to force the shopkeeper to confess, was there any hope for the shopkeeper this time?
"What should I do?" He An asked, already panicked.
Zhu Mingyue gently bit her lip. "They were about to torture me, so in my panic I lied to them, saying that there was a powerful figure behind Mingyue Tower whom they couldn't afford to offend."
He An: "That is indeed a solution, but what if they ask who that person is? Besides, you, as the manager, have been imprisoned, and the so-called person behind you has never come forward to bail you out. They are not stupid; they will eventually realize that you are deceiving them."
Zhu Mingyue: "I know this lie can't stand up to scrutiny, it's a last resort. I hope it can buy me some time."
He An sighed: "That's all we can do. The authorities can't investigate cases without evidence. I'll go back and report the murder of that scoundrel. If you can prove that you didn't kill him, you can be released from prison."
“It’s no use,” Zhu Mingyue said, not wanting to discourage him, but still wanting to tell the truth: “They know better than we do that I didn’t kill him. The county magistrate is in cahoots with that person, what evidence do they need? They’re just waiting for me to lose my temper and sign the confession one day.”
"What should we do then?"
Zhu Mingyue: "Take out the silver we deposited in the bank."
He An immediately understood: "Does the shopkeeper mean I should take this money to the county magistrate and ask him to make an exception?"
"Well, that's all we can do for now. It all comes down to who can offer the best deal to entice him. If that doesn't work either, then don't bother. And remember, don't cause any trouble for me. Losing me is enough. Don't be foolish. If they can set up a murder to get back at me, they can do the same to you."
He An did indeed have this idea. If he couldn't get through to the county magistrate, he would beat the drum to appeal for justice, make a big scene, and let the whole of Shangyang County know that the government had wronged an innocent person.
But Zhu Mingyue's words woke him up. The more crucial the moment, the more he needed to remain calm. He must not act rashly at this time, otherwise he would only get himself into trouble, and then Zhu Mingyue would really have no chance at all.
“Shopkeeper,” He An looked at him and said seriously, “I remember you told me when you came back from Jizhou last time that Brother Xie has now been promoted to the rank of Captain.”
Zhu Mingyue took a deep breath: "Jizhou is in dire straits right now, and I don't have much time left. I'm afraid it will be too late."
The round trip from Ganzhou to Jizhou takes more than half a month. The situation in Jizhou is not good either. Not to mention the post stations, even the escort agencies are unwilling to go to Jizhou, so letters simply cannot be sent out.
He did consider using Xie Pei to suppress them, but Li Chao's cavalry captain was a sixth-rank military officer, and the county magistrate was also a sixth-rank official. The two were only of the same rank, and Xie Pei was far away in Jizhou. Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst!
The jailer then came over and reminded him that visiting hours had arrived.
He An quickly added, "I'll think of another way. Don't be afraid in jail, sir."
Zhu Mingyue could only nod: "Okay, you must be careful in your actions."
Having eagerly seen He An off, less than half an hour later...
The county magistrate also arrived.
Zhu Mingyue certainly knew why the magistrate had come at this time; it was simply because he was wary of the person supposedly behind Mingyue Tower.
The magistrate gave a forced smile, and as he spoke, his two goatees twitched upwards: "I heard from the jailer that you have something to say to me personally?"
Zhu Mingyue chose to play dumb: "Oh? What is it? I didn't know I had something to say to the magistrate."
The magistrate's fake smile vanished suddenly. "Do you know the consequences of fooling me?"
What's meant to happen will happen. Zhu Mingyue knew she couldn't keep up the act any longer, so she kept a straight face and muttered, "This is so boring."
He cleared his throat and said in a serious tone, "You all think that Mingyue Tower is my business, but that's not the case. My partner is the Wang family of the capital. You probably don't know the Wang family because they are always low-key, but if I mention Princess Huiyang, you should have heard of her, right?"
The magistrate's face grew increasingly grim: "What is your relationship with Princess Huiyang?" Princess Huiyang was the Emperor's younger sister, born of the same mother. She was favored by the Empress Dowager and was known for her arrogant and domineering personality; few dared to offend her.
Not to mention he was just a minor county magistrate; offending Princess Huiyang would cost him more than ten heads.
To everyone's surprise, Zhu Mingyue shook her head: "I have no relation to Princess Huiyang, but the Wang family does have some relation to her."
The magistrate waited for him to continue, but Zhu Mingyue abruptly stopped, refusing to speak any further.
"I advise you to explain clearly what the relationship is between the Wang family and Princess Huiyang."
Zhu Mingyue covered her mouth and yawned: "You know that he is always low-key and definitely does not want you to know his identity. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to the capital to investigate."
The magistrate pointed at him with a stern face and said, "If I find out that you have lied to me, I will make you suffer."
"I'm so sleepy," Zhu Mingyue complained, leaning against the corner of the wall and closing her eyes to pretend to sleep, looking completely fearless.
...
Smoke curls up inside a mansion in Shangyang County.
A middle-aged man in fine clothes, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, poured a cup of tea for the person opposite him.
"Your Excellency, please try this year's opening tea from Kangyang County."
The county magistrate, preoccupied with his own thoughts, took a perfunctory sip and casually remarked, "Good tea."
The middle-aged man smiled. "Does Your Excellency have something to say? Please speak freely."
The magistrate put down his teacup and sighed softly, "Master Sun, you may not know this, but the matter you entrusted to me may not be able to be accomplished."
"Oh? Why? Is there some difficulty?"
"Everything was going smoothly until it came time for that man surnamed Zhu to sign the document. He suddenly said that Mingyue Tower was not owned by him alone, but by someone else!"
The middle-aged man frowned deeply: "Who else? Just send him to jail as well."
The magistrate shook his head: "This man is not from Ganzhou. According to that man surnamed Zhu, he is from the Wang family in the capital and has some connection with Princess Huiyang. If that is true, we may have to abandon our plan."
“The Wang family of the capital,” the middle-aged man thought for a long time, “I’ve never heard of them. Could it be that he’s trying to trick you?”
The magistrate said, “The Wang family has not shown up yet, and I have some doubts. But in any case, we cannot take action against them now. I sent someone to the capital three days ago to investigate. It’s not too late to take action after we know the result.”
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction: "Magistrate, being too cautious in your actions is not a good thing."
The magistrate's expression remained unchanged, and he still smiled: "It's not a good thing to act too hastily."
The two, who had initially been quite polite, parted on bad terms.
The magistrate stepped out of the gate, his face immediately turning extremely ugly. This Sun Weifu was really taking advantage of his position, daring to put on airs in front of him just because he was wealthy and powerful in Kangyang County.
Do you really think he's not in a hurry to deal with Zhu Mingyue? He's more anxious than anyone else.
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