The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 16 Trial (1/2)
After the worship at the Confucian Temple, Taizi was supposed to go to the Imperial Academy to listen to the scriptures. But when this happened, the whole Imperial Academy was in chaos, and the lecture was stopped. Taizi and all the officials went to the office of the Capital Magistrate.
Fortunately, Qin Yan and Feng Zhan both sent secret guards to follow Jiang Mu, so nothing major happened. The two masked black-clothed secret guards knew each other’s existence, but they didn’t show up normally, just hiding in the dark.
When Jiang Mu entered Chongwen Pavilion today, the secret guards didn’t care, until they saw someone locked the door and smoke was gradually coming out of the library. Only then did the two know something was wrong. They immediately broke into the door and rescued Jiang Mu and Qin Ming, but fortunately, the two young masters were all right.
In the Taizi Mansion at Xishan, the secret guard that was sent to follow Jiang Mu told Taizi Feng Zhan about today’s situation.
“Can you see who locked the door?” Feng Zhan’s eyes narrowed dangerously as it was not surprising with Jiang Mu’s identity. If someone deliberately conspired to murder, this matter was not just a private grudge between the two boys.
“This subordinate has been with Young Master Jiang for a few days, and I have seen that person. It is Song Liang, a tribute student from the Imperial Academy, and he often follows Wang Jingyu, the second young master of the Left Prime Minister Mansion.”
“Left Prime Minister Mansion?” Feng Zhan frowned, “Song Zhi, inform this matter to the Chief Officer of the Imperial Academy.”
“This subordinate takes the order.”
——
At the same time, the Imperial Academy also received the information separately from His Highness Taizi and Princess of Zhaoren that in the fire case, Song Liang, a tribute student of the Imperial Academy, locked the door after Jiang Mu entered the library in the Chongwen Pavilion. His Highness Taizi and Princess of Zhaoren suspected that someone deliberately set fire and intended to kill the two young masters.
The person who came said that the secret guard saw it with his own eyes, and the Chief Officer had no doubt that he was there, and he was about to report the situation to the Capital Magistrate.
When the Capital Magistrate received this case, he was already under pressure. This case involved the Princess of Zhaoren Mansion and Prime Minister Qin Mansion. Prime Minister Qin insisted that Young Master Jiang took revenge against his son and wanted to kill his son. He wanted to take Young Master Jiang for questioning. But Young Master Jiang was the young master of the Princess of Zhaoren Mansion, and the Princess of Zhaoren Mansion was also the first eldest daughter of Prime Minister Qin. This relationship disturbed him, and he was mentally and physically exhausted.
Moreover, Young Master Jiang and the son of Prime Minister Qin had both returned to their mansion to recuperate. There were no witnesses at the scene of the fire case today. Whether it was a trial or an investigation, he didn’t know where to start.
This job of the Capital Magistrate was really not something ordinary people could do. Since he took office, the cases he had encountered so far involved noble families, high-ranking officials, and sometimes several influential clans in the capital at the same time. He was often powerless to deal with it, and he just wanted to quickly pass this term smoothly. Even if he was transferred to the local prefecture, it was better than suffering in this position.
On this side, the Chief Officer of the Imperial Academy came to inform them that someone set the fire, and the suspect was Song Liang, the tribute student of the Imperial Academy, who often hung around the second son of the Left Prime Minister. The hairs on his back stood up instantly.
This case involved both the Left and Right Prime Minister Mansion, and the former celebrity Princess of Zhaoren Mansion, which almost resulted in someone’s death. This was not a case that the Capital Magistrate could handle. He immediately decided that the case should be reported to the Imperial Court of Judicial Review.
——
When the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review received this case, he secretly scolded the Capital Magistrate, was this case something that ordinary people could handle? He, the Capital Magistrate, threw this hot potato out but made him take over that big trouble. He only hoped that Song Liang, the tribute student, had done it himself, and didn’t implicate others.
But things didn’t go in the direction the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review expected. They brought Song Liang, a tribute student from the Imperial Academy, and said that His Highness Taizi and Princess of Zhaoren’s secret guards both saw Song Liang lock the door with their own eyes after Jiang Mu entered the Chongwen Pavilion and there was a fire inside.
Song Liang originally thought that during the worshiping at the Confucius Temple, there was almost no one in the Imperial Academy, and no one would know what he did. When Jiang Mu died, there was no one to prove it and he could get out cleanly.
But he never thought that he was watched by the secret guards of both His Highness Taizi and Princess of Zhaoren. He secretly cursed that they were really abnormal. What was there in a place like Imperial Academy was worth sending two secret guards to watch attentively?
Song Liang knew that this matter couldn’t be denied. Besides, Jiang Mu was still alive. As soon as he was asked, they knew that he had lied to Jiang Mu to go to Chongwen Pavilion, so he simply admitted it.
But this was not the end, it was not just a simple question. After Song Liang confessed his guilt, he said that he was not the mastermind, but an accomplice. Before the severe punishment was declared, he immediately admitted that Wang Jingyu, the second son of the Left Prime Minister ordered him to do it.
Hearing this, the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review’s head buzzed. He was really afraid of what was coming.
The Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review immediately wanted to report the case to His Highness Taizi, who supervised the country, but on second thought, His Highness Taizi was at the scene today, and His Highness Taizi asked the Chief Officer of the Imperial Academy to report the Capital Magistrate, which was to ask them to openly investigate the case. He couldn’t throw the case back to the Taizi again to make His Highness Taizi unhappy. Then… he could only enter the palace to report to the Emperor.
Emperor of Hui didn’t care much after he finished hearing the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review reporting the case. Since no one was killed, it wasn’t a big deal, but it was indeed a little troublesome since it involved two Prime Minister Mansions and also the Princess of Zhaoren Mansion. The Right Prime Minister Qin Wenzheng insisted on Jiang Mu again, as if he would never give up. This was understandable as Prime Minister Qin had always regarded his precious son as the lifeblood, and he must have an explanation.
This matter was neither big nor small, and if it was not handled properly, it might even involve the court situation.
Emperor of Hui decided that the case should be reviewed jointly by three divisions, but the presiding judge had better be an imperial family member, which became a difficult task. It was reasonable and fair that Taizi should preside over the trial, but since it involved the Left Prime Minister Mansion, it would be inappropriate because the Left Prime Minister was Taizi’s uncle.
If the Second Prince Feng Xian was allowed to preside over the trial, the Right Prime Minister Qin Wenzheng was also the Second Prince Feng Xian’s uncle.
And Duan Wang Mansion was far away in Youzhou, so it seemed that there was only Changyuan.
When the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review heard this decision of the Emperor of Hui, he was stunned and shocked on the spot.
Was Shizi Xie of Marquis of Yongding Mansion presiding over the trial? Did His Majesty think this is not messy enough?
Shizi Xie was the ex-fiancé of Princess of Zhaoren, and he broke his marriage contract some time ago. The Right Prime Minister was almost Shizi Xie’s father-in-law, and the son of Prime Minister Qin was almost Shizi Xie’s brother-in-law. Shouldn’t this be avoided to arouse suspicion?
But as long as this troublesome matter was thrown out. The Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, and withdrew from the imperial study.
——
In the study room of Shizi Xie Changyuan in Marquis of Yongding Mansion, the atmosphere was a little dense. Just now, news came from the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, saying that the Emperor wanted the fire case of the Imperial Academy to be reviewed jointly by three divisions and Shizi Xie of Marquis of Yongding Mansion would be the presiding judge.
Xie Changyuan hadn’t said a word since receiving the news, just lowered his eyes and rubbed the white-glazed blue flower brush rack in his hands.
Li Zhong frowned deeply and said worriedly, “Shizi, if you can’t explain this case to the Right Prime Minister, you will offend the Right Prime Minister Mansion. If it is found out that it is related to the second son of the Left Prime Minister, you will offend the Left Prime Minister Mansion. And if it is found out that it is really Young Master Jiang of Princess of Zhaoren, then you will also offend Princess of Zhaoren Mansion. The presiding judge of this case is not pleasing anyway, it’s really a difficult task.”
Xie Changyuan sighed, yes ah. If it were really Jiang Mu, he would offend the Princess of Zhaoren Mansion, then he and Qin Yan…
Lol what him and Qin Yan. He himself said he didn’t acknowledge the engagement
That’s right. So what is he doing now?