Chapter 104: The Truth Revealed (Part 1)

  The Leopard House has more than 200 rooms, each with a different function. Some are used to raise fierce birds and beasts, some are used to store rare treasures, and others are used to house beautiful women. However, these are all on the surface, and in the Leopard House there is also a row of houses that no one dares to mention their purpose.

  This house is called "Xingji House", as the name suggests, it's a room specifically for training people in execution skills. Whoever enters this place will surely regret being human in this world.

  Jiang Xia walked with Zhu Houzhao towards the torture chamber, asking him at the same time: "How is it? Has he confessed?"

  "Alright," said Zhu Houzhao. "It's because of a benefactor from his past that he's doing this."

  As they spoke, the two of them had already arrived at the entrance of the Criminal Technique Room. The two leopard guards guarding the Criminal Technique Room knelt down and saluted Zhu Houzhao, shouting "Long live my lord". Zhu Houzhao said, "You may dispense with the formalities and rise."

  Then he took Jiang Xia into the forensic lab.

  In the forensic lab, Jiang Xia met Wang Baosheng.

  Seeing Jiang Xia and Zhu Houzhao appear together, Wang Baosheng excitedly said: "Your Majesty spare my life, Your Majesty spare my life. The guilty minister has confessed, the guilty minister has confessed everything. The guilty minister was poor and destitute when he went to Beijing for the imperial examination, and almost had to sleep on the streets. It was a man who gave him silver and money to help him out, and after the guilty minister entered officialdom, it was also due to his letters of recommendation that the guilty minister was able to step by step become a fifth-rank official, a zhongzheng.

  This time, the benefactor appeared and asked me to help him with something. As a guilty official, I couldn't refuse, so I helped him. The guilty official also doesn't know the identity of that benefactor, please forgive my crime and spare my life, Your Majesty.

  "Sparing your dog life is no longer possible, but if you are willing to speak the truth at tomorrow's public trial, I can promise you two things: one, no harm will come to your family; and two, a quick and painless end." Zhu Houzhao said calmly.

  Upon hearing Zhu Houzhao's words, Wang Baosheng merely gave it some slight consideration before nodding and saying: "Your humble servant will obey your orders, Your humble servant will certainly speak the truth on the public platform tomorrow."

  Zhu Houzhao glanced at Jiang Xia, who nodded slightly. Zhu Houzhao said to a gloomy and thin man in the torture chamber: "Don't torment him anymore, take him to clean up, give him some good food."

  "Yes." The man responded with a single word.

  Then Jiang Xia and Zhu Houzhao walked out of the detention room together. A place like this, anyone with a normal mind would definitely not want to stay for long.

  After leaving the torture chamber, Zhu Houzhao asked Jiang Xia: "How is it? Are you confident about tomorrow's public trial?"

  Jiang Xia shook his head and said: "Until the last moment, no one can determine the outcome. But for now, I can only say that we have a chance to win."

  "Don't worry, if we lose I'll ensure your safety." Zhu Houzhao said. This was already the third time he had assured Jiang Xia of this.

  Jiang Xia looked at Zhu Houzhao and smiled slightly. He pressed on Zhu Houzhao's shoulder and said, "Second Brother, you are the Emperor. Being so emotional is not good."

  Zhu Houzhao also smiled and said nonchalantly, "Although I am the emperor, I am also a human being. As long as one is human, they must have feelings. It's enough that I only use my emotions on you."

  Jiang Xia's eyes widened, and a look of terror instantly appeared on his face. He covered his chest with both hands and said: "Lao Er, I like women, not men. Even if you have feelings for me, I won't go along with you."

  "Get out! The one I like is also a woman." Zhu Houzhao said in an ill-tempered tone.

  Yungai Inn this side.

  Tomorrow is the time to see the outcome, from the beginning of this game, Zhu Youxiao has been in an advantageous position. If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow will probably be Jiang Xia's death sentence.

  Fu Bo suddenly pushed open Zhu Youhuan's inn room door and said as soon as he entered the house: "Wang Baosheng is missing."

  Zhu Youxiao nodded, without a hint of surprise on his face. He said, "It's an expected thing, but even if Zhu Houzhao captures Wang Baosheng, it won't be useful. The common people won't believe in Wang Baosheng's testimony, and if he comes out to reveal the truth, it will only make the common people suspect that Zhu Houzhao has become desperate to save Jiang Xia and is using his imperial power to coerce Wang Baosheng."

  "Did you expect that Zhu Houzhao would capture Wang Baosheng, and was it your intention to let him take Wang Baosheng away?" Fu Bo suddenly understood everything.

  Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly and said, "When doing great things, sometimes necessary sacrifices are inevitable. In the seventh year of Hongzhi, we began to implement the 'Seed Plan', and in the eleventh year of Hongzhi, we began to cultivate Wang Baosheng. Although he was a top scholar in the imperial examination that year, without our cultivation, could he have become the fifth-rank official of Shuntian Prefecture before the age of fifty? We gave him so many years of glory and wealth, now it's also time for him to repay us."

  Fu Bo nodded silently, not speaking. In fact, he was also a subordinate of Zhu Youxiao, and now seeing Zhu Youxiao abandon Wang Baosheng so decisively, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness.

  But such a feeling is just a flash in the pan. As a slave, Fu Bo absolutely has the awareness of being a slave.

  Zhu Youxiao seemed to have seen through Fu Bo's mind, and he patted Fu Bo's shoulder and said: "Fu Bo, rest assured, you and Xiao Wu are different from those 'seeds' in my heart. Those 'seeds' are just tools, but you two are the ones I am close to and trust."

  As soon as Zhu Youxiao said that, Fu Bo, who had just felt a slight strangeness in his heart, suddenly felt warmth in his heart. He bowed and said: "I can die for the king, it is also my good fortune."

  Zhu Youhao patted Fu Bo's shoulder again, took a deep breath and said: "Go on to keep an eye on them, see what other tricks they will use. Anyway, Li Yun is already dead, I think they can't come up with any means that can defy the heavens."

  The next day, Han Mufeng, Zhong Bin and Li Jueqing escorted Jiang Xia to the front of the Dali Temple. Cui Ruxue and Cui Nianshu did not go to listen to the trial. They had originally wanted to go, but Jiang Xia stopped them. Since their opponent could use hidden weapons to kill Huang Xiaobi, their martial arts skills were naturally not low. Jiang Xia was afraid that if they went, there would be danger.

  The Grand Court of the Ming dynasty was like today's Supreme People's Court. Among the three departments, the Ministry of Punishment was in charge of criminal cases, the Grand Court was in charge of criminal laws and regulations, and the Censorate was responsible for supervision to prevent miscarriages of justice.

  After entering the back hall of the Dali Temple from the side hall, Jiang Xia was not familiar with the Minister of Justice and the Temple Master of the Dali Temple, but the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Chahai Court, Xia Yuanming, had met Jiang Xia once before.

  Jiang Xia entered the back hall, and Xia Yuanming walked over directly to greet Jiang Xia: "Nephew Jiang."

  "Summer is here." Jiang Xia nodded and said.

  Xia Yuanming pointed to one of the seats in the back hall and said, "I, along with Ducha Institute's Right Ducha Envoy Zhuo Feifan, participated in the San Si trial. We are responsible for correcting mistakes. So, don't worry, young nephew, just speak the truth."

  Xia Yuanming's "don't worry" actually had a hidden meaning, implying that no one would dare to sentence Jiang Xia to punishment. However, with the emperor present at the trial today, it was believed that no one would dare to sentence Jiang Xia to punishment either. By saying so, Xia Yuanming was actually trying to curry favor with Jiang Xia, who naturally picked up on it and immediately bowed his head, saying: "Then I'll have to trouble Lord Xia to take care of it."

  After finishing speaking, a man wearing a crimson round-necked long gown with a brocade rooster as his emblem stood up from the back hall and said: "The time has come, let's ascend to the main hall."

  Jinji Bu Zi is a official uniform of Wen Guan Zheng Er Pin, but the Temple of Dali's Temple is Zheng San Pin, so that person should be the Minister of Justice.

  The Minister of Justice left, and the Temple Chancellor also left with Xia Yuanming and Zhuo Feifan.

  Before long, Jiang Xia heard someone shouting "Sheng Tang", and a bailiff banging the gavel shouted "Wei Wu". Then the alarm bell rang, and someone shouted "Bring the plaintiff and defendant to court."

  As Jiang Xia stood up, several more people entered from the back hall.

  Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin, Zhang Yong. Seeing Zhu Houzhao, Jiang Xia smiled slightly. Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "Go, don't worry."

  "I've never been worried." Jiang Xia smiled slightly and walked out of the back hall, meeting two bailiffs halfway, who then led him into the main hall of the Dalisi Temple.

  It must be said that the main hall of the Temple of Great Rites is very large, several times larger than the yamen of Shuntian Prefecture he had visited before. Sitting in the center of the hall was the Minister of Justice, to his left was the Chief Justice of the Temple of Great Rites, and to his right were the Left and Right Assistant Censors-in-Chief of the Office of Scrutiny.

  It is obvious that today's trial is presided over by the Minister of Justice.

  In the hall, kneeling were He Yunlai's old mother with dim eyes and several concubines. Jiang Xia looked back and saw that the Temple of Great Wisdom was already packed to the point where it was impossible to get through, the commotion even startled Jiang Xia, how many citizens of the capital had come?

  Because He Yunlai's mother was old, the Minister of Justice specially set up a chair for her. Jiang Xia, being still a student of Guozijian, stood on the main hall, while those concubines knelt down.

  The Minister of Justice scanned the hall below with a glance, then looked at the indictment in his hand again, and then glanced at the hall below again. He found something wrong, so he asked: "Where is He Yun's wife, He Li? Why didn't she come?"

  "In response to your words, elder, my sister was heartbroken and lost interest in the world. She has already poisoned herself to death." said one of He Yun's concubines.

  "Poisoning oneself to death?" The Minister of Justice was shocked, and he immediately roared: "You scoundrel, why didn't the original plaintiff's suicide get reported up to the Supreme Court?"

  In the back hall, Zhu Houzhao glanced at Cui Zhengyi, the Minister of Rites and Governor of Shuntian Prefecture, who immediately tensed up and said: "Your Majesty, I haven't received any such news."

  Zhu Houzhao snorted coldly and said: "Liu Jin, bring Wang Baosheng up here."

  "Yes." Liu Jin stepped down and soon returned with two Eastern Depot guards, bringing Wang Baosheng.

  Zhu Houzhao said to Cui Zhengyi: "Take him to the hall and have him explain."

  "Yes, your humble servant obeys the order." Cui Zhengyi glared fiercely at Wang Baosheng, he had already understood that this matter was definitely Wang Baosheng's doing. Now, Cui Zhengyi couldn't escape being accused of being incompetent and inefficient, today's performance evaluation in the Ministry of Officials would certainly be poor.

  Chui Zhengyi brought Wang Baosheng to the court, while at this time the Minister of Justice was preparing to discuss with the Chief Justice and the Left and Right Supervisors of the Ducha Yamen whether to postpone the trial again.

  Chui Zhengyi stepped forward and, after a slight bow to the Minister of Justice, said: "The official Wang Baosheng from Shuntian Prefecture is related to this case. As for the specific details, let him explain it himself."

  After finishing, Choi Jeong-yi looked at Wang Bao-sheng, and Wang Bao-sheng immediately knelt down to talk about the role he played inside and what he did. Of course, that so-called "benefactor" was also mentioned.

  Wang Baosheng finished speaking, and Jiang Xia immediately heard some murmurs in the crowd, "Hmph, this must be what the Emperor instructed him to say. With the Emperor backing him up, even black can become white."

  Jiang Xia smiled slightly and cupped his hands, saying: "Your Honor, I have come today not to accept interrogation, but to prove my innocence."

  After finishing, Jiang Xia turned around and glanced at the people behind him, then said: "Everyone may be thinking that what Wang Baosheng said is not credible. This doesn't matter, we can temporarily pretend we didn't hear what he said."

  Fu Bo stood in the crowd, listening to the trial with a slight frown.

  Jiang Xia continued, "First of all, let's clarify whether the Jiuyang Dan is poisonous or not. We won't mention how many people have taken it, but why did only He Yunlai die from poisoning? Why did everyone else who took it become strong and vigorous like a dragon and tiger? The reason is simple: the Jiuyang Dan itself is not poisonous. He Yunlai died because someone had applied poison to his Jiuyang Dan. We request that the coroner's office of Shuntian Prefecture be called in."

  He quickly walked out from the back hall, knelt on the ground and said: "I have investigated, He Yulai, Old Master He died of poisoning, from the appearance of death, it should be poisoned by Hedianhong."

  After Jiang Xia finished speaking, he smiled and said: "Of course, everyone may also think that what Jiang Xia said is unbelievable, because he may also be bribed by me to testify falsely. But it doesn't matter, I'll invite two more people to come, they will prove whether what I said is true or false."

  After finishing speaking, Jiang Xia calmly said: "Please ask He Lishi Li Yun and He Lishi's lover Wang Boyan to come."

  "What... isn't Li Yun already dead? How can..."

  Among the crowd, Fu Bo was the most surprised. His face changed color again and again. Jiang Xia smiled and said: "I had expected that someone would want to kill He Li Shi, so I gave her a fake death pill in advance. The medicine is from Hu Yuyi, the chief imperial physician of the palace. After taking it, she will pretend to be dead for twelve hours, with symptoms similar to those of ingesting arsenic."

  Li Yun knelt on the ground, then opened her mouth and said: "Everyone, I am He Yunlai's wife, He Yunlai was actually... poisoned to death by me with honglian dan, it has nothing to do with Jiuyang Dan.

  I am willing to speak out the truth because I was also instructed by someone, and that person is him, Wang Baosheng, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture.

  "Ten days ago, my husband caught me and Bo Yan having an affair, then took us to the government office to accuse us. Bo Yan and I were originally put in prison, but Wang Bao Sheng released me, saying that only if I could shift the blame for killing my husband onto the owner of the Jiuyang Feifeng Medicine Shop would he let me and Bo Yan go free, and I would still be able to get the He family's property."

  As a result, I was momentarily possessed by the devil and took the poisonous Nine Yang Dan given to me by him to Li Xiangyuan to find my husband. When I begged for mercy from him, I secretly swapped his Nine Yang Dan. Then...