C59 Part3

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Shen Zhiyan looked dumbfounded,

'He was the murderer?

His Highness inferred the murderer so quickly?

What is the basis?'

He had always boasted that there was no one in the country who could judge a case better than him, when it comes to autopsies, and that he was like a god in investigation!

Unexpectedly, His Highness also had such a talent.

Her sudden anger caused Xiao Yongzi's body to tremble, and then he retorted:

"This servant didn't murder anyone! I'm being wrongly accused."

"Prince Regent, what would be the punishment for the crime of murdering Fan Xiao Wen, the eldest son of the Fan Family of the Imperial Academy?

How should the murderer be sentenced?"

Murong Ci turned to look at Murong Yu.

"According to the law, the culprit would be cut in half from his head.

Since the servant committed a crime by murdering Fan Xiao Wen with vicious and cruel methods, he should have the death penalty."

Murong Yu's voice was as domineering and fatal as that of the decree of a strict judge, who had said his final verdict.

"What if the murderer refuses to plead guilty?"

"In that case, the murderer's penalty would be extended to all his relatives and family members, punishing all the tribe members in the past three generations, with no exceptions."

Shen Zhiyan suddenly realized that what they were doing together was to force the murderer to confess.

Sure enough, Xiao Yongzi said horrified,

"All...the past three generations",

his entire body trembled, his eyes trembled horrified, his complexion darkened like the twilight and deadly ashes.

When the other four heard this, they all bowed their heads deeply to the ground, worried about being suspected.

Murong Ci said rigorously:

"Shen Zhiyan, the murder case of Fan Xiao Wen has been solved, and the murderer Xiao Yongzi will be put to death penalty, with all his--..."

"Your Royal Highness, this slave pleads guilty."

Xiao Yongzi shouted angrily,

"It was this slave who sprinkled Poppy Pollen on Fan Xiao Wen's short desk..."

"Where did you get the Poppy Pollen?

You and Fan Xiao Wen have no grievances, so why would you murdered him?"

She continued to ask.

"I confessed my guilt, and I beg Your Highness to show mercy and not to condemn my family."

He pleaded anxiously.

"Even if you pleaded guilty, as long as you won't confess everything truthfully, you would still get your family involved."

Murong Yu said coldly.

"There is another question:

How did you expect Fan Xiao Wen would sit in that low desk?"

Shen Zhiyan asked inexplicably.

"There were thirty-six young talents participating in the Literary Test, and the ranking order was drawn up by the Minister He Guang of the Ministry of Etiquette and Rituals, and submitted to the Palace for review.

Now, the Ministry of Etiquettes and Rituals has many servants and officials, but only a few of them can have access to the ranking order and disposition of each young talent reserved seat, such as the left-side and right-side Vice-Ministers, the Internal Affairs Officials, and the Councillors of the Minister."

Murong Ci looked at Xiao Yongzi,

"You are a servant of the Wuying Hall, so how exactly did you have access to the documents of the Ministry of Etiquettes and Rituals?"

Shen Zhiyan felt like in a divine enlightenment.

A simply and horrifying thought emerged from his mind.

After thinking deeply, he thought that this might have been not just a crime committed individually, but the coordinated action of more people!

Xiao Yongzi's face was hesitant.

His eyes flickered, and he felt cornered, as if he had fallen into a swamp with no way out:

Should he say everything to save his whole family but face the consequences?

Or stay quite and condemn his family?

A servant suddenly said,

"Your Royal Highness, this servant has something to say."

Murong Ci nodded, and the servant said:

"Two days ago, this minion accidentally saw Xiao Yongzi coming out of Concubine Rong's Palace.

I was behind him, so he didn't know that I saw him."

Murong Yu said:

"Since he still refuses to say anything, he will be given eighty hits of wooden board punishment."

"Actually, it doesn't really matter whether he confesses or not.

Let me just explain how things went."

Her lips curled slightly, and she sneered like an autumnal cool.

"He used to serve Concubine Rong and received the favor of Concubine Rong.

In order to repay his favor, he promised to do it for Concubine Rong.

Wei Wen Chang, an official of the Ministry of Etiquettes and Rituals, told him what would be Fan Xiao Wen's rank in advance.

When preparing for the Literary Test today, he was the last one to leave.

Taking advantage of the other five servants not paying attention to him, he quickly took out the Poppy Pollen Powder that was given to him by Concubine Rong, and he sprinkled it next to the ink-stone on Fan Xiao Wen's short desk."

"Your Royal Highness is really a god of investigation, and solved the case in just an hour."

Shen Zhiyan clapped his palms enthusiastically and smiled brightly.

....

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END of CHAPTER 59 PART 3

.....................to be continued