Chapter 22

(Seeking recommendations, seeking collections, seeking support!)

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"Thank you, sir, for your leniency." He Chang heaved a sigh of relief.

"We will address each matter one by one," Wei Zhixian said, "starting with the incitement."

Beside him, Sima Shiyi said, "According to the Great Ming Code, those who incite others to commit crimes are considered the masterminds and should be punished as the primary offenders. In this case, the Zhao family, for false accusation, should be punished two levels higher, which is the death penalty. According to the 'Rice-for-Pardon Regulation' issued by the Ministry of Household two years ago, paying 110 stones of rice can exempt one from the death penalty and change it to five years of penal servitude." In fact, not just the grain collectors, but anyone who was not guilty of a 'true capital crime' could pay rice to redeem their sins since the 26th year of Hongwu. Now that the currency system was deteriorating, the court was not foolish; they accepted rice, not paper money.

"What if I want to exempt the five years of penal servitude as well?"

"Forty stones."

"Good." He Chang thought, my life isn't too expensive.

"Also, the rice for redemption must be transported to Beijing. Do you plan to transport it yourself, or have the court do it for you?"

He Chang thought, isn't that obvious? "Have the court do it."

"Then you will have to pay double the transportation cost, totaling 300 stones." Sima Shiyi sighed inwardly, it's really black, Emperor Yongle must be desperate for money.

"So much..." He Chang drew a sharp breath.

"This is the court's regulation." Sima Shiyi said sternly, "Whether to pay or not is up to you."

"Pay, pay." He Chang said with a pained expression, but he noticed Wei Zhixian's uncontrollable joy and cursed inwardly, how much of this will end up in his pocket!

He Chang's guess was correct. According to the regulations, the local government could retain 30% as administrative expenses.

"Next, the abduction and harboring of women. According to the Great Ming Code, anyone who devises a plan to abduct a virtuous person, whether sold or not, shall be caned 100 times and exiled 3,000 miles." Li Guan said, "According to the 'Rice-for-Pardon Regulation,' 80 stones of rice can exempt one from the death penalty and change it to four years of penal servitude."

"How many stones to exempt the penal servitude?"

"Thirty stones." Sima Shiyi said, "So, 220 stones in total." He paused, "And then, you sent people to attempt to murder Wang Xian..."

"Just give me the total." He Chang was numb, already used to the extortion.

"According to the Great Ming Code, anyone who plots to kill, if the victim is injured but not killed, the instigator shall be hanged. The redemption standard is the same as the death penalty." Sima Shiyi said, "That is 300 stones."

'That's 820 stones in total...' He Chang calculated in his mind, about the same as the gold and silver he planned to bribe Hu Buliu with. He pretended to be pained, "If I pay these 820 stones, can I go home?"

Sima Shiyi looked at the county magistrate on the dais. Seeing Wei Zhixian coughing continuously, he suddenly realized, "There's one more."

"More?" He Chang hated these corrupt officials, even if he were made of iron, they would turn him into nails!

"It's the murder and disposal of the body, as testified by your steward He Fu and the laborer Zhaozhu." Sima Shiyi flipped through the records, "Do you admit it?"

"They are slandering me, I didn't kill anyone." He Chang said instinctively, though he had already relaxed his guard.

"Then where is the concubine you bought two years ago?"

"Ran away..."

Before He Chang finished speaking, there was a 'slap' as Wei Zhixian slammed the gavel, scolding, "Mr. He, don't refuse the wine and drink the penalty! Do you think the instruments of torture here are just for show?"

"Powerful..." The bailiffs pounded the ground with their cudgels.

"Mr. He, these people were interrogated separately, yet their testimonies are completely consistent. This alone can convict you of murder." Sima Shiyi advised, "You've already admitted to so many crimes, what's one more? It's just more money."

He Chang thought, it's extortion... He pondered and asked, "Is this crime very serious?"

"Not serious, just a concubine." Sima Shiyi smiled, "According to the Great Ming Code, it's just exile. If you pay rice, it's only 200 stones. With your wealth, can you not afford 200 stones?"

"..." He Chang remained silent for a long time, then whispered, "I really didn't kill anyone..."

"Still defiant!" Wei Zhixian was furious, drawing a handful of sticks from the jar and throwing them on the ground, "Eighty strokes, beat him hard!"

Four bailiffs immediately moved, first using two cudgels to lift He Chang's upper body from under his armpits, dragging him off the stool. The next two cudgels struck his legs.

He Chang first knelt, then as the two cudgels holding him were pulled back, he fell flat on the hard brick floor. The four bailiffs' feet pressed down on his hands and ankles, pinning him in a spread-eagle position!

Next, two bailiffs took a deep breath, swinging their cudgels to strike!

"Don't beat me, I'll talk, I'll talk!" Knowing he could pay rice to redeem his crime, He Chang's resistance was weak, and he screamed before the first blow.

"Still not confessing? Otherwise, you'll taste all the instruments of torture here!" Wei Zhixian slammed the gavel, shouting sternly.

"Ah, let me ask one more thing, can this crime definitely be redeemed with rice?" He Chang asked, still unsure.

"Of course, just a concubine." Sima Shiyi said confidently, "It's lighter than the other crimes."

He Chang looked at Wei Zhixian, "County Magistrate, swear that I won't die, or I won't say a word."

"You!" Wei Zhixian was furious, "You dare to threaten me?!"

Sima Shiyi hurriedly persuaded, "Just swear, we're not lying to him." He gave Wei Zhixian a look.

Wei Zhixian reluctantly swore, "Beating a concubine is not a capital crime. If I lie, may I be struck by heaven and earth."

He Chang was finally reassured, and he confessed in detail how he beat the concubine to death, disposed of the body, and where he hid the weapon and bloodstained clothes.

Sima Shiyi wrote down his confession, read it over, and had He Chang sign and seal it, then presented it to the county magistrate.

Wei Zhixian took the confession, read it carefully, confirmed it was correct, and slammed the gavel, "Court dismissed!"

Seeing the bailiffs come to take him away, He Chang protested, "Sir, I've confessed and agreed to pay rice, why can't I go home?"

"Redemption must be approved by the Ministry of Punishments, so Mr. He will have to wait a month or so." Wei Zhixian smiled insincerely, "You'll have to stay in jail for a while."

"Ah..." He Chang was stunned.

"Take him away!" Wei Zhixian waved his sleeve, dismissing him like a fly, ordering the bailiffs to take the villain back to jail.

"Ah..." He Chang sighed helplessly, still unable to avoid this prison sentence.

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Back in the signing room, Wei Zhixian took off his official hat and laughed heartily, "What a 'sneaky switch,' Mr. He still doesn't know he's about to die!"

Sima Shiyi stroked his beard and smiled, "Yes, he thought it was just beating a concubine. He forgot where the concubine came from!"

According to He Fu and Zhaozhu's testimony, Linghua was a virtuous girl He Chang bought from a trafficker. She was very strong-willed, and although he had defiled her, she always resisted to the death, which led to her being beaten to death by He Chang!

This was not just beating a concubine, but also trafficking, rape, and murder, a true capital crime!

Wei Zhixian and Sima Shiyi, following Wang Xian's plan, first thoroughly麻痹ed He Chang, then deliberately avoided mentioning Linghua's origin, and used the beating of a concubine to elicit a confession. He Chang thought the crime was not capital and could be redeemed with rice, so he confessed everything. Once he signed and sealed the confession, the murder charge was solid.

At this point, He Chang's fate was no longer in his hands but determined by Linghua's identity!

As long as the authorities investigated and confirmed that Linghua was a trafficked virtuous girl, He Chang's crime of rape and murder would be solid, without needing further confession.

Linghua's identity was not hard to investigate, as the Great Ming Code required that buying a concubine be voluntary and registered with the authorities, otherwise it was illegal.

Wei Zhixian had already ordered the household department to investigate, and there was no record of He Chang buying a concubine, which was enough!

This also explained why the woman's body, dead for two years, had not been claimed. She was not from the local area!

Only after this was the case fully investigated, with no omissions. What Wei Zhixian was most satisfied with was that he did not use torture on He Chang and did not force him to reveal his connection to the Jinyiwei... He Chang was still in jail, dreaming of going home after a while!

This way, when the case was handed over, even if there was a big fuss, it would have nothing to do with him, a seventh-rank official. At least Wei Zhixian could say he had acted with a clear conscience...

He and Sima Shiyi worked through the night in the signing room, finally completing all the case files. After a quick wash and change of clothes, they headed straight for the provincial capital, Hangzhou!

The reason for the rush was also to quickly get rid of this hot potato...

Fuyang was only sixty miles from Hangzhou, and with the current, it took only an hour by boat.

Entering Hangzhou, Wei Zhixian first went to the prefectural government... He wanted to go directly to 'Cold Face Iron Heart,' but Sima Shiyi said, don't, or you'll be in trouble with your superior.

Actually, Hangzhou Prefect Yu Qian was a kind and gentle elder. Hearing Wei Zhixian's report, he was shocked and carefully read the case files. After a long time, he sighed, "A great injustice, a great injustice!" He stood up and clasped his hands, "Wen Yuan, your insight is like lightning. Solving such an injustice is a blessing for the prefecture and the people! Please accept my bow!"

Wei Zhixian quickly supported the prefect, flustered, "It was a fortunate coincidence, and I had the help of capable officials..."

"Go report to the Censorate immediately!" Yu Prefect held his hand tightly, "If Inspector He asks, say it was my idea!"

"Thank you, Prefect, for your protection." Wei Zhixian was deeply grateful, bowed deeply, and left the prefectural government, heading straight for the Censorate.

Censor Zhou Xin was just meeting with Inspector He. Hearing that the Fuyang County Magistrate had come and was reporting to the Censorate, Inspector He's face darkened.

Seeing this, Zhou Xin smiled, "Let's see what this ignorant county magistrate has to say!"

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