Chapter 16: Final Judgment (II)

Le Wuya didn't yet know he was being targeted again.

The fifty taels of silver were quickly found at Liu Deben's home.

Liu Deben insisted it was his uncle's inheritance.

Although when asked which distant uncle, his name, and where he lived, he couldn't answer a single one, he remained stubborn as a mule.

However, when the manager and clerk of Huitong Bank came to the court, Liu Deben was dumbfounded.

The silver had serial numbers matching the bank's ledger records, leaving no room for denial.

Le Wuya smiled at the sweat-drenched Liu Deben, "Chen Fu'er is your distant uncle? What a fine relative indeed."

Liu Deben collapsed to the ground.

He couldn't explain why Xiaofu Coal Mine had given him fifty taels of silver, and he confessed everything without holding back.

Ming Xiangzhao had indeed gotten drunk at the tavern that day, but he was a good drinker and just passed out on the table.

As for the drunken ramblings, they were all fabricated by Liu Deben.

He had also taken advantage of Ming Xiangzhao and his mother being away at work, broken into their home, and stuffed the treasonous scrolls into a corner of Ming Xiangzhao's broken bookcase.

Now, he still stubbornly denied it, "I'm illiterate, I don't know that was a treasonous document. Even those rebellious words, Chen Fu'er taught me word by word! I had no idea what they meant!"

Seeing Liu Deben stealing the spotlight, Ge Erzi, afraid the magistrate might forget his "injustice," hastily interrupted, occasionally adding details to support Liu Deben's claims about how utterly heartless Xiaofu Coal Mine was.

Xiaofu Coal Mine's attempt to buy the loyalty of two thugs with money was truly a misguided plan.

These people were best at twisting the truth; if they could falsely accuse innocent Scholar Ming, why wouldn't they turn around and bite their masters?

Later, Le Wuya grew tired of listening and focused on studying the soil brought back by He Qingsong and the other constables.

It contained many thin and light coal ashes, blown over by the wind, forming a thin layer. This was the same as the black dust found on the silver paper packages seized from Coroner Shang's home.

Le Wuya compared over a dozen paper packages in sequence and found three or four contained coal slag, with different soil textures—some moister, some drier and looser.

When they presented the paper packages, Le Wuya had already memorized their faces.

When he left, he would inform Wen Ren about these people—they were useless, either long used to slacking off or just plain stupid.

By this point, anyone who couldn't see that Xiaofu Coal Mine was doomed was a hopeless fool, better kicked out early.

Le Wuya sealed the soil samples and glanced down again.

Of course, putting on an act like that was exhausting.

By now, Ge Erzi and Liu Deben were at their wit's end, unable to act further, their saliva dried up, throats hoarse, unable to squeeze out more tears even if they tried.

"Are you done?" Le Wuya said. "If you're done, take them away. You're driving me crazy."

After the two speechless thugs were taken away, Le Wuya pulled himself together and slammed the gavel. "Bring Shang Juncai!"

When Coroner Shang was brought in, he had regained consciousness, but knowing the situation was hopeless, he looked numbly resigned.

Le Wuya: "Shang Juncai, abuse of power, bribery, and dereliction of duty. For thirty taels of silver, you fabricated a case file, claiming Chang Xiaohu died by accidental drowning. You are hereby imprisoned subject to a thorough review of all criminal cases you've handled over the years to see if there are similar misdeeds, before further punishment. Confiscate all gains from bribery, leaving enough for your elderly mother and wife to live on."

Le Wuya paused and added, "You've worked for the yamen for many years. I'll have a doctor tend to your leg. When you leave prison—whether you're exiled, sent to the army, or executed—you'll stand, not be carried out."

Upon hearing that Le Wuya would spare his mother and family, Shang Juncai's unfocused eyes finally regained focus.

After quietly listening to his sentence, he didn't make a fuss but bowed deeply to Le Wuya.

After he was taken away, it was Aunt Su's turn.

"Madam Su, I have now determined that your son Chang Xiaohu..."

Le Wuya chose his words carefully, not mentioning that Chang Xiaohu had been beaten to death.

"...was indeed killed by Xiaofu Coal Mine. Coroner Shang fabricated the case file, causing you to misjudge and withdraw the case. I had Chang Xiaohu's grave exhumed, and his true cause of death has been established. Article 25 of the Criminal Code in the Dayu Law states that a case shall not be retried. But I will surely bring justice for you and Chang Xiaohu. The thirty taels of silver from Coroner Shang's bribery will serve as your living expenses. I am compensating you five taels for damaging your son's grave, plus a grand Buddhist ceremony. Madam Su, do you agree?"

Upon hearing this, the usually demure Wen Ren's brow twitched slightly, but he held back from looking up.

Aunt Su's tears fell in torrents. Supported by Mrs. Li and Mrs. Mo at her sides, she knelt tremblingly, her voice very soft but filled with bone-deep gratitude:

"Your Honor, you are a righteous official, a true judge of the people... In my next life, I'll be your ox or your horse..."

"Better to be a person," Le Wuya said with a playful tone. "If I were Chang Xiaohu, I'd still want you as my mother."

This comfort moved Aunt Su even more than the earlier judgment.

She lifted her face and asked dazedly, "Your Honor, do you really mean that?"

Le Wuya's expression turned serious, as if recalling something distant.

After a long moment, he said solemnly, "I do."

The blacksmith's family, the carpenter's family, and Aunt Su together thanked Le Wuya, wiped their tears, and withdrew.

Le Wuya: "Take Ge Erzi and Liu Deben to prison. When evidence and testimony are fully cross-referenced, the trial will proceed." He was already tired of bickering with those two buffoons.

After all this, the main event came.

Several managers of Xiaofu Coal Mine, who had been held separately, were brought in one by one and stood in a row.

At this point, they still didn't know what was happening.

In their view, although the magistrate had reopened the Chang Xiaohu case and dealt with Coroner Shang, he had been courteous to them and hadn't asked anything serious.

Even if Chang Xiaohu had been trying to escape and was beaten to death, so what?

They had many men; they could easily find some illiterate unfortunate, take his family hostage, drug him mute, and have him take the fall.

No matter what, a worthless life like Chang Xiaohu's couldn't affect their wealthy lives.

Seeing them standing loosely, one even yawning lazily with a tired expression, Le Wuya smiled.

His tone remained extremely pleasant: "Sorry to trouble you all, staying with me for such a late trial. It's getting late, and I have some private rooms here. Please stay for a few days."

Le Wuya gave a signal, and several constables entered with heavy cangues, locking all the pampered coal mine managers in them.

These men had been treated with courtesy, watched closely, and knew nothing about the trafficked miners, Li Asi who had come to report, or even Liu Deben's testimony—completely caught off guard.

They had no idea their lair had been raided by Le Wuya.

Only when the shackles were on did they begin to struggle.

The manager, both furious and alarmed, said: "Your Honor, what is the meaning of this?!"

Le Wuya: "Go figure it out in the private rooms."

Once they realized what was happening, the one who resisted most violently was Chen Fu'er instead.

He was unusually agile, suddenly breaking free from restraint, glaring at Le Wuya: "Your Honor, we protest this!"

Le Wuya: "What do you not accept?"

Chen Fu'er, abandoning his previous taciturn demeanor, said: "You didn't even question us before locking us up. What is the reason? Even if you've heard one-sided words from someone, you should still listen to our defense!"

"I've already asked everything that needed to be asked, and the evidence will come. I have no need for your confessions; a gentleman doesn't listen to the barks of animals." Le Wuya said coldly, "Just wait to die, all of you."

Le Wuya wrote swiftly and fluidly, and in a flash he signed an order: "Order: Immediately search and seal the Xiaofu Coal Mine, and detain everyone inside."

He could not be sure whether there were spies or minions of these managers among the miners, so he simply locked them all up, partly to protect them and partly to watch them.

"Once the miners have their identities verified, their names and places of origin registered, and sent back to their hometowns for verification, and if no issues are found, they may either return to their hometowns or stay to live here, as they wish."

After the dumbfounded managers, facing what seemed like doom, were taken to their "private rooms," only one person remained in the hall.

Le Wuya: "Ming Xiangzhao."

Wenren Yue remained silent as promised, prostrating himself to the ground.

Because of agitation, his shoulders could not help trembling.

Le Wuya's tone was light:

"Scholar Ming Xiangzhao was accused of conspiracy and secretly possessing seditious writings. The original witness, Liu Deben, now admits he was put up to framing Ming Xiangzhao. There is no corroborating evidence for the treason charges, and the seditious writings were stealthily planted in his home by Liu Deben..."

"Ming Xiangzhao, this isn't over yet, but you can rest easy. Go fetch your mother and go home."

After this blunt closing remark, Le Wuya slammed the gavel: "Court adjourned!"

"Bravo!!!"

Ever since the rotten affairs of Xiaofu Mine were brought to light, the common folk below were stunned into silence.

The interrogation that followed was so smooth that they were spellbound, like they were listening to an exciting story.

The gavel came down, and the show was over.

The common people could not produce any ornate words of praise.

They could only shout: "Bravo!!!"

Wenren Yue had his heavy shackles removed and was led by a yamen runner out of the court to fetch Ming Xiangzhao's mother from prison.

At the door, he turned back and gave Le Wuya a very earnest look.

The people dispersed in twos and threes, reluctant to leave, and began planning how they would recount the thrilling night trial to their neighbors who missed it, so as to convey its magnificence.

When the crowd had thinned a bit, Le Wuya noticed that it had begun to snow outside at some point.

And it was a heavy snow; soon the ancient road was covered in snow.

Just like the day he died, the fresh and clean scent of snowflakes rushed towards him, refreshing his heart.

Before he died, he seemed to have smelled such snowy air on the person who came to visit him.

Seeing Le Wuya standing motionless in the hall, Deputy Magistrate Sun swallowed bitter saliva and said: "Your Honor, what do you think..."

Le Wuya interrupted him: "Bring me a lamp."

Deputy Magistrate Sun was taken aback, then understood, secretly overjoyed, and eagerly brought a lamp with his own hands.

Le Wuya lifted the lamp cover, took out a scroll of confession from his bosom, and personally burned the case file he had fabricated, in which Ming Xiangzhao accused Instructor Luo of "secretly possessing seditious writings."

Deputy Magistrate Sun let out a long sigh, and his unsettled heart finally returned to its place.

But he was not relieved.

Because he knew that nothing could go back to the way it was.

This Nanting County was about to undergo a change.

Although it seemed a bit like closing the stable door after the horse had bolted, he still put on a respectful demeanor: "Your Honor, please rest."

Le Wuya closed his eyes: "You may go. I'll sit here for a while."

He added: "Put out the lamp."

Deputy Magistrate Sun: "...?"

He was somewhat baffled, but at this moment he dared not disobey any order from Le Wuya.

At his signal, the secretary, the yamen runners, and other officials all withdrew quickly.

He Qingsong and other runners were a step slower; they seemed to want to say something but eventually kept silent.

Since the magistrate could even call upon the Imperial Guard for the trial, they as small fry had better not talk too much.

In an instant, only Le Wuya was left sitting alone in the empty, dark hall.

Le Wuya propped his head on his hand and thought, I'm quite tired.

But damn, it felt good.

He hadn't experienced such unrestrained pleasure and freedom of action in a long time.

However, he did not allow himself too long a rest.

Le Wuya stood up and walked out of the hall.

In the snow, a luxurious umbrella was held, and several people who had not left stood indistinctly.

Le Wuya slowly stepped out of the court from the darkness, and seeing no one else around, without waiting for the newcomers to announce themselves, he openly and generously lifted his robe and knelt in obeisance.

"Your subordinate Wenren Yue welcomes you, albeit from afar."

The Seventh Prince carefully scrutinized this humble-looking minor official, feeling a bit mischievous, and lifted his veil to see him more clearly: "Raise your head."

Le Wuya complied and raised his face.

Two identical, probing faces simultaneously came into his sight.

Le Wuya couldn't help it; his pupils contracted sharply.

Why these two?!

When he was alive, he had been their riding and archery instructor.

The present dynasty values ritual, and when he met them, he never had to perform full obeisance.

...Wouldn't this bow be their undoing?