kingnovel Chapter 1146 Court Retreat
Chapter 1146 Court Retreat
Huai Zhizhen couldn't understand it.
As the principal offender, the father should be sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane, which sounds reasonable, even a bit lenient.
But why should he, an accomplice, also receive thirty strokes of the cane?
Thirty strokes of the cane... would he even survive?
For some reason, a figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
Someone he used to look down on, someone whose gaze would offend his eyes.
"Huaijin!" His eyes widened, and upon closer inspection, they were somewhat terrifying: "It's Huaijin! Lord Shen, I'm just a son of a concubine, I have no real power in the mansion! It was Huaijin who made me help my father accept bribes! He is the main accomplice!"
No one expected such a twist.
Many people were stunned.
Scholars who had interacted with Huai Zhizhen were even more astonished: "What did he say? He's an illegitimate son? I've never heard him mention that before!"
"That's right! Has anyone ever heard him mention his aunt? He always talks about his 'mother' this and that, but he never talks about his 'aunt'!"
"And who is this 'Huaijin' he mentioned? Is he... his brother?"
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the mysterious "Huaijin" was brought into the hall by Shen Zheng.
His mother, Liu Manying, accompanied him to the hall.
Although Huaijin had his back to the crowd, some sharp-eyed people still noticed that he was different from ordinary people: "Look! His face!"
In an instant, Huai Jin's back tensed, and his hand clenched into a fist hidden in his sleeve.
Huai Gongwang glared angrily at Shen Zheng, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.
Was bringing Huaijin into the hall just to embarrass him even more?
“Huai Gongwang’s son, Huai Jin, and Huai Gongwang’s wife, Liu Manying.” Shen Zheng was not affected by Huai Gongwang’s gaze at all. Looking at the case file, she said, “Upon investigation, it was found that neither of you knew about Huai Gongwang’s bribery case, nor did you receive any of the ill-gotten gains. Therefore, your crimes are reduced by five degrees, and you only need to pay a fine.”
"What?!" Before Huai Jin and his mother could answer, Huai Zhizhen objected, "Lord Shen, you must investigate thoroughly! As his father's legitimate son, how could Huai Jin not know the truth!"
"Bang—" Shen Zheng slammed the gavel down heavily: "Huai Zhizhen, if you dare to disrupt the order of the court again, you will be executed immediately!"
To be flogged in front of hundreds of people?
Huai Zhizhen immediately shut her mouth, but her eyes, like a snake's tongue, licked tightly onto the back of Huai Jin's neck.
Shen Zheng held up the case file and addressed the crowd: "Huai Gongwang's wife, Liu Manying, has neither the power nor the will to manage the household. She spends her days worshipping Buddha and never interacts with outsiders. Huai Gongwang's son, Huai Jin, has lived in the courtyard since childhood and has never stepped outside the Huai residence since arriving in Liuyang Prefecture. Furthermore, Liu Manying and Huai Jin are nowhere to be found in any of Huai Gongwang's bribery records. After the court session, I will have the details of this case posted on the bulletin board for everyone to review. If you have any doubts, you may submit a letter to the prefectural government at any time."
The people nodded in agreement, but their attention was drawn to the statement, "Huai Jin has never stepped out of the Huai Mansion."
Some people think that Huaijin shouldn't have gone out and scared people in the first place.
Some people also felt that it was pitiful for him not to go out, and that it wasn't his fault that he looked bad.
Some even said that a child like Huaijin wouldn't have survived in an ordinary family.
For a time, opinions were divided, and Huaijin became the focus of everyone's attention.
Those words struck Huai Jin's back, making his back bend more and more.
Those words pierced Liu Manying's ears, and the pain made her no longer numb.
"Stop talking!" This was a mother's wail, a desperate plea. "I'm the one who gave birth to him like this. If you want to blame or scold him, come at me! Stop talking about him..."
This is also the maintenance that Huaijin has been waiting for for more than ten years.
"Mother......"
The wide sleeves swept over him, enclosing his face, his neck, and the back of his neck.
He was held protectively in Liu Manying's arms, and Liu Manying's sorrowful voice came from beside him: "He did nothing wrong, please let him go..."
People may not shed tears because of the tragic lives of others, because "tragedy" is different for everyone, and it is difficult to truly empathize.
But a mother's love can soften a person's heart.
There are countless kinds of love in this world, but no matter when, maternal love is the most special and radiant.
The people remained silent.
They dared not look Liu Manying in the eye.
They thought they might have really said the wrong thing.
Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, they all looked at Shen Zheng.
Shen Zheng was also watching them.
Shen Zheng said, "People's hearts are more important than appearances. Liu Manying, Huaijin, go and prepare the fines. Bring them to the government office by tomorrow."
Liu Manying nodded with tears in her eyes and escorted Huaijin toward the hall. Just as the two were about to step over the threshold, Huaijin suddenly pulled her arm away.
She was caught off guard and shocked.
Huaijin's face was exposed to the sunlight and to the eyes of the people.
The people were also greatly alarmed.
This time, what shocked them was not Huai Jin's appearance, but his courage.
A kind of courage that they might not have had if it happened to them.
Huaijin stepped across the threshold.
Huaijin walked through the crowd.
Huai Jin walked towards the main gate of the government office.
The people were surprised, they made way for him, and they watched him leave.
It wasn't until Shen Zheng began to pronounce the verdict again that the people finally came to their senses.
"Zhang Mo, the prefectural school administrator, first bribed Huai Gongwang, and then assisted Huai Gongwang in marking the answer sheets of the bribe-givers. He is a principal accomplice and is hereby sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane... He is dismissed from his post, stripped of his academic honors, and will never be employed again."
“Wang Yueqian, the prefectural school administrator, assisted Huai Gongwang in marking the answer sheets of those who offered bribes. He later voluntarily surrendered himself and testified in court. His crime was reduced by two degrees... He was temporarily sentenced to fifteen strokes of the cane... and dismissed from his post.”
"Confess...confess?" Zhang Mo looked at Wang Yueqian in disbelief.
When did Wang Yueqian turn himself in?
How could he not know?!
"You turned yourself in and didn't even call me?!" Zhang Mo felt betrayed and was devastated.
Wang Yueqian pursed his lips and bowed his head in kowtow.
Zhang Mo pulled him up abruptly and pressed on, demanding, "When did you turn yourself in?!"
Wang Yueqian pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and replied, "The night Lord Shen came to the Prefectural Education Office."
Zhang Mo suddenly felt his blood rush to his head, and his vision went black as he fainted.
As he was being dragged away, the verdict he heard faintly reached his ears.
"Lao Quan, the shopkeeper of the flower and bird shop..."
"Jin Zuoren, the manager of Jinbangxuan..."
"Liu Hanhai, the owner of Moxianfang..."
"..."
As the verdicts were handed down, Shen Zheng's voice echoed throughout the courtroom: "Because the case of Wang Huai'an's murder has not yet been resolved, Wang Huai'an, the former prefectural clerk, his wife Zhong Yunjin, the educational official Wu Shun, the perpetrator Tang Cai, and others will be escorted to the capital along with Huai Gongwang and others to await trial by the Ministry of Justice."
As she spoke, Shen Zheng paused, her gaze sweeping over the people below the hall.
"Officials should be honest and upright; citizens should abide by the law. Do not harbor any illusions about committing corruption, treason, or heinous crimes! This case is temporarily adjourned!"