kingnovel Chapter 1129 Trial of Wu Shun
Chapter 1129 Trial of Wu Shun
"I plead guilty."
This was the first and only sentence Wu Shun uttered after taking the stage.
Shen Zheng had expected this to happen, because Wu Shun did not resist at all when he was taken away from the prefectural school by the police.
Shen Zheng understood that he did not want to confess, but rather wanted to end the war with his life.
It's easy to guess who's behind him, but Shen Zheng doesn't want to guess, nor does she want to use torture to extract a confession.
Shen Zheng demanded that he confess in person.
“Wu Shun.” Shen Zheng’s gaze swept across his face before landing on the confession on the desk. “Let’s put aside your plot to murder Wang Huai’an for now and talk about the prefectural examination. Your wife passed a message to Zhong Yunjin, saying she could help Wang Ang pass the examination and become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations), without asking for money or Wang Huai’an’s help. What were you after for doing this ‘free’ favor?”
This was the first time Wu Shun had met Shen Zheng.
He didn't understand why this woman could hold the rank of fourth grade official, nor did he understand why Huai Gongwang wanted to deal with her.
But he knew he absolutely could not betray Huai Gongwang.
Although he hesitated before going to court, he figured he was going to die anyway, so he might as well use his worthless life to show his loyalty and make his wife and children outside have a better life in their later years.
"I don't understand what Lord Shen is saying." He looked at Shen Zheng and said, "The prefectural examination is a major event of the country. The prefectural school administrator and the officials of the prefectural government are all watching it closely. I am just a minor official of the seventh rank. How could I have such connections and influence?"
Shen Zheng said "Oh," and then asked, "So, you didn't make any promises to Zhong Yunjin and Tang Cai?"
"Of course not." Wu Shun turned to Zhong Yunjin, puzzled. "Why is Madam Wang trying to frame me? Is it because I sent people to burn down the Wang residence?"
The thought of the raging fire in the early hours of the morning drove Zhong Yunjin to the brink of madness.
"Wu Shun! What are you pretending to be now! It was your wife who promised me at the flower-viewing banquet that she would help Ang'er pass the imperial examination!" Zhong Yunjin knew she couldn't hide it anymore, so she simply spilled the beans: "You're afraid of being punished even more severely, so you don't dare to admit it, right? I'm going to tell you everything! That day, your wife said such sweet things, saying that I didn't have to do anything, just wait for the results of the prefectural examination! She even said that this little thing was nothing to you! And everyone has seen the result, my son did indeed pass the examination, so what do you have to deny now!"
Wang Huai'an stood between Wu Shun and Zhong Yunjin, and Wang Huai'an listened to Zhong Yunjin's "crazy ramblings" and buried his head in anguish.
Wu Shun laughed: "Wang Ang was able to pass the county-level examination because of his own ability. What does it have to do with me? For such an important matter as the prefectural examination, let alone changing the rankings, even grading the papers requires me to follow the instructions of the officials above me. It's not like I can do whatever I want. Lord Wang, don't you agree?"
After saying that, he smiled gently at Wang Huai'an.
Wang Huai'an's eyes were filled with pain.
For his son's sake, he wanted to say "yes," but the truth was "no."
He looked at Shen Zheng for help, while Zhong Yunjin kept yelling and cursing Wu Shun as "a piece of trash." Wu Shun didn't retort; he just kept laughing.
Shen Zheng sat in the hall, quietly watching Zhong Yunjin and Wu Shun fight like dogs.
After Zhong Yunjin finished scolding him, Shen Zheng looked at Wu Shun and said, "You really don't have the ability to interfere with the prefectural examination, nor can you change the results. But Zhong Yunjin and Tang Cai don't know you're incompetent. They only know you're an education official, so they believe you when you speak. As for whether Wang Ang can pass the county-level examination, it's none of your business. For you, that promise is a risk-free business. No matter the outcome, you're guaranteed to make a profit."
The people were surprised to hear this and were skeptical of the explanation.
A hint of surprise flashed in Wu Shun's lowered eyes.
He had long heard Huai Gongwang say that Shen Zheng and Yu Zhengqing were not easy to deal with, but what he did not expect was that Shen Zheng trusted Yu Zhengqing so much and had no doubt about this year's prefectural examination results.
After a slight pause, he laughed and said, "Lord Shen is joking. I am a fool and would never have come up with such a brilliant plan. I admit to plotting against Lord Wang. But this matter... I did not do it, so I will not admit it."
It's just a single sentence; to put it nicely, it's a "promise," but to put it bluntly, it's "empty talk without any evidence."
Although there were two witnesses, Tang Cai and Zhong Yunjin, the Great Zhou Law clearly states that when trying a suspect, witnesses alone without physical evidence are not accepted, and suspects must not be forced to confess.
If that's the case, why would he admit it, adding another crime to his list?
"I see." Shen Zheng in his eyes seemed to believe his words. "In that case, let's put this matter aside for now. Wu Shun, tell me, you have no grudge against Wang Huai'an and no business dealings with him, so why would you want to harm him?"
Wu Shun's heart skipped a beat, and his fingertips clenched tightly.
He said that the woman had brought up the prefectural examination first because she was trying to beat him up!
He had been led by the nose by this woman and denied having any business dealings with Wang Huai'an. Therefore, in the eyes of others, he had no reason to harm Wang Huai'an.
If that's the case, why would he repeatedly try to kill Wang Huai'an?
After realizing Shen Zheng's purpose in beating around the bush, his back instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and a hint of horror appeared in his eyes as he looked at Shen Zheng.
This woman... is definitely not someone to be trifled with.
She has already begun to test the person behind him.
what to do.......
In a panic, Wu Shun began to fabricate a "grudge" against Wang Huai'an.
"Lord Shen, I..."
"Furthermore, I have another concern." Shen Zheng pressed on, not giving him a chance to fabricate a story. "Yesterday morning, your first attempt to murder Wang Huai'an failed. Why did you choose to do it a second time this morning, setting fire to the Wang residence? Didn't you consider that Wang Huai'an had barely escaped death, and the government might have sent people to guard the residence and protect him closely? If you thought of that, why did you still try again? Were you just walking into a trap?"
Upon hearing this, both the victim, Wang Huai'an, and the onlookers were stunned.
“Yes…” The people looked at each other, puzzled. “We common folk all understand the principle that a thief doesn’t steal from the same house repeatedly. Wu Shun is an official, how could he be so stupid?”
"Perhaps Wu Shun hates Wang Huai'an so much that he can't wait to get rid of him?"
"But Lord Shen just asked him! He has no grudge against Wang Huai'an, why would he have nothing better to do than chase after Wang Huai'an to kill him!"
Wu Shun was clearly stumped by the question.
He began to recall Huai Gongwang's words from the previous night: "My men have already investigated and there is no one guarding the Wang residence. You can send your men without worry. I await your good news."
Is it unattended?
Just send someone over without worry.
But what about the facts?
The truth is that Shen Zheng had already placed people around the Wang residence, just waiting for him to come to her door!
So... was it a mistake by Huai Gongwang's people in their investigation?
Or... did Huai Gongwang have it all planned out from the beginning, to push him out to his death?