Chapter 128: Who's Really the Mastermind! |
Everyone in the world who commits a crime ultimately falls under the jurisdiction of the Court of Judicial Review.
Except for members of the imperial family.
But this doesn't mean the imperial clan can run rampant and do whatever they please.
Thus, an institution called the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs was established to manage matters related to the imperial family.
And a super-rank position was created, beyond even the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers—the Imperial Clan Administrator.
This position is typically held by a highly respected member of the imperial family.
The current Imperial Clan Administrator is Prince Qi, Wei Jing.
One of the Emperor's few remaining brothers who still has some voice in matters.
After Song Shi'an entered the Court of Judicial Review, Wei Wusheng entered the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs.
"Sixth Prince Wei Wusheng, regarding the mobilization of troops in Langya, who was the mastermind?" Wei Jing asked in a grave tone.
"Reporting to the Imperial Clan Administrator, I was the mastermind," Wei Wusheng said.
"Record this."
Wei Jing raised his hand, and a younger member of the imperial clan sitting to the side transcribed it.
"Regarding the confiscation of property from Zhang Wen and others of Shuofeng, who was the mastermind?"
This time Wei Wusheng didn't plead guilty, but explained: "It was Zhang Wen and the others who voluntarily handed over their wealth to bribe the military officers guarding the southern gate."
"Is there evidence?"
"All the officers and soldiers guarding the gates were punished with caning, had their salaries docked, and were entered into the records by both the military supervisor and the county office. The patriarchs of the influential families who came to Sheng'an can all serve as witnesses," Wei Wusheng said.
"Record this."
Wei Jing raised his hand.
He continued questioning: "The Shuofeng County Magistrate Song Shi'an promised Forbidden Army soldiers and officers promotions of two ranks or more—who was the mastermind?"
"I was the mastermind."
"Did he propose it?"
"No, it was my own decision."
"Record this."
After recording this as well, Wei Jing stared at Wei Wusheng, his tone carrying a hint of interrogation: "One final question. In all these actions, what responsibility does the Shuofeng County Magistrate bear?"
"All actions were proposed by me and decided by me. Shi... Song Shi'an only carried out my orders, the same as everyone else."
"Are you certain?"
"I'm certain."
"Record this."
Finally, this swift and decisive trial at the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs came to an end.
Wei Jing stood, and Wei Wusheng stood as well.
The two men bowed to each other.
"Sixth Highness, until the case on the Court of Judicial Review's side is closed, you'll have to remain here. I hope you understand," Wei Jing said.
"Wusheng will impose upon Imperial Uncle then," Wei Wusheng replied with considerable humility and a smile.
"It's my duty," Wei Jing also smiled slightly, though his expression remained quite formal as he reminded, "The Court of Imperial Clan Affairs' case is now closed. Once I leave here, it cannot be changed."
"There's no need, Imperial Uncle. Not a single word needs changing."
"Good."
Wei Wusheng's straightforward confession spared Wei Jing, an old man approaching sixty, from some suffering.
After leaving the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, he told his attendants: "Deliver these to His Majesty."
---
Wei Wusheng's confession was delivered into the Emperor's hands, but he didn't even glance at it—after all, he already knew what it contained.
The key issue now was whether or not to send it to Wang Chen at the Court of Judicial Review to assist him in the case.
"Chen Bao," the Emperor asked the eunuch beside him, "according to the Court of Judicial Review's case procedures, how long will it take for Song Shi'an's side to conclude and for him to be released?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, that depends on Song Shi'an's testimony," Chen Bao answered.
"What do you think he'll say?" the Emperor asked again.
"Forgive this servant's presumption."
"Speak freely, you won't be blamed."
"Since Sixth Highness and Song Shi'an agreed to return separately, then regarding the Langya troop mobilization, the promises of promotion, and all such actions, they should have already beforehand..."
"Aligned their testimonies."
The Emperor spoke the words Chen Bao didn't dare say.
Chen Bao continued: "Even if there might be some discrepancies in the details, Song Shi'an will protect His Highness somewhat, but overall, there shouldn't be major differences."
"If their testimonies match, wouldn't he be released without charges quite quickly?" the Emperor asked again.
Song Shi'an needed to be released, but he couldn't be released too easily.
The Emperor wanted to pave the way for the Prince of Wu, so he couldn't let Song Shi'an walk free easily.
At the very least, some obstacles had to be prepared.
That way, Song Shi'an would owe a debt of gratitude to the Prince of Wu's side.
"Then Your Majesty..." After thinking, Chen Bao said, "All the officials of Northern Liang, especially the military officers, basically come from the Forbidden Army. Moreover, those people kneel to both His Highness and Song Shi'an."
"Too serious." The Emperor rejected this immediately.
They needed to saddle Song Shi'an with charges that could be either major or minor, so the Prince of Wu could emerge as a hero saving a hero, but "cultivating a personal faction" couldn't be made minor.
"Then what if the target of Zhang Wen's bribery wasn't actually the southern gate guards, but Song Shi'an himself?"
This intelligence was extremely confidential.
But the Emperor knew it.
Or to put it another way, there were very few things the Emperor didn't know.
"No, keep that card in hand."
This wouldn't work either. If exposed, it would make "Ansheng" not at ease, making them nervous.
"Then Zhang Wen's son's death was too hasty," Chen Bao said. "Moreover, Song Shi'an killed him with his own hands."
Too many people knew about this.
Even the military supervisor had to record it truthfully.
After Zhang Wen and his family returned to their estate, his son was killed by Song Shi'an, who then discovered treasonous correspondence.
Zhang Wen was the head of Shuo Commandery's foremost aristocratic family, his son was a fourth-rank Commandant, his nephew was a former regional Inspector—having a legitimate son directly executed was no small matter.
Of course, once Song Shi'an's case concluded, Zhang Wen's entire family, including that Commandant eldest son, would all face execution.
Even the nephew who was an Inspector would basically be pushed out of the power center—if he could have a third-rank sinecure and coast to retirement, that would be imperial benevolence.
"This one will do."
The Emperor made his decision.
As long as Song Shi'an and Wei Wusheng's testimonies matched, the "Ansheng" combination could be split apart.
---
"Shi'an, after returning to Sheng'an, I will definitely enter the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, and then just as we discussed, I'll shoulder all the responsibility."
"At the Court of Judicial Review, don't admit to anything—just talk about what everyone knows: that you participated."
"Don't worry about me at all. No one can erase our achievements, I won't have any problems, and I won't blame you."
"When the time comes, what you need to do is get out of the Court of Judicial Review as quickly as possible."
The words Wei Wusheng had said that night replayed in Song Shi'an's mind.
Sitting in his prison cell, his expression was extremely calm.
Before long, the prison warden who had arrested him today came, standing outside the cell and saying to Song Shi'an with a smile: "Young Master Song."
He realized he'd been used as a tool by the big shots and was here to make amends.
Song Shi'an looked at him and smiled: "What is it?"
"Today, all that—it was the higher-ups who required me to do it that way. Putting you in shackles was also what the higher-ups said. This lowly official was just following orders. The process was a bit rough—please forgive me." He was trembling like a minor functionary in Chekhov's satirical novels.
Of course, he was a proper seventh-rank official, which wasn't exactly small.
"It's fine, I don't blame you," Song Shi'an said with complete indifference.
That sense of oppression!
That implication—he was going to blame the superiors!
"Does my father know I'm here?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Magistrate Song should know," the other replied. "These past days, he's been directly handled by Minister Wang. However, the imperial prison is outside this lowly official's scope of responsibility, so I'm afraid I can't relay messages."
The imperial prison was where high-ranking officials were tried, naturally different from Song Shi'an's situation.
"No need."
Song Shi'an didn't care.
They would meet eventually.
"Understood, Lord Song."
"When does the trial begin?" Song Shi'an asked.
"I've come precisely to escort you there," the warden said.
"Let's go then."
Song Shi'an calmly stood and followed this warden of equal rank to an interrogation room that was sealed on all sides and contained various instruments of torture.
In the center was a hard, low wooden stool.
Without being told, Song Shi'an sat down on it.
Above were two spacious, comfortable armchairs for those who would interrogate him.
Who would it be? How exciting.
---
After a round of wrangling and passing the buck over who should serve as interrogator, it ultimately became both Sun Heng and Ji Ming together.
The Left and Right Monitors of the Court of Judicial Review.
Sun Heng felt it should be Ji Ming's responsibility—the Right Monitor was responsible for petitions and interrogations of officials outside the imperial city, and the Shuofeng County Magistrate was from Liang Prefecture, clearly a regional matter.
Ji Ming felt it should be Sun Heng's responsibility—the hundred officials impeaching Song Shi'an were from the capital, so this should count as a capital case.
So they ultimately compromised: both would come.
Why not have neither come?
Wang Chen said he had something to do and went home first.
"When Sixth Highness returned to Sheng'an and the hundred officials welcomed him, that must count as commendation," Ji Ming speculated. "If so, why hasn't there been any reward in this past month? Moreover, he's been in the palace the whole time, not going anywhere?"
"You mean..." Sun Heng asked, "His Highness took all the 'blame'?"
Ji Ming didn't speak.
But both felt it was possible.
"Then if Song Shi'an also puts the responsibility on His Highness..." Ji Ming said, "we can't even rebuke him or accuse him of audacity."
"We can only truthfully report the details to the palace," Sun Heng said.
But after saying this, he frowned: "If both sides match up, Song Shi'an would be without guilt."
As soon as he said this, Ji Ming stared at Sun Heng with a somewhat stern look.
Don't fucking drag me into your power struggles.
"Let's question according to procedure and try according to procedure."
Sun Heng restrained his malicious intentions.
The two went to the interrogation room together.
And sat down together.
At the same time, several subordinate officials and recording clerks were present to ensure procedural justice.
Seeing that bastard Song Shi'an, Sun Heng was irritated.
But no matter how annoyed, he couldn't vent personal grievances.
Much less use torture.
Given the level of this case, if Song Shi'an came out missing even a single hair, someone would lose their head.
"Song Shi'an." After preparing everything, Sun Heng looked at the case file while speaking: "Do you know your crimes?"
"I know my crimes."
As soon as these three words came out, both men were dumbfounded.
This brat actually said he knew his crimes!
This wasn't a place to throw tantrums. The crimes he personally admitted to would be judged according to Yu Dynasty law!
"What crimes do you know?" Sun Heng asked back.
"You're asking about my crimes, not telling me to confess," Song Shi'an reminded.
"You don't need to tell me—do you think I don't know?" Sun Heng retorted in displeasure before getting straight to the point: "There are accusations that you were the mastermind of the Langya troop mobilization case. Is this true?"
"The Langya troop mobilization was to use all available forces to resist Qi."
"I'm asking who the mastermind was!"
"I'm answering that."
Song Shi'an also stared at him, neither servile nor overbearing, answering seriously: "It wasn't rebellion, so how can there be talk of a mastermind?"
"Then when you said you knew your crimes just now, what crimes did you mean?" Ji Ming questioned.
"I know my crimes—I know that for the sake of resisting Qi, we adapted to circumstances, thereby violating military discipline. Not the crime of rebellion."
"Whether it's rebellion or not isn't for you to define," Sun Heng said.
"Are my words being recorded?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Yes," Ji Ming said. "Every word is being written down. Later you'll need to sign and seal it."
"Good."
"Then speak again," Ji Ming continued. "Regarding what you call adapting to circumstances in violation of military discipline—who proposed it, who decided it, who executed it?"
This was the key.
Song Shi'an's answer would determine whether he could be released quickly.
His involvement in the execution phase was visible to everyone, so as long as he admitted to what was public knowledge, then matched the testimony Wei Wusheng gave at the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, he would basically be released without charges.
What Sun Heng found most infuriating was precisely this.
This Sixth Highness treated him too well, didn't he?
To take everything upon himself.
Then all the credit would go to Song Shi'an.
Raising his head, Song Shi'an suddenly said: "The matter of troop mobilization was proposed by me, decided by His Highness, and executed by both of us together."
"..."
As soon as these words emerged, everyone—including the recording officials—froze.
This Song Shi'an was actually going to use his own body to shoulder the crime of treason!
That's right, Song Shi'an had promised Little Wei, but that was just to fool him.
If his own testimony matched Little Wei's, then it would be entirely Little Wei's responsibility, with Song Shi'an bearing none.
But if his testimony contradicted Little Wei's...
Then both their charges would be pending.
Prince of Wu, you want to win our hearts?
Then use your heaven-reaching means to make both of us innocent.