“Bang!”
Magistrate Zhu angrily slammed the judge’s gavel again, shouting, “You said you saw a dark figure kill someone and escape over the wall. Why, when the constables searched the flower bed below the wall today, were there no footprints or signs of trampled flowers and grass?”
Zhang Yang was stunned, her beautiful almond eyes darting around. “This, this…”
Zhang Xian immediately said, “Your Honor, how would my mother know how the thief entered the house? If the county constables couldn’t find out, you can’t force the blame on us, mother and son.”
Goddamn “mother and son,” don’t insult these two words, please. That’s your stepmother… Liu Qi’an couldn’t bear to listen anymore.
Magistrate Zhu was furious, “Glib-tongued! Come, apply torture!”
The interrogation process in those days was generally like this: questioning, torture, and in the absence of evidence, this was the only way.
Therefore, false confessions under duress were common.
But there was no other way. Gathering evidence was very difficult, lacking equipment and professional techniques. So, torture became an indispensable procedure.
It had both advantages and disadvantages.
Zhang Xian shouted, “Your Honor, are you trying to force a false confession? My uncle serves as a Giving Affairs Officer in the Ministry of Rites. Don’t you fear being impeached?”
The so-called “uncle” was a distant relative beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Although the blood relation was distant, the relationship was close because the Zhang family often provided benefits to this distant relative.
This hit the nail on the head. Magistrate Zhu’s eyebrows twitched; he knew the Zhang family had some backing.
“You dare threaten this official? Come, twenty strokes of the cane!”
Four yamen runners came forward. Two used sticks to cross-lock Zhang Xian’s neck, while the other two stripped off his pants. The yamen runners began to strike forcefully, the sound of whacks echoing throughout the courtroom.
Zhang Xian screamed in pain.
Magistrate Zhu’s face was stern. Twenty strokes were not enough to make a person confess to murder; fifty strokes might do it. But it could also kill a person.
Moreover, even if Zhang Xian confessed when the case was submitted to the Ministry of Justice, he might still overturn the verdict. Don’t forget, he had a relative who was a Giving Affairs Officer.
At that time, it might instead lead to accusations of forcing a false confession against himself.
Taking advantage of the interval while Zhang Xian was being caned on the ground, Liu Qi’an waved at the attendant beside Magistrate Zhu.
The attendant hesitated, then quietly stepped back a few paces before trotting over.
“Help me pass a message. Ask the master to temporarily adjourn the court. I have an idea,” Liu Qi’an said in a low voice.
“What idea could you possibly have? Don’t talk nonsense and implicate me,” the attendant said, looking unconvinced.
“The interrogation isn’t yielding results anyway, and the master is in a difficult position now. He’ll agree. I’ll treat you to a drink later,” Liu Qi’an said.
“Alright…”
The attendant hurried to Magistrate Zhu’s side and whispered a few words in his ear. Magistrate Zhu immediately turned his head to look in Liu Qi’an’s direction.
He pondered for a moment, then looked away and struck the judge’s gavel: “First detain these two. Court adjourned.”
…
In the inner hall.
Magistrate Zhu held the hot tea served by a maid and took a sip.
Liu Qi’an, who had learned a thing or two about official etiquette after a few years in the system, immediately picked up his tea and took a small sip upon seeing this.
“Liu Ning Yan, what’s your idea?”
Liu Qi’an was surprised by Magistrate Zhu’s attitude, which was unexpectedly mild and without pulling rank.
In his impression, Magistrate Zhu wasn’t usually this polite to the clerks in the county office. Could it be that after transmigrating, even his face had become more pleasant?
“I can give it a try.”
“Without torture?”
“Of course.”
Magistrate Zhu became more curious, putting down his teacup and looking over: “Let’s hear it.”
You wouldn’t understand game theory anyway, what’s there to say… Liu Qi’an smiled and said, “Allow me to keep it a secret for now. Your Honor, just wait for the good news.”
In the quiet detention room, Yang Zhenzhen was brought here. Her moist eyes darted around, and she sat uneasily.
She had thought the clerk would give her a hard time, but to her surprise, they just brought her here and left. However, this didn’t ease her uneasiness.
“Creak…”
The wooden door was pushed open, and a young man wearing a constable’s uniform walked in. He was tall and straight, with hard facial lines and fairly handsome features.
“Don’t be nervous, let’s just chat casually,” the young man even brewed tea, smiling broadly. “You can call me Sir Liu.”
Sir Liu?
Yang Zhenzhen, unused to such preferential treatment, remained silent, watching him warily.
Liu Qi’an was also observing this beautiful woman. No wonder she was chosen by a wealthy man; she was naturally beautiful, and she looked only slightly inferior to his aunt at home.
Her age was also just right. A woman in her thirties, in his previous life, would be at her most luscious and juicy.
“Looking at all your gold and silver jewelry, Zhang Yourui treated you quite well,” Liu Qi’an opened the conversation.
Yang Zhenzhen did not comment.
“I think, given your age, not being able to conceive after so many years is probably Zhang Yourui’s problem,” Liu Qi’an said.
Yang Zhenzhen had originally thought this would be an interrogation, but she didn’t expect this young man’s attitude and tone to be exceptionally gentle.
It was different from the image of officials she had in mind.
Moreover, when it came to the inability to conceive, the blame was usually pushed onto the woman. Liu Qi’an’s words were very pleasing to hear. She gradually lowered her guard and whimpered:
“It’s all this humble woman’s fault. It’s my unworthy womb. After so many years, I finally conceived, and the master met with misfortune at this time.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened again.
“The dead cannot be brought back to life,” Liu Qi’an consoled her, then asked, “Did Zhang Yourui frequently visit brothels?”
“Of course he did,” she said. “Since ancient times, which wealthy gentleman or high official doesn’t visit brothels?”
My goodness, watch your words… A man over fifty, frequently visiting brothels, depleting his finances… I can almost be certain the child in your belly is the neighbor’s… Girls who love nightclubs never lack fertility. It’s the same for young wives left alone at home.
“Suddenly, I understand you very well,” Liu Qi’an clicked his tongue twice. “Women are wolves at thirty, tigers at forty, and sucking dust on the ground at fifty. Zhang Yourui was over fifty, frequenting brothels and neglecting you. It’s understandable if you sought comfort elsewhere.
“But murder is not right.”
Yang Zhenzhen’s face changed slightly: “This humble woman doesn’t know what the officer is talking about.”
Liu Qi’an smiled, “I’ve read the case files. That Zhang Xian is a full seven years younger than you.”
Yang Zhenzhen kept a straight face: “What does the officer mean by that?”
Liu Qi’an sneered, “This is like an eagle eating a chick.”
“This humble woman doesn’t understand,” Yang Zhenzhen truly didn’t comprehend this time.
“Then let’s talk about something you do understand,” Liu Qi’an said in a deep voice. “Madam Zhang Yang, you were left alone, unable to bear the loneliness. So you seduced your stepson, committing a shameless and immoral act.
“On the night of the incident, you took advantage of Zhang Yourui being away collecting rent to have an affair with your stepson. Who knew Zhang Yourui would return early and catch you two in the act? The father and son started fighting, and you used a vase to hit Zhang Yourui from behind, killing him.
“To cover up the crime, you dragged Zhang Yourui’s body to the courtyard, disguising it as a thief breaking in and killing him. Zhang Xian deliberately left footprints on the wall to corroborate your story.”
Yang Zhenzhen’s face turned deathly pale, staring at Liu Qi’an in disbelief.
“I didn’t do it. I’m wrongly accused,” Yang Zhenzhen said loudly, her hands clenched into fists, palms sweaty.
She’s panicking… Liu Qi’an, who had put considerable effort into interrogation techniques, shed his gentleness and became expressionless, exuding a cold demeanor:
“Aren’t you wondering how I know all this so clearly? It’s because Zhang Xian has already confessed.”
This can’t be possible… Such thoughts flashed through Yang Zhenzhen’s eyes, her face paling further. She tried to maintain composure but still didn’t admit: “This humble woman is wrongly accused.”
“Do you think your adulterous partner wouldn’t confess?” Liu Qi’an said expressionlessly.
Even without using harsh words or threats, he somehow made the beautiful woman increasingly uneasy.
“You thought you had covered everything perfectly, but in fact, there were flaws everywhere.
“Zhang Xian only left footprints on the wall for leaving, but no footprints for entering. If a thief had decent martial arts skills, they would have been even more capable when escaping, and wouldn’t have left any footprints at all. This is the first point.
“Secondly, Zhang Yourui died from a blunt force impact, not from a sharp weapon. According to Great Feng law, anyone entering a home at night without reason shall be caned eighty times. If the homeowner kills them on the spot, it’s not punishable.” Liu Qi’an tapped the table:
“I ask you, which thief breaking in to steal wouldn’t carry a weapon? Yet Zhang Yourui died from a blunt object.”
Yang Zhenzhen’s face froze.
“I’m not finished yet…” Liu Qi’an sneered. After breaking down Yang Zhenzhen’s psychological defenses, the killing blow was yet to come.