GBP Chapter 237: More and more Zhuang clan members are imprisoned
Chapter 237: More and more Zhuang clan members are imprisoned
Minister Yan, Madam Yan and Yan Shifan successfully met in the Qi'an prison cell.
Minister Yan learned that the property he hid in the secret room of his study was said by Yan Shifan when he was drunk and he also signed and sealed it; Mrs. Yan forged a false dowry list to clear his suspicion and was imprisoned in Qi'an Department. She asked to see Ye Wuwei.
Ye Wuwei met Minister Yan.
After thinking about it for a few days, Minister Yan has roughly guessed Ye Wuwei's purpose, but he cannot say it out loud.
"Commander Ye, what do you want to know from me?"
“Where does your money come from?”
"If I explain everything clearly, the entire Qi Dynasty will be unable to function."
"That's not your concern."
"After I confess everything, what are you going to do with me?"
"For your crimes, the confiscation of property and exile, and the use of your family members as servants and prostitutes, are the lightest punishments. Yan Shifan is your accomplice in the corruption case and should also be sentenced to exile.
As for Madam Yan, she fabricated evidence and should be punished according to the principle of reducing her punishment by two levels. She will have to do hard labor for a few years at least.
However, if you are willing to make meritorious contributions, your sentence may be reduced."
“What should I do if I want my family to be safe?”
"It is impossible for the whole family to be safe and sound, but based on your meritorious service, I can reduce Madam Yan's crime at my discretion."
"I want to make sure Fan'er is safe. You can set the conditions."
Because of what Minister Yan said, Ye Wuwei felt a little emotional: regardless of other things, Minister Yan really loved his son.
"Yan Shifan's crime can be redeemed with gold."
"How much do you need?"
"Since the gold confiscated from you is worth one hundred thousand taels, I will fine you the same amount."
"Even if I sold all my belongings, I couldn't come up with this amount."
Ye Wuwei turned the black jade ring on his thumb without saying a word.
Looking at the black jade ring on Ye Wuwei's thumb, Minister Yan was stunned: Your Majesty seems to have one exactly the same.
His Majesty?
Minister Yan's mind suddenly became clear.
"The Grand Tutor and I are brothers-in-law. Although I can't raise a hundred thousand taels of gold, the Grand Tutor is as wealthy as a nation. I'm sure he'd be willing to help us make up the difference."
It’s great to talk to smart people. They know what to say without any prompts.
"Three elders of the Zhuang family and Madam Yan's brother are being held in the Qi'an tribe for perjury on Madam Yan's behalf. Why don't you meet them?"
"it is good."
Ye Wuwei asked someone to take Minister Yan to meet the three clan elders and Madam Yan's brother.
After the meeting, the three elders pointed at Minister Yan and cursed: "It's all because of you, otherwise we wouldn't have been imprisoned."
Minister Yan said:
"Actually, you all understand that I'm just a pawn.
If I were the only one who committed the crime, do you think the Grand Tutor would ask you to bear false witness on behalf of my wife?"
After hearing what Minister Yan said, the three elders fell silent.
After a while, an elder asked, "How would the law judge our case?"
"The evidence is irrefutable. Perjury is punishable by a two-level reduction in punishment. At the very least, it's a few years of hard labor."
"We can't do forced labor."
“Since the three clan elders gave false testimony under the instruction of the Grand Tutor, the Grand Tutor must intervene in this matter.
With the Grand Tutor intervening, perhaps the three of them can be released just by paying some fines.
I'm only saying this because you're implicated."
Three elders of the clan said:
"He's right. We were imprisoned here because we listened to the Patriarch. Now, we naturally have to ask the Patriarch to redeem us."
"But you all need to unite on this matter. You must unite everyone to ask the Grand Tutor for help. There is strength in numbers."
Madam Yan's brother said quickly:
“I gave false testimony because of the master’s words. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done that even if he was my brother-in-law.
The head of the family must rescue me as well, otherwise I will expose all the dirty deeds of the clan."
Yao Guangzhi, who was watching this scene next door, said to Ye Wuwei dissatisfiedly:
"They are so good, even though they were imprisoned in the Qi'an tribe, they were not afraid at all, as if this was their own backyard."
"That's because the Qi'an tribe was newly established and has little prestige, and we haven't used any torture on them since they joined the tribe.
These elders had always lived a life of being admired and high-ranking, so they had no fear of the Qi'an tribe."
"Sir, do you want to use torture to deter them?"
"The law stipulates that 'those who give false testimony, young or old, shall not be tortured.' If we torture these three elders, we will be handing evidence to Master Zhuang."
Yao Guangzhi rubbed his head awkwardly: "Is there such a provision in the law?"
"Yes, when you have time, you should read the law carefully, copy down the relevant clauses and memorize them, so as not to put yourself in a passive position."
Yao Guangzhi responded readily: "Okay."
Yao Guangzhi glanced at the neighbor next to him again and asked, "Should we torture Madam Yan's brother?"
"We'll see what happens."
"Since the law stipulates this, why did these three elders confess their crimes so readily?"
"That's because they don't know the law prohibits them from being tortured, and our evidence is irrefutable."
"Why don't you just tell the elders to go find Master Zhuang?"
"Then wouldn't I be charged with incitement?"
Yao Guangzhi suddenly realized: "I understand now. We can't give the other party a handle."
Ye Wuwei smiled:
"If the families of the three elders want to see them, you don't have to stop them, but you must make sure nothing happens to them in the Qi'an tribe."
……