Chapter 319: Courtroom Interrogation

On the first day of the second month of the second year of Qianyou, the sky was high and the clouds thin, the sun bright and the wind clear—a fine day. From mid-morning onward, with the curfew lifted, the streets of Changshe filled with a tide of people, all streaming toward the prefectural office.

Some went because they had heard the news, some were swept along without knowing why, and many simply went to the yamen to watch the excitement. Early in the morning, the authorities had posted a notice: the Imperial Uncle, Duke of Cai, Military Governor of Zhongwu Army, had been arrested, and the Son of Heaven had issued an edict to interrogate his crimes.

To the gentry and common folk of Changshe, such a thing was utterly novel. Yesterday's great commotion in the city could not be hidden from anyone; more or less, everyone knew that something major had happened.

Inside and outside the prefectural office, a full battalion of Fengchen Army guards stood watch, with sentries lined up from the central courtyard all the way to the entrance, maintaining order and creating a very solemn atmosphere. Though the crowd was large and the clamor unceasing, before those burly soldiers gripping sharp weapons, everyone had to behave—though the murmuring never stopped.

"I heard a censor surnamed Zhao risked death to impeach the Evil Flood Dragon, and the Son of Heaven flew into a rage and ordered an interrogation."

"But that Evil Flood Dragon is the Imperial Uncle—high in position and immense in power. Can the Son of Heaven really punish him?"

Liu Xin had indeed earned himself a nickname in Xuzhou—"Evil Flood Dragon"—which was rather fitting.

"The official notice said Commissioner of Military Affairs Chancellor Guo will conduct the interrogation, and the city's gentry and commoners are allowed to observe at the yamen gate. With this kind of setup, how could it be false!"

"I heard it's not just the Evil Flood Dragon—many officials in Xuzhou have been taken into custody too!"

"......"

The gossip of common folk was always just seasoning; it could have no effect whatsoever on how the case progressed.

The rising sun climbed higher, and a few warm rays of sunlight streamed through the hall doors, illuminating the front of the courtroom, where two rows of attendants stood in tense formation. When the time was about right, Guo Wei emerged from the rear hall in full formal attire—black cap, purple robes, a gold pouch at his waist—looking utterly grave and solemn.

There were quite a few people present to observe the trial. Murong Yanchao stared directly at Guo Wei and threatened: "Guo Wenzhong, I'm right here watching you. If you dare to judge unfairly and wrong the Duke of Cai, heh heh......"

Casting an indifferent glance at Murong Yanchao, Guo Wei replied with full authority: "I have been commanded by edict to conduct this interrogation. Naturally, I will question matters impartially. In this courtroom, idle bystanders shall keep silent!"

Snubbed by Guo Wei, Murong Yanchao's face turned even darker. He glared at him, nearly losing his temper on the spot. But Li Shaoyou, standing beside him, quietly dissuaded him.

Guo Wei paid him no further attention. Raising his sleeve, he took his seat at the case table. Taking a few gentle breaths, he swept his gaze across the hall, picked up the gavel, and slammed it down hard—"Crack!" The attending yamen runners immediately shouted in unison, and even the clamoring gentry and commoners watching outside, cowed by the authority, fell silent at once. In an instant, inside and outside the courtroom, all was cold and still.

"Bring in Liu Xin!" Guo Wei's voice was steady.

Soon, Liu Xin was led into the hall by two constables. Under the gaze of the multitude, the Imperial Uncle still carried himself with considerable flair—his hair bun slightly askew, clad in a brown prison robe, shackles indeed on his wrists, the clinking sound of their movement clearly audible throughout the hall and beyond. Overnight, his beard seemed to have grown noticeably thicker. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharper than ever.

"The Emperor wants to tear this face of mine, Liu Xin, off and let these base commoners gawk at it, heh heh......" Glancing at the yamen gate at the common folk he regarded as pigs and dogs, Liu Xin sneered disdainfully, his arrogance even greater than before.

Adjusting the shackles around his wrists, Liu Xin raised his head to look at Guo Wei seated high at the case table, seeming somewhat surprised: "Guo Wenzhong, you're the one interrogating me?"

"What, is this official unqualified to interrogate the Duke of Cai?" Sensing Liu Xin's arrogant bearing, Guo Wei remained composed.

"What right do you have to interrogate me?" Liu Xin's expression turned fierce at once. "Zhao Li accused me of ten great crimes—why doesn't the Emperor conduct the trial himself?"

Guo Wei clasped his hands toward the direction of the imperial traveling court and said calmly: "By order of Your Majesty, I am to bring the Duke of Cai in for questioning!"

Liu Xin laughed contemptuously.

But Guo Wei was hardly a man of good temper. He picked up the gavel and slammed it again—"Crack!"—to wake Liu Xin up, then half-turned and glanced at him: "Duke of Cai, at this point, you still don't know to restrain yourself?"

Feeling the hostility in Guo Wei's tone, Liu Xin was first stunned, then laughed at the courtroom, craning his neck toward Guo Wei, quite unbothered: "Fine! Don't you want to interrogate me? Go ahead!"

"No rush! The crimes I have recorded here against the Duke of Cai fill an entire volume. Let's go through them slowly, one by one!" Guo Wei remained unmoved as a mountain.

Opening the volume placed on the case table, Guo Wei began with the first item: "In the eighth month of the first year of Qianyou, at the Mid-Autumn Festival, you held a banquet at your residence. Upon learning that His Majesty had crushed the rebellion of Li the traitor in Hezhong, you spoke disrespectful words, belittling the achievements of the soldiers. The Xuzhou officials present at the time are still in custody and can be brought to the hall to confront you......"

"No need for all that trouble! I admit it! I said those words. A petty Li Shouzhen—did it really require mobilizing a hundred thousand troops and draining the state treasury to subdue him? What's wrong with pointing out a few faults of my nephew?" Liu Xin answered very readily, crossing his arms over his chest.

Guo Wei was somewhat surprised, but he muttered: "Since the Duke of Cai is so forthright, this official won't be long-winded either. Let's continue."

Marking the crime register, Guo Wei continued: "In Changshe city there was a wealthy merchant of the Ma family. On the seventh day of the sixth month of the first year of Qianyou, you sent your retainers to break into his home, seize his wealth, and take his daughter. There are now the victim, the neighbors, and the retainers who committed the deeds to testify......"

"Can't remember that one. Those whose homes I broke and wealth I seized—there's more than just one family." Liu Xin said carelessly: "Since you've already found victims and witnesses, then I admit it!"

Hearing his reaction, the hall and its surroundings erupted in uproar. Murong Yanchao couldn't help but rebuke quietly: "Duke of Cai, don't answer recklessly!"

Liu Xin glanced at Murong Yanchao but said nothing.

Guo Wei's brow also twitched involuntarily. He truly could not help but be surprised—by his prediction, Liu Xin ought to have denied everything strenuously. But instead, he was admitting with such ease, and his attitude in confessing was one of sheer unbridled arrogance.

Still, Guo Wei didn't mind. He was only responsible for conducting the interrogation; whatever Liu Xin's situation, he just needed to do his own job.

He continued reading: "In the first year of Qianyou, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, you led your men on a hunt, chasing rabbits through wheat fields and trampling the crops. When a farmer argued with you, you had him seized, his sinews cut, his legs broken, his tongue severed, and then you killed his son and drove off the onlookers with poisoned whips......"

"That wretched farmer—he didn't know his place! So what if a few mu of wheat got trampled? He actually startled my horse and argued noisily in my ear. And that son of his, grabbing a sickle, wanted to fight me to the death! Why didn't you record how he was killed? I remember now—I had my men ride him down with horses!" Liu Xin said this with great pride.

Hearing this, Guo Wei's expression turned several degrees colder. He clenched his fists tightly and was silent for a while before regaining his composure.

He drew a line with his brush and continued questioning the crimes.

This courtroom interrogation quickly devolved into a back-and-forth between Guo Wei and Liu Xin, item by item, detailed down to the time, place, and corroborating witnesses of each event......

Starting from the third quarter of the morning hour, pausing briefly at noon, it continued all the way until evening.

The sky had already darkened. Inside and outside the hall, lamps blazed bright, and everyone present was utterly exhausted. Among those observing, Murong Yanchao had long since been infuriated by Liu Xin's "smashing the pot and throwing it away" attitude and had left his seat and departed, leaving only Li Shaoyou, Zhao Li, and others still seated quietly to the side.

At the yamen gate, the commoners watching the trial changed in waves, yet the crowd only grew larger and larger.

"Yes, I did it! A petty Administrative Assistant dared to order me around—if I didn't kill him, I couldn't rest easy. He should thank me that I at least didn't touch his whole family!" Liu Xin had already sat down cross-legged in the middle of the hall, clearly unable to stand any longer, and his tone grew increasingly irritable.

Guo Wei still sat upright. He drew a line with his brush, took a sip of tea, and continued: "In the first year of Qianyou——"

"Enough!" Finally, Liu Xin couldn't take it anymore. He fixed Guo Wei with a savage glare: "Guo Wei, you've been interrogating me all day. How much is left in that volume of yours?"

At this, Guo Wei raised a thick brow, picked up the volume and waved it in his hand, saying coldly: "Thanks to the Duke of Cai's cooperation, there are only a few items left."

"Ha!" Liu Xin laughed: "I never imagined that in one year's time, I managed to accomplish so much!"

"You don't need to ask anymore. If you're not tired, I am! As for the rest—except for rebellion and treason—I admit to all of it!" Liu Xin declared.

Liu Xin wanted to be done with it quickly, but Guo Wei didn't care. He continued methodically, ignoring Liu Xin's vicious glare, and went on: "In the first year of Qianyou, winter, the eighth day of the twelfth month......"