Chapter 890

Love Shenjing, Dali Temple official office, dungeon prison exit.

The sun sank in the west, the sunset glow faded, the spring chill was biting, and the night wind was bone-chilling, seemingly carrying something eerie.

Yang Hongbin's heart jumped at Zhou Ping's words, and he asked: "How could he be dead? Are you sure it's the same person?"

Zhou Ping said: "Xue Pan, the only son of the eldest branch of the Jin Ling Xue family; there is no second one in the entire city of Jin Ling.

The documents and records of the Three Judicial Offices are in black and white; there can be no mistake."

Yang Hongbin frowned and asked: "What exactly is going on? Xue Pan is alive and well, and even involved in the military stockpile leak case; how could he have died four years ago?"

Zhou Ping said: "This subordinate was also truly shocked when I saw the reply from the auxiliary capital; I've been working in the office for so many years, and this is the first time I've encountered such a thing.

According to the reply from the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital, four years ago, Xue Pan had a dispute with someone over buying a maid, and because the two sides argued, he indulged his servants in beating the victim to death.

The deceased was named Feng Yuan, a local of Jin Ling, whose parents were both dead, leaving only him, with a few old servants by his side.

He was beaten into a critical condition by Xue Pan's servants and died less than two days after being carried home, so his old servants reported it to the Ying Tian Prefecture.

The Ying Tian Prefecture had once arrested Xue Pan and put him in prison, but later, no one knows what happened, Xue Pan suddenly died of an acute illness, and the case was left unsettled.

Feng Yuan had long lost his parents and had no brothers or sisters; which distant relative in the clan would care about this matter? His few old servants were useless.

The Xue family paid the Feng family a sum of silver, and those few old servants withdrew the complaint, so the case was settled in a muddled way.

The Ying Tian Prefecture reported the case documents to the Three Judicial Offices because both the suspect and the victim were dead.

The Feng family withdrew the complaint again; since the people didn't sue, the officials didn't investigate, and the Three Judicial Offices couldn't find any fault.

The case was completely closed, yet Xue Pan is alive and kicking in the Love Shenjing; it's truly seeing a ghost in broad daylight."

……

Yang Hongbin asked in a deep voice: "According to the reply from the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital, how much time passed between the closing of this case and the Xue family's move to the Love Shenjing?"

Zhou Ping looked through the documents in his hand and said: "Less than two months passed between the two."

Yang Hongbin gave a contemptuous smile and said: "Then there's nothing strange about it; it's not that Xue Pan is seeing a ghost in broad daylight, but that someone tampered with it.

For a human life case like this to be smoothed over, with life and death swapped, the case was tried by the Jin Ling Ying Tian Prefecture.

Only the incumbent Ying Tian Prefect would have such authority and means; this person is quite bold, treating the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital like fools!"

Zhou Ping said: "The Ying Tian Prefect is named Jia Yucun, and he is still in office; I have heard of this person.

He is a legitimate scholar from the two examinations and was once dismissed for corruption and favoritism.

It is said that he befriended Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Prefecture, which is how he was able to be reinstated and become the Ying Tian Prefect."

Yang Hongbin sighed: "I went to Jin Ling twice to investigate cases and met Jia Yucun a few times; this person has an impressive appearance and is seasoned in officialdom.

I am well-acquainted with Count Weiyuan Jia Cong and know a thing or two about his family affairs.

This Jia Yucun, in order to curry favor with the Rongguo Prefecture, has already joined the Jia clan; according to the generation, he is even of the same generation as Jia Cong.

Less than two months after the Feng Yuan case was closed, the Xue family moved their whole family to the Love Shenjing; that's because Xue Pan had already become a 'dead' person and couldn't show his face in Jin Ling.

They just happened to move into the Rongguo Prefecture; I'm afraid the Rongguo Prefecture is mostly involved in the Feng Yuan case."

……

Zhou Ping said: "My lord, could it be that Count Weiyuan used his means? Calculating the time, when Feng Yuan died, Count Weiyuan happened to be in Jin Ling.

He also cracked the major case of the Water Supervision Office and was at the height of his fame; he and Jia Yucun have the kinship of the same clan, so it would just be a matter of a few words..."

Yang Hongbin shook his head and said: "I was also in Jin Ling at that time, but I didn't pay attention to this case.

You don't understand Jia Cong; although he is very young, his shrewdness and experience are extraordinary; as a disciple of the Master of Literature, he has always valued his clean reputation.

With his wisdom and means, he would never make such a mistake and leave himself a handle.

The Xue family's in-laws are in the second branch of the Rongguo Prefecture, while Jia Cong is a descendant of the eldest branch; even out of blood kinship, it's impossible for him to get involved unnecessarily.

The Xue family's matriarch and Jia Zheng's wife are sisters born of the same mother, and Jia Zheng and Jia Yucun have deep connections.

If there is any inside story to this matter, it mostly lies with Jia Zheng."

Yang Hongbin smiled bitterly: "Xue Pan is involved in the military stockpile leak case; although it was unintentional, he can't even be considered an accomplice.

But news has come from the palace that I'm afraid he will also be severely punished.

Whether there was the Feng Yuan incident or not, he could not escape his guilt; I am being meddlesome, digging up a pile of old, rotten history."

……

Zhou Ping's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this; he knew Yang Hongbin was on good terms with Jia Cong, which was no secret in the Love Shenjing.

He said: "My lord, although the Feng Yuan incident is suspicious, it has nothing to do with the military stockpile leak case.

We might as well put it aside for now; handling the current business is more important."

Yang Hongbin looked at Zhou Ping and said: "I understand what you mean; even if we don't bring it up, paper cannot wrap fire.

Because of our investigation, the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital will surely be alert to this.

Some things are ignored by everyone if they aren't touched, but as long as they are touched inadvertently, they will be noticed by those with ulterior motives.

The military stockpile leak case is making a big splash, and the auxiliary capital will soon know that we are investigating this case.

Although the Love Shenjing and Jin Ling are far apart, Xue Pan is alive and kicking right now; how could it be hidden for long?

Even if it isn't exposed for a while, as long as Xue Pan is convicted, the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital will surely act upon hearing the news and immediately reinvestigate the Feng Yuan case.

The Feng family withdrew the complaint long ago, received the Xue family's compensation silver, and there are no relatives in the family to pursue it; whether Xue Pan is guilty of further crimes is also a matter of legal interpretation.

Even if the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital find out the truth, since the people didn't sue, the officials didn't investigate, they mostly won't make a big deal out of it, otherwise they won't be able to escape the charge of negligence.

However, settling scores with Jia Yucun after the fact is probably inevitable, otherwise where would the majesty of the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital be, and how would they account for the public opinion in the court?

This matter has already been reported to the Three Judicial Offices of the auxiliary capital, so it has entered official channels; just report it according to the normal procedures; in any case, this case has nothing to do with us.

Don't let the Dali Temple be criticized because of this matter that will eventually be revealed, and don't let us deceive ourselves.

It's just that I feel a bit sorry for Yuzhang, hoping I haven't added any extra trouble for him..."

Although Zhou Ping didn't know Jia Cong's courtesy name, he could guess who it was from Yang Hongbin's sigh, but he didn't dare to ask more.

……

As the two were talking, a jailer suddenly ran out of the dungeon.

He said to Yang Hongbin: "My lord, the suspect named Hui Niang seems to be excessively frightened and has fainted."

Yang Hongbin's expression changed, and he asked: "Is it because of the screams from Duan Chunjiang being tortured that she was excessively stimulated?"

The jailer said: "My lord told me to keep an eye on this woman; Duan Chunjiang is being tortured in the interrogation room and has been screaming there, so the woman has been crying and making a scene.

It seems like her mind is a bit disturbed, her face has become very ugly, and she should have fainted because she couldn't bear it."

Yang Hongbin said: "Go to the Huichun Hall and invite a physician to treat this woman; she cannot have any accidents, as I still have use for her."

The jailer hurried to invite a physician, and Zhou Ping asked: "My lord, Hui Niang was only used by Duan Chunjiang; could she still know some inside information?"

Yang Hongbin said: "Just now, when Duan Chunjiang screamed under torture, Hui Niang lost her composure, crying and screaming; there is mostly something not simple about it.

Although Duan Chunjiang only used her, Hui Niang is not a decent woman either.

But a woman is a woman after all; they are different from men and have more weaknesses than men.

Although her relationship with Duan Chunjiang is messy, she can be considered his bedfellow.

Duan Chunjiang would have less guard against her, and it wouldn't be strange if he left some traces in his words."

……

Not long after, the jailer invited a physician and brought him into the cell for treatment.

Yang Hongbin re-entered the dungeon and stood quietly outside the cell waiting; after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the physician came out of the cell.

Yang Hongbin asked: "Physician, is there anything seriously wrong with her body?"

The physician said: "There is nothing seriously wrong with her body; she is just disturbed by external evil, feeling weak and short of breath.

My lord, although she is a suspect, if you want to save her life, she should not be emotionally agitated anymore, because she is pregnant; according to the pulse, she is almost two months along."

Yang Hongbin's expression stirred slightly upon hearing this; after the physician left, he paced back and forth at the door of the cell, pondering.

A moment later, he had the jailer open the cell door and walked in alone, seeing Hui Niang curled up in the corner, her face pale, trembling all over, as if caught in a nightmare.

In the corridor outside the cell, it had been quiet for a moment, but suddenly screams came again.

The sound was surprisingly full of energy, even more shrill and distorted, unbearable to hear.

Yang Hongbin's heart was cold as iron; he was also an expert in interrogation and naturally well-informed; those few Embroidered Uniform Guards were indeed good hands.

They had a very good sense of proportion when torturing Duan Chunjiang, pausing every half hour.

Letting him get a little respite and feeding him high-quality ginseng soup to keep his breath and life.

Otherwise, how could the prisoner scream so loudly when the torture resumed, even appearing full of energy...

As Duan Chunjiang's screams came, Hui Niang seemed to bristle, screaming in terror, tears streaming down her face, her breathing short and rapid.

Yang Hongbin watched coldly, letting the screams in the corridor continue for half a cup of tea, seeing that Hui Niang could no longer hold on.

Only then did he say to the jailer outside the door: "Go to the interrogation room and send word that I want to speak with the suspect; have them pause for a moment and wait for my instructions!"