Chapter 281: Presumption of Guilt

Qiao Guang's complexion turned the color of a pig's liver at this moment.

How could it be like this?

How could it be like this!

This was not the result he wanted to see; he had thought today's public hearing would be favorable to him, because by simply inciting the emotions of the masses, the pressure would shift to Liu Zheng's side.

But he never expected...

The situation had undergone such a reversal.

The masses had already begun to suspect that this Chen Mingze was the murderer!

Was this courtroom designed by Liu Zheng really this formidable?

He very much wanted to continue standing up to incite the crowd not to believe it, but seeing several of his brothers being driven out by the fierce-looking Yinzhou troops, he sat back down.

The Criminal Justice Counselor looked at Jiang Xuan: "Is there evidence?"

Jiang Xuan waved a hand.

Several witnesses came up.

They were all neighbors of Wang.

Jiang Xuan asked them: "Have you ever heard of disputes occurring in Wang's household?"

"My Lord, yes, yes, yes, it was a common occurrence! That newly taken concubine, Lady Liang, was arrogant and domineering, often causing disputes; we neighbors would be woken up in the middle of the night!"

The Criminal Justice Counselor looked at Zhou on the plaintiff's bench and asked coldly: "Zhou, is this true?"

As expected.

Upon hearing this, Zhou immediately stammered, her complexion becoming somewhat unnatural, not knowing how to answer. She was so nervous that she even tugged at the corner of her clothes with her hands.

The whole room was in an uproar.

It really was true!

Now the matter was becoming interesting and complicated. Could it be that the trouble started from within?

"Summon Lady Liang!"

"Summon Lady Liang!"

Soon, Wang's pregnant concubine, Lady Liang, was brought up. Seeing this formation, she was clearly very nervous, but she soon threw herself to the ground and wailed loudly: "My Lord, you must uphold justice for this humble woman!"

"Silence, kneel properly, no crying!"

Qin Zhangfeng let out a shout, and Lady Liang trembled in fear, her face turning deathly pale.

The Criminal Justice Counselor asked Lady Liang: "Someone has testified that since you were taken into the Wang Family, you have not respected your husband, have had no regard for the laws of conduct, and have been at odds with the other wives and concubines, which is a failure to uphold the virtues of a woman. Do you have any words of rebuttal?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Liang resorted to crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide: "My Lord, this humble woman is wronged! Ever since my husband took me in, he has stayed in my room every night. That primary wife, Zhou, grew jealous and deliberately made things difficult for me. This, this, this, this humble woman was also forced into it!"

The whole room buzzed, everyone listening with different expressions.

"You, you, you, you are spouting nonsense!"

Zhou could not help but cry out in rebuttal, but she did not know what else to say.

"Alright, you can shut your mouth now."

Jiang Xuan glanced coldly at Lady Liang and turned back: "My Lord, the evidence is conclusive, and the facts are as stated. Therefore, Jiang Xuan believes that Lady Liang, who is pregnant with Wang's child, also has a motive for murder!"

Boom!

These words were like a bomb thrown into the crowd; everyone gasped in disbelief. However, as the courtroom confrontation unfolded step by step, although they were shocked, they did not find it unexpected. It seemed that things should be this way; no one could escape suspicion, and anyone could be the murderer.

Jiang Xuan's step-by-step investigation and evidence gathering were positioned on the side of the defendant.

Executive Luo naturally sided with the plaintiff and said: "My Lord, Counselor Jiang's words are wrong. Wang took Lady Liang as a concubine and favored her greatly; even if there were conflicts, they were only between wives and concubines. Why would she want to harm Wang?"

Hearing this, the crowd nodded again.

Jiang Xuan sneered: "My Lord, what if this Lady Liang's heart was not in the Wang Family, but with someone else?"

The whole room was in a frenzy again.

Having an affair with someone else?

This play was getting better and better.

Lady Liang turned pale upon hearing this: "My Lord, this is a baseless accusation, a baseless accusation! This humble woman has kept herself pure and has never committed such lewd acts!"

Executive Luo also frowned: "Counselor Jiang, these words concern a woman's reputation; if it is just speculation..."

Jiang Xuan sneered: "Whether it is speculation, Executive Luo, allow me to present evidence slowly, shall I?"

Everyone in the room.

Looked at Jiang Xuan.

Could it be that there was another hidden story to this matter?

Jiang Xuan stood up and said calmly: "My Lord, we have always kept our eyes on the defendant, rather than others. Therefore, all the presumptions of guilt were centered around the defendant."

"However..."

He chuckled: "What if we try to start the presumption of guilt from Lady Liang?"

The crowd was startled.

Lady Liang screamed, wanting to refute, but was immediately held down by the Yinzhou troops nearby.

When everyone's attention was successfully drawn to himself, Jiang Xuan said calmly: "A fallen wealthy young lady, Lady Liang was taken into the Wang Family, grew dissatisfied, had an affair with someone else, and perhaps even the child she is carrying is not Wang's. Thus, the more Wang favored her, the more annoyed she became, and so she conspired with her lover to murder Wang!"

"Who would have thought that she would encounter her old lover, Chen Mingze, in a brothel..."

"She may have deliberately lured Chen Mingze to beat Wang..."

"And then harmed the deceased!"

The whole room was deathly silent as they listened.

Executive Luo became anxious: "Counselor Jiang, where is the evidence! Baseless speculation ruins a person's reputation..."

Jiang Xuan clapped his hands, and soon, another person came up. Upon seeing this person, the complexions of many changed. Jiang Xuan said calmly: "I expect many people recognize Doctor Zhang. That is correct, Wang suffered from consumption and required long-term medication. And the task of fetching this medicine was the responsibility of Lady Liang."

He looked around: "According to the testimony of Doctor Zhang, the medicine Liang usually purchased was normal... However, three days before the deceased was murdered, the Wang Family coachman bought a quantity of Mercury at the pharmacy under the pretext of preservation! Jiang Xuan also investigated other pharmacies, and on that same day, the coachman bought a large amount of Mercury for the same reason."

"I... I... what does that have to do with me!"

Liang was terrified, at a loss for what to do.

Jiang Xuan continued: "Everyone, an excessive dose of Mercury can also cause death! Furthermore, from the outside, the symptoms are identical to the rupture of the internal organs!"

"Therefore, Jiang Xuan believes that the death of Wang was a premeditated poisoning by Liang and the coachman, who were having an illicit affair!"

"On the day the Yinzhou army returned in triumph, Liang saw her old lover Chen Mingze, who was already a sixth-rank Military Aide, and resentment began to grow in her heart. Later, when the Yinzhou army was resting, she conceived a malicious plan, proposing to go to a brothel with Wang, deliberately inciting a conflict to frame Cheng Mingze! That very night, she poisoned Wang to death at home!"

Silence.

The entire scene was deathly silent.

Everyone's face was dazed.

It was too fast!

This turn of events was too sudden!

The key was...

For every point Jiang Xuan made, he could produce corresponding evidence: the Account Book from several pharmacies, the coachman's whereabouts, the neighbors' testimonies, the reaction of Zhou...

All of this evidence indicated one thing.

Jiang Xuan's conjecture was not shooting at shadows!

"Impossible, impossible! You are slandering me, slandering me!"

Qiao Guang could finally no longer stand still; he roared and jumped out, pointing angrily at Jiang Xuan: "Your brother has already confessed, yet you are here concocting some presumption of guilt!"

"Right!"

"Exactly, why did that Military Aide Chen confess?"

"If he confessed, he should be executed!"

With Qiao Guang leading the rhythm, the people all followed along and shouted.

Jiang Xuan looked at Liang and gave a cold smile: "This is the foolishness of my silly brother..."

"He still has lingering feelings for Miss Liang. As one of the parties involved, he knew the ins and outs of the matter, so he wanted to take the blame upon himself, allowing Miss Liang to bear children and live the life she wanted..."

"Miss Liang, is what Jiang Xuan said correct?"

At this moment, Liang was already covering her ears, her expression pained, sorrowful, and ferocious.

"No, no..."

A moment later, Liang opened her eyes and struggled to say: "You are talking nonsense; he died of external injuries, died of external injuries! It has nothing to do with me, I did not kill him!"

Jiang Xuan sneered: "It seems Miss Liang is still harboring delusions of luck..."

He waved his hand.

The corpse of Wang was finally carried up.