TFSRITA Chapter 63

Rumors had only just started spreading a few days ago, and now was the time to fuel them further. Many people were still spreading the gossip, and anyone who did so openly was quickly apprehended. The common folk soon fell silent, too scared to speak.

However, despite the silence, everyone was feeling discontent.

The nobles held positions of great power, and if they forbade the people from speaking, no one dared to. Yet, everyone believed the rumors to be true, thinking that the imperial concubine was indeed a villain causing chaos in the court.

Behind closed doors, the discontent only grew louder.

…

During this era, civil cases were typically handled by the prefect, while criminal cases were under the jurisdiction of the Dali Court. Cases sent to the Dali Court were usually closed to the public unless you had certain connections. The common people viewed these places with a mixture of fear and reverence.

But this time, the Dali Court openly announced that anyone who wanted to observe the trial could come!

They conducted the trial transparently, in front of everyone.

On the first day of the trial, anyone who had heard of the case showed up.

To accommodate the large crowd, the Dali Court held the trial at the execution grounds, informing everyone in advance that if the accused were found innocent, they would be released immediately, but if found guilty, they would be executed on the spot!

The man being tried was the same one who had boasted so boldly just days before.

The Chief Justice of the Dali Court, Zheng, was a solitary official, known for his incorruptible nature and his ability to deal with troublemakers, especially the spoiled children of officials. His actions had earned him the hatred of many, yet even they had to admire his integrity.

Having him oversee this case seemed like overkill.

But the emperor’s command had been given, and he had no choice but to comply.

Chief Justice Zheng sat at the highest seat, surrounded by officials who were particularly outspoken about the matter of the concubine. However, today they are mere spectators and forbidden to speak. Anyone who did so would be punished with ten lashes.

As a result, those present all had rather grim expressions.

Jiang Wende, one of the emperor’s enforcers, stood holding the imperial edict, watching everyone with sharp eyes, ready to order the eunuchs to punish anyone who violated the rules.

“Summon Zhang Tian!” Chief Justice Zheng nodded, and a loud-voiced young man immediately called out, bringing forth a shifty-looking man.

Another young official read the charges aloud: “The accused, Zhang Tian, on the second day of the eleventh month, Year One of Mingchen…”

“Do you confess?” the young man asked after listing the charges.

The evidence and witnesses were laid out clearly before everyone, leaving no room for Zhang Tian to deny it.

Zhang Tian, pale and trembling, dared not resist and nodded in submission, “I confess.”

Chief Justice Zheng asked, “Based on your past actions, there’s no connection between you and the palace. Who instructed you to spread these rumors?”

Zhang Tian replied, “I don’t know. It was just a wealthy man who gave me money to spread the rumors in the marketplace.”

“What did this man look like?” Zheng asked. “Describe him, and we’ll have someone sketch him. If you cooperate, you’ll be credited for assisting.”

“Yes!” Zhang Tian, still confused and knowing little about the man who had paid him, nodded quickly.

Next, another defendant was brought forward.

One after another, from sunrise to noon, Chief Justice Zheng continued questioning. Among those questioned was the man who had been arrested in the teahouse, who also confessed to being directed by someone else.

Of course, some were merely spreading rumors without being instructed. These individuals were given ten lashes, and the more severe cases received twenty lashes before being released.

By the end of the day, over thirty people had been interrogated, and fifteen of them were found to have been acting under orders.

It was then that the onlookers realized the truth.

“So someone was trying to frame the imperial concubine?”

“Exactly! They say the palace is a complicated place!”

“Looks like the concubine wasn’t at fault. She was nearly branded a wicked woman who brings disaster. Poor thing.”

“I know that guy! I heard him spreading those rumors. Good thing I didn’t repeat them.”

“What a sin…”

But it wasn’t over yet.

As the sun set, with all interrogations completed, Chief Justice Zheng addressed the crowd, “Do you remember that I said we would have a sketch of the person behind this?”

“We remember!” the crowd replied loudly.

Chief Justice Zheng glanced at the outspoken officials.

After spending the entire day going from anger to embarrassment, the officials now looked flushed and uneasy. Who knew what shame would follow next?

Zheng waved his hand, and the court’s artists, who had been standing by, stepped forward.

Each artist held two portraits, and as they lined up in front of the crowd, a great murmur rose from the onlookers.

“They’re all the same?”

“How is that possible!”

“Only two people ordered all this trouble?”

“Oh my!”

“Who’s the mastermind behind this?!”

The officials, who had been sitting still until now, furrowed their brows, an unease spreading through them. Could it be that they were just pawns in a palace struggle?

…

Chief Justice Zheng clapped his hands again.

A group of soldiers brought forth two men.

These two were dressed just like the men in the portraits. In an attempt to hide their identities, they had worn hats to obscure their faces, but their figures and certain distinguishing features had been remembered by witnesses.

As soon as these two men appeared, the crowd gasped, “That man has a scar on his neck! Look, it’s exactly like in the portrait!”