Ling'er gave a thumbs-up in her heart: The princess is truly majestic.
"Justice?" Liu Donghuai sneered, "Is justice when corrupt officials collude, twist black and white, oppress the common people with power, or kill without penalty?"
She was a princess, of royal blood, adored and flattered by many. Naturally, she didn't know that to these nobles, a commoner was no different from an ant.
How openly and righteously she spoke. If he hadn't killed, then he would receive justice?
Heh! He hadn't killed, yet there was witness testimony and evidence. The darkness of the officialdom, the darkness of human hearts. In the very capital, under the Emperor's gaze, it was like this. In places unseen in Jingguo, how many wrongful convictions and unjust cases were there?
It was his naivety, his shallow understanding, to think that everywhere was like Donglin.
"Your Highness, a princess of noble birth, comes to this inauspicious and filthy execution ground. Could it be to plead for a lowly commoner?"
They had met only once, not even enough to call it acquaintance. No matter how naive he was, he wouldn't dare to think so. Moreover, for a case that was already decided, who could change it?
Perhaps it was just a whim of a pampered princess, bored and seeking amusement?
Lingxi understood. He seemed to be accusing, yet also resigned. In any case, he didn't believe her.
"Why can't this princess plead for you? Didn't I say, if you are wronged, you will be given justice!"
"Even if everyone identifies me as the killer, even if I, a commoner, were to accuse the Minister of the Grand Court of Revision, would Your Highness still say these words?"
Lingxi stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly turned away.
Hmph! He knew it! These people from high above…
"This princess is Princess Lingxi, the sister of the current Emperor and the Divine Maiden!" Lingxi stood at the highest point, her voice even louder than before.
She was speaking to all the common people below.
"Regarding the case of Liu Donghuai murdering his mother and wife, His Majesty has found many doubts. Jingguo is blessed by the Divine Maiden, and there will never be wrongful convictions. His Majesty has decreed that if the executioner's blade breaks during the beheading, the case will be retried! The innocent will be cleared!"
Then, she gestured, and Tulan took out an imperial decree from his怀: "Minister Ruan Ji of the Grand Court of Revision, receive the decree!"
The Minister of the Grand Court of Revision, not yet understanding, hastily knelt.
The decree was the same as what Princess Lingxi had said. According to regulations, if the blade was intact during execution, the person deserved death. If the blade broke, then there was injustice.
Everyone was confused. How could a blade break for no reason? Could a neck be harder than a blade?
This man was surely doomed!
Xie Er breathed a sigh of relief.
But Ruan Ji broke out in a cold sweat. He knew the Divine Maiden had intervened.
This must be a wrongful conviction.
Damn it, he was going to be ruined by that idiot Deputy Minister. He had merely been lazy and gone for a drink…
His mind was racing, trying to figure out how to escape.
Liu Donghuai also understood.
However, his grief and indignation intensified. This was a way to nail him to the pillar of death, ensuring he could never rise again! His death would also earn the royal family a reputation for justice and integrity!
How tragic!
The country he had once wished to serve with all his heart! It was rotten to the core!
"Execute!"
The executioner sprayed a mouthful of strong liquor, raising the shining executioner's blade high.
As it fell, everyone closed their eyes.
Old Xie Er, however, opened his eyes wide with excitement.
"Clang—" a loud noise!
Like a thunderclap, the executioner's blade, halfway down, struck something as hard as stone and split in two from the middle. The broken piece fell to the ground.
The blade broke!
The execution ground fell silent!
Lingxi shouted, "Get a new blade! Execute again!"
Another beheading. This time, no one in the crowd closed their eyes. They all stared intently. Again, there was a loud noise, as if the blade had hit something. It vibrated so much that the executioner's entire arm went numb and lost its strength, forcing him to step back.
Then the blade broke again, cleanly and completely, even sparks could be seen flying.
There truly was injustice!
The crowd erupted!
"There is indeed injustice!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Divine Maiden!"
Su Yurou was stunned.
Old Xie Er was stunned.
Liu Donghuai was completely dumbfounded.
"This case involves injustice. My brother the Emperor has instructed that it be temporarily handed over to the Ministry of Justice for retrial. General Chen, would you please escort Scholar Liu to the Ministry of Justice?"
Lingxi said to Chen Kui, not trusting the Minister of the Grand Court of Revision beside her at all.
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Thus, Liu Donghuai was transferred to the Ministry of Justice, and all involved witnesses were brought back for a retrial that very day.
The case was already riddled with flaws, but it involved a considerable number of people: commoners, scholars, and most seriously, officials of the Grand Court of Revision.
The Ministry of Justice quickly clarified the entire sequence of events and began a triple trial. Emperor Mingde specifically took time to observe.
Even at this point, Liu Donghuai still felt as if he were dreaming.
The neighbor had been bribed by Xie Lao San. The scholars were two classmates from Donglin County, who, out of jealousy for his academic achievements, had slandered him casually just to eliminate a competitor. An official from the Grand Court of Revision was Xie Lao Er's own brother, who had bribed the Deputy Minister of the Grand Court of Revision.
Liu Donghuai was thus pushed onto the execution platform by a group of executioners.
And yet, he was the victim.
His wife had committed adultery, and his mother had been killed by her lover.
After hearing the details, Emperor Mingde felt his plight was too tragic. If the case had not been reinvestigated, he would have died unjustly.
The truth revealed, punishment would be meted out according to the law.
"This commoner was not willing, she was forced by Xie Lao Er! Your Honor, please investigate!" Su Yurou threw herself on the ground, weeping helplessly. "Husband! You believe me, you know how much I care about you, husband—"
Liu Donghuai turned his head away.
Official Cao slammed his gavel, "Wicked woman! Do you think that because Xie Lao Er is not here, you can speak nonsense? Guards! Bring that villain here!"
It turned out that Xie Lao Er had sensed something was amiss. After Liu Donghuai was taken away from the execution ground that day, he had fled. However, he was eventually caught.
Xie Lao Er had never expected that a poor and destitute scholar from out of town would be so highly valued by those above. He had thought that getting rid of Liu Donghuai would be the simplest thing.
At this point, he knew he had no way out and confessed everything honestly.
Initially, the Su氏 was starving. When he went to collect rent, she complained to him. Later, she deliberately made suggestive gestures and spoke ambiguously, trying to solicit favors.
When Xie Lao Er actually touched her, she refused. So, the first time, it was considered Xie Lao Er forcing himself on her. However, afterward, she actively sought him out.
He never treated her poorly each time, giving her food and money. It was all consensual.
The last time, it was in the rented courtyard. Coincidentally, Liu Donghuai's mother, who had returned early, encountered them. He hadn't intended to kill her, but the woman was too hysterical. She made a loud commotion, grabbed a stool, and tried to smash him to death. Thus, he accidentally killed her by hitting her with the stool.
Liu Donghuai wished he could rush forward and tear Xie Lao Er apart! But more than hatred, what made him sad and confused was Su Yurou.
That was her mother-in-law, someone she had lived with for so long. Although they had occasional verbal friction, she had never truly mistreated her. How could she be so wicked?
With the neighbor as an eyewitness, Su Yurou had no way to defend herself. Especially seeing Liu Donghuai's disgusted and unfamiliar gaze, it was more unbearable to her than naked hatred, and she instantly collapsed.
She looked so gentle, how could she be so shameless and wicked! Truly, the most venomous heart is that of a woman!
Emperor Mingde waved his hand in disgust, "Take her away!"
"Husband! You think I'm wicked too? It's all her fault for me becoming like this!" Su Yurou screamed sharply, as if she had used all her strength.