Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

In the silence, Qin Yunhe took a deep breath and said slowly: "Jin Biao, you killed your mother and wife and destroyed many lives. Your crime is unforgivable. No fame can save you. Come, take Jin Biao to the dungeon and wait for your punishment."

With so many lives involved, Qin Yunhe has no right to make his own decision and must report to the Censorate for the final ruling.

Glancing at the crowd, Qin Yunhe continued, "Although Doctor Chen participated in the forgery, I will punish you with thirty strokes of the cane because you repented in time. Don't make the same mistake again when you go back. If you violate the law again, I will not let you off easily."

After the verdict was pronounced, Doctor Chen felt a huge weight dropped to the ground and kowtowed to accept the guilt.

"Yang Zhong assisted in the murder and participated in the forgery. Considering your meritorious service in reporting it, you shall be caned with forty sticks and sentenced to two years in prison. You may redeem your sentence with money."

Yang Zhong also kowtowed and admitted his guilt.

"Mrs. Zhao, you have lied and made false accusations, you have persisted in your wrongdoings, and you have disturbed the court. You shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane and three years' imprisonment."

Mrs. Zhao had caused so much trouble in the whole case that she really shouldn't be let off lightly. However, considering that she was also quite old and that she was a mother, Qin Yunhe didn't punish her too severely.

The prison sentence also needs to be reviewed by the Inspector-General, and he has no say on whether the sentence will be increased in the end.

Mrs. Zhao felt like her soul had been taken away since Jin Biao was taken away. She had no reaction after hearing the verdict. Jin Cheng, on the other hand, was a little anxious: "Sir, can you redeem her with money?"

"No."

Yang Zhong allowed him to redeem his prison sentence with money because he finally reported Jin Biao's murder of his mother. Not only did Mrs. Zhao not report the crime, she even tried to cover up the crime for Jin Biao, so naturally she was not allowed to redeem herself with money.

"Little maid, considering your young age and the fact that you gave false testimony under duress, and that you repented in time, I will flog you twenty times. When you go back, you must behave yourself and never commit the same offense again."

Although the little maidservant had been forgiven, she was still a maidservant of the Jin family and she had to return to the Jin family. In the current situation of the Jin family, she didn't know what to do in the future.

The little maid kowtowed while crying: "Yes, thank you, sir."

"The other servants of the Jin family who committed fraud will each be caned thirty times."

"Jin Cheng, you committed adultery with Fang Qin, and that was the source of her murder. Considering your meritorious service in reporting it, you will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane. Be careful in the future, and find a job to make a living when you return home."

After all the people from the Jin family were dealt with, they were taken away. Qin Yunhe turned to Yan Guixiang.

"Yan Guixiang, you have been cleared of adultery and murdering your husband. Although you have taken valuables, we will not pursue the matter further as you have already been punished. You will be acquitted today and can go home after the court is dismissed. The bailiffs will then take Yang Zhong to identify the place where your parents' bodies were dumped. You can then take back your parents' bodies and bury them properly. Live a good life when you return."

Yan Guixiang's misfortune not only harmed her parents and brother, but she almost lost her life. A few months seemed like half a lifetime. After hearing Qin Yunhe's words, she seemed to be alive again and cried bitterly on the ground again.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir..."

Qin Yunhe called Miao Wang's wife and children to the hall.

"Now that Miao Wang has been cleared of all charges, the government notice will soon be posted in Fuyu County, and Miao Wang's grievances will be exposed to the world. Although Miao Wang was wrong, this was an unprovoked disaster. The county government should have compensation money, and you can take it home and live a good life."

As Qin Yunhe spoke, he looked at the Dianshi of Fuyu County standing beside him.

After listening to this trial, the Dianshi of Fuyu County was shocked again and again, sweating profusely, for fear that that sentence in the whole case might suddenly involve himself.

Seeing Qin Yunhe looking at him, he hurriedly said, "Yes, I will report the case to the magistrate immediately after returning. Miao Wang died unjustly, and he will be given generous compensation."

In such a false and wrongful case, we should be thankful if Ushan can be saved by offering generous compensation.

Miao Wang's wife burst into tears after hearing this.

Yan Guixiang went over to help her sister-in-law, but was pushed away by her.

Miao Wang's wife took the child and turned out of the lobby and left alone.

Yan Guixiang stood there in confusion for a while, then left quietly.

The case is over, but the matter is not over yet.

This case is extremely complicated, involving many people, multiple lives, and spanning more than a decade.

The case was changed from an adultery case to a murder of the husband to a matricide case, with many twists and turns.

Qin Yunhe ordered the clerks, bailiffs and others to go over the case in detail.

He also ordered his subordinates, the Dianshi, to sort out the case files and prepare to submit them to the Censorate for review. He especially reminded them to be detailed and careful, not to miss anything, and to send them back for review after sorting them out.

Those who have been convicted should be posted with notices and executed with executions.

Those who have not been convicted should be entered into the case file.

Write down the compensation and reasons clearly one by one.

Those who did not find the body arranged to take people to look for it.

When everything was arranged, Zhuzi suddenly asked, "Sir, what about the Magistrate of Buyeo County? What will happen?"

Qin Yunhe was stunned.

What will happen? I'm afraid not.

He was just a prosecutor and could only report the entire case truthfully. As for how the higher-ups viewed and treated Wei Chengji's actions in this case, that was not something he could decide.

As long as Wei Chengji insists that he was deceived, he will most likely be reprimanded for his confused handling of the case, which will affect his performance and promotion.

In serious cases, the offender will be fined.

If the three judges were to take it seriously, he might be demoted or dismissed.

But according to my senior’s analysis, it is very likely that he will not even be demoted.

Seeing Qin Yunhe's silence, Zhuzi said again: "Sir, didn't you mention that he previously privately collected river invasion fees and forcibly confiscated riverside land? This time he colluded with Jin Biao and killed an innocent person, and helped to falsely accuse Yan Guixiang."

After spending these days in the provincial capital, Zhuzi gained a lot of knowledge and broadened his horizons. He had long known that their river beach land did not fall within the scope of the river invasion fee stipulated by the court.

I also figured out how the county magistrates make money.

Now we have witnessed a good man being falsely accused and an innocent person being beaten to death. The crimes were pinned on someone else, but the magistrate was not mentioned at all in the final verdict.

Zhuzi naturally couldn't help it.

Li Chang saw Qin Yunhe was silent and raised his eyebrows, knowing that he took his words to heart again.

"I think you are deliberately trying to force your master to death." Li Chang laughed and put his arm around Zhuzi's shoulder. "You usually look quite smart, but what stupid things are you saying now?"

"Ah?" Zhuzi looked at Li Chang in confusion.

Li Chang said: "Your master is only a seventh-rank magistrate, how can he manage a county magistrate? Moreover, your master has just entered the official career, and you are pushing him to offend people. Who will dare to care about him in the future?"

Zhuzi finally reacted and quickly glanced at Qin Yunhe and said, "No, that's not what I meant. I was confused, please forgive me, sir."

Qin Yunhe smiled bitterly and waved his hand.

Li Chang patted the pillar and said, "It's okay, you can go down now."

"You don't have to take this to heart, sir. This is not something you can control. You have done your duty by clearing the Yan family's grievances and speaking up for the Zhang and Fang families."

"Zigao, you don't have to persuade me. I understand everything in my heart, but I just feel a little powerless. I know clearly what Wei Chengji did, but I can't do anything about it."

"Then you should not get too involved. Only if you have a bright future, you will have the opportunity to punish these people in the future."

Qin Yunhe let out a breath and nodded.

----

PS. In ancient times, imprisonment was not imprisonment, but hard labor. Men built city walls, and women pounded rice. In the early days, imprisonment was accompanied by corporal punishment, such as cutting off toes. Later, corporal punishment was removed and it was considered a less severe punishment.

As for why Jin Cheng was also punished, it was mainly because adultery was indeed a serious crime in ancient times, usually 80 to 100 strokes of the cane, or even death. Thirty strokes of the cane was actually a light punishment for him.

The prosecutor could only decide on punishments below the level of caning on his own. Anything more serious would have to be reported to the provincial inspector and the touring censor for review and decision.