The Double-Chapter 362 - 127: Retrial_5

Prince Cheng and Emperor Hongxiao were also very puzzled; the former was bewildered, while the latter was skeptical.

Only Shen Yurong and Jih Heng, their expressions significantly different from those of the other officials.

Shen Yurong had a strange look on her face as she contemplated Jiang Li with deep thought, as if she was seeing Jiang Li for the first time. Jih Heng, on the other hand, showed no concern for Jiang Li. In fact, he wasn’t surprised at all, as if Jiang Li’s reaction was within his expectations, only a trace of amusement visible in his eyes.

"Continue," commanded Emperor Hongxiao.

Jiang Li bowed deeply and continued in a soft voice, "Though the office of the Tongxiang County Magistrate, Xue Huaiyuan, is minor, it represents an official of the Northern Yan Dynasty. Minor details can reveal major problems, and the impact is far from negligible. Xue Huaiyuan has been an official for decades but was only last year found guilty of embezzlement. It’s likely that over the past ten years, there have been acts of embezzlement as well. Where these silver taels have gone, why no trace can be found, and why the archives have no record of this, there are many questions. Perhaps he was engaged in the trafficking of military horses, there may even be suspicion of treasonous collusion with the enemy. Such matters cannot be left uninvestigated before execution."

"Investigate," Emperor Hongxiao said, moving his fingers slightly, "but the evidence is all in the archives, and that is all there is." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Jiang Li bowed again, "That is precisely why I brought the people of Tongxiang to the capital. I request to call witnesses."

"Bring the witnesses," Emperor Hongxiao declared with a wave of his hand.

Zhou Dezhao hurried to instruct his servants to bring the witnesses forward.

Before long, the witnesses were brought up. These people from Tongxiang included Daiyun, Pingan, Mo Wenxuan, Butcher Zhang, aunt Chun Fang, and more. These were people from Tongxiang who were entering the capital, the palace, and seeing the emperor for the first time. Faced with the ministers and officials, they were already so frightened that they turned pale and trembled, almost unable to rise from their kneeling positions on the ground.

Jiang Li then said, "Please speak, witnesses, about the matter of County Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan’s embezzlement."

These witnesses, having benefited from Xue Huaiyuan’s favor, had come to the capital to help exonerate their county magistrate. How could they speak ill of him? So, one by one, they spoke of the various deeds of Xue Huaiyuan. He loved the people like his own children, was kind-hearted, honest, and upright, and showed compassion for the common folk. During his term in Tongxiang, he had built water conservancy projects, taught farmers how to irrigate, and was omnipotent. In a mere few decades, he had developed Tongxiang from a place where people could barely afford shoes to a prosperous community where people lived and worked in happiness.

This did not sound like they were presenting evidence of Xue Huaiyuan’s crimes; instead, it sounded like they were praising him. Li Zhongnan and Prince Cheng frowned, realizing that things were going in a direction they did not welcome.

Just based on evidence, Jiang Li couldn’t possibly fully exonerate Xue Huaiyuan. At the court debate, it was the emperor himself who made the final decision. But such a debate, with public sentiment clearly leaning towards Xue Huaiyuan, began to sway the opinions of the ministers and officials to sympathize with him as well.

Jiang Li remained unfazed, not echoing the people’s pleas of injustice for Xue Huaiyuan, but shook her head and said, "How could a corrupt person earnestly and diligently do real work for the people? These people are full of lies; there’s no need to attend to them."

One by one, the witnesses were taken down, and new ones from Tongxiang came forward, none of whom spoke against Xue Huaiyuan.

Seeing that the tide was turning against them, Prince Cheng scoffed, "This Tongxiang County Magistrate is accustomed to falsifying things. If he could embezzle such amounts of silver, we must not underestimate him. He uses such small favors to win people’s hearts. Even with conclusive evidence, there would still be people speaking on his behalf."

"What His Highness Prince Cheng said is indeed very true," Jiang Li stated, "However, this county magistrate embezzled the fun of disaster aid, and it’s likely not just once. In the half-year that Feng Yutang has been in office, he has already embezzled a great deal. Half a year ago when Xue Huaiyuan was imprisoned, his family’s property was confiscated, and I ask the Imperial Censor to disclose the assets of the Xue Family and Feng’s Family that have been confiscated. Let everyone see, compared to Feng Yutang, how vile Xue Huaiyuan really is!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yutang immediately shivered like a leaf.

Who Xue Huaiyuan was, that embezzlement was fabricated. Even when combined, Xue Huaiyuan’s own assets amounted to little. Yet, in the half-year of his tenure, Feng Yutang had already reached the pinnacle of exploiting the people. Such a comparison would naturally reveal the trick!

Indeed, the Imperial Censor announced the assets of the two families, and the result surprised everyone. Apart from the silver embezzled, Xue Huaiyuan had almost nothing, barely better than someone with nothing at all. Even his salary was often gone because he relieved people in need. On the other hand, in just half a year, Feng Yutang amassed wealth several dozen times greater than all of Xue Huaiyuan’s years in office.

Everyone fell silent.

Jiang Li said, "Do you not find it strange, esteemed gentlemen, that a criminal like Xue Huaiyuan, for over ten years, has been more honest than many officials in Yanjing City? If other corrupt officials could be like Xue Huaiyuan, then our Northern Yan would have no worries about prosperity."

"Clever rhetoric and fair speech," Li Zhongnan scoffed, "but he still embezzled!"

Jiang Li smiled, "Bring the witnesses."

This time, the witnesses called were former subordinates of Xue Huaiyuan, including Peng Xiao, He Jun, Gu Da, and Gu Er. They were already filled with righteous fervor, even if it was just to exonerate Xue Huaiyuan in their lifetime, finally seizing the moment. Without waiting for Jiang Li to speak, they immediately knelt down and meticulously narrated the hardships Xue Huaiyuan had endured over the past decade.

No one knew Xue Huaiyuan better than they did. With decades of being by his side, their words especially resonated with people. When they spoke of how Xue Huaiyuan was framed and imprisoned, and how they, as government officers, were heartlessly tormented in the mines by Feng Yutang’s men, these men of stature could not hold back their tears.

These were tears of blood.

Emperor Hongxiao seemed moved. Prince Cheng, sensing danger, immediately intervened, "No matter what, the fact remains that Xue Huaiyuan embezzled! As Miss Jiang the Second said, he deserves to be punished with a thousand cuts." He couldn’t let Jiang Li continue speaking.

"Wait," said Emperor Hongxiao.