Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 337 The minister impeached Wen He for being tortured into confessing and for disregarding human life!

Inside the prison cell of the Wannian County government office, the air was filled with a damp, musty smell.

The usual sounds of jailers' footsteps and prisoners' occasional wails were broken today by a series of urgent shouts.

"died?!"

Fan Biao rushed into the men's prison cell, his coarse cloth clothes soaked with sweat and clinging tightly to his back.

He shoved aside the jailers surrounding the cell door and his gaze fell on the haystack in the corner.

Lin An, who had just been transferred here a few days ago, was now curled up in a pile of grass, his eyes wide open, his face bluish-black, and he had already stopped breathing. His body was as stiff as a stone.

"Fan...Fan Shuai!" The jailer guarding the male prisoners trembled with fear as he pointed at Lin An's corpse.

"He was fine yesterday, but he stopped breathing when I was on patrol this morning!"

Before Fan Biao could recover from the shock, another exclamation came from the female prison cell next door: "Something terrible has happened! The female... the female prisoner is in trouble too!"

His heart sank, and he rushed to the door of the female prisoner's cell. The sight before him made his pupils shrink.

Qu Mei lay by the wooden bars of the cell, her slightly protruding pregnant belly particularly striking. Her face was also bluish-black, and a trace of black blood remained at the corner of her mouth. On the pile of straw beside her was a half-eaten bowl of rice porridge, clearly indicating that she had also died from poisoning, resulting in the deaths of both mother and child.

"He died of poisoning!"

Another jailer ran over, trembling, holding an empty ceramic bowl in his hand.

"Old Zhou, who was in charge of delivering meals last night... was also poisoned to death, and his body is still in the woodshed behind the kitchen!"

Fan Biao was completely stunned, his mind went blank.

The case had clearly been investigated and cleared up. Lin An and Qu Mei's confessions, letters, and medical records were all complete and irrefutable. The Ministry of Justice was just waiting to send someone to interrogate and convict them today. How could the two prisoners suddenly be poisoned to death?
"What...what on earth is going on?!"

Fan Biao grabbed the collar of the jailer beside him, his tone urgent.

"Didn't you notice anything unusual when they delivered the food last night? Has anyone been to the cell?"

"No!"

The jailer, struggling to breathe from his grip, quickly shook his head.

“Last night, only Old Zhou delivered the food. Only a few of us guards have the key to the cell; no one dares to come in casually. Besides, Old Zhou has worked at the county government for ten years and has never made a mistake. How could this be…”

Fan Biao let go of his hand and scratched his hair in frustration.

The case is not complicated. It's just a couple who killed each other because their affair was exposed. There are no high-ranking officials or wealthy families involved. Why would anyone risk poisoning someone in the county jail?
"The Ministry of Justice is sending people to investigate today, what should we do!"

A young prison guard said, his voice trembling with tears.

“The prisoner died in our hands, and it implicated Lao Zhou. We will definitely be held accountable!”

Fan Biao panicked.

If a prisoner dies in custody, the guards will be held accountable, and may even be exiled!

He forced himself to calm down, his mind racing: "Could it be that Chen Gui's family has come for revenge?"

But when I thought about it again, I felt something was wrong.

Lin An and Qu Mei have already been convicted and will be executed in a few days. Is it worth it for Chen Gui's family to risk poisoning them?
Moreover, if it was for revenge, it would have been fine to poison only two prisoners, but why poison the prison guard Lao Zhou who delivered the food?

This makes no sense at all!
"That's not right!" Fan Biao suddenly realized.

"Old Zhou was a food deliveryman. If someone poisoned his food, how could he have died? He wouldn't eat prisoners' food, would he?"

Upon hearing this, the jailers present were all stunned.

Yes, Lao Zhou was in charge of delivering the food, so how did he get poisoned too?
"I'm going to find the county magistrate of Gaoyang!"

Fan Biao suddenly slapped his thigh, realizing he had just thought of Wen He.

He turned to the jailers and sternly ordered, "You all stay here and do not allow anyone to approach the cells or touch anything in the scene. We'll make further plans after I bring the magistrate of Gaoyang County here!"

He suddenly had a bad feeling.

I have a feeling there's something big going on behind this.

"Yes Yes!"

The jailers quickly agreed, no longer daring to panic, and stood guard at the cell door, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

Fan Biao had barely reached the cell when the Ministry of Justice personnel arrived.

Upon learning of this, the Ministry of Justice immediately detained Fan Biao and the prison guards.

The next morning.

Incense smoke filled the Taiji Hall.

The civil and military officials lined up on both sides according to their ranks. As the eunuch announced in a loud voice, they all bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you!"

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the officials below. After the formalities were completed, he raised his hand and said, "If there are no urgent reports today, the court may adjourn."

According to usual practice, if no official submits a memorial or there are no major changes in the court, the other officials only need to go through the formality of "attending court" before returning to their respective offices to handle their affairs.

Inside the hall, several elderly high-ranking officials had already closed their eyes to rest, awaiting the order to dismiss the court.

But just then, a figure suddenly stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, breaking the tranquility of the hall.

"Your Majesty!" Imperial Censor Fang Chengwen, holding his official tablet, bowed deeply and spoke in a loud voice.

"Your humble servant, Imperial Censor Fang Chengwen, impeaches Wen He, the magistrate of Gaoyang County, for disregarding human life, abusing his power for personal gain, and framing innocent people!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the Taiji Hall.

Changsun Wuji, Li Jing, and the others, who had been resting with their eyes closed, suddenly opened their eyes and their gazes fell on Fang Chengwen.

The other officials were even more astonished.

How many censors have impeached Wen He now?
Today, they've directly accused them of "disregarding human life"!

Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, suddenly turned grim. His previously calm gaze instantly sharpened as he stared directly at Fang Chengwen: "Imperial Censor Fang, you say that Wen He disregarded human life and framed innocent people. Do you have any evidence?"

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!" Fang Chengwen was prepared and took out a scroll of memorial from his sleeve, raising it above his head with both hands.

"Four days ago, Wen He, the son of Gaoyang County, and Fan Biao, the head of the Wannian County gang, were ordered to investigate the case of the floating corpse on the south bank of the Wei River. Soon after, they arrested Qu Mei, the wife of the deceased Chen Gui, and Lin An, the steward, on charges of 'conspiracy to murder.' But yesterday, the two of them died tragically in prison!"

"According to my investigation, this case only has the testimonies of Qu Mei and Lin An, and there is no physical evidence or witness testimony to corroborate it. I suspect that Wen He, in order to meet Your Majesty's deadline of 'solving the case within two days,' colluded with Fan Biao to extract a false confession through torture, and then killed him to cover it up, thus deceiving Your Majesty!"

His tone was resolute, his words forceful, as if he had witnessed the "truth" firsthand.

The ministers in the hall immediately displayed various expressions.

If what Fang Chengwen said is true, then Wen He's crime is very serious!

"nonsense!"

A cold shout suddenly rang out, and Li Daozong strode out from the ranks of military officers, pointing at Fang Chengwen and angrily saying, "Wen He and Qu Mei and Lin An are complete strangers, with no grudges or enmities between them. Why would he go to such lengths to frame them!"

Fang Chengwen remained calm and retorted, "Prince Rencheng is mistaken. Although Wen He has no enmity with the two, he is under pressure from the 'two-day deadline.' His Majesty once said that if he cannot solve the case within two days, he will be fined a year's salary, which is several hundred shi of grain. How could Wen He be willing to accept that? Furthermore, if he cannot solve the case, he will be ridiculed. Therefore, he will take risks for fame and fortune!"

"you!"

Li Daozong was so angry at his fallacious reasoning that his face turned red. He wanted to argue further, but Li Shimin interrupted him sharply: "Enough!"

Li Shimin's face was so dark it seemed to drip water, his knuckles white from gripping the armrests of the dragon throne so tightly. He stared at Fang Chengwen, his voice filled with suppressed rage: "I'll ask you one more time, you say Wen He was tortured into confessing and then murdered to cover it up, do you have even the slightest bit of evidence?!"

Fang Chengwen, however, remained defiant, his tone firm: "Your Majesty, this matter is fraught with doubt. Although I have no direct evidence, I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly! As a censor, my duty is to supervise all officials and impeach those who break the law. Even without concrete evidence, I must speak out for the people and for the wronged!"

Given the existing rule that censors could impeach without evidence, it was certain that Li Shimin would not punish him for lack of proof.

Seeing Fang Chengwen's "righteous and awe-inspiring" appearance, Li Shimin's anger intensified.

There must be someone behind this!
Is it the Guanlong Group?
Or were they from the Shandong gentry?

They have challenged my bottom line time and time again. Do they really think I dare not touch them?

Li Shimin took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and swept his gaze across the hall before shouting sternly, "Where is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review!"

Liu Dewei hadn't expected His Majesty to suddenly call his name, so he had no choice but to step forward and bow, saying, "This old minister is here."

"This matter will be investigated by the Court of Judicial Review!"

"The minister obeys the order."

Liu Dewei didn't want to accept the offer, but he had no choice but to.

only……

"Your Majesty, may we transfer the magistrate of Gaoyang County to the Dali Temple?"

He wouldn't dare make this decision on his own.

It still requires His Majesty's approval.

Li Shimin clenched his fist tightly inside his wide sleeve.

He wants to kill someone!
"He may be appointed, but remember, I have not dismissed him from his post, nor have I stripped him of his title!"

This statement can no longer be described as an implication.

He was telling those people that Wen He had not yet been convicted!
After leaving the court.

Li Daozong was furious and wanted to go find Fang Chengwen, but Li Jing stopped him.

"Don't be impulsive. If Wen Jiaying is innocent, those people won't be able to cause any trouble!"

Li Jing found it strange.

Who is behind this, that they dare to act so boldly?

Li Daozong was somewhat angry and stormed off.

Not long after.

Inside Dali Temple.

"So, someone deliberately framed me?"

Wen He took a bowl of steaming hot mutton soup from Liu Dewei.

After he was invited to the Dali Temple, Liu Dewei and Dai Zhou did not take him to the main hall, but instead invited him to a side hall.

"The deaths of those two prisoners were suspicious, as was that of the jailer. Now Fang Chengwen is insisting that you tortured them and then killed them to prevent the case from being overturned."

Liu Dewei felt bitter inside.

The same was true of Dai Zhou, who was standing beside him.

Why do those people have to cause trouble for no reason?

They all thought Wen He would be angry.

But the young man in front of him calmly took a sip of mutton soup and then let out a long sigh.

They were both jumping up and down in anxiety, but Wen He didn't react at all.
“Wenxianzi, do you have any leads on this matter?” Liu Dewei asked.

Wen He shook her head, put down the mutton soup in her hand, and smiled, "No clues, but this matter is not difficult."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Dewei nearly ripped off his beard.

This is a matter of life and death, isn't it difficult?
Now that the dead have no way to prove it.

This is like mud falling on your pants; even if it's not poop, it still looks like poop.

"Is the county magistrate thinking of something?" Dai Zhou asked, rather calmly.

Wen He raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled.

(End of this chapter)