The officials of the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice are both enemies of Duke Mu. Consort Shu cannot bribe them. The witnesses are all under tight protection. Even if Consort Shu sends someone to kill them, there is still a lot of physical evidence, enough to convict Duke Mu of a serious crime. Arresting people to hold hostages hostage to threaten the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion, Prince Yan, and Ye Qianlong? It seems that there are no such powerful hostages in the capital who can influence these three major forces: "Consort Shu seems to be at her wit's end."
“According to ordinary people’s thinking, there is indeed no way to save Duke Mu. However, Consort Shu is no ordinary person.” Dongfang Heng held Shen Lixue’s slender waist, rested his chin lightly on her soft shoulder, and looked unfathomable: “Have you seen the evidence proving Duke Mu’s crimes?”
Shen Lixue shook her head. The arrest of Duke Mu was planned by Dongfang Heng and Dongfang Yan. She was not involved and therefore had not seen the evidence. "Is there anything special about the evidence?"
"The evidence is somewhat special. I can vaguely guess how Consort Shu saved Duke Mu!" Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes flashed with fierce light. He would never let Consort Shu get her way.
Three days later, the third joint trial of Duke Mu was held. This final trial of a noble family was related to the situation of the nobility in the capital, and the people of the capital were paying close attention. Many people surrounded the main hall of the Jingzhao Prefecture, listening quietly to the trial conducted by the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice.
Witnesses stood side by side, while physical evidence was placed in the center, proving that Duke Mu had embezzled hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
The prefect of the capital slammed his gavel down and shouted, "Duke Mu, the witnesses and evidence are all there. What else do you have to say?"
The Duke of Mu, dressed in a white prison uniform, with his hair somewhat disheveled and a long beard on his chin, looked tired from his sharp gaze as he lightly swept over the rows of witnesses and physical evidence: "My lord, to be honest, the hundreds of thousands of taels of military pay were indeed embezzled by the Duke of Mu's mansion. However, the one who embezzled the silver was not me, but my good-for-nothing son, Mu Tao!"
One stone stirs up a thousand waves; the calm crowd instantly erupted in uproar. What happened? Just as the third trial was about to end, and the embezzlement case that had been making headlines for more than half a month was about to conclude, this unexpected turn of events occurred. The one who embezzled the silver was not Duke Mu, but Mu Tao.
The Prefect of the Capital's expression changed slightly, and he slammed the gavel down again: "Duke Mu, don't spout nonsense. In the first and second trials, there were witnesses and physical evidence. Why didn't you cry foul then? Why wait until the third trial to say you're innocent? You're clearly trying to shift the blame and exonerate yourself!"
"My lord, as a border general, I have always been strict with myself. I have worked with you before, and everyone in the court knows my character. Do you think I am someone who speaks nonsense and embezzles money?" Duke Mu stared directly at the Jingzhao Prefecture, his gaze sharp as a knife, his words resounding.
The governor of Jingzhao Prefecture frowned slightly: "Duke Mu, you have served in the court for many years. A person's character can change sometimes. In the face of so much evidence, character is not very convincing."
"Then please show me the evidence, Your Excellency." Duke Mu bit his finger and, amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, wrote his name on the ground in blood.
“Every expenditure of military pay bears my personal signature. However, while I am skilled in calligraphy and my handwriting is round and powerful, these signatures, though they try their best to imitate my handwriting, appear thin and bony, and the brushstrokes are rough. They must have been written by a pure military man!”
"Really?" The Prefect of Jingzhao picked up the evidence books with skepticism. Just as Duke Mu had said, the handwriting on them was thin and thick, completely different from the rounded characters written by Duke Mu.
The Prefect of Jingzhao was a man of the Prince of Yan, but facing the large crowd outside, he couldn't openly lie. He slammed his gavel and angrily said, "Since Duke Mu is innocent, why didn't you say so earlier? You've delayed my joint trial in two courts, deliberately disrupting the government's handling of the case..."
“I have always felt that I was innocent. When I was in prison, I instructed my eldest son to search for evidence everywhere. Last night, my eldest son came to see me in prison and told me the whole story. Only then did I realize that the Duke of Mu’s mansion had indeed embezzled money. It’s all my fault for having such a good-for-nothing son.”
Duke Mu had indeed heard last night that Mu Tao had embezzled silver and framed him. He was both angry and resentful. His words were forceful and heartbreaking, and they brought a pang of sadness to the reader. Being framed by one's beloved son must have been a terrible feeling.
The Prefect of Jingzhao's gaze deepened. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Duke Mu repeatedly claimed his innocence and named a suspect. For the sake of fairness, he had to summon that suspect as well for joint trial: "Someone, go and invite the second young master of Duke Mu's mansion!"
"Yes!" The officials accepted the order, squeezed through the crowd, and rushed towards the Duke of Mu's mansion. The trial in the main hall was temporarily suspended, and the onlookers gathered in small groups, discussing among themselves.
"What's going on? The Second Young Master Mu embezzled military funds and framed the Duke of Mu? This is outrageous..."
"If it's true, then Young Master Mu is truly despicable; he's his own biological father..."
"Who can argue with that? But is it possible that Duke Mu wants his son to take the blame? The Duke Mu's mansion is on the verge of collapse, and his son can't hold it up, so he's going to do it for him..."
"It's possible..."
Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng stood in an inconspicuous corner, having heard everything the Duke of Mu said: "So the Consort Shu's clever trick was to make Mu Tao take the blame."
“It’s not exactly taking the blame. That money was embezzled by Mu Tao. Duke Mu took the blame for Mu Tao.” Dongfang Heng’s sharp gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on Duke Mu in the center of the hall.
He was the pillar of the Duke of Mu's mansion. With his death, the Duke of Mu's mansion collapsed. Mu Tao was his son, and he became a cripple. Even if he was sentenced to death and fined hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, it would not shake the foundation of the Duke of Mu's mansion. After a few years of recuperation, the Duke of Mu's mansion could still be among the noble families.
Consort Shu was indeed clever, knowing how to sacrifice the lesser for the greater good. However, unfortunately, he was not prepared to let Consort Shu's plan succeed: "Where is Mu Tao now?"
Shen Lixue smiled gently and looked at the rows of houses in the distance: "They're on the rooftops, hugging wine jars and drowning their sorrows in alcohol!"
A strange smile crept across Dongfang Heng's lips: "Let's go see him!"
Mu Tao's hand was crippled, and he could no longer use a sword. He was very depressed. After the Duke of Mu's accident, his elder brother took over all the affairs of the manor, leaving Mu Tao with no say. Occasionally, he would overhear the servants gossiping that he was crippled for life and a useless second young master. Hearing this, he became extremely depressed. He punished the servants, then sat on the roof with a wine jar, trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
His dazed gaze drifted towards the direction where Duke Mu was being tried, his heart heavy with sorrow. He hadn't meant to harm his father. A few days ago, he had cooperated with his aunt in capturing Shen Lixue to blackmail Ye Qianlong into rescuing her. Unfortunately, she had escaped, and his father couldn't be saved...
Father, rest assured, I will take good care of the family! Mu Tao raised the wine jar towards the direction of the Jingzhao Prefecture, his eyes glistening with tears. From beginning to end, he never thought of admitting his guilt and clearing the name of Duke Mu.
"Heng, where are we going for lunch?" A clear female voice suddenly rang out. Mu Tao was startled at first, his dazed thoughts instantly clearing. He blinked hard and looked down:
Shen Lixue, dressed in a soft, fragrant purple silk robe, with her hair styled in an exquisite updo, walked slowly down the long alley with a smile in her beautiful eyes. She gazed affectionately at the man beside her. The man, dressed in white, was tall and handsome, smiling at the woman beside him. Every move he made was elegant and noble.
Shen Lixue, Dongfang Heng!
Seeing the two walking hand in hand, so full of affection, Mu Tao was furious. These two bastards had made him lose face and become a cripple. He had sent people to search for them for a long time, but they couldn't find them. He never expected that they would deliver themselves to his door today. He absolutely could not let them go!
With a cold glint in his eyes, Mu Tao tossed the wine jar aside, preparing to jump off the roof to teach the two a lesson. Unexpectedly, his right hand accidentally hit the wine jar, and a sharp pain shot through him. His wrist, however, was limp and numb. He gritted his teeth. His right hand was crippled. He was no match for the two of them. He couldn't act impulsively. He couldn't act impulsively.
"That Lin Yue Lou restaurant up ahead looks nice, let's go there for a meal!" Dongfang Heng said softly, with a faint smile. His gentleness was reserved only for Shen Lixue.
"Okay!" Shen Lixue smiled and tightened her grip on Dongfang Heng's arm. She glanced at Mu Tao on the rooftop out of the corner of her eye and strode towards Lin Yue Tower.
Mu Tao silently jumped off the roof, his eyes icy cold, and followed Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, looking for an opportunity to ambush them.
The alley was so quiet that even the slightest footsteps could be heard. Mu Tao couldn't find an opportunity to ambush Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng. He could only watch helplessly as the two of them walked into Lin Yue Tower, his teeth clenched in hatred.
It wasn't mealtime yet, and Lin Yue Lou was very quiet, with hardly any customers except for the manager and waiters.
Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng preferred quiet, so they sat in a corner where they wouldn't attract attention.
Mu Tao stood at the doorway, glaring hatefully at the two people in the corner: Damn it, there are walls on both sides, how can he launch a sneak attack? These two are really clever, fighting openly, he is no match for them at all.
Feeling frustrated, he slammed his left hand hard against the wall, making the wide-open wooden door next to him rattle loudly. A sharp pain shot through his fist, and blood oozed out. Mu Tao's eyes narrowed; the wall was incredibly sturdy. Despite his immense strength, he hadn't broken it.
With a cold gaze, Mu Tao carefully looked at the entrance. The main hall of Lin Yue Tower was neither large nor small, enough for four or five people to pass through at the same time. Looking at the three solid walls, Mu Tao's eyes darted around, and a strange smile appeared on his lips: Hehe, today is the day of death for Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng!
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... The great battle begins tomorrow, and the Xiliang expedition will enter its final stages...
Chapter 185: The Prince Pranks People, Western Liang Is in Chaos