Chapter 724: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 724: The Final Struggle (1)
The Ministry of Justice’s prison mainly held serious offenders from the court, who were usually sent to their designated destinations after trial. Therefore, the prison was relatively empty, with even the cells adjacent to Mo Qingze’s being vacant.
With Li Yan and Tang Xin guarding outside the cell, Mo Yan felt secure discussing escape plans with her father without fear of eavesdroppers.
“… Father has a way to prove his innocence and will return home soon. Yan’er, just look after the family and wait for me to come back,” Mo Qingze said gently, easing the previously tense atmosphere with his words.
Mo Yan thought her father was merely trying to comfort her and quickly responded, “Father, don’t worry about the family. I’ll find a way to rescue you. You just need to focus on protecting yourself. If anyone tries to torture you, don’t resist. I will definitely find a way to get you out!”
Mo Qingze felt uneasy at her words. He wished he could fully explain the plan to his daughter, but given her personality, she might react with extreme distress or even refuse to acknowledge him if she knew the full extent of the danger. Their family faced powerful enemies, and if they didn’t take this opportunity to counter them, the enemies’ schemes would only become more severe.
At this point, they could only press on. Revealing the truth to his daughter would only add to her worries, and if Prince Heng or the Lin family discovered their plans, their subsequent actions would be jeopardized.
Understanding that Mo Yan might not believe him, Mo Qingze patted her head and said, “Father does have a way to escape, but the timing isn’t right to tell you yet. You will see that Father was not lying when the public trial happens! Moreover, this is ultimately directed at the Crown Prince. Since the Crown Prince is aware, he won’t stand by idly. Rest assured!”
Mo Yan, reassured by her father’s reasoning, acknowledged that the situation had escalated overnight. Chu Heng, being aware of the scandal, would not remain passive. As long as he intervened, revealing the plots of Prince Heng and the Lin family, her father would be safe.
She considered the possibility that Chu Heng might be unable to clear his name and might shift the blame onto her father, but that was unlikely. If Chu Heng had no means, he would not have managed to sit on the throne for over twenty years despite his health issues.
With this thought, Mo Yan felt somewhat reassured. Although she was curious about her father’s escape plan, she knew he wouldn’t reveal it if she pressed further. She simply said, “Since you have a plan, I won’t press further. Remember to take care of yourself. If Prince Heng or the Lin family sends people to force a confession or torture you, don’t resist. Just handle it to avoid punishment!”
Having heard this advice twice in a short time, Mo Qingze felt a mix of gratitude and amusement. To prevent his daughter from worrying too much, he smiled and explained the legal practices of the Da Chu.
Mo Yan learned that she had misunderstood the situation. According to Da Chu’s laws, private torture of suspects was prohibited before a formal trial.
Mo Qingze, accused of examination fraud with ample evidence, would be tried publicly without prior interrogation. If he could present evidence of his innocence, he would be released. If not, and he did not accept the verdict, he could face torture to force a confession.
Of course, this was not always absolute. In some local areas, officials, driven by political gains, might resort to torture to coerce confessions from suspects. While some suspects were guilty, others were wrongfully coerced, leading to numerous injustices and wrongful convictions.
(End of Chapter)
TRANSLATION COMPLETED To Read advance Chapters, Please read it on Patreon or Ko-fi. Your support helps us continue bringing you great content!
►►CLICK HERE FOR LISTS OF CHAPTERS◄◄
No comments: