"What is this? You can speak freely about anything you hear or see, without any reservations. If you can say something useful, perhaps I can plead with His Majesty on your behalf and spare your life!"
Hearing Nie Shan's words, Lin Daqian's face indeed showed a hint of struggle.
"They, they all died of the plague. Many people in the prison can testify to this. Moreover, the government found doctors to examine them. After about an hour of torment, they all died one after another!"
After a moment of silence, Lin Daqian finally remembered his sister's words. Without him as her brother-in-law, the Lin family could only continue to decline.
Therefore, for the sake of both his father and his sister, he could only stick to this story at this moment.
After hearing his words, Li Bangyan also breathed a long sigh of relief. If his brother-in-law had said something he shouldn't have said at this time, then he, the prime minister, might have had to pack up and leave immediately.
"Lord Nie, these are all his one-sided statements. I think, my lord, you should still bring all the on-duty guards to confront him in court!"
Cai You, who had originally thought he might gain something unexpected today, couldn't help but interject again. He couldn't believe that Nie Shan was being so obviously biased.
"I naturally know that they should be brought to confront each other at this time. However, unfortunately, just last night, I received the bad news that those guards who had been sentenced to exile had died on their way back to the capital due to their weakened physical condition..."
"Died?"
Upon hearing this news, Cai You's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
He slammed his hands forcefully on the armrests of his chair and stood up abruptly. His eyes were fixed on Nie Shan as if he were about to fight him.
"That's right, these people contracted malaria on their way back. After three days, all treatments were ineffective..."
"A good 'all treatments ineffective'! Then where are their bodies?"
Even Wang Fu couldn't help but sneer.
Even if these people were dead, they surely had some value. If something unusual could be found on their bodies, or if it could be proven that they were murdered, then Han Mo's case would truly be hard to clarify.
"Prime Minister Wang is joking. How could the bodies of people infected with malaria be brought into Bianliang City? After being identified and verified by the county yamen's coroner and guards, they were cremated on the spot!"
Damn it!
Wang Fu couldn't help but want to curse. These people were too thorough.
"Lord Nie indeed has excellent methods. It seems that before long, Lord Nie will also be promoted rapidly!"
"Prime Minister Wang's words are truly strange. Could it be that Prime Minister Wang thinks that I am the one who committed murder to silence witnesses?"
The two already had a past grievance. At this moment, seeing this fellow speaking sarcastically in front of him, Nie Shan had no intention of indulging him.
"I did not say that!"
At this point in the case, Wang Fu understood everything.
Nie Shan was deliberately delaying the proceedings. Now that there was no other way, he was merely going through the motions again.
It would be truly miraculous if anything could be revealed from this interrogation.
Therefore, after leaving these words, he directly flicked his sleeves and left.
Seeing Wang Fu leave, Prince Yun and Cai You also lost any interest in listening further.
After all, the case had already been reviewed by the Hebei authorities. If no new tricks could be found during the trial, the final outcome would likely be nothing.
Now that Li Bangyan and Prince Xin Zhao Zhen were both present, they could no longer exert pressure on Nie Shan behind his back.
The two then found separate excuses and stood up to leave the session.
Since the key witnesses were gone, and their disappearance was logical.
After another half an hour of deliberation, Nie Shan directly announced the adjournment of the court and went to report to the palace.
With the presiding judge gone, Li Bangyan naturally had no excuse to stay any longer.
However, as he was leaving, he smiled and nodded at Han Mo.
Although Han Mo had initiated this case in the first place, he also knew that his brother-in-law was truly too lawless.
Not to mention anything else, just the act of setting fire to the county yamen in broad daylight was enough to warrant a hundred deaths for him.
Han Mo not accusing him of colluding with Liao country's elite assassins was already saving Li Bangyan's political career.
In today's situation, this was the best outcome for both Han Mo and Li Bangyan.
As for whether Han Mo's judgment and handling of the case were problematic or not, it was now entirely up to the emperor's decision.
"Brother Han, I think after Lord Nie returns, you should be able to get away scot-free. Let's go, come to my place and sit for a while!"
Seeing the crowd disperse, Zhang Shaoyou said with a smile.
"Then I'll trouble you, Brother Shaoyou!"
Han Mo did not refuse. Since there was nothing else to do, he could also use this opportunity to discuss future matters with Zhang Shaoyou.
"Your Majesty, Lord Nie has arrived and is waiting outside the door!"
As Liang Shicheng and Zhao Ji were talking, a young eunuch suddenly walked in and said softly.
"It seems the case of that young man has reached a conclusion!"
Upon hearing the young eunuch's words, Zhao Ji said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, shall this old minister withdraw?"
Liang Shicheng said with a knowing smile.
"It's alright. This young man's matter is not a major state affair. You can listen as well!"
Zhao Ji casually waved his hand, signaling Liang Shicheng to sit down, and then had the young eunuch invite Nie Shan in.
"Your subject, Nie Shan, the Deputy Minister of Kaifeng Prefecture, greets Your Majesty!"
"Lord Nie, you are entering the palace at this time. Has the case yielded any progress?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this case has been concluded. This is the result of my inquiry. Please review it, Your Majesty!"
As Nie Shan spoke, he took out a memorial from his sleeve, along with the related case files.
A nearby eunuch received them and quickly turned to place them on Zhao Ji's desk.
"According to your words, then, Han Mo's handling of this lawsuit was not improper!"
Zhao Ji glanced at the final result and immediately lost interest in continuing.
"Replying to Your Majesty, here are the documents transferred from Hebei Road. County Lieutenant Lü Ying has admitted his dereliction of duty. Furthermore, the County Assistant and Chief Clerk appointed by the Ministry of Personnel have not yet taken office. The incident occurred suddenly, and in my opinion, Han Mo's actions were not improper!"
Nie Shan said this casually, as it was a favor.
"Since that is the case, then proceed as you see fit! By the way, how many years have you served in Kaifeng Prefecture?"
Hearing the emperor's words, Nie Shan was stunned. What was going on? Judging by the emperor's tone, was he about to be promoted?