Chapter 145 Rebellion
The next day.
The streets of the capital were as prosperous as ever, with constant sounds of hawking and hustle and bustle, and people walking through the bustling streets.
Suddenly, the sound of drums was heard in the distance. People stopped and listened, and soon news came back.
"Our top female scholar is beating drums to appeal for justice at the Dali Temple. Everyone, go and have a look."
The people flocked to the Dali Temple.
At this time in the Dali Temple, Song Shiwei had been brought to the court by the officials.
Han Qingyan had just returned from court and had not yet changed out of his official uniform. When he heard someone beating drums to complain about injustice, he rushed over.
Seeing Song Shiwei standing in the hall, he asked calmly, "Who is in the hall and why are you beating the drum?"
Song Shiwei took out the written complaint and said, "Song Shiwei, the top scorer in the Jinke exam, sues Cheng Enbo Song Moting for killing his wife and abandoning his daughter and robbing the Xu family's property.
Please be clear-headed and give justice to my mother Xu Miaoshu and the Xu family."
The officer presented Song Shiwei's complaint to Han Qingyan.
Han Qingyan was really surprised after reading the complaint. Xiao Jingheng did not inform him in advance that Song Shiwei was going to sue Song Moting.
Their Dali Temple handles the review and examination of criminal cases, while ordinary lawsuits are usually handled by the local county government.
If you encounter a difficult case, it can be handed over to the Ministry of Justice, which will then hand it over to the Dali Temple.
However, Nanli had laws that allowed court officials to report cases directly to the Dali Temple, bypassing the local county government.
Although Song Shiwei was not an official in the court, she was the female top scholar chosen by His Majesty, so it was reasonable for her to come to the Dali Temple to report the case.
What's more, the person she wanted to sue was Earl Cheng En, and only the Dali Temple dared to take on this matter.
Han Qingyan put down the complaint and asked Song Shiwei: "You want to sue Cheng Enbo for killing your biological mother.
But your mother has been dead for more than ten years. If we want to investigate this case thoroughly, we need to open the coffin and do an autopsy. Have you thought it through?"
Song Shiwei's eyes were firm: "Please help me, sir."
"it is good."
Han Qingyan gave an order: "Bring Lord Cheng En to the Dali Temple for questioning, and guard Lord Cheng En's mansion. Do not allow anyone to enter or leave."
"Yes."
The officer received the order and immediately took his men to the Cheng'en Marquis's Mansion.
Soon, Song Moting was brought here, and he didn't know what was going on.
Seeing Song Shiwei was also there, he hurriedly asked, "Weier, why are you here?"
Without waiting for Song Shiwei to answer, Han Qingyan asked, "Mr. Cheng'en, how did your late wife Xu die?"
Song Moting was stunned by his question, and then an ominous premonition arose.
He calmed himself and replied, "My wife, Xu, died of illness."
"Oh?"
Han Qingyan raised the last syllable of his words and said in a deep voice, "But your daughter Song Shiwei suspects that her mother Xu was murdered by you.
Now she has come to the Dali Temple to file a complaint against you for murdering your wife and seizing the Xu family's property. Do you admit it?"
Hearing this, Song Moting's face suddenly changed. He was stunned for a moment and then reacted and denied it flatly: "Nonsense."
He looked at Song Shiwei with a sad face and asked, "Wei'er, who on earth instigated you to be so confused?
I am your father, and you are committing treason by suing me in court."
Song Shiwei asked him: "Which article in Nanli law stipulates that a daughter cannot sue her father?
You just said that you are my father, so I would like to ask you, is there any father in this world who would abandon his own daughter in the countryside for more than ten years without caring about her?
You thought of me, your daughter, because you needed to find someone to marry you off.
In these eleven years, have you ever raised me, cared about me, or cared about my life or death?"
Every word she spoke was full of pearls, and every question she raised left Song Moting speechless and unable to refute.
He said, "So, you are willing to smear me and take revenge on me at the cost of your own reputation. Do you hate me that much?"
Song Shiwei sneered: "If you didn't do it, why would you be afraid of slander and revenge?
We will know how my mother died after we open the coffin and do an autopsy."
When he heard that they were going to open the coffin for an autopsy, Song Moting immediately stopped them and said, "No."
He pointed at Song Shiwei and cursed: "Do you know what you are doing?
Your mother has been dead for eleven years, and now you want to open the coffin for an autopsy and disturb her soul. You are an unfilial daughter, and you will be punished for doing this."
As he said this, Song Moting turned around and walked to the door, shouting to the people watching outside the yard, "Everyone, come and judge for yourself.
The daughter I raised has grown up strong and not only is she suing me as her father, she is even trying to open her own mother’s coffin.”
When the people heard what he said, they were immediately shocked and started talking about it.
Han Qingyan slammed the gavel and said to Song Moting, "Lord Cheng En, are you trying to incite the people?"
Song Moting said: "Sir Han, although she is the female champion selected by His Majesty, she is also my daughter, Song Moting.
There is no such thing as a daughter suing her own father as an act of rebellion in this world."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from the crowd: "His Royal Highness Prince Ling has arrived."
The people made way for them, and they saw Xiao Jingheng and his men coming towards them in a mighty procession.
He came to the hall and explained his purpose: "Your Majesty was quite shocked to learn that Song Zhuangyuan sued his father for murdering his wife, so he asked me to assist Lord Han in trying the case."
He looked at Song Shiwei and asked, "Song Zhuangyuan, if what you reported is not true, it is a capital crime of deceiving the emperor. If you regret it now, it is not too late."
Song Shiwei bowed and said in a clear voice: "I, Song Shiwei, am willing to bear all the consequences."
"it is good."
Xiao Jingheng waved his hand, and the Minister of Justice and the Censor of the Censorate stood up.
He said, "This case will be tried by the three judges, with Lord Han as the chief judge, and the king and the two others co-existing as judges."
Then he ordered the guards outside the door: "Let the common people in to listen to the trial."
Soon someone brought three chairs and placed them in the hall, and people flocked to the front of the hall to watch.
After Xiao Jingheng sat down, the other two adults took their seats one after another.
Because the presiding judge was Han Qingyan, he still sat in his seat.
He said, "Lord Cheng'en, this matter has alarmed His Majesty. As for whether Song Zhuangyuan's actions are treasonous, we will make a judgment after the case is concluded."
As he spoke, he slammed the gavel in his hand and asked in a dignified and stern voice: "I will ask you again, how did your first wife Xu die?"
Song Moting was terrified. He did not expect that this matter would alert His Majesty to the three-court trial.
And Song Shiwei was willing to sue him at the risk of her own reputation, so someone must have told her something.
I just don't know what evidence she has?
He calmed down, looked at Song Shiwei, and said with great sorrow: "Wei'er, do you really have to force me to tell the truth?"
After saying that, Song Moting knelt on the ground and said, "Sir, my wife Xu did not die of illness, but committed suicide by taking poison."