Chapter 317 People's Petition
During the days when the Qian family father and son were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, Qianhuan could not sit still. She asked the prince to send someone to investigate who wrote the letter of treason.
So as soon as she arrived at Prince An's Mansion, she couldn't wait to ask the prince, "Zi Yu, have your people found any clues in the past few days? Who sent that letter?"
"My people checked all the people who had been in and out of the Qian Mansion recently, and they didn't find anyone with suspicious behavior. In addition, no outsiders had visited the Qian Mansion recently, except for the married young lady of the Qian family who went back to her parents' home. I originally wanted to visit the father and son of the Qian family in the prison of the Ministry of Justice and ask if anyone had entered General Qian's study before the incident. Unfortunately, His Majesty issued an oral order that no one was allowed to visit, so my people didn't get any useful clues."
"Are we really going to watch hundreds of people in Qianfu being beheaded? Is there no other way to save them?"
"Your Majesty has now closed the case and convicted the person. If you want to reopen the case, there is only one last option left."
Hearing that there was another way, Qianhuan felt a glimmer of hope in her heart, "What is it?"
"Take the petition from the people and present it to His Majesty. Then His Majesty will suspend the execution and give the person who received the petition from the people five days to find evidence. If they can be proven innocent, His Majesty will release them. If no evidence is found after five days, the outcome will be the same."
Qianhua quickly asked, "What is the People's Petition?"
"Dayuan has a specific law. If a family sentenced to execution feels that they have been wronged, as long as someone can get 100,000 people to sign their names or put their handprints on it, the document is called the People's Petition. The person who gets the People's Petition can use it to ask Your Majesty for a chance to have the case retried."
Yin Hua, who was serving at the side, couldn't help but complain when she heard this, "But this petition of all people actually requires 100,000 signatures from ordinary people. This is really too difficult. It seems that even if we give this opportunity, it's as good as not giving it at all."
Banxia nodded as well. "Yes, 100,000 people are indeed too many. Besides, the common people in the capital know how to seek benefits and avoid harm. The criminals have been sentenced to death along with their entire family, and the common people would avoid them. How could they risk signing their names?"
The prince nodded, "Yes, it is because it is too difficult. Although there is such a special case in Dayuan, no family sentenced to death has ever successfully obtained a petition from the people."
Qianhuan asked curiously, "Then if I spend money to ask ordinary people to help sign, is that okay?"
The prince shook his head, "Of course not. The petition of all people must be signed by the people willingly without any conditions. Once it is discovered that they have bribed others, the initiator will be severely punished."
Qianhuan originally thought that she was financially strong now, and as long as she could save the lives of hundreds of people in the Qian family, she would at most pay half of her fortune and ask 100,000 ordinary people to sign.
She can earn money again if she loses it, but once a person is gone, he is gone forever. Who knows that he can never be bought with money.
She thought about it for a while, and finally decided to give it a try, "Zi Yu, although it is difficult to get the petition of the people, I still want to give it a try."
The prince never dreamed that Qianhuan would make such a decision. "Huan'er, we only have three days. It is almost impossible to get 100,000 people to sign. Have you really thought it through?"
Qianhuan said with a firm look in her eyes, "Well, I have thought about it. Commander Qian once saved my life, and now it is my turn to repay him. Besides, I have heard about General Qian's deeds a long time ago, and I really don't want to see a loyal minister being wrongly accused and beheaded. No matter what, I will try my best."
Seeing that Qianhuan had made her decision, the prince could only support her. "Okay, since you have made up your mind, Huan'er, I will definitely support you with all my strength. However, as a military commander in the court, it is inconvenient for me to come forward on this matter. I will secretly send some people to help you collect signatures."
Qianhuan shook her head and said, "No, Ziyu, you don't have to send anyone to me. You should not get involved in this matter for the time being. I am collecting signatures to repay a favor, but it is different for you. If you get involved, His Majesty will think that you have some connection with Qianfu, and it will be bad if His Majesty suspects you."
The prince knew that Qianhuan was worried about him, "Well, I won't get involved in this matter, but you have to do it within your ability and don't force yourself. I will also send someone to secretly investigate the letter in the next three days."
"it is good."
Time was running out, so Qianhuan immediately sent someone to set up a long desk on the most crowded street in the capital. The desk was equipped with pens, ink, ink pad for fingerprints, and a thick, wide document.
This move attracted many people who loved to watch the fun, and everyone gathered around the table and whispered curiously.
Qian Hua quickly opened her voice and shouted, "My fellow villagers, General Qian sacrificed his life to protect the people of Dayuan. He guarded the border all year round and fought in battles in the south and the north. Although we are living in a peaceful and prosperous era now, we should not forget the heroes who once defended our homeland."
"Fellow villagers, General Qian's family has been sentenced to death for treason. This must be a frame-up by a villain. Please sign your names on the document and help us get the petition from the people to help the Qian family clear their grievances."
Qianhuan spoke passionately, but the people knew that she wanted them to sign, so they immediately dispersed.
Someone even ruthlessly complained, "Girl, please don't come and harm us ordinary people. We don't want to have anything to do with people who collaborate with the enemy and betray our country. Once we sign our names, maybe one day the people above us will be unhappy and come to settle accounts with us and behead us as traitors. That would be unjust."
Other common people also echoed, "That's right, we ordinary people should just live our own lives honestly. We don't have the ability to save those who have been sentenced to death."
Qianhuan felt sad when she saw that the common people were all indifferent and indifferent.
This is simply the tragedy of a nation. Everyone is only concerned with preserving themselves, but is unwilling to stand up and uphold justice for a good man. If General Qian knew that the people he was protecting were so indifferent, he would probably be heartbroken.
At this moment, an old man stood up and said, "Girl, I am willing to sign, but I am illiterate and cannot write my own name."
The old man's words were like a warm current that warmed Qianhuan's cold heart. She quickly helped the old man to the table and said, "Uncle, it doesn't matter if you can't write. Just dip some ink in the ink and make a fingerprint."
The old man placed his thumb on the ink pad and then pressed his fingerprint on the large document.
Qianhuan looked at the bright red handprint and almost couldn't hold back her tears. She thanked him excitedly, "Thank you, old man. Thank you for being willing to contribute your little bit of strength to clear the Qian family's grievances."
"Girl, you don't have to thank me. I should thank General Qian. When the Canglang Nation invaded my tribe, my son also fought on the frontier battlefield. My son said that he was seriously injured and dying on the battlefield. He thought he was going to die, but General Qian didn't give up on him, a small soldier, and personally rescued him. We should thank General Qian. I believe that a general who loves his soldiers like that will never betray his country and his people."
Perhaps the old man's words worked, and many people who had received favors from the Qian family came forward one after another to sign their names.
Although there were not many people in this group, Qianhuan still saw a glimmer of hope.
By the time it got dark, only a few hundred people had signed the document, which was a huge difference from the 100,000 people.
Qianhuan knew that at this rate, it would take even three months, let alone three days, to collect 100,000 signatures. She decided to change her strategy and use what she was best at to arouse the conscience and passion of these ignorant people.
Thinking of this, she quickly asked someone to pack up and return home.