The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 634: Severe Torture to Extract a Confession (4)_1

Pei Qin didn’t want to hold on for another day! He was doomed to a short life from the beginning, having to endure this day after day, how much longer could he last even if he got out!?

Noticing her arm actively wrapping around him, encircling him, Mo Heng’s lips curled into a slight smile, "The wound hurts so much, lick it for me!"

"Shut up!" Pei Qin muttered irritably. Such a tease, still not behaving even now!

"Alright." Mo Heng chuckled in agreement, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes to rest.

Outside, Mo Dun inquired about the situation and wrote a memorial to see the Emperor in the palace.

He happened to run into Shen Bi entering the palace, and both went to the Imperial Study Room to see the Emperor regarding the same matter.

Shen Songming had already uncovered some clues; the poison in the soy sauce couldn’t have been added from outside the palace. All the soy sauce mouth seals, wax papers, and the second sealing would have discrepancies. Mo Dun, who could poison his own son causing partial blindness and expel him from the family with only a sliver of life left, how could he be impartial now? Given the Ministry of Justice’s bias, this case should be investigated jointly by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court. Transfer Pei Qin and Mo Heng to the Prison of the Ministry of Justice.

Mo Dun disagreed, "The Supreme Court began this investigation from the start, and this officer has already gathered certain evidence. Why does Elder Shen intervene and attempt to exonerate the criminals?"

Shen Bi glanced at him, "Then pray tell, Sir Mo, do you also believe your son, Mo Heng, plotted to poison the Emperor?"

This Shen Bi was actually trying to drag the Mo family down with him. Mo Dun’s face turned grim as he stared at Shen Bi, "Mo Heng has been expelled from our clan and has no further relations with the Mo family! Whether he has poisoned or not, this officer will let the evidence speak!"

Shen Bi laughed softly, "That is only your word. Your son excelled in the imperial examination at thirteen, a young scholar with boundless prospects. Why would the Mo family suddenly expel such a prodigy? In just a few years, he has allegedly plotted to poison the palace. Sir Mo, perhaps you need to recuse yourself from this case!"

Hearing there was also something involving Mo Heng, the Emperor asked in a deep voice what the matter was.

Mo Dun bowed and replied, "The criminal Mo Heng was indeed the rebellious son of my household; however, he committed an unforgivable serious crime against our clan. Family disgrace is not to be publicized, so the clan expelled that rebellious child without making it known. As for this poisoning case, this officer will certainly judge impartially, to prove to the world."

Shen Bi also petitioned that the case be transferred to the Ministry of Justice for investigation, avoiding any conflict of interest from the Supreme Court.

After more than a month of reflection, the Emperor also realized that even though Pei Qin might be extraordinary, as a rural woman, she could hardly extend her reach into the palace where the Empress Dowager, himself, and many consorts and concubines were poisoned. The case was indeed not as simple as it appeared on the surface. After contemplating, he said, "Then let the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court jointly preside over this case! The culprits have been caught; I want you to solve this case as soon as possible!"

Shen Bi quickly agreed, "Your subject will surely uncover the truth and reveal it to the world!"

With the Emperor’s decree to have both the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court jointly handle the case, Shen Bi, though an Elder Statesman and Minister of the Ministry of Justice, now had the legitimate authority to interrogate Pei Qin and Mo Heng and intervene in the case.

Elder Shen exhaled in relief upon hearing the outcome, "It’s also thanks to Mo Dun being the father of a half-blind son!" He immediately wanted to visit the prison; previously, Mo Dun almost killed his son Mo Heng, and Zheng Shijie was not an impartial man either. Pei Qin and Mo Heng in their hands might have already been tortured.

However, Pei Qin and Mo Heng were capital offenders, constantly held in the death cell, even the Ministry of Justice was denied access for interrogation.

The Emperor had ordered, allowing the Ministry of Justice to intervene, but the Supreme Court had already questioned without any progress. The only evidence was the poisoned soy sauce and useless confessions; gathering other evidence would require each to utilize their own skills for investigating and verifying.