Gu Hai immediately cupped his hands and presented the case files, "This subordinate admires you! Such a case should indeed be retried by you! If Nie Yuan truly suffered injustice, even if I haven't passed judgment yet, I am willing to bear responsibility!"
Hearing Gu Hai's tone towards Liang Xiao turn respectful, Gongyang Teng turned pale, while Gongyang He and others looked dejected.
They had originally proposed changing the interrogation to a public trial to pressure Liang Xiao with the populace, preventing him from interfering.
Who would have known that this public trial would instead allow Liang Xiao to publicly display his case-solving abilities, winning everyone over and earning him the right to conduct the interrogation himself!
Liang Xiao observed everyone's reactions, took the case files, and said with a grave expression, "Lord Gu, immediately dispatch men to guard all individuals involved in this case and their families, and seal their homes."
Gu Hai replied, "As this case has attracted the attention of the Ministry of Justice, before Marquis An Guo arrived, this subordinate had already taken such measures. Furthermore, guards selected from the Ministry of Justice were specifically assigned to supervise the constables, to guard against any unforeseen accidents."
Only then did Liang Xiao relax, and began reviewing the long-delayed case files, his brow soon furrowed.
Gongyang Teng and the others also noticed Liang Xiao's reaction and sneered inwardly.
"Bring Nie Yuan, the boatman Duan Sheng, Zhao Wu's wife, the coroner, and all the constables who participated in the arrest at the scene."
Since Gu Hai had been at the public trial earlier, these individuals were also present and were quickly gathered.
Although Nie Yuan's hands were bound behind his back, he was filled with hope at this moment, silently gazing at Liang Xiao.
Boatman Duan Sheng was a tall man in his thirties. Zhao Wu's wife was of ordinary appearance with red-rimmed eyes. There were about thirty constables, all of whom had knelt and paid their respects to Liang Xiao.
The gaunt old coroner, his face serious, awaited questioning.
Liang Xiao began to read the case files.
"On the twenty-seventh of the second month of the second year of Jianyuan, Nie Yuan, due to an argument with Zhao Wu, harbored resentment and on the night of the twenty-eighth, killed Zhao Wu with a knife. The boatman Duan Sheng and Zhao Wu's wife arrived at the scene and witnessed the event. Eyewitnesses and physical evidence all pointed to Nie Yuan as the murderer."
"Testimony of boatman Zhang Sheng: I had an appointment with Zhao Wu to take him across the Qinhuai River that night. Madam Zhao and the neighbors can all attest to this. However, I waited for a full hour that night, and Zhao Wu never showed up. Curious, I went to Zhao Wu's home to inquire. I found only Madam Zhao at home, and we went out together to look for Zhao Wu. We discovered Nie Yuan by the river in the woods, holding a knife, with Zhao Wu lying stiffly on the ground, already dead!"
"Testimony of Nie Yuan: I heard the familiar music of the Huichun Sect late at night and worried that members of the Huichun Sect might be lurking. I rushed out of my house and followed the sound to the riverside, where I discovered the treasure sword I had stolen lying on the ground with its scabbard. I picked it up and drew the blade, only to find its edge covered in blood! Confused, I searched the surroundings and found Zhao Wu's body. I thought he had been murdered by the Huichun Sect! A moment later, a man and a woman appeared before me, screaming in terror. Constables nearby, alerted by the commotion, rushed to apprehend me."
"Testimony of Zhao Wu's wife: My husband left in the evening for an urgent matter to the town across the river. I waited at home for his return the day after tomorrow. That night, the boatman Duan Sheng suddenly knocked on my door, saying my husband had been delayed and wanted to inquire about the situation. I said, 'My husband left long ago to find you; didn't you find him?' So Duan Sheng accompanied me out to ask the neighbors along the way if my husband had gone to a pleasure house... To our surprise, we discovered my husband dead on the road, with Nie Yuan holding a bloodstained knife!"
Everyone listened as Liang Xiao read the three testimonies, not daring to interrupt.
Liang Xiao continued, "The coroner's autopsy confirmed that Zhao Wu had been strangled, then stabbed once in the back of the head, and then received dozens more stab wounds. However, the first stab was already fatal."
After reading the autopsy results, Liang Xiao asked, "Coroner, are you certain about the autopsy findings?"
"Reporting to your lordship, it is confirmed. After all, the autopsy was not solely my responsibility; several other coroners were involved, and all confirmed the same findings!" the coroner replied respectfully.
Liang Xiao then had Nie Yuan's treasure sword brought forth. He drew the blade, revealing a blood-covered edge, though the blood had long since dried.
"Please, my lord, bring justice for my husband!" Zhao Wu's wife, after a month of suffering, spoke with a choked voice, though tears did not fall.
Duan Sheng also lamented with grief, "Such a good person, how could he have offended a villain like Nie Yuan..."
Nie Yuan did not respond, his gaze fixed on Liang Xiao, awaiting his pronouncement.
Liang Xiao asked, "Madam Zhao Wu, why did your husband need to cross the Qinhuai River at night?"
Madam Zhao Wu replied, "My lord, my husband deals in wild game and meat. That day, he said a merchant was delivering a batch of good merchandise and urged him to inspect it quickly to prevent spoilage. However, because boatman Duan Sheng had other customers to ferry during the day, and my husband was worried about rivals seizing the new goods, he arranged to meet Duan Sheng at night."
Liang Xiao asked Duan Sheng, "The case files also record your testimony. Is it true?"
"Reporting to your lordship, Zhao Wu was indeed in a hurry for me to ferry him across the river, saying he needed to inspect the goods quickly and feared competitors would snap them up!" Duan Sheng replied without hesitation.
"Nie Yuan, is your testimony completely consistent with what I just read?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Reporting to your lordship, it is completely consistent!" Nie Yuan nodded gravely, though a sense of unease grew within him.
With both witnesses and physical evidence pointing to him, it was indeed difficult to clear his name!
Liang Xiao then continued to question Madam Zhao Wu, "According to the testimony above, and the detailed scene recorded by the yamen for you, you were at home, and Duan Sheng knocked on your door calling out 'Madam Zhao.' After you opened the door, the subsequent events unfolded as described in both your testimonies, until you discovered Zhao Wu's body and Nie Yuan?"
Duan Sheng repeatedly nodded, "Yes, my lord!"
Liang Xiao repeated his earlier words three times and asked, "Duan Sheng, Madam Zhao Wu, are you certain that the testimony I have just read is completely accurate?"
Both nodded in unison, "Completely accurate!"
Shi Liuyun, who was observing from the side with Gongsun Ye, looked anxious.
The victim's wife and the boatman's testimonies were consistent, coupled with Nie Yuan's treasure sword, all pointing to Nie Yuan as the killer. There seemed to be no way for Nie Yuan to escape this accusation!
Nie Yuan finally could not help but speak, "My lord..."
"I have not asked you yet; do not speak!" Liang Xiao said sternly.
Gongsun Ye, Zhuo Zifang, He Jingyun, and others were startled.
Could it be that Nie Yuan was truly to be convicted as the murderer?
Liang Xiao simply asked the two again, "Duan Sheng, finding that Zhao Wu was delayed and didn't show up, became curious and ran to Zhao Wu's home to knock on the door and call out for Madam Zhao Wu, to inquire about the situation. Duan Sheng, Madam Zhao Wu, are you certain that this was indeed the case? Duan Sheng knocked on the door and called out to you?"
"Yes!" Both nodded again.
"Madam Zhao Wu, your husband is the head of the household. Furthermore, the door to your house was closed that night. Duan Sheng could not see you, and you could not see Duan Sheng, you could only hear his voice. Is your entire testimony absolutely correct?" Liang Xiao asked again.
"My lord, it is absolutely correct!" Madam Zhao Wu stated with certainty.
Liang Xiao then said with a cold expression, "Then, by common sense, if Zhao Wu failed to show up for their appointment, and considering Zhao Wu is the head of the household, Duan Sheng should have gone to find Zhao Wu. But why did he go to Zhao Wu's house and call out for Madam Zhao Wu instead??"
As soon as Liang Xiao finished speaking, everyone present was startled and looked towards Duan Sheng!
Even Gu Hai's expression changed, "This indicates that Duan Sheng knew Zhao Wu was not at home, which is why he called out for Madam Zhao Wu..."
Duan Sheng's breathing hitched. Gongyang He, Gongyang Teng, and the others dared not even exhale.