Wang Wu and the other two constables escorted Wei Bin all the way to the Luoyang yamen under the watchful eyes of the people.
Li Mu searched both the front and back of the yamen but still could not find Zhang Chun.
He asked Deputy Constable Sun, "Where's Lord Zhang?"
Deputy Constable Sun said, "I think he went out for some business."
Without the Luoyang Medallion, Li Mu did not have the authority to investigate the case. He did not know when Zhang Chun would return. Li Mu thought for a while and said to Wang Wu and the others, "Go to the Ministry of Justice."
All criminal cases in the 36 counties of the Great Zhou, including the Luoyang, were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice even had the authority to interfere with local trials.
This case was already a hot potato, so it was perfect to leave it to the Ministry of Justice.
It did not matter if they were officials or citizens of the Great Zhou, as long as they lived in the Great Zhou, they had the authority to send someone to the authorities, including the Luoyang yamen and the Ministry of Justice.
If the Ministry of Justice did not accept the case, Li Mu, as the censor, would have something to do in the next morning court.
The Ministry of Justice.
The director of the Ministry of Justice had just rested when a constable knocked on the door and walked in. He said with a bitter face, "Sir, Li Mu is here again!"
The director of the Ministry of Justice's head buzzed.
He grabbed his hair and said in frustration, "Didn't I tell him? Why is he here again? How can he bully people like this …"
The constable said, "He caught a student from the Academy."
The director of the Ministry of Justice felt his head swell. He was about to sneak out from the back door when Li Mu appeared in his sight.
He said with grief and indignation, "Sir Li, didn't we agree to take him to the Luoyang yamen?"
Li Mu looked at him, sighed, and said, "Lord Yang, you are so silly. I gave you this opportunity because of our friendship in the past. If you don't want it, you can't blame me for what happens next."
Their past friendship was bullsh * t. The director of the Ministry of Justice cursed in his heart but still asked, "Sir Li, what do you mean?"
Li Mu said, "According to the victim of this case, he complained to the Ministry of Justice as soon as the case happened. However, not only did the Ministry of Justice not accept the case, you dismissed him with the excuse of insufficient evidence. After the case, you even threatened his family, saying that if he sued you again, you would kill him …"
The director hurriedly said, "The Ministry of Justice did not threaten him. The Ministry of Justice never do such things …"
"Who would believe that?" Li Mu looked at him with great pity and said, "This case has attracted widespread attention of the people. People will only think that all this was done by the Ministry of Justice. In the end, this matter will become more and more serious, and the consequences will become more and more serious. Do you think you can escape from it, Lord Yang?"
"When the time comes, who do you think will be pushed out by the Ministry of Justice to take the blame? Who do you think will be the minister, the assistant minister, or you, Official Yang?"
"I'm giving you a chance to make up for your mistakes on account of your help. If you don't want it, I'll bring him back to the Fairy's Capital."
…
"Wait!"
Under Li Mu's persuasion, the director of the Ministry of Justice had understood and hurriedly spoke.
Li Mu had completely enlightened him. Once the case became big, the Ministry of Justice would be held responsible. The position of the director of the Ministry of Justice was neither big nor small. It was just right for him to take the blame. If he did not do something to make up for it, he would most likely lose his position. He might even be imprisoned.
He clasped his fists to Li Mu and said, "Sir Li, thank you for reminding me. I will remember your kindness …"
"You're welcome," Li Mu nodded and said, "In that case, let's start the trial as soon as possible."
The director of the Ministry of Justice walked out of the office and saw Zhou Zhong coming out from the opposite side. He asked nervously, "Sir Zhou, the Academy's student committed a crime. Do you want to interrogate him yourself?"
Zhou Zhong waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. I'll just listen."
His gaze swept past Li Mu and then left calmly.
There was a commotion in the front yard of the Ministry of Justice. The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue, Wei Bin's father, and Wei Peng had just arrived from the Luoyang yamen.
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue saw the director of the Ministry of Justice and immediately said, "Sir Yang, please wait!"
The director of the Ministry of Justice turned and asked, "Sir Wei, why are you here?"
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue sighed and said, "Wei Bin is my nephew …"
The director of the Ministry of Justice was surprised. Then he shook his head and said, "If Sir Wei is here to plead for Wei Bin, then I'm sorry. This case has attracted a lot of attention. I can't be biased …"
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue shook his head and said, "Of course not. Wei Bin is guilty. I just want to listen."
The director of the Ministry of Justice nodded and said, "Yes, but Sir Wei's identity is special. You can only listen outside the court."
The Minister Counsellor clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Sir Yang."
Then he said, "Can we have a few words with Wei Bin?"
The director of the Ministry of Justice hesitated and said, "This …"
At this moment, Zhou Zhong said from afar, "Don't take more than half an hour."
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue was grateful and said, "Thank you, Sir Zhou!"
The three of them walked to Wei Bin's side. Wei Bin's face was pale and he said in panic, "Uncle, father, save me!"
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue was angry and said, "Bastard, I didn't send you to the Academy to rape women. Now you know fear. Why didn't you know when you were doing evil …"
Wei Bin's father hurriedly said, "Now is not the time to talk about this. Bin 'er, from now on, remember every word your brother says. Later in the court, you will do as your brother says. That way, you will receive the lightest punishment …"
Wei Bin nodded and said, "I will not speak carelessly …"
Wei Peng looked at him and asked, "Did you really do this?"
Wei Bin nodded and said, "It was me …"
Wei Peng asked again, "Did you use violence during the process?"
Wei Bin shook his head and said, "No, we only started after she was unconscious …"
Wei Peng was stunned and asked, "We?"
Wei Bin said, "I wasn't the only one who did this."
Wei Peng thought for a while and said, "Got it … later, no matter what the Sir asks, as long as you did it, just admit it. If you confess, you can fight for a reduced sentence. After that, you can confess to all the people who committed the crime with you. This can be considered a meritorious service. It is very likely that your sentence will be reduced to less than three years …"
…
After a while, the Director of the Ministry of Justice walked forward and asked, "Are you done?"
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue said, "I'm done. Thank you, Sir Yang."
The Director of the Ministry of Justice walked to the court and asked for instructions from the Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Justice. He said in a low voice, "Begin the court!"
Wei Bin was brought to the court. The Director of the Ministry of Justice sat at the top. Li Mu and the Minister Counsellor sat on his left and right to listen to the trial.
The Director of the Ministry of Justice patted the gavel and said, "Men, summon the Xu woman to the court!"
Li Mu raised his head and said, "Sir Yang, the Xu woman has been defiled by Wei Bin. Her body and mind have been injured. She is afraid of seeing strangers and is not suitable to be brought to the court. Directly interrogating Wei Bin is enough."
The Director of the Ministry of Justice thought for a while and nodded. "Sir Li is very considerate."
He patted the gavel again and looked at Wei Bin. He asked, "Wei Bin, do you admit your crime?"
"Your student admits his crime!" Wei Bin immediately knelt down and spilled the beans. "Three months ago, on the night of the sixth day of the second lunar month, your student tricked Xu Yao to an inn and drugged her, then violated her …"
The Director of the Ministry of Justice was stunned. He did not expect Wei Bin to confess so quickly. He did not even ask anything and Wei Bin had already confessed everything.
He quickly recovered and said, "Since you have confessed, then according to the thirty-sixth article of the second book of the 'Law of Great Zhou', the punishment for raping a woman is between three and ten years in prison. That woman was injured physically and mentally because of your rape. I now sentence you to seven years in prison …"
"Your Excellency, please wait!"
Wei Peng stood outside the court and loudly said, "Although Wei Bin is guilty, he did not use violence or coercion. Moreover, he confessed his crime on his own initiative. According to the law, Your Excellency should be given a lighter sentence …"
The Director of the Ministry of Justice frowned. "Do I need you to teach me how to judge a case? If you dare to disturb my judgment again, you will be punished for disturbing the court."
At this moment, the Assistant Minister of Justice, Zhou Zhong, calmly said, "Although Wei Bin is a criminal, he still has the right to defend himself. Wei Peng, if you have anything else to say to defend Wei Bin, come to the court and say it."
The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue looked at the Assistant Minister of Justice with a grateful expression. He pushed Wei Peng and said, "Why aren't you going up?"
Wei Peng walked up to the court and raised his head. "Apart from rape, Wei Bin's actions did not cause any other serious consequences. According to the law, he should be given a lighter sentence."
The Director of the Ministry of Justice glanced at Zhou Zhong. Seeing that he did not say anything, he felt somewhat uncertain. He then looked at Li Mu. Seeing that his expression was also calm, he finally decided to act according to the law.
He did not favor Wei Bin, nor did he intentionally increase his punishment. If he acted according to the law, no one could blame him, right?
The Director of the Ministry of Justice cleared his throat and looked at Wei Peng. "What you say makes sense. In view of Wei Bin's voluntary confession, I will give you a lighter sentence and sentence you to five years in prison …"
Outside the court, the Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Revenue and Wei Bin's father let out a sigh of relief. At this moment, Wei Peng struck while the iron was hot. "Sir, please wait. There are still some hidden facts to this case. Wei Bin has already confessed that apart from him, there were also the Hundred River Academy's Jiang Zhe, Ji Yun, Song Zhou, and Ye Cong. According to the laws of the Great Zhou, the main culprit exposing the accomplices is a great merit and can be reduced or exempted from punishment. Although the crime of rape cannot be exempted, it can be reduced by at least three years …"
Hearing this, the Director of the Ministry of Justice was stunned.
This Wei Peng seemed to be very familiar with the law, but did he not know the difference between rape and rape?
Rape of a woman was generally punished with three to ten years in prison.
Rape of a woman was extremely vile. The main culprit would be sentenced to at least the death penalty and could not be reduced.
This law had been amended by Assistant Minister Zhou five years ago. Could it be that Wei Peng was looking at the unamended Law of the Great Zhou from five years ago?
Li Mu left his chair and walked up to the court. Under Wei Peng's somewhat frightened gaze, he patted his shoulder and said, "Listen to my advice. In the future, if there's nothing important, don't contact your second uncle's family …"
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