In the hearing hall.
Meng Yi sat behind the table, glanced at the three people below him expressionlessly, and said, "Your Majesty's order is clear to you all. This matter cannot be delayed any longer. It should be tried as soon as possible, convicted, and reported to Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, we have already tried this case many times. Zhao Gao has already pleaded guilty. Why should we try him again?" A middle-aged man wearing a green robe with a white face and no beard shook his head and sighed.
"snort!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Yi snorted coldly and turned to look at another majestic old man: "Do you have anything to say, Guozhengjian?"
"Well....."
The Supervisor Guozheng pondered for a moment and said: "Shang Jun's criminal law has long been strict. From the top to the ministers and the bottom to the common people, there are no levels of punishment. Since Zhao Gao has pleaded guilty, it can be dealt with according to the law, and there is no need to retry!"
After hearing this, everyone nodded slightly in approval.
But Meng Yi said noncommittally: "Zhao Gao only admitted that he contacted the alchemist and treated His Majesty, but did not admit that he poisoned His Majesty. If it is handled according to the criminal law, it would be considered dereliction of duty at most, but His Majesty was indeed poisoned by the alchemist's elixir. Zhao Gao It cannot be separated..."
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at each other in shock.
According to Meng Yi, Zhao Gao was to be convicted of murdering the First Emperor and sentenced to death.
But everyone present was not of the same mind as Meng Yi, so after a moment of silence, someone stood up and taunted: "The doctor has ordered Zhao Gao to be tried many times, but with no results. Now that there is insufficient evidence, how can we conclude that Zhao Gao is related to poisoning His Majesty?"
"Who says there is no evidence? Xu Fu has personally admitted that the elixir is poisonous. Zhao Gao knowingly knew that the elixir was poisonous and still gave it to His Majesty. This is an ulterior motive and should be punished!"
"No!"
As soon as Meng Yi finished speaking, an official from the Tingwei Mansion stood up and said, "Xu Fu is also a major criminal in this case, and his confession cannot be used as evidence!"
"Yes, Xu Fu's confession may be because he knew he was about to die and deliberately dragged Zhao Gao into trouble!"
Guozheng Jianzheng spoke again.
Meng Yi narrowed his eyes slightly: "What do you mean by this? Do you think Zhao Gao is a close minister of His Majesty and deliberately cover him up?"
"What the doctor said makes no sense!"
When the officials of the Sikou Mansion heard Meng Yi's words, they immediately frowned and said coldly: "We are ordered by His Majesty to review this case together with the Lang Zhongling. How can we disturb the national law because of personal affairs?"
"good!"
The officials at Yushitai echoed: "Shang Jun's criminal law has been strict for a long time. Anyone who violates the national prohibition will be punished by death!"
"Even if the prince breaks the law, he is guilty like the common people. Zhao Gao is just a close official of His Majesty. Why should we cover him?"
"Okay! Since you can enforce the law impartially, I won't waste much time talking!"
Meng Yi said, raised his head and shouted toward the door: "Come here, take Zhao Gao to trial!"
"......"
Everyone under the eucalyptus frowned slightly, seeming to be a little dissatisfied with Meng Yi's domineering behavior.
In fact, how could they not know that Meng Yi wanted to kill Zhao Gao.
However, Zhao Gao's decision was delayed for too long, which made them wonder whether the First Emperor did not want to kill Zhao Gao.
If the First Emperor did not want to kill Zhao Gao, and they sentenced him to death, but in the end allowed Zhao Gao to escape, then Zhao Gao would definitely hate them, and they would have an enemy for no reason.
After all, they are not Meng Yi, and they have behemoths like the Meng family as their backers. ….
Soon, Zhao Gao was taken to the lobby by the jailer.
I saw him with unkempt hair, a withered face, and blood stains all over his body. How could he be described as miserable?
"cough."
When Meng Yi saw Zhao Gao, he coughed lightly, and then said solemnly: "Zhao Gao, by your Majesty's order, we remind you for the last time that if you don't want to implicate your relatives, I advise you to take the initiative to murder your Majesty!"
"Heh...ho ho..."
When Zhao Gao heard Meng Yi's words, his dry lips let out a laugh that didn't sound like a human voice. He slowly raised his head, looked at Meng Yi, and said in a low voice: "Meng Yi, you torture me like this, do you really know that I don't know what you are thinking? Do you want to avenge yourself? ....."
"Bold!"
Meng Yi's face darkened, and he immediately interrupted Zhao Gao's words with a shout, "Don't say those useless words! I have been ordered by Your Majesty to interrogate you. If you don't want to suffer physical pain, confess quickly!"
"The doctor has great authority! In the past, you and I served His Majesty together. Although I had some quarrels with you, I never meant any harm to you. Now that I have become a prisoner, you can't wait to put me to death?"
"presumptuous!"
Meng Yi slapped the wall violently and said angrily: "You are an evil thief who plotted to murder His Majesty, how can you be compared with me?"
"A plot to kill His Majesty?"
Zhao Gao shook his head in amusement: "Mr. Zhongling is really impatient! You are giving me such a big hat without any evidence..."
As he said that, he looked around at the crowd and said with a sarcastic face: "Do you want to extract a confession through torture?"
"this....."
Everyone looked at each other and couldn't help but bow their heads in embarrassment.
Although Meng Yi was highly regarded by the First Emperor and knew some national laws, he was no match for Zhao Gao in terms of torture.
Because Zhao Gao was inferior to even Li Si in terms of torture.
After all, he was reused by the First Emperor because of his familiarity with Qin's laws.
Sometimes when the First Emperor was reviewing memorials, he would always ask Zhao Gao if he encountered any legal issues or even knowledge points that he did not understand.
And Zhao Gao can also answer it with all his treasures.
Therefore, Meng Yi interrogated Zhao Gao several times but could not convict him.
Originally, Meng Yi planned to drag Zhao Gao to death, but the First Emperor issued an ultimatum, asking him to end the matter within three days.
He had no choice but to interrogate Zhao Gao again.
However, if Meng Yi continues the trial like this, there will still be no results, so the official of the Tingwei Mansion on the side coughed lightly and interrupted: "Zhao Gao, your previous confession said that you recruited the alchemists yourself to refine the elixir. Can it be true that the medicine cures His Majesty's illness?"
"It is true!"
Zhao Gao raised his head and smiled.
Supervisor of the State Council, Supervisor Zheng, snorted coldly: "The Zhongche Mansion Order is just a minor official who helps His Majesty drive the carriage. How can he recruit alchemists and refine elixirs? Do you really think that we are easy to deceive?"
"Ah!"
Zhao Gao laughed and said, "Whether you believe it or not, the recruitment of alchemists was all done by me, Zhao Gao!"
"You, you know, even if we can't sentence you to death, we can still sentence you to death! If you confess truthfully, we might be able to help you!"
"Why should a person with a broken body be afraid of torture?"
Zhao Gao was cunning by nature, how could he believe such an argument, so he said righteously: "I have served your Majesty for many years and know very well that your Majesty respects the law of the country, how could he bend the law for personal gain..."...
"you!"
Supervisor Guozheng was so angry at Zhao Gao that he couldn't help but raise his finger and point at him: "Have you thought clearly?"
"Zhou Jianzheng, I admire you very much for your conduct, but I have made one mistake at a time. I only wish I could suffer from erysipelas for Your Majesty. Even if you sentence me to death, I have no regrets. I just want to see Your Majesty for the last time." one side....."
As Zhao Gao spoke, he couldn't help but burst into tears and burst into tears.
Everyone looked at each other, looking at each other.
Meng Yi smiled coldly: "Zhao Gao, there is no need to act anymore. You are just a prisoner now, and you still want to see His Majesty? I advise you to think carefully about how to get through this!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand: "Come here, I'll be branded!"
"promise."
The government officials standing on both sides of the lobby agreed and immediately walked to the stove nearby, picked up the red-hot iron and walked towards Zhao Gao.
When Zhao Gao heard that Meng Yi was going to brand him, he burst into tears. Then he suddenly looked up at Meng Yi and shouted, "Meng Yi, do you really want to do this to me?!"
"shit!"
Meng Yi snorted coldly and said, "If you don't confess again, don't blame me for punishing you!"
"you dare!"
Zhao Gao angrily shouted filial piety.
Meng Yi's two words
Without saying anything, he waved his hand: "Execution!"
"Ahhhh——!"
Zhao Gao was stabbed directly in the back with a red-hot iron, causing him to scream in agony.
Everyone present couldn't help but twitch their eyelids and turned pale with shock.
None of them seemed to have expected that Meng Yi would execute him as he said.
"Zhao Gao! I'll ask you again, did you collude with Xu Fu to refine the poison pill and murder His Majesty?"
"Young son of the Meng family! I, Zhao Gao, are at odds with you..."
"Ahhhh——!"
Before he could finish his words, Meng Yi waved his hand again and stabbed Zhao Gao in the chest with another branding iron.
The severe pain made Zhao Gao scream repeatedly, and large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Such a cruel scene made everyone's scalp numb.
Although they also executed prisoners, most of those prisoners were of low status. This Zhao Gao was not an ordinary prisoner, but a close official around the First Emperor, and was highly valued by the First Emperor.
The execution of such a prisoner is both exciting and frightening to them.
"Mr. Zhongling, is there something wrong with such torture?"
Zhao Gao did not have no good friends in the court. For example, the official at Yushitai who spoke had a close relationship with Zhao Gao.
Hearing this, Meng Yi glanced at him and said expressionlessly: "This prisoner has repeatedly failed to cooperate with our interrogation. He is suspected of contempt of national law. What is wrong with my officer's torture of him?"
"this......"
Is this really uncooperative?
This is clearly a result of subjugation!
Someone else, Zhao Gao, has already admitted his crime. If you can't provide any evidence to prove that Zhao Gao is suspected of murdering the First Emperor, then you torture him to extract a confession. This is just contempt for the law!
Seemingly realizing that there was something wrong with his statement, Meng Yi calmed down and added: "I am interrogating Zhao Gao on His Majesty's order. If anything happens, I will take full responsibility for it!"
"But....."
"alright!"
Zhou Jian was about to speak when he was interrupted by Meng Yi with a wave of his hand: "You have just said that those who violate national prohibitions will be punished with death. I believe that your majesty will deal with the crimes committed by Zhao Gao impartially. You don't need to worry. !"….
After saying that, he lowered his head and looked at Zhao Gao.
At this time, Zhao Gao had collapsed on the ground and was dying.
Meng Yi still had no intention of letting him go, and said in a deep voice again: "Zhao Gao, I will ask you one last time, do you intend to murder His Majesty?"
"Meng...Meng Yi...even if you kill me...I won't...will not be beaten into submission by you..."
"Good! As expected of Zhao Fu Ling!"
Meng Yi nodded with a grin, then waved his hand: "Sign up for punishment!"
"What!?"
Hearing the word "signed sentence," not only Zhao Gao was suddenly shocked, but also the officials of Guozhengjian, Yushitai, Sikou Mansion, Tingwei Mansion and other jurors all changed their expressions.
This so-called "stick punishment" is an extremely harsh punishment method. It uses red-hot iron sticks to insert into the prisoner's nails one by one, making the prisoner unable to live or die.
"Meng Yi! How dare you do this to me..."
Zhao Gao gnashed his teeth in hatred for Meng Yi, couldn't help his blood rising, rolled his eyes, and fell down.
At this time, a jailer hurriedly came forward to check, and then reported: "The doctor ordered, the prisoner Zhao Gao has fainted!"
"Hmph! Pour cold water on him to wake him up!"
"slow--!"
As soon as Meng Yi finished speaking, the Yushitai official jumped out again and said loudly: "What does Lang Zhongling mean by this? Your Majesty asked us to jointly try Zhao Gao. Lang Zhongling acted arbitrarily. Could it be true as Zhao Gao said? Want to avenge a private vendetta?"
"I don't think it's appropriate for the doctor to do this!"
"Dr. Zhongling, I think today's trial won't produce any results. Why don't we try it another day?"
"Mother, please be careful!"
When he heard all the officials trying to dissuade him, Meng Yi's face darkened.
Yu frowned.
According to his idea, it is definitely best to deal with Zhao Gao as soon as possible to avoid long nights and dreams, but he does not have the final say in the trial of Zhao Gao alone.
After pondering for a while, he decided to think of another way and waved his hand: "Since the ministers do not agree to continue the torture, let's try again tomorrow!"
After saying that, he left the table and walked away.
When all the officials saw this, they all breathed a sigh of relief, then called the jailer and sent Zhao Gao to the cell.
........
At the same time, the emperor's study.
Ying Zheng listened expressionlessly to a black-robed warrior's report.
"Your Majesty, I have just received news that Lang Zhongling has branded Zhao Gao."
"Then what does Zhao Gao say?"
"He said that he admitted that he recruited alchemists to make elixirs and cure illnesses for His Majesty, but he did not admit that he had plotted to murder Your Majesty!"
"Then did he plead for mercy for himself by citing his past service to me?"
"No! He only said that he wanted to see His Majesty one last time..."
"Um."
Ying Zheng nodded, looking thoughtful, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
After a while, another man in black robe came to the study, saluted respectfully to Ying Zheng and said: "Your Majesty, the trial is over. Zhao Gao was frightened and fainted by Meng Yi with a 'sign'. Officials from various governments advised Meng Yi to try again tomorrow." , Meng Yi agreed!"
Good guy!
This Meng Yi is so cruel!
He actually used a signature to punish Zhao Gao?
Ying Zheng frowned briefly, and then said coldly: "Keep an eye on Zhao Gao's cell and don't allow anyone suspicious to approach him..."
As he said that, he seemed to think of something again, and said with a sullen face: "Also, keep an eye on that bastard Meng Yi, you are not honest!"
"promise."
The two agreed and exited the study without making any sound.
lq.
Wang Shushu
