Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 98 Confession
Yin Yue smiled faintly: "This girl is to my liking. Tell her to take good care of herself."

Upon hearing this, Yan Mingzhang bowed deeply and said, "Thank you!"

Yin Yue rolled her eyes at Yan Mingzhang: "What business is it of yours what I do with Rong Yatou? Don't flatter yourself. If anyone's going to thank someone, it's not your place."

After saying that, Yin Yue turned and left gracefully.

Yan Mingzhang wasn't annoyed; he smiled and watched her leave.

Yan Mingzhang looked nervously at Doctor Yan, who was taking Rong Wanyin's pulse. Doctor Yan took her pulse for a long time before stroking his goatee and beaming with joy: "Amazing! Amazing! Her pulse is stable, and her fever has subsided. I estimate she will wake up in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Everyone was overjoyed, but Su Zhan lowered his voice and asked Yan Mingzhang, "Cheng Xuan, is it worth it? You're taking such a risk, aren't you risking your life for someone else's? Are you crazy!"

Yan Mingzhang said with relief, "It's not a matter of whether it's worth it or not. She was so badly injured because of me. I can't just stand by and watch her die."

Su Zhan glanced at Yan Mingzhang, his feelings complicated. "Do you even believe what you're saying?"
Rong Wanyin finally woke up, a tear rolling down her cheek. She felt like she had been having a very long nightmare. She clutched the silver lock in her hand, but there was no joy in her eyes. Although she couldn't speak, she heard much of what was said afterward.

-

"Ah!" Rong Wanyin cried out in protest, looking up at the sky.

Since Rong Wanyin woke up, she had been drinking plain porridge for three days, and her mouth was practically parched. Today, she was determined to find something delicious to eat. With that thought in mind, Rong Wanyin secretly slipped out of her room and headed towards the kitchen. As she passed through the garden, she suddenly heard people talking.

"Seriously, these scumbags should be subjected to every kind of torture device in turn. I'm sure they'll confess eventually." Su Zhan angrily slammed his fist on the marble table. "Their testimonies are all the same, flawless. Who would believe there wasn't collusion?"

“We must have missed some crucial information that proves they are Khitan deserters. I’ll go to Niujia Village again tomorrow,” Yan Mingzhang pondered.

"Why are you so stubborn? You've been to Niujia Village twice already. It happened so many years ago, what evidence is there? There's no record of it in the case file. You're not going to use torture. What kind of benevolence and righteousness are you talking about now!" Su Zhan was so anxious that he almost jumped up and down, but he couldn't persuade Yan Mingzhang.

"My lord, I have a plan!" Rong Wanyin emerged from behind the pillar and greeted Su Zhan perfunctorily, "Greetings, Lord Su!"

Rong Wanyin whispered a few words in Yan Mingzhang's ear, and Yan Mingzhang smiled and nodded.

Su Zhan said angrily, "What, is there something I can't hear?"

The two exchanged a glance and smiled without saying a word.

Su Zhan: "..."

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Inside the county jail, Yan Mingzhang sat at the interrogation table, a little uneasy. He wondered if the interrogation method Miss Rong had described would actually work. Beside him lay the female corpse; because of the heat, the body wasn't as well-preserved as when it had been unearthed—well, how to put it… not fresh, yes, not fresh anymore. Human skin boots were also displayed on a shelf. All of them were covered with white cloth.

The dark corridor was lined with cells on both sides. Each suspect in the case was being held in solitary confinement. Their hands were now tied behind their backs, their eyes were blindfolded, and each had been given a bell. Changfeng, standing at one end of the corridor, announced loudly, "Listen up, everyone! My master is merciful and will give you a chance. The ten who confess first will have their punishment reduced by my master, who will petition His Majesty. The rest will be punished severely! If you have anything to say, you can shake the bell in your hand."

As Changfeng finished speaking, the prison fell silent; not a single person rang the bell. "Hahahaha, see? You think you can frame us? No way!" The village chief, hunched over in the corner, laughed heartily. Moyun lowered her voice and asked Changfeng, "Miss Rong, will this trick really work? The officials have interrogated them so many times, but they won't talk. They're all just stubborn mules!"

Changfeng smiled slightly: "Just you wait and see!"

Suddenly, a bell rang at the end of the corridor, its sound echoing through the empty dungeon.

Changfeng laughed and gestured to the constables to open the door and let the man out. Everyone heard the sound of the lock being opened, the wooden door creaking, and the first informant dragging his chains as he struggled forward.

Changfeng then said loudly, "Ah, those who know when to yield are the wise ones. That's right, there are still nine spots left!"

"You coward! You'll get us all killed! Useless! Don't trust that corrupt official!" The village chief, though unable to see who it was, continued to curse.

One bell rang, like opening a floodgate, and a torrent rushed down. Another bell rang hesitantly, followed by three or five bells ringing in a panic, each louder than the last!
"Don't rush, don't rush, one at a time. Everyone who rang the bell will have a sign, and everyone has a chance! There's one last chance!" Changfeng nodded in satisfaction.

Suddenly, the dungeon was filled with the deafening sound of bells ringing incessantly.

When Mo Yun saw the first "prisoner" lift his long hair to reveal his face, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. This wasn't a "prisoner" at all; it was clearly a yamen runner in disguise. Then, two or three more yamen runners in the same attire emerged from the cell. Mo Yun finally understood: these prisoners couldn't truly trust each other. Upon hearing of betrayal, their trust crumbled with the force of a raging storm!

As the bells rang incessantly in the dungeon, the village chief suddenly shook the bell in his hand frantically and shouted, "My lord, my lord, I confess, I confess! I know more than they do! My lord, please give me a chance!"

Mo Yun and Chang Feng exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly. This old scoundrel was probably the mastermind. Rather than letting someone else confess, he preferred to pin all the blame on others! However, it didn't matter. As long as he was willing to talk, they wouldn't be afraid of not having any information.

"My lord, my lord, I confess, I confess!"

"My lord! My lord! I'll tell you everything! It was that old scoundrel who ordered us to do it!"

"grown ups!…"

The cell suddenly erupted in chaos, with prisoners frantically ringing bells and shouting, completely unlike their calm demeanor from moments before.

Changfeng walked straight to the village chief's cell, opened the door, and helped the gray-haired village chief out: "You'd better say something of value. After all, so many people just spoke up. If you're lying, they can tell at a glance. If you're hiding anything, you'll miss this opportunity!"

The village chief nodded repeatedly, nodding in agreement.

As they spoke, they arrived at the interrogation room.

Yan Mingzhang sat upright at the desk, while Rong Wanyin pretended to be reading through the "confession" she had just written. When she saw him come in, she put the stack of confessions away.

Yan Mingzhang took a sip of tea and said casually, "I'll ask you questions, and you answer them. If there's any deception, take him out immediately! After all, the current statements are enough to close the case, it's just a matter of conviction..."

"My lord, I confess, I confess everything!" The village chief cried out hoarsely as he lay on the ground to show his loyalty.

Yan Mingzhang put down his teacup and asked, "Who are you? Why have you come to Niujia Village?"