The Silent Reforms of Eldridge Chapter 36

Sun Lian, the acting magistrate, delayed for several days and did not go to the autopsy, which made the body rotten and unable to be inspected. After Wang Jiumu took over as the county magistrate, he interrogated the case and unreasonably suspected that his brother Ye Yunshou knew the facts of the case. He tortured Ye Yunshou to extract a confession, causing Ye Yunshou to die on the spot. The whole family named Ye was in an uproar and complained to the government. The prefect Zhu Luanting believed that the adultery was not solid enough and applied to be referred to the province. Although the province found out the case of Ye Yunxi's adultery with Huang, it made several changes to the specific circumstances - thus giving the prisoner an opportunity to retract his confession.

Ye Yunxi's family was well off and he hired a well-known litigator from Fuzhou as a consultant. All the lawsuits were written by this person. Ye Yunxi also placed his clan brother as a clerk in Zhensi Yamen. Ye Yunxi knew all the questions, confessions and detailed drafts of the case in advance.

After I found out the secret, I immediately sent people to arrest the litigator and the clerk and put them in prison. In this way, Ye Yunxi lost her eyes and ears. I also mentioned that Mrs. Huang confronted the employees at home. Mrs. Huang could not deny it, so she had to confess one by one how she had committed adultery with her brother-in-law Ye Yunxi, how she had strangled her daughter-in-law, and how she had discussed with Ye Yunxi. Huang Ming’s explanation was very detailed, which made everyone happy. There is an immersive feeling.

When Ye Yunxi was interrogated again, he still closed his eyes and chanted sutras without answering any questions as before. I was furious and ordered him to be executed. But this still didn't make him speak, let alone make him plead guilty.

More than ten days later, I said to Li Xiangbing: "The prisoner used chanting to evade interrogation, and his intention was just to escape the death penalty. Why don't you talk to him about Buddhist scriptures and karma and retribution? As long as he answers, you will have I will find a way to enlighten him slowly. "Li Xiangbing followed my instructions and brought Ye Yunxi into a quiet room. They sat opposite each other and talked about the profound meanings of Buddhist scriptures. Ye Yunxi didn't fully understand it, but he was happy to listen. Li Xiangbing talked with him for several days, but he didn't mention a word about the case. I ordered him to be given food and wine. He said that he had been fasting for a long time, so I gave him vegetarian food. Li Xiangbing and Ye Yunxi got along for several days before they came to the case. They repeatedly enlightened and persuaded him to confess the truth, and the case began to turn around. I was worried that his confession was unreliable, so I asked him to write it in his own handwriting to strengthen the credibility of the confession. After Ye Yunxi finished writing her confession, the case was settled. In the end, she was still sentenced to death by hanging for the crime of adultery without execution. Because the prisoner deliberately escaped and the case was delayed for several years, I asked him not to wait until the autumn and to execute him immediately.