Chapter 430: Bring the Person in

Chapter 430: Bring the Person in

Although Meng Huaining did not understand Tang Mingrui's character as well as Mo Jiuye did, he also believed that Tang Mingrui would not take such a risk over a trivial matter and hire someone to commit murder.

Meng Huaining knew that Eight Brother had already apprehended the person and decided to conduct an initial interrogation at this moment.

"Ninth Brother, if you have nothing else to do, you can come and listen to the trial."

Mo Jiuye had entered the city to find Tang Mingrui, thinking that since he was involved in this matter, it was necessary to understand the situation.

"If it's convenient, I indeed want to listen."

With that, the two of them headed to the courtroom.

This case had not yet been fully investigated, so the preliminary questioning of the suspect would not be conducted in public.

Therefore, the doors of the courtroom remained tightly closed.

Meng Huaining sat solemnly at the head of the court.

"Bring the person in."

As soon as his words were spoken, the bailiffs brought in the burly man.

The burly man knelt down in the center of the courtroom as soon as he entered.

"Your Honor, I have confessed everything. It was indeed Mr. Tang who gave us the silver, and we went to kill Mr. Jin."

Meng Huaining slammed the gavel fiercely. "I did not ask you to speak. Who gave you permission to talk?"

His actions indeed suggested that he was protecting Tang Mingrui.

He knew that Tang Mingrui was a business partner of the Mo family. Although this guy had once liked his young fiancée, he ultimately won her heart.

To safeguard the future in-laws' business, he had to do his utmost to uncover the truth and exonerate Tang Mingrui.

As he spoke, Meng Huaining's gaze fell on the burly man who had just been captured by Mo Chuhan and others.

"Are you Chen Wu?"

The burly man knew that everything was over when he failed to escape.

Being a shrewd person, he bowed respectfully upon being questioned by Meng Huaining.

"I am Chen Wu, Your Honor."

Meng Huaining slammed the gavel again.

"Wang Lin has confessed that Mr. Tang hired him to kill Mr. Jin, and the silver was handed to you personally. Is this true?"

At this question, Chen Wu's eyes became evasive.

Meng Huaining noticed that he glanced at Wang Lin beside him before hesitantly saying, "I don't know what Your Honor is talking about."

Having served as a magistrate for so long, Meng Huaining had encountered many stubborn criminals and did not need to waste words with him.

"Bailiffs, since Chen Wu is being uncooperative, give him twenty heavy blows."

The bailiffs, who had worked with Meng Huaining for a long time, understood his temper and did not wait for Chen Wu to beg for mercy before gagging him and dragging him out of the courtroom.

The twenty blows were quickly administered, and Chen Wu was dragged back in.

Meng Huaining did not immediately question him but instructed the bailiffs to bring a basin of saltwater and place it beside him.

"Chen Wu, the pain from the saltwater on your wounds will be several times worse than the twenty blows. I hope you think carefully before answering my next question."

Chen Wu took a hard look at the saltwater beside him and then took a few deep breaths.

"Your Honor, someone did give me silver, but they didn't say to kill Mr. Jin, only to teach him a lesson."

"Who gave you the silver?" Meng Huaining pressed.

"It was Mr. Tang."

"Tell me, where did Mr. Tang give you the silver, and when?"

"It was three days ago. Mr. Tang came to my home in Yuncheng alone and handed me five hundred taels of silver, asking me to teach Mr. Jin a lesson."

At this moment, Tang Mingrui's voice echoed from the back of the courtroom.

"You're lying. Three days ago, I was still in the state capital and only returned to Yuncheng yesterday. How could I have given you silver?"

Tang Mingrui had been arranged by Meng Huaining to listen to the trial in the back chamber. According to protocol, he should not have spoken, but he couldn't help himself because Chen Wu was lying.

He was aware that speaking up suddenly from the back chamber was disrespectful to the magistrate, but he couldn't control himself at the moment.

Thus, even though Tang Mingrui rebutted with anger, he did not show himself.

Meng Huaining did not blame Tang Mingrui for interrupting the trial; he intended to uphold justice for him anyway.

He slammed the gavel again.

"Chen Wu, you truly don't shed tears until you see the coffin. Since you refuse to tell the truth..."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the basin of saltwater.

Before Meng Huaining could give further instructions, Chen Wu began to plead loudly.

"Your Honor, I am not lying. It was indeed Mr. Tang who personally gave me five hundred taels of silver three days ago and asked me to do this. If you don't believe me, you can summon Mr. Tang to the court for a face-to-face confrontation."

Meng Huaining frowned. "Do you know who was speaking in the back hall just now?"

Chen Wu shook his head vigorously. "He spoke to me in Mr. Tang's tone, but I don't recognize this voice."

Hearing this, Meng Huaining turned to look at Wang Lin, who had been frightened stiff.

"Tell me, who instructed you to murder Mr. Jin?"

"Your Honor, it was Chen Wu who told me to kill Mr. Jin."

"You're lying! I only said to teach Mr. Jin a lesson. When did I ever tell you to kill him?" Chen Wu grew anxious; he couldn't afford to be wrongfully accused of such a serious crime.

Wang Lin was not about to back down. "It was you who told me to kill Mr. Jin. You even promised me two hundred taels of silver to run away after the deed. I never imagined you would keep three hundred taels for yourself."

The more Wang Lin spoke, the more aggrieved he felt, and he bowed several times to Meng Huaining.

"Your Honor, I have no grudge against Mr. Jin. If Chen Wu hadn't promised me two hundred taels of silver, I would never have dared to do such a thing."

The more he spoke, the more aggrieved he became, and he began to weep in front of everyone.

On the contrary, Chen Wu was furious.

"Wang Lin, don't spout lies. I did promise you two hundred taels after the job, but I never told you to kill Mr. Jin."

"It was you who told me to kill Mr. Jin..."

For a moment, the only sounds in the silent courtroom were their arguments.

Meng Huaining did not stop them but observed their expressions as they spoke.

Through his observations, he noticed that Wang Lin's eyes occasionally darted away, especially when meeting Chen Wu's gaze.

With this, Meng Huaining had a rough idea of what was happening.

"Stop arguing. Do you want me to charge you with contempt of court?"

His words silenced the courtroom instantly.

"Bring Mr. Tang to the stand."

At Meng Huaining's command, Tang Mingrui quickly stepped into the courtroom from the back hall.

Without waiting for him to bow, Meng Huaining asked Chen Wu, "Do you recognize this person?"

Chen Wu glanced at Tang Mingrui and then shook his head.

"Your Honor, I do not recognize him."

"Bang..."

Meng Huaining slammed the gavel hard.

"You don't recognize him, yet you dare to claim that Mr. Tang gave you five hundred taels of silver in person?"

Tang Mingrui was also furious and stepped up to Chen Wu.

"Look closely. I am Tang Mingrui. When did I ever give you five hundred taels of silver?"