Chapter 186: Argument, overreaching oneself (1/2)
Chapter 186: Argument, overreaching oneself
Next day, the justice courts started on time for the hearing of the Han family clinic case. It was originally a simple homicide, but the empress dowager’s command had brought it to the justice courts for review with Official Ouyang presiding over the proceedings.
Actually, the materials from Shuntian Prefecture yesterday were already extremely detailed. As long as Official Ouyang finished up the rest of the trial, things would be set. He was very clear in his heart that the empress dowager had brought the case to the justice courts as a pretence. She wanted to give the Han family a criminal name and take away their rights to practice medicine in Tianning.
Everyone soon arrived, with Han Yunxi sitting on the side as always to listen in. Due to her calm presence, Official Ouyang felt a certain pressure and spoke his words very cautiously. He bore his temper and went through the entire case again. He only pronounced judgment after seeing that Han Yunxi had no objections.
“The three pieces of evidence show that Doctor Li made a mistake in his prescription, resulting in Madam Chen’s mother-in-law dying from poison. Doctor Li committed suicide to escape punishment for manslaughter; hence, the court will not further pursue his responsibilities for the offence.”
Speaking up to here, Official Ouyang paused. Seventh Madame was about to cry injustice, but last night Han Yunxi had told her not to worry, so she held back. Right now, Han Yunxi was leisurely drinking tea, still sitting calmly on the side without a hint of anxiety. Seventh Madame couldn’t see through her motives, while Official Ouyang only felt nervous at the sight. The proof alone was enough to make this case irrefutable. Judging from his years of experience, it’d be impossible to overturn this case, yet seeing Han Yunxi’s staid and steady state still made Official Ouyang uneasy.
An abnormal silence fell upon the courtroom. There were no objections anywhere, so Official Ouyang continued. “The Han family neglected their supervisory duties and didn’t do their best to watch over their people. They cannot escape blame and shall pay compensation to Madam Chen with 1,000 taels of silver!”
Again, Official Ouyang paused to look at Han Yunxi, only to see her calm and composed as if she hadn’t heard a thing. Only then did Official Ouyang set aside his cares. He thought, with such conclusive evidence, even if esteemed wangfei wants to argue, she won’t have a reason to. Looks like this is it.
As to revoking the Han family’s right to practice medicine, that was the empress dowager’s decision and had nothing to do with the justice courts. Withdrawing his gaze, Official Ouyang exhaled a breath and continued to read from the court accounts. “To present esteemed empress dowager’s orders, the Han family’s misdiagnosis of the crown prince was already a heinous crime that reached the skies. Now, they have not only failed to repent and mend their ways, but brought about such a grave mistake. Hence, their southern clinic shall be sealed and closed down, all of their medical assets confiscated, and their rights to practice medicine in Tianning Country forever revoked!”
His words fell upon a silent crowd. This truly was a little too…
Seventh Madame couldn’t stand it anymore and cried out in anger. “You can’t, it’s injustice! The Han family has been unfairly accused! Doctor Li must have…”
Before she could finish, Han Yunxi finally raised a hand to tell her to calm down. Seventh Madame was seething with rage and very agitated, but although she couldn’t settle down, she forced herself to collect her senses at the sight of Han Yunxi. Yesterday, they’d only mentioned revoking the Han family’s right to practice medicine, but today they’d added on a stipulation to confiscate their medical assets. The Han family’s reserves of medicinal ingredients were equal to their family properties. Had the empress dowager steeled her heart to leave the Han family penniless?
She should remember, her old life was saved in the past by none other than Lady Tianxin!
If Han Yunxi hadn’t kept her cool to listen to the very end, she wouldn’t have seen the empress dowager’s ruthlessness first-hand!
She had really gone too far!
Han Yunxi narrowed her eyes and looked coldly towards Official Ouyang, who was so scared that he immediately started shifting the blame. “Esteemed wangfei, this is the empress dowager’s intentions, not the justice court’s. This official is just representing…”
“Official Ouyang, didn’t you hear Seventh Madame cry injustice?” Han Yunxi cut him off icily.
“This…” Official Ouyang gave a start before trying to defend himself. “Esteemed wangfei, you’re clear about the entire case, too. The three pieces of evidence are all here. If Seventh Madame wants to claim injustice, she needs to provide proof of injustice, isn’t that right?”
“Proof?” Han Yunxi elegantly set down the leg crossed over her thigh to stand up, her voice frosty. “The three items in this wangfei’s hands are precisely the proof. Madam Chen’s mother-in-law died under strange circumstances, as did Doctor Li. Someone had evil intentions to frame a case against the Han family!” So speaking, she thumped the autopsy report, appraisal of the medicinal ingredients, and prescription onto Official Ouyang’s desk with a bang. The loud noise reverberated through the quiet hall.
“This…esteemed wangfei, this…this evidence proves that Doctor Li wrote the wrong prescription. How could it proved that someone framed the case? Esteemed wangfei, you can’t just say whatever you want in a court of law,” Official Ouyang really didn’t understand and assumed that Han Yunxi was willfully making trouble.
But Han Yunxi only asked, “Who wrote this autopsy report? Call them over. Also, which doctor wrote down the details of the medicinal ingredients? Call them over too. This wangfei has questions to ask them.”
Hearing this, Official Ouyang finally understood what esteemed wangfei wanted to do. So her suspicions lay in these two pieces of evidence. If the evidence had been faked, then there really was a problem with this case.
But where did the problem lay?
Leaving aside all else, just the simple existence of Doctor Li’s prescription was sufficient to prove the validity of the autopsy report and ingredient appraisal. Actually, even without those two pieces of evidence, the prescription alone could pin the crime on Doctor Li and the Han family!
The strangest part of this case lay with Doctor Li’s mistake and subsequent suicide. Official Ouyang was clear on this in his heart, but he naturally wouldn’t disobey instructions from the empress dowager. After all, now that Doctor Li was dead, they couldn’t investigate much no matter how fishy it was. Official Ouyang also didn’t believe that Han Yunxi could find any flaws if she questioned the authenticity of the evidence. He did as she told and gave out orders. “Someone, summon the coroner Old Xia, and Imperial Physician Lin from the Imperial Physician Courtyard.”
Old Xia was a full-time coroner at Shuntian Prefecture, while Imperial Physician Lin was a doctor from the Imperial Physician Courtyard that held concurrent posts at the justice courts and Shuntian Prefecture. Both possessed top-notch skills in their respective fields, gaining public praise in their related circles. As soon as they heard Han Yunxi had called their examinations into question, the two were indignant and aggrieved.
After coming inside and paying their respects, Old Xia couldn’t resist speaking first. “Esteemed wangfei, Madam Chen’s mother-in-law’s body was inspected by me alone. The report was also written by me, so if there’s any issues, point them out directly.”
Han Yunxi liked people who got straight to the point. Since Old Xia had already said this, she forgoed the niceties. “You’re certain that Madam Chen’s mother-in-law died from Kuigen poisoning?”