Grand Song Legal Official: The Case of Liang Yu's Life

Author: Qian Linsen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Song Ci's father committed suicide by poison after wrongly judging a murder case, seeking redemption from the public. Determined not to repeat his father's mistakes, Song Ci resolved to no longer engage in criminal investigations. On his way to Meixian as a trusted friend of Song Ci, the magistrate Meng died in a fire. Upon arriving in Meixian to pay respects, Song Ci discovered that Meng had been murdered and then burned, with the crime scene cleverly disguised. Suspecting that the killer was once a highly skilled forensic expert, Song Ci noted that all power in Meixian was held by Yang the Subprefect, who himself was a former forensic expert. Song Ci wondered how a mere subprefect could dare to murder the magistrate and hold absolute sway in Meixian. He resolved to uncover Yang's behind-the-scenes backers. After successfully solving the Meixian mystery, Song Ci resumed his path as a judge, appointed as a Circuit Intendant by the court.
In Jiazhou, two hundred thousand taels of treasury silver were stolen, and the treasury official Sun Gongjian committed suicide out of guilt. Song Ci and Yuan Jie, the deputy magistrate of Jiazhou, (collaborated to solve the case), uncovering a large amount of stolen silver in the home of the prefect. Initially, the case seemed like a success, pleasing the court and earning Song Ci and Yuan Jie promotions. However, Song Ci was not satisfied. He believed Sun Gongjian's death was suspicious and that the silver in the prefect's home was embezzled, not the stolen treasury silver. Yuan Jie was suspected of embezzlement and dereliction of duty. But where were the two hundred thousand taels of stolen treasury silver?
Over the past decade, Song Ci had solved countless cases. Yet, to his surprise, he himself became the defendant, with Wu Miaoquan, the prefect of Lin'an, presiding over the trial. Years earlier, Wu had been punished by Song Ci for reckless disregard for human life. To defend the Minister of War, Shi Wenjun, who was falsely accused of treason, Song Ci himself was imprisoned. Song Ci's wife, Xue Yuzhen, had been close friends with the princess since childhood, who secured him a chance to judge while under arrest. Thus, Song Ci, shackled and in prison, presided over the trial, causing those who had framed him great distress.
A skeleton led to the discovery of a mysterious estate, whose owner, though a commoner, wielded immense influence. In his home, eight large chests contained secrets that high-ranking officials could not reveal. The nobles of the capital bowed to his commands, filled with awe. Song Ci, using all his cunning, managed to present these eight chests to the court. However, a fire reduced all evidence to ashes. Song Ci finally realized that the court itself was the greatest backer of corrupt officials. Disheartened, he resigned from office, but his Washed Innocence Collection became a timeless classic, revered by forensic experts of later generations.
This volume includes: the case of Liang Yu's death, the disappearance of Li Yuer, the theft of treasury silver, the treason case of Shi Wenjun, and the mysterious death in the suburbs of the capital.