Chapter 160: Chapter 144: Pressing Step by Step
"Mr. Lin, you don’t seem surprised?" Han Chunyang was unnerved by Lin Miao’s calm tone. He had never seen anyone so composed when accused of "murder," especially someone who was not yet seventeen.
However, some people can’t be treated like ordinary folk.
This Lin Miao dared to beat up Mr. Xue from Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion and his subordinates with ruthlessness. Although the matter was hushed up, working in the public office, there aren’t many secrets.
Moreover, this was witnessed by many citizens; the matter couldn’t be false.
This Mr. Lin is not only skilled in medicine, but also a master of martial arts. Han Chunyang admitted to himself that Lin Miao was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.
He once suspected the two subordinates of Ye Xizhao who were killed in the East Market, but he truly dared not meddle further. Some things are best left in the past.
Obsessing over them is courting death.
So, now whenever Han Chunyang saw Lin Miao, he would first clasp his hands and bow, even addressing him with the respectful "you."
Even when faced with a lawsuit, there was not the slightest disrespect.
To a strong person, respect is deserved.
"As practitioners of medicine, such incidents are bound to happen. When my master taught me medicine, he reminded me to always uphold my conscience. As long as one believes in what they do, they shouldn’t fear the consequences. If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have chosen this path." Lin Miao chuckled, clearly unbothered by the situation.
"The death of the Shang family’s son has nothing to do with you?"
"I held no grudge against the Shang family, neither today nor in the past. Why would I do such a thing? Besides, what benefit would it bring me?" Lin Miao retorted.
"Right, right, you’re a physician. If you couldn’t treat him, you simply wouldn’t have. There’s no reason for you to do this." Han Chunyang thought and realized it made sense.
Lin Miao explained to the patients who had come for a consultation, "Keep the number slip and I’ll prioritize you when I return." He then reassured his senior sister not to worry. If he hadn’t returned by the time Xia Zhu did, she should go home with Xia Zhu and wait, not to worry about him.
Sun Youwei also understood that the more she showed concern, the less she could help Lin Miao. She needed to focus on not adding to his troubles and quietly doing her part.
As for the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point, it would have to temporarily close.
...
"Mr. Han, shouldn’t the victim first report such a case to the South City District? Why did they come straight to your Arresting Department?" Lin Miao asked inquisitively.
"In general medical disputes, the district commander mediates or judges. But when it involves a homicide, it must be handed over to the Arresting Department for investigation. That’s the procedure."
"I see."
Handling cases requires following protocols, as it has been since ancient times.
"Mr. Lin, your case is a bit tricky. You need to be prepared mentally," Han Chunyang advised.
"Thank you, Mr. Han, for the warning. If I stand with a clear conscience, I’m not afraid of shadows. Having done no wrong, I don’t fear these matters," Lin Miao expressed his gratitude.
The carriage fell into silence.
Regarding the case, Han Chunyang couldn’t say much, and naturally, Lin Miao couldn’t ask further.
About a stick of incense later, the carriage stopped in front of the Dongshan Robbery Control Department Headquarters. Lin Miao and Han Chunyang got off the carriage one after another.
"Mr. Lin, please."
Instead of going to the main court for trials, they first went to the secondary hall, where Lin Miao recognized an acquaintance, Mr. Feng, the chief officer of the Arresting Department, naturally seated at the main position.
There was also a man in a seventh-rank official robe, looking older than Mr. Feng, who should be the district commander of South City in the Dongshan Prefecture (equivalent to a county magistrate).
There were some other people, judging by their attire, either from the Arresting Department or clerks and attendants from the South City District, all of them staring at him, as if scrutinizing him, treating him like a criminal, which was rather uncomfortable.
Lin Miao, being a "physician," according to the Da Li Dynasty’s respect for physicians, those with a physician’s status and above could meet officials without saluting, akin to those who passed the imperial examinations, enjoying the status of a scholar, a rank above commoners.
Even if guilty, they could see officials without saluting until proven guilty.
Thus, after entering, Lin Miao simply clasped his hands respectfully towards Feng Sheng and the others. "Greetings to Mr. Feng and the honorable gentlemen."
"Mr. Lin, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Zheng, the district commander of South City in Dongshan, your superior officer, the parent official." Mr. Feng stood up to introduce the man in the seventh-rank official robe, who had a broad face and short beard.
"Lin Miao greets Mr. Zheng." He slightly clasped his hands. As soon as he entered, he noticed that Mr. Zheng’s gaze was quite unfriendly, so he felt there was no need to pretend.
"Mr. Lin, I’ve summoned you here with Mr. Feng to inquire about a case. You must answer truthfully, with no lies!" Mr. Zheng said sternly.
"Please ask, gentlemen, I will certainly answer truthfully!"
"Good, it’s commendable for Mr. Lin to have this attitude." Mr. Zheng praised, "I ask you, do you know Shang Agen from Yanliu Lane in Xiuyue Square?"
"Yes, on the morning of the seventh of this month, I went to their home to see a patient, met Shang Agen and his wife, and their son Shang Youwei." Lin Miao nodded.
"Good, my next question: was it you who prescribed the medicine after diagnosing Shang Agen’s son?"
"Yes."
"What illness did Shang Agen, Shang Youwei suffer from, and what prescription did you give him?"
Lin Miao answered each question, he remembered Shang Youwei, this patient, very well.
"Does the prescription include any medicinal ingredient called cinnabar?"
"Yes, cinnabar, also known as Zhu Sha, is best when produced in Cenzhou, known for its purity and quality. Cinnabar belongs to the Heart Sutra and is effective in calming, soothing, and detoxifying heat. Although medicinal, it is highly toxic. Therefore, it should not be taken indiscriminately unless prescribed accordingly. Excessive use or long-term consumption can easily lead to discomfort or even poisoning. So, cinnabar is usually not included in decoctions. Instead, it’s ground into powder and taken with medicinal decoction, never exceeding three parts at a time." Lin Miao explained in detail.
"What you mentioned, I don’t understand myself, it will be judged by someone else. Since you admitted to including cinnabar in the prescription, then sign your name and give your seal!"
"Sign and seal? Mr. Zheng, I am not a criminal, why should I sign and seal?" Lin Miao was not foolish; oftentimes, signatures should not be given blindly. Once signed, they become court evidence, and even if you repent, it’s too late.
"You’ve confessed, the cinnabar in the prescription was yours, why can’t you sign and seal?" Mr. Zheng said sternly.
"Mr. Zheng, the prescription was mine, and this can be verified. Even if I don’t sign and seal, it’s undeniable. But why do you want me to sign it? To prove that although I knew cinnabar was toxic, I gave it to the patient, ultimately poisoning him to death?" Lin Miao icily responded. Signing and sealing would be tantamount to confessing that he poisoned Shang Youwei. Was he that foolish?
He understood the "nuances" in this, and in general, whenever someone wants you to sign, never sign blindly.
Mr. Zheng’s face flushed red and then turned pale. He never imagined that such a young person would be so versed in official matters, refusing to fall into the trap.
He thought that as long as he obtained Lin Miao’s confession of knowing that cinnabar was toxic yet using it on Shang Youwei, he could directly charge him with "deliberately poisoning someone."
Of course, that was very tenuous. In such a case without cause and effect, even if the sealed confession was submitted, it would be rejected.
Nevertheless, just by relying on this, he could detain Lin Miao and then spread rumors to ruin his reputation. Pushing someone up is hard, but destroying someone is easy.
"Someone..."
"Mr. Zheng, are you intending to use torture to force me to sign and seal?" Lin Miao’s face turned cold, his gaze sharp as a knife. Throughout his two lifetimes, his principle was always: if people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them; if people offend me, I’ll fight back fiercely!
"Impudent, Lin Miao, your medicine killed someone, yet you still argue here, excessively brazen!" Mr. Zheng suddenly stood up, pointed at Lin Miao, and cursed, "Someone, arrest this murderous quack!"
"Nonsense, the prescription was mine, I admit it. But the medicine wasn’t taken from me. How can you claim that my medicine killed someone?" Lin Miao railed.
"..." Mr. Zheng’s face turned as red as a pig liver.
"If there’s an issue with my prescription, then that’s my fault. But if the medicine itself is problematic, you should find the person who sold it."
The constables from the Arresting Department glanced at each other and then looked down, pretending not to hear.
To arrest someone, Mr. Zheng, you do it yourself. You’re not our direct superior; why should we listen to you and look for trouble ourselves?
"Mr. Zheng, calm down, calm down..." Feng Sheng was startled and quickly stepped in as a mediator. If a fight broke out at the Arresting Department and Lin Miao resisted, causing trouble, the department would be in a big dilemma.
Feng Sheng wasn’t stupid. This fellow Zheng intentionally stirred things up today, trying to provoke Lin Miao at the Arresting Department; regardless of Lin Miao’s reasoning, he wouldn’t escape legal punishment.
Lin Miao also realized that this fellow Zheng was very cunning, deliberately aiming to incite tension between him and the Arresting Department.
As soon as he fought with the Arresting Department, it would become a further crime.
Colliding with the Arresting Department and resisting arrest or defying the law wouldn’t escape being charged.
"Physicians," before obtaining an official physician decree, if they violate court laws, their "physician" qualifications can be revoked.
Of course, it’s not that easy; it requires approval from the Medical Bureau, and for someone like Lin Miao, it needs to be reported to the Imperial Pharmacy.
The person behind this kept scheming one plan after another, waiting for Lin Miao to fall into their trap unexpectedly.
"Fine, Mr. Zheng, Mr. Feng, I’ve never stayed in the prison of the Arresting Department, so why not experience it today?" Lin Miao extended his hands, with an attitude of letting himself be dealt with.
Feng Sheng felt despair; if he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have taken this matter with Mr. Zheng. Now, he found himself in trouble without achieving anything.
If Lin Miao was detained, then he himself couldn’t explain it. As a constable, he may look impressive, but there were too many people deciding his career fate, none of whom he could afford to offend.
This Mr. Lin was someone Marquis Lingyang had instructed to take special care of and protect. Could he easily offend him?
Without the Marquis Lingyang’s intervention, how could he dare to detain Ye Mi Yuan and refuse to release him until the Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion stepped in?
What the superior intended, he did not know; he only needed to comply obediently, take the benefits given, and not ask why.
This case of poisoning messing up the Shang family’s son is evidently someone using it to target Mr. Lin. The person behind it had enough influence and power to have the South City District Commander act as their pawn, which wasn’t something he, a constable, could oppose.
Yet Marquis Lingyang instructed not to touch Lin Miao, instead to protect him more. Caught in the middle, it was indeed difficult.
"Mr. Feng, don’t be troubled anymore, let’s go." Lin Miao saw too, Feng Sheng had no intention to make things difficult for him, but the South City District Commander, Mr. Zheng, seemed to have a grouse with him as though Lin Miao wronged his mother, insisting on his doom.
"Mr. Feng, what are you hesitating for?" Mr. Zheng also threw caution to the wind, and pressed on step by step. Unless he detained Lin Miao, he couldn’t answer to those behind the scheme.
"Mr. Han, please escort Mr. Lin temporarily to the prison for a rest." Feng Sheng helplessly called upon Han Chunyang to take Lin Miao away.
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