While everyone was pointing at the heads on the template and supporting Zhao Daying, Zhu Ping'an was also looking at them carefully.
Apparently, all fifty-nine heads had been replaced.
If it was just a simple change of hairstyle, it would be impossible to hide it from Liu Mu and Liu Dadao. It is impossible that they would not recognize their loved ones just because they changed their hairstyle. They have lived together for 20 to 30 years. If it is a relative of Liujia Village, no matter how outrageous the hairstyle is, they can recognize it at a glance.
It is true that it is easy to be an official if you have connections in the court. The heads in the archives can be replaced at will. No wonder Zhao Daying is so fearless. Anyway, someone will clean up his mess, so there is nothing to be afraid of.
Zhu Ping'an observed the head and complained silently.
"Coroner, please examine the head as soon as possible." The presiding judge Wang Xueyi urged the coroner to examine the head.
"Yes, sir."
The two coroners followed orders, soaked their hands in vinegar water for a while, took out a series of tools from the tool box, including scissors, candles, silver needles, tweezers, etc., and put them into the vinegar water one by one, and then used a series of methods to examine the head... ...
All in all, it looks very professional.
However, Zhu Ping'an knew that the two coroners were just pretending. Just now, Zhu Ping'an had seen Captain Zhang whispering with the two coroners.
Captain Zhang and his men had been very careful. They avoided the crowd while moving the box wood and communicated in a faint whisper. Captain Zhang was indeed very secretive. It was estimated that the two coroners had to listen carefully to hear what Captain Zhang said. Apart from the three parties involved, no one else could hear it.
but
Zhu Ping'an is an exception.
Zhu Pingan did not hear it, he saw it. Zhu Pingan now feels more and more that it was a wise move for him to learn lip reading in the Hanlin Academy Library. Zhu Pingan "heard" almost everything that Captain Zhang told the two coroners.
"Remember what to say and what not to say, and examine these Tatar heads carefully, understand... After the matter is accomplished, you will definitely benefit from it..."
Except for one sentence in the middle where Captain Zhang covered his mouth while speaking, Zhu Ping'an didn't "hear" it, but he basically "heard" everything else clearly.
"Examine these Tatar heads carefully."
When Captain Zhang said this, he pointed at the two coroners with his cell phone and emphasized his tone.
Note that Captain Zhang said this in a positive tone: these Tatar heads. Before they were inspected, they had already been identified as Tatar heads.
This sentence was very meaningful, and the two coroners understood it.
Zhu Ping'an naturally understood it as well. His ink-black eyes suddenly flashed with a gleam of light, which disappeared in a flash.
Coroners had a very low status among officials. Song Ci, the chief judge of the Song Dynasty, was an exception. Song Ci was a Jinshi, but these coroners did not have such a background. They were called "low-class servants" among officials, belonging to a kind of clerk, with low status and low salary. Captain Zhang was a favorite of Minister Wang and their superior. In addition, Captain Zhang promised them many benefits, so they naturally fell for him actively.
The two coroners conducted the investigation for about ten minutes and came to a conclusion, which they submitted in a handwritten copy to the court.
"Reporting to you, sir, after careful inspection, we have confirmed that these 49 heads are undoubtedly Tatars. First of all, you can see that the hairstyles of these heads are typical Tatar hairstyles, called Huhele; secondly, please see that most of these heads have copper rings on their ears or one ear, which is a custom of barbarians; in addition, although these heads have been processed, after wiping the faces with warm vinegar, it can be seen that the facial skin is yellow-brown and dark. Tatars graze on grass every day, and most of them are tanned. These are typical Tatar characteristics."
"Therefore, we conclude that these 49 heads are undoubtedly Tatars."
After the coroner submitted the investigation results to the court, he briefly stated the identification conclusion. Starting from the hairstyle, earrings, and skin color, he concluded that these heads were all Tatars.
"You are responsible for criminal investigation, which is the key to this case. You must not take it lightly." Wang Xueyi said seriously at the presiding judge's seat.
"We are willing to guarantee it with our lives." The coroner guaranteed solemnly.
"You are all senior officials in the Ministry of Justice, so I naturally trust you. Do you have any comments?" Wang Xueyi nodded with satisfaction.
Zhao Daying and others wanted to raise their hands and feet to agree with the appraisal conclusion. They didn't even have time to cheer, so how could they have any objections
Coroners are experts in this field. Their statements are very convincing and their conclusions are based on real evidence, so they are very convincing.
The other officials in the court were not professional in identifying heads, so most of their judgments were based on the coroner's conclusions. In addition, they also had their own eyes. The hairstyle, earrings and other items on the head were obviously Tatar characteristics.
Therefore, basically everyone had no objection to the coroner's appraisal conclusion.
"No, they changed the head."
Liu Dadao and others also reacted at this time. They stepped forward angrily, pointing at Zhao Daying and others, and angrily exposed the dark side of officialdom. They could not control their emotions, with anger in their eyes, and they wished they could eat Zhao Daying alive.
"Snap"
"quiet."
In the court, Wang Xueyi slammed the gavel hard and shouted loudly.
The criminal police and the Embroidered Uniform Guards, who had been ready for action in the court, rushed forward, handcuffed the arms of Liu Dadao and others, kicked them on the knees, forced them to kneel on the ground, and controlled them.
"They changed the head..."
Liu Dadao and others struggled violently and shouted angrily.
"Shut up! How can you make a noise in the court? The head is sealed by the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War is an important place in the country, and the place where the head is sealed is even more important. Every detail has been strictly checked and signed and sealed to ensure that there is no mistake. How can you, a village boy, make rash judgments!"
Wang Xueyi slammed the gavel again, looked at Liu Dadao and others in the hall, and scolded them with a stern face.
Upon hearing this, the officers from the Ministry of Justice picked up Liu Dadao and others, preparing to take them away and give them a beating for the crime of disturbing the court.
Damn it, that guy surnamed Wang is trying to take advantage of this situation.
Zhu Pingan hurried forward, first stopped the criminal police, and then prepared to argue. Liu Dadao and the others were dragged here to testify by him, and he couldn't just watch them being beaten.
"Forget it. Considering that you still have the responsibility of being witnesses and this is your first offense, I will not punish you for this time. If you ignore the law and dare to commit the offense again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Now that they were on the verge of success, Wang Xueyi did not want to cause any more trouble or unnecessary conflicts, so he waved his hand, signaling the officers of the Ministry of Justice to release Liu Dadao and others, continue the petition process, close the case as soon as possible, and complete the tasks assigned by Minister He.