No sooner had Liu Muhai finished his questioning than the Ninth Prince stepped forward, dropping a heavy hint.
"Xie Jinliang, if you have been coerced into giving this confession, you may speak plainly. We are in the Imperial Court; His Majesty will surely see justice done for you!"
Xie Jinliang kept his head bowed, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze. He understood well enough that the Ninth Prince and Liu Muhai were pressuring him to recant. He wanted to recant, too, but he couldn't. His adversaries held the evidence, and they held his family hostage. Matters had reached a point where recanting would be entirely futile. He had no choice but to defy the intentions of the Ninth Prince and Liu Muhai.
Chapter 136