Deceit (revision)

Liang Zhengyuan twitched the corners of his mouth, a bitter smile seemingly spreading across his face.

The murmurs of the onlookers behind him continued after this scene, and some even shook their heads and let out a long sigh.

“I do not know this An Zhuangren, nor do I know why I suddenly appeared by a valley in the suburbs of Beijing. I am quite surprised by this.”

After saying this, Liang Zhengyuan briefly recounted what had happened before he fainted that day.

Niu Wenyuan frowned, and after a long while, he said in a low voice, "Interesting."

The clerk beside him was quite hesitant, unsure whether he should write down Liang Zhengyuan's confession in detail, but he noticed that Niu Wenyuan did not show any anger or displeasure after listening to it; instead, he seemed to be deep in thought.

Niu Wenyuan gave a signal, and a minor official announced loudly, "Summon the witness!"

The two Dali Temple officials sitting to the side exchanged glances and expressions.

Before long, three or four witnesses were brought in one after another.

The leader looked at Liang Zhengyuan with a sorrowful gaze.

They were clearly classmates from the martial arts school whom I knew all too well before.

Zhang Boyuan, dressed in plain linen, hadn't even had a chance to greet Liang Zhengyuan when the official who had brought him up nudged his shoulder. Zhang Boyuan snapped out of his daze, quickly bowed to Niu Wenyuan and the two temple officials, and whispered:

"My lord, I am Zhang Boyuan, a fellow martial arts student who spent every day with Brother Liang at the martial arts training ground."

Niu Wenyuan nodded and asked:

"Since you two are classmates, you must be quite familiar with each other. So, I ask you, and you must answer truthfully: What weapon does the suspect usually use most often in the martial arts training ground?"

A layer of cold sweat covered Zhang Boyuan's forehead. He was practicing in the martial arts field when the officials found him, and only then did he hear that Liang Zhengyuan had gotten into trouble.

At that moment, he looked at the helmet and red-tasseled spear that were placed in the corner of the weapon rack and suddenly felt a chill.

Brother Liang, murder... how could this be?

Of course, he absolutely wouldn't believe it!

Thinking of this, Zhang Boyuan quickly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and explained gently:

"Your Excellency, Brother Liang was once a top martial artist at the training ground, proficient in all kinds of weapons. In just half a year, his skills had already surpassed many of the senior students, and he even won the top prize in a martial arts competition a few months ago. What I have said is all true."

After Zhang Boyuan finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Liang Liangzhengyuan and saw that although he looked disheveled, his eyes were filled with fearlessness.

The clerk interrupted him, shouting, "My lord is asking what weapon the suspect is most skilled at using! Answer quickly!"

The official suddenly raised his voice and questioned Zhang Boyuan, causing Zhang to tremble involuntarily.

Since it was his first time being brought to the main hall of the yamen, he was still terrified. The surrounding area was also strictly regulated, and he couldn't help but turn pale with fright.

Zhang Boyuan's voice softened slightly as he casually wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered:

"Reporting to Lord Niu, this humble subject has already told you the truth..."

Seeing that the minor official was about to speak again, Zhang Boyuan quickly cupped his hands in greeting, sweating profusely.

"Brother Liang is usually one of the best in the martial arts arena and is proficient in many weapons. If I had to choose one, I can only say that Brother Liang is quite skilled in the red-tasseled spear, archery, and swordsmanship. It is hard to say who is better. I am not exaggerating."

Upon hearing this, Niu Wenyuan stroked his beard and nodded thoughtfully.

Seeing this, the clerk bent down and whispered, "Sir, shall I go and summon the next witness?"

Niu Wenyuan glanced at Liang Zhengyuan, who was bowing his head, and Zhang Boyuan, who was sweating profusely, standing to the side, and slowly nodded.

A moment later, footsteps were heard, and another new witness was brought in.

Liang Zhengyuan sighed inwardly and turned around to see that the witness was none other than someone he used to know very well.

Nearly half a year had passed since they last met, and compared to his previous appearance of sweating profusely in the martial arts arena, Ma Fu's complexion was much rosier.

He wore a light-colored brocade robe, his hair was tied up high, and he looked very energetic.

Ma Fu calmly lifted a corner of his robe and respectfully bowed to Niu Wenyuan, who was sitting in the hall, and the two Dali Temple officials sitting beside him. Only then did he raise the corners of his lips and smile humbly.

"Witness Ma Fu, did you and Liang Zhengyuan ever train together at the martial arts training ground?"

Ma Fu nodded, his every gesture exuding extraordinary poise.

"Your Excellency, I, Ma Fu, am indeed a second-year student at the Mujing Martial Arts Academy. I have also trained with Liang Zhengyuan and Zhang Boyuan at the academy, and we are old acquaintances."

Niu Wenyuan then asked:

"Since that's the case, as your classmate, you must be familiar with each other's specialties. So, I'd like to ask you, based on your observations, what tools does the suspect in this case, Liang Zhengyuan, usually use?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Fu cupped his hands in greeting and replied in a deep voice:

"Your Excellency, in my opinion, Liang Zhengyuan trains diligently and has a wide range of interests, but he is particularly skilled in swordsmanship."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

News of the body lying in the field, bearing multiple sword wounds, had already spread far and wide. Ma Fu's words undoubtedly made it even harder for Liang Zhengyuan to clear his name.

Liang Zhengyuan stood there, sensing the presence of the person behind him. Though they were only inches apart, the person who had seemed so close just moments before now suddenly felt like a stranger.

Zhang Boyuan looked up in shock, staring at Ma Fu in disbelief.

“Brother Ma… why do you say that? You and I were both quite close to Brother Liang in the past, so how can you be so certain that Brother Liang is particularly skilled in swordsmanship? Besides…”

...Besides, you clearly know that this is a critical moment, and with just one word, Liang Zhengyuan could be imprisoned for murder!

Zhang Boyuan never got a chance to finish his sentence. The clerk drew half a knife from his waist, its blade gleaming brightly, and shouted:

"This is a solemn place; no noise is allowed!"

Silence fell once again.

Ma Fu showed no fear whatsoever. With a resolute expression, he slowly raised his head and looked at Liang Zhengyuan, whose hands and feet were bound by iron chains.

The once spirited young man is now a disheveled prisoner; time has passed and it feels like a lifetime ago.

His eyes darkened slightly, and after a moment, he said in a deep voice:

“What the student said is all true. I only learned about this because I once caught a glimpse of Liang Zhengyuan secretly practicing his sword under the cover of darkness.”

Liang Zhengyuan, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised his head, his eyes flickering slightly.

While Zhang Boyuan was still in a daze, he saw Ma Fu staring intently at him and saying, word by word:

"During regular training in the martial arts arena, Liang Zhengyuan always concealed his swordsmanship, which is why none of us students, including the Doctor, noticed it even after practicing together for a long time. Brother Zhang, it's not your fault that you didn't know the details."

Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly surprised.

So, is it really true that Liang Zhengyuan is a hypocrite who deliberately conceals his actions during daily martial arts training and harbors ulterior motives?!

They are absolutely vicious, cunning, and scheming villains!

The crowd below gradually grew indignant, but Zhang Boyuan remained incredulous. He looked at Shangliang Zhengyuan with such urgency that sweat was about to drip from his forehead.

"Brother Liang... you must quickly explain to Lord Niu... Brother Liang..."

But then, under everyone's watchful eyes, Liang Zhengyuan slowly closed his eyes, and after a long while, he spoke:

“It is true that I am most skilled with the sword. Although I have dabbled in various weapons, I am more adept at swords because I have practiced swords since childhood. In the training ground, I deliberately concealed my skills in order to get rid of old habits and learn more different weapons. I usually practice riding and archery and some other weapons. Therefore, Brother Zhang is not biased towards me or deliberately hiding it from you, sir. Please investigate everything, sir.”

Upon hearing this, the two Dali Temple officials simultaneously glanced down at the stacked case files, their expressions shifting inscrutable. They then exchanged a brief look, revealing their unreadable expressions.

"Liang Zhengyuan, courtesy name Yingzhi, is twenty years old. His ancestral home is Hecheng. He was a first-year student at the Mujing Martial Arts Academy and was later recruited into the 14th Division, serving in the army south to garrison Huidong. During his time with the army, he performed exceptionally well, with no disciplinary violations, large or small..."

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will surely be promoted after this suppression of the bandits, and his future will be limitless.

But then, an unexpected event occurred.

Niu Wenyuan frowned and carefully examined Liang Zhengyuan.

The junior official standing nearby was always adept at reading his superiors' expressions. Having served Minister Niu tea and water for a long time, he naturally knew that Minister Niu harbored doubts about Liang Zhengyuan's words. He immediately straightened his back, raised his head, and said:

"You audacious suspect, how dare you spout such nonsense in court!"

Before Liang Zhengyuan could answer, another person dressed as a yamen runner hurriedly walked in from outside the courtroom. Without saying a word, he quickly walked to Niu Wenyuan's side and whispered a few words in his ear.

Niu Wenyuan's expression changed, and he said, "Since Imperial Censor Jiang and General Zhao have arrived, please invite them in quickly."

The clerk responded and immediately had two more chairs added. Sure enough, a gentle breeze blew in a short while later, and then, accompanied by the breeze, two people strode confidently into the hall.

The leader, dressed in an official robe with a bat motif and wearing a black gauze hat, walked in with a handsome face.

Beside him stood a short man with a dark complexion and a prominent scar on his right cheek. The man was dressed in military uniform, and although he was short, he walked with a steady gait, and every move he made exuded the air of a soldier on the battlefield.

Seeing that Censor Jiang, who had recently gained considerable attention at court, had suddenly arrived, the onlookers couldn't help but gasp in surprise. It was already widely known in Mujing that Censor Jiang, with his handsome face and exceptional intelligence, was truly remarkable.

Jiang Heng glanced around the hall briefly, then exchanged greetings with Niu Wenyuan. He gracefully sat down, his voice clear and stern:

"Jiang Heng was ordered to assist in this case. The suspect, Liang Zhengyuan, is involved in Huidong, which is of great importance. He must be carefully investigated and cannot be treated hastily. Therefore, I came to inquire about his case. I hope Lord Niu will forgive me."

The dark-faced man accompanying them was Zhao Qiang, the deputy commander of the 14th Division. His expression was stern, and he continued in a deep voice:

"Liang Zhengyuan has repeatedly performed meritorious service while accompanying the army to Huidong. He was also diligent and hardworking when he was under my command, and can be regarded as a role model in the army. Therefore, I, Zhao, believe that if there is any mistake in the handling of this case, it may damage the credibility of the court and hurt the morale of the troops."

Jiang Heng calmly sipped his tea, then turned to look at Niu Wenyuan, his tone sharp:

"When we arrived, we overheard some details of the trial and found it quite interesting. For example, Liang Zhengyuan's swordsmanship is not known to just one person, but his swordsmanship is widely known in the army. To use this as a basis for conviction would be biased. I wonder what your opinion is on this, Lord Niu?"

Although Jiang Heng was young, his official rank was no less than that of Niu Wenyuan and Zhao Qiang, who were present. Although his words were gentle as a breeze, he exuded authority as soon as he opened his mouth.

Upon hearing this, Niu Wenyuan frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded:

"What Lord Jiang said is very true. I also believe that this case involves a wide range of issues and should not be judged hastily. Moreover, the relevant evidence has not yet been fully investigated. The case file should be temporarily held and discussed after a thorough investigation."

Zhao Qiang, a man of martial arts background, was a burly fellow whose thoughts were never hidden. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but chuckle, slamming his teacup down so hard it nearly spilled onto the table.