Shen Qing didn't think Gao Yuanqi was in any danger, but since Qi Zhenheng had reminded her, she had no choice but to ask him to accompany her.
Qi Zhenheng went back to his room to change out of his martial arts training clothes.
Shen Qing stood in the courtyard waiting for him.
Although it was already early spring, Jiangzhou was still freezing cold. She stood there for a while, her hands became stiff from the cold, so she made a fist and breathed on it to warm them.
A copper hand warmer was handed to her: "You can use this to warm your hands."
She looked up and saw that Qi Zhenheng had changed into an official robe and was wearing a warm hat.
She took the hand warmer, held it in her hand, and smiled at him: "Thank you, Lord Qi."
The two walked toward the prison cell.
Qi Zhenheng laughed and said, "I am very impressed with your performance in the county court yesterday!"
Shen Qing said helplessly, "They're making things up out of thin air, so I have no choice but to take drastic measures."
Qi Zhenheng clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "What a brilliant move to strike at the heart of the problem!"
Shen Qing recalled yesterday with lingering fear: "That corrupt official was well-prepared this time. Normally, I wouldn't have been able to escape. Fortunately, Gao Yuanxiang also came to join in the fun, so I was able to take the opportunity to put psychological pressure on her. If she hadn't been there yesterday, I would definitely have been dragged away and beheaded."
Qi Zhenheng said solemnly, "Even if Gao Yuanxiang wasn't there, I wouldn't have stood idly by. No one can unjustly kill innocent people in front of me!"
Shen Qing stopped in his tracks, and he also stopped.
"Thank you, Lord Qi!" Shen Qing cupped his hands in thanks. "You must thoroughly investigate that corrupt official!"
"I will definitely investigate him thoroughly!"
Shen Qing nodded, relieved, and continued walking forward.
They soon arrived at the dungeon.
Shen Qing followed Qi Zhenheng into the dark and damp dungeon. After walking through a long corridor, they finally saw Gao Yuanqi lying on the ground in the last cell.
"Gao Yuanqi!" Qi Zhenheng shouted, "Raise your head!"
Gao Yuanqi, who was resting with his eyes closed, looked over.
Seeing that it was Shen Qing, he smiled, struggled to his feet, and walked over shakily.
The once vibrant and handsome young man was tortured so severely that his skin was torn and he was no longer recognizable as a human.
Shen Qing had no sympathy for this kind of person; she just felt he deserved it!
She glared at him coldly: "Tell me, who instructed you to harm me?"
“No one instructed me.” Gao Yuanqi said calmly, “Shen, you killed my father, so I am taking revenge on you.”
Qi Zhenheng couldn't stand it any longer and shouted, "Why don't you tell the truth now? If you keep hiding it, don't blame me for being impolite!"
He was a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a deep and serious voice, and an extremely imposing official presence. Not to mention young people like Gao Yuanqi, even old men like county magistrates who had been in office for decades would be a little flustered when he shouted at them.
However, Gao Yuanqi remained surprisingly calm.
Shen Qing felt that his composure must be due to having previously encountered someone with even greater official authority than Qi Zhenheng.
So, were the people who instructed him Zhao Yuanwai and the person behind him?
That person must have promised to protect him, so even though he was imprisoned by Qi Zhenheng, he was fearless.
To undermine his confidence, you have to let him know that Qi Zhenheng can really handle him!
Shen Qing turned around, winked at Qi Zhenheng, then leaned close to his ear, pretending not to let Gao Yuanqi hear, but speaking in a volume just loud enough for Gao Yuanqi to "overhear": "Can that person protect him?"
Qi Zhenheng understood her meaning and played along: "I have already reported this case to the Dali Temple. Even if the Emperor came, he couldn't protect him! That person wouldn't expose himself and get himself into trouble just to protect him!"
"Very good! So, what sentence do you plan to give him?"
Qi Zhenheng glanced at Gao Yuanqi and smiled: "How will you be sentenced? There won't be the extermination of nine generations of your family, but your property will be confiscated! All the male members of the three branches of the Gao family will be exiled to the army, and all the female members will be taken as government slaves and prostitutes!"
Shen Qing feigned ignorance: "Gao Yuanqi's youngest son, Gao Che, is only three years old. He is nominally my adopted son. Now that Gao Yuanqi has committed a crime, will this child be exiled along with him?"
"They must be sent to the army together! They are too young and cannot endure the long journey to the army. They usually die on the way."
"And what about the women? Who are the government maids, and who are the government prostitutes?"
"Married women were all made into government slaves, and unmarried women were made into government prostitutes!"
"Gao Yuanqi also has two daughters, aged ten and eight respectively."
"Then she must be taken in as a government prostitute!"
Shen Qing shook his head and looked at Gao Yuanqi, whose face had changed: "Let's not even talk about how your father's death had nothing to do with me. Even if I really did kill your father, you're willing to sacrifice your whole family's lives, let your son die on the way to being exiled, let your daughter become a prostitute, and let your wife become a servant, all to get revenge on me. Do you think it's worth it?"
After she finished speaking, she stopped arguing with him and gestured for Qi Zhenheng to leave the dungeon.
"Shen family!" Gao Yuanqi shouted fiercely from behind, "Stop right there!"
Shen Qing stopped and walked back to Gao Yuanqi: "So? Are you going to tell me?"
Gao Yuanqi laughed maniacally: "You think your performance with Lord Qi will scare me and make me confess everything? Don't dream! I dared to do this, so I'm prepared to bear the consequences!"
Shen Qing raised an eyebrow: "You don't care about your children's lives at all? It seems that person promised to protect you? So you're not afraid at all? That person has a higher official rank than Lord Qi? Can he suppress Lord Qi?"
Gao Yuanqi was pleased with himself, neither admitting nor denying it.
Shen Qing stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head with a smile: "Since ancient times, being imprisoned is tantamount to being abandoned. Lord Qi is determined to investigate your case and has already reported it to the Court of Judicial Review. Do you think that man would expose his identity and offend Lord Qi for such a pawn as you?"
Gao Yuanqi was stunned and remained silent for a long time.
Seeing that Shen Qing was about to leave, he hurriedly said, "Tell Lord Qi to let me out, and I'll tell you!"
Shen Qing isn't stupid.
Gao Yuanqi is a venomous snake; once released, he will immediately find an opportunity to bite her to death!
Even locking him up here won't get him to talk, let alone letting him out.
"Fine then, you can just wait here to die!" Shen Qing turned and left.
Seeing this, Qi Zhenheng, who was waiting at a distance, frowned and glanced at Gao Yuanqi, already planning to torture him later.
Shen Qing and Qi Zhenheng walked out of the dungeon and returned to the backyard of the county government office.
She said with a heavy heart, "The person who instructed Gao Yuanqi should be the one behind Master Zhao, and he must be of a high rank. But Gao Yuanqi won't reveal that person's background."
Qi Zhenheng nodded in a deep voice: "I think the same way you do. Don't worry, I'll investigate!"
Shen Qing bowed to him: "Thank you for your hard work today. I'll go back now. If there's any progress on Gao Yuanqi's side, please send someone to let me know and I'll come immediately."
She turned and left.
Behind him, Qi Zhenheng called out, "Madam, please wait."
She turned around: "Is there anything else, Lord Qi?"
In the morning light, her fair skin shimmered, and her cheeks had a natural blush.
Qi Zhenheng was momentarily stunned.
"Will you... will you come to the prefectural government office again tomorrow?"
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