"What a convenient excuse of 'lax discipline'!" Nan Wuyu said. "I never thought that Lord Zhang could justify the actions of these two with a simple statement about lax discipline."
“This…” Zhang Jian’s face was somewhat grim. “Please enlighten me, sir.”
"I don't know if Lord Zhang is truly unaware or pretending, but these two are abducting women and men on the street, respectively. They're really not birds of a feather," Nan Wuyu said sarcastically, looking at Zhang Jian.
"This humble official truly has no idea." Zhang Jian dared not admit it. Although he knew that his daughter and nephew often did these things, he turned a blind eye since no one resisted. He never expected to run into such a tough opponent today. They really are two useless people.
"Even if you don't know, then please tell me, Lord Zhang, why these two have the authority to mobilize soldiers." Nan Wuyu pointed out the problem incisively once again.
"Please investigate thoroughly, Your Excellency. I have never given them the authority to mobilize officers and soldiers. I have no idea about this either," Zhang Jian said, immediately disclaiming any involvement.
"Is that so? Since Lord Zhang doesn't want to tell the truth, then let the people speak for themselves." Nan Wuyu had no patience to waste any more time with him, so he ordered the government gates to be opened and the trial to begin.
Namo Yu ordered his soldiers to announce at the county government gate that a high-ranking official from the capital was coming to investigate the magistrate of Qiwu County, and urged the people to seek redress for any grievances they might have.
At first, the onlookers couldn't believe it, and no one came forward to testify or plead their case. However, the news spread like wildfire, and soon the whole county knew about it.
The people looked curiously into the county government office and saw that the usually domineering tyrant and the county magistrate were kneeling in the center of the office. Only then did the people truly believe that a high-ranking official from the county had come to seek justice for them.
The first person to step forward was an elderly disabled woman. She trembled as she tried to kneel down, but Nan Wuyu told her to dispense with the formalities and had someone bring her a chair to sit on.
"Thank you, Your Honor," the old woman said with tears in her eyes, and then slowly began to recount her grievances.
This old woman originally had a lovely daughter who was of marriageable age and had already found a husband, but unexpectedly, she was targeted by this scumbag Zhang Hua.
He not only kidnapped the old woman's daughter, but also beat up the man.
In the end, the old woman's daughter, unable to bear the humiliation, hanged herself at the young age of fifteen.
The elderly woman sought justice after her daughter's death, but instead of receiving an explanation, she was beaten and left with a crippled leg. She has only survived to this day thanks to the help of kind-hearted people.
"Please, Your Honor, do justice for this woman!" the old woman cried, recounting her grievances with tears streaming down her face, a story that moved everyone present.
"Such a thing actually happened." Nan Wuyu was also shocked. He never expected that the county magistrate would condone his nephew to commit such a heinous act.
Nan Wusi couldn't sit in the courtroom, so she could only listen from the inner room. She suddenly felt that she had let that kid off easy by beating him up before.
Many villagers knew about the old woman's situation, and they all spoke up for her.
Nan Wuyu also pieced together the truth from the onlookers. Just as the old woman said, Zhang Hua, the magistrate's nephew, had indeed done many heinous things, but they had all been suppressed.
Some people's daughters were taken away and are now living as concubines in Zhang Hua's household. Some people spent a lot of money to keep quiet, while others were beaten so badly that they dared not speak out anymore.
Following this, many people came forward to report the crimes of Magistrate Zhang, his daughter, and his nephew, including bribery, disregard for human life, and oppression of the people.
"Lord Zhang, is there anything else you would like to say?" Nan Wuyu looked at Zhang Jian below.
"My lord, I am innocent! These people are just spouting nonsense and have no evidence whatsoever. I dare not admit it!" Zhang Jian shouted loudly to Nan Wuyu, because he was certain that these people would not produce any substantial evidence.
Upon hearing this, Nan Wuyu also felt that things were somewhat difficult. Although he knew that what these people were saying was definitely true, it would be very difficult to get them to produce any evidence.
"Your Excellency, I have evidence," the clerk, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.
"Wen Ren, what nonsense are you spouting!" Zhang Jian shouted at him sternly. He was confident that others could produce evidence, but Wen Ren had always been his confidant, and now he dared to betray him.
"Please grant me some time, sir, as I need to retrieve the evidence," Wen Ren pleaded with Nan Wuyu.
“Okay.” Nan Wuyu nodded. If someone could produce evidence, he could dismiss Zhang Jian from his post and investigate him.
Everyone waited patiently for Wen Ren. After about half an incense stick's time, Wen Ren came with some difficulty carrying a box containing evidence of Zhang Jian's embezzlement and bribery over the years.
After reviewing a portion of the document, Nan Wuyu was certain that it was true. Therefore, he immediately announced that Zhang Jian would be dismissed from his post and investigated, while his family members were all imprisoned to await trial.
"Yay!" The onlookers cheered, a stark contrast to Zhang Jian, who was now slumped on the ground in despair.
"Wenren, go and inform the prefect of Jinzhou City to take over the rest of the work." Nan Wuyu still had the imperial order to carry out disaster relief, so he couldn't delay for too long. Once the prefect of Jinzhou City arrived, he could leave.
Although Xiao Yi had been listening the whole time, he did not show any expression or opinion. This made Nan Wuyu take a few more glances at him, thinking to himself that His Highness Prince Yi was quite composed.
Nan Wusi listened to the whole thing from behind and felt a little sad. In this remote place, where the emperor was far away, a county magistrate could control the lives and deaths of so many people. It was no wonder that he was corrupt.
However, she still wants to know how Nan Wuyu became an imperial envoy.
"Second brother, how did you become an imperial envoy? Weren't you just going to provide disaster relief?"
"The main purpose was disaster relief, but the Emperor was worried that the local officials in these disaster areas would embezzle the relief funds, so he secretly gave me the authority to act as an imperial envoy." Now that Nan Wuyu's identity as an imperial envoy had been exposed, he could explain it.
"I see. I didn't expect Second Brother to keep it so well hidden," Nan Wusi joked.
"I am acting on imperial orders, please do not take offense, little sister." Originally, Nan Wuyu did not intend to reveal his identity so soon, but Zhang Jian's actions were simply unbearable for him, so he was willing to expose his identity to dismiss him from his post. Otherwise, by the time he returned from the disaster relief, all the evidence would probably have been destroyed.
Nan Wuyu was only thinking about the consequences of his identity being exposed, while Nan Wusi was wondering if his second brother also held the position of imperial envoy in the original text. If so, could his brother's death be related to this identity? Did his brother discover something during the disaster relief efforts, and someone wanted to kill him to silence him?
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