"Nonsense! Absolutely impossible! This is a triennial examination for all the scholars in the country. The Emperor attaches great importance to it, so everyone is extremely careful. Even if there are soldiers as witnesses, they would probably be tortured into confessing. I don't know what methods the county magistrate used. It's a miscarriage of justice!" Pang Da shouted in a hoarse voice.
He immediately stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "General, I know Pang Da's character. I beg you to uphold justice for me."
He looked at Qiao Lian'er and said coldly, "One of my soldiers went to the toilet and couldn't find me. He said he went somewhere, but it turns out he fell into the hands of the county princess and was beaten up. She used him to frame me. But do you think General He is the kind of person who would easily believe your twisted words?"
"What grudge do I have against the county magistrate that she would try so hard to frame me and kill me?"
Deputy General He stroked his chin, his expression seemingly considering something.
Regardless of whether Ponda did it or not, since the matter has come to court, we should come up with a solution that satisfies both parties and prevent it from escalating further.
He said, "Of course I believe Lieutenant Pang, and I also believe that the county magistrate did not make a mistake. It was this soldier who acted on his own initiative. Let him be beaten to death. If something happens to Lieutenant Pang's men, it is because you did not supervise them properly. You don't need to go to the examination site these days. Just stay at the training ground and train the soldiers."
Before the words were even finished, the soldier had already been dragged to the execution bench, and a blow to his head was delivered with a single blow, creating a large hole from which blood gushed out. The soldier's head drooped, and he died instantly.
This sudden and bloody scene, filled with irresistible violence and arrogance, made Qiao Lian'er grip the armrest tightly as she tried to calm her emotions.
Vice General He then said to Qiao Lian'er, "His Majesty is preoccupied with the affairs of the state and is troubled every day. This matter has been properly resolved here. Princess, you do not need to disturb His Majesty. If His Majesty becomes angry, you will have to bear the consequences."
His seemingly concerned tone carried a warning and threat.
Qiao Lian'er smiled inwardly at the satisfactory resolution, but she knew that Vice General He was determined to protect Pang Da, so she couldn't continue to pester him, lest she gain no favor.
She couldn't protect the soldier, and since he disrupted the examination hall, he deserved to die, but she wouldn't betray his family.
She neither agreed nor denied what Deputy General He said: "In that case, farewell."
These people were bolder and more audacious than she had imagined. Now that they were dead and there was no way to testify, she naturally couldn't bring this up to face the Emperor. But no matter what, she had to let Mu Xinghe focus on his exams.
She stepped out the gate, but the Ponta soldiers still stood in neat rows in the courtyard, blocking her way.
Qiao Lian'er frowned and looked back.
Pang Da's face twitched unnaturally, and he said in a cold, sinister voice, "You think you can just leave after framing me? That's too easy. If word gets out, won't everyone in the army think I, Pang Da, am easy to bully?"
Deputy General He asked, "What does Lieutenant Pang intend to do?" His tone was not accusatory, but rather indulgent.
"In my opinion, the county princess's sudden attack on me must be at someone's behest. She might be targeting General He, and there's probably some kind of conspiracy behind it. We should lock her up and interrogate her thoroughly to find out the truth."
Now that the soldiers have been executed, the initiative has shifted to their side.
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