Chapter 46: Confession and Punishment
The man was shocked, but after calming down he realized that he seemed to have offended someone important.
The woman's guards were all very agile and were no less skilled than the black-armored soldiers he had seen. Even the leader was extremely brave. He swallowed and became more and more uneasy.
Yong County, as the former capital of the Qin State, was not as important as Xianyang, but it was also an important town in Guanzhong and also had the responsibility of sacrifice. The county magistrate was usually an official trusted by the King of Qin.
After Zhao Yuanxi came to Yongcheng, although he acted low-key, as the county magistrate here, it was impossible for him not to pay attention to the situation of the empress dowager, especially when Yong paper began to be sold in Yongcheng. The county magistrate knew about the relationship between the empress dowager and this paper mill at the first time.
The paper was sold at a huge profit, so it was impossible for no one to be interested. The county magistrate punished many people for this, which allowed the paper mill to remain peaceful for so many days.
No matter how much we try to prevent it, we can't prevent outsiders from having any evil intentions.
When the county magistrate heard that a group of people were being escorted over from the paper mill in the city, he was devastated. He thought that some foolish person in his jurisdiction had offended the empress dowager.
The Qin State implemented the county system, with the county magistrate in charge of all government affairs within the county, and the county magistrate assisting the county magistrate in handling paperwork, criminal justice and other matters.
Normal cases are usually handed over to the prison officials under the county magistrate for handling, but this matter may involve the empress dowager, so he has to step in.
The county magistrate straightened his clothes and welcomed the people in nervously. When he heard that the troublemakers came from Xianyang, his anxiety was slightly relieved.
There were two groups of people standing on the left and right of the long steps. The one on the left was a muscular man with a bruised face and nose, and the one on the right was a group of people led by Gao Sheng.
The muscular man immediately declared himself wronged upon entering. "My name is Cheng Kuan, and I came to Yongcheng to do business with him. It would have been fine if he didn't want to, but he even asked his boss to bring his men to beat me up. I beg the county magistrate to understand this!"
The county magistrate looked at Gao Sheng and said, "Please explain the whole story."
Gao Sheng explained in detail what had just happened, emphasizing that the fat man was the first to attack and that the empress dowager was also very frightened at the time.
The county magistrate held his forehead with his hand. He thought that this man would just cause trouble, but he actually did it in front of the empress dowager. He was really audacious.
Even if he wanted to spare him, he couldn't keep him.
Hearing the word "Empress Dowager", Cheng Kuan was dumbfounded. Wei Yang Jun didn't tell him that the owner of the paper mill was the Empress Dowager.
If he knew that the woman was the Queen Mother, he wouldn't dare to do anything even if he had the courage!
Cheng Kuan held onto the last glimmer of hope, "I was just impulsive. I really just wanted to do business!"
Gao Sheng refused to give in and repeated his arrogant words again, "My yard is still in the same state it was smashed to pieces! The wounds on my face are evidence, and so are these people. If you still don't believe me, the Queen Mother can testify for me."
The county magistrate sighed deeply inwardly, and his voice became stern, "Cheng Kuan, are you still not admitting your guilt?"
Cheng Kuan was so frightened that his face turned pale. He knelt on the ground, his legs trembling. "I plead guilty! I was blinded by money and wanted to seize the paper mill by force. This was all done by me. I am willing to plead guilty!"
Seeing that he would rather bear the blame alone than betray Weiyang Jun, the county magistrate sighed, "You really don't have anything else to say?"
If forced buying and selling is serious and causes adverse consequences, the principal offender may even be sentenced to death. Isn't he afraid of death?
Cheng Kuan was so disheartened that he stopped arguing and said, "I have nothing to say."
Gao Sheng touched his injured nose, a murderous look flashing in his eyes. "He even insulted the Empress Dowager in public. How do you plan to deal with this matter, County Magistrate?"
The Qin State prohibited criticizing the government and the king. Although this was intended to restrict Confucian scholars, it was also intolerable for common people to humiliate the king's mother.
Gao Sheng emphasized this matter in order to put him to death.
If Wei Yangjun was willing to appear here and defend Cheng Kuan, or if Cheng Kuan was willing to give Wei Yangjun away, perhaps he could be spared from death.
But Cheng Kuan was unwilling to say it, and Gao Sheng did not mention it either. Even if the county magistrate knew the truth, he would not get involved in this mess.
In fact, Wei Yangjun did come to Yongcheng, but he did not appear in the county government office. Instead, he went directly to Liyang Palace to meet the empress dowager.
Zhao Yuanxi entrusted the matter to Gao Sheng and returned to Liyang Palace. Upon hearing that Weiyang Jun wanted to see him, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and said, "Let him in!"
Wei Yangjun, who was almost fifty years old, stroked his gray beard, snorted coldly at the guards at the door, and walked in unsteadily, holding his huge fat belly.
"What brings you here today, Lord Weiyang?" Zhao Yuanxi said calmly.
As a member of the Qin royal family, Weiyang Jun was used to looking down on others. He didn't care about Zhao Yuanxi, the queen mother who had lost her power. He even looked at her with a bit of contempt, "Queen Mother, don't you know why I'm here?"
"In the end, it was my fault for not disciplining my servants and offending the Queen Mother. You can do whatever you want with that child, but I hope you won't hurt the relationship between me and the Queen Mother."
This sounds like a sign of weakness, but anyone with a discerning eye can hear the threat in it.
Zhao Yuanxi scoffed. She had never been threatened in her life! Could it be that if she kept pestering him, he would complain to the King of Qin?
Sorry, she really wasn't afraid! She had already been relocated to Yongcheng, so was she afraid of being sent to a farther place, or that Ying Zheng would sentence her to death?
Zhao Yuanxi is now a barefoot person who is not afraid of those wearing shoes. After all, she will not die. If he has the guts, come and do it!
"I've already handed this matter over to the county government. If Weiyang Jun has anything to say, he can go directly to the county magistrate to explain!"
"You—" Weiyang Jun didn't expect Queen Dowager Zhao to be so ungrateful. "Are you really not afraid of offending the Qin royal family?"
Zhao Yuanxi smiled brightly, "Weiyang Jun is such a joke. Do you think you can represent the Qin royal family alone?"
Why does she always use the Qin royal family to bully others? Is there no one behind her to bully her?
If you have the guts to get rid of her adopted son, then come and show off to her!
Wei Yangjun was so angry that his face turned red and his neck was thick, and he could not hide the anger in his eyes. Seeing that he could not reach an agreement with Zhao Yuanxi, he was about to leave in anger.
A young man walked in from outside. He smiled when he saw him and then bowed to Zhao Yuanxi, "Empress Dowager, it's done!"
Gao Sheng, now refreshed, continued calmly, "The barbarian has already admitted his guilt. The county magistrate has sentenced him to death. The remaining accomplices have been sentenced to imprisonment and corporal punishment."
Zhao Yuanxi's face darkened. "That's all? Didn't he say anything else?"
Noticing the Queen Mother's displeasure, Gao Sheng's face flashed with guilt, and sweat broke out on his forehead. "He refused to say anything and was willing to take all the blame himself.
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