Chapter 216 It's him, it's him, it's definitely him
at the same time.
Xie Xuanxiao accompanied Xue Shu to the Duke of Xue's mansion and recounted the incident of Li Nanke's horse being startled on the street earlier that day.
"...King Xuan's men caught the beggar who poisoned the horse. The beggar confessed that the person who ordered him to do so was wearing a wooden plaque from the Duke of Xue's mansion."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Xue Shu eagerly pressed for an answer.
"Father, you didn't send anyone to harm Li Nanke, did you?"
"Of course not!"
Duke Xue was furious. "Li Nanke is just an eight-year-old child. Even if I'm angry, I wouldn't send someone to deal with a child!"
This must be a deliberate attempt to frame our family.
Xue Shu patted her chest in relief, the anxiety on her face fading, and looked at Xie Xuanxiao.
“I told you that this was definitely not done by my family.”
Xie Xuanxiao nodded, a look of doubt appearing on his face.
"Then who wants to take Miss Li's life and frame the Xue family for it?"
Duke Xue said in a deep voice, "No matter who it is, we must find this person. He dares to try to pin this on my Xue family. I will not let him get away with it."
At this moment, the servant rushed over to report.
"Lord Duke, the Prefectural Guard of Bianjing has arrived with his men."
Xue Shu frowned.
"The Bianjing government arrived very quickly. Do they intend to search my Xue family?"
Duke Xue stroked his short beard and pondered for a moment.
"You've come at the perfect time. This is the perfect opportunity to clear the Xue family's name."
Duke Xue personally went out to greet him.
Wei Yan came with the beggar and explained the whole story.
"...Since the suspect has identified the Duke's Mansion, I can only follow the procedures and come to the Duke's Mansion to verify."
"I also request that Your Excellency provide a list of the servants in your household, and summon them one by one so that the suspect can identify them."
Wei Yan explained earnestly.
Duke Xue did not object, saying, "I, Xue, have done nothing wrong and have nothing to fear from your investigation."
He then instructed the steward to fetch the list of servants, and then ordered the servants to come to the front yard in batches.
Wei Yan took the list and checked it one by one, then asked the beggar to identify it carefully.
As one group of servants came and went, and the servant roster was turned to the last page, the beggar still couldn't recognize the person who had ordered him around.
The smile on Duke Xue's face grew wider and wider.
“My Xue family would never do such a cruel thing. Now that Lord Wei has finished his investigation, please remember to clear the Xue family’s name.”
Throughout the identification process, Wei Yan kept stroking the pouch at his waist, which contained small oranges.
If he weren't out handling a case, he would have taken it out and eaten it long ago.
However, this visit to the Xue family was just a formality. Based on his many years of experience in handling cases, the wooden plaque hanging on the murderer's waist was far too deliberate.
However, the necessary procedures still had to be followed. Wei Yan released Ju Zi and pointed to the last person on the list.
"There's still one person we haven't met yet. We'll be able to confirm it once we meet him."
Duke Xue peeked at the roster and made a firm statement.
"Zhao Qiang? Oh, he's the family's stableman, he's been with us for over ten years, it can't possibly be him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a servant boy came running over, stumbling and staggering.
"It's terrible, Your Highness! Zhao Qiang... he's dead!"
This was like a bolt from the blue for Duke Xue.
One moment he was absolutely certain it wasn't Zhao Qiang, and the next moment Zhao Qiang drowned in the artificial lake of the Duke's mansion.
Fifteen minutes later, Zhao Qiang's body was carried ashore and placed on the bank.
Wei Yan waved his hand, ordering the coroner to step forward and examine the body.
After examining the body, the coroner said, "The deceased had no internal or external injuries, and there were no signs of struggling in the water. He should have committed suicide by jumping into the water."
Wei Yan nodded, indicating that he understood.
The coroner took out a white cloth and covered the deceased's body. Just as the white cloth was about to cover the deceased's head, the beggar being escorted by the yamen runners suddenly jumped up.
Pointing at the dead man, he shouted, "It's him! It's him! It's him! He's the one who gave me the silver to feed the horse medicine!"
Duke Xue's face turned ashen.
"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!"
The only coachman on the roster who hasn't been checked is Zhao Qiang!
But then Zhao Qiang died—by suicide!
The beggar then identified Zhao Qiang as the murderer who ordered him to poison Zhao Qiang, leaving Zhao Qiang unable to defend himself no matter how hard he tried.
Duke Xue stared at the beggar with a dark expression.
"Everyone else is dead, so of course you can point fingers at them randomly."
The beggar was so frightened that he shrank his neck and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"My lord, I really didn't make things up. Although he was wearing a cloak, I saw his eyebrows and eyes and clearly saw that he had triangular eyes."
When the coroner covered him with a white sheet just now, I immediately recognized the upper half of his face.
It was him, sir. I haven't admitted my mistake, and I certainly wouldn't dare to speak recklessly!
Wei Yan waved his hand and ordered the yamen runners, "Take him away to write a confession."
The bailiffs took the crying beggar away.
Duke Xue frowned and stopped Wei Yan.
"What do you mean by this, Lord Wei? Don't you believe me either? Do you think this was done by the Duke's mansion?"
Wei Yan smiled slightly.
"Your Excellency is too kind. In terms of personal relationships, I am not particularly familiar with Your Excellency. In terms of official business, I am here to adjudicate a case."
"I only believe in evidence!"
The vein on Duke Xue's forehead throbbed.
I had long heard that Wei Yan was an unyielding person, and it was indeed true.
“Zhao Qiang was just a stableman in my household. I never ordered him to do any murder or arson. I am innocent!”
This is clearly a setup to frame the Xue family!
"Where's the evidence?"
"If I had evidence, would I be here arguing with you?"
Wei Yan shrugged.
"So... instead of arguing with me here, Your Excellency, you should think carefully about how to prove your innocence!"
This case involves the Duke, which is beyond my authority. I'm afraid it should be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review for trial.
Whether it was the Duke who ordered the killing to silence him, or whether someone deliberately framed the Duke, the Duke himself knows best!
I advise the Duke to think carefully about how to explain this matter to His Majesty.
Wei Yan bypassed Duke Xue and left directly.
Duke Xue was left standing there, his face ashen.
Xue Shu and Xie Xuanxiao walked over one after the other.
Xue Shu pressed on, "Father, what did Lord Wei mean just now? What did he mean by explaining to His Majesty? Does he mean he's going to report this matter to His Majesty?"
Duke Xue's expression was solemn.
"Even without his report, a horse startled in the bustling city is no small matter. I'm afraid the Censorate has already written a report and sent it to the palace."
Xue Shu immediately became anxious.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry to the palace to find our aunt and ask her to explain to His Majesty on our behalf."
Xie Xuanxiao opened his mouth, but couldn't help it, and whispered a reminder to Xue Shu.
"His Majesty dislikes the interference of the empress in politics, so it is not appropriate to involve the Empress in this matter."
Duke Xue nodded in agreement.
“That’s right, Xuanxiao is right. We must not involve Her Majesty the Empress in this matter.”
Xue Shu stomped her feet.
"What can we do? Are we just going to let others frame our family?"
Duke Xue rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Father will take care of this matter. You are a young lady, so go back to the inner quarters and don't cause any more trouble."
After saying that, he turned and quickly left.
Xue Shu watched her father's departing figure, then angrily twisted her waist.
"Why is Father like this? He's just concerned about the family and wants to share his burdens."
She reached out and took Xie Xuanxiao's arm, saying softly, "Brother Xie, you'll help my family, right? You can definitely help me find out who framed our family, right?"
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