Chapter 675 Magistrate Xu's Little Assistant 31
"My lord, Xiao Cui has nothing to do with them. It was Shi Lang's side who arranged the engagement. If Xiao Cui hadn't been quick-witted and escaped halfway, who knows what would have happened!"
Granny Shi knelt and moved forward two steps, her aged face filled with indignation. "Sir, please do justice for this humble person!"
Xu Qingyuan: "Bring Shi Lang up here."
Shi Lang was in prison and was soon brought up.
Just when he thought he would be released from prison in a couple of days, he was brought to court again. When he saw Niu Deli and Aunt Shi, he immediately understood what was going on.
At the same time, he also knew that Li Zhizhou's influence was completely useless in front of Xu Qingyuan.
As for Prefect Li, although he usually doted on his daughter, she was ultimately just a concubine, so naturally he wouldn't protect him in the officialdom because of her.
Shi Lang was unusually cooperative. "I thought that although Niu Dagu was a fool, he had enough food at home, so Xiao Cui could have enough to eat. Moreover, the dowry was also good. When Niu Deli came to me, I agreed."
"Not long ago, the wedding day arrived, so I sent someone to lure Xiao Cui to my home, drug her, and put her in the bridal sedan chair."
Who would have thought that the sleeping pills would be so ineffective?
Upon hearing this, Niu Deli was astonished to learn that such a thing had happened. He knelt down and shouted, "So it was Shi Lang who deceived me! If I had known the reason from the beginning, I would never have agreed to this!"
"Please, Your Excellency, do justice for this humble subject."
Granny Shi and Xiao Cui said in unison, "Please, Your Excellency, do justice for us commoners!"
Xu Qingyuan, with a cold expression, asked Song Jinhuan beside him, "Master Jiang, tell me what crimes Shi Lang has committed."
Song Jinhuan stepped forward two steps, cupped his hands, and said, "Yes."
He then turned around, faced the people below, cleared his throat, and said in a melodious tone: "Firstly, exchanging people for benefits without the knowledge of Shi Xiaocui and her family is no different from trafficking innocent people."
Secondly, Shi Lang's swindling of Niu Deli's money demonstrates his cunning and treacherous nature.
After she finished speaking, she turned to Xu Qingyuan, and with his nod, she bowed and retreated to her original position.
Xu Qingyuan picked up the gavel and brought it down with a loud "smack," which startled everyone present.
“The criminal Shi Lang, who abducted and sold innocent women to become other men’s wives, shall be sentenced to fifty strokes of the cane and three years of penal servitude.”
"Because he deceived Niu Deli and tried to cheat the heavens and the sea to exchange for money, he was punished by being paraded through the streets for three days. It is hoped that the people will take this as a warning."
"Sinner Shi Lang, do you confess your crimes?"
The man in green sat high above, glancing down at the kneeling Shi Lang. The powerful pressure was suffocating, and he dared not argue or say anything more.
"This humble citizen confesses!"
As soon as Shi Lang finished speaking, the clerk handed him the petition.
Shi Lang signed and sealed the document decisively, without even thinking.
Niu Deli: "Sir, how can I get my betrothal gifts back?"
Song Qingyuan: "I will send a constable to the Shi family."
Grandma Shi hugged Shi Xiaocui and wept with joy. After leaving the court, Song Jinhuan was stopped by them.
"Master Jiang, you are truly a great benefactor to our Shi family!"
Song Jinhuan quickly waved his hand and said with a smile, "It's all thanks to Lord Xu's fairness; it has little to do with me."
Xu Qingyuan, who hadn't gone far, couldn't help but smile.
However, upon catching a glimpse of Xiaoyun appearing not far away, his eyes suddenly turned cold.
He turned and strode away.
After taking two steps, I slowed down and took a few steps back.
Granny Shi had already left, and Xiao Yun, who had changed into clean clothes, appeared in front of the boy in blue.
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