After a while, Zhao Xiucheng came out, glanced at them, and said calmly, "My father asked me to take you in."
Tong Wenyao followed him. Sitting at the table was a man in his forties with a long beard that reached roughly to his collarbone. Zhao Xiucheng led him to the back and said, "Father, this is the man who saved dozens of children last time. His surname is Tong, and his name is Wenyao."
After hearing the noise, Zhao Zhifu raised his head, took a look, then put down the brush in his hand and said kindly, "What do you want to talk to me about?"
Tong Wenyao took out the envelope written by Wei Zhuyue from the bag and said, "Sir, I have been entrusted to hand this letter to you personally."
Prefect Zhao glanced at Zhao Xiucheng and said, "Present it here." Tong Wen Yao handed the envelope to Zhao Xiucheng, who took it to Prefect Zhao.
The envelope was addressed to my uncle. He opened it and read it, then asked, "Where is Zhuyue now?"
Tong Wenyao said, "It's in a courtyard with three entrances and three exits on Dongcheng Guang Street."
Upon hearing this, Prefect Zhao snorted coldly and said, "It seems the lesson we gave her last time wasn't enough. Now she's plotting against my niece!" Zhao Xiucheng was confused. After seeing his father put down the envelope, he reached out and took it and began to read it. The more he read, the more anxious his expression became. "How ridiculous! Mr. Liang is already in his forties, and he's actually forcing my cousin to marry him!"
Zhao Xiucheng clenched his fists in anger and gritted his teeth as he said, "I'm going to go find them and seek justice for my cousin."
Magistrate Zhao spoke with a hint of anger, "Wait a minute, if you go there like this, people won't think you're seeking justice, but rather abusing your power. Haven't you learned to calm down at this age?"
After hearing this, he turned around and pleaded, "Dad! My cousin is being bullied. Don't you want to seek justice for her?"
Magistrate Zhao's eyes were sharp as he said, "I won't do anything until I'm sure of it."
"Dad, my aunt used to take good care of me, but now her daughter is being bullied, and you're still sitting here calmly." Prefect Zhao said angrily, "Enough! I will handle this matter myself. It's not your turn to speak."
Tong Wenyao, observing the tense situation, said, "Sir, I have some leverage over Master Liang that could help you." Prefect Zhao, upon hearing this, said, "It seems you've come prepared! Tell me, why are you wading into this mess?" Tong Wenyao smiled and said, "I wonder if Sir Zhao has ever heard of my father, Tong Anguo? When he was alive, he taught us to eliminate evil and promote good. I'm trying to do that now."
She noticed that when Magistrate Zhao heard her father's name, his eyebrows raised, and then he said, "Present the evidence."
Tong Wen Yao took out the blood letter that Xiao He brought from the house, as well as the loan guarantee receipt that He Chuan got, and handed them to Zhao Xiucheng one by one.
When Prefect Zhao saw the accusations written in blood, he was completely furious. He had previously thought Master Liang was a lecher, but now, not only was he murdering young girls, he was also engaging in usury. You have to know that usury is a crime that is forbidden by the state and can shake the very foundations of a nation. Many people, unable to repay their debts, would sell their daughters and children, and ultimately, starving to death, rebelled against the government. This usury was like a snowball! How could Liang Ma dare to do this? Furthermore, within his jurisdiction, he had murdered dozens of people. According to the inscription, countless bodies were buried beneath the peach trees in the Peach Garden.
He had previously said that he would gather enough evidence to find Liang Ma guilty, but now that was no longer necessary.
"Someone come! Bring the troops to surround Liang's house!" Someone came in quickly and responded.
Magistrate Zhao stood up and said, "I'm going to change my clothes. You guys follow me."
Zhao Xiucheng picked up the evidence and handed it to the servant. He then took Tong Wenyao and the others out to the door to wait for his father. He Chuan quietly approached Tong Wenyao and said, "This time, Master Liang has hit a wall."
Tong Wen Yao wanted to laugh but because Prefect Zhao came out, she forced herself to hold it back, but her face turned red.
Zhao Xiucheng and they rode in a carriage, while Zhao Zhifu rode in another one himself. They first went to the yamen, then met up with them, and then led the troops to Dongcheng.
The Liang residence has four entrances and four exits. If the largest house of a rich man did not have four entrances and four exits, I am afraid that Mr. Liang would have wanted to build a house like that of a high-ranking official in the capital. At this time, outside the Liang residence, Lord Zhao was already sitting in front of the door, with the legal advisor pouring tea on the side, and Zhao Xiucheng and them standing behind.
After the officers and soldiers surrounded the Liang residence, they reported to the prefect Zhao. Many people also gathered on the street to discuss the matter. Some people were also happy to take revenge, thinking that the Liang family had oppressed them before and now they had received retribution.
When Mr. Liang received the news, he was so frightened that his courage almost came out. He ran out of the door, and the lumps of flesh on his body were also throbbing.
"Sir, sir, I don't know what we have done wrong to be surrounded."
When Prefect Zhao saw him coming out, he snorted coldly. "Letting his teenage niece marry such a man?" It was hard for that man to come up with such an idea. He was so angry that he picked up the teacup and smashed it on Mr. Liang's head. Mr. Liang didn't dare to dodge and could only take it.
"Oh! Whatever mistake you made, just kneel down and wait! Come on, search the house! Especially under the roots of the trees, see what you can find!" After hearing this, Master Liang's legs kept shaking. The flowers in his back garden bloomed the most luxuriantly, and it was also the place where the most corpses were buried!
But he was also wondering if he hadn't bribed Lord Zhao recently, which was why he was putting on this show. He crawled forward on his knees to the feet of Prefect Zhao and said flatteringly, "Sir, my shop will give you another 20% of its profits this month." As he spoke, he observed Lord Zhao's expression. Seeing that his face was expressionless, Master Liang continued, "Oh, no, no, no, it's 30%! 40%!" Prefect Zhao leaned over, pinched his face, and said, "Enjoy your last good day!"
After a while, the officer came out with a report: "Report! Sir, twenty-one female bodies were dug out from the garden, most of them were seventeen or eighteen years old, and fifteen male bodies were also found, most of them were seven or eight years old. The coroner's examination showed that the deceased had been brutally murdered."
He continued, "More than thirty torture instruments were found in the dark room of the study."
Magistrate Zhao looked at him coldly and said, "Master Liang, do you have anything to say?"
He lay on the ground and said, "Sir, those are punishments for disobedient slaves!" Master Liang didn't dare to pull the trouser legs of Magistrate Zhao, so he could only kowtow and beg for mercy!
Prefect Zhao ignored him and simply said to the officers, "Move out those bones and arrange them neatly so that the people of Cangzhou can see them!"
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