Xie Yi and Pang Chun returned to their seats in the hall. On both sides of the hall, just like in the ancient costume dramas they had seen before, there were two rows of yamen runners holding water and fire sticks, giving people a strange sense of oppression.
Several men and women were kneeling below the hall. Among them was a middle-aged woman, who, judging from the fabric of her clothes, was probably Yang Wei's wife. There were also several people who looked like farmers, mostly from the families of Mei Hua Twelve and Thirteen.
Mei Chaofeng stood aside, her gaze towards him filled with smugness and coldness, as if she were looking at a dead man.
Zuan smiled slightly, "I'd like to see what tricks you have up your sleeve."
"Now that the plaintiff and defendant are both present, then this official..." Xie Yi was about to strike the gavel to announce the start of the trial when a commotion suddenly came from outside the door, and a yamen runner came to report.
"The Prefect has arrived!"
Xie Yi was startled and hurriedly stood up with Pang Chun and other subordinate officials to greet them. Sang Hong's laughter was already heard at the door: "Lord Xie, there's no need to get up. You are the most important person in the court now. I just happened to come and take a look."
Chu Zhongtian snorted, his tone becoming less polite: "Lord Sang, you're everywhere." Yesterday, it was obvious that Sang Hong was biased towards the Yuan family during the competition, and today he's coming to deal with his own son-in-law. Even a clay figure has some temper.
Sang Hong was not annoyed and smiled slightly: "I was supposed to return to the government office today, but I heard that there was trouble in the city. After inquiring, I learned that it concerned the Duke's mansion, so I came to take a look, so that some people who do not know the truth will not say that our Great Zhou Dynasty is corrupt and protects each other. I hope Lord Mingyue will not mind."
When the other party tried to pressure him with the law, Chu Zhongtian said calmly, "The innocent are innocent. If someone tries to turn white into black, I will not stand idly by."
Sang Hong laughed heartily and said, "Of course, of course. Everything will be handled fairly. I believe Lord Xie can definitely do it."
Xie Yi cursed the old fox in his heart, but he also knew that someone like Sang Hong would never leave any evidence, so as long as he handled the matter impartially, neither side could say anything.
Just then, Zu An's voice rang out: "It's fine that the Prefect is here to listen in, but I wonder who this Young Master Shi is, and what qualifications does he have to listen in here?"
He immediately noticed Shi Kun, who had come with Sang Hong, and it seemed that his prediction was correct.
Shi Kun said calmly, "My father is the Grand Marshal of the current court..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zu An interrupted him: "I'm asking if you hold an official position. Why are you bringing up your father? You keep talking about my father. Is there nothing else you have to offer besides your father?"
"You!" Shi Kun's handsome face immediately turned bright red. With his family background and his usual reputation, he was always treated as a VIP wherever he went. Who would dare to expose his shortcomings to his face like this?
Shi Kun's anger level increased by 500!
"What do you mean, 'you you you' and 'me me me'? You don't even greet your teacher properly or use respectful terms? Is this how the Shi family raises their children?" Zu An's mouth spewed out like a machine gun.
Shi Kun felt a little dizzy. Was he here to be interrogated or to be interrogated?
Shi Kun's anger level increased by 653!
"You bastard! How dare you, a mere brat, tarnish the reputation of the Shi family!" Shi Lezhi stepped forward from behind him and shouted angrily, a powerful aura spreading outwards.
Chu Zhongtian casually waved his hand, and the pressure immediately eased. He said calmly, "You've come to the wrong place if you want to show off your power. Besides, what Azu said isn't wrong. After all, he is a teacher at Mingyue Academy. According to the rules, Young Master Shi should pay his respects to him as a disciple."
Shi Kun's face turned bright red. He felt extremely aggrieved, but he absolutely could not bring himself to perform the disciple's salute respectfully in front of so many people.
Xue'er, who was following behind him, originally wanted to defend the young master, but she felt inexplicably guilty in front of the former head of the family and dared not speak.
Fortunately, Sang Hong spoke up to defuse the situation: "Zu An is the defendant after all. Before the suspicion is cleared, it is inappropriate for him to act as a teacher. I think those formalities are unnecessary for now. As for Young Master Shi, he does not hold any official position now, so it is not appropriate for him to come in and watch. He can just stay at the door and watch."
He gave both sides equal blame, so neither could say anything.
However, Shi Kun felt extremely aggrieved at the thought that he could have been sitting comfortably in the hall watching the play, but now he had to squeeze in with a group of ordinary people. Fortunately, Shi Lezhi quietly activated his aura, preventing anyone around him from getting close.
Even so, Shi Kun's face remained terribly gloomy.
You surnamed Zu, I'll let you be smug for a while, but you'll be crying your eyes out later!
Shi Kun's anger level increased by 444!
"Silence!" Xie Yi slammed his gavel as Chu Zhongtian and Sang Hong took their seats. "Zu An, do you know your crime?"
Zuan spread his hands: "What crime have I committed?"
At this moment, the middle-aged woman in luxurious clothes pointed at him and cursed, "You, surnamed Zu, are so cruel! My husband only had a conflict with you at the academy, but you were not satisfied with taking his teaching position, so you actually poisoned him to death! You upright officials, you must do justice for me!"
Seeing the woman wailing and crying, Zu An showed no emotion whatsoever and said calmly, "What does Yang Wei's death have to do with me?"
At this moment, Xie Yi coughed and said, "Because Lord Yang left behind a blood-written will before his death, pointing out that you are the murderer."
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