Due to insufficient manpower and inability to fight against the angry people, County Magistrate Cao brought the Cao family's servants, a group of lackeys who acted arrogantly.
"This is Ruyang. What good will it do you to go against the magistrate?"
Manager Cao pointed at the burly man standing in the front, stroked his beard, and said slowly, "I recognize you. You are Liu the blacksmith from the east city. You came to help Miss Xu, but have you ever considered that you also have children?"
Now, taking advantage of the chaos, the people are huddling together for warmth. When the situation calms down, Magistrate Cao will definitely settle the score.
If the law does not punish the majority, then those who lead the trouble should be arrested and punished.
When Manager Cao mentioned the children of Liu the blacksmith, the threat in his words was very obvious.
"Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If the disaster does not affect their family, how does it have to do with my children?"
Blacksmith Liu's eyelids twitched violently, revealing a look of humiliation.
That's right, he wanted to do his best to seek justice for the Xu family. If he really got his family involved, Liu the blacksmith would become a sinner.
Thinking of this, Liu the blacksmith squatted in the corner and scratched his hair in frustration, feeling extremely conflicted.
If he continued to make trouble, County Magistrate Cao would not let his children go, but if he just stood by and watched, Liu the blacksmith would have a guilty conscience for the rest of his life.
Seeing this move was effective, Manager Cao became even more reassured. He pointed at the ringleaders and said, "Anyone who dares to slander my master again will be thrown into jail at the government office, and their families will be imprisoned as well!"
"Miss Xu had a secret meeting with Master Shi and suddenly fell ill and passed away. Is it worth your intervention for such a fickle woman?"
Magistrate Cao downplayed the matter and concluded that Miss Xu's illness and departure had nothing to do with the Shi family, let alone Magistrate Cao.
Making such a big fuss is tarnishing the reputation of the officials.
"My master is broad-minded and will not pursue the matter. If you continue to accuse me of something, we will not be polite. We will see you in court!"
After Manager Cao finished speaking, the restless people stopped what they were doing and were obviously hesitant.
Although everyone wanted to help the Xu family, they were all poor people and were humbled to the dust in front of Magistrate Cao.
The scene quieted down. Magistrate Cao nodded with satisfaction and pretended to be magnanimous: "It's getting late, so disperse! I will assume that you were instigated by someone and will not pursue the matter!"
After Magistrate Cao finished speaking, he winked at his runners.
While Liu the blacksmith and the others were not moving, the bailiffs rushed forward to snatch Miss Xu's body.
During the robbery, Miss Xu's sleeve was torn, revealing a snow-white arm.
"ah……"
The people took a closer look and immediately gasped.
His arms were covered in bruises, with a few bloody streaks and blood marks from the ropes rubbing against his skin.
As Miss Xu struggled, the rope dug into her flesh. The places where she was bound were already bloody and mangled, forming a sharp contrast with the white and tender areas.
Now, the people who were originally silent became excited again.
Liu the blacksmith was the first to stand up and curse, "You bastard official! You're shielding your brother-in-law and taking human life! If I don't stand up today, it will be my turn tomorrow. The rest of us will just stand by and watch. If you don't give us an explanation, we'll burn this government office down!"
Miss Xu is 28 years old and has a gentle personality. Although she is not good at speaking, she always does good things silently.
Blacksmith Liu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and said, "Fellow villagers, you all know that my mother is old and confused. She usually stays at home."
"My mother suddenly went missing some time ago, and our whole family went crazy looking for her. It turned out to be a false alarm. It turned out to be Miss Xu who went to the south of the city to sell tofu and brought my mother back on a small cart!"
Miss Xu was afraid that Liu the blacksmith's family would be worried, so she didn't sell the tofu and hurriedly sent him back.
Not only that, he also bought buns for his mother.
"Such a kind-hearted girl died in an unclear manner and was even abused after her death. If I, Liu the Blacksmith, don't take action, I'm not worthy of being a human being!"
Liu the blacksmith looked like he was fighting for his life. No matter who threatened him now, it would be useless. As long as he was still alive, he would not be scared back!
Seeing this, County Magistrate Cao waved his hand nonchalantly and said with a trembling face, "What a stubborn and recalcitrant bastard! Arrest Liu the Blacksmith!"
If you don't use him as an example to scare others, do you still think he is an easy-going person?
"Quick, hang him in front of the government office and let the troublemakers open their eyes and see!"
Magistrate Cao took drastic measures. He sent someone to get a large barrel of tung oil, intending to pour it on Miss Xu and burn her to death.
If they act like this, even if an imperial envoy comes to investigate the case, he will not be able to find any strong evidence.
The yamen runners followed orders, and Hongli could no longer bear to watch. He cursed in a shrill voice, "You son of a bitch, how dare you!"
After Hongli took the lead, the people finally reacted and wanted to fight back. They pushed away the yamen runners who were blocking them and headed straight towards Liu the blacksmith.
In the end, the two factions confronted each other, with a clear distinction between them.
Magistrate Cao was slightly surprised when he saw this, but he didn't take it seriously: "Are you all stubborn? Beat them up!"
No matter whether they are men, women or children, as long as they cause trouble in front of the yamen, they will be treated equally.
"Take Miss Xu's body!"
The corpse was the evidence. County Magistrate Cao secretly cursed his brother-in-law Shi You for being unreliable and for having to clean up the mess.
At a command from Magistrate Cao, the bailiffs targeted women and children, and immediately sharp screams were heard from the crowd.
The men saw their mother and daughter-in-law being beaten, and they rushed back to save them, but they heard shouts of unyielding people: "Quick, protect Miss Xu's body, don't let the corrupt officials take it away, we must keep the body and redress Miss Xu's injustice!"
Jiang Yuzhu was deeply touched by this scene.
It is a disaster if an official cannot work for the benefit of the people.
"Hongxiu, Hongjin, go and help. Find a way to carry Miss Xu's body to Zhai Village first."
The people in the government office have long been in cahoots with each other and no one is trustworthy.
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