They are to be taken into custody first, and then interrogated tomorrow.
"I am grateful to Prefect Duan and Magistrate Meng for today's matter," Liu Ying said, bowing to the two men in thanks.
Prefect Duan remained calm, but Magistrate Meng looked extremely uncomfortable.
You should know that he had just been very disrespectful to Gu Lili and even wanted to arrest her and beat her.
Gu Lili didn't intend to argue with him, but such a person was indeed unfit to be an official.
They are opportunistic and blind to right and wrong!
However, this is something I cannot control. I can only hope that Magistrate Meng will learn from this experience and start anew.
With the business completed, it was time to see the guests off.
Prefect Duan also knew this. He only saw that the man glanced at Chang'an beside Gu Lili without giving him a single look, and he knew that the man did not want to reveal his identity.
"Seeking justice for the people is what we officials should do. Now that the matter has been settled, I will take my leave! I wonder if the county magistrate would do me the honor of staying at my residence for a while?" Magistrate Duan said with a smile.
If Gu Lili goes, the person behind her will naturally go as well.
Then you can secretly inquire what Jiang Du is up to and if there's anything you can do to help.
Gu Lili shook her head and said calmly, "We have other matters to attend to in Jiangdu, so we won't trouble Prefect Duan."
Duan Fuyin understood, cupped his hands in greeting to Gu Lili and the others, and glanced at Duan Hongfei behind him.
Duan Hongfei trembled with fright and quickly followed behind Prefect Duan.
He didn't even think of bringing his beloved concubine, Liu Miaoyu, back with him.
"Young Master Duan, don't you want your beloved concubine anymore?" Liu Ying asked with a smile.
It was only then that Duan Hongfei remembered Liu Miaoyu. He turned around and saw that she was still lying on the ground.
"You worthless wretch! Order him to be taken away immediately! Leaving him here is an embarrassment!" Prefect Duan turned around and cursed angrily.
She was the one he insisted on bringing into the manor. Even if she was a bastard, even if the gentleman was not a virgin, she was still a concubine of the Duan family!
Duan Hongfei immediately ordered his men to carry Liu Miaoyu outside, with Magistrate Meng following behind him.
After leaving the mansion, Prefect Duan went straight to his carriage.
Liu Miaoyu was also covered by servants and carried onto Duan Hongfei's carriage.
Magistrate Meng quickly caught up with Prefect Duan and called out, "Lord Duan, please allow me a moment to speak."
Prefect Duan turned around with a cold face.
"What is it?"
Prefect Duan already disliked Magistrate Meng's behavior. Although he was usually quite meticulous in handling cases, he had a habit of flattering others, which made people very uncomfortable.
Seeing the impartial look on Magistrate Duan's face, Meng Jianhua could only stammer out the story of how he had offended Gu Lili that day by protecting Duan Hongfei.
"You're so foolish! Even if you're trying to protect your son, you shouldn't have offended that person!" Prefect Duan was instantly consumed by rage.
He never expected that his son would offend that person, and that Magistrate Meng would get involved.
Prefect Duan was still hoping to make a good impression on that person so that his path to promotion would be smoother in the future.
I never expected that Duan Hongfei, that wretched wretch, would ruin everything.
If it were just Duan Hongfei who offended Gu Lili and the others, that would be fine; at worst, they could be given a good beating to let them vent their anger.
If Meng Jianhua gets involved, that person will surely think that he also uses his official position to indulge his son and let him act arrogantly everywhere.
What is he still dreaming of getting promoted?
I'll be grateful if I don't get demoted!
Meng Jianhua looked at Prefect Duan's stern face and was somewhat puzzled.
No matter how high Gu Lili's rank is, she doesn't have the right to write a memorial to the Emperor to file a complaint before him.
Even if it meant punishing the county magistrate, Gu Lili couldn't do it.
Besides, Gu Lili concealed her identity first, and he didn't make any big mistakes because of it.
As if he had committed a terrible crime, he looked at Prefect Duan with the same expression on his face.
"Your Excellency, this matter shouldn't be that serious, should it?" Meng Jianhua asked doubtfully.
He noticed that Gu Lili didn't blame him or Duan Hongfei.
It shouldn't be that bad; Prefect Duan is probably overthinking it.
"Hmph! Not that serious? You'd better watch your job! Instead of properly handling cases, you're always trying to curry favor with the powerful! Good luck to you!"
Enraged, Prefect Duan uttered harsh words and stormed off.
Since he didn't want to reveal his identity, he naturally couldn't tell anyone.
Now, go home and deal with Duan Hongfei, then come back and apologize.
Watching the angry Prefect Duan leave, Meng Jianhua was puzzled, and at the same time, he felt somewhat displeased.
Opportunism and currying favor?
That's because Duan Hongfei is your son!
If something happens right under my nose, can you guarantee you won't cause me any trouble?
However, since Prefect Duan has instructed him to handle the case properly, he will certainly uphold justice tomorrow.
Only by striving for advancement can one avoid the need to curry favor with those in power!
When Prefect Duan and his entourage returned to their residence, he immediately ordered Duan Hongfei and Liu Miaoyu to come to the front hall for questioning.
Of course, Liu Miaoyu was still carried into the front hall.
Throughout the journey, Liu Miaoyu pretended to be unconscious, which was extremely uncomfortable, but she didn't know how to face everything when she woke up.
So, I just kept feeling dizzy.
Prefect Duan could easily see through her trick. When the servants carried her inside, Prefect Duan ordered someone to splash water on her to wake her up.
"Oh dear, Brother Duan, the water is so cold!"
Liu Miaoyu was woken up by the splash and tried to pounce on Duan Hongfei in a sweet voice, but Duan Hongfei skillfully dodged her.
Liu Miaoyu was unhappy after her failed attempt, but with Prefect Duan present, she dared not act rashly.
"Father, this little bitch tricked me into going! I had no idea what was happening today..."
Before Duan Hongfei could finish speaking, he was slapped to the ground by Prefect Duan.
"You wretched wretch! I've worked diligently for decades to become the Prefect of Jiangdu! And now you're going to ruin my career in one fell swoop?"
Duan Hongfei was slapped to the ground and stood there stunned for a few seconds before crawling on his knees to the prefect's front.
“Father, I didn’t mean it! Besides, I didn’t get anything good out of it! How could a county princess who came from a peasant background ruin your official career?” Duan Hongfei cried.
Although he did not hold an official position, he knew that the emperor was most averse to women interfering in politics.
Besides, even if Gu Lili filed a complaint with the emperor, his actions would at most be considered a bit arrogant, but it wouldn't be enough to cause his father to lose his official position.
Unable to explain the reason for this, Prefect Duan vented all his pent-up anger on Duan Hongfei.
He picked up a feather duster and swung it hard at Duan Hongfei.
Duan Hongfei cried out in pain, but dared not move away.
Liu Miaoyu, who was standing to the side, was so frightened that she retreated repeatedly, afraid that she would also be beaten.
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