Chapter 702 Trial
Five days later, Zhou Biao was arrested and the case was tried in an open format, with all citizens able to attend as observers.
Early in the morning, there was a sea of people outside the prefectural government office, and people were talking about everything. The entrance of the prefectural government office was like a vegetable market.
“I heard that the case to be tried today is the biggest case in the past ten years, and the murderer is a wealthy businessman from our city, the Zhou family.
"Zhou family? Zhou Biao? How could it be him? His family is so rich, how could they kill people?"
"Not only that, I heard that the people he killed were beggars. He wanted to frame Wanji Potato Noodles, saying that someone had died from eating their potato noodles. He wanted to bankrupt the Wan family and get their recipe. This man is really vicious."
"Wan family? Is it the Wan family in Xuanning County? The one that made many people have enough food to eat? I heard that they rented land last year and paid very high wages. My relatives rented their land to them. Every year when they came to my house, they were dressed in rags. I didn't expect that this year, the relatives who came to visit me all wore new clothes and had enough food to eat. They said it was all thanks to the Wan family."
"Oh, we haven't heard of this. Can you tell me the details?"
The onlookers said all kinds of things, but in the end they all started talking about Wan Jia, saying that Wan Jia was a good person and that the person who framed Wan Jia should be executed.
After waiting for half an hour, the court finally opened and the bailiffs came out immediately to maintain order.
"Everyone, be quiet. The master is going to try a case. You can only watch and not make loud noises. Those who violate this will be arrested."
The people were so frightened that they immediately shut up and dared not speak, and the scene became unusually quiet.
At this time, in the main hall of the lobby, the prefect, Lord Shen, was sitting in his official uniform, with a plaque hanging above his head with four large characters "A Clear Mirror Hanging High" written on it.
On both sides of the hall stood two rows of more than a dozen yamen runners, all dressed in yamen runner uniforms, holding a killing stick and with a solemn face.
Zhou Biao was escorted to the court by the yamen runners and pressed to the ground, but he still looked unconvinced.
"Sir, I am just a businessman. I have not done anything illegal. Why do you want to tie me up? Although I do not understand the laws of Da Qi, I also know that law enforcers cannot arrest people at will."
Shen Qingwen slammed the gavel with a "bang". Zhou Biao was frightened and immediately lowered his head, not daring to argue anymore.
"Come here, drag him away and give him ten big beatings, and then let him roar in court."
Shen Qingwen's voice was majestic, with an official authority that could not be disputed.
Zhou Biao had just been forced to kneel down, and now he was dragged out by the yamen runners. At the gate of the court, in front of many people, he was beaten with ten boards.
Zhou Biao's pig-slaughtering screams rang out at the gate of the government office.
"I am innocent, I am innocent, Your Excellency, I will never do it again, please forgive me."
Zhou Biao felt scared at this moment. He had given Shen Qingwen some silver, but Shen Qingwen confiscated it. He could not control Shen Qingwen.
Zhou Biao was beaten with ten boards and was dragged back to the court by the yamen runners like a stray dog.
Zhou Biao felt that his buttocks were bleeding and he still had to kneel. When had he ever suffered such pain?
Zhou Biao hated Shen Qingwen at this moment. This stubborn prefect had a brain disorder. No wonder he had stayed at the border for so many years without moving. Wasn't it because he didn't know how to adapt? When he returned today, he would teach this prefect a lesson.
Zhou Biao had a wishful thinking in his mind and was still thinking about who to find to deal with Shen Qingwen. After all, he made hundreds of thousands of taels of silver every year, and this money was not wasted.
Shen Qingwen didn't know what Zhou Biao was planning. If he knew, he would definitely give him ten more blows.
"Bring up the plaintiff."
As soon as Shen Qingwen finished speaking, several members of the Wan family walked in from outside the lobby.
They are Wan Laoer, Wan Laosi and Jia Yanbing.
Fubao also wanted to come, but Wan Laoer felt that Fubao was still young and it was not a good thing for her to go to court, so he did not let her come.
As soon as they came up, they knelt down and saluted.
"Immortal Wan Jinzhu."
"The common people have a sea of gold."
"Commoner Jia Yanbing."
"Greetings, Mr. Prefect."
Shen Qingwen then began to try the case normally.
Zhou Biao had cold sweat on his forehead. Ever since the Wan family came up, he was dumbfounded. How did the Wan family know that he was the one who did it?
However, Zhou Biao still held a glimmer of hope in his heart. After all, he had done it so covertly, and it took at least several months to lay out. He didn't believe that the other party could find out in less than ten days. If they had this ability, why were all the shops in the county closed? And even the shops in the prefecture were closed.
"Zhou Biao, do you admit your guilt?" Shen Qingwen shouted, bringing Zhou Biao, who was in a trance, back to reality.
"Sir, I am innocent. I don't know what crime I have committed. I have been doing business in an orderly manner recently and have not gone anywhere. But today I was suddenly arrested by you. I am innocent."
Zhou Biao kept saying that he was wronged and did not mention the Wan family at all.
"Do you know the person kneeling next to you?"
Shen Qingwen pointed at the plaintiff.
"Sir, I don't know them. I have never seen them before, so how can I know them? And why are they suing me? I have no grudge against them. They must have been sent by my enemies to frame me. Sir, please stand up for me."
When Wan Laoer heard Zhou Biao's quibbling, his face turned green with anger. If they didn't have solid evidence at this time, it would be really difficult to deal with this Zhou. No wonder Mr. Jia told them that they must obtain enough evidence before alerting Zhou Biao, and they must catch the other party when he is completely unprepared, so that he would not have time to destroy many things.
Now it seems that what Mr. Jia said was absolutely right.
Shen Qingwen sneered, "Zhou Biao, I'm giving you a chance to confess and be lenient. Do you want to tell the truth yourself, or do I ask someone to come forward and identify you? I have to remind you that the difference between the two is not just one or two years in prison. One is life and the other is death."
The cold sweat on Zhou Biao's forehead instantly dripped to the ground, but he felt that the other party must be deceiving him. He didn't believe that the other party could find out anything when he was so covert.
He had already asked the coroner he had bribed, and the coroner said that there was not a single coroner or doctor in the entire border area who could detect the poison. If they couldn't detect it, they would have no evidence.
After Zhou Biao thought it through, he said righteously, "Sir, I am really wronged. I am an honest businessman who has been engaged in the fur business. You should know this, right? Why would I harm others? I have no motive."
Seeing that Zhou Biao was determined not to cry until he saw the coffin, Shen Qingwen ordered the bailiff.
"Come here, call the witness."
"Bring the witness to court—"
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