Chapter 449 As long as the prefect is happy
Shen Wanxiong's confession was basically consistent with what Miao Zhi said. He mentioned the amount of disaster relief grain he embezzled, and he also kept a private account of it.
"Where is the account book?" Zhu Lan asked.
"In my study."
The Shen residence was not far from the county government office. Zhu Qingyan personally took Shen Wanxiong to get the account book, and it only took a quarter of an hour to get back to the court.
Zhu Lan took the account book and started flipping through it. The courtroom was very quiet, with only the sound of the account book being flipped.
Finally, Zhu Lan snapped the entire account book shut, pushed it forward, and said solemnly:
“Shen Wanxiong, it’s already this time, and you still dare to use fake accounts to fool this official?
You know that fabricating evidence is a more serious crime!"
"Sir, this is the secret account I recorded myself. There is absolutely no falsehood in it!"
Zhu Qingyan saw that Zhu Lan didn't look like he was trying to trick Shen Wanxiong, but was really angry, so he couldn't help but step forward and take the account book to look through it.
Soon, she said softly, "Huh?" and said in confusion:
"That's not right. According to the records of the Ministry of Revenue, the imperial court clearly allocated 50,000 dan of grain to Qingzhou in the middle of the year.
But how come the income of your Shen family’s granary is only 8,000 shi, less than one-fifth?
Even if you only embezzled this much, and the remaining 42,000 dan of grain was distributed to the people, the people of Qingzhou would never be so hungry and destitute!"
Zhu Lan also said coldly:
“And according to the Ministry of Revenue records, there should have been surplus grain in Qingzhou’s warehouses at the time of the disaster.
It has been less than four months since the last disaster relief grain was sent to Qingzhou. Are you going to tell me—
The original surplus grain in Qingzhou's warehouse, plus the remaining 42,000 dan of grain distributed by the court, was eaten up by the people of Qingzhou within three months! ? "
Shen Wanxiong also looked innocent, kneeling on the ground and said loudly:
"Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy, please understand! The Prefect has never given an exact number of how much grain the court has distributed, so I have no way of knowing it!
But in my hands, I only have these eight thousand shi to run the rice shop and the winery.
The time and place of transporting the grain, the manpower and resources consumed, and the final destination of the grain... I have recorded it all clearly. If you don't believe me, go check it out!"
Zhu Lan and Zhu Qingyan looked at each other, both of them with confusion in their eyes.
Judging from the current situation in Qingzhou, less than half of the original disaster relief grain has been distributed.
Shen Wanxiong didn't look like he was lying, but according to what he said, the food he embezzled was less than 20%, which was not enough to cause such serious consequences.
So, where did the remaining relief food go?
Zhu Lan was full of doubts, and it seemed that only by meeting Shi Yuanzhong could the truth be revealed.
At this moment, the court was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard, like the calm before a storm.
The dawn light in the sky broke through the darkness, and the crowing of a rooster woke up the entire Qingzhou city.
Zhu Lan frowned and looked towards the gate of the county government office, suddenly having a bad feeling in his heart.
"President Lu has been in the prefectural government for so long, why hasn't he brought Shi Yuanzhong back yet?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Qingyan heard footsteps coming from outside the courtyard wall.
“Here it comes!”
Zhu Lan suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp.
Sure enough, Lu Feng, dressed in armor, appeared in everyone's sight. He walked into the county government office with an ugly look on his face.
"Your Excellency, I have Qingzhou Prefect Shi Yuanzhong here, but...
He has taken hostages and is clamoring to see you, so you should come out and see for yourself."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Lan immediately stood up and walked out of the county government office.
The entrance to the county government office was surrounded by Lu Feng's personal soldiers.
"Where is the imperial envoy? I want to see him!" Shi Yuanzhong's excited voice spread out of the encirclement.
"I am here."
Zhu Lan had a calm expression on her face. As soon as she opened her mouth, the soldiers made way for her.
Zhu Lan then saw clearly that besides the miserable Shi Yuanzhong, there was also Wen Yu in the encirclement.
Shi Yuanzhong was tall and strong, holding a dagger, pressing it against Wen Yu's neck!
"Mr. Wen!"
Zhu Lan's expression changed immediately, and a hint of panic appeared on his usually calm face.
Shi Yuanzhong grinned grimly.
“Hehe, this kid first betrayed Old Shen, and then betrayed me.
But you didn't expect that... my Shi family's ancestors led troops in the past, and the Shi family members have practiced martial arts since childhood, so it's easy to catch this kid."
"Miss Zhu, don't worry about me."
Wen Yu looked at Zhu Lan deeply. Even though his life was hanging by a thread at this moment, he was still so cold and indifferent, with only the emotion in his eyes spreading.
"Why would she ignore you?"
Shi Yuanzhong even looked a little crazy, laughing loudly and said:
"She even wanted to save Hu Ping'an, who had nothing to do with her, let alone you, her beloved?
Hahahaha... Wen Yu, I really have to thank you for this rare good-looking body of yours. I don't believe she would be willing to let you die!"
"Shi Yuanzhong, what do you want?" Zhu Lan looked at Shi Yuanzhong with a chilling voice.
Shi Yuanzhong's eyes were bloodshot and he shouted:
"Have someone prepare a fast horse to take me out of the city. Once we get to a safe place, I will release him!"
Zhu Qingyan asked, "You don't even care about your family, you just want to escape for your own life?"
"It's a matter of life and death, why bother with that?" Shi Yuanzhong said gloomily, "Hurry up, or I'll kill him!"
"Master Wen, I..." Zhu Lan looked at Wen Yu, unable to make a decision.
Wen Yu showed a faint smile, and the heaven and earth were eclipsed by it.
"Miss Zhu, I am lucky to have met you in this life, which is enough for me. But Wen Yu comes from a humble family, so I dare not marry someone of high status...
If I can die for Miss Zhu today, Wen Yu will die without regrets."
I don't know when the snow started to fall again, silently.
In Wen Yu's narrow eyes, he saw Zhu Lan taking a step back, and -
A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on her face.
"In that case, thank you, Master Wen, for your help."
What! ?
Wen Yu and Shi Yuanzhong's expressions froze at the same time.
Shi Yuanzhong quickly roared, "Do you think I dare not kill him?!"
His expression became even more ferocious, and he exerted force with his hands, so much so that the blade even scratched Wen Yu's neck.
He didn't believe that Zhu Lan didn't care about Wen Yu's life or death!
Wen Yu said so!
Wen Yu clearly said that Zhu Lan had feelings for him!!!
"A liar... As long as the prefect is happy."
Zhu Lan spoke slowly and calmly, as if he was a different person.
She didn't even look at Wen Yu, and took something out of her arms.
It was a painting of a strangely shaped weapon that looked like a halberd with a side hook.
After Wen Yu saw the contents of the painting clearly, his eyes were shocked and a crack appeared in the gentleness in his eyes in an instant.
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