The judge's expression also became complicated, and his eyes scrutinized Zhao Cai with a critical look.
"Oh, you just said he wanted to smother you with a rag?"
Seeing the judge's slightly changed expression, Zhao Cai suddenly felt that something was wrong. After thinking about it carefully, he almost slapped himself in frustration.
I accidentally let it slip!
Although he was inwardly panicked, he forced a calm expression: "That's right, when I woke up, I saw a cloth covering my face, and I guessed that this guy surnamed Sun was trying to poison me!"
These words were an attempt to cover up his earlier mistake, so he pointed at Vice General Sun and emphasized that the other party wanted his life, trying to pass the buck back to him.
"If you hadn't heard what we said, how could someone who had just woken up from a coma know so much, and even blurt out that my surname is Sun? Could someone who is unconscious still hear what others are saying?"
Deputy General Sun was so angry that his face turned green. If they weren't in the yamen, he would have pounced on this guy who was spouting nonsense and given him another beating.
"Your Honor, I am innocent! Convict this murderer immediately, we can't let him harm anyone else!"
Zhao Cai was indeed very clever. He completely ignored what Deputy General Sun said and started to cry foul. In any case, he had already made up his mind that as long as he refused to admit it, only he would know whether he was really dizzy or faking it.
"That's impossible, he must be faking it. Please don't be fooled by this one-sided story, sir!"
Deputy General Sun also quickly tried to turn the tide, saying, "It's just a matter of crying foul, anyone can do that."
The judge was caught in a dilemma by these two. What was originally a simple fight had become increasingly strange as the investigation progressed. He no longer knew who to convict, or if he were to convict, what crime to charge them with.
"The County Magistrate has arrived!"
A loud announcement came from outside, and everyone turned to look. They saw a man in official robes walking towards them, surrounded by several attendants.
What a grand display!
The county magistrate who arrived looked about ten years older than the judge, but he appeared more spirited and vigorous. His chubby face was ruddy, and his large belly could not be concealed by his loose official robes. He stood up straight and was surrounded by a group of attendants, looking like a star being surrounded by the moon.
The judge's expression changed slightly, and he couldn't help but secretly marvel at what wind had blown the county magistrate here.
Then he thought to himself that he hadn't done anything wrong, so could it be that he came here because of this case?
Despite his doubts, the judge remained calm and quickly got off his chair to greet his superior with bows and scrapes.
"Sir, what brings you here? You didn't even inform Xia Guan beforehand so I could have made some preparations..."
The judge rubbed his hands together as he spoke cautiously, which made Deputy General Sun feel disgusted. Good heavens, another lackey!
"snort!"
The county magistrate snorted coldly. He had always looked down on his mediocre subordinate. He then waved his hand and said, "No need. I'm here on official business."
Official business? It seems like there aren't any major cases to handle lately!
The judge couldn't help but have some doubts.
"What do you plan to do with this person?"
The county magistrate raised his hand and pointed at Deputy General Sun.
"Huh? This...this matter hasn't been investigated yet..."
Knowing that his superior must have come prepared, the judge couldn't help but become obsequious.
Deputy General Sun could tell that the county magistrate had come with ill intentions and was clearly targeting him, but he couldn't guess what the other party planned to do to him.
"The facts are clear, what else is there to investigate?"
The county magistrate plopped down in the judge's chair, pointed at Sun Fuqiang, and shouted, "How dare you commit violence and seriously injure several people in broad daylight! You are simply audacious! Guards, give him one hundred strokes of the cane and then throw him into jail!"
This sudden turn of events startled everyone. The judge clearly hadn't expected the county magistrate to suddenly come to convict Deputy General Sun, but after careful consideration, he felt that making such a hasty conclusion was really inappropriate.
Regardless of the truth of the matter, the punishment of being flogged one hundred times is far too harsh.
An ordinary person would be considered very lucky to withstand twenty strokes of the cane; fifty strokes would leave their buttocks raw and bleeding. If they were hit with a hundred strokes, they would either die or be half-dead. If they were unlucky, they might be crippled for the rest of their lives.
Although he knew that the county magistrate's decision was unjust and hasty, the judge dared not offend his superior. He could only watch as the execution warrant was thrown out, silently praying that Vice General Sun would survive to eat prison food.
"Execute them!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than several constables roughly grabbed Deputy General Sun and forcibly pinned him to a long table. At the same time, two constables, one on each side, began to swing their thick, long black court rods.
Each blow produced a muffled thud. Deputy General Sun was a true man; he gritted his teeth and didn't let out a scream. After only a few blows, he felt his buttocks were numb with pain, as if fire was burning on them and countless hot needles were pricking his flesh. The pain caused sweat to involuntarily bead on his forehead, and then his whole body began to sweat.
Zhao Cai watched with schadenfreude for a while, then scurried over and knelt down to kowtow to the county magistrate: "Thank you, Your Excellency, for upholding justice for me. Your Excellency is truly wise and powerful. I admire you!"
The county magistrate was very pleased with these compliments. He nodded, as if he were truly an upright, honest, and beloved official.
Ouch!
Suddenly, a scream was heard, and everyone was startled. They turned around to look, but found that it was not the voice of Deputy General Sun who was being tortured.
At the same time, the two executioners had dropped their canes and were groaning as they clutched their wrists. A group of people gradually came into view outside the yamen.
A slender woman in a moon-white fitted casual dress, a handsome young man in a blue long gown, and a young man with an anxious face.
These three people were Li Chang'an, Feng Beichuan, and Chen Sanshun.
"How dare you trespass on the government office! Take him away!"
The county magistrate slammed his hand on the table, and several constables at the door immediately drew their swords and rushed forward to stop him.
After a few muffled groans, several constables fell to the ground under Li Chang'an's lightning-fast hand strike.
The woman's long hair was styled high, with a plain white jade hairpin inserted in the middle. Her slender figure and agile movements made her truly heroic.
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