It was already June, and there were still two months until the provincial examination. Fu Changfeng received a letter from his classmate not long after arriving in Yizhou. After hearing that the governor would be inspecting Guangming Prefecture, he rushed to the prefectural city.
However, time was very tight on the journey, and there was no time to go home to learn more about the situation. He could only use his own future as collateral to ask the governor to handle the matter impartially. If it weren't for Xichun, he might not have been able to persuade the governor.
"Xichun, thank you. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have been able to invite the governor." Fu Changfeng was even more anxious. He had been tossing and turning all night when he heard that his elder brother had been wronged. He had barely stopped along the way and hadn't even changed his clothes for a long time. Now that there was good news, he was finally able to relax.
"Young Master Fu?" Xi Chun was about to say no need to thank him when she heard his breathing. It turned out he had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
The governor was worried that someone might tip him off, so he specifically instructed the prefect not to inform the county magistrate of his trip to Weinan County without his order. He was planning to take the opportunity to catch the county magistrate off guard.
Fortunately, in this dynasty, crimes involving beheading were generally carried out after the autumn harvest, and the county magistrate had to report the case file to Guangming Prefecture, which would then be transferred to Jiannan Circuit for review before it could be processed. Therefore, they did not need to worry too much about Fu Changjin's safety.
At this time, the county magistrate was unaware that Xi Chun and the others had invited the governor over. He was preparing to hold court again today. There were new leads regarding the Fu family's oppression of the people. In addition, they had prepared more convincing evidence based on the time it took to get from the brothel to the yamen. Therefore, they planned to make Fu Changjin confess his crimes as soon as possible so that the Fu family could be brought down sooner and their property and money could be transferred to the government.
At that time, he would probably take tens of millions of taels of silver privately, the magistrate was already imagining the days after receiving the money.
"Sir, we have obtained evidence of several other cases of oppression against the people. Shall we try them all today?" The clerk walked over with a smile and reported.
"No need. Interrogate them first. If they are unwilling to pay a price, then I can only report this to the prefectural city and let the prefect handle it. I think they will obediently hand over the money." The county magistrate stopped pretending at this point. He had put on a show while in office, but now, according to his plan, a promotion was a sure thing.
"Yes, they must have seen what happened to the Fu family. Any smart person knows what to do."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, their laughter tinged with the thrill of triumph.
The six local gentry and wealthy merchants in the county town were brought to the government office. Amidst their cries and shouts, the tenant farmers revealed all the "evil deeds" committed by their families. They were now the sinners of the entire Weinan County.
These people never expected that the magistrate was the one behind all this. Now that they understood his true intentions, they all hinted that they would pay money to avoid trouble. Those who were unwilling were persuaded by others to stop after seeing the fate of the Fu family.
"Bring Fu Changjin here! Time's up, and the witnesses and testimonies are all here. How dare you not confess?" The magistrate slammed his gavel down, and Fu Changjin, who was standing below the court, was covered in sores, but he gritted his teeth and did not yield to the intimidation of this corrupt official.
He still remembered the message his father and Xichun had brought him: they had already started thinking of ways to save him, and if he confessed, their efforts would be in vain.
"I am innocent! I have not committed any murder or illegal act. I beg Your Honor to investigate thoroughly." Fu Changjin's fingers had just begun to heal, and now they were being pinched again. He was in a weak state, his hair disheveled, and he didn't care. He even bit his teeth until they bled, but he still insisted on crying out for justice.
"Stop! My brother is innocent. He's been framed. The magistrate can't use torture to force a confession." Fu Changfeng had just arrived in the county town when he heard that his brother was going to be tortured into confessing again today. He was very anxious, so he asked Qiangzi to hurry up and stop it.
The governor did not object and let them go first, which is why Fu Changfeng shouted loudly outside the hall. Upon hearing this, everyone automatically made way for him.
"And who are you, daring to be so bold as to disrupt the court? Guards, drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane." Upon hearing this, the county magistrate knew his identity. He hadn't expected Fu Changfeng to return, but for now, he could only pretend not to recognize him. Since he was here, he would prevent him from taking the imperial examination smoothly, so he wouldn't have to worry.
“My lord, I am Fu Changfeng. He is my elder brother. I can guarantee with my life that my brother has not committed any murder. Moreover, we have new evidence. Please investigate the matter and release my brother.”
"Hmph, how can a mere student like you be allowed to make a scene in a courtroom? The evidence in this case is conclusive. If you dare to disrupt the court again, don't blame me. Guards, take him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane."
"My lord, my son is weak and cannot be beaten. If you wish to discipline him, I will take the punishment in his place." Master Fu was unaware that his son had returned so quickly, nor that they had invited the governor. Considering that his son still had to go back to take the imperial examination, he knelt down to plead for mercy.
"As the saying goes, it is the father's fault if he raises a child without teaching him. If Master Fu is willing, then take him away." The magistrate was also amused. If his father was sick, how could he concentrate on the exam? If he failed this time, whether he would have another chance next time was up to him. He immediately ordered someone to take him away and was about to beat him.
"I want to see who has such power. The victim's family says they have evidence, but the local magistrate is ignoring it and just wants to beat people!" A dignified voice rang out, and it was the governor entering with his entourage.
"Who goes there, daring to slander me like this? Don't you know how powerful I am? Uh, sir, the Prefect?" The county magistrate was furious when he heard this and wanted to teach the person who spoke a lesson. But when he looked closely, although he didn't recognize the person, he recognized the official robes.
"What? This governor can't even touch a mere county magistrate like you? I'd like to see what you're capable of!" Hearing the county magistrate's arrogant words, the governor was inclined to believe him even without the most conclusive evidence. He was simply too arrogant.
"Your Excellency, I have only acted in accordance with the law. I know I was wrong. It was all because I am old and blind." The county magistrate immediately knelt down, unable to even speak clearly. Who could tell him why the governor had come to Weinan County? Shouldn't he have just visited Guangming Prefecture and left?
"You, a mere county magistrate, have caused the destruction of families and the deaths of many. Who gave you the authority to treat the villagers so cruelly? Guards, strip him of his official robes and handcuff him. I will investigate this murder case thoroughly before proceeding with the investigation."
The moment the magistrate's official robes were stripped off by the governor's men, he knew it was all over.
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