"Turning the tables? You weren't even there, Qian Ju, so what right do you have to say that?" Liu Yinghong angrily questioned.
Qian Ju stared wide-eyed but couldn't utter a single word: "You, I—"
Li Shufen also said, "Old woman, stop making trouble. Your son was always doing bad things. He deserved to die because he brought it on himself!"
“Miss Lin was almost killed by Zhao Shao back then, he is the real culprit!” Yunxia said firmly at this moment.
They all stood firmly on Lin Qixia's side, as if they had no intention of speaking up for the Zhao mother and son from the very beginning.
The other villagers from Xiahe Village in front of the hall also began to hurl insults at Qian Ju and her son again, all filled with righteous indignation.
"That's right! The Zhao family has always been of despicable character, and this time they are deliberately trying to frame Miss Lin!"
"My lord! You should deal with them properly!"
Feng Changchao slammed his gavel in anger again: "Silence! What's all this noise about!"
Compared to before, he's now incredibly annoyed by this group of people.
After all, they were all causing him trouble, but in front of Tong Xuewei, he couldn't find any more reasons to punish them.
"It seems that this case is more complicated than I thought."
After everyone quieted down, Tong Xuewei frowned and said.
Feng Changchao said apologetically, "It is my incompetence that has caused you to fail in your duties. I am sorry that you have made me laugh at you, Lord Tong."
Tong Xuewei said, "Since you know you're incompetent, then don't do it."
"Uh." Feng Changchao was clearly taken aback by Tong Xuewei's rudeness and was momentarily stunned.
Tong Xuewei stood up immediately.
When he reached Feng Changchao, he finally realized what was happening. "Sir, you mean—"
“I’ll handle this case!” Tong Xuewei said matter-of-factly.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qixia, who was not far away, suddenly realized.
In this way, Feng Changchao's qualification to judge cases has been effectively revoked, and it's time for them to take the lead.
Lin Qixia smiled, and her whole demeanor relaxed considerably.
"Yes, sir." Even though Feng Changchao disagreed a thousand times in his heart, he had no choice but to step down.
Tong Xuewei sat at the front of the table and said to Lin Qixia, "Now that all the witness testimonies are available, we can conclude that the Zhao mother and son made false accusations."
"Then sentence them each to twenty strokes of the cane," he declared directly.
Upon hearing this, Qian Ju immediately collapsed to the ground, feeling weak.
Zhao Datian roared indignantly, "Sir! Sir, you shouldn't have sentenced us like this! We are innocent!"
However, no matter how much the mother and son cried and screamed, they were still dragged away to be executed.
Amidst the screams of the Zhao mother and son, Tong Xuewei asked Lin Qixia, "Lin Qixia, as the victim of this false accusation, what are your demands?"
His question brought the previously shocked crowd back to their senses.
Many onlookers outside the venue were equally bewildered, with many discussing among themselves: "What's going on? Lin Qixia has become the victim so quickly?"
"Then the Zhao mother and son are framing someone, there are so many witnesses here!"
"Zhao Shao was burned to death, and his body has long been buried. Isn't it these people who are saying this?"
"So, the owner of 'Xiahe Manor' really does have some skills."
"In the end, she is innocent in this matter."
"Don't forget what the young lady originally came here for. Magistrate Feng is probably doomed!"
The last person's words quieted the crowd down considerably.
Some people were worried for Magistrate Feng, while others breathed a sigh of relief for Lin Qixia.
At this moment, Lin Qixia, standing in the hall, sighed with a melancholy expression in response to Tong Xuewei's question: "This matter was originally over, but I never expected it to be brought up again, just to frame me and put me in jail, and to prevent me from filing a lawsuit."
"Stop you?" Tong Xuewei was startled. "Who wants to stop you? Who are you going to sue?"
He asked her to explain in detail.
Lin Qixia simply raised her hand and pointed at Feng Changchao beside her: "It's him! I'm going to sue him!"
Her gesture surprised everyone in Xiahe Village.
After all, they were all unaware of this matter.
The group never expected to witness this incredible scene during their trip to Lichong County.
A citizen suing an official—this is probably a scene they'll never witness in their lifetime.
"Xia'er, what are you doing?" Yunxia called out to Lin Qixia anxiously, trying to dissuade her.
Lin Qixia had originally thought she had escaped a disaster.
Therefore, Yunxia didn't understand why she would suddenly do this and cause trouble for herself for no reason.
Li Shufen sighed, "You silly girl—why are you so desperate?"
Lin Qixia turned to look at them and smiled reassuringly, "It's alright, I know what I'm doing."
"You want to sue the county magistrate?"
Tong Xuewei's voice rang out immediately afterward, but he didn't seem surprised by Lin Qixia's expression.
“That’s right!” Lin Qixia said firmly, “I want to sue him for embezzling the disaster relief grain and exorbitant taxes issued by the imperial court, which has forced people to starve to death and sell their children.”
Lin Qixia's voice echoed throughout the entire yamen.
Her words caused a stir among the public.
"Is this true? Didn't they say the disaster relief grain had already been distributed?"
"These days, with the famine already making life difficult, and for Magistrate Feng, a supposed benevolent official, to act in this way is simply... simply outrageous..."
"This is absolutely outrageous!"
Many people who were unaware of the situation were outraged by this.
He pointed at Feng Changchao inside the hall, his expression one of disgust.
This situation was naturally very unfavorable for Feng Changchao, who hurriedly tried to explain: "No! That's not how it is, don't listen to her nonsense!"
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