Chapter 258 Court Hearing
The snow around the county government office was swept clean and piled up on both sides of the road, looking like two snow walls.
As soon as Wan Qiqi reached the main road leading to the county government office, she saw many people walking in that direction.
"Have you heard? The case has been investigated and is now in trial!"
"I've heard about it too, and I'm planning to go see which damned bastard is actually colluding with bandits to harm us!"
"I've heard that he's one of those officials."
"Oh dear, for an official appointed by the imperial court to do such a thing, his entire family should be executed!"
"It's not something we can say for sure; we'll find out when we see it!"
Upon hearing this, Wan Qiqi slowed her pace.
Wu Gousheng followed behind her, walking with a limp, and frowning with every step he took.
After a dozen or so steps, his forehead was covered with beads of sweat.
"Sister Qi, Master Wan is really amazing! He caught the murderer and put him to trial as soon as he arrived!"
Wan Qiqi nodded casually, but something felt off.
Why would a newly arrived official from the county government be assigned to assist in the investigation of a case where a censor is in charge of supervising the county magistrate's case?
As soon as Wan Ziyan arrived, he began to investigate the case and identify the person who colluded with the bandits. How could it be so quick?
She always felt that someone had set a trap, throwing out all sorts of bait, just to wait for Wan Ziyan to take the bait.
Wan Qiqi couldn't understand what was so special about Wan Ziyan that made people willing to use imperial officials to set a trap for him.
Although Wan Ziyan is exceptionally talented, it shouldn't be this bad, right?
After thinking for a long time, Wan Qiqi still couldn't figure it out.
She felt that Wan Ziyan was like a mystery; no matter how many layers she peeled back, there was still a fog surrounding him.
However, his interactions with me were like opening my heart to let me see clearly and understand his true feelings.
"Sis... what are you thinking about?"
Wu Gousheng didn't understand why Wan Qiqi had been spacing out lately and wouldn't respond to him no matter how many times he called her.
Wan Qiqi's thoughts were interrupted, and she didn't want to think about it anymore. She quickened her pace and said, "It's alright, let's go to the county government office first!"
As the county court trial drew to a close, the faces of those present turned extremely grim.
Lu Tongfu slammed the gavel down on the table and said sternly, "Yu Ju, what else do you have to say? Explain your affair with Lianshan clearly, and I might beg the Emperor to spare your life. If you insist on concealing the truth, don't blame me for using torture!"
Yu Ju knelt below the hall, his eyes bloodshot.
He laughed, a maniacal laugh, as if he had heard a hilarious joke, laughing uncontrollably.
No one understood his laughter; they simply assumed he was provoked after being caught.
Wan Ziyan stood to one side of the hall, with the little monkey hiding behind him, seemingly terrified by the laughter, trembling incessantly.
Chen Yongnian, dressed in black, knelt down, holding the evidence he had collected over the past few days, including the document that had been burned and only a corner remained.
Besides these, he also collected some unfinished letters that he hadn't had time to burn, letters to Geng Laosan, and some confessions from the people he sent to deliver the letters.
The bandits of Lianshan are dead, and no one can verify the authenticity of the letter.
Originally, there was insufficient evidence to prove Yu Ju's guilt.
Who would have thought that Wan Ziyan would bring a little monkey?
To everyone's greatest surprise, the little mute boy spoke!
He speaks unclearly, sometimes not even able to utter a single word.
But he pointed to the remaining sentence as evidence.
Yu Ju had a very faint fragrance on him, a very special scent that ordinary people would not easily notice, but the little monkey had a keen sense of smell and could tell immediately.
Outside the Mingtang, the people were discussing the matter animatedly.
"How could it be Magistrate Yu? He has always been very kind to us, how could it be him!"
"Yes! Could this child have made a mistake?"
"What could such a young child know? He must be mistaken!"
“County Magistrate Yu is a diligent, frugal, and benevolent official. Your Excellency, please investigate this matter thoroughly. There must be some mistake!”
No one expected that so many people would support Yu Ju.
Outside the Mingtang, the number of people kneeling gradually increased, with only a few still standing.
Fang Ziming glanced outside the hall and closed his eyes.
When he got into trouble, he never heard the people plead for him.
But when Yu Ju got into trouble, so many people pleaded for him.
This is a huge slap in the face to him, the county magistrate!
Yu Ju merely chuckled coldly twice, "I confess, I was the one who colluded with the bandits, and I stole the documents as well."
As soon as he finished speaking, an uproar erupted.
Wan Qiqi was puzzled as to why Yu Ju admitted it so openly.
She always thought Yu Ju would harm her, but nothing had happened these past few days, as if it were all just her imagination.
At that moment, she was even a little dazed.
Yu Ju knelt up straight, raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said earnestly, "There is no need to trouble you, sir, to punish my entire family. I am all alone and have no relatives or friends."
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Pang immediately retorted, "Don't talk nonsense. You have an elderly mother of sixty years old, as well as brothers and sisters. Where are you without relatives and friends?"
"Those are all Yu Ju's relatives, not mine!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed shock.
What did he mean by that?
Is he denying that he is Yu Ju?
If he's not Yu Ju, then who is he?
Yu Ju sneered, glanced at everyone in the Mingtang, and finally fixed his gaze on Wan Ziyan. "My only relative, Geng Laosan, died in the battle of Lianshan."
He suddenly stood up, tilted his head, and walked towards Wan Ziyan.
Upon seeing this, the constable immediately drew his sword and warned him not to come any closer.
"Yuju" continued to move forward.
The bailiffs standing in the hall immediately drew their sticks and restrained "Yu Ju," forcing him to kneel on the ground, unable to move.
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