Chapter 255 The Ling Jing is born
The censor's voice was cold and authoritative, even without anger.
Wan Qiqi was taken aback, somewhat confused about what the censor was up to.
In court, she was only accused of knowing about the matter but failing to report it, yet she was punished. Does this mean she intends to convict herself in private?
She lowered her head, her eyes downcast, and asked in confusion, "My lord, what crime have I committed?"
All that could be heard was the sound of books slamming against the table, as if the other party had become angry.
"What crime have you committed?" The censor's voice remained cold. "You are merely a woman, how do you know so much about government affairs?"
"I don't know what the problem is." Wan Qiqi still lowered her head, unable to bear the sight of her emotions. "What I know is known to all the people in the city. If it is said that the person who colluded with the bandits died suddenly, it was Magistrate Yu who told me. I don't know why he talked about it with someone as unrelated as me."
"What a silver tongue you have! You're trying to pin this on an official of the imperial court. Aren't you afraid of being beheaded for falsely accusing an official of the imperial court?"
"This humble woman firmly believes that the government can clear the people's names!"
Wan Qiqi's words stopped the censor from questioning her.
After a long silence, the censor said, "What a clever tongue you have! Is this how you got entangled with the bandits of Lianshan?"
"I just don't want to die," Wan Qiqi said, raising her eyes to look at the Censor, her gaze resolute.
The censor looked him in the eye and asked, "You say there's someone else involved in the collusion with bandits, do you have any evidence?"
Wan Qiqi shook her head, but asked, "May I ask, sir, what was the identity of the deceased traitor?"
The censor did not speak, but looked towards the side room.
Wan Qiqi followed the gaze, her eyes pausing.
What is he doing here?
Chen Yongnian came out and knelt down beside Wan Qiqi. "Reporting to Your Excellency, the deceased was the previous head of the Criminal Investigation Department."
The censor seemed uninterested in the two men, nodding casually as he paced around the room. "Those who enter the Sixth Office are forbidden from leaving the county office at will, except for rest days. Those who communicate with the mountain bandits must be people who can come and go freely."
He stopped and looked at Wan Qiqi. "In this county, there are only four people who can do this and know the plan: the county magistrate, the county assistant, the county lieutenant, and the county clerk!"
Wan Qiqi was truly puzzled by the Censor, unsure of what he was up to.
Asking questions here and there.
One moment he seems to be condemning himself, the next he's analyzing those who collude with the bandits.
The last person she couldn't figure out was Xie Xing!
The censor then spoke up, "Tell me, which of these four is the most likely candidate?"
Wan Qiqi frowned. "I dare not speak ill of matters concerning the government."
If I say something wrong later, I might be charged with speaking recklessly, which wouldn't be worth it.
“If she won’t say, then you will!” The censor looked at Chen Yongnian.
“My lord, this matter is most unfavorable to Magistrate Fang, but it is unnecessary. Compared to Magistrate Fang, Magistrate Yu is more likely to be in trouble. County Commandant Pang faced the mountain bandits directly, and his battle with them cannot be faked. As for Master Cao… I do not know him and dare not speculate.”
"Everything points to Magistrate Yu. Could it be that Magistrate Fang is staging this to frame someone? Colluding with bandits is a capital offense, but using power to scheme for personal gain only results in dismissal from office, not death."
Before Chen Yongnian could answer, the censor continued, "As for County Magistrate Pang, why didn't he break off the agreement with the bandits and thus become enraged? And that clerk Cao, he came up with the most ideas; who knows, he might have offended someone and is using the bandits to get rid of them as soon as possible!"
Wan Qiqi "..."
If this were in modern times, Wan Qiqi would definitely have started cursing.
Is this person just a contrarian?
Even the most argumentative person wouldn't argue like him.
On the one hand, they say they want to analyze and produce evidence.
On the other hand, they started making all sorts of wild guesses, saying that this was a problem and that was a problem.
Wan Qiqi felt that he was the one with the most problems!
Did a horse kick your brain when you went out? You're acting all crazy!
How did someone like that get into the position of Censor?
She suddenly understood why Wan Ziyan didn't want to be an official.
If I encountered a superior like that, I would also be so angry that I would turn around and leave.
Chen Yongnian seemed somewhat speechless at the censor and didn't respond.
The censor glanced at the two kneeling men on the ground and said coldly, "Don't let me find out that you've been cursing me behind my back, or you'll be subjected to severe torture!"
"..."
Does it count as cursing you in my heart?
Wan Qiqi almost rolled her eyes and said, "Sir, this is a matter of county government affairs. Shouldn't I, a common woman, step aside?"
The censor raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "You think you can leave after only hearing half of what I've heard?"
"..." Wan Qiqi was exasperated by this man; he really never stopped. "I will keep quiet and forget about this matter as soon as I leave."
"Too late!" The censor returned to his desk and sat down. "I heard that your elder brother, Wan Ziyan, is a scholar who passed the imperial examination and once refused the position of assistant magistrate of Yunhe County?"
Wan Qiqi suddenly realized something.
This person went around in circles for so long, it turns out it was all for Wan Ziyan!
"Your Excellency, it is true that my elder brother is a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, but I am not sure whether he refused to serve as a county magistrate."
The censor tapped the table and said, "There are many people in the county government involved in this case. Chen Guan is new to the job and can be cleared of suspicion. I now order you to cooperate with my officials to jointly investigate the case of collusion with bandits!"
Damn it!
Wan Qiqi really wanted to curse. This person was clinging to the Chen family and wouldn't let go!
Chen Yongnian was aware of the implications.
But he was just a minor official, and if he directly refused or disobeyed the orders from above, his wife would be implicated.
He originally intended to enter the county government office to protect Wan Qiqi, but unexpectedly put her in even greater danger.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, the censor said again, "I allow you to ask someone for help. Isn't Wan Ziyan your wife's own brother? Why not invite him to the county to investigate this matter together!"
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