Chapter 66 Begging for mercy
Mr. Ji's face was full of colorful expressions.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Lord Du had no choice but to slam the gavel and shout at the Wang family, "Plaintiffs Wang Dejing, Wang Liushi, and Wang Laoer, do you have any further explanation?"
The three people in Lao Wang's hall were so scared that they almost wet their pants.
After all, Old Man Wang was more experienced. He hurriedly said, "Master Qingtian, Mr. Yuanwai, we were confused when we wrote the letter of severance. Regardless of whether we wrote it or not, Jiang is still the fifth daughter-in-law of our Wang family. She shouldn't have hit us and insulted us. Even if we were wrong, she is still the younger generation. You all are children and fathers. How can blood ties be severed just by saying so?"
Ji Yuanwai stood up and said, "The plaintiff is right. The law is not beyond human feelings. Wang Dejing and Wang Liu are still Jiang's elder parents-in-law. No matter what, it is her duty to respect her parents-in-law."
Jiang Lianzhu sneered, "You guys are meaningless now. Just now you were asking for evidence of the letter of severance, and now that you have it, you're trying to be polite and play dirty. Let me emphasize again, what kind of elders are they? Do they deserve it?"
Shopkeeper Lin also asked with great interest, "Mr. Ji, why do you keep speaking up for the plaintiff? What's your relationship with him? Are you trying to use him for other purposes? Don't overthink it! There are always people better than you. It's better to retire when it's time to do so. Why get your shoes wet in muddy water?"
Ji Yuanwai's thoughts were seen through, and his face turned unhappy. "Your Lin family's reach is so long that even the provincial capital has reached our small town of Shili. Master Du has been in our town for so many years, does he still need your guidance from a pastry shop?"
Shopkeeper Lin smiled and ignored him.
He bowed to Lord Du in the court and said, "I dare not. I have spoken nonsense. Lord Du, please continue."
Ji Yuanwai winked at Lord Du, who stroked his nonexistent beard. "The case is complicated. Let's adjourn the court today. Both the plaintiff and the defendant will be imprisoned for the time being and retrial will be held later."
Are you going to resort to procrastination?
Jiang Lianzhu's eyes darkened. Imprisoning them? Not to mention how frightening imprisonment would be to ordinary people, just saying that they had missed the autumn pear paste season and it was clear that they couldn't do business in the autumn pear paste business was malicious.
Shopkeeper Lin was also anxious. "Master Du, the case is so clear, why is he being imprisoned? It's obvious that the plaintiff is slandering the defendant."
Lord Du slammed the gavel and said, "Manager Lin, is it you who will make the judgment, or me? What's wrong with imprisoning him and retrialing him later?"
The villagers who were watching were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
Since Jiang Lianzhu was imprisoned, they could no longer make autumn pear paste and could not harvest pears.
After a few days, the pears will be ripe and rotten. Who will compensate for such a huge loss? Who will be responsible?
Wouldn't this cut off their source of income?
Mr. Ji looked smug, with a scornful smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, demonstrating to Manager Lin.
He can't make any money!
He also doesn't let others make money!
This is the last resort. If the crime cannot be prosecuted, then we can just delay the execution.
At this moment, a carriage slowly stopped outside the door.
A man got off the carriage and strode in. He was a young man with a dignified demeanor. He was dressed in a black suit and looked intimidating without even being angry.
You can tell at first glance that he is not an ordinary person.
As soon as the visitor entered the door, he was not polite and started to curse.
"Du Fangcai, from today on, you are dismissed from your position! How much money have you accepted from others? To judge cases like this, where do you put the laws of our Da'an Kingdom?!"
This man came with ill intentions, and the constables in the hall quickly surrounded him.
"Who are you? How dare you speak so arrogantly? How can we tolerate your actions in this important government office?"
Jiang Lianzhu blinked, and Dabao and the other children also blinked.
They know this person!
Isn't this the young man who used to come to our stall to buy autumn pear paste? The one with the most wealth!
I saw him take out a badge from the waist.
There is a word "εΎ‘" written on it.
Shining with gold!
"I am Xiang You, one of the four chief constables of the Six Gates. Our Lord Governor has issued an order to remove you, this corrupt official! This case is so clear-cut, yet you have not only cleared the defendant but also imprisoned him for a retrial at a later date. Tell me how much dirty money you took!"
As soon as the words "Six Gates" came out, Du Fangcai shuddered all over.
Impossible! Aren't the people from the Six Gates based in the Imperial City, handling cases for the Emperor? How could they possibly come to a small place like this?
It must be a scam!
But this man is so imposing, and the golden token in his hand is so dazzling. Who in the world would dare to impersonate the Six Gates?
The Six Gates specialize in investigating major cases and are directly under the jurisdiction of the emperor. Their power is unimaginably great. They are a legendary department that can arbitrarily dismiss officials below the third rank without asking the emperor for permission.
"Where did you come from, you charlatan? How dare you cheat the government? I will not tolerate you, a charlatan..."
The words were not finished.
He drew the sword from his waist to the right, and the sword shone with a cold light.
There were two small, flowing words on the hilt of the sword.
Shopkeeper Lin was the most knowledgeable person present. He suddenly stood up and said, "Ask Yuejian! Ask Yuejian! He is Xiang You, one of the Four Great Constables! Legend has it that Xiang Zuo also has a sharp sword called the Sun-Slaying Sword! It's him!"
Xiang You's identity is Du Tou, which is the official title in the court documents, but the people usually call them the Four Famous Constables.
Du Fangcai fell to his knees with a thud.
Wen Yue Jian has the privilege of executing first and reporting later!
He really is one of the Four Great Detectives, to the right!
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, I was mistaken, I was mistaken! I release them immediately! I release them immediately! The plaintiffs, Wang Dejing, Wang Liushi, and Wang Laoer, maliciously slandered Jiang's mother and son, bringing ruin to their reputations. They shall each be caned thirty times and imprisoned for three years. The defendant, Jiang, shall be acquitted! I, bewildered, accepted twenty taels of silver from Mr. Ji. I am willing to accept the punishment and will compensate the victim with this silver. I will also voluntarily resign from my position as magistrate at the Shili Town Yamen. Mr. Ji bribed officials. According to the laws of the Da'an Kingdom, he should be caned thirty times and imprisoned for at least thirty days..."
Everyone... was in an uproar.
I see.
No wonder, those who targeted Jiang, an orphan and a widow, were framed by someone in secret.
In this situation, the constables who surrounded them were afraid of being implicated. Everyone knew what was happening and was afraid that if they were slow to react, as soon as Lord Du finished speaking, they would drag Old Wang's family and Mr. Ji away to prepare for beatings.
Lao Wang's family members cried and begged for mercy and help.
Mr. Ji was still resisting, "Let me go, let me go! Du Fangcai, you dare to hit me!"
The gentry who were usually very respectable in Shili Town no longer had much say.
The detectives dragged them outside the yamen and beat them up.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
