The following day, at the Jiangnan Prefectural Government Office.
Today's courtroom was even more bustling than yesterday's!
The entire city of Suzhou was practically deserted! All the people crowded into the gates of the government office, eager to witness this historic trial that would determine the future of Jiangnan!
The atmosphere in the courtroom was extremely strange.
In the courtroom, Prefect Wang, who had fainted yesterday from a sudden stroke, was now refreshed and ready to return to the court. However, his once arrogant and perfunctory face was now devoid of its former arrogance; instead, it displayed a tense and uneasy anxiety, as if he were sitting on pins and needles. Every now and then, his gaze would drift towards the composed "Master Xiao" below the court.
And beside him, for the first time ever, there was an armchair.
Sitting in the chair was Gao Tai, the "key figure" in the case and the Salt Commissioner of Jiangnan!
He is here today as a "victim's family member and witness" to observe the proceedings.
Below the court, the murderer Gao Changsheng was held in the center like a dead dog. Young Master Gao stood to the side, his face grim.
A trial that appears fair and impartial, but is actually rife with undercurrents, has officially begun!
"Smack!"
Prefect Wang slammed the gavel weakly.
"He brought...he brought people to commit Gao Changsheng's crime!"
However, before he could even begin the interrogation according to procedure...
Meanwhile, Mr. Gao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly and slowly opened them!
He slowly rose from the grand chair that symbolized his status, and bowed deeply to Prefect Wang in the hall.
"Lord Wang, wait!"
His voice was aged, yet full of energy!
"Before Your Honor's trial, I... have something to present to the court!"
After saying that, he waved his hand behind him.
A trusted servant of the Gao family immediately came forward carrying a thick file.
Master Gao took the case file without even glancing at Gao Changsheng kneeling on the ground. A chilling, "righteous" expression appeared on his face!
He held the file high, his voice booming like a great bell, echoing throughout the courtroom!
"Lord Wang! Fellow villagers!"
"I have failed in my duty to educate my son and have not been strict in managing my household, which has resulted in Gao Changsheng, a beast that is worse than a pig or a dog!"
"He lusted after a beautiful woman, and when his attempt to force her into marriage failed, he became enraged and accidentally killed her! Afterwards, he went even further, attempting to smear her reputation and escape legal punishment!"
"Such behavior is intolerable to both heaven and earth! It is an outrage against both gods and men!"
"I... am ashamed before my ancestors! Ashamed before the elders of Jiangnan!"
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, and on the spot, he bowed deeply to the people outside the courtroom!
That acting was simply superb, reaching the pinnacle of skill!
Anyone who didn't know better would really think he was an innocent old man heartbroken by his unfilial descendants!
After finishing his tearful performance, he presented the case file in his hand.
"Lord Wang! Here is that beast's confession and irrefutable evidence—his forced marriage, murder, and fabricated evidence!"
"Today, in front of the entire city, I will uphold justice and even betray my own family! I will seek justice for the innocent and tragically deceased Miss Liu Yu! And I will cleanse the Gao family of its filth!"
Boom!!!
These words once again ignited the entire audience!
"My God! Master Gao... he actually... came out in person to testify against his own nephew?"
"This...this is truly a profound understanding of righteousness!"
"I knew it! Master Gao is very strict with his household; it must be the servants who are causing trouble!"
Public opinion reversed instantly!
Countless people were deeply moved by Master Gao's brilliant performance of "putting righteousness before family ties"!
Lin Wanwan stood aside, watching this dramatic scene, feeling both annoyed and amused.
That old fox is such a good actor!
He's using the life of his cousin, who's already been abandoned, to clear the name of the entire Gao family and restore his own good reputation!
Meanwhile, in the courtroom, Prefect Wang, who had already spoken with him, cooperated perfectly!
He took the so-called "evidence," and without even glancing at it, slammed the gavel down, his face showing a look of "righteous indignation" and anger!
"Excellent! Excellent Gao Tai! He is a man of great integrity and impartiality! He is truly a role model for us all!"
He first showered Master Gao with praise.
Then, they turned their "righteous" gaze to Gao Changsheng, whose face had already turned ashen.
"The culprit is Gao Changsheng! Now, the evidence is irrefutable! What...do you have anything to say?!"
Gao Changsheng raised his head, his empty eyes filled with despair.
He knew that he had been completely abandoned by his family.
Last night, his "kind and amiable" uncle personally visited him in prison.
He only said one sentence to himself.
"If you don't want your old mother in the countryside to 'accidentally' fall into the well and drown, you should know what to say in court tomorrow."
Thinking of his elderly mother, Gao Changsheng felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife!
He slowly closed his eyes, and two lines of regretful tears slid down his cheeks.
"This humble citizen... confesses."
"good!"
Prefect Wang was waiting to hear those words!
He suddenly stood up, grabbed a red token, and threw it hard on the ground!
"The criminal Gao Changsheng is lawless, disregards human life, uses cruel methods, and commits heinous crimes! His crimes are unforgivable!"
"This judge pronounces his verdict!"
"Execute! Immediately!"
"Court adjourned!"
After saying that, he seemed to have completed a great mission, and let out a long sigh of relief, with a relieved smile even appearing on his face.
Mr. Gao, standing to the side, also wore a subtle smile of triumph.
In their view, sacrificing the life of an insignificant nephew and the official hat of a bloated and smug prefect to ensure the safety of the entire Gao family and their immense wealth was a worthwhile exchange.
This deal is absolutely amazing!
Losing money is a way to avoid disaster; it's like a cicada shedding its shell!
Perfect!
However, just as Prefect Wang was about to utter the word "court," just as everyone thought this trial of the century was about to come to an end—
A calm, yet slightly mocking voice rang out again, at an inopportune moment.
"Sir, wait a minute."
It's you again?!
When Prefect Wang and Master Gao heard this devilish voice, their bodies stiffened abruptly!
They slowly turned their heads and saw that the ever-present "Master Xiao" was walking out of the crowd with a smile on his face.
In his hand, he was also carrying a... somewhat familiar-looking rosewood box.
“Master Xiao… Master Xiao…” Prefect Wang looked at the box, and a sudden, extremely ominous premonition welled up in his heart. “You… what else do you want?”
"It's nothing serious." Xiao Che smiled, a smile as bright as the spring sunshine, but it made Prefect Wang and Master Gao feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave!
He slowly walked to the center of the courtroom, and then, with a "bang," he placed the heavy box heavily on the ground!
He pointed to the box and asked in a tone full of "curiosity" and with an "innocent" look:
"Sir, you see, you haven't explained the 'misunderstanding' in this box yet."
"And there's more..."
He slowly turned his head, and a chilling glint, seemingly capable of piercing through everything, flashed in his deep eyes!
He looked at Master Gao and Prefect Wang, whose faces had long since turned deathly pale, and slowly asked, word by word:
“Last night, Lord Gao said something to me.”
“You two split the profits 30/70 every month.”
"I'm just a little curious..."
"What...is this divided into portions?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com