You have to get promoted, whether you want to or not!
Looking at Xiao Che's "kind" smile, Prefect Wang felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his whole body of fat trembled involuntarily!
He knew that he had no choice but to be promoted today.
Rather than being torn apart by these angry people, it's better to grit your teeth and go through the motions; at least... you can die with some dignity.
"The court is... is being held!"
Prefect Wang practically spat out those two words through gritted teeth. His voice was hoarse and dry, filled with endless humiliation and resentment.
"Court is now in session!"
The head constable standing nearby hurriedly shouted weakly.
A trial, coerced by "public opinion" and met with extreme reluctance, was hastily launched in broad daylight.
The courtroom of the Jiangnan government was quickly surrounded by layers of people.
The enthusiasm of the people was unprecedented! Unable to squeeze into the courtroom, they stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, blocking the entire entrance to the government office!
This scene is even more lively than a temple fair during Chinese New Year!
Prefect Wang sat behind the magistrate's desk, a symbol of "a clear mirror hanging high," looking at the sea of heads below, and felt a wave of dizziness and a throbbing in his temples.
Today, he has completely lost face for the rest of his life!
Below the court, the murderer Gao Changsheng was pinned to the ground like a dead dog by two constables, his previous arrogance long gone. Meanwhile, Young Master Gao stood to the side, his face ashen, his sinister eyes fixed on Xiao Che as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Prefect Wang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He knew that he had to firmly grasp the initiative! He absolutely could not let that guy surnamed Xiao lead him by the nose any longer!
He slammed the gavel down, and this time, the sound was much louder!
"Smack!"
"Leading men to commit Gao Changsheng!"
"Upon investigation, Gao Changsheng is suspected of murdering Liu Yu, and the preliminary evidence is conclusive! However, there are still many doubts in the case, which require further detailed investigation!"
"Therefore, this official pronounces the sentence!" He drew out the words, attempting to use this bureaucratic formality to go through the motions, "The criminal Gao Changsheng is hereby temporarily imprisoned pending further trial! Dismissed—"
He hadn't even had a chance to say the word "tang" yet.
A clear, yet slightly mocking voice rang out once again, seemingly out of place.
"Sir, wait!"
Xiao Che slowly walked out from the crowd. He bowed respectfully to Prefect Wang in the hall, his face even bearing a hint of humble smile.
"I have a question that I do not understand, and I would like to ask you to enlighten me, sir."
It's you again!
When Prefect Wang saw Xiao Che's seemingly harmless smile, he felt his blood pressure soaring!
That persistent ghost! How come he's everywhere?!
He suppressed his anger and coldly snorted through his nose: "Speak!"
Xiao Che smiled slightly, a smile that, in the eyes of Prefect Wang, was more terrifying than a devil.
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it carried clearly to everyone's ears through the silent courtroom.
"This humble subject would like to ask Your Excellency a question."
"Just yesterday morning, the victim Liu Yu's mother, Granny Liu, also came to this government office to beat the drum and appeal for justice. Why... did the officials refuse to accept her case with the dismissive excuse that 'even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes'?"
Prefect Wang's heart skipped a beat!
Here he comes! He's here again! He's brought with him another "life-or-death question"!
Xiao Che didn't give him any chance to think or explain, but continued to press him step by step!
"May I ask you, sir, is it acceptable to disregard human life in 'family matters'?"
"May I ask you, sir, does 'family matter' supersede the law?"
"If it weren't for my husband and I meddling in other people's business yesterday and insisting on finding out the truth, wouldn't the innocent and tragically deceased Miss Liu Yu have been stigmatized as 'unchaste' and unjustly drowned at the bottom of the river? And wouldn't the real murderer have continued to evade justice by relying on the so-called 'clan rules'?"
His voice grew louder and louder with each sentence!
His questions were increasingly sharp!
As he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his head, and two terrifying beams of light burst forth from his deep eyes, like two invisible swords piercing straight into Prefect Wang's already weakened heart!
"Treating human life like dirt! Tolerating rampant vigilante justice!"
"This constitutes dereliction of duty!"
"Knowingly breaking the law! Abusing power for personal gain!"
"My lord! What crime should this be punished under the Great Liang Code?!"
Boom!!!
These words, like a series of thunderclaps, exploded in the courtroom!
Everyone present was stunned!
They stared dumbfounded at the "Master Xiao" below, who was speaking eloquently and quoting classical texts, their minds completely blank!
This is insane!
This businessman from out of town is absolutely insane!
He... he actually turned the tables and interrogated the prefect in court?!
What... what kind of operation is this?!
Even Lin Wanwan was taken aback by Xiao Che's sudden "reverse trial"!
Looking at her husband's serious and righteous demeanor, and then at Prefect Wang in the hall, who was being rebuked until his face turned ashen and his whole body trembled, she almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.
This guy... is so mean!
To kill someone is to destroy their spirit! To kill someone is to destroy their spirit!
He didn't try the murderer, but instead tried the presiding judge! This move was a fatal blow, practically driving Prefect Wang and the Gao family to their doom!
"You...you...you..."
Prefect Wang was so overwhelmed by Xiao Che's series of probing questions that he was seeing stars and his blood was boiling. He pointed at Xiao Che for a long time but couldn't utter a single word!
How...how could he refute it?
He simply couldn't refute it!
Because everything Xiao Che said was true!
"Yes! Why didn't the official handle it yesterday?"
"That's right! If it weren't for this Mr. Xiao, Miss Liu Yu's grievance would have been lost forever!"
"This prefect must have taken bribes from the Gao family! They're all in cahoots!"
The crowd outside the courtroom was once again enraged! Their eyes were filled with contempt and anger as they looked at Prefect Wang!
"Silence! Silence!"
Prefect Wang was terrified by the overwhelming accusations! He knew that if this continued, he, the prefect, would be drowned in the spittle of the people today!
Overwhelmed by extreme shame, anger, and fear, he finally snapped!
He slammed the gavel down, his fat face contorted with rage, looking particularly ferocious!
"You audacious scoundrel!"
He pointed at Xiao Che and roared at the top of his lungs:
"Who do you think you are? How dare you question me in court! You have utterly disregarded the laws of the court!"
"Someone come here!"
He suddenly grabbed a command token and threw it hard on the ground!
"Slap him in the face!"
"Let's see who dares to do that?!"
At his command, two constables wielding fire and water clubs pounced on Xiao Che like wolves!
The crowd outside the courtroom gasped in surprise!
A sliver of malicious pleasure flashed in the eyes of Young Master Gao and Gao Changsheng!
Hit him! Hit him hard! Beat this arrogant bastard to death!
However, Xiao Che, surrounded by the crowd, still maintained a calm and composed expression.
He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.
He simply watched the two constables rushing towards him with a cold smile, a mocking curve playing on his lips.
Slap him in the face?
Lin Wanwan stood aside, watching this dramatic scene. Surprisingly, she felt no worry at all; instead, she found it somewhat amusing.
She quietly raised her head and looked at the top of Xiao Che's head.
Sure enough, there, a pixelated emperor figure wearing sunglasses was slowly drifting by with a disdainful expression.
The line of smaller print below, brimming with the connotation of "dimensional reduction attack," completely revealed his current mood:
【Trying to outsmart me? .gif】
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