"The position of Salt Commissioner is ours!"
Gao Changsheng's insane words, roared out in extreme fear, were like a black lightning bolt descending from the heavens, striking the already chaotic courtroom hard!
The entire venue was deathly silent!
You could hear a pin drop!
Everyone stared blankly at Gao Changsheng, who looked like a madman, and Gao Changgong, whose face was ashen, as if they had been frozen in place. Their brains completely shut down in an instant!
What's going on?!
What... what an earth-shattering revelation!
Behind the murder case, there's something even more involved... the position of the Salt Commissioner?!
Is this... a plot by the younger brother to team up with the older brother, kill their father, and then take his place?!
My goodness! This plot is absolutely explosive! It's a hundred times more thrilling than the most famous opera troupe in town performing "The Feud of the Rich and Powerful"!
In the courtroom, Prefect Wang's already small eyes widened even further! His mouth gaped open, and his obese body trembled violently as if electrocuted!
What...what did he hear?!
To seize an official position?!
This...this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
Looking at the two cousins who had completely turned against each other, he felt an indescribable surge of joy for the first time!
Chance!
This was a godsend, a perfect opportunity for him to extricate himself from this mess!
Upon hearing Gao Changsheng's words "biting back," Young Master Gao was struck dumb!
He felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, the world spinning around him, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood!
He turned his head sharply, his bloodshot eyes fixed on his cousin, who was still clinging to his sleeve like a pig or a dog, and he wished he could tear him apart on the spot!
"You...you're insane! You're a madman! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
He roared hoarsely, kicking Gao Changsheng away violently. His furious appearance, in the eyes of the crowd, seemed more like... a desperate attempt to cover up his embarrassment!
"I'm talking nonsense?" Gao Changsheng was kicked to the ground, but he seemed to have completely given up. He got up from the ground, pointed at Gao Gongzi, and laughed wildly, "Hahaha! Gao Changgong! Even now, you still want to pretend?"
"Who! Who told me that as long as I kill that ungrateful wretch and do things cleanly, Father will hand over the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Salt Transport Bureau to me?!"
"And who was it! Who told me that once I became the deputy envoy, we would work together from the inside to sideline that old geezer?!"
"Gao Chang Gong! You dare say you didn't say these things?!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
A spectacular dog-eat-dog battle unfolded in broad daylight, in the courtroom of the Jiangnan government office!
The people outside the courtroom were dumbfounded and watching with great interest. They jumped around like wild boars in a melon patch, extremely excited!
After a brief moment of shock, Prefect Wang, who was in the hall, finally found his place in the role!
He slammed his gavel down, and a look of "righteous indignation" and "impartiality" instantly appeared on his fat face!
He pointed at the Gao brothers, who were wrestling, and shouted with great distress:
"Shut up! This is utterly lawless! It's disgusting!"
Then, he slowly turned his head and cast his gaze at "Master Xiao," who had remained calm and composed throughout, as if watching a play.
He bowed deeply to Xiao Che, even managing a slight "grateful" smile on his face.
"Thank you for speaking up for justice, Lord Xiao. Otherwise, I would have been blinded by these treacherous villains!"
The speed at which this person changed their expression was faster than turning the pages of a book!
Standing to the side, watching Prefect Wang's superb acting skills, which were comparable to those of an Oscar-winning actor, Lin Wanwan almost vomited up her dinner from the night before.
This guy... he's so shameless!
However, Xiao Che seemed completely oblivious to the other party's hypocrisy, and a "kind" smile appeared on his face as well.
He slowly cupped his hands in a gesture of approval to Prefect Wang.
"You flatter me, sir. I was merely doing my duty."
He paused, then changed the subject, his "kind" smile instantly becoming meaningful.
"but……"
"Now it seems that this case is more than just a simple murder case."
"It not only involves the life of an innocent woman, but also... the Salt Commissioner's 'family affairs,' and even... the struggle for a position among court officials!"
He slowly raised his head, and a chilling glint flashed in his deep eyes!
He looked at Prefect Wang and said loudly in an unquestionable tone:
"Therefore, this humble subject humbly begs Your Excellency!"
"The criminal Gao Changsheng, and... the suspect Gao Changgong, are to be detained together!"
"Investigate this case thoroughly! Give the people of Jiangnan justice! Uphold the integrity of the imperial laws!"
These words were spoken with righteous indignation and awe-inspiring conviction!
However, this also completely blocked all of Magistrate Wang's options, such as "sacrificing the pawn to save the king" and hastily closing the case by arresting only Gao Changsheng!
Prefect Wang's heart sank!
Looking at the impeccable and relentlessly pressing "Master Xiao" before him, he felt both shocked and furious!
What...what is he planning to do?!
Does he intend to wipe out the entire Gao family in one fell swoop?!
Did he know that behind the Gao family stood...?
A fine layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out from Prefect Wang's forehead!
He was now truly in a predicament, caught between a rock and a hard place!
Arresting Gao Changsheng is no problem; it's already an ironclad case.
But if Gao Changgong is captured... that would be tantamount to completely breaking ties with the Gao family, the Salt Commissioner!
If the Gao family falls, he, as a relative by marriage, will definitely not escape either!
But if we don't catch them...
He glanced at the menacing "imperial relative" below him, and the enraged crowd behind him, whose anger had already been completely ignited...
Prefect Wang felt as if he had walked into a dead end in his life!
There's a cliff on the left, and a cliff on the right!
What to do?! What should we do?!
Just as he was struggling with his inner turmoil and sweating profusely, the thunderous shouts outside the courtroom rang out once again!
"Detain them all! Investigate this case thoroughly!"
"We cannot let any bad person get away with it!"
Under immense public pressure, Prefect Wang finally made the most difficult decision of his life!
He gritted his teeth, grabbed the gavel, and slammed it down hard!
"Smack!"
"quiet!"
He stood up, and with all his might, in a hoarse voice, announced:
"This case is complex and involves a wide range of people!"
Therefore, the murderer Gao Changsheng is hereby imprisoned!
"Gao Changgong... is temporarily designated as a 'tainted witness,' his movements are restricted, and he is subject to summons at any time!"
"This case..." He took a deep breath and almost squeezed out the last few words through clenched teeth, "...will be heard again tomorrow!"
"Court adjourned!"
After saying that, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength and slumped into the chair, as if he wanted to end this nightmarish interrogation as quickly as possible!
However, while he wanted to retire, some people didn't want him to!
Xiao Che slowly shook his head, a look of regret on his face.
He addressed Prefect Wang loudly:
"A retrial tomorrow? Sure!"
He paused, and his "regretful" expression instantly turned cold and filled with a sense of oppression!
"However! Before the trial concludes, to prevent the Gao family from destroying evidence and transferring their assets!"
"This humble subject begs Your Excellency to issue the order immediately—"
"Seize all of the Gao family's assets!"
His voice suddenly rose, and his sharp gaze was like two invisible swords piercing directly into Prefect Wang's already fragile heart!
"Especially—"
"The Salt Transport Bureau's...account books!"
Boom!!!
The five words "Salt Transport Office Account Book" were like a death warrant, instantly draining the last bit of strength from Prefect Wang's body!
He felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, a sweet taste in his throat, and then, like a lump of mud, he slowly slid down from the official chair that symbolized authority…
With a "thud," he fainted on the spot!
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