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Chapter 326: Chapter 328: Is there evidence?_1
Early the next morning, a government official came calling.
Tan Zhengyong, as a victim’s family member, had to go as well. His heart was pounding as he made his way to the government office.
He edged closer to Tan Zhenghong, his lips barely moving, when the government official gave him a warning look, "No talking."
Tan Zhengyong laughed dryly twice, "Big brother, do you know what the lord wants me to do there?"
"I don’t know," the young government official shook his head.
"I really don’t know anything; it would be useless even if I went."
"If the lord orders you to go, you go. Whether it’s useful or not is not for you to decide," said the official with a cool expression.
Glancing at Tan Zhenghong walking ahead, Tan Zhengyong asked discontentedly, "Why can’t I talk to Fourth Boss when they can hold hands?"
Isn’t that just too unfair?
The government official rolled his eyes, "If you were his wife, you could also hold hands."
"I’m his second brother; I just want to say a few words," Tan Zhengyong said weakly.
"Shut your mouth, you’re driving me nuts!"
Tan Zhengyong shrank his neck and dared not utter another word.
Alas, he could only silently pray that Tan Zhenghong hadn’t spilled the beans about his petty theft.
Upon arriving at the government office, Tan Zhengyong dutifully paid his respects.
He looked like a mouse in front of a cat, not even noticing Qiao Duo’er and Tan Zhenghong’s failure to kneel.
All the relevant people were present, and Qin Longyun announced the court session to begin.
The first was Tan Zhengyong, whose role was to confirm that the snake on the tray was indeed the one that had bitten the victim.
Since the snake was missing its tail, he could readily confirm it.
Next was Bai Yifan; Bai Yifan reiterated that the scent on the snake came from the Wu Family and named a few ingredients from the potion. Wu Cheng inwardly agreed and admitted the snake was bought from his family.
Otherwise, if Bai Yifan disclosed the complete formula, what would he live off of?
Then it was time to interrogate Xiao Biyu, which was the key part of today’s session.
In truth, any clear-eyed person knew the truth, but a trial required evidence, so Qin Longyun didn’t show the slightest negligence.
"Xiao Biyu, Wu Cheng claims you bought this snake, do you admit to this?" Qin Longyun looked at Xiao Biyu.
Xiao Biyu immediately shook her head, "It wasn’t me; he’s talking nonsense."
"You’re the one talking nonsense; you gave me sixty taels, although I asked for eighty, and you shamelessly begged me to sell, insisting you only had sixty!" Wu Cheng countered.
"Do you have any evidence that proves it was her who bought the snake?"
After thinking carefully, Wu Cheng replied, "The bag holding the silver was hers, it’s very pretty. Lord, if she still denies it, why not give her a beating with the court beating wood to get the truth?"
"Lord Qin, you can’t force a confession with torture!" Zheng Shi started clamoring from outside the court.
"Nonsense, Lord Qin is not that kind of person!"
"Clearly it’s your daughter who won’t confess; how could it be Lord Qin forcing a false confession?"
"If a daughter buys a snake to bite someone, what kind of person would her mother be?"
...
Qin Longyun tapped the court beating wood, calling for silence, and the outside of the court became quiet.
"First, administer five strikes with the big plank. If I have wronged you, I will take ten strikes here in this court myself," he said.
Xiao Biyu quickly spoke up, "Indeed, I bought the snake, but who can say it was I who let it bite someone? The snake ran away after I brought it home."
Could she be blamed if the snake itself went to the Tan Family and bit someone?
With this thought, she found her resolve.
So she was determined to clench her teeth and never admit that she was the one who had released the snake.
