Cure the cold-faced general by solving crimes

Chapter 93 Ascension to the Hall

By the time Liu Qing saw Jiang Xihe, she and Pei Zhizhao had suddenly separated.

Jiang Xihe pretended to be calm, and his red face showed that the temperature in the room was a bit high just now.

Liu Qing didn't notice any difference between these two people. He was focused on the troublemakers and urged, "Master Pei, go and have a look."

Pei Zhizhao lowered his face and looked at Liu Qing. Liu Qing calmed down and was no longer so panicked. He flattered him, "Master Pei must be here and have a backbone. The brothers must not be so big-headed."

Pei Zhizhao straightened his clothes and said to Liu Qing calmly, "Get ready to go to court."

Jiang Xihe followed Pei Zhizhao. As soon as he entered the court, he found more than a dozen common people pushing and shoving with the government officials.

Liu Qing gained the confidence and said loudly, "Shengtang!"

Everyone fell silent instantly when they saw Pei Zhizhao.

Jiang Xihe took up the master's position, picked up the pen and ink, and heard Pei Zhizhao knock on the gavel tree and said sternly, "Who is here? Please tell me your name."

Jiang Xihe looked over.

More than a dozen people who were tearing apart divided themselves into two groups.

There were eight people in a group. The leader was a middle-aged man with a shy belly. He was dressed in blue brocade, his collar was crooked, his bun was pulled to one side, and there were blood stains on the corners of his mouth, as if he had been beaten. Behind him were several servants. The people were all shrinking their heads at this moment.

"Liu Wansheng, a grassroots man." The middle-aged man's voice was loud and he lacked confidence. Perhaps because these words touched the corner of his mouth, he hissed after answering.

There were six people in the other group, all very tall, wearing short rough clothes, and all of them had stern expressions. The leader had a stick in his hand just now, but now the stick was held in Liu Qing's hand.

"Caomin Zhu Ganghu."

Pei Zhizhao looked these people up and down and asked Zhu Ganghu, "Tell me first, why did you hit them?"

Zhu Ganghu was so angry that he gritted his teeth and spoke sternly, "My wife's sister He Anmei died last night. Liu Wansheng's house was suddenly flooded. My wife's sister did not run out and was burned alive. She was killed by Liu Wansheng. I want to take my wife's place." I want justice."

Liu Wansheng defended at the top of his lungs, "I didn't! Why would I harm my wife? Mei Niang has been married to me for more than ten years, why should I harm her?" Liu Wansheng shouted and cried aggrievedly.

Pei Zhizhao frowned, "Zhu Ganghu, why do you say Liu Wansheng killed your wife and sister? Is there any evidence?"

Liu Wansheng paused for a moment and secretly resented, "The good Liu family, why did they get away with it? Why was everyone else okay? Only my wife and sister died?"

Liu Wansheng explained while crying, "Isn't the water leak an accident? Whose house is flooded and who has to leave? My house was burned down, the porcelain in the warehouse is gone, there are so many losses, and I haven't cried yet!"

Zhu Ganghu was scolded and glared at Liu Wansheng fiercely without saying a word.

Pei Zhizhao was faintly angry, his face was livid, and he reprimanded Zhu Ganghu, "The accident was an accident. If He Anmei was killed by Liu Wansheng, it would be murder. Zhu Ganghu, if you talk nonsense without evidence, you are disturbing the court. Do you have anything to say?" "

Zhu Ganghu's face turned the color of pig liver, but he still didn't say anything.

Pei Zhizhao asked the yamen servant, "How many people were injured just now? What's the situation?"

A government official stood up and said, "Sir, when I rushed to Licheng Alley, there were injuries on both sides, but they were all superficial injuries. I tried to persuade them to no avail, so these people went to court."

Pei Zhizhao understood. Thinking about the chaotic scene in the courtroom just now, he clapped the gavel again and said, "We have something to talk about when we get to the Yamen. Zhu Ganghu, you have no evidence and led people to beat Liu Wansheng. Then you gathered people in the courtroom to make a noise, and dragged him down and beat him with ten boards." Quit." Zhu Ganghu continued to argue, Liu Qing waved the stick in his hand, and Zhu Ganghu lowered his head.

Pei Zhizhao asked Liu Wansheng, "You have a lot of people in your family, why don't you come to the Yamen to report to the official?"

Liu Wansheng lowered his head, not daring to cry anymore, and replied with sincerity, "Mei Niang left in a hurry, and the warehouse was burned down. The house was in a mess. Before I could react, Zhu Ganghu led his men and started beating me..." ···”

Pei Zhizhao narrowed his eyes and stared at Liu Wansheng for a long time, "When will the water break out at home?"

"About Yin Shi. I was sleeping at the time. I heard the water leaking and became panicked. I didn't pay attention to the specific time."

"He Anmei is your wife, why don't you stay together?"

Liu Wansheng explained, "My wife broke her leg when she went out to the city a while ago. Because I often have to deal with things in the shop, I was afraid of disturbing Mei Niang's rest, so I stayed in the front yard during this time. Mr. Pei, if I had known something happened, I would have definitely accompanied her." Stay with me, otherwise nothing will happen to her."

Pei Zhizhao asked again, "He Anmei doesn't have a maid to serve him?"

Liu Wansheng said with a sad face, "It's a coincidence that the maid came out when she was leaving. When she came back, the fire had already started, so she started making a noise to inform everyone."

Pei Zhizhao frowned and stared into Liu Wansheng's eyes, "When will Zhu Ganghu go to your house to cause trouble?"

"I didn't pay attention to the time. I was very busy at the time. Zhu Ganghu rushed in with his people and beat me when they saw me."

Liu Wansheng was very innocent, "Master Pei, I am an honest common man. Such a big thing happened in my family. I am not in the mood to argue with Zhu Ganghu. Please tell Master Pei and make the decision for me. I am innocent."

Pei Zhizhao looked at Liu Wansheng seriously and asked, "You got up to put out the fire when you heard the water was breaking out, and you didn't waste a moment?"

Liu Wansheng nodded.

Pei Zhizhao snorted coldly and knocked on the wall, "Come here, Liu Wansheng is talking nonsense. Since he can't tell the truth, drag him out and beat him up."

Liu Wansheng complained that he was wronged, and soon he and Zhu Ganghu were heard complaining one after another in the courtyard.

When several people in the hall saw this scene, they were trembling and frightened. Pei Zhizhao looked around, pointed at the oldest man among them and yelled, "Now tell me, what's going on?"

Seeing that Magistrate Pei dragged him down to fight without taking sides, the man knelt down on the ground. Seeing this, the others also knelt down.

The man hurriedly said, "The younger one's name is Wang San, and he is a neighbor of the Zhu family. Zhu Ganghu and I are good brothers. This morning the Liu family came to report the funeral. When Mrs. Zhu heard that her sister was dead, she burst into tears and said that Liu Wansheng killed her. Our neighbors all heard about it, and we brothers were furious, so we came to Liu’s house with Zhu Ganghu to ask for an explanation.”

Pei Zhizhao's tone softened a lot, "What now? Do you still think Liu Wansheng killed He Anmei? Are you going to beat Liu Wansheng in the court and ask for an explanation for He Anmei?"

Wang San kowtowed, "I don't dare to do anything anymore. I was impulsive. Please let Mr. Pei let us go." The people behind Wang San also echoed. No one wanted to help, and they were still being punished at the Yamen.

"Since this is your first offence, I will not do this next time. This matter was caused by Zhu Ganghu, so you should withdraw from the court." After Pei Zhizhao finished speaking, the five men stood up one after another and ran out of the court in a panic. It would be better not to be beaten than anything else.

Pei Zhizhao looked at the seven people brought by Liu Wansheng. The seven people looked at each other and knelt on the ground, bowing their heads and not daring to speak. This time, Pei Zhizhao picked the youngest person and asked, "Tell me, what is the reason for the Liu family's departure this time?" What happened to the water?”

(End of this chapter)