Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

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The pusher looked at Wang Cheng and Du Zhong and shouted, "You two are not telling the truth! If you lie to the government again, you are contemptuous of the court and should be sentenced to death!"

"My lord, spare my life, my lord, spare my life! The villain was ordered by his master to collect grain and then take them to sell." Wang Cheng and Du Zhong hurriedly begged for mercy

"But Sun Ding'an, the owner of Tongjin?"

"Yes, yes" said Wang Cheng and Du Zhong

"Go to the Tongjin Grain Store immediately and bring Sun Ding'an to the hall!" The pusher ordered

The person involved in the case was taken back first, and Defang and Yuan Xi came to the back hall, "Brother Wang, this matter seems to be very clear. The owner of the shop bought food for profit in order to covet the high price of the court. Once someone brings it, the case will be closed." can be closed"

Defang shook her head, and told Yuan Xi what she had said to Wang Jien at the gate of the Golden Palace and what she had seen with Kou Zhun, "There is a lot to be said about this matter, how could the decision of the court be known to outsiders so quickly? What's more It was a matter of high-priced acquisitions, and they proceeded so smoothly, there must be a plan, how could the person behind this scene be a small grain shop owner?"

Yuan Xi nodded, "Brother Wang's words are reasonable, when the shopkeeper arrives at the hall, we will know the inside story."

About half an hour later, the yamen servant ran back and reported in a panic, "I have reported to the Eight Sage Kings and King Xu that the owner of the grain store, Sun Ding'an, committed suicide."

"What!" Defang and Yuan Xi were both surprised

Sun Ding'an's body was carried to the hall, and after an autopsy, it was confirmed that it was suicide, and there were no other traces or wounds of fighting. But wantonly bought surplus grain, forced farmers to lie about the quantity, and sold it for profit. Knowing that they had committed a serious crime, they committed suicide and apologized.

Defang and Yuan Xi were very angry about this, and Defang said, "This is clearly a murder to silence!"

"Brother Wang, there are many doubts about this matter. From a large amount of silver to the dissemination of information, it is absolutely impossible for a shopkeeper to do it alone. What's more, he dared to threaten the farmers. Someone must be backing him!" Yuan Xi said

Defang gritted her teeth and thought for a long time, sighed, and sat on the chair, "It's all the Lonely King's mistake. It would be nice if I wait until the person who made the donation is found and then arrest him! Now, the important witness He is dead, and there is no way to trace where the silver will go, and these few servants alone can't prove anything at all."

"Brother Wang, what should we do about this matter?"

Defang shook her head, "It's a death case, and it can only be closed like this."

"Brother Wang, closing the case like this will make people resentful!"

"What can I do? Although the people behind the scenes want to come out, there is no evidence, and the people who are being pursued by the lonely king have not taken any action." Defang closed her eyes, "It's because the lonely king is too reckless, so this situation happens."

Yuan Xi also sighed, "Hateful!"

"It seems that we should be more cautious in doing things in the future, otherwise we will only let the violators get away with it," Defang sighed.

"Brother Wang, how should we close this case?"

"The person involved in the case should be judged by the judge. The store owner's grain store was closed, and the silver was confiscated from the national treasury. It has not caused any loss to the court. The lonely king will submit a letter to His Majesty on this matter. As for the people behind the scenes," De Fang clenched his fists. "Don't mention it again"

Yuan Xi looked at Defang's troubled expression and nodded, "Yes, then close the case as Brother Wang said."

The purchase of surplus grain continued and ended soon. Defang checked the amount again and wrote it as a memorial to Emperor Taizong.