bayedsolid Chapter 121: The Case is Held in Court
Chapter 121: The Case is Held in Court
Lin Wan'er, Lu Tingyan and others brought evidence to the county government office, ready to testify for the case of the man in blue. When County Magistrate Xiao learned about this, he immediately went to the court for questioning.
County Magistrate Xiao walked into the hall with steady steps. As he went up the stairs step by step, the legal advisors and yamen runners followed closely behind him. Until he sat down behind the desk, his aura of majesty without even being angry spread instantly.
"The court is about to begin!" the lawyer announced loudly, and then the drums were struck, indicating the start of the formal interrogation.
The yamen runners shouted in unison: "Mighty!" The sound was so loud that it shook the air outside the hall. They quickly separated into two sides, and their steps were in unison, like an iron wall and a copper wall.
The hall was solemn and dignified. Everyone in the hall held their breath and dared not make a sound. County Magistrate Xiao sat behind the desk, his eyes majestic and sharp, scanning everyone in the hall.
"Bring the prisoner!" Following the order from County Magistrate Xiao, two bailiffs quickly brought a man in blue clothes to the court.
The man lowered his head, his whole body trembling slightly, as if he was filled with fear of the coming trial.
"Who is kneeling in the hall?" County Magistrate Xiao's voice was majestic and low, as if it carried an irresistible power.
The man in green replied with a trembling voice: "My name is Li Si."
"Li Si, do you admit your guilt?" County Magistrate Xiao stared at Li Si with a sharp gaze, as if he wanted to see through everything through his eyes.
Li Si was silent for a moment, but finally nodded slowly, indicating his confession. His voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible, but every word struck the heartstrings of everyone present like a heavy hammer.
"I know my crime. I was instructed by someone to poison the restaurant."
He slammed the chopping board with such force that the four writing instruments on the desk trembled slightly, as if even the air was shaking at this moment.
"Bold Li Si!" County Magistrate Xiao's voice was like the north wind in the cold winter, cold and piercing, with unquestionable majesty and anger, "How dare you do such a vicious thing in broad daylight, poisoning people, it is unforgivable! I want to ask you, who instructed you? Why don't you confess the truth quickly, so as not to commit a more serious crime!"
As County Magistrate Xiao shouted angrily, the atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point, and even the sound of breathing seemed to become inaudible. Everyone's eyes were focused on Li Si, with both scrutiny and expectation in their eyes, waiting for the culprit to explain.
Under the majesty of County Magistrate Xiao, Li Si finally could no longer remain silent. His face was as pale as paper, his forehead was covered with sweat, and his eyes were full of fear and struggle. After a brief hesitation, he finally spoke, his voice trembling and weak: "It's... it's the owner of the Fugui Restaurant next door. He... he was jealous of the prosperous business of Ruyi Restaurant, so he ordered the villain to poison them in an attempt to bring them down."
As soon as Li Si finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief silence again, but it was immediately broken by the angry shout of County Magistrate Xiao: "How audacious and insane! For the sake of one's own selfish desires, you are willing to sacrifice the lives of others. Such behavior is intolerable to heaven and unforgivable under the law of the country!"
As Magistrate Xiao spoke, he slammed the case again, with such force that the entire hall seemed to tremble. His eyes were burning with rage, which was a hatred of evil, a commitment to justice, and deep sympathy for the innocent victims. At this moment, he seemed to have become the embodiment of justice, vowing to bring all evil forces to justice.
After hearing this, County Magistrate Xiao frowned and said, "Send the owner of the Fugui Restaurant to court!"
After a while, the owner of the Fugui Restaurant next door was brought to the hall.
"Who is here?" County Magistrate Xiao's voice sounded again, more majestic and profound than before. Every word seemed to hit the heart of everyone in the hall like a heavy hammer, making people involuntarily feel awe.
"I am Gong Hequan, a commoner. I am honored to meet you, Your Excellency." Gong Hequan, the owner of Fugui Restaurant, was escorted to the front of the hall by two yamen runners. He lowered his head, his hands trembled slightly, and his voice was filled with a bit of uneasiness and fear. He did not dare to look directly into the sharp, hawk-like eyes of County Magistrate Xiao, and could only try to make his tone sound respectful and submissive.
County Magistrate Xiao stared at Gong Hequan with a sharp gaze, as if he wanted to penetrate his heart and look into the depths of his soul. "Gong Hequan, I want to ask you, Li Si accused you of instructing him to poison Ruyi Restaurant in an attempt to ruin its business. Is this true?"
Gong Hequan's body trembled violently when he heard this, and beads of sweat instantly oozed out of his forehead. He raised his head and stole a glance at County Magistrate Xiao, then quickly lowered his head, secretly thinking about how to respond to this sudden accusation.
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly, "Your Excellency, this is a pure misunderstanding. Although I compete with Ruyi Restaurant, I have never done anything so despicable. Li Si must have been instigated by someone, or he was just talking nonsense to protect himself."
"Li Si, what do you have to say?" County Magistrate Xiao sat in the court, looking seriously at Li Si who was kneeling below.
Li Si raised his head, revealing a terrified face, and said in a trembling voice: "Sir, my family is poor, and I can't afford this poison."
"Humph!" County Magistrate Xiao snorted coldly, staring at Li Si with sharp eyes, "Li Si, let me ask you, if you can't afford the poison, then where did the poison come from?"
Li Si lowered his head and said after a moment of silence, "Sir, I did not buy this poison, but... it was given to me by Boss Gong."
"What?" County Magistrate Xiao frowned upon hearing this and turned to look at the owner of the Fugui Restaurant next door. "What do you want to say?"
The owner of the Fugui Restaurant immediately knelt down and cried out: "My Lord, please be wise! I have no grudge against Li Si, so why would he give him poison and let him harm others? This is clearly Li Si framing me!"
County Magistrate Xiao frowned, thought for a moment and then asked, "Li Si, you said that the poison was given to you by the owner of the restaurant next door, do you have any evidence?"
Li Si was speechless and said, "This... I have no evidence. It's just that Boss Gong approached me several times and said he would give me some money to poison the restaurant. And the young lady's mother is ill and needs money, so she did this stupid thing."
"No evidence!" County Magistrate Xiao slammed the gavel and said sternly, "How can I believe your one-sided words without any evidence?"
At this time, Lu Tingyan stepped forward and said, "Sir, I may be able to provide some clues."
County Magistrate Xiao looked at Lu Tingyan and asked in confusion: "Oh? Do you have any clues?"
"Sir, the person who takes this Ecstasy Powder will need four or five days for the poison to slowly disappear from his hands." Lu Tingyan said.
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Xiao frowned slightly and asked, "Is there any way to verify it?"
Lu Tingyan smiled slightly and said softly: "Sir, just take a plate of clean water and ask them to put their hands in the water. If it is black, the murderer can be identified."
"Come here, get some clean water." County Magistrate Xiao gave the order, and soon a yamen runner brought a basin of clear water. He placed the basin on the table, then turned and stepped aside.
County Magistrate Xiao glanced at Li Si and Gong Hequan and said coldly: "Li Si, Gong Hequan, please come in." The two men looked at each other, both feeling a little guilty, but still walked obediently to the basin, stretched out their hands and put them in the water.
After a while, they both took their hands out of the water and saw that they were all black, just as County Magistrate Xiao had expected.
At this time, Gong Hequan suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to County Magistrate Xiao, saying: "Sir, please spare my life! I was confused for a moment and made a serious mistake. I hope you will show mercy and give me a lighter sentence." After saying that, he began to kowtow continuously, and his forehead turned red.
County Magistrate Xiao snorted coldly, stared at Gong Hequan and asked, "You actually ordered others to poison you for your own selfish desires. You are simply insane! Now that there are witnesses and evidence, what else do you have to say?"
The evidence was irrefutable, and the owner of the Fugui Restaurant had no way to deny it. He lowered his head, stammering and unable to speak. He knew that he was probably doomed to die this time, and his heart was filled with regret and fear.
County Magistrate Xiao nodded, expressing his satisfaction. He then looked at Lu Tingyan and said with a smile, "Miss Lu, what you said is true. I have seen the evidence. The two of you have committed such a crime, which is beyond the reach of justice!"
Faced with irrefutable evidence, Li Si and his boss had no way to deny it.
County Magistrate Xiao pronounced the verdict: "Li Si, Gong Hequan, the two of you conspired to poison others and harmed yourselves. Your crime is unforgivable! I sentence you to exile to the frontier, and you are not allowed to return!"
After hearing this, Li Si and his boss collapsed to the ground, filled with regret.
"This case has been closed. I hope you will all take it as a warning and never make the same mistake again!" County Magistrate Xiao said solemnly.
Everyone in the hall responded in unison: "We will follow your instructions!"
"Adjourn the court." As soon as the two words came out, it was like a spring breeze, instantly calming the tense atmosphere in the hall. In the tone of County Magistrate Xiao, there was both the majesty of a parent official and the sympathy and care for the people. His eyes gently swept across the people in the hall, as if every subtle change in their expression was in his sight, but he remained calm.
As County Magistrate Xiao finished speaking, the fire and water sticks in the hands of the yamen runners on both sides gently touched the ground, making a crisp and rhythmic sound, like the harmonious notes in an ancient piece of music, announcing the temporary end of this dispute. Everyone in the hall, whether the plaintiff or the defendant, or the bystanders, all had complicated expressions on their faces. Some were relieved, some were unwilling, and most were in awe and gratitude for County Magistrate Xiao's fair judgment.