Chapter 386: Chapter 204: Traditional Craft, Familiar Face?
Like father, like son. Zhang Yong’s harsh words, along with his look of utter disdain, made Zhang Wan’s face turn pale.
Wu Zhiyuan supported Zhang Wan, looking extremely displeased.
Xu Qing witnessed this scene and thought that he shouldn’t have held back earlier; he should’ve just kicked the old man back into his mother’s womb.
At the head, Imperial Censor Wei Xiangshu frowned and said, "I will investigate the details of the case myself, Lord Zhang, there’s no need for you to instruct me on how to distinguish right from wrong."
Over here, Imperial Censor Wei Xiangshu dropped the command token, and Yuan Hu, who had just been escorted back to the prison, was brought to the tribunal again.
Yuan Hu bared his teeth, limping to the court, and Imperial Censor Wei Xiangshu interrogated him sternly, "Yuan Hu! Did you, a year ago, in collusion with Helmsman Zhang Da, throw two brothers surnamed Wu into the Baishui River at Jin Sect?"
Yuan Hu initially thought it was something else, but it turned out to be an investigation into an old case.
"Yes, that incident happened, and I did do it."
Why was Yuan Hu so cooperative? Simply because he knew he couldn’t escape death, so he might as well cooperate with the chief official during the interrogation. If he could lay bare all the evil deeds he had done, he might feel a sense of relief!
A notorious killer might even gain infamy in the martial world.
"Who instructed you, and how did you harm others? You must recount everything to me!"
Yuan Hu licked his lips, as if reminiscing about glorious past events.
As he vividly recounted the murder details, a loud voice suddenly called out from behind—
"Yuan Hu, turn around and see who I am!"
Upon hearing the voice, Yuan Hu turned his head and saw Wu Wencai, dressed plainly but exuding an extraordinary presence.
"You are?"
"I and my brother are those so-called damned souls you threw into the river back then!"
The Wu brothers had been away from their hometown for a long time, and after spending years at the Hanlin Academy, their demeanor was no longer the same. When Yuan Hu took a closer look, he finally recognized the two brothers.
"Are you people or ghosts?"
The familiar words echoed, and even the notorious killer Yuan Hu showed a terrified expression.
Imperial Censor Wei Xiangshu felt increasingly that this case was no ordinary one. He instructed the government officials to arrest Zhou Heng, the master behind Yuan Hu, and bring him for trial.
Yet, before Zhou Heng could be brought in, Zhao Zhonghe arrived first in court with Zhang Yong’s eldest son-in-law, Yang Hong.
Seeing the scene in the court, Yang Hong felt both shocked and uncertain.
When he saw the Wu brothers’ faces, the look of horror on his face was even more pronounced than Yuan Hu’s.
Weren’t these two supposed brats drowned by Zhou Heng, how was it possible they were now standing here alive in the court?
Could it be that the sly Zhou Heng deceived him, taking the silver without carrying out the task, and never threw the Wu brothers into the river at all...
It wasn’t until the Imperial Inspector slammed the gavel that the startled Yang Hong came back to his senses.
"Yang Hong! You conspired to murder your brothers-in-law, attempting to seize the family estate alone. The case has now been clarified, and Yuan Hu has confessed. What do you have to say for yourself?"
In response to Wei Xiangshu’s questioning, Yang Hong’s thoughts raced.
He had Zhou Heng hire Yuan Hu to commit murder yet never appeared himself, so how could Yuan Hu implicate him?
As a County Magistrate of Wanshou County, Yang Hong’s knowledge was naturally not that of an ordinary person. With a brief consideration, he understood that this was the Imperial Inspector deliberately bluffing him without any actual evidence.
"My Lord, I have conducted myself righteously and uprightly. I do not know this Yuan Hu, nor am I aware of Wu Zhiyuan’s long absence. All I know is that Wu Zhiyuan is fond of gambling and women. Perhaps he has no money out in the world and has come to falsely accuse me."
"It’s only because I often advised him in the past that he might resent me for it..."
Wei Xiangshu furrowed his brows and turned to ask Yuan Hu, who shook his head and claimed he had never met or been instructed by Yang Hong.
Seeing that the case was at an impasse, Wu Zhiyuan, who had been silent until now, suddenly stepped forward and said, "My Lord, my reputation is of little consequence. What matters is that my father’s injustice has not been cleared, and he still suffers in prison. Every time I think of this, it’s like a knife twisting in my heart."
Wu Zhiyuan’s eyes reddened as he hoarsely said, "Those who framed my father for colluding with the Celestial Heart Sect years ago, three were executed, while two accomplices were convicted and sent to labor. These two individuals have been brought back from Qinzhou by Lord Yin. I hope, my Lord, you will administer justice for us."
Lord Yin?
Before Wei Xiangshu could inquire further, a passage suddenly opened outside the government office, and an official from the Ministry of Rites, wearing a blue topaz headdress, a green crane robe, and a plain silver belt, entered from outside.
Behind that official were guards escorting two suspects, presumably the Celestial Heart Sect followers Wu Zhiyuan mentioned.
Wei Xiangshu glanced and saw that it was indeed the attire of a sixth-rank Ministry of Rites official sent to a provincial office, rather than a capital official.
After Yin Shan exchanged greetings with the officials, Wei Xiangshu questioned the two suspects thoroughly, realizing that Wu Yaohua was indeed deliberately framed by Celestial Heart Sect bandits.
The one who instructed them was likewise Zhou Heng, the government official of Jinmen Prefecture.
Wei Xiangshu and Chen Guangrui simultaneously looked at Yang Hong.
If this person truly orchestrated it behind the scenes, then Zhou Heng’s confession would be crucial.
If Zhou Heng took the full blame, Wu Yaohua could be pardoned, but convicting Yang Hong would be impossible.
In contrast, Yang Hong appeared perfectly at ease, as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes; Yang Hong being so calm suggested that he and Zhou Heng had likely conspired long ago, intending for Zhou Heng to take the blame once things went awry.
This was common in officialdom, and as for the conditions... besides taking care of one’s family, there likely weren’t any other demands.