Chapter Six

  County government office. Leng Wuwei sat on the public platform, Tian Deyi stood beside the table. Leng Wuwei slapped the wooden sign: "Bring in the prisoner." The bailiffs shouted: "Bring in the prisoner! Powerful..."

  The man was brought in, and the judge said: "Who is below the hall? Report your name."

  The prisoner: "My name is Zhao Dazhu, that little Cui was not killed by me, I am innocent..."

  Leng Wuwei: "Be bold, I ask you what and you answer what. Why did you kill people, confess the truth."

  "Your Honor, I was originally a long-term worker at the Li Manor. On that night, Young Master Li gave me a bottle of wine to drink and I didn't think much of it, so I drank it and fell asleep. The next morning when I woke up, I found Little Cui already dead beside me. I really did not kill anyone, please, Your Honor, do justice for the common people..."

  Leng Wuwei: "Then I'll ask you, when was it that you drank?"

  "Sir, it seems to be around the second watch of the night."

  "Please tell me exactly what time it is."

  Zhao Dazhu: "It was late at night, around the second watch. I still remember that the night watchman struck the drum twice."

  Leng Wuwei: "Chuan wu zuo."

  The coroner brought it over. Leng Wu said: "Coroner, when you examined the wound, could you see clearly when Xiao Cui was killed? Tell me the truth."

  Doctor: "......"

  Leng Wuwei: "What's there to hide? Just come clean and tell the truth."

  "Sir, it was around one or two o'clock in the morning."

  At this time, the hall was in an uproar. The people were all discussing it. Lin Yun said: "Second brother, I feel that something is not quite right..." Yue Zhen said: "The young lady is indeed clever and wise, to dare to accuse someone in the Left Prime Minister's hometown, this itself makes one suspect that this yamen has already been bribed, it seems there's even more excitement to come, I'm really looking forward to it..." Lin Fei thought to himself: What kind of person is this county magistrate, how can he be so bold?

  With a "pa" sound, Cold Wu Wei said: "Silence, bring Li Yi here." Tian Da received the order and left.

  After a while, Li Yi wore a light-colored brocade robe and stood in the center of the hall with an air of nonchalance, not even looking at Leng Wuwei. "Come on, take a seat." Without thanking him, Li Yi plopped himself down.

  Leng Wuwei: "Li Yi, did you give a bottle of wine to Zhao Dazhu on the day the case was discovered?"

  Li Yi: "I don't remember."

  Leng Wuwei: "You are the young master of the Left Prime Minister, and the rules in the mansion must be strict. The maids and long workers live far apart and rarely see each other, so how could this murder case happen?"

  Li Yi: "I'm not quite clear about these things, and I don't know who would have expected something like this to happen. Besides, there are so many people in my household, how can I possibly keep track of everything?"

  The people outside the hall scolded in unison. Lin Fei: "It seems that not using torture is not an option, does this county magistrate dare to?" Lin Shiyun: "I think he dares, but the current evidence is not sufficient, it's not time yet." Yue Zhen: "If he really wants to use torture on Li Yi, I'll go to Lord Xiang to plead for him, the key is how to play the next part of the drama."

  Leng Wuwei: "The hall is quiet and solemn. Li Yi, I see you don't shed tears without seeing the coffin. Bring in the witness, Xiao Mei."

  "Take Xiaomei..."

  Xiao Mei arrived. Leng Wu Wei said: "Xiao Mei, tell me again in detail what you said yesterday, don't leave out a single word."

  Xiao Mei: "Master, on the night of the incident, after the first watch, I went to find Xiao Cui. When I arrived at Xiao Cui's room, I saw Second Young Master coming out from Xiao Cui's room with bloodstains all over his body. After Second Young Master left, I saw that Xiao Cui had already stopped breathing..."

  "Shut up, you shameless woman..."

  With a "pa" sound, Cold Worryless said: "Daring Li Yi, I'm asking you, is Little Beauty someone from your household?"

  Li Yi: "Your Honor, after Xiao Cui was driven out of our mansion, she harbored resentment and took this opportunity to frame me. Please, Your Honor, do not listen to the words of a petty person."

  Leng Wuwei: "Xiao Mei, is what you said true?"

  Xiao Mei: "Sir, every word I said is true."

  Leng Wuwei: "This way, even our county doesn't know who's real and who's fake. It seems we need to invite a divine artifact to prove it. Come on, invite the divine artifact."

  Only one official came with a wooden box, this box has two holes. Cold Wu said: "Two of you, in order to verify whether what you say is true or not, please put your hands into the box and feel the bottom, this is called 'holy words'. If what you say is true, there will be no black color on your hands, if it's false, then there will be. To prevent cheating, I only assigned one official to put your hands in, do you two have any doubts?"

  "Sir, isn't this going too far?"

  Leng Wuwei: "As long as you're telling the truth, what's wrong with giving it a try? Tian Da, execute!"

  After half a cup of tea, the two took out their hands. Xiaomei's hand had no color, while Li Yi's hand was completely black. Leng Wuwei: "Please put away the divine artifact." After putting away the divine artifact...