Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 164 Roaring in Court
"He's in jail but his clothes are still so clean. Someone from the Yunxing Escort Agency must have bribed the jailer. This kind of person deserves to be killed!"

"Yes, he deserves to be killed!"

"Deserves to be killed!"

In the impoverished city of Cangzhou, the people were already suffering from the injustice of the world, and their emotions were most easily affected at the moment. Outside the government office, public resentment was boiling.

Pu Zheng straightened his body, knocked the gavel again, suppressed the noise, and said in a deep voice: "I will not let a wicked person go, nor will I wrongly accuse a good person. Today, I am in court to judge the case, in order to enforce the law and punish those who cause chaos in the city with this as an example."

"Give everyone justice, and give Cangzhou justice!"

"it is good!"

"Good! Master Park is wise."

Enjoying the support of the people, Pu Zheng was complacent and struck while the iron was hot, saying: "Now, my Cangzhou City is in danger. Anyone who dares to deliberately cause trouble and has evil intentions will be like Zhao Hao today."

Before the trial even started, Pu Zheng had already made an example of Zhao Hao, the young master of the Yunxing Escort Agency.

But this is exactly what the people outside wanted to hear. Anyway, someone has to take responsibility for the recent hardships.

Right or wrong doesn't seem to be so important at this moment. What is more important is that the people in Cangzhou City can vent their anger.

This is also what the government wants to see.

When the crowd was excited, the people in Yunxing Escort Agency were worried that the people would rush into the hall and beat the young master to death, so they couldn't help but sweat.

"Uncle, why hasn't the messenger come back yet? Send someone else to check. Otherwise, if this order comes down, the young master's family will be doomed."

"Yes, judging from the situation, this crooked official is going to execute the young master in this yamen."

Zhao Yuanxing gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist. Listening to the people around him insulting the Yunxing Escort Agency, he became furious, but there was still some rationality left in his mind.

Zhao Yuanxing took a deep breath and comforted the people around him from the Yunxing Escort Agency, saying, "That lord is of high status and will definitely not break his promise. Let's wait patiently for a while."

At this moment, Pu Zheng looked at Zhao Hao in the hall, and asked in a condescending tone, "Zhao Hao, do you admit your guilt?"

As soon as the question was asked, the hall became a little quieter.

Zhao Hao whimpered twice, and it was impossible to tell what he said.

Park Jung, who was originally confident, frowned and picked up the document on the case. He raised it and said, "This is your confession in prison. You have already signed it. Are you going to change your confession in court? You should know that changing your confession will increase your crime. Do you think the laws of Dachang are a joke?"

"Someone, come here! Zhao Hao has been caught red-handed, and here is his confession. We should be able to solve the case!"

Pu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, and felt amused in his heart, "What about Yunxing Escort Agency? In front of this prefect, you are just a scapegoat that can be fabricated at will. This is power, what can you do to me? In order to quell the people's grievances, I will lend you your head for use, and when the business is successful and the granary is replenished, it will not matter if there is an imperial envoy?"

Pu Zheng raised his hand to pick up the warrant and was about to throw it down in front of everyone's eyes when Zhao Hao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood foam and raised his head and said, "What difference does it make whether I plead guilty or not?"

Pu Zheng spoke each word with a cold look in his eyes and a threatening tone, "Could it be that I have wrongly accused you?"

"If you want to incriminate someone, why bother?"

Hearing the confrontation between Zhao Hao and the prefect, the people outside the yamen began to talk about it.

"Is it really not the Escort Agency's problem?"

"No matter whose fault it is, this matter has been dragging on for nearly a month. There must be an explanation."

"Yes, give an explanation, give an explanation!"

Seeing this, the master beside Pu Zheng whispered to him, "Sir, Zhao Hao just turned his head and looked at the crowd. There might be someone from Yunxing Escort Agency among them. I'm afraid it won't work if you threaten Yunxing Escort Agency's safety again."

Pu Zheng nodded slightly, clenched his palms, and said, "I have my own way."

Looking inside the venue, Pu Zheng said again: "Yunxing Escort Agency is the leading escort agency in Cangzhou City. I wanted to give you some face, but now it seems that it is unnecessary. Today, I will let you die knowingly!"

"Someone, bring up another witness!"

When Zhao Hao could vaguely distinguish the man's appearance, he was also shocked, "Captain Yu, you have worked in the escort agency for more than 20 years, why did you betray me?"

The middle-aged man, who was called the escort leader by the young master, wore light clothes. He first bowed to Pu Zheng in the hall, then looked at Yu Zhaohao with a sigh, "Young master, don't be stubborn anymore. This disaster was caused by you. It will be better for everyone if you admit your guilt and accept the punishment."

Pu Zheng smiled and said, "Well, do you have anything else to say?"

Picking up the warrant again, Pu Zheng did not want to argue any further, fearing that something might happen if he delayed any further. He stroked his beard and said, "We have both witnesses and evidence. I hereby order that Zhao Hao be…"

Before he could finish his words, he heard a noise coming from outside the hall.

"Give in, everyone, give in!"

A team of soldiers separated the civilians and created a small path.

Everyone from the Yunxing Escort Agency turned their heads and saw that the adult they had been waiting for had finally arrived.

"There's hope. The young master is saved."

Zhao Yuanxing nodded slightly and sighed, "Good thing." Yue Ling walked straight into the yamen without looking around and walked as fast as a dragon or a tiger.

The two yamen runners holding water and fire sticks were about to step forward, but were stopped by the Beijing camp soldiers holding long spears. "Anyone who dares to offend the adults, retreat!"

Seeing this, Pu Zheng had a bad feeling in his heart, but he did not show any fear on his face. He still asked with all his strength: "How dare you, a lunatic! How dare you offend the court? Someone, go and ask the judge to dispatch patrol soldiers here!"

Yue Ling said calmly: "Don't bother, you will meet him soon."

Pu Zheng pointed at Yue Ling in the hall and said, "How dare you! How dare you bark in the court? Who are you?"

Yue Ling glared at Pu Zheng and said, "Who am I? Who are you to dare to wrongly accuse a good person in this court without distinguishing right from wrong? Who are you to dare to fabricate right and wrong and judge the case based on empty words under this 'clear mirror hanging high'?"

"As a prefect, you should govern the people of your area for Your Majesty. Is your achievement that the people of Cangzhou Prefecture are starving and the streets are like ghost alleys?"

"I see you're in official clothes, so don't wear it!"

Pu Zheng was scolded by Yue Ling and was stunned on the spot.

But then he saw Yue Ling draw his sword, and was startled at once, and quickly stood up and hid behind the chair.

The yamen runners stepped forward with water and fire sticks, while the soldiers from the Beijing camp held long spears and were ready to protect Yue Ling.

The situation suddenly took a sharp turn, and the people were all shocked, not knowing the origins of the sword-wielding young man in the hall.

Yue Ling's sword lifted Zhao Hao's clothes, revealing his back covered with whip marks. There were many places rotting and oozing pus, and the stench was shocking.

Everyone in the room gasped.

Needless to say, he was obviously forced to confess.

Zhao Hao suddenly woke up, and when he realized that an important person had come, he kowtowed and said, "My lord, I am innocent, please save my life. In the future, I am willing to serve you like a cow or a horse!"

Yue Ling nodded slightly, glanced at Pu Zheng, and said: "I am here today, there will not be another unjust, false and wrong case. The contemporary emperor will inspect and enforce the law!"

Putting the sword back into the sheath, Yue Ling said in a deep voice: "I am the co-minister of the Secretariat, Marquis of Anjing, General Po Lu, and the title of Grand Commander of the Capital, Yue Ling. I am the imperial envoy to supervise all military and political affairs in Cangzhou."

"Can I take off your official uniform?"

Yue Ling's voice was like a huge bell, and every word he spoke had a mighty power that could swallow up mountains and rivers. The hall was completely silent.

Seeing the demeanor of the person coming downstairs, Pu Zheng already knew that something bad was going to happen, but he still had some hope, so he asked, "What basis do you have to say that you are the Marquis of Anjing? Where is the imperial edict?"

Yue Ling snorted coldly and said, "I know that you, a corrupt official, will not give up until you reach the Yellow River."

Reaching into his arms, Yue Ling pulled out a yellow imperial edict.

"Pu Zheng, the prefect of Cangzhou, accept the order!"

When they saw the imperial edict, everyone in the hall was shocked. From the legal advisors, yamen runners and soldiers inside the hall to the common people outside the hall, they all knelt down.

Pu Zheng, on the other hand, stumbled down and slowly knelt at Yue Ling's knees, his official robe soaked with sweat.

……

In the inn where we stayed,

After Lin Daiyu had her breakfast, she sat at the table in a daze. Although she was holding a book in her hands, there was no sight in her eyes.

He would rub his forehead gently from time to time and curl the ends of his hair with his fingers from time to time. If he could not move, people would think he was a stone statue.

Xueyan came close to Zijuan, pointed her lips in the direction of Lin Daiyu, and asked, "Sister Zijuan, is there something wrong with the young lady today? I always feel something strange, but I can't explain it."

Zijuan tilted her head to take a look and said, "Isn't the girl always like this? She just has something on her mind again."

Xueyan shook her head and disagreed with Zijuan's statement. "It's different. I've been with the girl the longest, so of course I know. Usually, if the girl had something on her mind, she would just sigh, but now she is sometimes dazed and sometimes giggling. Isn't she sick?"

Xueyan used her little brain and thought, "It seems that Sister Zijuan has also had a similar situation."

Zijuan quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks slightly red, and scolded: "Don't talk nonsense, when have I ever been like this?"

Xueyan sighed and asked worriedly, "Is this a disease? Will I become like this?"

Zijuan looked at Xueyan and shook her head with certainty, "You definitely won't."

At that moment, someone was knocking on the door. Xueyan cautiously leaned over and asked, "Who is it?"

The maid outside the inn curled her lips and chuckled, "It's me. A few days ago, the sharp-tongued girl in the room said that your master is an important person. But the guest who just came said that your master is now in the government office and has been surrounded and can't get out. I think you might as well go and take a look."

Lin Daiyu was shocked when she heard this and hurriedly called out, "Xueyan, go find housekeeper Yun and ask him to prepare a sedan chair. Let's go together to see what's going on!"

　One more update

　　
　
(End of this chapter)