Chapter 47: Qingzhi’s Trial

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Soon, footsteps could be heard and the constable’s ingratiating voice sounded. “General, if there’s anything, just let the servants do it. There’s no need to make a trip personally.”

Tang Jinghong’s dignified and low voice sounded. “You arrested my friend. I naturally have to come personally.”

The constable was scared out of his wits. “General, this must be a misunderstanding. How would I dare to arrest your friend?”

Tang Jinghong’s voice was filled with oppression. “We’ll know when we see her.”

After a while, Tang Jinghong and a group of constables arrived at Chu Qingzhi’s cell.

Tang Jinghong looked at Chu Qingzhi, who was at ease. He knew that this girl was not worried at all. He placed one hand behind his back and said to the constable, “She’s my friend.”

The constable immediately took the key and opened the door. “General, this is all a misunderstanding. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

Then, he said respectfully to Chu Qingzhi, “Miss, we arrested the wrong person. General is here to pick you up. You can leave.”

Chu Qingzhi secretly gave Tang Jinghong a meaningful look and said unexpectedly, “Do you think I’m someone you can arrest and release at will?”

A layer of cold sweat appeared on the constable’s forehead. “Miss, we didn’t do it on purpose. It’s those hooligans’ fault.”

Chu Qingzhi had a powerful backer now and was bolder when she spoke. “Since it’s those hooligans’ fault, catch them and ask them why they framed me.”

“Yes, Miss. We’ll go immediately.” The constable cursed the hooligans in his heart and hurriedly went to look for them.

Tang Jinghong placed his hands behind his back and looked at Chu Qingzhi calmly. He did not say anything. He was thinking about what the first thing this girl would say to him later.

The cell door was not closed. Chu Qingzhi walked out and looked at Tang Jinghong with her bright eyes. “You came much quicker than I expected.”

Tang Jinghong raised his eyebrows slightly. “I’m afraid you’ll be beaten up if I come too late.”

Chu Qingzhi suddenly remembered that there were many torture methods in ancient prisons. “General, I owe you a favor this time. If you need my help in the future, just tell me.”

Tang Jinghong smiled. “I was waiting for you to say this.”

Chu Qingzhi turned around and pointed at Shen Ruyue. “Do you see her?”

Tang Jinghong turned his head slightly. In the darkness, he could only see a human figure curling up in the corner. “What’s wrong with her?”

Chu Qingzhi whispered, “She’s innocent.”

Tang Jinghong smiled meaningfully. “And then?”

Chu Qingzhi stopped beating around the bush. “Actually, General, I want to ask you for another favor.”

A faint smile appeared on Tang Jinghong’s face. “Tell me, what is it?”

Chu Qingzhi lowered her voice. “Her name is Shen Ruyue. She was wrongly accused of poisoning someone and has been in jail for more than a year. Can you redress the case?”

Tang Jinghong thought for a moment. “We need evidence to redress the case. Otherwise, even if I’m a general, I can’t release her just like that.”

Chu Qingzhi understood. “What if I find evidence that she was wronged?”

Tang Jinghong looked at Chu Qingzhi with his deep eyes. “Then I promise you I can let her go.”

Chu Qingzhi said confidently, “Alright, I’ll investigate tomorrow.”

Tang Jinghong admired the fact that Chu Qingzhi was always in high spirits.

“I’ll inform everyone to cooperate with you.”

Chu Qingzhi thanked him. “General, thank you in advance.”

Tang Jinghong smiled.

Shen Ruyue listened to their conversation word for word. She looked at Chu Qingzhi expectantly and placed all her hopes on her.

The county magistrate did not dare to refuse Tang Jinghong’s request. Therefore, he decided to investigate the case overnight.

The four hooligans were brought to the county office overnight.

The hooligans thought that the county magistrate was going to interrogate Chu Qingzhi overnight and were quite happy. They came to the county office cooperatively.

The short hooligan immediately knelt down and complained, “County Magistrate, you have to seek justice for us. You have to punish Chu Qingzhi severely. Look at my teeth. Half of them were knocked out by her. It hurts.”

The tall hooligan also hurriedly knelt down. “County Magistrate, Chu Qingzhi broke my ribs. It cost ten taels to get treated. You have to make her pay me.”

The other two hooligans also hurriedly knelt on the ground and complained. They framed Chu Qingzhi shamelessly.

Chu Qingzhi looked at the four hooligans coldly and asked, “Who sent you to cause trouble?”

The short hooligan subconsciously replied, “No one sent us. We went ourselves.”

Chu Qingzhi bowed to the county magistrate. “My lord, I think everyone heard what he said just now. They went to cause trouble deliberately. While I was self-defending, I accidentally hurt them.”

The county magistrate nodded at Chu Qingzhi. “I heard it.”

The four hooligans were dumbfounded. What did they just say?

A trace of admiration flashed across Tang Jinghong’s eyes. It turned out that questioning also required skills. Chu Qingzhi was amazing.

Chu Qingzhi snorted and turned around to ask, “Did Wang Peifang send you to cause trouble?”

The tall hooligan said quickly, “No.”

Chu Qingzhi then asked, “Then who sent you?”

“It’s…” The tall man quickly covered his mouth.

Chu Qingzhi frowned. If it wasn’t her adoptive mother, who was it?

The county magistrate had seen countless people and immediately noticed that there was something fishy going on. He slapped the table and said, “If you tell me the truth, you can avoid physical pain. If you’re stubborn, you will be flogged until you tell the truth.”

The four hooligans were terrified. They were covered in cold sweat and their eyes were filled with panic.

The county magistrate pointed at the tall hooligan. “You tell me. If you tell me the truth, I can consider letting you go.”

The tall hooligan immediately felt a huge pressure coming on. His face turned ashen and he quickly lost the courage to hold on. “I’ll confess.”

The county magistrate growled, “Speak.”

The tall hooligan fell to the ground dejectedly. “It’s Young Master Rong Yufan from the Rong family.”

Chu Qingzhi was surprised. She didn’t expect that it was Rong Yufan. This man was too narrow-minded. Just because she didn’t agree to work with him, he found hooligans to cause trouble and even got them to falsely accuse her!

She said to the county magistrate, “Please uphold justice.”

The county magistrate gestured to the constables. “Go and invite Rong Yufan from the Rong family over.”

The constables quickly left.

Rong Yufan was quickly invited over. When he saw the scene in the hall, his heart skipped a beat. However, he was someone who had seen the world. His expression did not change at all. Instead, he looked confused.

He walked to the side of the hooligan and bowed to the county magistrate. “Greetings, county magistrate..”