Chapter 108

Wang Yang didn't know the meaning of the Bureau of Manufacture, but it was inconvenient to show weakness in front of Jiao Zheng, so he just listened silently as he continued:

"I was escorting ten carts of property to Jiankang when I met an envoy from the Bureau of Manufacture on the way, who asked me to change my route and transport it directly to a manor, saying it was an industry under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Manufacture. Although I felt strange, the envoy had a waist token and brought official documents from the Bureau of Manufacture. Besides, this money was originally sent to the Bureau of Manufacture, so I had to obey."

Jiao Zheng stopped there, as if gathering strength to continue.

Wang Yang asked the key question: "So the looting of people's property was an order from the Bureau of Manufacture?"

"I don't know." Jiao Zheng looked somewhat dejected.

Wang Yang then said: "Go on."

"Yes. After I finished the task, I went home to visit, and that was when I heard that the looting by the Imperial Guard had spread everywhere. It was said that General Chen... Chen Tianfu had already been imprisoned, and some said he had committed suicide for fear of punishment. I wanted to rush back immediately to find out the situation. I didn't expect that the envoy from the Bureau of Manufacture would suddenly come to my door! He told me Chen Tianfu was dead and gave me two choices: one was to push all the problems onto the dead man and then get promoted and rich; the other was to bite out the fact that the Bureau of Manufacture ordered the route change. He said he would take the blame, and then he would bite me back. We would both be accomplices and couldn't escape death, and my family wouldn't be protected..."

In an instant, the cold face of Chen Qingshan seemed to be torn open. Her usual calmness vanished, her pupils shook like waves, and her face turned pale as snow!

Wang Yang was worried that Jiao Zheng would discover Chen Qingshan's abnormal performance, so he pretended to pace and took the opportunity to block Chen Qingshan, asking: "How to push the problems onto the dead man?"

Jiao Zheng had already lost his composure and had no mind to pay attention to the expression of a guard: "He asked me to report Chen Tianfu for looting people's property and stealing property back to the capital to hide it privately. He asked me to point out the location of that manor and say that transporting the property there was under Chen Tianfu's orders. He also promised me that after I did this, he would promote me and give me 1,000,000 coins as a reward!"

Speaking of this, he suddenly cried out, lying on the ground, his body trembling and sobbing:

"I didn't frame General Chen because I was greedy for that money! It's just that the General was already dead, and the power of the External Supervisor was overwhelming. I couldn't fight them! I had no choice!!! I still have a family to support!! I can't let them all be buried with me!!!"

Chen Tianfu's death was only a rumor. What the envoy said about Chen Tianfu's death might not be true; you just preferred to believe he was dead so you could frame him with more peace of mind.

While Wang Yang was thinking this, Chen Qingshan had already walked out from behind him, her teeth biting her lower lip tightly, her hand pressing on the hilt of her sword.

Wang Yang grabbed Chen Qingshan's hand, squeezed it hard, and shook his head at her.

Chen Qingshan looked at Wang Yang and then lowered her arm.

Jiao Zheng was sobbing on the ground. Wang Yang stepped forward and patted Jiao Zheng's shoulder, his tone relaxed: "Alright, Old Jiao, it's all in the past. As long as it's not treason, it's not a big deal, and I can protect you."

"Re... really?" Jiao Zheng looked up suddenly, the tears on his face not yet dry.

"Of course, they just want a scapegoat and then close the case quickly. Who wants to get involved in more? What was the name of the envoy you mentioned earlier?"

A flash of hesitation crossed Jiao Zheng's eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Yang said: "Since they dared to take your money, they definitely won't touch you. But I have to ask these details clearly, which is also being responsible to my second uncle. Otherwise, if you don't leak here, but leak there instead, it will be difficult to handle!"

Jiao Zheng hurriedly said: "It won't leak there."

Wang Yang's tone revealed slight displeasure: "You say it won't leak, so it won't? Just because of your word, we have to take the risk? Just tell me who it is. Whether it leaks or not is for those above to worry about; what does it have to do with you? I don't know why you are stalling..."

Only then did Jiao Zheng say hesitantly: "He... he is Liu Yin, the current Jingzhou Chief Clerk and concurrently the Administrator of Nanjun."

Liu Yin?!

Him again!

Since the incident with Du Sanye, Wang Yang had paid special attention to this person. He didn't expect him to be involved in the Chen Tianfu case!

Seeing Wang Yang's strange reaction, Jiao Zheng asked worriedly: "Young master, does it matter that this involves Chief Clerk Liu?"

Wang Yang waved his hand: "It doesn't matter; he is not among the scapegoats anyway."

"Then when will my 300,000 coins..."

"I will send someone to pick them up tomorrow."

Although Wang Yang had a strong motivation to earn family wealth, he really wasn't trying to covet this 300,000. Mentioning money was firstly to make this matter seem more real, secondly to hide his real purpose of uncovering the truth, thirdly to put pressure on Jiao Zheng, and fourthly to make Jiao Zheng feel at ease. Compared to Wang Yang stepping forward out of kindness to settle this matter, taking money to do the job made Jiao Zheng believe it more.

"Yes, yes, I will definitely prepare it properly."

"Old Jiao, I have to make it clear to you: this 300,000 is not going into my pocket, but is used to bribe the relevant people. Once they take the money, they naturally won't investigate you anymore, and this matter will end here. But if you leak it yourself..."

Jiao Zheng didn't quite believe that Wang Yang wouldn't take a cut, but being able to settle this matter with 300,000 was already a great fortune. He immediately nodded vigorously:

"I know, I know, I absolutely dare not leak it! Your grace of rebirth, young master, I will never forget it!"

On the long street, the bright moon was full.

Chen Qingshan walked in front alone, the moonlight stretching her figure long and making her look exceptionally thin.

Wang Yang quickly followed Chen Qingshan, their shadows overlapping and changing gently, like a silent dance.

The ox cart from the Commandery School followed slowly behind them.

"What are you planning to do?" Wang Yang broke the silence first and asked.

"Go to Jiankang and beat the drum of appeal," Chen Qingshan said softly.

"What about the evidence?"

"The human witness is me, and the physical evidence is that 300,000 coins."

"Not enough; Jiao Zheng will definitely not admit it."

"Accuse Liu Yin and find Liu Yin for a confrontation."

"Liu Yin is the Jingzhou Chief Clerk; how can he be summoned just because of your words?"

"Imperial Edict: When the common people are exhausted and the nine heavens cannot be reached, if they wish to appeal, they shall beat the drum of appeal to reach the ears of the superior. When the Son of Heaven receives the case, Liu Yin must arrive."

Wang Yang shook his head: "The so-called 'common people are exhausted' means exhausting the means of appeal. If there is an injustice in a lawsuit and the county does not handle it, one appeals to the commandery; if the commandery cannot resolve it, one appeals to the province; if the province cannot decide, it goes to the relevant authorities in the capital. If the authorities also cannot handle it, then one can beat the drum of appeal to appeal to the palace. If you go directly to beat the drum of appeal, the court will not accept it."

Chen Qingshan stopped, looked at Wang Yang, and the moonlight shone on her, reflecting her slightly pale face.

She said word by word: "Good, then I will appeal level by level."

Wang Yang met Chen Qingshan's gaze and also said word by word: "You will definitely not win."