Chapter 296

In any case, he could not be the one to take the blame.

"This Great Great Great Qian Daily again?"

Upon hearing this, Xun Baishui was stunned.

Then, he lowered his head to look at the newspaper once more.

He did not make a rash decision.

Instead, he read the paper carefully.

"Let's stop bothering your uncle."

"Let's head out quickly."

Seeing this, Xun Xun Xun Baiyun said to Xun Xun Xun Feizhan and his sister.

Both of them obediently agreed.

Thus, they quietly left together and arrived outside the courtyard.

However, the three of them were in no hurry to exit the main gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture office.

Not long after, they noticed that Xun Baishui had finished reading the paper.

He ordered a team of men to leave the office in a great hurry.

"I reckon he's going to arrest the people behind this newspaper..."

Xun Xun Xun Baiyun said, completely indifferent.

She was an ambitious person, yet in reality, she was extremely foolish, muddled, selfish, and short-sighted.

Therefore, she had no interest in this matter.

Xun Xun Xun Feizhan was different.

He was a reasonable and responsible person, self-disciplined and upright, cautious in his actions, and loyal to the country.

Encountering a case Love Love Like this, he immediately became concerned.

He begged his aunt to allow him to listen in from the side when the court session began.

Xun Anru also said she wanted to.

Xun Xun Xun Baiyun naturally didn't mind: "Fine, but you are not allowed to make a sound and disturb your uncle while he handles the case."

"Yes!"

Both youngsters agreed.

After waiting for about forty minutes.

The court session began.

Both the plaintiff and the defendant.

Had arrived.

In order to pressure the Jingzhao Prefecture.

The furious Gu Yankai and the Earl of Zhongqin arrived together.

Naturally, the two of them did not need to kneel.

As for the Marquis Marquis Wushuang Newspaper Office, the person in charge who arrived was Cheng Yu.

"MAJESTY!! MIGHT!!"

Inside the office.

Two rows of ten bailiffs stood on either side, holding heavy wooden staves, which they struck against the ground repeatedly while shouting in unison.

They were attempting to intimidate those involved in the case!

Sitting on the bench.

Sitting majestically in the center was Xun Baishui, dressed in official robes and wearing a black gauze cap.

To his left and right were his legal secretaries.

And several other officials.

The Prefect of Jingzhao had two Vice Prefects under his command.

Furthermore, similar to Jia Hui's Five Cities Military Commission, they had even more personnel.

There were also the positions of Merit Secretary, Record Secretary, Household Secretary, Judicial Secretary, Military Secretary, Granary Secretary, and Personnel Secretary!

At this moment, one of the superior Vice Prefects, along with the Merit Secretary, Record Secretary, and Judicial Secretary, all took their places in court.

As for the Military Secretary and others, their duties did not involve this, so they were not present.

Seeing that Cheng Yu was a stranger, Xun Baishui calmly intimidated him: "Who is before the court? Why have you not knelt down yet!"

Gu Yankai and the Earl of Zhongqin.

As well as Yuan Yuan Yuan Wenchun and his wife, Yuan Yuan Yuan Wenshao, the younger Lady Qin, Gu Gu Gu Tingyu, Gu Gu Gu Tingwei, and others were all present.

They all glared angrily at Cheng Yu.

Only the three of them in the corner, including Xun Xun Xun Baiyun, watched silently.

Gu Yankai said angrily: "Why waste words with this person who knows no etiquette? Guards, beat his legs immediately!!"

Hearing this, several bailiffs looked at each other.

They looked toward Xun Baishui.

Cheng Yu remained neither humble nor pushy; he glanced at Xun Baishui with contempt and cupped his hands casually: "I am Cheng Yu, a Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments. There is no reason for me to kneel."

Hearing this.

Xun Baishui and the others were stunned.

Gu Yankai, the Earl of Zhongqin, and the others were even more shocked!

They had not expected this person to be an official!

And a Vice Director in the Ministry of War at that—this was a civil official of the lower fifth rank.

Although the rank was not high, he was certainly no mere petty official.

Naturally, it was impossible to force him to kneel.

Although impersonating an official was a grave crime.

Logically, no one would have the guts to do so.

But one must always account for the unexpected.

Xun Baishui did not believe him immediately, so he asked in a deep voice: "You claim to be a Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments; what proof do you have, and why are you not wearing your official robes?"

【313】 Courtroom Confrontation! Who is your boss behind the scenes? Reporting Marquis Marquis Wushuang

"My build is large, and I only took up the post yesterday; my official robes are still being tailored."

"This is my official seal!"

Cheng Yu explained, still unhurried.

He then pulled the official seal from his bosom.

The secretary took it, examined it, and confirmed it!

This caused Xun Baishui to ponder slightly.

If the other party was an official, things would be difficult to handle.

He looked at Gu Yankai, the Earl of Zhongqin, and the others.

He found that their expressions were not good.

This was normal.

After all, they had originally thought he was someone easy to bully.

They had wanted to arrest him, bully him, and vent their anger.

Yet, he turned out to be an official.

That made things difficult.

The man was a lower fifth-rank official, and from the Ministry of War at that.

For someone of this rank.

Unless it was a serious crime Love Love Like treason, rebellion, or murder.

Otherwise, he, a lower third-rank Prefect of Jingzhao.

Really could not do much to him.

Unlike in the provinces, the Jingzhao Prefecture is an administrative organ not bound by the constraints of tiered appeals; for any case where the evidence is confirmed to be ironclad, the perpetrator can be sentenced to death on the spot.

The perpetrator mentioned here.

Is at most someone without official rank or title.

For those with official status.

He can at most investigate the situation.

Then report it to the Imperial Court and let the Court handle it.

Without permission from above.

They cannot even be beaten.

This is much stronger than the likes of Du Du Du Changfeng.

Anything that needs handling is tried by the Ministry of Justice or similar bodies.

However, Xun Baishui will handle what needs to be handled.

It is not to curry favor or out of fear of offending Gu Yankai, the Earl of Zhongqin, and others.

He is a man with a heart full of patriotism.

He is clear-headed when facing matters of great right and wrong.

Therefore.

What must be handled will be handled.

"Cheng Yu, the Marquis of Ningyuan and the Earl of Zhongqin are now accusing your newspaper of fabricating stories."

"Do you have any defense?"

Cheng Yu, who was being questioned, still appeared unhurried, calm, and composed.

Ignoring the murderous glares from Gu Yankai and the others.

Cheng Yu said: "Lord Xun, our newspaper never fabricates stories."

"Nonsense!"

"You are spouting gibberish! Our Gu family is a family of loyalty and virtue; how could there be such filthy things as you describe!"

Gu Yankai said in a great rage.

He had to defend his family's reputation with all his might.

Otherwise, his entire family, including his own official career, would be in trouble.

Not only would they become a laughingstock, but they would also face ostracization.

I fear even the Emperor and the Retired Emperor would despise them.

Under such circumstances.

How could he accept it!

Therefore, regarding the actions of Man Niang and the others.

He was determined to deny it to the death.

Cheng Yu, who was tall and even larger than the old general Gu Yankai, looked astonished: "Marquis of Ningyuan, how do you make sense of this? When has our newspaper ever mentioned your Gu family?"

"You!"

Gu Yankai was taken aback.

"Reporting to my lord, the Marquis of Ningyuan has likely misunderstood."

"From beginning to end, we never mentioned the Gu family or the Yuan family."

"As for this 'Yuan family' and the Love Love Like, we never explicitly stated who they were from start to finish."

Ignoring Gu Yankai, Cheng Yu would not be intimidated by the other party.

He was speaking for Xun Baishui to hear.

Ignoring the shocked and angry Gu Yankai and the others, Xun Baishui pondered for a moment after hearing this.

He looked down at the newspaper spread out on the official desk!

The newspaper indeed did not contain a single word saying it was the Gu family or the Yuan family.

Everything used pseudonyms.

A certain Gu family, the second young master of the Gu family, an outside mistress, and so on.

In short, the original names were not touched at all.

Therefore, Cheng Yu's defense was reasonable and well-founded.

Even though they were insinuating, those who understood, understood.

Everyone could distinguish who was who.

But regardless, it was all just speculation.

Without proof or evidence.

If it were commoners, it would be easy to handle—willing to be beaten and confess, or forcibly declare them guilty.

But this Cheng Yu is an official of the Ministry of War; his own status is not low.

It must be blown up for the Imperial Court to know.

He might even have a background or backing.

If you dare to frame him and use force.

Xun Baishui was certain his political career would end immediately.

Naturally, he would not be so stupid.

Therefore.

Xun Baishui looked toward Gu Yankai, the Earl of Zhongqin, and the others: "Marquis of Ningyuan, Earl of Zhongqin, do you have any other proof to confirm that their newspaper is fabricating stories about you? I want irrefutable evidence."

Gu Yankai, the Earl of Zhongqin, and the others suddenly turned ashen-faced.

The Earl of Zhongqin thought about it.

Where would he have any?

The Earl of Zhongqin said with a livid face: "Lord Xun, it is very obvious here that it refers to our two families, the Gu and the Yuan. Even if they did not name names, they should be judged as guilty. As for this Lord Cheng, I will consider him unaware. You should smash and close down this so-called newspaper office; the defamation against our two families must be stopped."

"That's right, it must be closed!"

Gu Yankai said.

The two of them also saw it.

Without ironclad evidence, it is difficult to get a grip on this Cheng Yu.

Therefore, they could only settle for the next best thing.

Close this newspaper office permanently.

That would also vent some of their pent-up anger.

And most importantly, stop the further spread of this matter!

Xun Baishui looked at Cheng Yu again.

In his heart, he was wondering how Cheng Yu would respond.

If Cheng Yu could not hold out and was afraid, wanting to close it down.

Then naturally, everyone would be happy.

If not... then it would be discussed at length later!

"Lord Xun."

"Everything must be based on true facts and evidence. To make false accusations against us without evidence."

"Do you think the yamen is opened by you, or do you think this official is easy to bully?"

"Hmph, you want to close our newspaper office with just a word. Are you thinking that you can also become the Emperor with just a word? What do you take His Majesty and the others for?"

"......"

Facing the crowd of powerful figures.

Cheng Yu appeared extremely arrogant, his posture never once bending as he snorted coldly.

— Author's Notes —

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