Chapter 984

Wang Zhen said in a low voice, a smile appearing on his face.

But immediately after, Gao Yang spoke.

"But why is the number of elderly people over sixty in Anning County far lower than in other commanderies and counties?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Zhen's face changed instantly.

"Village Chief Chen Deyi of Waguan Village, Anning County, please come to the stage!" Gao Yang continued.

As soon as these words were spoken.

Below the inquiry platform, a potbellied middle-aged man trembled all over; he hurriedly stood up and walked quickly toward the inquiry platform.

Wang Zhen, hearing the words "Waguan Village," felt a chill rush straight to his crown.

"Village Chief Chen Deyi of Waguan Village, Anning County, pays respects to the Imperial Envoy!"

He arrived at the inquiry platform, feeling uneasy in his heart.

"Village Chief Chen, Magistrate Wang said that Anning County has swept away feudal bad customs. Do you agree with this?"

Gao Yang's gaze looked toward Chen Deyi, and his cold voice rang out.

Instantly, Chen Deyi's pressure was maxed out.

He had heard the great name of the Living Yama like thunder.

And he wasn't stupid. The Living Yama first questioned Wang Zhen about cracking down on feudal bad customs, then said the number of elderly people over sixty in Anning County was far lower than in other commanderies and counties.

Now he had even called him to the stage.

These various signals all made him feel terrified.

Therefore, Chen Deyi pointed directly at Wang Zhen and said, "Reporting to the Imperial Envoy, Magistrate Wang's words are purely nonsense!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The crowd of officials was astonished, and Wang Zhen was even more dumbfounded.

He stared at Chen Deyi in disbelief, his face twisted. A mere village chief actually tore down his stage in public?

The commoners were even more shocked, their mouths hanging open.

The County Magistrate on stage was full of confidence, and his subordinate turned around and slapped his face mercilessly.

This made them quietly sit up straight, their faces filled with curiosity.

Gao Yang didn't expect Chen Deyi to be so direct, but this was also a smart person.

He said calmly, "Village Chief Chen, what do you mean by that?"

Wang Zhen couldn't stay calm, and he said with a malicious face, "Village Chief Chen, in front of the Imperial Envoy, once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back."

These words carried a threat.

A look of fear clearly flashed in Chen Deyi's eyes.

"Chen Sheng, go give him two slaps." Gao Yang's expression was extremely cold as he spoke.

Chen Sheng stepped forward with large strides and slapped Wang Zhen twice on the face.

"When the Lord asks a question, is it your place to talk too much?"

Wang Zhen was slapped until he saw stars, but he didn't dare to make a sound.

Gao Yang looked at Wang Zhen and said coldly, "If you dare to threaten again, I won't need to ask any more questions; I'll just open the Dog-Head Guillotine and guillotine you!"

Wang Zhen covered his face, a trace of fear flashing in his eyes.

Chen Deyi was even more shocked in his heart, sighing at the Living Yama's domineering nature.

He hurriedly said, "Imperial Envoy, I, Chen Deyi, have always been incompatible with evil. What Magistrate Wang said is all nonsense!"

"Because Anning County is close to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, the commoners live in poverty. Once they encounter a natural disaster, they can't eat, so over time, an absurd bad custom was born—the Waguan Grave!"

"Once an elderly person in the family passes the age of sixty, according to the rules, they will be carried up the mountain by their own children and thrown into a pre-prepared Waguan Grave. After that, every day, they will go up the mountain to deliver a meal, and at the same time, lay a blue brick at the entrance of the cave, until the entrance is sealed, and then they won't come again..."

"This is also the reason why the number of elderly people over sixty in the entire Anning County is far lower than in other commanderies and counties, because the villages close to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains all have such customs. It is not just Anning County, but Anning County is the most serious!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The commoners of the city were all shocked.

Especially the commoners from other counties, who were all bewildered.

"What?"

"There is such a bad custom in the world? These elderly people are all sent into Waguan Graves, isn't that just waiting to die alive?"

"Beasts!"

"Horrifying, I haven't even heard of it!"

"This isn't a glorious thing. Who would go outside and say they buried their own elderly alive? This is unfilial in our Da Qian! And the villages with this bad custom are also very remote, living is already very difficult, let alone talking nonsense outside!"

The commoners were agitated, their anger soaring to the sky.

Whose family doesn't have elderly people?

And who won't grow old?

Thinking of the terror of the Waguan Grave, a chill rose in everyone's hearts.

On the inquiry platform.

The Commandery Governor, Vice Prefect, Commandant, and the crowd of County Magistrates all felt their scalps go numb. These words almost pierced through the window paper of this bad custom.

Wang Zhen's face turned green.

But he immediately remedied it, "Lord Gao, your subordinate was negligent. Because of the transfer order, your subordinate only just arrived in Anning County and didn't understand the situation."

"This Waguan Grave matter is simply horrifying. Your subordinate is very ashamed and heartbroken to hear of this bad custom!"

Gao Yang was full of coldness, looked at Chen Deyi, and said, "I am acting on His Majesty's order, holding the Son of Heaven's Sword, acting on behalf of His Majesty to hold the inquiry. Wherever I go, it is as if His Majesty has arrived in person. Magistrate Wang says he doesn't know; is Village Chief Chen lying to the Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Deyi felt the sky collapse.

Lying to the Emperor was a grave crime punishable by the extermination of the entire clan!

He pointed at Wang Zhen and said, completely regardless of anything else, "Lord Gao, Magistrate Wang is still talking nonsense!"

"His Majesty ordered that elderly people over sixty should be given a certain amount of silver every month, jointly borne by the imperial court and the local commandery and county. I looked for Magistrate Wang to tell him about the Waguan Grave matter!"

"But Magistrate Wang said that bad customs are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and are difficult to eradicate. If he forced pressure, once it caused a big mess, it would affect his official career! He also said that elderly people over sixty have already lost their labor power, and living is a waste of money, so it's better to use this silver to do other things!" ===== CHAPTER 986 =====