dressed as a scholar

In addition to the four personal identifications found in advance, there were three other people present, who were the three merchants who bought pork, cloth and rice grains from Qiao's family.

In addition, the physical evidence includes the account details of Qiao's donation, the details of the merchant's sales records and the items purchased by Qiao's family at the same price, and the four witnesses also brought unfinished items and clothes from Qiao's donation. There are pork that has been marinated and some rice grains that I don’t want to eat.

When the witnesses and evidence were submitted together, there were a lot of things, the county magistrate was dumbfounded, and the plaintiff even knelt on the ground and buried his head even lower.

"My lord, you can verify the evidence submitted one by one."

Fang Yu poured some of the witness’s rice beside the plaintiff. Both types of rice were relatively broken, but the rice on Fang Yu’s side was obviously whiter, while the rice provided by the plaintiff was a little yellowish. There is also a slight musty smell, which is basically from two different rice.

After he stated his point of view, the audience started to discuss.

Fang Yu took advantage of the situation and said again: "My lord, our witness requests to speak."

County Magistrate Qian stabilized his mind: "Say."

Immediately a woman said: "My lord, the woman also received the donation from Qiao's family five days ago. The woman received two pieces of cloth that day, the mother-in-law received a bunch of meat, and the children received grain and rice porridge respectively. All the families of these women who gave food had eaten it, but none of them had any symptoms of discomfort.”

County magistrate Qian stared at the woman with a terrifying gaze: "You must ensure that everything you say is true!"

The woman knelt down with a bang: "The woman speaks absolutely nothing. Mr. Qiao gives alms every year. Everyone knows that he is a good man. If the woman tells the truth, I hope you will learn from me so that the good man will not be wronged."

County magistrate Qian folded his brows, looking quite moved by it, but he was quite impatient in his heart.

"My lord, Mr. Qiao's rice grains are purchased from Caomin's Wangxin Grain Store. On that day, Mr. Qiao bought two hundred catties of pure white rice without grains. The common people in the city like this kind of rice. I have known Wangxin Grain Co., Ltd. for many years, and I know the quality of the rice from Caomin Rice Co., Ltd. How can it be moldy rice on the ground. The time and quantity of grain purchased are clearly recorded in the accounts Up."

Fang Yu said: "If your lord is worried about cheating, you can compare the accounts of the Qiao family's expenses with it to see if they are accounted for one by one."

The master handed over the ledger, the county magistrate hastily glanced at it a few times, feeling more and more depressed, he couldn't help but secretly gave the master a glare, and let the picker pinch the persimmon softly, unexpectedly he missed the persimmon, but caught a pack of nails instead.

"The accounts are indeed true."

"My lord, since there are more than one family of people who donate in the city, if it is suspected that the source of the disease is among the merchants who donated, and the testimonies of the two parties are inconsistent, should we ask the poisoned people in the city one by one to record their statements and ask them whether they were poisoned?" In addition to receiving donations before, I also bought and ate something, and recorded them one by one in this way, and I will definitely be able to find the source of the disease by then."

County magistrate Qian immediately said, "There are so many patients in various places in the city, and there are also poisoned people outside the city. How can we make a statement next to each other?"

"What's so difficult about it? Recently, the patients suffered from poisoning. The plaintiff also said that the patients were mostly poor people, and the medicines were bought on credit. In view of the suffering of the people, the Qiao family voluntarily purchased the medicines for the treatment of diseases. Donate again, when the sick people hear the news, they will definitely come to get the medicine, and at that time, a confession will be recorded and a medicine will be distributed, even if not every common people can record a confession, but most of them will be obtained."

The county magistrate Qian was speechless with a few words, and even the lawyer Qin Keqi who was on the side was surprised and praised.

Fang Yu took advantage of the victory to pursue: "Although the merchants who donated money and even the merchants who sold rice are suspected, and the scope of influence is wide, the adults will definitely treat everyone equally, and either arrest all those who have a trace of suspicion, or arrest none of them. Catch the thief immediately after finding out the truth."

Fang Yu did not forget to remind Qian Wuzhang that this matter would be related to his political achievements, saying: "The autumn harvest is now, and it is time to report to the court in Fucheng. Your Excellency is busy with many affairs, so you will definitely not feel anxious because the case will not be resolved for a long time. At that time, it will be difficult to make a move when both ends are busy. From now on, I will make a decision, right?"

Qian Wuzhang's beard trembled, but he still had to maintain a majestic posture.

It stands to reason that all suspects should be arrested and detained, but those who donated were all big merchants in the city. This matter will hurt the hearts of all merchants. I am afraid that it will be difficult to collect taxes in the future. Xinnian was acquitted first, but he was forced to do so by an officer in court, which is really awe-inspiring, even if he wanted to release someone, he couldn't be released in court.

"It seems that this case is of great importance and has a lot of threads. Today, I will withdraw from the court first, and I will discuss and deal with it later in the official court."

With a sound of the gavel, a retreat stopped everyone from speaking.

"This, why did you leave the court?"

"If Master Qiao is not released, can we still get the medicine?"

Everyone was discussing, but they couldn't hear the sound of the two lines of yamen servants knocking on their sticks in the hall, and Fang Yu couldn't help feeling cold, he didn't expect that Qian Wuzhang would leave the hall in such a blatant disregard of the discussion.

However, just as Qian Wuzhang stood up and was about to leave the venue, suddenly there were moderate applause: "Wonderful, really wonderful. I heard that a big event happened in the city, and today I will be accepting the class. Why is Mr. Qian going to leave the hall early? I see that this is not the time to leave the hall."

Qian Wuzhang saw Ji Congyong walking up to the hall in plain clothes, immediately got up and turned his legs and feet back: "Tong, Mr. Tong, why are you here?"

"It's just an ordinary case, the lower officials just finished the trial, how can I thank you for your honor." Qian Wuzhang was worried, and his heart was suspended: "Who is so ignorant to disturb the adults."

"An ordinary case? Is it over?" Ji Congyong looked directly at Qian Wuzhang: "The city is full of turmoil, and I am afraid that it will soon reach the ears of the magistrate in two days. You say it is an ordinary case? The magistrate Qian has a big heart." Today, there is no one to deal with the prisoners, no one to give countermeasures, and it is not time to go to court, how did County Magistrate Qian end it?"

Being reprimanded by his superiors in public, Qian Wuzhang dared not say much even though he was disheartened.

"If such a bad thing happens in the city today, we must quickly investigate and deal with the source instead of hastily arresting and convicting people. County magistrate Qian, I just heard that the method proposed by the defendant's lawyer is quite reasonable. Why don't you adopt it?"

Qian Wuzhang quickly apologized: "Such a good method, the lower officials are also planning to adopt it, and time is running out, so I thought about leaving the court as soon as possible and posting the notice immediately."

Ji Tong judge ignored Qian Wuzhang's words of promise, and said loudly: "Nowadays, the world is ruled by law, and the judge should not be partial because of human feelings, and should handle the case based on evidence. If you look at the case with the weak side with narrow eyes, listen to one side's words , then what more evidence is there for!”

"What Master Tongju said is true! What His Excellency said is true. The common people are suffering and suffering, and the lower officials, as their parents and officials, are like a heart-throb, so they lost their train of thought and panicked."

As he spoke, Qian Wuzhang lowered his brows and drooped his eyes, looking like he was about to cry.

"It doesn't matter if you are really cowardly or fake. I am now asking you what to do with Qiao Xinnian who is detained by you?"

"This person's evidence proves that Qiao Xinnian is not guilty for the time being. How about releasing him in court?" Qian Wuzhang cupped his hands and looked at Ji Congyong submissively: "If all the merchants are arrested now, I'm afraid there will be more mobilization, and then the city will be even bigger. for turmoil."

Ji Congyong didn't answer, Qian Wuzhang announced angrily: "The witnesses and material evidence all show that the poisoning of Qiao Xinnian is not established, and he will be acquitted today. If there is any new development in the case in the future, which is related to Qiao Xinnian, I will arrest him again." people."

Fang Yu heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that he was acquitted, and the mother and son of Qiao's family in the auditorium happily held each other's hands tightly. Seeking Fang Yu's help, she cried for a while, and she held on for the rest of the time. Now it is difficult to escape, but she can't hold back anymore.

"Okay, okay, it's fine."

After leaving the hall, Fang Yu asked Qiao Hezhi and Qiao's mother to meet Qiao Xinnian, while he stayed outside the yamen and waited for Ji Congyong to come out. It was already half an hour later, and his face was still cold.

"Fang Yu, why haven't you brought your father-in-law back?"

Seeing the people waiting outside, Ji Congyong was a little surprised, Fang Yu respectfully made a big gift to his colleagues: "Your Excellency made a special trip with enthusiasm and heart, the students are very grateful, and I must thank you right away."

"Hey, you must not say things like that." Ji Congyong raised his hand to stop Fang Yu from thanking him: "This matter is not a trivial matter, even if you don't write a letter to ask me to come to the interrogation, I will definitely come if such a big event happens in the city one trip."

Speaking of this matter, Ji Congyong's face is not very good. This year, Yuncheng suffered from moldy food during the rainy season. It was originally a good thing that rich merchants in the city were willing to open warehouses to help the affected people. On the one hand, it stabilized the refugees, and on the other hand, it also made the government less difficult.

But when the moldy rice incident happened, Qian Wuzhang, a stupid idiot who didn't investigate thoroughly, even heard about it and arrested him to settle the matter. When he got the news of the arrest, he was secretly relieved, and praised him in the house If you don't pay money, you can't do small things, but you are still very measured in big things.Unexpectedly, before he could relax in the future, he received a letter from Fang Yufulang, the words were sincere and touching, asking him to come forward to watch the interrogation, and he faintly felt that something was wrong.

The matter is very important. Qian Wuzhang wants to settle the matter as soon as possible. He is also an official. He naturally understands his thoughts. Before the matter is found out, he thinks that the merchant's status is low. , all shut down the charity and don't lower the price to benefit the people. When the time comes, the people affected by the disaster will gather in the city to beg for food. His political performance is ugly. I'm afraid he won't be able to escape the reprimand of the prefect.

A while ago, the magistrate of the township examination praised Yuncheng for its outstanding talents and produced many good students. Fang Yucai gave Yuncheng some face.Then Qiao Xinnian really did something evil, and he said that he was born innocent, which is really a mess.

Back then, Qian Wuzhang had passed the imperial examinations with him. To put it a little farther back, his classmate was also a well-known person who would take the exams. The officialdom was ups and downs, and the two of them were old enough to be officials in Yuncheng together. Well, speaking of it, there was some affection, and he didn't want to make trouble.

He has some idea of ​​how Qian Wuzhang has been an official in the local area these years, but as long as it does not hinder his political achievements, he will turn a blind eye to the rotten sesame and broken millet. Zong Qian Wuzhang is getting more and more insane, and it seems quite reasonable to be relegated from the imperial court all the way to a small local official now.

"This old man has already discussed with County Magistrate Qian in detail. To find out the source of the disease, we should follow your instructions. I still need your assistance in handling this matter."

Fang Yu hurriedly said: "The students are willing to share the worries for the adults."