"Cao Dewang, do you know why I had you captured?"
Cao Dewang naturally understood!
It was precisely because he understood that he feigned ignorance!
"I don't know you. Why are you arresting me? Be careful, I'll report you to the authorities!"
"Stubborn! I am this year's top scholar, personally appointed by the Emperor as a second-rank official, the Minister of Personnel, and concurrently the first-rank cultivator of the Hanlin Academy. You wish to report me to the authorities? Pray tell... would the Prefect dare to interfere?"
Cao Dewang panicked!
Was this person truly this year's top scholar?
He heard that this year's top scholar had received two official posts, and his rank was quite high!
"Why should I believe you? What proof do you have to show you are this year's top scholar?"
"I don't need to provide you with evidence. You just need to know that I am here to arrest you!"
Cao Dewang shrank his neck. "I am just a common citizen. Even if you are the top scholar, you can't act recklessly!"
"Cao Dewang, as the town head of Qingshui Town, why do you collect one hundred taels of tax from the people each year? Have you embezzled these collected taxes?"
"What one hundred taels of tax? Don't wrongly accuse me!" Cao Dewang was terrified. He absolutely could not admit to this matter!
Otherwise, he would be finished!
"You won't say? I heard you have a son named Cao Shun, who is the sole heir of your Cao family! He is currently at Qingshan Academy in the capital!"
As Qin Yun spoke of Cao Shun, a wicked calculation flashed in his eyes!
And this calculation was precisely what Cao Dewang saw!
Upon hearing about Cao Shun, Cao Dewang lost his composure!
He had indeed embezzled some funds, but Cao Shun was his only child, the one who would continue the Cao family lineage. Something must not happen to him!
Cao Dewang did not know that Qin Yun's malicious smirk was intentionally shown to him, aimed at breaking his defenses!
"Sir, what do you want?" Cao Dewang was flustered!
Qin Yun walked around Cao Dewang. "I appreciate someone who is sensible. Since I have chosen to arrest you, it means I have investigated your embezzlement. Now, I am giving you an opportunity to confess. If you do not cherish it, I will report the truth to the Emperor. At that time, with the Emperor's decree, your entire Cao family could be charged with treason and face execution!"
Qin Yun crouched down, looking at Cao Dewang who was lying on his side. "The new Emperor has a bad temper. When he ascended the throne, he executed all those he disliked. Town Head Cao must have heard of this!"
"If your entire family is executed then, Cao Shun will naturally not escape. Think carefully... Cao Shun is the hope of your Cao family. Can you bear to see that hope extinguished?"
Upon hearing these words!
Cao Dewang was extremely terrified!
The entire Cao family executed?
No, no!
But he was not sure how much Qin Yun had investigated, or if he had any evidence.
Seeing Cao Dewang waver!
Qin Yun continued, "Are you accustomed to living in this place, Town Head Cao? I assume you had a good night's sleep?"
Mentioning this matter!
Cao Dewang began to cry again! "Wuwuwu...!"
He had spent the entire night in terror!
He had never been so scared in his life!
"Town Head Cao, my time is limited. If you continue to put on an act, I have nothing more to say. I will then enter the capital to impeach you and report your embezzlement to the Emperor. Then, you will await news of your entire Cao family being executed!"
"No, no, Your Excellency! I'll speak if you want! I only beg you to spare my family!" Cao Dewang cried with snot and tears.
His appearance was pathetic to behold!
"Speak, why did you collect one hundred taels of tax? Did you embezzle those tax silver and grain?"
"I only took one-tenth of the tax silver and grain. The rest was all submitted to the imperial court!" Cao Dewang finally broke. If his life were gone, what use would so much money be?
"The remaining nine-tenths were submitted? Do you remember the officials who collected tax silver and grain from the town each year?"
"That high official never came. Every time someone came, it was his subordinate!" Cao Dewang said with tears.
Qin Yun narrowed his eyes and probed, "Is that person from the capital, named Wei, and his subordinates call him Steward Wei?"
Cao Dewang's eyes widened. He thought, this person even knows Steward Wei, so it seems he truly has sufficient evidence!
"Yes!"
Qin Yun was overjoyed!
As expected, it was that Steward Wei who was causing trouble!
Whose official residence did that Steward Wei belong to?
He only hoped Hong Fu would not disappoint him!
"Since you have met Steward Wei, you must be familiar with his appearance and voice!"
Cao Dewang did not speak, but nodded truthfully!
"Steward Wei collects tax silver and grain from the town each year. Do you have any records?"
"Steward Wei asked me to create a false account to deceive the local prefect's inspection. However, I privately kept the actual tax records."
"Originally, Steward Wei told me to destroy the records, but I was afraid. I feared that one day I would be silenced by those people. If they dared to act against me, I would make this matter public! At worst, it would be a dead fish and broken net!"
Qin Yun nodded. This person was not foolish, but unfortunately, his petty cleverness was used in the wrong place!
"If you do nothing wrong, you need not fear ghostly knocking! If you cooperate with me in this investigation, I can exonerate you from your crimes!"
Cao Dewang asked cautiously, "Does that mean... I won't be beheaded!"
Qin Yun smiled wryly. "Currently, I am not sure. If you cooperate, you naturally won't be beheaded. If you conceal anything, and your words are full of lies, then your crimes are egregious! Not only will your entire family be executed, but your crimes will be publicized to all the common people, and you will become a corrupt official condemned by thousands in the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
Cao Dewang hurriedly shook his head. "No, I absolutely will not conceal anything. Whatever Your Excellency asks, I will answer truthfully!"
"Before dawn, I will send you back to your residence. After returning home, you will secretly give me the tax records. Tonight's events are as if they never happened! You must not tell anyone about what happened tonight, not even your wives and concubines!"
"Yes, yes, yes, whatever Your Excellency says!" Cao Dewang was very cooperative!
Qin Yun was very satisfied with Cao Dewang's attitude!
Then he gave Qing Shan a look!
Qing Shan understood!
Next!
Qin Yun met Su Daqian and Wang Sanxi in turn!
Su Daqian was a lecher. This person was even more timid. Apart from embezzling tax silver, it was common for him to bully the maids in his residence!
Sometimes, if he saw a beautiful woman from a local family when he went out, he would basically not stop until he had had his way with her!
His confession was the same as Cao Dewang's!
He only took one-tenth of the benefits, and the remaining nine-tenths were all submitted to the corrupt officials!
As for the records, after hearing Steward Wei's words, he honestly destroyed them, so there was no trace.
This person did not have much depth. He was only obsessed with women and had no other vices.
When Qin Yun saw Wang Sanxi!
A pile of small snakes was coiled around this person!
Perhaps it was due to Qin Yun's arrival, and the room was brightly lit!
The snake swarm scattered and fled!
Qin Yun asked a servant to check Wang Sanxi's body for any bites!
She did not expect that there would be a nest of snakes here!
It seemed that Wang Sanxi was the most miserable person tonight!
No wonder Xiao Ju said that this person didn't even have a chance for her to disguise herself as a ghost to scare him. He had already been scared unconscious!
"Your Excellency, there are no bite marks on his body. Those snakes just now were not poisonous, they were simply coiled around him!"