With a slight pause for breath, the two quickly left. No matter how secluded the place was, people occasionally passed by, and they feared being seen.
In the afternoon, a man's body was discovered, and the authorities were promptly informed.
The man had not been trying to scare Jiang Yin. He had taken money and eliminated trouble for others before, and it wasn't the first or second time. The reason no one had bothered him was that he had a good sister.
When they were young and their family was poor, his sister had, by chance, become a maid in the Prime Minister's mansion. She was now a favored concubine of the Prime Minister. Although she had never been publicly acknowledged, everyone who needed to know was aware. This, however, did not include Jiang Yin.
Rumor had it that when his sister heard the news of his death, she fainted. The Prime Minister was greatly distressed and vowed to investigate thoroughly.
Seizing this excellent opportunity, Wu Caiwei naturally did not want to miss it. She directly provided clues and reminded the official that perhaps those close to the man might also know something.
After returning from the river, Jiang Yin inexplicably felt a sense of unease. She had done similar things before, but this time she felt as though she was in for trouble. When the county magistrate summoned her, this feeling intensified, making her somewhat nervous. She managed to calm herself before following them into the hall. Upon seeing the familiar figure, her brows furrowed unconsciously, unable to comprehend what connection she had with her.
"Madam Kong, Madam Huangfu claims she saw you and Li Yiming arguing by the small river. Is this true or false?" The county magistrate looked at the two with a headache. While Huangfu Yunkun was currently just an ordinary merchant, everyone knew his background. As for Madam Kong, Kong Jialiang's official position was higher than his. Both were individuals not to be offended.
Jiang Yin stared at her with shock. She hadn't expected her discreet actions to be witnessed. She felt as though this woman was destined to be her downfall.
"Reporting to Your Honor, that is not true. As the wife of an official's family, how could I be involved with someone like him? Madam Huangfu might have misseen," Jiang Yin could not admit to the matter. Although she had not been afraid when she did it, she knew that if it were exposed, her reputation would be ruined.
Next, a man beaten half to death was dragged into the courtroom. Jiang Yin examined him carefully and confirmed she did not know him. She looked at the county magistrate with a puzzled expression.
Liu Er Niu was in too much pain to speak. He had thought that after his elder brother took the money, they could enjoy themselves for a while longer. Unexpectedly, he learned of his brother's death. He was shocked and knew without a doubt that the woman was involved. He hadn't expected her to be so ruthless.
When the county magistrate questioned him, he grit his teeth and claimed ignorance. His elder brother, a capable man, had been killed by her. How could he, someone who had just arrived in the capital from the countryside, be her match? To avoid attracting her attention and ensure his own safety, he could only lie.
Initially, the authorities were about to close the case, but then a richly dressed woman subjected him to torture.
At first, he could endure it, but the other party showed no signs of stopping. He feared that if he wasn't killed by that vicious woman, he might be beaten to death by this one. So, he decided to throw caution to the wind.
"Li Er Niu, do you have anything to say?" the county magistrate asked him sternly.
"If I speak, please protect my safety, Your Honor. I don't want to end up like my elder brother," Although he didn't look up, he knew the woman was in the courtroom and felt a bitter pang in his heart. Su Dan Novel Network.
Upon hearing this, the county magistrate slammed his gavel. He already had reservations about Li Er Niu, who wouldn't tell the truth when questioned by his own officials. Yet, the Prime Minister's concubine found someone to beat him, and then he revealed everything, causing the magistrate to be blamed for not being diligent enough in his brother's case.
Li Er Niu's heart trembled. He no longer dared to bargain with the official, fearing that the man, like that woman, would beat him without a word, and he would lose his life.
Without further hesitation, he recounted the conversation from the previous night.
Kong Jialiang, who had already arrived in the courtroom, understood everything upon hearing this. Early this morning, he had received news that his wife and her personal maid, Si Qin, had gone out.
However, for some time now, all his attention had been on his concubine, and he had no desire to deal with her. As long as she didn't bother him, he didn't care. He hadn't expected her to cause such a huge disaster. In truth, he didn't want to get involved, but he could imagine that if her guilt was established, his mother would be the first to disapprove. Furthermore, he himself would be notorious in the capital. After all, what official's wife had ever been imprisoned for murder? He was probably the only one in many years.
He knew that the deceased had the Prime Minister behind him, someone he couldn't afford to offend. He could only find a scapegoat, and Si Qin was the best candidate.
The county magistrate hesitated for only a moment before deciding to uphold justice for the deceased. Although he didn't want to offend the Kong family, he certainly didn't want to offend the Prime Minister.
Just then, Si Qin suddenly burst in, knelt in the courtroom, and wept, saying despairingly, "Your Honor, one person's actions are their own. Although my young lady treats me like her own sister, it was I who killed him. His reputation must not be tarnished."
Wu Caiwei knew this would happen. She guessed that Jiang Yin would surely push someone forward to take the blame to avoid responsibility, but she doubted anyone would believe it.
"Oh? Tell me, why did you want to kill him? There must be a reason," the county magistrate immediately pressed.
"He fancied me, but I disdained him for being a rogue and didn't want to marry him. However, he had something of mine, which he had snatched from me. I wanted it back but was powerless. He threatened me, saying that if I didn't marry him, he would ruin my reputation. So, I decided to go all the way,"
Si Qin lowered her head, her expression hidden. However, from her voice, it was clear she was grinding her teeth in hatred.
"Then, what was it about Madam Huangfu seeing him arguing with Madam Kong by the small river? How did you, a weak woman, manage to kill him and dump his body in the river?" the county magistrate asked the crucial question.
"That day, my lady and I did go to the small river. My lady argued with him because she wanted to reason with him and get him to let me go. But he simply refused. In a fit of anger, I pushed him into the river when he wasn't paying attention." Recalling the scene, Si Qin became somewhat agitated. In fact, these ideas were hers. If she had known it would lead her into such a desperate situation, she would never have been involved.
However, to outsiders, her reaction seemed very genuine. Her agitation at the mention of the man suggested a connection, making the county magistrate somewhat suspicious. Could it be true that this matter was indeed unrelated to Madam Kong?