Everyone knew who was being called stupid.
Lord Han's heart felt as if it had plunged into a bottomless abyss.
If he had held onto a sliver of hope before, he now knew these matters were aimed directly at him!
From the very beginning, Mu Changxi had dug a pit for him.
After foolishly jumping in, there was no turning back!
Lord Han closed his eyes.
He then heard Mu Changxi ask He Qingshou, "Shopkeeper He, we've been talking for so long, and you still haven't told this prince who it was that spoke to you and hatched the idea to tamper with the disaster relief funds?"
This was likely what everyone wanted to know. Even the common folk watching the spectacle outside fell silent at this moment.
He Qingshou swallowed and then straightened his body. He suddenly pointed towards Lord Han, who was seated in the center, and said, "That person was Han Wei, the butler by Lord Han's side! He said it was Lord Han's intention and told me all this. Otherwise, if anyone else had said this to me, I would not have dared, nor would I have believed them!"
Boom—
This statement was like a firecracker exploding amidst the crowd. After a moment of silence in the hall and outside, a clamor erupted.
"Impossible! How could it be someone from Lord Han's side instructing him to do this?"
Among the common folk, sounds of disbelief and surprise arose. "Lord Han is a good official; he would never do such a thing! Could it be that the Han family's butler acted on his own, or is this He Qingshou just spouting nonsense?"
"No, no!"
Some, however, were clever and perceptive. "We all know that butler; he always follows Lord Han's lead! Otherwise, how would a mere butler dare to do something like this?"
"I think so too."
Even more people chimed in with their analysis. "I don't think this He Qingshou is lying either. Things have reached this point; what good would it do for him to lie? Dragging Lord Han down now would bring him no benefit! It's more likely that Lord Han is indeed the one who did it."
...
Song Chaoyu had thought that since Lord Han appeared to be on such good terms with the common folk, they would protect him.
Now, she saw that the common folk were not so easily fooled after all.
At this moment, the most flustered person here was likely Lord Han.
He swallowed and then slammed the gavel down fiercely. "He Qingshou! How dare you slander this official like this?! Where have I offended you to make you slander me like this? Do you only feel satisfied if you cause harm to my entire family? You are truly vicious!"
He desperately wanted He Qingshou to shut up and shouted to the outside, "Guards, take this He Qingshou away—"
"Lord Han!"
But before Lord Han could finish speaking, Mu Changxi's cold and sharp voice interrupted him. "He Qingshou is a witness brought by this prince. It is perhaps inappropriate for Lord Han to handle him without my permission. Those who know understand that the person involved might just be hot-headed. But those who don't might think Lord Han is guilty and is rushing to deal with He Qingshou!"
"No... no."
Lord Han's forehead was already beaded with a thin layer of sweat, but he still dared not show any more fear.
He forced a smile at Mu Changxi and said, "Your subordinate... naturally did not mean that. Your subordinate merely felt that this He Qingshou was speaking utter nonsense and feared he might trouble Your Royal Highness. That is why I thought of taking him away to be interrogated under severe torture, so he could finally speak the truth!"
"Severe torture?"
Mu Changxi scoffed disdainfully. "After severe torture, He Qingshou's life might be forfeit, wouldn't it? Lord Han, don't be in such a hurry. It's merely an incident caused by your butler; don't be so eager to admit guilt. Perhaps, let's bring your butler up here and ask him?"
Hearing this, a cold sweat broke out on Lord Han's back!
He suddenly realized that it had indeed been a day or two since he had last seen his butler, Han Wei!
It was only because Han Wei was usually so capable and trustworthy that Lord Han hadn't thought anything of not seeing him for a day or two. Now, however, he was filled with regret.
"Guards, bring Han Wei to the hall!"
Mu Changxi's words shattered the last shred of hope in Lord Han's heart.
He stiffly turned his neck and indeed saw his butler, Han Wei, being brought up bound and gagged by Ping Jiang, then unceremoniously thrown into the main hall.
Compared to the two of them, Han Wei looked much more pathetic.
He was injured, with blood on his wounds. His eyes were hollow, and he was gaunt, as if he had been starved for a long time and had not slept.
Upon seeing Lord Han, Han Wei's body trembled. "This servant has failed you, my lord!"
This single sentence left Han Wei's heart ashen—
Mu Changxi would not give the master and servant a chance to reminisce. He also knew that Lord Han might be able to bear the interrogation of others, but he would absolutely not be able to interrogate Han Wei.
So, Mu Changxi had Xiao Ruizhi push him to Lord Han and signaled for Lord Han to step away from the desk. "Lord Han, you must be tired after presiding for so long. Why don't you let this prince handle the rest?"
It was a request, but Ping Jiang unceremoniously snatched the gavel from Lord Han's hand and handed it to Mu Changxi.
Lord Han himself was almost dragged away from the desk by Xiao Ruizhi.
Song Chaoyu stood up and helped Mu Changxi, who was in a wheelchair, to sit in the chair before the desk.
Outside, the common folk's eyes were filled with disappointment and anger. They seemed to realize that only Mu Changxi could bring them justice.
No one objected to Mu Changxi's actions, and he smoothly took over the courtroom.
"Bang—"
He struck the gavel with imposing authority and stared coldly at Han Wei, who was kneeling in the hall. "Who is before me?"
Having endured the "torment" of the past two days, Han Wei would now answer whatever Mu Changxi asked. "This humble servant is Han Wei, the butler of Lord Han, the Prefect of Yuezhou City."
Mu Changxi nodded. "Have you heard what He Qingshou just said? Was it you who went to Qingyun Money House and spoke those words to him?"
"Yes."
Han Wei nodded, the grown man almost in tears. "It was this humble servant who went to Qingyun Money House and told Shopkeeper He about tampering with the disaster relief funds. It was also this servant who led people to transport the disaster relief funds away."