I insist

Chapter 33: Forced Conviction

Song Miqiu spoke with neither arrogance nor servility, making it impossible to tell that she was already an elderly woman with one foot in the grave.

If it weren't for the benefits of being thin, the county magistrate would really admire this person.

Unfortunately, this person had no power or influence, and it was his first time doing business here, which made those people feel uneasy.

They had no other purpose than to kick her out.

Upon receiving a look from the county magistrate, the plaintiff on the other side immediately began to hurl insults.

"That's utter nonsense! Just because those people are innocent doesn't mean all your cakes are safe! Who can guarantee you're not deliberately trying to cover it up and get my brother killed!"

"My son died so unjustly! It was because this wicked old woman wanted to make more money off my son, but he refused, so she cruelly poisoned him!"

Listening to the person crying so heartbreakingly, Song Miqiu began to doubt whether she had really done something so outrageous.

However, everyone knows that she is innocent!

"Even though you're so adamant that I poisoned you, then please produce the evidence! You have no evidence, and all you have are your mouths to say whatever you want. Do you really think we don't need the law?"

Aren't these government officials supposed to be like parents to the people?

Their job is to solve problems for the people.

With so many people in front of him, Song Miqiu refused to believe that they would convict him without even seeking evidence!

However, Song Miqiu overlooked a very serious fact: in this era, corrupt officials were practically everywhere!

Especially since their city was far from the capital, and the emperor was far away, those in high positions of power couldn't interfere here, so they could do whatever they wanted.

Since the magistrate has already accepted the bribe, he will naturally do what the other party wants.

"You said yourself that everyone ate your cake, so naturally this person also ate your cake. He lived for over twenty years without any problems, but he got poisoned after eating the cake. Do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?"

"Sir! My family and I eat this every day, and we're all fine. Besides, even if I wanted to poison it, I have no motive whatsoever. I don't even know who this person is. It's only his first time buying something from me. How could he have just happened to eat a poisoned cake?"

"Even if we take a step back and assume that I really have a grudge against this person, why would I be so foolish as to ruin my own business and poison the things I sell? This is simply slander!"

Song Miqiu's words were accepted by everyone, except for the county magistrate and the plaintiffs.

"You've admitted to having a grudge against the victim? In that case, you have a motive! Guards! Take him away and give him fifty strokes of the cane!"

Fifty strokes of the cane!

That can be deadly!

Song Miqiu looked at the high-ranking county magistrate with disbelief. How could he lie so blatantly?

That's clearly not what I meant to express from the beginning!

For the first time, Song Miqiu felt the gap between ordinary people and these officials.

This is no longer just a simple issue of a divide.

In the era before I arrived, there were certainly unseen acts of blatant disregard for human life, but at least no one dared to do so openly.

But here, the lives of ordinary people are not even considered lives; they are practically treated like livestock.

Song Miqiu felt a deep sense of powerlessness, yet he had no ability to change the situation.

"If I had known earlier that the magistrate was like this, I wouldn't have wasted so much breath explaining myself here out of trust."

Since the other party is determined to punish him, why should Song Miqiu suffer injustice here?

There should be something in the store that can save me, but the price of that thing will naturally be unimaginably expensive.

Song Miqiu did not regret arguing for the sake of survival; her only regret was forgetting that this era did not belong to the legal system she was living in.

The magistrate felt a momentary discomfort, but when he thought of all that gleaming silver, he immediately returned to normal.

If conscience were a factor, he might not even be in this position!

"This case has been..."

"Sir, please wait!"

Just as Magistrate Daren was about to adjudicate the case, the yamen runners outside suddenly rushed in in a panic.

The magistrate frowned slightly, somewhat displeased. "Can't you see I'm handling a case? Can't we talk about this later?"

This person certainly knew that they shouldn't be disturbed during the investigation, but the person who came from outside was just too important!

And his goal was this case!

"My lord! You mustn't slam your fist on the table!"

This man practically scrambled to the county government office, and then whispered something in the official's ear. Instantly, everyone saw the official's expression become incredibly interesting.

Is this really true?

"Even if you gave me a million times the courage, I wouldn't dare joke about something like this!"

The magistrate broke out in a cold sweat, realizing how fortunate it was that the old woman had argued a bit more; otherwise, he might have already closed the case.

At that point, whether or not he can keep his official position will no longer be important.

I might even lose my worthless life!

"Quickly, go and invite that esteemed person in!"

"Yes Yes Yes!"

Everyone saw that the magistrate, who had just been judging a case, was now ordering his men to bring out stools and serve tea and water.

For a moment, the expressions on everyone's faces were quite interesting.

"They were just getting through the case, how did it turn into this? Could it be that some important person is coming?"

"If that's true, that would be wonderful! Old Mrs. Song's cooking skills are so good. If she's really wrongly imprisoned like this, or even loses her life because of it, then we probably won't be able to eat cake again!"

Everyone knows what fifty strokes of the cane mean; this magistrate was practically trying to beat the man to death!

However, as everyone knows, such crimes cannot be punished by beheading, so he could only use this method to execute the person.

Everyone felt a pang of regret, but no one expected that an unexpected incident would occur at this moment.

Everyone speculated about who the person who came from outside was, and Song Miqiu was also curious.

I don't know any important people.

Could it be that the power the original owner of this body belonged to sent someone to rescue him?

After all, they came to see me just yesterday, so they probably haven't left yet.

It's not uncommon for them to step in and help when they see that the other party is powerless to resist.