noffsinger Chapter 1129 Court Hearing 3
Chapter 1129 Court Hearing 3
"Are there any records of people who died from the plague? Have you found out what caused them to contract the plague?" Zhang Qian asked.
Wu Yirong paused, "Since the person is dead, there's no record of them. Lord Zhang knows that there's a lot going on in the government office, with files piling up like mountains. When someone dies, it's like a lamp going out..."
Zhang Qian angrily retorted, "Nonsense! I'm afraid Prefect Wu is just trying to cover up the truth!"
Wu Yirong retorted angrily, "I have no personal grudge against Prefect Zhang. Why are you targeting me at every turn? You slander me in front of the Empress. If you want to find fault with me, then produce the evidence!"
Just as Zhang Qian was about to say something, Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "So Prefect Wu did not register the list of deceased persons at all."
Wu Yirong paused, not understanding why the Empress was asking such detailed questions, and could only reply, "This humble official was busy with official duties and did not register."
“Prefect Wu’s subordinates are also busy with official duties and do not have time to register and compile records. Prefect Wu has to do this kind of small thing himself.”
Wu Yirong was stunned. "This humble official...did indeed do it personally."
"So, it seems that all the other officials His Majesty employs are incompetent, and only Lord Wu is truly helping His Majesty," Jiang Fenghua said sternly. "Since all the officials present are incompetent and useless, then they should all be dismissed and investigated."
Today, there are not only ordinary people present, but also many civil and military officials from Jiangzhou.
In an instant, all the officials, regardless of rank or rank, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We have absolutely not neglected our duties."
"Since that's the case, you can also tell me why plagues have frequently occurred in Jiangzhou in recent years. Since you have done your best, why didn't you report to the court after the plague occurred and find out where the disease came from? Instead, you secretly burned the corpses. You are all officials appointed by the emperor. Why didn't you find out where the disease came from? You even had to have Prefect Wu personally handle a personnel register."
Everyone was sweating profusely and shivering, and they all looked in the direction of Prefect Wu.
"Which county does Meihua Village belong to, and who is the county magistrate?" With so many loopholes, Wu Yirong truly became a local tyrant in Jiangzhou City, wielding absolute power.
At this moment, the county magistrate in charge of Plum Blossom Village was sweating profusely. He trembled and stammered as he raised his hand, "Your Majesty, it is your humble servant."
"So you're saying you handled the Plum Blossom Village case?"
County Magistrate Chen said, "It was personally handled by Wu, the advisor to Prefect Wu. I am not very clear about it. Meihua Village belongs to Yinhua Town, and the town mayor is Zhu Si, Wu's maternal uncle."
"So there was this connection. I'm afraid this town mayor's position wasn't obtained cleanly either!" Jiang Fenghua sneered. "Master Wu actually has more power than a county magistrate. This case is truly full of suspicious points!"
At this moment, a barely perceptible cold light flashed in Wu Fu's eyes. He knelt on the ground and said, "Actually, it was quite a coincidence. I just happened to witness the plague case at Hu San's house. The situation was urgent, so I didn't notify County Magistrate Chen. Instead, I reported it directly to the Prefect. The Prefect knew that it involved lives and the safety of the people of Jiangzhou, so he took immediate action. Cutting off the source is the safest course of action."
Hu Kui couldn't stand it anymore and shouted angrily, "This is utterly deceitful! Hu San didn't get the plague at all; his eyes were eaten by the Golden Toad. Hu San's child was only a few years old, and his eyes were taken away by the Golden Toad while he was still alive. Their cruel methods have harmed people. Such a big case, and you just burned people alive like that. And you're still trying to argue in front of so many people."
Jiang Fenghua added, "In Jiangzhou, which is under Lord Wu's jurisdiction, a plague is rampant. Instead of entrusting the case to local officials, Lord Wu has assigned it to his confidants for private handling. It seems that there is something fishy about the plague case."
At this time, more and more people were gathered outside the yamen. Some people who had heard the whole story of the case were also puzzled. The case was neither too big nor too small, yet County Magistrate Chen did not understand it and instead had it handled by the clerk next to Prefect Wu.
Indeed, it is suspicious.
At this time, the people outside the hall also had many questions. Yes, why not investigate the source, but the plague has been occurring all the time?
In reality, if someone were to be infected with the plague, it would certainly not be just one family member; usually, the entire village would be infected. However, the plague in Jiangzhou was quite strange.
It just didn't spread, and the matter didn't escalate.
If you examine it thoroughly, you'll find many questions.
Someone shouted, "My daughter-in-law and granddaughter also contracted the plague. They were taken away by Master Wu, and they never came back. Master Wu said they had the plague and couldn't see anyone, and needed treatment, but in the end, they never returned. My son is with his wife every day, and he's fine. We've said it's not the plague at all, just that they're sick, but the officials insist it's the plague..."
Everyone looked at the old woman. She looked haggard and was covered in patches. She had come to see the case because she had heard that the prefectural government office in Jiangzhou was holding a trial. When she heard the word "plague," she was stunned.
because……
She cried out, "Your Majesty the Empress, please do justice for my daughter-in-law and granddaughter!"
At this moment, a lame old man squeezed into the crowd. His hair was gray, his face was full of the vicissitudes of time, and his right leg was obviously shorter. When he arrived at the court, he knelt down in front of Zhang Qian, tears streaming down his face. "Lord Zhang, my son, daughter-in-law, daughter, grandson, and granddaughter were all taken away by Master Wu. They inexplicably fell ill, and in the end, the whole family was taken away by the government. In the end, they said they had contracted a plague that couldn't be cured. None of the family members came out; they were just burned. There must be something strange about this. They were probably fed to the golden toad by Master Wu long ago."
Jiang Fenghua stopped listening to their explanations and said directly, "Since Lord Wu said it was a plague, then please have Lord Zhang bring all the other witnesses to court! Today, I will thoroughly examine the plague case in Jiangzhou."
Zhang Qian bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, please take a seat."
Jiang Fenghua said, "Today, Lord Zhang is the presiding judge, and I am merely an observer. Lord Zhang, please begin!"
"Snapped!"
The gavel fell, its clear sound echoing in the empty hall.
"The villagers of Meihua Village, Qizhu Village, Liujiazhuang Village and other villagers went to the court."
Soon, soldiers led a group of villagers and their families who had suffered from the plague to the courtroom. Outside the courtroom, a crowd surged, and countless eyes stared at the poor people present.
Wu Yirong and Wu Fumen came to the gate. So many people dressed like beggars came. They were actually poor people.
Only then did they realize that Empress Jiang and Zhang Qian had already found many witnesses.
Xun Yao pressed his sword directly against Wu Yirong's neck. "Lord Wu, don't even think about anything else. You're trapped here now."
As Wu Yirong listened to the accusations, he realized that Wu Fu had been helping to cover up the matter of raising the golden toad.
Soon, the Wu family members were also brought to the courtroom. A group of people, young and old, all wore bitter expressions. Madam Wu cried out, "Master, someone broke into our house, randomly arresting and searching people! They threatened Lin'er and Jun'er, so they took the account books! Who are they? One of those arrogant maids hit Lin'er! How dare she…!"
She appeared before Madam Wu, saying, "We are naturally the Empress's people."
The people Hongxiu brought into the Wu family's old house were not government officials, but their own people. She searched around but couldn't find Bai Yuhan or Wan Qianshan, nor could she find the entrance to the secret room.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Wu Yirong stood up and said coldly, "Isn't Your Majesty afraid that the person who broke into the Wu residence at night will lose his life? If even one member of my Wu clan is injured, then your Feng clan will not be safe either."
He took out the token given to him by the old lady of the Feng family and handed it to Jiang Fenghua. "Does Your Majesty really think that I am unprepared, or does Your Highness think that I am a fool who is completely unprepared?"