North County, County City.
In the County Premier's Manor, a middle-aged man who was drinking tea in the hall stood up and asked in surprise, "Why is she not getting married just like that?"
The young man who was half-kneeling on the ground raised his head and said, "Sir, Miss went to Yangqiu County this time to play. Actually, she wanted to meet Zhao Yong first. However, she didn't expect that Zhao Yong's nature was so different from his reputation. He stayed in the brothel every day and came out in less than 15 minutes …"
The middle-aged man put down his teacup and said, "15 minutes is not short …"
The young man said, "15 minutes is from the time he entered the brothel to the time he came out. He might have taken a bath …"
"That's a little short …"
The young man thought for a moment and said, "Miss met a man in Yangqiu County and seemed to have fallen in love with him …"
"Oh?" The middle-aged man stroked the short beard on his chin and said, "No wonder she was so happy when she came back this time. How is that man?"
The young man said, "He's very good to Miss. When Miss was with him, she didn't do anything inappropriate. I saw that Miss was happy, so I didn't stop her."
"As long as Miaomiao is happy, it's fine." The middle-aged man shook his head and said with some regret, "That Zhao Yong has a fire elemental body, which is compatible with Miaomiao's physique. I searched for a long time before I found him. If the two of them were together, it would make up for Miaomiao's congenital defect and let her walk on the path of cultivation. What a pity …"
After saying that, he changed the topic and asked, "What's the identity of that man? Is he married?"
The young man said, "Yangqiu County Government constable Li Si. He's not married. When he was with Miss, he hid his real name and identity. He even made a three-year agreement with Miss. Sir, how should we deal with this person …"
The middle-aged man said, "Since Miaomiao made a three-year agreement with him, we'll wait for him for three years."
The young man raised his head and asked, "If he doesn't come in three years …"
The middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "He made the agreement himself. When the time comes, it's not up to him whether he comes or not."
The young man asked again, "Then the Zhao family …"
The middle-aged man said nonchalantly, "Miaomiao already has someone she likes. Let's forget about the Zhao Family. Send someone to inform them. Also, tell the county magistrate to take care of Li Si for the next two years. It doesn't matter if he's cultivating or not. It's not easy for Miaomiao to meet someone she likes …"
The young man thought for a moment and asked worriedly, "Sir, could that person be plotting something?"
"Plot?" The middle-aged man smiled and said, "So what if he's plotting? As long as Miaomiao likes him, as long as he can make Miaomiao happy, wealth, power, whatever he wants, this official will give him …"
…
Yangqiu County, Zhao Manor.
"You didn't find it?" Zhao Yong listened to the servant's report and frowned. He said angrily, "That damn dwarf, did he take the money and run away?"
He kept pacing in the room. Although he did it secretly and no one knew, he still hired a master who knew Taoism to keep an eye on the Lin Family Village just in case. He did not expect that the master never appeared again after taking the deposit. Zhao Yong could not help but wonder if he had met a swindler.
Just as he was feeling irritated, another servant rushed in and said, "Young Master, Master and Madam want you to come out. Someone from the County Minister's Manor is here …"
Hearing that someone from the County Minister's Manor was here, Zhao Yong hurried out. However, there were no guests in the front hall. Instead, his parents were standing there in a daze and their faces were pale.
Zhao Yong looked at them and asked doubtfully, "Father, mother, what's wrong? Where are the people from the County Minister's Manor?"
The Patriarch of the Zhao Family slapped him hard on the face and said with gritted teeth, "Bastard, what have you done!"
Zhao Yong covered his face and was stunned. "What did I do?"
Master Zhao said with a sullen face, "Your marriage with the County Minister's daughter has been canceled."
"What!"
Zhao Yong's expression changed drastically. Although he had heard that the County Minister's daughter was famous for being ugly, for the sake of his future, he gritted his teeth and accepted it. He even killed his original fiancée because of it. Now that he was told that the marriage was canceled, how could he accept it?
Zhao Yong was shocked and anxious. He asked, "Why?"
Master Zhao threw a letter at his face and said, "The County Minister's daughter came to Yangqiu County to play two days ago and saw that you were hanging around the brothel every day. When she returned, she told the County Minister that your marriage was canceled …"
Zhao Yong's body trembled. He seemed to have thought of something and his face turned completely pale.
The woman looked regretful and said, "If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't …"
Master Zhao asked, "Wouldn't what?"
The woman avoided his eyes and shook her head. "Nothing."
The Patriarch of the Zhao Family had a suspicious look on his face as he asked, "Are you hiding something from me?"
"How is that possible?" The woman laughed dryly and changed the topic. "Let the marriage be canceled. I heard that the County Minister's daughter is fat and extremely ugly. Marrying her is an injustice to our Yong 'er. Come, Master, have a cup of tea and calm down …"
Just as she finished speaking, a servant ran in from outside and said, "Master, Madam, it's not good. Someone from the county government came and said that the young master was involved in a murder case. They want to take him to the county government for questioning …"
Bang!
The teacup in the woman's hand fell and shattered into pieces.
Zhao Yong's body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
…
County Magistrate Zhang knew about the cancellation of the marriage between Zhao Yong and the Prefectural Premier's daughter earlier than the Zhao family because the people from the Prefectural Premier's Mansion went to the county yamen first after arriving at Yangqiu County.
As soon as they left the Zhao Family, Zhang County Magistrates sent people to arrest Zhao Yong.
The county government was only worried about the County Minister's involvement in Lin Wan's case. Now that the Zhao Family had nothing to do with the County Minister's residence, Zhang County Magistrates had nothing to worry about.
In the court, Zhao Yong refused to admit it and said loudly, "I didn't kill anyone. Wan 'er is my fiancée. How could I kill her?"
Zhao Yong's mother stood behind him and cried, "Master, I'm innocent. Wanwan is just missing …"
Zhang County Magistrates looked at her lightly and said, "We have found Miss Lin Wan's body."
The woman was stunned for a moment and then cried, "My poor daughter-in-law, you died so miserably. Master, you must make a decision for us and arrest the murderer …"
Zhang County Magistrates slammed the gavel and said loudly, "Zhao Yong, you really didn't kill Lin Wan?"
Zhao Yong knelt on the ground and said loudly, "Master, I'm innocent!"
Zhang County Magistrates looked at him and said, "Raise your head and see who she is."
Zhao Yong raised his head and a woman's face slowly appeared in front of him.
"A ghost!"
Zhao Yong's face turned pale and he fainted.
The woman hugged the leg of the head of the Zhao Family and said mournfully, "Master, save Yong 'er. We only have one child!"
"He is a human life, and so are others. I didn't teach him well …" Two lines of tears flowed down the middle-aged man's face. He looked at Zhao Yong and whispered, "You reap what you sow. Yong 'er, be a good person in your next life …"
Zhao Yongzhi's mother's body trembled. She looked at Li Mu, Zhang Shan and the other two with an extremely venomous and resentful gaze. Then, she blacked out and passed out.
Disgust and resentment were all "evil" feelings. Zhao Yong deserved to die, and his mother was not a good person either. Li Mu did not show any mercy to such people.
After Li Mu invited Lin Wan's spirit, there was no suspense in the case. Interrogating Zhao Yong was just a normal procedure.
According to the laws of the Great Zhou, murderers had to pay with their lives. Zhang County Magistrates waved his brush and immediately sentenced Zhao Yong to death. Although the county magistrate did not have the power to directly sentence a person to death, he only needed to send the case to the governor's office. After a final review, the sentence would be carried out.
The Great Zhou's counties were autonomous. The central county's imperial court usually did not interfere with the county's affairs. All matters of the county were decided by the governor.
Given the distance between Yangqiu County and the county capital, a round trip would take at least three days.
From the time Zhao Yong was sentenced to death to the governor's review and return of the case file, it only took two days.
After three days, Zhao Yong would be executed at the entrance of the market.
Yangqiu County was not big, and the Zhao Family had some reputation in the county.
On the day of Zhao Yong's execution, the streets of Yangqiu County were empty.
Zhang County Magistrates personally supervised the execution. The executioner was already waiting on the stage. The knife in his hand was not an ordinary weapon. With one slash, besides the head falling to the ground, the criminal's three spiritual and seven physical souls would also be destroyed. This was to prevent the criminal from becoming a malicious spirit after death and continuing to wreak havoc.
Zhang County Magistrates threw down an order and said in a deep voice, "The time has come. Execute!"
The knife flashed, and Zhao Yong's head rolled to the ground.
Amidst the shocked cries of the crowd at the entrance of the market, Zhang County Magistrates looked at the empty space beside him and said apologetically, "Miss Lin, this is all I can do. Zhao Yong is already dead. I hope you won't harbor any resentment in your heart in the future and walk the path of evil and harm the world …"
"Thank you, sir. Lin Wan will remember your teachings …"
In the empty space, only her voice could be heard, but her figure could not be seen.
"I'm ashamed. I can't accept your thanks. If you want to thank someone, thank Li Mu and the others." Zhang County Magistrates shook his head and turned to Old Wang, who was standing behind him and dozing off. He said, "Don't sleep anymore. Let someone clean up the ground …"
…
On the day of Zhao Yong's execution, something else happened in Yangqiu County that caused a lot of discussion.
On this day, the head of the Zhao family sold his mansion, shop, dismissed his servants, and donated all his family assets. He moved out of Yangqiu County and disappeared.
"Master Zhao is a good man. It's a pity that he gave birth to such an animal."
"Sigh, he even gives porridge to beggars during festivals …"
"What a sin …"
…
In a teahouse on the street, the people were idle and discussing. A tall and thin man leaned against the door of the teahouse and asked, "Those constables are quite brave. What are their names?"
The waiter thought for a moment and said, "Li Mu, Zhang Shan, Li Si. I think it's those few …"
"Thank you."
The tall and thin man nodded and turned to disappear into the crowd.
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