Chapter Seventeen: Twisting Truth and Falsehood
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Seeing the mocking smiles on the two, Qin Song’s expression suddenly darkened as he sensed something was amiss.
“Qin Song, since you insisted that I handle Young Master Cao’s case first, I shall grant your wish!”
“Bring in the witnesses!”
No sooner had Li Wei spoken than Xiao Yu and Miss Xiang Yun were brought forward.
In addition to these two, Madam Liu, the madam of the Jade Pavilion, was also brought into the courtroom.
“Master Qin, I’m sorry...”
Xiao Yu, already a tear-streaked mess, kept apologizing repeatedly to Qin Song upon seeing him.
Though Xiang Yun remained silent, her tear-stained face looked at Qin Song with nothing but despair and guilt.
“Who are these people?”
Li Wei cast a cold glance at Qin Song and asked.
“Your Excellency, I am Madam Liu, the madam of the Jade Pavilion,” the swaying Madam Liu bowed politely. “These two are girls from the Jade Pavilion.”
“Madam Liu, is it?”
Li Wei fixed his gaze on her. “Tell me, who killed those two girls from the Jade Pavilion?”
“Your Excellency, those two girls were not killed by Young Master Cao!”
As she said this, Madam Liu deliberately glanced at Qin Song and his companions, a hint of arrogance shining in her eyes.
At these words, the faces of Qin Song and his three companions, including Qin Yuanhuai, changed simultaneously.
“You’re lying!”
“Yang Xiu!”
Yang Xiu, standing behind Qin Song, wanted to speak up in protest, but Qin Song stopped him.
“I...”
Frustrated, Yang Xiu tried to speak again but was silenced by Zhang Pengyuan beside him.
Raising his head, Qin Song looked at Li Wei and Lin You on the stage, and at Tang Ze standing nearby with a cold sneer, feeling a profound desolation in his heart.
Madam Liu, also wearing a cold smile, glanced at Qin Song and continued, “A few days ago, a band of thieves suddenly broke into the Jade Pavilion and abducted three girls!”
“The next day, when we found them, two had been tortured to death by the bandits, leaving only one alive!”
Listening to this clumsy excuse, Qin Song’s heart sank deeper, a trace of bitter self-mockery appearing on his face.
“That one is this surviving girl!”
Madam Liu arrogantly pointed at Xiao Yu, who knelt on the ground sobbing uncontrollably.
“Who is this in the court?”
Li Wei, fixing his gaze on Xiao Yu, also noticed the scars covering her body.
“Bang!”
Seeing Xiao Yu still crying bitterly, Li Wei slammed the table and shouted again, “Who are you in this court?”
“I am Xiao Yu of the Jade Pavilion!”
Raising her head, Xiao Yu cried out.
“Tell me, is what Madam Liu just said true?”
At this, Xiao Yu completely broke down. Though Xiang Yun did not speak, tears streamed down her face.
“I’m asking you! Answer quickly!”
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Li Wei once more slammed the table, urging her to speak.
“Xiao Yu, don’t be afraid, tell the magistrate...”
Seeing Xiao Yu collapse, Madam Liu bent down with a smiling face, attempting to comfort her.
“Tell me!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry...”
Xiao Yu had lost her mind, wailing and repeatedly bowing her head, muttering apologies.
Madam Liu’s eyes held no pity but only cold ridicule.
At that moment, Xiang Yun embraced Xiao Yu and, choking back tears, said, “Your Excellency, I can testify!”
“Indeed, that day, a group of bandits broke into the Jade Pavilion and abducted Xiao Yu and two others...”
“Your Excellency, Miss Xiang Yun is also a girl from the Jade Pavilion!” Tang Ze quickly explained as Xiang Yun sobbed.
“Very well, take the witness away!”
At some point, victorious smiles had appeared on the faces of Li Wei and Lin You.
“Thank you, Your Excellency!”
Madam Liu, as if celebrating a victory, swaggered out of the courtroom.
Xiang Yun, holding Xiao Yu as if lifeless, glanced once at Qin Song before staggering out.
“Qin Song, do you have anything to say?”
Li Wei sneered, fixing his gaze on Qin Song.
“Heh...”
Finally exposed to the harsh realities of this world, Qin Song wore a self-mocking smile.
“Your Excellency!”
At this moment, Zhang Pengyuan stepped forward. “This matter all started because of me. The guards of the Jade Pavilion and Cao Ruixuan’s men — I fought them alone!”
“Zhang Pengyuan!”
Chu Haiyuan, sitting nearby, stood up abruptly.
“Who are you?”
Li Wei asked.
“I am Zhang Pengyuan, captain of the Yuezhou Navy. Today, hearing that Cao Ruixuan was at the brothel, I stormed into the Jade Pavilion in anger and beat him up!”
“In anger?”
Li Wei clearly did not understand Zhang Pengyuan’s explanation.
“Yes!”
Zhang Pengyuan lifted his head. “My sister is Cao Ruixuan’s wife!”
“What?”
Upon hearing this, everyone except Qin Song, Yang Xiu, and Chu Haiyuan was stunned.
“Li Wei, I suppose you now know who he really is?”
Chu Haiyuan, smirking, gave Li Wei a pointed look.
Only then did Li Wei realize Zhang Pengyuan’s identity, his expression instantly souring.
As the brother-in-law, Zhang Pengyuan, furious at seeing his brother-in-law frequenting brothels, had stormed in and beaten Cao Ruixuan — if one were to justify it, it was indeed reasonable.
The key point was that this matter now involved the influential Zhang family of the capital.
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“Captain Zhang, some responsibilities are not yours to bear at will!”
Li Wei quickly recovered and sneered, “There are so many witnesses here who saw with their own eyes that Qin Song broke Young Master Cao’s legs!”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Pengyuan’s face changed, and he could find no words to defend himself.
“Governor, this was a joint act of the three of us. If there is blame, we shall bear it together!”
Even so, Zhang Pengyuan sought to share the blame Qin Song faced.
“Yes, the three of us did it together!”
Yang Xiu stood nearby defiantly, “What Young Master Cao did was monstrous. Even if Qin Song hadn’t broken his legs, I would have!”
Yang Xun’s face also darkened upon hearing this. He wanted to reprimand, but in the end remained silent, only gazing deeply at his son.
“Enough!”
At this moment, Qin Song finally spoke, fixing his gaze on Yang Xiu and Zhang Pengyuan. “Thank you, brothers.”
Then he looked at Li Wei calmly. “It was I who broke Cao Ruixuan’s legs.”
“This matter is my sole doing. Whether it’s a beating, prison, public shaming, or execution — you may say it plainly!”
Facing the cold expressions of Li Wei and Lin You, Qin Song lifted his head with utter composure.
“Qin Song, this is Young Master Cao of the Cao family. Do you really think the Qin family can still protect you?”
Before so many witnesses, Lin You openly sneered at Qin Song.
“Bring them!”
Li Wei’s eyes blazed with killing intent as he prepared to act on Qin Song’s admission.
“Li Wei, how dare you!”
Unable to contain herself, Madam Wu stood up fiercely.
A mother’s fierceness surged through her as she saw Li Wei move against her son.
“What do you mean you don’t dare!”
“Bang!”
Li Wei slammed the table, smirking coldly. “Qin Song fought in public and caused serious injury. Bring them...”
“Your Excellency...”
Just as Li Wei was about to pronounce judgment, a subordinate hurried in. “General Di Chao requests an audience!”
“General Di Chao?”
Hearing this, Li Wei coldly sneered, “Di Chao is no longer the National Guard General!”
“Li Wei, you’re insolent!”
Chu Haiyuan stood up in fury.
“Such arrogance, Lord Li!”
Before Chu Haiyuan’s words had fallen, a hoarse voice entered the courtroom as a tall figure strode in.
It was none other than Di Chao!