Chapter 61
61 Irrefutable evidence (1)
He examined Xu Qi ‘an discreetly and saw that his body was tense. He forced a smile and comforted him, “”I was only ordered to bring you back for questioning. I don’t know the details. However, when you get to the Yamen, remember one thing:Don’t hide what you should say, and don’t say what you shouldn’t say.”
I f * cking … Don’t I know this? ‘It’s not worth 30 taels of silver at all.sh * t, what’s the difference between this and an insincere excuse like’ I’ve already asked the relevant Department to deal with it’. ..’ Xu Qi ‘an really wanted to slap the man to death, but he didn’t dare to.
The carriage passed through many busy cities and long streets, and arrived at the night watchman’s Yamen at the beginning of Midnight.
Xu Qi ‘an jumped off the carriage and entered the famous Yamen under the escort of two night watchmen.
Its office was converted from two three-entry courtyards. Attics stood tall, and night watchmen in black with gongs tied to them walked in and out. They looked grim and imposing.
‘I wonder if I’ll be sent to the prison where the night watchmen work. That’s a place where they eat people without spitting out their bones …’ ‘Let’s wait and see. I’m a good citizen, and I didn’t break the law …’ Xu Qi ‘an took a deep breath and calmed down.
After a while, he was brought into a small courtyard.
There were two night watchmen standing at the entrance of the courtyard. After the two sides exchanged hands, the man with squinty eyes stopped at the entrance of the courtyard and smiled.”Go in, good luck.”
After that, he left with his serious-looking companion.
Xu Qi ‘an was brought in. Two night watchmen pushed the door open and said coldly, “”Let’s go in.”
It was an interrogation room, with all kinds of torture instruments in the corner and an empty long table in the center.
The head of the interrogation team did not come.
Xu Qi ‘an didn’t dare to sit on a chair. He stood in the room, thinking about why the night watchman was looking for him.
But before he had time to think about it, he heard footsteps and someone entered the courtyard.
The door was pushed open, and two middle-aged men with silver gongs embroidered on their chests walked in.
Xu Qi ‘an’s muscles tensed up in an instant, and he quickly glanced at the two silver gongs. He was surprised to find that one of them was an old acquaintance.
He had a high nose bridge, deep-set facial features, and slightly light-colored pupils. He was half-Nanman.
He was the silver Gong that he had seen in the back hall of the government office during the silver Tax case.
“We meet again,” Li Yuchun nodded. There was no warmth in his eyes.
The two silver gongs sat behind the table with serious expressions. They examined Xu Qi ‘an with sharp eyes.
“Answer my questions. If you lie, you will be severely punished.” The unfamiliar silver Gong said in a deep voice.
“Yes …” Xu Qi ‘an’s heart sank. These two were looking at him like he was a criminal.
Li Yuchun frowned. before you answer my question, tidy up your clothes. It’s basic etiquette.
Xu Qi ‘an realized that his clothes were too loose and not symmetrical enough. It was caused by the sneaky taking out silver notes from the carriage.
Li Yuchun’s expression relaxed a little when he was done tidying up his clothes, as if a load on his mind had been lifted.
“Did you know that the mastermind behind the tax case was the assistant Minister of the previous Zhou Dynasty?” asked the unfamiliar silver Gong.
“I heard miss Caiwei from the Directorate of Celestials mention it,” Xu Qi ‘an answered honestly.
“Then you should know that Zhou Li is taking revenge on you.”
“I’ve thought of it,”
Xu Qi ‘an kept the young man’s warning in mind. He would not hide anything. It was undeniable that the white-robed Celestials had rushed into the Ministry of Justice to save him in full view of everyone.
It would be better to admit it openly and appear glorious.
“Do you know that Zhou Li wants to kill you?”
“I know.”
“So, in order not to be retaliated by the Zhou family, you kidnapped the Weiwu Marquis’s daughter and framed Zhou Li.” The unfamiliar silver Gong’s eyes flashed with a sharp light.
As expected, it was because of this matter … Xu Qi ‘an didn’t panic at all. He even showed a certain degree of confusion and panic from being wronged.”I don’t understand what you’re saying, Sir.”
“On the day the daughter of the Wei Wu Marquis was kidnapped, you were not on duty at the Yamen of Chang Le County. Where did you go?”
I went to the brothel to listen to music. I have indeed failed my duty and often sneaked to the brothel to listen to music.
Constable Wang could vouch for this, because this was how everyone slacked off.
Besides, the fast hands of my Changle County are absent from work and strolling around the brothel. What does it have to do with you night watchmen?
“Then how do you explain the book? In the records of the documents issued by the Yamen, it showed that you went to the inner city many times.” Li Yuchun said in a low voice.
“I’ve been wronged!” Xu Qi ‘an’s eyes widened, and he defended himself agitatedly.”I’ve never been to the inner city, and I’ve never received a letter from the Yamen.”
They’re trying to frame me. I’ve always asked someone to make a certificate to enter the inner city. My hands and feet are clean … The client was Yang Ling. What did that have to do with Xu Qi ‘an?
The two officers interrogated Xu Qi ‘an for a while, but they could not find any clues from his words.
They looked at each other in surprise.
I’m also a professional when it comes to interrogation techniques … Xu Qi ‘an heaved a sigh of relief, but his heart tightened again when he saw the instruments of torture.
Li Yuchun sighed. that’s right. If we didn’t have the evidence in advance, we might have believed you based on the conversation just now.
You’re tricking me again … He even sounded very confident … Xu Qi ‘an was expressionless.
As a graduate of the police academy and a professional who had worked in the police station for several years, Xu Qi ‘an was confident that he could handle all kinds of interrogations. Unless the other party forced a confession, that was a different matter.
Assistant Minister Zhou had already fallen. Without any evidence, he believed that the night watchman would not make things too difficult for him.
The unfamiliar Yin Gong took out a small book from his pocket, opened it, glanced at Xu Qi ‘an, and read from the book, ”
“1st October, renxu day, Xu Qi ‘an returned from Yun Lu Academy and bought two gold buyao from the treasure Pavilion. On the way, he was followed by people suspected to be from the Zhou residence.
“That night, I scared off the assassins from the Zhou mansion.”
2nd October, 19th day. Bring your women to Yun Lu Academy to avoid trouble.
“On the fifth day of the tenth month, on the third day of the lunar year, enter the inner city and enter the Imperial Academy. I’ll stay the night at yingmei Pavilion.’Gift of floating incense’ is suspected to be written by Xu Qi ‘an.”
“On the seventh day of the tenth month, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, a carriage crashed into the daughter of the mighty Marquis and kidnapped her with unknown means.”
The unfamiliar silver Gong closed the small book, looked at Xu Qi ‘an with ridicule, and sneered.
Xu Qi ‘an’s body turned cold inch by inch, like the lack of wrapped clothes in winter. He shivered slowly.
The night watchman was following me … He had been following me since the day I went to the Academy … The night watchman had seen all of his plans these days … It’s finished!
‘Why would the night watchman follow me? I’m just a quick hand. This doesn’t make sense …’ Xu Qi ‘an roared in her heart.
He felt an abyss-like despair.
Framing the assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and kidnapping the daughter of a Marquis. The two crimes added together were enough for the entire family to be executed.
The great Confucians of Yun Lu Academy couldn’t save him, the Directorate of Celestials ‘white robes couldn’t save him, and no one could save him!
My scaffold was very clean, and there was no evidence left to convict me, but the night watchman who followed me witnessed my whole plan … Man proposes, God disposes.
Cold sweat the size of beans appeared on Xu Qi ‘an’s forehead. Under the mocking and cold gazes of the two silver gongs, it slowly slid down his cheeks and dripped to the ground.
Wait a minute!
He suddenly noticed an unreasonable detail. Since the night watchman had witnessed the whole process, why didn’t he expose him?
As long as he handed in the book, Zhou Li would be able to get away with it. And the butcher’s knife that was swung at the Xu family, after being late for one and a half months, fell again.
Why did he have to wait until Assistant Minister Zhou had fallen from power before inviting him over for “tea”?
Xu Qi ‘an let out a breath of turbid air, along with all kinds of negative emotions. He lowered his eyes and said, “”I admit to my crimes, everything was done by me. I’ll leave it to you two Daren to deal with it. ”
The stern-looking Yin Luo raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Li Yuchun. The two of them smiled.
“Very smart, very sharp.” Li Yuchun smiled. I was just testing you. If you reveal any flaws during the interrogation or your mind crumbles in front of irrefutable evidence, you’ll be met with real punishment.
After a pause, he retracted his serious expression and his smile became more relaxed. and now, you’re welcomed with an invitation from the night watchman.
[ PS: this chapter has been modified a little, so it’s been updated late. ]
Thank you, Alliance master Rong Xiaorong, you’re indeed a good friend.