Chapter 40

Inside the hall.

Shen Changqing sat there, and after about a quarter of an hour, Hong Cheng hurriedly walked in.

"Pay your respects, Sir!"

As soon as he saw Shen Changqing, Hong Cheng bowed and saluted.

Clearly,

he already knew about the matter of the other party temporarily taking over as the county magistrate.

If the people of the Demon Suppression Bureau did not have direct power over life and death in the government, then the county magistrate did have that power.

Thinking of Shen Changqing's ruthlessness in killing without hesitation,

Hong Cheng dared not be the slightest bit impolite.

"This is the court's judgment on the Zhao family. Take a look!"

Shen Changqing placed the judgment on the table.

Hong Cheng took a few steps forward, picked up the judgment, and read it carefully.

Gradually,

his expression became serious.

After finishing the reading, Hong Cheng respectfully put the judgment back: "Sir, the judgment has been issued. What should we do now?"

"What else can we do? Collaborating with demons is a dead end. This outcome is only to be expected."

Shen Changqing slightly shook his head, a cold smile appearing on his face.

"Zhao Fang could become a county magistrate because the Zhao family has considerable influence behind the scenes. Presently, Lin'an City is just one of their clan territories, and there are many branches in other places.

But no matter how many branches there are, it won't help. With the judgment issued, the court has already taken action, and the Zhao family's branches in various places will not escape.

By my order, arrest all members of the Zhao family, including their servants, and imprison them!"

"Yes!"

Hong Cheng nodded, then hesitated slightly: "The Zhao family has many members, and they may not willingly go to prison. The bailiffs in the government office, though they have some martial arts skills, are still far from enough.

If the Zhao family resists, we might not be able to suppress them!"

Finally,

Hong Cheng's expression was quite awkward.

A large government office, unable to suppress a single Zhao family.

Embarrassing as it was, it was the truth.

The government office had only about twenty bailiffs, while the Zhao family, including servants, numbered over a hundred.

Currently, the bailiffs can keep the Zhao family in check because the situation hasn't reached a point of no return. The Zhao family still retains a glimmer of hope and dares not engage in direct conflict with the court.

Now that the judgment has been issued, it is undoubtedly a death sentence for the Zhao family.

At this point,

the Zhao family will definitely not sit idly by.

If a conflict breaks out, the bailiffs might be overwhelmed.

Shen Changqing smiled faintly: "What do you mean?"

"I hope Sir can go to the Zhao family to oversee the situation. If the Zhao family does not resist, so be it. If they do, they have no right to cause any trouble in front of Sir!"

Hong Cheng added, flattering him.

"After all, Sir's strength is the best in Lin'an City."

"Very well, I will also go to the Zhao family to take a look."

Shen Changqing stood up.

Seeing this,

Hong Cheng immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He was afraid the Zhao family would resist. If one or two people escaped, he would certainly be held responsible.

---

The Zhao Family.

Since Zhao Fang's suicide, the atmosphere in the Zhao family has been very tense.

Everyone understands.

The crime of collaborating with demons, if not handled carefully, could lead to the extermination of the clan.

But the problem is,

the government office has bailiffs guarding the Zhao family, and no one can leave unless they completely break out, in which case the bailiffs would have no way to stop them.

However,

that would not just be a matter of collaborating with demons; they might also be charged with disregarding the laws of the Great Qin and attempting rebellion.

At that point,

the Zhao family would have no way out.

At this moment, all the direct descendants of the Zhao family gathered in the main hall. Each person's expression was different, some serious, some panicked.

"The court has not yet taken action, but the consequences of collaborating with demons are clear. Now, a sword hangs over our heads, and it's just a matter of when it will fall."

The person at the head of the table, a middle-aged man with a scholarly air, spoke calmly.

His name is Zhao Li, a direct descendant of the Zhao family, of the same generation as Zhao Fang.

With Zhao Fang's suicide,

Zhao Li is now the highest-ranking member of the Zhao family.

After he spoke,

someone in the hall began to sob softly; it was a female family member who was frightened.

A young man with a gentle appearance now sneered: "The Zhao family has come to this because Uncle Zhao colluded with demons. In my view, if someone takes the blame, the court might not completely destroy us!"

"Zhao Mingye, what do you mean!" a young man shouted angrily.

"Zhao Mingtang, I am very clear about what I mean. A father's debt should be repaid by his son. If your father did something wrong, someone should pay for it. It can't be that one person's mistake burdens the entire Zhao family!"

Zhao Mingye sneered, standing up and speaking loudly.

"Now, there are over a hundred people in the Zhao family compound. Are they all to be sacrificed for Uncle Zhao? As for you, since your father did something wrong, you, as his son, cannot escape responsibility.

It would be better for your branch to go to the government office and confess. Perhaps the court will be lenient.

Even if you are sentenced to death, it would be just punishment. We are the innocent ones. Everyone, do you agree?"

After he spoke,

some people immediately responded.

"Zhao Mingye is right. Why should we bear the consequences of your father's mistakes, Zhao Mingtang?"

"Exactly. If you die, you die, but why drag over a hundred people from the Zhao family into this? This is simply inhumane."

"In my view, it would be better to tie them up and take them to the government office to atone for their sins—"

One by one, people spoke, their eyes filled with cold and vicious looks when they looked at Zhao Mingtang and others.

In their view, the Zhao family's current situation is entirely due to Zhao Fang.

Zhao Mingtang was furious: "When my father was the county magistrate, the Zhao family benefited greatly from him. Now, in our time of need, you all want to distance yourselves—"

"Enough!"

Just as everyone was arguing, Zhao Li suddenly shouted, cutting them off.

The scene immediately fell silent.

However, many people still looked resentful.

Zhao Li looked around and said calmly, "What Zhao Mingye said is not without reason."

"Uncle—"

Zhao Mingtang's face changed.

Zhao Li waved his hand, interrupting him: "But reason is one thing, and the court is not always reasonable. Historically, those who colluded with demons were either exiled or executed, and their families were exterminated.

The longer this situation drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for us.

We can't stay in Lin'an City. We need to find a way to leave."

"Uncle, do you mean we should directly rebel against Lin'an City?" Zhao Mingye was uncertain.

Rebelling against Lin'an City.

This is no small matter.

If they do this, the Zhao family will have no way back and will be wanted by the court.

Zhao Li looked at him, a cold glint in his eyes.

"If the court doesn't give us a way out, then the Zhao family must find another way to survive!"