Chapter 80

Chu Huan was now somewhat puzzled, feeling that everything about tonight's events was strange. It was like looking at the moon in the water or the flowers in the mist; he seemed to have caught a glimpse of something, but when he thought about it carefully, he found nothing substantial.

Lan Tingyu saw that Hu Zhixian's face had turned pale and sternly shouted, "Hu Wei, why don't you confess your crimes? Do you really want me to use severe punishment?"

Hu Zhixian, sitting on the ground, suddenly laughed, his laughter strange. The surrounding officials and constables all exchanged glances. Then, Hu Zhixian, still laughing, struggled to stand up and boldly pointed at Lan Tingyu, then at Wei Tianqing. He then pointed at Zhao Xiancheng, Zhang Dahuizi, and Ye Wuzuo, his voice strange: "I understand now, all of this was planned by you in advance. You are setting a trap to harm me...!" He suddenly kicked Zhang Dahuizi, who was right in front of him, to the ground and pointed at him, unsure whether to cry or laugh: "You despicable man, I never thought you would betray me... When did you become their lackey?"

Wei Tianqing gave a signal, and two warriors immediately stepped forward, grabbed Hu Zhixian's arms, and pressed him to the ground.

Many of the officials and constables in Qingliu County were people Hu Zhixian had nurtured. Although they felt that tonight's events were very strange, in this situation, who dared to come forward to protect Hu Zhixian?

Everyone could see that Lan Tingyu and Wei Tianqing were determined to bring down Hu Zhixian. These two were high-ranking officials in the prefecture, and who dared to oppose them? Moreover, with the evidence and witnesses right there, even if someone had the courage to argue on Hu Zhixian's behalf, they would have no grounds to do so.

...

Hu Zhixian, pressed to the ground, still let out a shrill laugh, staring hatefully at Lan Tingyu, who was slowly walking to his seat. He shouted loudly, "I know many people have been eyeing Qingliu County with envy and have always wanted to bring me down... You are all in cahoots, trying to harm me... But I want to tell you, don't think you have won just because of this...!"

Lan Tingyu sat down, slammed the gavel, and sternly shouted, "Hu Wei, stop your nonsense." He scanned the room and said in a deep voice, "You have all seen and heard what happened tonight. Hu Wei has acted recklessly and without conscience, and for his personal desires, he has already caused the deaths of two people... Is there anyone here who disagrees?"

No one dared to object, all saying they did not dare.

Lan Tingyu nodded and said, "Very well, I have gathered you all here tonight to witness this, so no one can say I am acting alone and framing Hu Wei." He paused and said calmly, "Since there are no objections, you all need to sign this indictment. I will report back to the governor!"

Everyone's expressions changed, many turning pale. Only now did they realize that gathering everyone tonight was indeed intentional.

Wei Tianqing gave a signal, and a warrior took the indictment from the clerk and first approached Zhao Xiancheng. Zhao Xiancheng stood up, took the brush, and without a word, signed the indictment.

The warrior then approached the clerk. The clerk hesitated with the brush in hand, but Wei Tianqing's cold snort made him jump, and he quickly signed.

In the county, after the magistrate, the highest-ranking officials were the vice-magistrate and the clerk. With both of them signing, the others, even if they were dissatisfied, dared not refuse.

Moreover, given the situation tonight, if they did not sign, they might not even be able to leave this place.

In a short time, everyone in the room had signed. Hu Zhixian's face was ashen, knowing he was completely finished. When the indictment was placed before him, Hu Zhixian screamed, "I will not sign to confess, I am innocent, you are... you are forcing a confession through torture...!" In his panic, he did not realize how inappropriate his words were.

Wei Tianqing did not say much, stepped forward, grabbed Hu Zhixian's hand, and coldly said, "Cut your finger!" A warrior took a knife and cut Hu Zhixian's finger, and Wei Tianqing pressed his finger onto the indictment, sealing the case with blood.

Hu Zhixian tried to struggle, but as a weak scholar, he was no match for a warrior like Wei Tianqing. The blood fingerprint was finally pressed, and Wei Tianqing took the indictment and handed it to Lan Tingyu. Lan Tingyu glanced at it and said, "You all have keen eyes, Hu Wei deserves his punishment." He said sternly, "Take Hu Wei away, and as soon as it is light, bring him back to the prefecture to be dealt with by the governor... The county affairs of Qingliu County will be temporarily managed by Zhao Xiancheng." He glanced at Zhang Dahuizi, who was kneeling, and said, "Zhang Xuan, you have admitted your mistakes and confessed, I will be lenient with you as you were acting under orders... Chu Huan was falsely accused, I declare you innocent, you can go home!"

Zhang Dahuizi hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Thank you, sir!"

"Carry the bodies away and hand them over to their families for burial. Take fifty taels of silver from the county treasury to compensate the families of the deceased." Lan Tingyu put the indictment in his robe and said lazily, "It's almost dawn, everyone has worked hard, go home and rest!"

The officials left nervously, and Hu Zhixian, still shouting, was taken away.

Chu Huan stood up, and Wei Tianqing came forward, smiling, "Chu brother, you have suffered, but the truth has come to light, and your name is cleared!"

Chu Huan bowed and smiled, "Thank you, Sir Wei!"

"Sir Wei?" Wei Tianqing deliberately frowned, "Chu brother, you must never call me that again. We have shared hardships together, and if it weren't for your help that day, I might not be alive today!"

He took Chu Huan's arm and led him to Lan Tingyu, saying to Chu Huan, "This is Sir Lan, you have met him before!"

Lan Tingyu stroked his beard and smiled, "Indeed, heroes emerge from the young. Chu Huan, the capture of Hu Zhixian is thanks to you. Without you, this cunning official might not have been brought to justice!"

Chu Huan bowed and smiled, "Sir Lan, you are too kind. What merit do I have? It is your swift and decisive action that brought the corrupt official to justice!"

Lan Tingyu smiled and said to Wei Tianqing, "Wei brother, after a long journey and a night of interrogation, I am truly exhausted. I need to rest for a while. We need to return to the prefecture early tomorrow morning!"

Wei Tianqing smiled, "You go and rest. I will have a few drinks with Chu brother!"

Lan Tingyu nodded, smiled at Chu Huan again, looking very kind, and then walked out with his hands behind his back. As he left, he saw Zhao Xiancheng waiting outside. Lan Tingyu and Zhao Xiancheng walked together, whispering, and slowly moved away.

...

...

In a side hall of the county office, Wei Tianqing had a table of wine and dishes prepared, and he pulled Chu Huan to sit down, dismissing everyone else. He personally poured the wine and said, "Chu brother, this cup of wine is to apologize to you!"

Chu Huan said, "Sir Wei..."

Before he could finish, Wei Tianqing said, "Chu brother, if you call me sir, I will be unhappy. Call me brother, and I will be happy!"

Chu Huan sighed, "Brother Chu!"

Wei Tianqing laughed heartily, raised his cup, and said, "Here's to our reunion after the ordeal, let's drink!" Chu Huan did not hesitate, raised his cup, and they both drank it in one go.

"Chu brother, I said I would invite you for a drink tonight for two reasons: to celebrate our reunion and to apologize to you," Wei Tianqing's face showed remorse. "That day, to protect my wife, I couldn't take care of you. After escaping, I have always felt guilty...!" He sighed, his remorse looking very genuine.

"Don't blame yourself!" Chu Huan said, "Brother Wei, to be honest, if I were in your position, I would have done the same. In big matters, one must not be too particular about small details. If one hesitates and worries too much, one cannot achieve great things!"

Wei Tianqing was taken aback, then his face showed admiration, and he raised his thumb, "Chu brother, the first time I met you, I knew you were not an ordinary person. You are decisive and capable."

Chu Huan smiled, "Brother Chu, you flatter me!" He then picked up the wine pot, poured wine for Wei Tianqing first, and then for himself, saying, "I can wash away my injustice this time, all thanks to Brother Chu's help!"

Wei Tianqing showed a strange expression and smiled bitterly, "Chu brother, I am a warrior and do not lie... Moreover, you are my savior. If I lied to you, my conscience would be troubled!"

Chu Huan frowned and asked, "What do you mean, Brother Chu? I am dull and don't understand!"

Wei Tianqing sighed, "Chu brother, to be honest, the main target of this mission was Hu Wei!"

Chu Huan showed no surprise, smiling, "I knew that, Brother Chu." The scene in the county office tonight was clear to him; even a blind person could see that the goal was to bring down Hu Zhixian.

Wei Tianqing raised his cup, took a sip, and said, "Chu brother, just before nightfall yesterday, the drum in front of the governor's office was struck... You might not know, the drum in front of the governor's office is called the 'Heavenly Drum.' It can only be struck in cases of extreme injustice, and if the case is not overturned, the person who struck the drum will be punished!"

Chu Huan narrowed his eyes, seeming to understand, and asked, "Brother Chu, the person who struck the drum was...?"

"It was the owner of Heshengquan," Wei Tianqing said. "You know, Su Linlang!"

Chu Huan sighed, "You mean Su Linlang went to strike the drum to plead for me?"

"Exactly!" Wei Tianqing nodded. "This woman is indeed brave and wise. The Heavenly Drum in front of the governor's office has not been struck for a long time, but this time it was struck by Su Linlang."

Chu Huan was grateful. Su Linlang had risked punishment to plead for him, which was a significant gesture.

"I had heard of Su Linlang's reputation before, but I had never met her," Wei Tianqing said. "It wasn't until last night that I saw her in person, and I remembered that she was also with us when we were in danger on the river!"

Chu Huan nodded, "Yes, after Brother Chu escorted the lady away, I rescued her!"

"Ah, I see," Wei Tianqing nodded. "This woman is grateful and values righteousness."

Chu Huan, however, showed some doubt, "Brother Chu, Su Linlang struck the drum last night, and you saw her last night... Does that mean you were also on duty at the governor's office?"

At the time of the danger, Chu Huan had suspected that Wei Tianqing was a government official, but he did not know his exact position.

Wei Tianqing looked at Chu Huan and said calmly, "To be honest, I am indeed on duty at the governor's office... I command the five thousand guards under the governor of Yunshan Prefecture!"