Fang Zilan was not angry and said proudly: "I will only give one person one chance. If he reveals the person who is responsible, his family will be exempted from guilt."
Several people looked at each other, but no one dared to speak. Seeing this, Fang Zilan smiled slightly, "What, you don't want to? Still don't believe what I say?"
Xu Youtong reacted when he heard this. Fang Zilan wanted them to expose each other. In the end, no one would be able to escape, and the guilt would even be heavier. He pursed his lips, but his words of dissuasion were swallowed back when he reached his lips.
"I gave you the opportunity. Since you don't want it, there is nothing you can do." Fang Zilan calmed her expression and said in a deep voice: "Zheng Yan, go and bring all their family members and let them go together."
"Yes." Zheng Yan accepted the order and left. However, as soon as he took a step, he heard several people kneeling on the ground confessing and begging for mercy. One after another, it was impossible to hear what was being said.
"Quiet." Fang Zilan slapped the scar on the case, and several people were so frightened that they didn't dare to express their anger.
"Starting from you, tell me one by one." Fang Zilan pointed to someone at random. The person was startled for a moment, and then started to explain tremblingly.
Maybe they were frightened, so what they said was inconsistent with what they said. They didn't want to drag Pei Poming into the water, and they didn't dare to lie, so they spoke stumblingly and full of loopholes.
Fang Zilan listened expressionlessly. When the last person's voice faded and he couldn't say anything, the hall fell into an almost eerie silence.
"Finished?" Fang Zilan raised her eyebrows, turned to Xu Youtong and asked, "What do you think, Mr. Xu?"
Xu Youtong remained silent, and the indescribable expression on his face said everything.
Fang Zilan knew what was going on and said, "Since you can't explain anything, let me ask you questions so as not to waste time."
After saying this, she asked without waiting for anyone to respond: "Yesterday, a girl from my house went to the Ministry of Punishments. Which of you has touched her?"
"Master Fang, it's all a misunderstanding. We accidentally bumped into each other during the dispute..." Before one of them finished speaking, he was interrupted sharply by Fang Zilan, "You answer whatever I ask, don't you understand?"
The man was shaking violently and murmured: "It was... touched..."
"Which hand touched it?" Fang Zilan's expression became colder, and the man said in a panic: "I don't remember..."
Fang Zilan called out to Zheng Yan, and he understood and ordered someone to bring the hammer. Seeing this, Xu Youtong's expression changed imperceptibly, "Master Fang, don't abuse lynching!"
"Abuse of lynching?" Fang Zilan glanced at Xu Youtong and said coldly: "Since they have confessed, how can I be regarded as abuse of lynching?"
Xu Youtong's expression froze, and the next moment he heard screams. Fang Zilan covered her ears in disgust, and Zheng Yan blocked their mouths with a wink.
"Master Fang..." Xu Youtong wanted to say something, but fell silent when he met Shang Zilan's gaze. He had no choice but to turn his head and simply pretended to be deaf and dumb.
If Fang Zilan continues to torture, he will definitely pull Pei Pening out. However, the people he sent to the Pei family today have tested the trend. Even if Pei Juanqing cannot be the director, the Pei family will not hand over Pei Pening easily.
Neither the Pei family nor Fang Zilan were people he could offend. It would be great if Fang Zilan cleaned up the few people in front of him and could make peace with the Pei family and no longer pursue Pei Pening.
If he couldn't, he would have offended someone once by stopping Fang Zilan at this time. If the Pei family wanted to speak out in the future, they would inevitably offend him again. If the fire at the city gate really affected Chiyu, he could only admit that he was unlucky.
Thinking of this, Xu Youtong sighed and closed his eyes gently. It's really not easy to be a parent official in this capital. If you are not careful, you will be the pawn of a powerful family.
After some torture, Fang Zilan raised his hand, and Zheng Yan pulled the cloth out of the mouths of several people. They were hesitating and in pain and couldn't even speak clearly.
Fang Zilan had no intention of letting these people go. She looked at their red and swollen hands indifferently and said: "Your hands are considered useless. Now that the matter has come to this, are you still unwilling to reveal the person who is responsible?"
"There is no mastermind...it's all..." one of them cried out in pain, "it was a last-minute idea..."
"I didn't see it, the bones are quite hard." Fang Zilan snorted coldly, Zheng Yan leaned down and applied a little force, only to hear a soft sound, and the man's finger was broken.
The man was unaware at first, and it took him a while before he cried out in pain. The people next to him all looked pale, and someone immediately shouted: "I said, it's Pei Pening! It's him!"
Fang Zilan raised her hand and lightly knitted her brows, and said casually to Comrade Xu You: "Sir Xu, since someone has committed the crime, let's judge him how he wants."
"They are all sentenced to exile, and their families will not be affected?" Xu Youtong asked tentatively, but Fang Zilan shook his head, "No."
She said, pointing to the person who had just confessed Pei Poming, "He will be exiled and his family will not be affected. Others and their families will be exiled."
Xu Youtong was stunned for a long time, and then as if he had made up his mind, he stood up and saluted: "I forgive you for not obeying my order."
Fang Zilan looked at the motionless man in front of him with interest, "What does Mr. Xu mean?"
"In the capital, the death penalty is the most severe, followed by exile." Xu Youtong looked directly at Fang Zilan and said word by word: "Master Fang, doesn't he realize that the sentence of exile is too harsh for his family members?"
Fang Zilan was thoughtful and asked instead, "Master Xu, as the governor of Jingzhao Prefecture, you should know what the meaning of punishment is?"
"Punish the criminals and alert the world, thereby ensuring the peace and order of the people." Xu Youtong answered without hesitation. Fang Zilan nodded and said: "Yes, but some people have kidnapped women and been sentenced to exile before, but today there are still people who dare to attack women. Dare I ask? Mr. Xu, what is the role of vigilance?”
She paused, and before Xu Youtong could answer, she lowered her voice and asked, "Or is it that exile is not severe enough and only the death penalty can serve as a wake-up call?"
"Xiaoguan..." Xu Youtong bit his lip, took a deep breath and said, "I dare not agree with Mr. Fang's words. I privately think that it is not that the punishment is not severe enough to serve as a warning. In fact, the culprit has not yet been brought to justice." , It’s hard to calm people’s hearts.”
His words were like water being poured out, and there was no room for change as soon as they were spoken. It showed that he was completely on the opposite side of Pei Pening and had no concern for the Pei family.
Fang Zilan didn't expect Xu Youtong to have such courage. She looked at him carefully, and finally said with a faint smile: "Since Mr. Xu knows where the key point is, I won't beat around the bush. Mr. Pei Poming, When can Master Xu bring it up?"
Xu Youtong felt cold sweat break out on his forehead. Although he had spoken righteously just now, he felt guilty in his heart. That was Pei Pening of the Pei family. How could he mention it?
But Fang Zilan didn't give him a chance to refuse, and said directly: "Master Xu, I'm waiting for your news."
"I understand." Xu Youtong looked complicated, "Then these people..."
"The case has not been concluded, so of course it cannot be dealt with. We will just imprison him for the time being." Fang Zilan stood up, with a layer of frost and snow gathering between his brows. "It won't be too late when Pei Pening is brought to justice."
