Duan Si finally summoned up the courage to speak out loud about what he had experienced in the past six months, crying every word.
"Every time the grassroots people approached Lin Yuanwai, Lin Yuanwai would refute it by saying that this year the new emperor ascended the throne, the national treasury was empty, and the grain tax was increased.
But as far as the grassroots know, grain taxes have not increased, and it is nonsense to say that the harvest is small! "
They are old masters of farming, so how could they not estimate this year's grain output?
"Food tax has increased?"
Song Jiuyuan looked coldly at County Magistrate Chen next to him. Magistrate Chen's legs weakened in fright and he immediately knelt down.
"Your Majesty, it is clear that these unscrupulous people are slandering the subordinates. As we all know, the new emperor ascended the throne this year and even reduced some of the grain taxes."
Duan Si exploded when he heard this. He pointed at County Magistrate Chen angrily, "Guan Gou, you can tell the truth now!
Why didn't you think of this when you were colluding with Lin Yuanwai? He knew how to harm poor people like us! "
Lin Jiaojiao listened blankly to Duan Si's accusation, with a look of sadness in her eyes.
No wonder dad didn't dare to tell the truth, it was a grave sin.
Mrs. Lin and Lin Xinxin also realized the importance of the matter for the first time. If this was really the case, what should they do?
"Trickster!"
County Magistrate Chen pointed at Duan Si, "You have no evidence to slander people here, but you must be responsible!"
"Grass people have nothing to fear, it's better than starving to death!"
Duan Si was really angry. So many people in their village starved to death, but what about this dog official?
I'm afraid they could get away with their life-saving food.
"Evidence, show me evidence!"
Magistrate Chen had no other choice but to shout out the evidence without any confidence, as if he really didn't do those dirty things.
"Here comes the evidence!"
There was a shouting outside. It was Song Er. He was holding a ledger, and the person behind him was carrying grain.
"Prince, princess, this is the evidence that my subordinates found in Mr. Lin's warehouse."
"Send it over for a look."
Song Jiuyuan's eyebrows stretched, and Jiang Wan was also surprised. She didn't expect that what she got was not the only evidence.
County Magistrate Chen panicked. He stared at the booklet in Song Er's hand and watched Song Jiuyuan take it.
"You go on."
Song Jiuyuan gestured to Duan Si and flipped through the booklet he was looking at. After reading it with an expressionless expression, he handed it to Jiang Wan.
Over there, Duan Si kept talking intermittently about Lin Yuanwai's deprivation of their food, but there was no other idea.
Jiang Wan, on the other hand, read the booklet and then threw it in front of Magistrate Chen.
"Come and see for yourself, adults!"
It was just the deduction ratio recorded by Lin Yuanwai. Of course, he was not mentioned in detail. County Magistrate Chen was overjoyed after reading it.
"Your Majesty, I never thought that Lin Yuanwai would be such a person. It seems that what this person said is true. Everything about the Lin family is at your disposal."
"Ms. sir!"
Lin Xinxin was shocked. She didn't care what happened to Lin Jiaojiao, but her mother was still from the Lin family.
"lady."
County Magistrate Chen patted the back of her hand hypocritically, "What my father-in-law did was outrageous and he deserves to be punished."
He simply knew what he was interested in and did not record him in the book. Magistrate Chen was reassured.
"If it wasn't for you, how could he do this?"
Lin Jiaojiao was so angry that she went to grab the booklet to read. County Magistrate Chen had already read it and didn't stop her.
It clearly states when Lin Yuanwai deducted grain, the amount he deducted, and even the people he deducted.
However, it did not mention where Lin Yuan sent the withheld items.
Lin Jiaojiao shouted: "Didn't I give all these grains to you?"
"nonsense."
Although Lin Xinxin guessed the truth, she wanted to protect herself and her children.
"It seems that Su is the most frugal person. If he really received so much food, why would he be like this?"
She looked at Mrs. Lin pleadingly. Mrs. Lin was heartbroken, but she still helped her daughter and said:
"Yes, Your Majesty, these are all done by me alone, you have also seen it.
His heart is full of Jiaojiao, these are all things he left for Jiaojiao, and we Xinxin have nothing. "
The more she talked about it, the more unfair she felt. They were both daughters. He thought so carefully about Jiaojiao, but he never thought about Xinxin.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Lin Jiaojiao regretted that she had never cared about her father properly before.
"Lady."
Huang Jie supported Lin Jiaojiao distressedly to prevent her from falling, "You keep saying that Mr. Lin did this alone.
So what did you do in such a panic just now? Isn’t it because you feel guilty? "
For the sake of Jiaojiao, he was not afraid of death and boldly told the truth, which surprised Magistrate Chen and he quickly calmed down.
Then he said to Song Jiuyuan: "Your Majesty, Lin Jiaojiao must be resentful that Xiaguan always disciplines her, so she wants to drag Xiaguan into the water.
Xiaguan was definitely not involved in these things. If it weren't for Mr. Lin's death, Xiaguan could have even killed his relatives out of justice! "
What he said was high-sounding, but he felt that there was no evidence, so he could slander Lin Yuanwai as much as he wanted.
"Princess, my father used to be kind-hearted and did good deeds many years ago. He would never embezzle money for his own selfish desires!"
Lin Jiaojiao looked at Jiang Wan pleadingly, and then at Duan Si who looked angry, "You are a tenant farmer of the Lin family.
You should know that before my sister got married, my father rarely deducted your food. "
"this……"
Duan Si fell into memories. Mr. Lin had indeed never done such a thing before, and he was tolerant to them.
But people's hearts can change, who knows why.
"You only know how to play with pretty boys all day long, what do you know?"
Lin Xinxin also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as her husband was fine, it would be fine. As for her mother, they would slowly think of something to do.
"County Magistrate Chen, does this really have nothing to do with you?"
Jiang Wan was too lazy to listen to their bickering. Instead, she looked directly at Magistrate Chen with a warning in her eyebrows.
"As an official, you should know that actively admitting your mistakes and being found out are two different things."
"I don't understand what the princess is talking about."
County Magistrate Chen was still pretending to be stupid, "The official is indeed at fault. The fault lies in not discovering his father-in-law's behavior earlier. The official is willing to take the blame!"
In other words, he only accepted the guilt of negligence and denied the others.
"Is it?"
Jiang Wan glanced at him mockingly, and suddenly took out several ledgers from her sleeves.
She didn't look at it carefully when she first got it, but now she sent it directly to Song Jiuyuan, "I just brought these out from the Lin Mansion.
My lord, please take a look first, and then you can show it to County Magistrate Chen. He must be very interested. "
Song Jiuyuan looked at it seriously, and the more he read, the angrier he became. The food that Mr. Lin handed over every time was basically recorded in detail.
There was even a list at the end. In addition to Lin Yuan, the wealthy gentry of Qinniu Town paid tribute.
Song Jiuyuan threw one of the ledgers in front of County Magistrate Chen, "See for yourself!"
"Your Majesty."
County Magistrate Chen's hands were trembling. He didn't dare to look. A bad premonition rose in his heart. He was finished!
