oh?
When Xu Zhen said this, the scene suddenly fell into silence.
"What...what do you mean?" Chen Tiefeng wondered, "Didn't Qiu Batian do it? Are you kidding me? Xu Zhen, are you crazy?"
However, when he saw Magistrate Song, County Magistrate Chen and Cheng Xiao all looking solemn, he realized something was wrong and quickly shut up.
"Human instinct does not tell lies," Xu Zhen said the basis for his inference, "Yesterday after Qiu Batian found out that he had arrived at the Yamen, he always thought that we were setting him up! Later, he found out that the old man was dead, but he still wanted us to pay him He gave an explanation?
"Just imagine, if he was responsible for the case, how could he have such a reaction?"
"This..." Chen Xiancheng, an experienced man, grinned, "Don't you... don't have some concrete evidence? I'm afraid it's hard to be sure if you just make assumptions out of thin air!"
It seems that Magistrate Song told Chen County Cheng yesterday about Xu Zhen's speculation.
After all, Chen Xiancheng has not retired yet. If it is really a political struggle, then Chen Xiancheng will definitely be involved.
So Xu Zhen told the coachman what he had asked about, saying that the coachman could prove that the carriage had never left Zuixianju yesterday morning.
Then, he told what happened to the two Jiaofangsi women, proving that Qiu Batian was with them that night.
After listening, the two adults fell into deep thought again, thinking about the reliability of the evidence.
It was obvious that the two still hesitated.
"Master Song," Chen Xiancheng said while stroking his gray beard, "this case concerns our future and destiny. This is how I am, but you can't miss your future because of this!"
This Chen Houlu is also an old man. One sentence not only brought them closer, but also shifted the responsibility to the other party.
Song Zhili smiled helplessly and said that he was also very confused.
"That group of old man Li's fellow villagers have gone to the county government to file a complaint," Chen Xiancheng said again, "Now we can't stop them. You have to make a decision early! Once people come down from above, we won't be able to stop them anymore." Now is the chance to choose, what do you think... should you arrest this person... or not?"
"this……"
Song Zhili was in a dilemma. He understood what Chen Xiancheng meant. If the case was really not caused by Qiu Batian, it was probably a political struggle, and he had to take sides as soon as possible.
Either prove Qiu Batian's innocence and side with the Minister of Civil Affairs; or arrest Qiu Batian and side with the murderer.
However, he has too many worries:
Was Qiu Batian responsible for the case?
Who could be the force that framed Qiu Batian?
How can we prove the innocence of Qiu Batian and the Yamen?
How to avoid being on the wrong team...
"Sir Song," seeing Song Zhili's hesitation, Xu Zhen waved to him and said, "please take a step to speak!"
"Oh?" Song Zhili looked at Xu Zhen with doubt on his face and did not move.
"Here..." Xu Zhen explained, "I have solid evidence!"
What! ?
Everyone was surprised. Just as they were about to ask, they saw Song Zhili and Xu Zhen already outside the door.
Next, they could see that Xu Zhen came close to Song Zhili's ear and said something to Song Zhili.
And he only said a few words before he saw Song Zhili's expression change drastically!
Not long after, Xu Zhen had finished speaking, but Song Zhili fell into deep thought.
After thinking for a long time, he returned to the inner hall with deep thoughts, while Xu Zhen stayed outside and did not come in.
"What's wrong, Mr. Song?" Chen Houlu asked anxiously, "What did the little catcher say to you?"
Song Zhili did not answer, but thought for a moment, and then made a gesture to Chen Tiefeng.
Chen Tiefeng understood, quickly closed the door and locked the bolt.
"Sir," Cheng Xiao asked hurriedly, "What did Xu Zhen say? Does he really have evidence?"
"Well..." Song Zhili glanced at everyone, and then said solemnly, "You all listen to me, there are only four of us in this room, and not a word of what we are going to discuss will be leaked out! Otherwise, not a single word of what we are going to discuss will be leaked out! If so, your life may not be guaranteed!!!"
ah?
Chen Houlu and the three of them shuddered in unison, realizing that the situation was serious.
"Sir," Cheng Xiao and Chen Tiefeng hurriedly expressed their opinions, "I will never dare to speak nonsense in my humble position!"
"Well," Song Zhili nodded slightly, and after confirming his eyes with Chen Houlu, he said quietly, "Xu Zhen told me just now that he went to dig up the body of the woman from the burned old man Li's house last night!
"But what he dug out was a corpse that had been burned by fire but had rotted for a long time!"
"ah?"
Everyone took a breath and quickly thought about what this matter meant.
"It's actually a lie," Chen Houlu opened his mouth. "In other words... Old Man Li's daughter may not be dead!?"
"Xu Zhen said," Song Zhili continued, "Due to the serious damage, he only dug out part of the body, but he can be sure that the deceased is definitely not Old Man Li's daughter. It is possible that it was just dug out from a certain grave. corpse."
"So..." Cheng Xiao thought of something and said, "This case... is it really framed?"
"Ah? No way?" Chen Tiefeng was shocked and grinned.
"Yes," Song Zhili nodded, "If Qiu Batian did it all, he couldn't have kept that woman alive!"
"But..." Chen Houlu asked, "If someone really framed her, it seems that the woman's life should not be kept, right? Why should a dead body be used instead?"
"I don't know," Song Zhili shook his head, "That woman should be hidden by the murderer. At the critical moment, she might appear as an important witness and identify Qiu Batian; or she might never appear and let everyone think that she is Qiu Batian. God is murdering, setting fire to, destroying corpses and destroying all traces!"
"Gulu..." Chen Tiefeng swallowed and said fearfully, "I don't understand, who wants to frame Qiu Batian? Can this be framed?"
"Old Chen," Cheng Xiao reminded in a low voice, "this matter may not be aimed at Qiu Batian!"
"Ah? No...it's not Qiu Batian? Who is that?" Chen Tiefeng was confused for a few seconds before he finally figured it out. He was stunned and asked, "No...it can't be that person, can it?"
"Old man Li died in the Yamen, alas..." At this time, Chen Houlu sighed, "This is obviously going to drag us into the water!"
"Yes," Song Zhili nodded, "Collude with the Yamen to kill people, the crime and influence will be greater, the other party is really evil!"
Realizing that the case might be a political struggle, Chen Tiefeng no longer dared to interrupt and stood beside Cheng Xiao in silence.
"Master Song," Chen Houlu asked, "then what are your plans?"
The topic has returned to its original point again, which side should they stand on?
Qiu Batian... To arrest or not to arrest?
"This matter...don't be impatient!" At the critical moment, Song Zhili said calmly, "There should still be some time before the county government comes, and we must be prepared.
"Captain Cheng," he said to Cheng Xiao, "go with Tie Feng to verify what Xu Zhen said, and find connections to ask Qiu Batian's coachman, his men, and the two singing girls from Jiaofang Division. We can't just listen. He told the truth."
"Yes!" The two agreed quickly.
"As well as the corpse Xu Zhen mentioned," Song Zhili added, "I have to confirm it myself to make sure it is correct."
"yes!"
"Also," Song Zhili continued to order, "the case cannot be stopped. We must seize the time to find out the truth. We must at least know how Old Man Li died!"
"Yes," Cheng Xiao clasped his fists, "The humble job is being handled!"
"Also," Song Zhili thought of something else and said, "Send a trustworthy person to the county government to inquire about information. If you find out anything, report back immediately!"
"Okay, I'll arrange it." Cheng Xiao nodded.
"By the way," Chen Houlu warned at this time, "you two must remember that you must not let others know that this case was not done by Qiu Batian!"
"Understood, understood!" Cheng Xiao and Chen Tiefeng nodded repeatedly.
"Sir Song," Chen Houlu said again, "you have so many classmates and old friends. You can write books to them as soon as possible and ask for information from the DPRK and China, so that you can grasp the trends in advance!"
"Yes." Song Zhili nodded. In fact, he knew that he had to use his connections without Chen Houlu's reminder.
He was a Jinshi, so he naturally had some connections in the court. If he could find out who was targeting the Minister of Civil Affairs, it would naturally facilitate his subsequent operations.
Next, Song Zhili walked up to Cheng Xiao, held Cheng Xiao's shoulders, and said, "Please be more careful, Mr. Cheng!"
"Don't dare!" Cheng Xiao was flattered and quickly clasped his fists, "It's all a matter of humble duty!"
"But..." Song Zhili really had something to say later and said in Cheng Xiao's ear, "In addition to getting these things done, you also have to think of something for me."
"Oh?" Cheng Xiao said quickly, "Sir, please speak!"
"Once the news is confirmed," Song Zhili gritted his teeth and said, "You have to think about it in advance...how can we arrest - Qiu Batian!?"
…
