In the dark and damp South Prison, as the iron door creaked open, Sima Xin and Cai Jin both walked into a prison cell for felons.
After just one glance after entering, the two of them immediately became so angry that they gritted their teeth.
But when they saw that Cui Xiaotian, who was tied to the pillar, had long since lost his human appearance, his skin was torn and bloody, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt skin.
"Song Zhili, you are such a bastard! Madman!!" Sima Xin cursed angrily, "How could you make him like this?"
"Lord Sima," Song Zhili, who was behind him, still said the most cruel words in his weakest posture, "I will die if he doesn't open his mouth. Do you think it's okay if I don't make him like this?"
"Hmph," Cai Jin snorted coldly, "Don't be too happy too early, don't think that if he opens his mouth, you won't have to die!"
After the threat, the two men stepped forward to check carefully. After confirming that this person was Cui Xiaotian, Sima Xin tried to call his name, but after calling him several times, Cui Xiaotian had no response.
"What's going on?" Sima Xin glared at Song Zhili, "What did you do to him?"
"Maybe...he was so painful that he fainted, right?" Song Zhili replied, "I probably won't die."
"you……"
Sima Xin strode to Song Zhili and reached out to pull his collar.
However, after discovering that Song Zhili had no fear, he had to calm down.
At this time, even if Song Zhili was beaten up, it would not help.
"Sir Sima," Cai Jin realized something at this time and said to Sima Xin, "it seems that Magistrate Song has already made preparations. Let's go!"
"Huh!" Sima Xin glared at Song Zhili again, and then reluctantly left the cell with Cai Jin.
When they arrived outside the prison, the two men quickly moved to a quiet place, where the governor Han Wentao was already waiting there, upset.
"Master Han..."
Sima Xin lowered his voice and reported the situation in the prison to Han Wentao.
After hearing this, Han Wentao was so angry that he clenched his fists and jumped around.
"Song Zhili probably used some kind of drug to knock Cui Xiaotian out," Cai Jin added, "He definitely did it on purpose to prevent us from questioning Cui Xiaotian."
"Chief Cai," Han Wentao praised angrily, "the magistrate under your command is really a capable general!"
"This..." Cai Jin panicked, "Master Han, this Song Zhili has always been obedient. I don't know what kind of stimulation he received. Why did he suddenly become like this?"
"Alas!" Han Wentao gritted his teeth and sighed. He had no choice but to flick his sleeves and robe, and came to Song Zhili who was waiting outside the circle. He lowered his attitude and asked, "Tell me, Song Zhili, what do you want?"
"Master Han," Song Zhili bowed and saluted, "I don't have any requirements. I just want to handle the case impartially."
"Do it impartially? You..." Han Wentao's eyes widened, "Do you still want to kill Cui Xiaotian? Just like Qiu Zhennong did? Do you know that you have offended the Minister of Civil Affairs about Qiu Zhennong?"
"Master Han," Song Zhili weighed the stack of papers in his hand, "Look carefully, these are the wishes of the people. I am just doing my duty and seeking justice for the people. As a parent and official, I will The people of Daxuan punish rape and eliminate evil, have I done something wrong?"
"You...you are talking to me about justice at this time, you..." Han Wentao suppressed his anger, lowered his posture again, and said in a very low voice, "Qian'an County has a vacancy for the governor, let you be A county magistrate’s office, right?
"Let me tell you, Cui Xiaotian's affairs are too deep for you to play with!
"Don't think that if you master Cui Xiaotian's secret, you can blackmail anyone. If you are desperate, they will do anything. Is it worth it for just Cui Xiaotian?
"Even if you are not afraid of death, don't you think about your family? Do you have to fight for the whole family to be satisfied?"
"this……"
Family members were Song Zhili's weakness. Han Wentao's words immediately made him hesitate. Only then did he realize that his behavior was a bit reckless.
Because according to Han Wentao, there is obviously a big tiger above the governor! If he insists on persisting to the end, it will be inevitable.
However, Song Zhili was not a rookie, and he knew better that once he compromised, the consequences would be even worse.
Han Wentao's promise to the county guard was a road of no return.
Seeing Song Zhili's hesitation, Han Wentao immediately saw hope and quickly advised: "As long as Cui Xiaotian is not dead, everything is still too late!
"Look, since you already know some of the secrets, you are an insider. As long as you are willing to join this circle, it will be easy for you to serve as an official in the Holy Capital!"
"This..." Song Zhili was even more entangled. After trying hard to think deeply, he said, "Master Han, this matter is of great importance. Can I allow you to think about it?"
"Pedantic! What else do you need to consider?" Han Wentao glared, "A great future is beckoning to you! Do you have to choose to destroy your family and your family?"
"Master Han," Song Zhili said again, "just because it involves the destruction of a family and the death of a person, I have to think carefully about it. Can you give me a little more time?"
"You...sigh," Han Wentao flicked his sleeves and said, "Then you can't think about it for too long! Moreover, Cui Xiaotian must not die! If he dies, let's all die together!"
"I know," Song Zhili held out two fingers, "I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer in two days!"
"Okay! Alas..."
Han Wentao shook his head repeatedly, then reluctantly gathered his team and left the county government office with Sima Xin and others.
However, as soon as they walked out of the yamen, Han Wentao immediately ordered Sima Xin: "Let our people seal the yamen and no one can escape!"
"Yes!" Sima Xin seemed to have expected it and agreed immediately.
"Also, anyone who wants to enter the Yamen will be arrested and interrogated!" Han Wentao said again, "I don't believe that a small county magistrate can rebel!"
…
A quarter of an hour later, Songzhou Governor Han Wentao hurriedly returned to the inn where he was staying.
The inn has long been under martial law, and there are guards everywhere with swords hanging on their waists and bulging temples.
After Han Wentao arrived at the door of a certain room, he nervously adjusted his clothes and showed an extremely fearful expression on his face.
There were three knocks on the door. Although no one answered, Han Wentao still pushed the door open and entered.
After entering the room, he first carefully closed the door, then knelt down on the floor in the center of the room respectfully, facing the shadow in the corner, and recounted everything that had just happened in the county government office.
"Sir," Han Wentao did not dare to raise his head and said, "If a small county magistrate dares to resist like this, I suspect there may be someone behind it, and he is deliberately targeting us!"
"Hmph..." A cold snort came from the shadows, and then a hoarse voice sounded, "We have an antagonistic relationship with the Minister of Civil Affairs. He not only engages in Qiu Zhennong, but also arrests Cui Xiaotian. He is obviously a mad dog! A self-righteous person who does not know how to live or die. Mad dog!”
"Then..." Han Wentao was sweating on his forehead and asked quickly, "What should we do?"
"What to do?" said the hoarse voice, "As soon as Cui Xiaotian dies, the evidence of the crime will be directly handed over to the Holy Master! And if the county magistrate is dead, can his so-called accomplices still enter the Holy Capital to file a complaint? Can't you tell which one is more important?"
"Ah!?" Han Wentao was shocked, "But there was an imperial edict before, and the Holy One personally asked Qiu Zhennong about it. If he died..."
"Do you still need me to teach you?" The hoarse voice said lightly, "People from the Tianxiong Escort Bureau went to the Yamen to cause trouble before. Wouldn't it be great to blame these big-headed and brainless warriors for the bloodbath in the Yamen? ?”
"A bloodbath... a bloodbath in the Yamen..." Han Wentao shuddered, "Is it really going to be so big?"
"Is it big? Are there not more people who died in the Chongning granary than the Yanping County government?" said the hoarse voice coldly, "However, this little county magistrate did do something we dare not do.
"Without further delay, let's do it tonight, get Cui Xiaotian out, and then ask all his secrets. If you can get rid of Cui Xiaotian's heartache, you will have made a great contribution.
"As for the others," the hoarse voice said harshly, "No one will be left alive!!!"
…
(End of chapter)
