When Ye Jintang beat the drum of injustice, she was not wearing a gauze hat. She was slender, dressed in white, and had a small white flower on her head. She looked weak and pitiful.
When everyone saw clearly that the person standing at the door of the government office was a beautiful girl with outstanding appearance, a young man dressed as a scholar whispered, "Who is this girl? How come I have never seen her before?"
"How could I not know when there was such a beautiful lady in Yuezhou City?"
Zhang Juren in the crowd recognized Ye Jintang even though he was far away.
"I know who she is."
"Miss Ye rented my small courtyard a few days ago."
"Miss Ye? Are you talking about Magistrate Ye's only daughter?"
"Exactly, Miss Ye is also a poor person. As soon as Magistrate Ye died, she was kicked out of the government office. When she first moved to my small courtyard, she only had a little maid with her."
An aunt sighed heavily and said, "My parents suddenly disappeared. How can an orphan girl maintain such a big business?"
"Ms. Ye came here to express her grievances. Could it be because there were rumors in the city some time ago that Magistrate Ye was deliberately poisoned by Governor Song?"
"I'm not sure this is really the case. There were rumors at the time that Governor Song was embezzling money for disaster relief, but it was eventually found out."
"What I'm saying is that at the beginning I also felt that it was strange that more than a dozen members of Magistrate Ye's family died. Although the epidemic was raging in the city at that time, there had never been a situation where more than a dozen people in the family died at one time."
"That's right, that's right. Magistrate Ye didn't have a funeral after that. He just burned it outside the city. It's really against common sense."
Everyone was talking in a hurry, and the closed door of the government office slowly opened. The person walking in front was Jiang Zhi. He was a senior official of the fourth rank and was temporarily acting as the prefect of Yuezhou until the court sent a new prefect.
Following Jiang Zhi were Zhang Tongpan and Ye Song.
"Who is beating the drum of injustice?"
The moment Jiang Zhi saw Ye Jintang, his brows trembled slightly, and the corners of his lips lowered slightly.
"The daughter of the people, Ye Jintang, redressed the grievances of our Ye family. I want to sue Song Deshan for poisoning sixteen members of the Ye family. This is the petition."
Ye Jintang was wearing a plain white dress, which made her look even more weak and pitiful in Jiang Zhi's eyes.
Before Jiang Zhi could speak, Ye Song behind him said, "Sixth sister can't tell me what she has to say, but she's here to voice her grievances."
"It's not like the men of our Ye family are dead, so it's not the turn of a housewife like you to show up outside."
If Ye Song's behavior made Ye Jintang unhappy before, now these words directly caused the trace of blood and family ties she had to disappear in an instant.
"Fourth Brother's words are too heartbreaking. Did you see the notice at the door of the government office?"
"It only said that Song Deshan was greedy for disaster relief money, but it didn't mention anything about his murder of my father. My fourth brother, as my only blood relative in Yuezhou City, didn't stand up for my father. Then I can only personally defend the ten people of my Ye family who died in vain. Six people seek justice."
Ye Jintang's eyes were red and she looked like she was about to cry. Every word she said was like a knife stabbing Ye Song hard.
Anyone who is not confused can understand that Ye Jintang is an orphan and has no parents to care for her. Even her blood relatives don't take her seriously.
At the same time, it also makes people see clearly that the sanctimonious Ye Song is actually a hypocrite.
"Sixth sister, what nonsense are you talking about? Although there are rumors that Uncle Sixth and the others were poisoned by Song Deshan, their bodies have been burned. Without evidence, you can't let me force this matter on Song Deshan."
Ye Jintang sneered inwardly, was what Ye Song said human?
Ye Li is his uncle, how could he be so cold-blooded?
In her opinion, the reason why Ye Song ignored how Ye Li died might be because even if the truth was found out, it would not be of any benefit to him.
His return to Beijing would even be delayed because of the investigation.
Moreover, Song Deshan has already been convicted of embezzling money for disaster relief. Song Deshan will definitely die after entering Beijing. Even if another charge is added to him, he cannot die twice.
It's so troublesome so I won't check it anymore.
"If Fourth Brother doesn't investigate, how do you know there is no evidence?"
As he spoke, Ye Jintang no longer looked at Ye Song, but at Jiang Zhi, who had pursed his lips and said nothing.
"Please also ask Mr. Jiang to uphold justice for the little girl."
Jiang Zhi stepped forward and personally took the paper handed over by Ye Jintang.
"Prefect Ye has been the prefect of Yuezhou City for many years. He has worked hard even if he has no merit. I have accepted this petition and will now go to court to interrogate Song Deshan."
"Thank you, sir."
Ye Jintang stepped forward to give Jiang Zhi a blessing ceremony.
While saluting, she lowered her head and saw the jade pendant hanging on his waist.
Why is Jiang Zhi's jade pendant similar to the jade pendant Jiang Mo gave her?
Could it be that jade pendants carved with various flowers are very popular in the capital?
Not allowing Ye Jintang to think too much, she was surrounded by others and entered the government office.
After living in the backyard for many days, this was her first time in the main hall.
After a while, Song Deshan, disheveled, was escorted from the prison by the government officials.
He glanced at Ye Jintang, who was standing in front of the hall with a frown, and carefully stepped forward and knelt down. The arrogance of the past was long gone. At this moment, Song Deshan was injured and as obedient as a little sheep.
"The person kneeling in the hall is Song Deshan."
"Sir, you are just a villain."
"Ye Li's only daughter is suing you for murdering sixteen members of the Ye family. Do you agree?"
Jiang Zhi's voice was deep and dignified, and Song Deshan trembled in fright.
He banged twice and kowtowed hard twice.
"My lord, this is an injustice. Lord Ye's family did indeed die from the epidemic. The police in the city have conducted a strict investigation."
"Passed work."
"Sir, Wang Wuzuo has also recovered from the epidemic."
Zhang Tongpuan said softly from the side.
"That means there is no evidence from both sides now?"
Song Deshan, who was kneeling on the ground and extremely nervous, was secretly glad that he had done things neatly and burned all the Ye family members with a fire, leaving no trace behind.
Song Deshan, who had been up and down in the officialdom for many years, knew very well that if he was only guilty of embezzling money for disaster relief, he would be beheaded at most. As long as he died, the matter would be over.
But if it comes out that Magistrate Ye was poisoned and he poisoned the court officials, adding more sins to his crimes, the whole family will probably suffer the same fate.
The incense of their Song family cannot be cut off in his hands, and he will never admit it no matter what.
"Mr. Jiang, the daughter of the people found out that when all sixteen members of the Ye family died, they were all taken to Yizhuang in the suburbs and burned. However, four of them were natives of Yuezhou. Their families secretly replaced them and buried them in the ground. "
"Your Excellency, if you want evidence, you just need to open the coffin and conduct an autopsy to see if the four people were poisoned."
Ye Jintang's words made Song Deshan, who had just relaxed, instantly raise his head.
"Master Jiang, who can prove that the four people Ye Jintang said are the servants of Magistrate Ye? It has been nearly two months since this happened, and it is summer again. People may have turned into a pile of bones long ago. You can't take a bunch of them. White bones, let’s just say it was a small poison that poisoned Zhifu Ye’s family.”
"If Miss Ye wants to frame Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao will not be able to defend herself."
Song Deshan pretended to be calm, and he would not admit it even if he was killed.
