The next day, the government office issued a notice, and the prefect Han Tai sat in court to preside over the trial of the Bai family, and the magistrate Feng Congli and Tongjian Sheng Hong served as co-trials.
The government officials put the people who were watching the excitement into the middle gate. This was the intention of the government officials. Every time there was an announcement in the hall, the people would be allowed to listen to show fairness and clarity.
The common people crowded on the platform of the main hall, including those who also came to file a lawsuit, there were about a hundred people.
"Ascending to the Hall!"
With a powerful voice, the yamen row in the hall began. The yamen servants stood in east and west positions, holding water and fire sticks with red tops and black bottoms, and poked them on the ground so that they made a loud sound.
The hundreds of people outside suddenly fell silent, full of fear of authority.
The prefect, Han Tai, wore official robes and walked out with eight steps. Comrade Feng Congli and Tongpan Sheng Hong followed Han Tai on the left and right, and behind them were their respective masters and a group of subordinate officials.
Han Tai sat under the plaque hanging above the mirror, and Feng Congli and Sheng Hong also took their seats.
The office clerk sitting nearby called the names, and the plaintiff Gu Tingye, defendants Bai Zhuoyan, Bai Tingyu and his son were brought to the hall and knelt down.
Han Tai clapped his hands and shouted: "Whoever is kneeling in the hall, please tell me your name!"
Gu Tingye and the Bai family father and son each responded truthfully. Gu Tingye was the legitimate son of a marquis, Bai Zhuoyan was an upright local, and Bai Tingyu also had a reputation as a scholar. Han Tai ordered all three of them to stand up and reply.
Feng Congli adhered to the principle of using people's money to eliminate disasters, so he spoke first: "Gu Tingye, for a small amount of money, you are complaining about your elders, and you are going against the rules. You should hit twenty big words first to set a warning for others!"
When Han Tai and Sheng Hong heard this, they both laughed secretly. Feng Congli's method was really not good enough.
As the legitimate son of Marquis Gu Tingye, Feng Congli couldn't possibly hit him. What he said was just to bully Gu Tingye, who was young and ignorant, and first threatened and intimidated him in order to cause chaos in him.
"My lord has misunderstood. I am not doing it for the Bai family property." Although Gu Tingye's tone was modest, his words were neither humble nor arrogant: "It is indeed against the principles of a young person to complain to an elder. However, I am redressing the grievances of my ancestors. This is purely What kind of crime is there in filial piety?”
Feng Congli frowned and said, "Where is the injustice?"
Gu Tingye pointed at the father and son of the Bai family and said sternly: "When my grandfather was seriously ill, these two bribed the clan to isolate the inside and outside, and then suddenly news came out that my grandfather died suddenly due to illness. This matter is extremely suspicious." , I beg you, sir, to observe clearly!"
Gu Tingye's words were loud and upright, and the people watching nodded their heads.
Bai Zhuoyan and his son were stunned on the spot. They originally came with the idea of competing for family property with Gu Tingye, and they were already prepared for a protracted war.
Unexpectedly, Gu Tingye just made a false move and directly accused the two of parricide without mentioning anything about the family property in court!
Whether Mr. Bai's death had anything to do with the Bai family and his son, they themselves knew best.
It can even be said that Mr. Bai was pissed to death by their father and son!
When Mr. Bai was on the sick bed, they forced Mr. Bai to write a will and appoint Bai Ting as his successor.
Mr. Bai naturally refused to obey.
The Bai family father and son became angry and tried every means to torture and force Mr. Bai, which at least caused Mr. Bai to die a few months early.
Therefore, when they suddenly heard that Gu Tingye accused them of murdering Mr. Bai, a moment of panic flashed across their faces uncontrollably.
When Gu Tingye spoke, he kept paying attention to the expressions of the Bai family and his son.
Seeing that both of them were pale, as if they had been stabbed in a painful spot, Gu Tingye's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
What happened today was actually Gu Tingye's test of the Bai family and his son after listening to Wei Chen's suggestion.
Wei Chen's idea is very simple. Since the Bai family father and son can murder Gu Tingye for the sake of the family property, it is naturally possible to murder Mr. Bai for the sake of the family property.
Of course, this was just Wei Chen's guess and there was no real evidence, so he asked Gu Tingye to suddenly attack the Bai family and his son in court and deceive them when they were unprepared.
Now it seems that Wei Chen really guessed it right.
Gu Tingye thought of his grandfather's desolation and helplessness before his death, and felt filled with grief and anger. He immediately knelt down and complained to the three adults in the hall.
"My ancestor died unjustly, and his soul is restless under the Nine Springs. Even if this lawsuit lasts for ten or twenty years, and I spend millions of my family's wealth, I, Gu Tingye, will still defend my ancestor!"
The good fight for childbirth suddenly turned into parricide. The three superiors in the hall were a little confused when they heard this.
However, they can sit in this position and their eyesight is naturally good. Seeing the reactions of the Bai family and his son, they understand that there may be something fishy about Mr. Bai's death.
At this point, even Feng Congli, who had always supported the Bai family and his son, began to waver. If the Bai family and his son were really related to the death of Mr. Bai, then he could not escape the involvement!
Feng Congli's expression changed again and again, but he finally made up his mind and turned to look at Han Tai and Sheng Hong: "My lords, this matter is a big one and it is difficult to make a decision at the moment. How about we retreat to the back hall to discuss it for the time being? "
Seeing the pleading in Feng Congli's eyes, Han Tai and Sheng Hong looked at each other and already knew what was going on.
"Quit!"
In the back office, Han Tai and Sheng Hong each leaned on high-backed chairs and drank tea calmly.
Feng Congli saw that none of them spoke, and finally lost his temper: "You two, according to my wishes, it is better to put the Bai family father and son in prison first. Tomorrow, the coffin will be opened for autopsy, and we will know the truth."
"Open the coffin for autopsy?" Han Tai said with a half-smile, "It seems that Mr. Feng is sure that the Bai family and his son are haunted?"
Feng Congli took a deep breath, broke the jar and said: "Now that things have happened, there is nothing to hide. I have indeed received the benefits of the Bai family and his son. The total amount is 3,500 taels of silver. Ruo Er Sir, if you are interested, I can hand over the money with both hands now, and I only ask for your help to cover it up."
"Master Feng is quite honest."
Of course Han Tai and Sheng Hong understood Feng Congli's thoughts. If it was just an ordinary fight for property, then Feng Congli would have accepted the money and might have spoken for the Bai family and his son. But now the Bai family and his son committed the crime of parricide, and the person who died was still a celebrity in Yangzhou. Here The stakes were too high, so Feng Congli had to act cautiously and put self-preservation first.
Han Tai looked at Feng Congli with a pained face, smiled and said, "Master Feng can keep these more than three thousand taels of silver for himself. Don't worry, Master Feng, I guarantee that no one will say anything outside."
Feng Congli raised his head in surprise. Three thousand five hundred taels was a huge sum of money. Han Tai was not tempted?
Han Tai seemed to understand the question in Feng Congli's eyes, and said with deep meaning: "I heard that the second wife of the Bai family is under the shadow of Mr. Bai, and although the family wealth is not as good as that of the big family, it is no less than one hundred thousand... "
Feng Congli suddenly understood and smiled with understanding. Han Tai was eyeing the property of the second wife of the Bai family. No wonder he didn't care about his little money!
With the methods of these veteran officials, as long as they delay the trial of the case and give the Bai family some time to deal with it, they can bankrupt the Bai family and the second wife in a year or two at most.
"What do Shanda people think?"
Feng Congli suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Sheng Hong, who had remained silent. Han Tai's eyes turned and stayed on Sheng Hong.
Sheng Hong smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "I will be transferred to Beijing next year. All matters in Yangzhou will be left to the discretion of these two adults."
Han Tai and Feng Congli smiled at each other and nodded together.
"good."
