Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Yan Nan

Whether it is the shocking blood and tears accusation above, or the innocent souls buried beneath the words, or the silent cries of the unseen people, as well as the ability to deliver this thick stack of papers into his hands…

It is all very heavy!

So heavy that Su Shijie feels his hands trembling.

His face slightly darkened, he said solemnly to Yue Zhengrong, “Mr. Yue, Lord Governor has commanded me to handle this matter, and I dare not slack off. Initially, when I received the complaint from someone around Prince Cheng’s Heir, I wondered if there was any misunderstanding! But now with these papers and testimonies, I must investigate thoroughly! I rely on you, Mr. Yue.”

Yue Zhengrong grinned and said, “This Inspector understands!”

He waved his hand and those armored soldiers immediately rushed into the mansion and seized Wang Qianshan.

Previously, not many armored soldiers had come in. People outside the mansion did not feel it, but at this moment, when more than three hundred men rushed in, Wang Qianshan was stupefied, with a trace of despair in his eyes.

While Huangfu Jingchen was still at Hua Cheng Villa, when he saw those stationed troops and guards becoming the protectors of Hua Cheng Villa, he knew that the stationed troops and City Defense Army in Yuqing County were unreliable.

That night, Xia Wenjin went out seeking people from Haotian Village but found no success; when encountering those assassins, Huangfu Jingchen was the one who went to see the guard Yan Nan.

Although deviating from the route back to Yunzhou, he left markings along the way, so Yan Nan would come looking for him after completing his assignments.

Determining to deal with this Governor Wang, he naturally understood that being Prince Cheng’s Heir and son of a Vassal King, his identity outside the fief was somewhat sensitive. Certain matters were not suitable for him to be at the forefront, lest it be used against his father the prince.

But, what if Prince Cheng’s Heir were to encounter danger himself in Yuqing County?

Therefore, he could keep himself detached, not go to the Commandery Governor’s Office, but instead went with Xia Wenjin.

Only by being in “danger,” could all this proceed naturally!

He went out to meet Yan Nan, and instructed him in person.

Yan Nan took the symbol of Cheng Prince Mansion to the Jiazhou Governor to file a complaint, telling the Jiazhou Governor that Prince Cheng’s Heir was returning to the capital to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday, but while passing through Yuqing County during his journey, was framed by the Yuqing County Governor and placed in a perilous situation, facing mortal danger!

After verifying the symbol, the Jiazhou Governor did not dare to neglect it and immediately sent Su Shijie to investigate the truth.

Following Huangfu Jingchen’s instructions, Yan Nan also conveyed to the Jiazhou Governor that while investigating everything thoroughly, precautions must be taken against the Yuqing County Governor acting desperately, for after all, the entirety of Yuqing County was under his control. The stationed troops and City Guards in Yuqing County were unusable. The Jiazhou Governor, not wanting Prince Cheng’s Heir to meet with any incidents under his jurisdiction, sent Yue Zhengrong the Inspector as well.

Yue Zhengrong brought along his two thousand elite soldiers!

But while marching with the troops, even though it was a rapid deployment, it was not as swift as Yan Nan alone, who quickly departed after arranging to meet them at the gate of the Commandery Governor’s Office.

Therefore, Yue Zhengrong didn’t participate in Ding Yichuan’s confession, and being of the same rank, Yue Zhengrong was particularly surprised to see Ding Yichuan’s confession.

This person beside Prince Cheng’s Heir is not simple!

With such attendants, who knows whether Prince Cheng’s Heir is merely a kid of noble birth or a talented young man with greater ambition?

Su Shijie discreetly glanced at Wang Qianshan; if Prince Cheng’s Heir was not at the Commandery Governor’s Office and not in any life-threatening situation, he might only face exile, sparing his life. But if there was any harm, or if he was truly harmed by those at the Commandery Governor’s Office, Wang Qianshan’s life here couldn’t be saved.

Not to mention the advice from the Jiazhou Governor, but the person beside Prince Cheng’s Heir is watching them closely and has even provided such a stack of things, they can only handle it impartially.

Everyone at the Commandery Governor’s Office is controlled, none allowed in or out.

The Qin Official who had come “on duty” was also placed under house arrest within the Commandery Governor’s Office.

The Commandery Governor’s Office was temporarily set as Su Shijie’s government office, with none of the three groups of government officials used, all controlled by Yue Zhengrong’s elite soldiers, and Ding Yichuan holding the confession in hand, naturally no longer commanding the military forces of Yuqing County there, which was also initially taken over by Yue Zhengrong.

Yue Zhengrong and Su Shijie cooperated with swift execution.

The originally high-ranking Yuqing County Governor Wang Qianshan, now faced with deathlike despair, became a prisoner.

However, despite Wang Qianshan displaying extreme grief, he wasn’t overly panicked inside. Even though stacks of accusations and records had piled up, involving lives in between, those were not acts he personally committed. Lapsack in governance or muddled affairs were only grounds for reprimand and demotion. Even with Ding Yichuan’s confession and written admission, he was confident in minimizing his major charges into minor ones or having minor ones dismissed entirely, after all, it wasn’t these years of greasing palms for nothing.

As for Prince Cheng’s Heir, upon learning his age is only eighteen, he relaxed, none like that entered the prison over the past half month.

Therefore, when Su Shijie questioned the charges, regarding the blood and tears accusations in the statements, Wang Qianshan readily admitted his lax governance and loose control of subordinates, indeed guilty.

What Ding Yichuan admitted, he did not acknowledge, and accused Ding Yichuan of slander.

Among the charges, when mentioning the abduction of young men, Wang Qianshan kept shouting his innocence, tearfully declaring to Su Shijie, “Mr. Su, although guilty of failing to oversee closely, acting foolishly, I have never been fond of male charm, how could I abduct young men.”

Su Shijie raised the papers in hand, “These clearly state, your daughter privately keeps male favorites! The abducted young men were all kept by your daughter! Is there such a matter?”

Wang Qianshan was shocked, furiously saying, “Sir, in Nanxia Country, known for its culture, men uphold propriety and women guard chastity. I have studied the classics since childhood, with strict family discipline, my daughter unwed, stays indoors, maintaining purity! How could she commit such shameless acts? These rumors are too malicious, intending to ruin my daughter’s chaste reputation! Sir, killing someone is but a point on the head, who is so vicious to destroy my daughter’s good name? Please investigate! Investigate thoroughly!” Towards the end, he was crying uncontrollably with apparent anger.

Su Shijie coughed lightly, finding it indeed inconvenient to address regarding a woman’s reputation, sternly continued, “Then the abduction of young women, do you plead guilty?”

Wang Qianshan continued pleading innocence, “Sir, within the jurisdiction indeed there have been cases of missing women, but these are truly unrelated to me. In today’s world, the hearts of people are not ancient, everywhere, exist cunning people trafficking women and children, seeking nothing but profit, losing conscience. I once dispatched people for stern investigation and caught several cases, reporting them to Lord Governor’s office. Likely the families who lost daughters, hating me for not returning their loved ones, filed complaints against me, but truly I am wronged.”

Of course, Wang Qianshan knew about what happened at Hua Cheng Villa, the villa was concealed, and, after an attack by assassins, many deaths occurred, but now Hua Cheng Villa is cleaned up well, leaving absolutely no evidence, he would certainly never confess.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep