"I...I didn't steal, it was a misunderstanding, it was a misunderstanding..."

Under the gaze of everyone, Liu Zilin felt as if he had swallowed a cold lump and his heart felt cold. He hurriedly denied it and looked around, as if he was eager to seek help.

It's a pity that the gloomy young head of the Liu family behind the crowd is helpless at the moment.

"Misunderstanding? You used my Night Pearl to buy an Orchid from Yuanming Building. It's written in white and black. The market deeds are all here. The size and appearance of the Night Pearl are all correct. Boss Zhu, the pawnshop owner, and the city magistrates also

They are all here and can prove that this pearl is genuine. Can you tell me about the misunderstanding?"

The young county magistrate thought about his doubts and pondered for a moment. He looked up and said as if he suddenly realized:

"So what you're saying is that I stole your Night Pearl a month ago and took it to a pawn shop to pawn it. When I found it couldn't be sold, I kindly discovered it and quietly returned it to you. You were completely unaware of the whole process.

, I bought Hu Ji with Ye Mingzhu a few days ago? Is that what you mean?"

"..."

Liu Zilin really wanted to say "yes", but...

"Hahaha……"

There was a burst of laughter on Shengtang Street, which was originally solemn, but he tried his best to hold it back.

Even the girl from the Xie family, who had slightly red eyes and was in a daze, couldn't help laughing. She flattened her lips and stared at the senior brother who was full of witty words and calm.

Obviously, no one really believes this funny statement.

Liu Zilin was speechless for a moment.

Ouyang Rong continued to sigh and asked:

"Then what do you mean when you say misunderstanding? Did my Night Pearl run into your pocket with its long legs?"

"me……"

Liu Zilin, who was soaked in cold sweat, was still a little empty-headed until now. This unexpected incident in Ye Mingzhu directly confused him.

This actually doesn't blame him for being careless.

Originally his plan was simple and effective:

Privately threatening Yingniang and Luo Er to cooperate, the former deceived Xie Lingjiang into taking out the corresponding property and handed it over to intermediary Luo Er to buy Yingniang from Yuanming House.

Xie Lingjiang should have personally checked the market bond contract at this stage, so it cannot be faked.

In the second stage, Luo Er takes Yingniang to the Municipal Commandery to cancel the deed of betrayal. They can choose a day when Xie Lingjiang is busy, and the two of them go there alone.

There is a lot of room for maneuver here, and it can go from "cancelling the contract of sale" to changing the situation, handing over Ying Niang to Liu Zilin, and then letting Xie Lingjiang, who is kept in the dark, take her back.

This should also be the time when Xie Lingjiang relaxed her guard the most, otherwise if she didn't believe Yingniang, she wouldn't have handed over Ye Mingzhu to redeem her life.

But Liu Zilin never expected that the problem would actually lie with this damn luminous pearl, which was also the most irreplaceable contract object.

Because Xie Lingjiang is not a fool, he just trusts the weak who are bullied too much, but she will definitely care about and review the process and contract of Luo Er's redemption of Yingniang in the first stage.

But who would have thought that the dignified daughter-in-law of the Xie family would have no extra possessions, only a luminous pearl left!

But it happened to be a gift from the county magistrate’s brother... No, why are you giving things to others so casually!

Liu Zilin was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood.

However, a certain unlucky third young master of the Liu family could not have guessed that Xie Lingjiang and his senior brother were finishing their argument at that time.

Because of the relaxation of food prices, I was in a semi-cold war. I mistakenly thought that my senior brother didn't care about the people, so I ignored my senior brother's words and went to Yuanming Tower to find Yingniang. Then I took out the Night Pearl to redeem her without much hesitation...

Behind the public case table, Ouyang Rong stopped looking at Liu Zilin, who was unable to argue, and directly asked Diao County Cheng, who was eating melon in surprise next to him:

"Master Diao, if you steal other people's property and use it to buy slaves like this, will the bond contract be considered valid?"

"Reporting to the Ming Mansion naturally does not count. The slaves should be returned to their original owners." Diao Xian Cheng thought about it and said: "This Hu Ji Yingniang should still be affiliated with Yuanming Mansion."

Ouyang Rong nodded and asked the old city magistrate: "In the market bond contract, what is the price of Night Pearl replacing Orchid?"

The latter respectfully replied: "Twenty-one."

Ouyang Rong nodded and settled the account very considerately:

"It's far more than ten strings, and he steals official property. He should have the word "thief" tattooed on his face and be exiled for three thousand miles. Lingnan is too close, so he should be expelled to the north of Liaodong."

Liu Zilin was frightened when he heard this. He knelt down and said, sweating profusely: "The magistrate is wronged! I didn't steal. My family is not short of property, how could I steal!"

He hurriedly took out a small bag of gold and silver treasures from his sleeve and sprinkled them on the bluestone floor tiles with trembling hands.

Ouyang Rong looked around and sighed to everyone:

"You are so rich and yet you steal from me. It seems that you are addicted to stealing. I don't know how much of the treasures on the ground are stolen."

The crowd roared with laughter.

"!!!" Liu Zilin.

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyelids, glanced at him, pointed at the people on the field and said:

"I and everyone have seen it. The witnesses and physical evidence brought by Mr. Liu himself prove that you asked Luo Er to take the night pearl to Yuanming Tower to redeem people. Since you said you did not steal the night pearl, then take out the night pearl and give it to Luo Er.

Who is it?"

Without even raising his eyes, he said slowly:

"Then may I think so, what this Miss Xie said is the truth. She gave the night pearl, and she redeemed the man, and you and Luo Er have been despising the court and falsely accusing your beloved throughout the whole process!"

Liu Zilin's bloodshot eyes moved from side to side, his expression hesitant.

The young county magistrate immediately raised the gavel and wanted to make a decision, without giving him time to think or a third option:

"Tell me quickly, are you stealing official property or falsely accusing a good person?"

When he saw that he was about to make a final decision, Liu Zilin became anxious and gritted his teeth and said: "Steal... steal official property!"

Stealing official property will at most result in a tattoo or imprisonment, and you can also find opportunities to pay for it, especially imprisonment... that is, imprisonment, and you can also redeem the crime;

But if you deceive the government and frame your loved ones, you will be beheaded!

You can only choose the lesser of two evils.

Ouyang Rong nodded and quickly convicted: "Okay. That means he admitted to stealing official property."

Liu Zilin was stunned, feeling that he confessed too quickly and didn't even have time to quibble, such as whether he picked up the night pearl. This reason was fake at first glance but it seemed that it could be fooled... Mad, why do you feel like you have been deceived?

But at the moment, he couldn't care less about turning back and immediately defended lamely:

"No...but the common people didn't steal it. Yes, yes, it was him! He stole it and forced it on the common people."

Liu Zilin pointed his finger in desperation.

A certain chubby young man who shrank his head suddenly stood stunned.

"The villain doesn't have it, the villain doesn't have it..."

Luo Er waved his hands wildly, shaking his head and shaking his face, but the fierce look from Liu Zilin, who had his back to Ouyang Rong, made him shudder and shut up in fear.

Under the playful gaze of the young county magistrate, Liu Zilin carried Luo Er to his side, pointed at him and loudly "exposed".

The latter opened his mouth, but could not speak. He seemed to be under some kind of lustful power, and his fat face was red from suppressing it.

But in the end, he could only bow his head and plead guilty under Liu Zilin's wink. Luo Er could only hold on to his last fantasy, hoping that after he was convicted, the Liu family could use money to redeem his sentence, or buy connections during his exile...

Witnessing this scene of human ugliness.

Most of the county officials such as Diao Xian Cheng, Yan Qi Kuai, Wang Caozhi, Shopkeeper Ma, Wu Bo and other grain merchants and squires had complicated eyes, showing smiles or disdain.

The other onlookers are not fools either. After seeing this case, they still don’t know the general truth.

The young county magistrate chuckled, and finally turned to look at the owner of Yuanming House:

"Boss Zhu, Hu Ji belongs to Yuanming House. She was taken back to stay overnight privately. It's up to you to decide how to handle her."

Boss Zhu glanced at a certain silent girl, and said with a naive smile: "I'm a businessman, so I can give you double the money for the night. It's a piece of cake."

The young magistrate who was betrayed nodded and shook his head again.

Immediately, he drew lots and threw them out, stood up and announced:

"The court decree stated that... the criminal Luo Er stole a pearl, which was also official property. He had a tattoo with the word "thief" engraved on his face. He was exiled for three thousand miles and exiled to the north of Liaodong. He was sentenced to three years of hard labor and was not allowed to return home after the expiration of the term.

"Accomplice Liu Zilin, who concealed his crime and failed to report the crime, embezzled stolen money, and boldly roared in court, shall be punished with both punishments, seventy canes and two years' imprisonment.

"Xie, a private woman, secretly hid Hu Ji for the night, and showed her sword in court in defiance of the king's law. She was ordered to return Hu Ji, and was fined ten knives of silver, and further fined seventy times!

"Every case has been concluded, this is the verdict!"

Bang——!

Ouyang Rong slammed the table and concluded the case with a verdict.

The whole place fell silent.

The grain merchants and squires looked a little surprised.

Anyone who is not blind can see clearly what the background of this case is. Luo Er and Liu Zilin, who almost beat them up, deserve this punishment.

It's quite surprising that the young county magistrate is so harsh on his junior sister, but if you think about it carefully...it's fair.

Many people sighed and looked at the koan under the afternoon sun with quite sincere eyes.
To be continued...