ng say they had searched everywhere How could there still be someoneA little girl, about seven or eight years old, dressed in tattered roughspun clothes, with a faded red string tied around her wrist,...The back hall of the county government office.

County magistrate Wu Yong, from Jianghe County, was roused by his clerk Zheng Dongqiao in a daze.

"Master, something terrible has happened! Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun took a lot of people away last night, but they haven't come back yet. Just now someone came to report that the people from Zhao's and Zhou's families have all been arrested and are currently at the County Magistrate's hall!"

"What"

After hearing Zheng Dongqiao's account, Wu Yong raised an eyebrow and immediately flew into a rage: "You arrested people from the Zhou family and Zhao family And in the county magistrate's hall What does Zhao Kang think he's doing Does he still see me as the county magistrate!"

"Master, we can't let Zhao Kang run amok with this!" Zheng Dongqiao said hurriedly.

Wu Yong nodded.

He naturally understood this.

Zhao Kang went beyond himself and attacked the Zhou family and Zhao family, this is challenging his own authority!

"Come on, get everyone here. I want to see what this Zhao Kang is trying to do! He thinks he can turn the world upside down"

Wu Yong, with a single order, prepared to dispatch a squad of officers outside the door.

The result took ages, but only two aging and feeble clerks rushed over.

Zheng Dongqiao said helplessly, "Master, yesterday Zhao Deyi took away all three shifts of yamen guards. Now there are only the two of them left in the county government."

Wu Yong glared: "Out yesterday Why are you not back yet Where are the clerks on duty Are they gone too These dogs, they've really eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall!"

The old master was furious, Zheng Dongqiao also had a helpless look on his face. He didn't know where the constables went.

At this moment, Wu Yong also realized that something was wrong.

Immediately, he disregarded his dignity and hurriedly summoned several servants from his household. Along with the two elderly constables, he rushed towards the County Magistrate's office, not even bothering to ride in a palanquin.

At this very moment, the county magistrate's hall was bustling with activity both inside and out. Countless people had crowded the streets outside the hall, making it impossible to pass through.

Because they had all heard that the County Magistrate was personally presiding over the case at this moment.

And the cases being reviewed were all old cases concerning Zhou Kun's family and Zhao Deyi's family!

And, today's trial was different from the past.

In the past, matters were handled behind closed doors, with a few gentlemen deciding cases on their own.

But today, it is a trial held in public, even allowing commoners to observe!

At first, many people heard that Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun were being tried and didn't believe it.

What are you kidding me

Who doesn't know, the Zhou family and Zhao family are the top two powerful families in the Jianghe River region.

Don't even mention the county magistrate; even if it were the high-ranking county head who wanted to touch them, they'd have to think twice.

However, when people saw Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi's family members tied up outside the county magistrate's office with their own eyes...

They were completely shocked.

We all realized that this time, it was really happening!

"What's going on Why were people from the Zhou family and Zhao family arrested"

"I don't know, I heard they are trying a case inside. We are too far away to hear anything."

“If both the Zhou and Zhao families fall, then something big is going to happen!”

Do you still remember that Yang Lin from last time I saw him in there too.

"What's a villager doing here Could he be reporting us" The people murmured amongst themselves. Most of them were too far away to hear what was being said inside the hall, and could only occasionally glean bits of information from those at the front.

"Oh oh, did you hear Someone just said Zhou Kun was sentenced to death!"

"What No way! Are you serious"

"Listen to anything else..."

The people were filled with excitement.

Many of those who had been bullied by the Zhou and Zhao families were even more excited, wanting to squeeze over to take a look, but there were simply too many people.

At this moment, inside the grand hall, Zhao Kang sat in the center, with three shifts of yamen guards standing straight on either side.

"Bang!"

Zhao Kang slammed the gavel and roared, "Zhou Zhengyang is accused of crimes against Zhou. Last March, he robbed Xu Liuxi's wife, Xu Zhangshi, in broad daylight. He brutally abused her to death and then killed Xu Liuxi on the street. Afterwards, he conspired with his father, Zhou Kun, to kill Xu Daliang, Xu Liuxi's father. He committed three murders. According to the Daqian law, he should be beheaded to warn the people and deter them from following his evil deeds."

Zhao Kang had just finished speaking when Zhou Zhengyang, who was kneeling on the floor, fainted.

"Good!!"

"Great!"

"What a righteous indignation!"

When the people outside heard this, they cheered thunderously. Many were so overcome with joy that they wept!

Zhao Kang wrote a large "slash" character on the case file, drew a cross after it, and put the file aside. Then he picked up another one at random.

“The person who committed the crime was Zhou Wu’s wife, Zhou Kun's concubine. She used her husband Zhou Kun's position to accept bribes of eight hundred and sixty taels, acting for personal gain. According to the Daqian Law, her crime should land her in prison! However, considering that she repented early and turned herself in, imprisonment can be waived, but she will receive twenty lashes!”

Zhou Kun's concubine, upon hearing this, was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed in thanks.

One case after another, even though there was ample physical evidence and signed confessions, it took more than two hours to review nearly a hundred cases.

Every verdict is met with cheers from the people.

Hearing the cheers outside the door, Zhao Kang's heart was a mixture of emotions.

To serve the people is, after all, his original intention.

Only after becoming an official did I realize the darkness of this world! To remain untainted by it is already a blessing, let alone to try and cleanse its filth—it's like a fool dreaming.

And now, he has done it! Looking back on his past dreams, for some reason, his heart feels extremely grounded.

Zhao Kang knew better; Yang Lin letting him preside over the case was also a way to help him gain fame!

Since the wealthy families have already been offended, it's better not to cling to them anymore. Instead, just be a clean and honest official, which will also bring peace of mind.

"The following people, namely Ren Fan, Zhou Kun, Zhou Zhengyang, Zhou Tianyi, Zhou Yuliang, Zhou Li, Zhao Guang, Zhao Hui, Zhao Zhong, Zhao Dexing, and Zhao Sanhai, are to be beheaded outside the court this afternoon at the third watch!"

As soon as Zhao Kang uttered these words, the crowd outside the hall was once again astonished.

Although they had just heard the death sentence, it is common practice for such a severe punishment to be reported to the Ministry of Justice for approval. If one were to execute first and report later, it would be easily exploited by others, bringing them trouble.

Therefore, wherever it is, after a death sentence is carried out, there will almost always be a period of waiting, generally in the spring and autumn seasons, before executions are concentrated.

But now that the case has just been decided and directly sentenced, it takes courage from the judge to make this decision.

Outside the County Magistrate's Hall, Magistrate Wu had arrived long ago, but there were too many people around him. He couldn't squeeze through and could only hear the murmurs of the people. The more he listened, the angrier he became.

This Zhao Kang is really bold! Not only did he overstep his bounds, but he actually sentenced both the Zhao and Zhou families. And to think he handed down so many death sentences

As they were going, something suddenly parted ahead of them. Wu Yong's anger had reached boiling point, and without a word, he rushed in.

At this moment, a group of officers escorted prisoners towards them.

"Release the man!" Wu Yong roared.but he couldn't muster the strength to even crawl, so he gave up.Whatever happens, happens!Zi Yi stepped forward: "Young Master Yang, as long as you honestly answer our questions, we won't make things...