Chapter 487 - 488: Punishment

Chapter 487: Chapter 488: Punishment

Xu Mutou didn’t want to reveal so much, but when everyone had asked him about the value of the stolen goods earlier, he had inflated the amount. If he held back now, the numbers wouldn’t add up.

’How was he going to get out of this?’ The arrest officer was already repeating the question, asking him exactly what valuables he had been carrying.

He quickly collected his thoughts, steeled himself, and recited the list one more time.

"And what were you doing with a thousand taels of gold?"

"It was a last-minute decision," Xu Mutou said. "I wanted to purchase some leather..."

"Buying leather now? In the spring?"

"No, not entirely. I was also looking to see if there were any valuable medicinal herbs. As you know, sir, herb prices are quite depressed right now."

"Oh? So you’re an herb merchant?"

"..."

"Then show me your road permit as an herb merchant."

"..."

"I am asking you a question. Answer truthfully, and quickly."

"...It was a spur-of-the-moment idea I had before setting off. I thought if I happened upon anything valuable, I could purchase it for my family."

"Ha!" a villager jeered. "More like he never had it in the first place! He’s just making a false report to try and scam someone."

County Magistrate Wu then turned to Cao Lei. "And what’s the story with this box of priceless jewelry?"

"...I have another family in Huacheng," Cao Lei said. "I was preparing to give this to my wife and child there."

’Now that was an unassailable reason.’ All the men present gave him a knowing look, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

’I’m the clever one, not like that fool Xu who came up with such a pathetic excuse. Let’s see how he talks his way out of this.’

Jin Qianqian spoke up. "I happen to know that Huacheng isn’t far from here. If you wish to get to the bottom of this, Lord Magistrate, why not send someone to inquire? It would only take a little time to see whether this man is telling the truth."

Cao Lei froze. ’A servant like me with a second family? I’ve made a huge mistake.’

County Magistrate Wu, who had been watching his face intently, noticed the subtle change in expression. His mind was made up. "Mrs. Gu has a point. That would indeed confirm whether their claims are true."

Cao Lei could only remain silent. ’Damn it.’

"In that case," County Magistrate Wu declared, "none of you may leave the county town for the time being. You will all accompany me to the government office and await further notice."

With that, he waved his hand, signaling the Government Officials to take the men away.

"Lord Magistrate, we’re the victims!" Xu Mutou cried out.

"That’s right! We’re the ones who were robbed! Why are you taking us to the county government office?"

"Weren’t you just demanding that I find your property? How can I possibly conduct my investigation if you don’t cooperate?"

The traveling merchants who had only reported minor losses immediately began to wave their hands dismissively. "My Lord, perhaps I was mistaken earlier. I must have accidentally dropped it on the road.

Besides, I only lost two sets of knives. I wouldn’t dare trouble you any further, my lord."

"Same here," said another. "It was just a few trinkets, some silk flowers and the like. Not worth much Silver. I must have misremembered."

...

’Are you kidding me? For such a small loss? If we really get detained at the county government office, forget the money we’ll lose from this trip’s business; who knows how long we’ll be delayed and how many Silver Tael we’ll have to spend?’

’They wanted to recoup some losses, that was true, but they weren’t fools. Even if the goods could be recovered, they could earn back more than their value in the time they’d be detained.’

’Besides, the government office isn’t some inn you can come and go from as you please. If they went in and couldn’t get out, that would be a real disaster.’

Since some were unwilling to press the matter, the County Magistrate didn’t insist.

However, he had to take the two who claimed the largest losses back to the county government office. There were too many suspicious things about them.

"My Lord," Cao Lei said, "I also think the thief has probably already fled the village with the goods. They’re likely impossible to recover now. I’m willing to chalk it up to bad luck and drop the matter."

"I’ll chalk it up to bad luck, too," Xu Mutou added quickly.

"Absolutely not," County Magistrate Wu said firmly. "For such a brazen criminal to appear within my jurisdiction is something I cannot tolerate. The others may drop their claims, but you two suffered the greatest losses. I am certain you are most eager to have your property returned."

Xu Mutou was speechless. ’No! Please, just drop it!’

Cao Lei’s mind went blank. ’It’s over. I shouldn’t have tried to be so clever. Where am I supposed to conjure up a second family from at a time like this?’

"Lord County Magistrate truly loves the people as if they were his own children," Jin Qianqian said. "I’m sure that with your help, this thief will be rooted out, and everyone present will receive justice.

I was dragged into this for no reason. And now, you all owe me an explanation.

Let’s talk about the crime of false accusation. I wonder how you intend to handle that, Lord Magistrate?"

"Mrs. Gu is absolutely right," the magistrate replied. "According to the law, false accusation is punishable by twenty strokes of the rod. And since Mrs. Gu is a member of an official family, that punishment is doubled."

Jin Qianqian nodded. "In that case, I will naturally defer to the law. I trust that you, Lord County Magistrate, will handle this matter with impartiality."

"Of course," County Magistrate Wu replied. He immediately had the village chief bring over several long benches. The men who had been shouting the loudest earlier were now being hauled out by the guards under Lin Dapeng’s command and thrown to the ground in front of everyone.

They screamed that they had been framed and struggled with all their might to break free, but how could Lin Dapeng and his men possibly let them succeed? In just a few swift moves, they had the men pinned firmly onto the long benches.

Seeing how formidable Mrs. Gu’s guards were, County Magistrate Wu knew these men had truly provoked her. At his nod, the arrest officer raised a large wooden paddle and began to strike. THWACK! THWACK!

The villagers of this small mountain hamlet had never seen such a spectacle. They instinctively clutched their own backsides and retreated even further.

Cao Lei and the others couldn’t understand it. Everything had been planned perfectly.

’Where did it all go wrong? And where did all those valuables disappear to?’

’Even though they had acted under the cover of darkness, both he and Xu Mutou had been there personally. They had hidden the items together in the tall grass behind the house, and then returned together to their lodgings.’

’They had been involved from start to finish. It was impossible for anyone to have pulled something right under their noses.’

’Could it have been the villagers?’

’But that didn’t make sense either. They had already used the "search" as an excuse to turn the entire village upside down.’

As the paddle slammed down again and again, Cao Lei lost all capacity to think. His vision swam, and his only thought was to escape this torment as quickly as possible.

As the punishment drew to a close, blood had already soaked through the fabric of the men’s trousers, sending a fresh wave of fear through the onlookers.

Someone glanced stealthily at Jin Qianqian, only to see her staring straight ahead, her expression completely unchanged. They clicked their tongue in silent awe. ’As expected, you don’t mess with official families.’

With the final thwack of the paddle, the Gu Mansion guards instantly let go. The men were now too weak to even struggle, lying prone on the benches with ashen faces.

Jin Qianqian’s face was calm, betraying none of her thoughts. "Since this matter is now concluded, I will not disturb Lord Wu’s investigation any further."