Chapter 88 Du Haoran's Testimony

  Wang Chengdong shook his head: "The young man had just returned from afar, and no one in Nanshan Town knew him. It was only when the second old master of the Ye family saw that I looked very much like my grandfather that he asked about it and we became acquainted."

  "So how did you know that the person who asked you to do this was from the Xie family? Did they tell you personally that their surname is Xie?" County Magistrate asked again.

  "No, they didn't say. I overheard it that night when I got up to use the restroom and walked in the wrong direction. I heard two night watchmen chatting about it." He looked up at Xie Yunfeng, "They said that their master had married two wives, each with her own household. The two wives were always fighting each other to the death at home, and the sons and daughters of the two households didn't get along either."

  Xie Yunfeng heard this and didn't know whether he was angry or ashamed, his face turned bright red. But at this time, in the public hall, County Magistrate Wang didn't ask him any questions, so he couldn't speak out of turn. He could only turn his head to look towards the door again and again, hoping to see his father's figure. If this surnamed Wang fellow was allowed to say all the things that shouldn't be said, the Xie family would be finished.

  Those who were originally watching from the wine building had also arrived at the government office one after another. Their relatives and friends, having received the news passed back by the servants, also came running to watch the excitement. Therefore, there were indeed many people in the public hall watching the commotion. Upon hearing Wang Chengdong's words, those who did not know the inside story of the Xie family began to ask each other about their gossip.

  "Did they tell you what to do with the jade material after taking it to the Jade Carving Workshop? Did they tell you to ruin it?" County Master asked again.

  "No." Wang Chengdong shook his head, "But... the little servant who followed me was sent by the Xie family. He seems to know some martial arts. Before entering the Jade Workshop, he lightly poked me with his hand as a warning, and I felt a surge of pain all over my body. But I couldn't shout out loud. After entering the workshop, although he stood behind me all the time, I could sense that he was constantly sizing up the decorations in the Jade Workshop and Luo Jing Sheng. Later, when he saw Luo Jing Sheng ruin the jade carving, he relaxed and signaled to me to ask him for compensation."

  The county magistrate nodded, suddenly raised the wooden hammer, and slammed it down with a "slap", shouting: "Wang Chengdong, are your words true? If this official finds out that you're making false accusations against the Xie family, you'll be punished even more severely."

  "What the little man says is all true." Wang Chengdong was so frightened that he knocked his head repeatedly, "You can go to the farthest end of Qing Shi Alley, next to the elm tree, there is a small courtyard made of green bricks. Ask two young men named Zhang Xin and Zhou Congyun, they will know. The one named Zhang Xin is the person who followed me to Yu Zhuo Fang today. And the gossip I heard last night was spoken by these two people."

  "Bring them here," the county magistrate ordered. The two bailiffs responded and left immediately.

  If this is really the doing of the Xie family, then it's likely that Xie Yunfeng had already sent someone back to report on the way, and those two little servants wouldn't have stayed there waiting to be caught. This trip was doomed to be in vain.

  Thinking of this, Ye Yuqi leaned in close to Ye Zhuo and whispered: "Zhuo, do you think we should let Wei Da Xiang go up now to testify?" After going through so many things, he had unknowingly developed the habit of consulting with Ye Zhuo before making any decisions.

  Ye Zhuo shook his head: "Not yet."

  Although she had promised Wei Daxiang that if he helped to testify against the Xie family, she would give him 300 taels of silver. With this money, Wei Daxiang could take his family elsewhere and do some small business, living a life of plenty and not having to worry about revenge from the Xie family. However, these carters were just a clever pawn in her hands. Because they walked the streets every day, familiar with all sorts of people, yet didn't draw attention to themselves, so it was easier for them to gather information than others. Unless absolutely necessary, she didn't want to reveal this hidden power to everyone.

  And now, not until absolutely necessary.

  That person from the Ye family, having already made a move and showing signs of being extremely cunning, will surely have another trick up their sleeve, forcing the Xie family to acknowledge what they've done.

  Two bailiffs were sent out, and there was no fixed time for their return. The county magistrate naturally couldn't let the public hall be empty, so he brought out Ye Yiqi and Xie Yunfeng to ask them some questions. Both sides stuck to their words, stating their own reasons. When the county magistrate heard that the Xie and Ye families had previously discussed marriage, which involved the reputation of women, it was not suitable for inquiry in the public hall. The county magistrate then called Ye Yiqi to the back hall for a detailed inquiry before releasing him back to the public hall. Then, he let the bailiffs bring Nie Bowen and Du Haoran into the back hall.

  "Gentlemen." He bowed slightly, "I have already understood the situation of both parties. Although Wang Chengdong testified that this matter was done by the Xie family, I asked again and found that they did not have a motive for the crime. The two families were only related in marriage, but because Miss Ye's life was not good, the Xie family broke off the engagement. After that, they didn't mention anything about Miss Ye, which is quite decent. At that time, the Ye family also ended the engagement very quickly, without any disputes. I think, the Xie family would not set such a big trap for the Ye family because of this. I don't know if my thoughts are correct or not, please enlighten me, gentlemen."

  He understood the situation, but why did the two young masters want to intervene in this trivial matter? He had to figure it out clearly. Otherwise, the case would not be to Nie's liking, and that would be troublesome.

  Although the county magistrate bowed in Nie Bowen's direction, Nie Bowen ignored him and instead glanced at Du Haoran with a slanted gaze before picking up his tea cup to take a sip.

  "County Master will certainly be surprised how we intervened in such a case?" Du Haoran smiled.

  "The humble official is clumsy." County Master Taiye bowed to Du Haoran. Although he usually doesn't go to Yujie and Yiren streets, he doesn't know who this Mr. Du is, but seeing him sitting with Nie Bowen on an equal footing, the two of them speaking with a very casual attitude, he can guess that this Mr. Du is also not an ordinary person. Of course, he didn't dare to be even slightly slow.

  "I followed Bowen to Nanshan Town, but it was just to accompany him to take a look at the family business and clear his mind. We also knew that young master Xie, who treated us with great courtesy. The Ye family workshop is located opposite Anjiafang, and today's events happened to bring us together, so we took a look at the excitement. Originally, this matter had nothing to do with us, but after the auction ended, my men went to handle some business and coincidentally met Wang Chengdong returning from Yiren Street, then coming out of a small courtyard, dressed and looking completely different, and acting suspiciously. Behind him were two people. They suspected that something was fishy, so they caught Wang Chengdong and the people following him, interrogated them separately, and only then did they learn that this whole thing was done by the Xie family."

  Du Haoran said, "The Xie family, for some reason, deliberately tried to harm the Ye family and chose Wang Chengdong to perform this play, trying to push the Ye family into a desperate situation. Later, they didn't want to kill him in that small courtyard, so they let him go, planning to wait until nightfall to take his life. My two subordinates, who normally abhor evil, felt that what the Xie family did was against heaven's way and took it upon themselves to release Wang Chengdong, telling him to go to the wine shop to testify against Xie Yunfeng. Only then did the matter come to the yamen."

  "Is it Du Wang and Du Nian?" Nie Bowen heard this, raised his eyebrows in surprise, "What are these Xie family people plotting?"

  He didn't suspect at all that Du Haoran was telling lies.

  Du Haoran has always been straightforward and upright in his dealings; even his two subordinates are extremely proud and iron-blooded men. They have a kind of pride that stands tall in the world, and they would never stoop to fabricating lies to deceive others for any purpose. Since Du Haoran said so, the truth of the matter must be exactly as he said.

  Thinking of giving that surname Xie a good face for half a day, Nie Bowen felt like he had swallowed a fly.

  As a member of the aristocracy, he was not a blank slate and had seen his fair share of the world's complexities. Merchants were known to be ruthless in their pursuit of profit, and the Xie family was no exception; they would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, whether it was for personal gain or to settle old scores. However, what made Nie Bowen compatible with Du Haoran was that he shared the same straightforward and magnanimous nature as him. This was also why he had such a strong aversion to Xie Yunfeng.

  "This question should be asked of the Xie family." Du Haoran said with a smile.

  The county magistrate saw Nie Bogu not hesitate to believe Du Haoran's words, and he knew what to do in his heart. Moreover, as a person who has nothing to do with the plaintiff and defendant, Du Gongzi's words are naturally true and credible. He stood up and gave Du Haoran a deep bow: "Thank you, Du Gongzi, and your two young masters for lending a hand to eliminate evil and punish the guilty. This official will handle the case impartially and bring the evildoers to justice."

  Du Haoran nodded and said, "The small courtyard of the Xie family, my servant has already taken care of the people inside. The yamen will catch them one by one. It's most convincing when things are revealed through the mouths of the Xie family members, so my servant won't come out to testify. Please forgive me, old parents."

  "I understand, I understand." The county magistrate was also a perceptive person, and as soon as Du Haoran said this, he understood.

  Today, Nie Bowen and Du Haoran have been staying in front of the Ye family's workshop to watch the auction. At this moment, if they come out to testify for the Ye family, no matter what the truth is, those ordinary people will inevitably associate the two young masters with that beautiful little girl from the Ye family——he himself, at the beginning, wasn't he also misunderstood like this?

  So, for the sake of Nie Gongzi and Du Gongzi's reputation, as well as the reputation of that little girl from the Ye family, it would be best if Du Haoran and Nie Bowei did not get involved in this matter.

  Nie Bowen naturally understood this point and was very satisfied that Du Haoran could consider it thoroughly. He stood up: "This backyard is not suitable for sitting for a long time. Let's go, let's go out."

  There is still one more watch at night.