Then, with a sigh, he began, "You've all just heard. A corpse was found on the riverbed in the city today. The magistrate said one of you was seen near the body."
"The autopsy confirmed that the deceased was a martial artist. After verification, all of you are ordinary civilians and wouldn't have been able to overpower the deceased. So, it definitely wasn't any of you who killed him."
At this point, Zhao Yue paused, his sharp gaze sweeping across their faces.
Changing his tone, he continued, "However, why would someone linger near the corpse for a while and then leave, without reporting to the officials?"
"The reason, in fact, is quite simple. This person must have taken something valuable from the deceased and, fearing discovery by the officials, didn't dare to report it."
"To put it bluntly, you're only implicated in theft. If you come forward and admit it now, you'll, at most, be flogged with the staff."
"But! If you refuse to confess voluntarily and I have to find you, that would be obstructing an official investigation. The crime will be far more severe, you know."
"So, whoever went near the corpse and took something, don't miss this opportunity. Confess quickly."
As he spoke these words, Zhao Yue's gaze never rested, constantly scanning their faces. Thus, every flicker of emotion registered in his eyes.
A moment later, no one stepped forward.
Zhao Yue couldn't help but smile. First, appeal to their reason and emotion. If that doesn't work, then it's time to bring out the heavy artillery.
Zhao Yue then demanded, "Speak! Why did you go to the riverbed? What did you take from the corpse? If you don't talk, you'll all be thrown into prison!"
The playful expression vanished from his face, replaced by a stern, serious look. This sudden fury terrified the already frightened commoners even more.
One by one, they fell to their knees, begging for mercy and protesting their innocence.
"Your Honor, spare me, spare me! This commoner truly didn't do anything!"
"Your Honor, I've truly never been to the Beishui Riverbed, nor did I take anything..."
...
All the voices reached Zhao Yue's ears. Just then, one person's words caught his attention, and his gaze immediately fell upon a middle-aged man.
The man was prostrating on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Zhao Yue raised a hand. "Alright, everyone be quiet for now."
Then he walked straight to the man and said, "Lift your head. What's your name?"
The man tremblingly raised his head, stammering nervously, "Rep-replying to Your Honor, this lowly one... this lowly one is called Li Ergou."
Zhao Yue nodded and waved his hand. "Hey, don't call me that. I'm not any kind of official."
Then, as if unintentionally, he asked, "You said you didn't go there?"
The man nodded repeatedly.
Zhao Yue then asked, "Where did you not go?"
"I... I didn't go to the Bei River riverbed..."
Zhao Yue suddenly thundered, "Still trying to argue? When did this young master ever say the corpse was found on the Bei River riverbed? You seem to know about it quite quickly!"
The man was instantly frightened into a daze.
Zhao Yue gave him no chance to think, roaring, "Audacious Li Ergou! Still not confessing the truth!"
Li Ergou was already guilt-ridden. Blasted by Zhao Yue's outburst, he was completely stunned, left with nothing but to confess and beg for mercy.
It turned out that early this morning, as Li Ergou was walking by the bridgehead, he suddenly felt an urgent need to relieve himself. He ran to the riverbed, intending to do his business. Who knew that while he was at it, he would see a corpse lying on the riverbed. Beside the corpse was a dropped money bag. He went forward, opened it, and saw a bag full of copper coins. At that moment, his mind was muddled by so much money, so he took it for himself and ran home with it.
"Your Honor, Your Honor, spare me! After I took the copper coins home, I... I haven't spent a single one," Li Ergou confessed everything, holding nothing back.
Magistrate Han slammed his gavel and ordered two Yamen clerks to take Li Ergou to his home to retrieve the copper coins.
The other innocent people were released, and Magistrate Han also declared the court session adjourned.
Because the money bag hadn't been brought back yet, Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen were asked to remain at the County Government Office.
At this point, Zhao Zhitong walked up with a smile and playfully punched Zhao Yue on the chest. "Not bad, Zhao Yue! You got it out of him in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea. Impressive, impressive."
Zhao Yue was incredibly pleased. He looked at his two friends, fanning himself, looking extremely smug. "Oh, it was a trivial matter~ Don't admire your big bro too much."
Zhao Zhitong said, "...If you weren't so smug, we could still be good friends."
Zhao Yue chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'll stop being smug. The rest is up to you. If it's not about interrogating criminals, don't call me, okay? I'm going to fold my arms and watch the show."
Saying this, he actually did fold his arms.
At this time, after Magistrate Han had given instructions to his subordinates, he walked down with a smile. Approaching the three, he said laughingly, "You truly deserve to be known as the Iron Triangle of our Anyang County. Each of you lives up to your reputation. With you here, our county town has had so many fewer miscarriages of justice over the years. This magistrate really must thank you properly."
The three of them repeatedly said they didn't dare accept such praise.
Zhao Yue said, "Your Honor, please don't say that. We are still juniors and have many shortcomings. If anything, we still have to rely on Your Honor. The three of us are merely Your Honor's assistants. If it weren't for Your Honor, just the three of us wouldn't be able to solve cases so easily."
"Aiya, don't be so modest. This magistrate understands perfectly well," Magistrate Han said, then couldn't help but laugh.
Just then, the Yamen clerks who had taken Li Ergou to get the money returned.
Magistrate Han took the money bag, examined it for a while, then poured out all the money. Inside, apart from copper coins, there was nothing else.
He looked for a long time but didn't find anything amiss. So, he handed it to Qiao Muchen to inspect.
After Qiao Muchen finished examining it, he also found nothing. It was just a bag of ordinary copper coins.
Just when everyone had failed to obtain any useful information, a voice imbued with the vicissitudes of experience suddenly rang out, "Could these copper coins be shown to this old man for a look?"
As soon as this voice sounded, Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen simultaneously looked up at the person who had arrived.
Although many years had passed since they last met, the two still recognized him. This person was none other than Song Renying, Elder Song, the Minister of State whom the emperor had sent to manage the locust plague back then.
"Elder Song!"
Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen hurriedly stepped forward to salute Song Renying.
Zhao Yue also belatedly stepped forward and saluted.
Elder Song stroked his beard and nodded. After six or seven years, these children had all grown up.
Even the youngest little girl had now blossomed into a graceful young lady. Qiao Muchen, moreover, had gained an air of remarkable distinction.
If he hadn't heard the common folk on the street addressing the two of them by their names, he truly couldn't guarantee he would have recognized them at a glance.
Elder Song said, "Many years have passed. You were just children back then. Now you've blossomed so, this old man almost didn't recognize you."
Zhao Zhitong said with a smile, "Elder Song hasn't changed a bit. Still as wise and distinguished as back then."
Zhao Zhitong's sweet words made Song Renying laugh heartily. "You little girl, you! Look at this beard of mine, it's all streaked with white. How could there be no change?"
But Zhao Zhitong smiled. "No, no, you're just the same as seven years ago. Isn't that right, Qiao Muchen?"
Hearing this, Qiao Muchen nodded in agreement, affirming it was so.
After Song Renying chuckled merrily, his gaze fell upon Zhao Yue. "You are Zhao Yue, Young Master Zhao, correct?"