The Anarchic Consort

The steward felt like breathing became a luxury and with the utmost difficulty, he blurted, “B-Bri—cough—bribe them to shut them up…”

After hearing his stammers, everyone inside and outside the yamen rose to a clamor!

Helian Wei Wei, however, was very calm.

Magistrate Liao and Yan Dazhao both had their expressions changed and it was utterly hideous!

Baili Jia Jue released the steward and his voice was as cold as winter, “In detail.”

“Although Old Master was sent to the dungeon, he was very clear about what’s happening outside. Among all this, Private Advisor Zhang was the middleman.” After the near-death experience earlier, the steward dared not keep the secret anymore. So, he panted as he revealed the whole story, “After Private Advisor Zhang knew that two more families were going to testify against Old Master other than Old Man Liu, he went to the dungeon and discussed with the Old Master. In the end, the two of them decided to send Steward Zhang and me to those two families with 50 silver each, telling them that they would be rewarded with another 50 silver after the trial if they agreed to change their testimonials against Old Master…”

After hearing the steward, Xiao Cui who had been tortured by her own conscience all this while suddenly pushed away from her relative who had been threatening her secretly. Then, she kowtowed to Helian Wei Wei with a thud and said, “I am sorry, Lord Wei!”

Helian Wei Wei stood still, she knew that the time for the tides to change was coming.

Xiao Cui looked up with teary red eyes. “I should not have taken those silver! But Lord Wei, I was really out of options! I should have already married someone at my age, but because of that one nightmare, Yan Dazhao, he neglected my consent and raped me! After that, he tossed a piece of silver note at me and warned me not to make a report, otherwise, I would end up 10 times worse than I already was! I was young back then and didn’t know the ways of the people or society, neither could I endure such insult! So I made a report at the yamen but in less than a day, he was released! The county magistrate back then even deemed me guilty of adultery and I was soaked in the river for one whole night! It has been over a hundred days and I have nightmares about this pig every night! I was eager to drink his blood and eat his flesh! I want to see him get punished! But heaven did not answer! The Yan fellow has someone supporting him but I- I am just a peasant. Fighting against him is suicidal. Like what he said, even after I made a report against him, he did not get punished, but I was deemed as unfaithful and unchaste. As the days went by, all the relatives were laughing at me behind my parent’s back. And right before the trial, someone sent silver over and told us that if I took it, I could even collect some money for my parent’s retirement. If we were not to accept, I would again end up miserably. This is what my second uncle had told me, so I listened.”

As Xiao Cui’s sobbing grew louder, all the civilians finally got to know what really happened, so they turned toward Yan Dazhao. “This Yan fellow is inhuman!”

Yan Dazhao glared back fiercely. “Who are you calling inhuman!”

The man ignored him and looked at Helian Wei Wei, “Lord Wei, you must punish him! No matter who is above him, if people like him aren’t penalized, we civilians will not be at peace!”

“I think it’s a little hard, that Yan fellow has Magistrate Liao covering up for him. Besides, it might not just be Magistrate Liao, the lords from the provincial capital seem to take extra care of him too.”

Chen Liang admitted to himself that he was being very dutiful as a support behind the crowd.

Someone asked, “Wasn’t there a governor of three provinces sent here from the capital? Shouldn’t he do something about this?”

Chen Liang extended his neck and lifted his chest proudly. Right before he wanted to boast a little about his old man, he heard the reply from the crowd.

“What would he do? Aren’t all imperial officials the same? If that Governor Chen had not allowed this, how would the lords from the provincial capital behave like this!?”

Governor Chen was rendered speechless.

“Old Master…” The servant also heard the rising discussion from the surroundings. All of a sudden he was a little afraid to look at his old master’s expression.

Chen Liang really wanted to explain on behalf of his old man, but the numerous villagers did not give him the chance to!

“These imperial officials are really corrupted!”

Governor Chen thought, there are actually non-corrupted officials, you guys can just look at me!

As a matter of fact, no one cared about who was standing beside them. Even though Governor Chen was dressed decently and looked very prestigious, the crowd was paying full attention to the events in the yamen. All of them wanted to see what would happen to Old Master Yan!

Yet, Yan Dazhao was not bothered at all. Was there something wrong with these poor people? They could not tell that the reason Magistrate Liao invited all the imperial officials from the provincial capital was to protect him?

The imperial officials had been accepting gifts from him for many years, how would they be willing to really lock him up?

Just because of a mere county magistrate?

Death was knocking at Yan Dazhao’s door but he still did not know what Helian Wei Wei’s best hand was.

He also was not aware that Helian Wei Wei would neglect Magistrate Liao and went straight for the imperial officials from the provincial capital. Her eyes were glaring as she said, “My lords, did you hear the people’s voice? How should the case go on? Do we really need to invite Governor Chen here?”

After hearing Governor Chen’s name, the faces of the four officials instantly turned green and unconsciously, they exchanged looks with Magistrate Liao.

Magistrate Liao also knew that he could not afford to protect Yan Dazhao anymore. He would probably be dragged down if he continued to do so!

However, he really could not tolerate the grievance!

Earlier in the field, the methods of the one named Wei had already insulted him.

And now, all this further disgraced him!

No matter what would happen to Yan Dazhao or how the case would end, he had to recover his own dignity!

With the thought in mind, Magistrate Liao glanced at the servant beside him.

The servant instantly understood the meaningful glance and he quietly disappeared from the public.

After the little action, Magistrate Liao made up his mind as he suddenly went up to Yan Dazhao and looked at him with a regretful gaze, “Old Yan, I really didn’t know that you are such a person. You’ve done so many things for Fuping County over the years yet you are careless enough to commit such an act!”

Yan Dazhao was stunned instantly. “My lord, what, what do you mean?”

“I have always believed in your character, but you!” Magistrate Liao shook his head, the look on his face was as heart-wrenching as he could possibly be. “Fine, it’s time to give the people an explanation. Men, bring him away and beat him to death!”

Yan Dazhao finally reacted to the situation, Magistrate Liao was determined to use him as a scapegoat!

How could he be willing to take the blame!

All the silvers that he handed out every year were not enough to protect himself during such a critical moment!

Having said this, he too went all out, he ought to perish together with the magistrate!

“My lord, you can’t do this! The one who bribed the two families with silver was obviously…”