The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 651: Killing Master Qianliang (6)_1

The three of them looked at Pei Qin and Mo Heng, agreed, and went to read and practice calligraphy.

During the final four months of the sprint, none of them attended school anymore, but stayed home to practice writing, read books, draft policy discussions, and discuss craftsmanship.

Mo Heng’s official duties were rather leisurely—his presence was only required when necessary, without the daily obligation to report at the Inspector’s Office. Outside of dedicating time to Pei Qin and his daughter, he could fully focus on instructing Pei Wendong and the other two.

As soon as the banquet ended, Pei Qin was about to inquire about the Old Pei’s House, when news came that the County Government Office’s Master Qianliang was critically ill and on the brink of death.

"Young Master! The moment Master Qianliang returned from town, he fell ill, his condition worsening by the day. If he dies, Magistrate Huang will certainly pin the charge of killing a government officer on the young mistress!" Feng Wei said, furrowing his brow.

"Have you found out what happened?" Mo Heng asked with a cold voice.

Feng Wei moved his lips then pursed them, "Fatal wounds from two kicks to the chest, all internal organs shattered... There’s no saving him now." They had not yet made a move, but the other side had already delivered a ruthless strike first.

"Those two kicks couldn’t possibly be fatal. Go investigate that man!" Mo Heng’s eyes were filled with a cold light.

"Already on it," Feng Wei replied, having already sent people to track it down; he had come back first to report to him.

Soon after, news spread from the County Government Office that Master Qianliang, who had gone to deliver silver and sweet potatoes sold by Pei Qin’s family, fell ill and did not recover after being beaten by Pei Qin. Now he was dead.

Landlord Chang hurriedly sent someone to relay the message. Although Pei Qin was now the Third Rank Lady Yuanyang, the County Magistrate could not apprehend her, but when a prince commits a crime, the commoner shares the guilt. If she were implicated in a homicide, it would be a significant trouble.

Master Qianliang’s family immediately accused Pei Qin at the County Government Office of murder. The government officers came with a summons for Pei Qin.

"Just out of the death cell, and in the blink of an eye, I’m caught up in a homicide case; one deadly ordeal follows another, enough to string together a skewer of candied hawthorns!" Pei Qin let out a cold laugh, changed her clothes, and followed them.

Pei Qian and Pei Wendong were nearly beside themselves with hatred. These past nearly two months had been an ordeal for them. Every day was spent in fear and trepidation, dreading bad news. They had to guard against Old Pei’s House plotting against them, as well as cope with the pressure from the County Government Office.

Now that things were finally looking up, they were once again slapped with the charge of manslaughter against their elder sister. Were they so determined to put their sister to death?

Pei Qin asked them to stay home, but they were unwilling, and all went together to the County Government Office.

Mo Heng held a low-ranking position, but Pei Qin was a Third Rank Lady by imperial enjoin.

Magistrate Huang actively stepped forward to greet, "Madam! My apologies! The Master Qianliang of the County Government Office, after delivering the silver and sweet potatoes sold by you, fell ill directly after being beaten and returned to bed, where he has now passed away. He was... killed by Madam. With such a serious case at hand, as the parent official of this county, I had no choice but to ask Madam to come for questioning!"

"Then let’s see what you can question!" Pei Qin declared sharply, sitting down on a chair nearby. Damn it! With the title of a Lady of the Imperial Enjoin and its privileges, why not make use of it?

Magistrate Huang bowed slightly, took his seat on the bench, picked up the clapper-board, and struck it hard, "Bring in the plaintiff!"

The plaintiff was Master Qianliang’s grandson, Ding Dalang and his servants. As they kneeled down, they accused Pei Qin of brutal cruelty and of killing an elderly man, "...Uncorrupted official! You must seek justice for our family, we cannot let my grandfather die in vain!"

"Die in vain..." Pei Qin muttered to herself, her gaze turning cold as she fixed it on Ding Dalang.

Magistrate Huang then asked, "Ding Master, recount in detail the injuries, ailment, and circumstances of death!"

Ding Dalang wiped away tears, "After coming back from Taiping Town, grandfather’s face turned pale, clutching his chest, crying out in pain. I had just gone to fetch the doctor for him, when I saw grandfather vomit and collapse on the kang. We spent the few dozen silver taels we had entirely on medicine and doctor’s fees, but grandfather showed no improvement. The doctor said it was the two kicks to the chest that were fatal, shattering all his internal organs, and not even a Daluo Golden Immortal could save him. Yesterday, grandfather could no longer hold on and coughed up blood and died."

"Bring in the doctor who treated Ding Master," Magistrate Huang commanded, glancing at Pei Qin and Mo Heng.

The doctor was quickly brought in for testimony and spoke honestly about the injuries Master Ding had sustained from the kicks, with all his internal organs shattered, "...There were two distinct bruises like footprints, one on the chest and one on the upper abdomen."

Magistrate Huang nodded and turned toward Pei Qin, "Madam! The word on the street is that you are ferocious by nature, often beating those who offend you. The women of the Pei family have been beaten by you several times, even losing their front teeth. A Zhang Shiqian from Taiping Town was also beaten by you. Furthermore, it’s said that you have repeatedly been seen beating and scolding the common people in the streets. Are these claims true?"

Pei Qin nodded, "Indeed, I have beaten a few hooligans and worthless riff-raff. What about it? Are you intending to use this as evidence to prosecute this lady?" she challenged Magistrate Huang.

"Bring in the witnesses!" Magistrate Huang ordered loudly.

Shortly, several witnesses were brought in, in addition to the one who delivered sweet potatoes, there were two from Taiping Town, all claiming to have seen with their own eyes Pei Qin kicking Master Ding, causing him to fall and be unable to get up for a long time.

"Madam! With the evidence so clear, do you have anything else to say?" Magistrate Huang looked over with a cold gaze.

Pei Qin glanced at Ding Dalang, "There’s a hooligan named Dog Son in the county town, who has stolen many times and has been beaten numerous times. If someone reports something stolen in the future, Magistrate Huang, just lock him up, no need to look for the real culprit!" ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Magistrate Huang’s expression darkened, "Madam, what is the meaning of this? The evidence is clear now. Madam’s beating is a fact, and Master Ding was indeed injured to death by you, are you still intending to deny it?"

"According to the laws of Great Chu, those who lodge false accusations are to bear the penalty themselves. Accusing a Lady of the Imperial Court enjoin is a serious crime. Should it be proven to be a false accusation, the accuser will bear the penalty. You know what that means." Mo Heng said with a cold voice to Ding Dalang.

Ding Dalang, having studied with his grandfather Master Ding, knew full well that making a false accusation was a crime, but to bear the penalty himself... He looked up at Mo Heng, whose handsome features were shrouded in a layer of cold air and eyes as sharp as a sword, a chill rose in his heart, "Indeed, it was after your beating that my grandfather died! He was killed by you, and I have not made any false accusations!"

"Then let’s invite the coroners to come and conduct an autopsy!" Mo Heng suggested coldly, looking towards Magistrate Huang.