At this time.
Mei Er came to Wang Lin's side.
She whispered a few words in his ear.
Wang Lin nodded, indicating he understood.
He turned back again:
“Niu Da Ming, tell me! Why did you lie and slander Chun Tiao and Dong Hao Gu? Could it be that you… are the murderer of Du Gu Yang?! Good, because you want to dominate Chun Tiao, you actually killed Du Gu Yang!”
However.
Niu Da Ming was, after all, an old man in the public office.
Even though he was caught red-handed.
He remained as slippery as an eel:
“I admit that I had lustful intentions for Chun Tiao and wanted to take this opportunity to slander her. But you have no evidence that I killed Du Gu Yang, do you? You crippled my arm and say I am defying official authority, I admit it! But even if you are a high official from the capital, you can't just accuse an innocent person without evidence, can you?!”
“Innocent person?”
Wang Lin laughed angrily: “You consider yourself a good man? I have already inquired. You, relying on your sesame-seed-sized position as a village elder, have been bullying people. You consider yourself a good man? County Magistrate, I think this man is extremely dishonest and needs a severe punishment.”
As soon as his voice fell.
A fist landed on Niu Da Ming's face.
【Ding, Punishing Evil progress reaches 30%!】
【Ding, draw blue: Tragic Fate——Because of your numerous misdeeds and arrogance, you are destined for a tragic fate!】
Then.
He landed another punch.
After beating Niu Da Ming until he howled in pain.
“Someone, drag him away and give him thirty lashes!” Du Gu Shu immediately gave the order.
Soon.
Niu Da Ming was bound hand and foot.
Dragged out of the court.
As the thirty lashes fell heavily.
Cheers erupted from outside the court.
It was evident.
In the past, Niu Da Ming, as the village elder, was not loved by the people. The people had many grievances against him. Now, with these thirty lashes, they had released some of their pent-up anger.
At this time.
Zhong Bo, who had been watching the trial from outside the public office.
Seeing this scene.
While feeling a sense of vindication, he finally made up his mind.
He took the reward notice and entered the court.
First, he glared at the disheveled Niu Da Ming:
“I have a lead on the murder case. Didn’t you say there was a reward? Is it three hundred coins or five hundred?”
Du Gu Shu nodded: “This… depends on the importance of the lead you provide.”
Zhong Bo paused for a moment:
“I’ll say it, you listen carefully. Last night, at the end of the hour of Zi, I saw Niu Da Ming leave the Ming Qi shop in a hurry. I then went up to the door and looked inside through the doorframe. I saw Du Gu… it was him! He killed Du Gu Yang and ran away. I saw it clearly with my own eyes!!”
Faced with Zhong Bo’s crucial accusation.
After Niu Da Ming was dragged back into the court.
He vehemently denied it.
Zhong Bo confronted him directly.
Only then did Niu Da Ming admit that he had gone to the Ming Qi shop at two quarters past the hour of Hai, but he only admitted to talking and didn't admit to murder.
As for the content of their conversation, it was about telling Du Gu Yang about the affair between Chun Tiao and Dong Hao Gu. His words were meant to provoke Du Gu Yang into killing Dong Hao Gu and also to provoke him into divorcing Chun Tiao.
In his words.
He took off the hat of a murderer.
Zhong Bo: “You are lying! You are the murderer! You can’t escape!”
Niu Da Ming flew into a rage and accused Zhong Bo of slander.
Zhong Bo directly pointed out that he was close friends with Du Gu Yang and therefore often went to the Ming Qi shop to drink water while on his night rounds. It was Niu Da Ming who lusted after the beauty of the Du Gu family’s wife, so he had evil intentions and committed murder.
Zhong Bo spoke with conviction.
Niu Da Ming stubbornly refused to admit it, and even tried to attack him.
But Wang Lin kicked him three meters away with a single kick.
【Ding, Punishing Evil progress reaches 50%!】
【Ding, draw green: Arrogance——You are very arrogant, but your arrogance will bring you trouble!】
【Ding, draw green: Boldness——You are bold, you can commit numerous misdeeds for the sake of beauty】
There was nothing more to say.
All the negative traits were added to the trait warehouse.
Waiting to be used in the future.
Now.
The case was clear again.
With Zhong Bo’s accusation.
It seemed that Niu Da Ming had killed for beauty.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Even Xu Xian Cheng couldn’t help but sigh: “Niu Da Ming, Niu Da Ming, you’ve been ruined by beauty!”
However.
Su Wu Ming, watching Niu Da Ming’s reaction.
Had already made up his mind.
He also seemed to confirm something.
He gave Wang Lin a look silently.
They both stood up.
Su Wu Ming explained his purpose to Wang Lin: “There are many suspicious points, let’s go ask Chun Tiao for clues.”
…………
Soon.
Wang Lin, Su Wu Ming, and Du Gu Shu came before Chun Tiao at the Du Gu family’s house.
At this time.
Cao Hui, because of her son’s death, had a lot of pent-up anger and was lying in bed resting. In order not to disturb the old lady.
The four of them questioned her in the courtyard.
Upon learning that the public office had discovered Niu Da Ming’s harassment of Chun Tiao and had given him a severe beating.
Chun Tiao also told everything honestly. She explained how Niu Da Ming had harassed her.
She also explained why she went to see Dong Hao Gu. Dong Hao Gu had told her that Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal was valuable. She wanted to change her current situation, which was monotonous and unchanging. Therefore, she had gone to drink tea with Dong Hao Gu several times and asked him about Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal.
But she was innocent. She went to see Dong Hao Gu simply to drink tea and talk to someone.
However, Dong Hao Gu’s intentions were not pure. He was indeed attracted to her beauty, but he was also more interested in Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal.
As for her and Du Gu Yang…
She had asked about Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal at the clay sculpture shop while delivering food that day.
Du Gu Yang was furious. He refused to let her touch the precious seal, which he intended to pass down to his descendants. He also refused to sell it!
Chun Tiao was furious and said many harsh things. She cursed Du Gu Yang for being of low status and said that he would always be a coroner. She also said that she wouldn’t have children with him.
Hearing Niu Da Ming and Dong Hao Gu’s stories was one thing.
But hearing Du Gu Yang’s story, Wang Lin shook his head: “I know you’re wronged, and you said many angry things. But do you know that harsh words can hurt the most and often can force someone to death.”
If all the people in this case were bad.
Chun Tiao would definitely be one of them.
However, Chun Tiao’s character was also the most complex.
For this.
Wang Lin couldn’t say anything.
So he slammed his hand on the table and left with a flick of his sleeve.
On the other hand, Du Gu Shu acted like a fool and cried like a river.
Thus.
After getting new clues.
They immediately had someone bring Dong Hao Gu to the court for trial.
“Dong Hao Gu, this county magistrate is asking you questions now. Think carefully before you answer. Because every word you say will be recorded.”
In the court.
Dong Hao Gu stood before the magistrate.
Facing the court.
Dong Hao Gu also told everything honestly, saying that he had been to the Ming Qi shop twice last night.
The reason, as an antique dealer, he had come to Shi Yang County four years ago for Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal.
However.
For four years, even though he had sought it from tomb robbers, he had never found any clues. After much trouble, he learned that it was in the hands of the poor coroner, Du Gu Yang.
So, he had used Chun Tiao and Chun Shan to help him find Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal.
But he had a sudden realization after drinking some wine last night.
He decided to speak with Du Gu Yang face-to-face.
The first time he went was at four quarters past the hour of Hai. After negotiating a price of 250,000 coins with Du Gu Yang, he went home to raise the money and agreed to deliver it at the time when the hour of Zi met the hour of Chou.
But when he came back for the second time, which was the time when the hour of Zi met the hour of Chou, he saw the dead Du Gu Yang.
He didn’t report it to the officials because he was afraid of suspicion.
Du Gu Shu asked: “Is what you said true?”
“The antiques in the Zhen Bao Pavilion are all genuine. Every word I, Dong Hao Gu, said is true!” Dong Hao Gu was very confident.
However.
Su Wu Ming looked at Wang Lin and gave him a look.
Wang Lin stood up.
He punched him directly.
【（Blue）Antique Appreciation: You have knowledge of antique appreciation!】
【（Green）Obsession Turned Evil: When you love something too much, you often do things that are unexpected!】
【Evil Value: 50】
【Punishment: A businessman who puts profit above all else, but thankfully has some integrity!】
As they made contact, trait bubbles appeared.
“Why did you hit me?!”
Dong Hao Gu covered his bruised eye and glared at Wang Lin: “I’m a legitimate businessman. I’ve never broken the law! The poor coroner’s death has nothing to do with me!”
Wang Lin sneered: “Let’s not talk about that. It’s because you admitted just now that you’ve been buying from tomb robbers to get Du Gu Xin’s multi-faceted seal?”
“Do you know how many ancient tombs have been robbed because of your actions?”
“The arrested tomb robber, Lu Da, has already confessed to having multiple transactions with you. If it weren’t for you, a greedy merchant, buying antiques at high prices, how would Shi Yang have become a hotbed of tomb robbery?!”
Wang Lin asked three questions in succession.
He asked Dong Hao Gu until he was speechless.
After giving Dong Hao Gu another punch: “Someone, drag him away and give him twenty lashes!”
【Ding, Punishment progress reaches 20%】
【Ding, draw green: Obsession Turned Evil!】