Chapter 1384: Chapter 1384: Denial

If it were before, Squad Leader Shi would surely be afraid, but now he sneers and walks straight up, slapping Hu Xueyao twice: "A mere plaything dares to obstruct the government office’s case? Shut up quickly, or face severe punishment!"

Hu Xueyao was shocked. What is going on here? Squad Leader Shi actually dared to hit her? Who among the government office staff in Tong’an Prefecture didn’t know that Hu Xueyao was the apple of Assistant Judge Jia’s eye!

"Let’s go, don’t let the lords wait for too long." Squad Leader Shi glared at Hu Xueyao, called his men, and led Hu Xueyao, her mother, and a group of servants toward the government office.

Halfway there, they encountered citizens coming to watch the commotion.

However, Tong’an Prefecture had a copper mine with a stationed army overseeing the citizens strictly. Unlike He’an Prefecture’s, the citizens here were less gossipy, only daring to watch from afar and whisper amongst themselves without getting too close.

There were also brave ones who, upon seeing Hu Xueyao, remarked: "Oh, she surely is a beauty, no wonder Assistant Judge Jia is enchanted by her."

Older women grumbled: "A beauty, my foot! Just a prostitute warming an old man’s bed, you’re admiring her? If so, go and snatch her, see if Lord will seize you!"

Hu Xueyao, blessed with beauty, was kept hidden as she grew up by Manager Feng, barely qualifying as a rich family’s young lady. Never had she heard such words, feeling both shame and anger, she fiercely glared at the woman.

The woman, immediately emboldened, spat toward Hu Xueyao: "Pah, you vixen, what are you looking at? A mere concubine competing with the official wife, you want a scolding!"

Being wise with her years, the woman knew Squad Leader Shi dared to openly catch people, meaning Assistant Judge Jia was doomed.

With Assistant Judge Jia fallen, what fear would she have of a mere concubine?

Hu Xueyao was furious but dreaded the woman would say something more insulting, thus she dared not stare at the woman anymore.

Guiye Lane was residential, some distance from the government office. Squad Leader Shi deliberately chose bustling streets to walk through, drawing attention from onlookers. Hu Xueyao was pointed at and talked about publicly, losing all her dignity, tears streaming endlessly.

Upon reaching the government office court, seeing Assistant Judge Jia, Hu Xueyao began crying, seeking help.

But Assistant Judge Jia, overwhelmed with his own plight, how could he protect her?

Nevertheless, he deeply cared for his son. Seeing his youngest being held by the woman, he immediately shouted at Hu Xueyao: "You vile woman, why did you take Xuan boy to Guiye Lane?!"

To dare take his precious son to the residence of an outside concubine, wasn’t that staining the Jia family bloodline?

"Waa waaa!" Assistant Judge Jia’s loud voice frightened Xuan boy, causing the child to cry.

Magistrate Xi, bothered by the noise, summoned a Government Official: "Take the child out and don’t let him disturb here, it’s annoying."

As for the woman, she was an accomplice and had to be questioned.

"Yes." The Government Official complied, snatching the child from the woman’s hands, making Assistant Judge Jia yell anxiously: "Slow down, don’t frighten my Xuan boy."

The Government Official paid no heed to Assistant Judge Jia, carrying the wailing child out.

Bang!

Magistrate Xi slammed the gavel down, sternly questioning Mrs. Lin and Hu Xueyao: "Mrs. Lin, Mrs. Hu, do you recognize your crimes?"

He continued: "Your father Feng Shiwen’s collusion with Assistant Judge Jia to seize the Gu family’s assets is confirmed by evidence. If you confess truthfully, you may be spared death."

Just spared death?

Hu Xueyao, ambitious, dreamt of overthrowing Mrs. Jia to become the Deputy Magistrate’s wife herself, how could she admit guilt?

She glanced at Assistant Judge Jia, catching the intent in his eyes and immediately cried: "Your Lordship, I’m innocent, I don’t know any Feng Shiwen, my father is Hu Dawen, an accountant, currently working in Dingfeng Building of Jiangnan Jinling Prefecture, you can verify."

"I am unjustly accused, and so is my husband. We don’t even know where the Gu family is, how could we seize their assets? Surely some villain is framing us!"

Young Master Dou was shocked, Hu Xueyao was indeed impressive; being caught red-handed, yet still able to deny.

"Oh, Feng Xueyao, you claim to be framed by a villain, are you suggesting your father Feng Shiwen is the villain?" Young Master Dou asked with malicious intent.

Hu Xueyao hesitated, quickly crying again: "Of course! It’s the Feng family causing us harm, we are innocent, we don’t know him. Don’t try to use this base merchant to ruin me or my husband’s career!"

Assistant Judge Jia, quick-witted, upon hearing Hu Xueyao’s words, immediately pledged, kneeled on the court floor crying to the outer hall: "God, Your Majesty, this humble servant is wronged!"

"I’ve served with fidelity, willing to sacrifice for what is best, yet now envied and plotted against... Your Majesty, I can no longer serve you loyally, might as well die here to prove my integrity!"

He rose, heading towards the pillar of the court.

This pillar was a load-bearing beam, wrapped in iron plating. A crash would either maim or kill Assistant Judge Jia.

Assistant Judge Jia fully committed to his act, put forth no restraint in his dash, scaring Magistrate Xi enough to shout: "Stop him!"

Squad Leader Shi dove forward, kicking towards Assistant Judge Jia’s knees, knocking him down, preventing him from hitting the pillar.

Assistant Judge Jia fell painfully, taking the chance to sob loudly, showing a face of great grievance, unable to find redress.

Magistrate Xi blackened his face, angrily speaking: "Jia Mingfeng, what do you mean by your words just now? Are you insinuating that I conspired with other Prefecture officials against you?!"

Assistant Judge Jia did indeed mean that.

After all, Assistant Officers could be promoted to Head Officers, and many Head Officers feared Assistant Officers’ achievements would surpass theirs, threatening their position, thus dealt poisonous blows to them.

"Your Majesty, I’m innocent, I’m innocent, waa waa waa..." Assistant Judge Jia, indeed a seasoned official, didn’t respond, only continued crying, portraying extreme misfortune.

The crying reached the government office gate, those citizens looking in believed even more that Assistant Judge Jia was wronged.

"Though Assistant Judge Jia isn’t a good official, this time he seems genuinely innocent, maybe Magistrate Xi..."

Ah, pah!

Magistrate Xi grew furious, his complexion turned green, shouted: "Bring up Old Lady Chai, Chai Dafu, Douzi, Chen Mao."

Before long, Chen Mao and the others were brought up.

Magistrate Xi said: "Tell us, at Guiye Lane entrance, what did Hu Xueyao say upon seeing Manager Feng?"

Chen Mao and the others heard and repeated the words Hu Xueyao addressed Manager Feng as father and warned Old Lady Chai, they all said.

Upon hearing these words, everyone was astounded: "Ah, Hu Xueyao’s father truly is Manager Feng, then they surely are involved in seizing Gu family assets with Assistant Judge Jia."

Magistrate Xi, listening, smiled, fixing his gaze on Hu Xueyao: "Hu Xueyao, you admitted so yourself, heard by many, what else can you say?"

Hu Xueyao, upon hearing this, blanched in fear, realizing Old Lady Chai was with Magistrate Xi, she was tricked!

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