Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 108

Causing such a commotion, Qin Mo, as a high-ranking official, was likely off investigating the case.

However, Lu Tang felt a bit disappointed.

Maybe it was because she felt more at ease with such a high-ranking official around?

Even though it was night, the courthouse in front of the official hall was still crowded with people.

Those who left the Flower Boat Gathering were still filled with excitement. Since they couldn’t continue at the gathering, they directed their energy towards this case.

Moreover, the victim of the case was the son of a wealthy local merchant.

What a huge scandal this was!

Inside the hall, torches illuminated everything brightly.

The magistrate sat high under the Mirror of Justice, looking sternly at Lu Tang, “Who are you?”

Lu Tang knelt on the ground, cupping her hands in respect, “I am Lu Tang, a commoner from Qinshui County.”

“According to eyewitness testimony, you were the first to jump in when Du Xuan fell into the water tonight. What do you have to say about this?”

Lu Tang replied, “I was afraid he would drown.”

“But you didn’t know the person who fell into the water.”

“Your Excellency, even if it were a dog that fell into the water, I would have jumped in to save it without hesitation.”

“Do you know Xie Yu?”

As soon as the magistrate mentioned Xie Yu’s name, the crowd outside started to buzz with excitement.

Xie Yu was indeed a special figure in Yuhang.

There were simply too many rumors about him.

Lu Tang didn’t understand why this was now involving Xie Yu but replied honestly, “Yes, in Qinshui County, Xie Yu is a guest at my family’s inn. We got along well, so we came to Yuhang together for this trip.”

“So, since you came with Xie Yu, was he also present at the boat gathering?”

Why were all the questions centered around Xie Yu?

Could this case be related to Xie Yu?

Lu Tang suddenly remembered that Qin Mo and Song Qingzhan were here to investigate Xie Chengnian’s case from years ago. Could today’s incident be part of Qin Mo’s plan?

What was he trying to lure out?

After a quick analysis, Lu Tang said, “Xie Yu was not on the same boat as us. This morning, I visited Xie Yu’s home with friends. We stayed for about an hour before leaving. After that, I haven’t seen Xie Yu.”

“Whether Xie Yu went to the scene later, I do not know.”

The magistrate paused for a moment, then said, “Bring the suspect.”

Immediately, a constable brought someone forward and forced him to kneel.

Lu Tang glanced sideways. The man was about the same size as Liang Cheng, with a decent side profile but looked scholarly and weak. Was this the suspect?

Damn!

What was with her bad luck recently, always running into scholars? Couldn’t any of them be decent people?

And weren’t scholars supposed to be exempt from kneeling? Why was he being forced to kneel?

Internally rolling her eyes, Lu Tang heard the magistrate ask, “Do you recognize this person?”

Lu Tang shook her head, “No.”

“You didn’t even look closely before saying you don’t recognize him?”

Lu Tang smiled wryly, “Your Excellency, I just arrived in Yuhang yesterday evening. I stayed at the Laifu Inn and only know Xie Yu. Oh right, I met his grandfather today. Other than that, I don’t know anyone else here.”

The magistrate sneered, clearly not believing her, “This man’s name is Xie Jin, Xie Yu’s younger brother. You don’t recognize him?”

Lu Tang was shocked.

Xie Yu’s younger brother?

She quickly turned her head to look at him, and Xie Jin also looked at her with disdain in his eyes.

Lu Tang:!

Damn!

A suspect looking down on her?

What’s wrong with you?

“Your Excellency, I truly do not recognize him.”

The magistrate slammed the gavel, “Do you know the consequences of giving false testimony in court?”

Before Lu Tang could answer, the magistrate asked Xie Jin, “Do you recognize this person?”

Xie Jin, despite being a suspect, showed no fear and held his head high, displaying the upright demeanor of a scholar, “I do not recognize her. Your Excellency, although Xie Yu is my elder brother, due to his demonic appearance and terrible character, he was disowned by my father long ago. We have not been in contact since childhood. How could I know his friends?”

The magistrate did not refute, “Then why did you push Du Xuan into the water tonight?”

Xie Jin replied righteously, “I did not. As a student of Confucius and Mencius, I follow the rites of the world and would never commit such a heartless act.”

The magistrate, full of anger, slammed the gavel, “We have both witnesses and evidence. Stop arguing! Bring them up.”

Following the magistrate’s order, constables immediately brought forward seven or eight people.

These were all guests on the boat, and their testimonies were consistent, all having witnessed Xie Jin committing the crime.

Xie Jin remained composed, “Your Excellency, these people must have been bribed to frame me. Earlier, I had a dispute with Du Xuan. He must have set this up to frame me. Otherwise, why would someone be so quick to save him as soon as he fell into the water?

“No, to be precise, I saw with my own eyes that this person jumped into the water first, then Du Xuan fell in.

“With such swimming skills, this person was clearly prepared to save someone in advance.

“Otherwise, why would they suddenly jump into the water during the Flower Boat Gathering!”

Indeed, she jumped into the water first and then heard the splash.

But their boat was not close to Xie Jin’s boat. Given the timing, everyone’s attention should have been on Du Xuan, right?

How did Xie Jin notice her?

Before she jumped into the water, shouldn’t everyone’s attention have been on the Flower Boat Gathering?

As Xie Jin finished speaking, one of his classmates outside immediately shouted, “It’s true, this person jumped into the water first.”

The magistrate looked at Lu Tang.

Lu Tang shivered.

It was true.

But how could she explain why she jumped into the water?

Tell the magistrate she would be punished if she didn’t jump?

He would definitely whip her.

Zhou Shu stood in front of the crowd, shouting towards the hall, “Your Excellency, Lu Tang jumped into the water because she lost a bet with us.”

Xu Shen followed, “Your Excellency, we were on the same boat, playing a game where the loser had to jump into the water. Lu Tang lost and jumped in. It was just a coincidence that the murder happened right after.”

They also didn’t know why Lu Tang jumped.

But there was no one else on the boat at the time, so making up this story wouldn’t be exposed. Almost instinctively, Zhou Shu and Xu Shen shouted out.

On the other side, Xie Jin’s classmates were also shouting.

The magistrate, seemingly overwhelmed, with a stern face, slammed the gavel, stood up, “Take them all away. We will continue the trial tomorrow. Court dismissed!”

With that, he turned and left without giving anyone a chance to refute.

Zhou Shu, Xu Shen, and Guo Dawei were shocked to see the constables taking Lu Tang away. They wanted to rush up and stop them, but there was still a cripple there.

Liang Cheng was so anxious his face turned pale. If not for Zhou Shu and Xu Shen holding him back, he would have rushed in on his crippled leg.

Lu Tang never expected that saving someone would get her arrested.

Qin Mo!

Where the hell were you at this critical moment!