She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 245 - 244 Midnight Arrest

Chapter 245: Chapter 244 Midnight Arrest

On the day the matter erupted at Shen Hour, Magistrate Sir could no longer sit idly by and finally began court proceedings.

After an interrogation and learning the truth, Magistrate Sir also became furious and immediately arranged for Lord Zhang, who was in charge of criminal affairs, to investigate the case. He promptly sent people to Clear Water Village to summon the accused to court for a trial.

Lord Zhang dispatched the constables to Clear Water Village, and then advised that it was too late in the day to do anything but bring the people in for detention. The trial would have to wait until the following morning.

Lord Jiang acquiesced and announced the court would adjourn and resume early the next day for the trial.

Liang Qiyuan, waiting in his residence until the servants returned with news, couldn’t help but sneer and said to Lady Liu, "Young people just don’t understand. They don’t check to see if this is a place they can offend before they start throwing their weight around. Now, what a mess they’ve made. Tomorrow, I will write a letter of complaint and inform my brother-in-law, urging him to denounce Jiang Yifan and completely take him down. Perhaps this will even ingratiate my brother-in-law with some powerful figure in the capital. After this is over, my sister and brother-in-law will have to thank me."

Liang Qiyuan’s dreams didn’t last into the next day; at midnight, a troop of constables quietly surrounded the Liang Residence.

Someone approached to knock on the door, and as soon as the door opened, a swarm of government officers charged in. They marched forcefully into the house, stopping the servants who were on night patrol and ordering them to stay put and not wander around.

The leading constable summoned an old woman servant, inquired about Liang Qiyuan’s whereabouts, and went directly to his concubine’s quarters. Without a word, he pulled Liang Qiyuan from his bed, gagged him, silenced the concubine’s cries, and quickly bound Liang Qiyuan before taking him away. Throughout the ordeal, Liang Qiyuan didn’t even have a chance to speak up. By the time he was escorted away, he still hadn’t figured out the chaos that had erupted.

The few servants patrolling the Liang Residence at night had never seen such a display. Watched by the fierce government officials, they shook like sieves, staring wide-eyed as their master was bound and led away.

By the time Lady Liu heard some commotion in the courtyard, Liang Qiyuan had already been taken away. The servants allowed to move around came to report that the master had been bound and taken by the government officers, and that County Captain Zhang was waiting in the outer court to speak with Lady Liu.

Lady Liu was shocked and trembling. With the help of her maids and old woman servants, she dressed properly and went to meet the government official spoken of by the servants.

County Captain Zhang Yue, who had a rather ordinary appearance and in his thirties, bowed respectfully as he saw Lady Liu enter, but his eyes couldn’t hide a trace of scorn.

Ever since her brother-in-law took office in Yuyuan Prefecture, Lady Liu had been treated with deference in Qingyuan County. As she walked from the inner court, her panic had somewhat subsided. Now, facing the government officer, her sense of superiority reemerged. Although she was still physically shaking, her voice grew firm.

"May I ask who this gentleman is? Where is my husband? Your forcible entry into our home at night is no different from the acts of robbers."

Zhang Yue’s face was stern as he formally bowed and said, "I am here to inform the elder madam of the Liang family that Qingyuan County government office has ascertained that Elder Liang bribed many people, including his family members and friends, to violently storm the court. He has been placed in jail to await trial first thing in the morning. If the facts are proven, the crime Liang Qiyuan has committed is equivalent to rebellion which warrants execution and could extend disaster to his family. The officer specially came to notify you that, until the case is tried and closed, the Liang Residence will be under the supervision of the Yamen, and no one within will be allowed to come and go freely."

Lady Liu’s complexion changed dramatically. She was aware of her husband bribing hooligans to trouble the snack shop, and that he had arranged for people to go to the county government office to protest. But could this be considered rebellion? Could it mean the whole family would be dragged off to be beheaded?

"This, this, how can this be considered rebellion?" Lady Liu stammered out, suddenly remembering the life-saving charm their family had, "Does the gentleman know that my husband’s brother-in-law is Lord Zhou, the Prefect of Yuyuan Prefecture? Are you not afraid of being held accountable by superiors for fabricating charges in such a reckless manner?"

Zhang Yue sneered, "Elder Madam Liang worries too much. If it is indeed confirmed that Elder Liang has indeed gathered people to storm the Yamen and really intends to rebel, then it indeed depends on how Lord Zhou handles this case. If Lord Zhou reports in time and his superior is a kind and open-minded person, it’s possible that Lord Zhou’s responsibility may not be pursued."

Brother-in-law also has responsibility? Could it be so serious that even my sister and brother-in-law could be implicated? Lady Liu’s legs went weak, and if not for the old woman servant’s strong support by her side, she nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Elder Madam Liang, remember to restrain your servants. Unless necessary, do not come and go at will. If we add a charge of collusion, then your Elder Liang and your Liang Residence will have one more crime to answer for."

Zhang Yue dropped this remark and turned to leave.

These Liang family people really do not know their own weight; Lord Zhou is their superior and holds high office. However, Zhang Yue, who serves in the Yamen, has personally seen how respectfully and cautiously Lord Zhou behaved when inspecting Qingyuan County and facing Sixth Master Rong. But he has seen even more how casually Lord Jiang, who holds the modest rank of a seventh-level Magistrate, behaves toward Sixth Master Rong.

Lord Jiang is always meticulous and decisive in his actions. Since he dared to apprehend Liang Qiyuan, he must have planned for all possibilities. How could he not be aware of Lord Zhou and the Liang family’s obvious marital ties?

The previous Magistrate of Qingyuan County was dismissed by the court for chaotic county affairs, but in less than half a year, Lord Jiang had sorted out the county’s affairs and personnel that the predecessor had not managed in two years, all clearly and in order.

Zhang Yue clearly remembered the time when Lord Jiang was inspecting the grain depot. A brawny fellow, instructed by the official in charge of finances, instigated conflict with Lord Jiang. That tall and stout fellow was grabbed by the neck by a young servant accompanying Lord Jiang and flung against a wall, unable to regain his composure for a long time.

After that, no one who had been dealt with by Lord Jiang ever harbored crooked thoughts again.

The Liang family has been rooted in Qingyuan County for so many years, yet they don’t have a single reliable informant, and without making any inquiries, they dared to make a move against Lord Jiang. They’ve got the nerve and are foolish enough.

But then again, it’s exactly because they lack informants that they ended up making such a stupid mistake, isn’t it?

Zhang Yue stood outside the Liang family’s exterior courtyard, signaling his subordinates, "Wrap it up, all of you, except the gatekeepers, head back. Rest well, we have to open the Yamen for a trial early tomorrow morning."

Early the next morning, the county government office’s gates were wide open, and the trial began.

The trial was quite simple; the owner of that little food shop was nowhere to be seen. Instead, those accusers who came early to wait for the Yamen to administer justice were settled first, asked to stand in order to one side. What was originally a disorganized crowd formed two neat lines, but no one noticed that a few people were missing from the group of plaintiffs.

Afterward, the Magistrate Sir ascended to the court, and as soon as he sat down, he sternly struck the gavel, deeply regretting and rebuking, unable to believe that such malice and villains could exist in the simple and honest Qingyuan County.

Following this, the County Captain loudly stated that the constables originally investigating the small food shop for framing good people had uncovered that the tangled grievances of the common folk were actually stirred up by someone using silver to incite scoundrels, with the intention of assaulting the court. The officers, following the leads, arrested several suspects involved.