Chapter 519: Chapter 519: Departure
Zou Jiang saw that County Magistrate Xu was trembling with fear and couldn’t help but laugh, "My lord, there’s no need to be so frightened, it’s alright."
Is it alright?
This old man still dares to tell him it’s alright, but what Ming Shaoqing said to him during the day clearly indicated he already knew about the false evidence, how could it possibly be alright?
County Magistrate Xu was almost in tears, "Please stop laughing... It’s also because I’m not very clever, I was fooled by you all. If I had known earlier the evidence you submitted was... Alas, you better be careful, if Ming Shaoqing really handles this by the book, at least we’ll have each other’s company on the road to hell."
He feels sorry for his wife and children, who had joyfully prepared to follow him in his promotion, but now they have to follow him to hell, how tragic!
Zou Jiang looked at County Magistrate Xu, who had a mournful expression, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He had always found this County Magistrate Xu quite amusing, and after more interactions, he felt even luckier that Great Chu had such an official.
"Lord, I’ll go in first, don’t worry too much," Zou Jiang said to County Magistrate Xu with a bow before turning to head to the courtyard where Ming Shaoqing resided.
Ming Shaoqing’s courtyard was guarded by highly skilled guards, who after checking that Zou Jiang carried no lethal weapons, let him inside.
Ming Shaoqing, dressed in common clothes, sat in the courtyard with a clay stove and tea set on a stone table, boiling tea. Seeing Zou Jiang coming in, he pointed to the tea stove and said, "The tea has just been boiled, but it’s quite hot, you may need to wait a bit to drink."
Zou Jiang glanced at the tea stove and smiled, "On a cool, deep autumn night, hot tea is just right."
With that, he walked over, bowed to Ming Shaoqing, and then sat opposite him.
Ming Shaoqing clapped his hands a few times, then told the guards outside, "You all may leave now."
"Yes," the guard at the courtyard door replied, and after a series of ordered footsteps gradually drifted away, Ming Shaoqing continued, "What did County Magistrate Xu tell you?"
Without any concealment, Zou Jiang replied, "Lord Xu said he was not too clever and feared this might be the end for him, but he felt fortunate to have my company on the road to hell."
Hearing this, Ming Shaoqing nodded seriously, "Lord Xu speaks the truth, he indeed isn’t too clever."
But he is fortunate, although he fell into a trap, he has Zou Jiang, a capable person, to help him.
Ming Shaoqing’s meeting with Zou Jiang today was somewhat self-serving. He greatly admired Zou Jiang, who, unlike others who would have fallen apart upon discovering the truth, had meticulously designed a trap, step by step involving County Magistrate Xu, County Captain Jiang, the Zheng Family, Shangguan family, river bandits, and even the common folk of Tianfu County, using their power to eliminate Zou Youlian.
And those so-called false evidences were never submitted to the Prefecture Government Office, hence it was an unfounded worry; neither County Magistrate Xu nor Zou Jiang would face any trouble.
However, using false evidence to draw out other cases involving Zou Youlian was indeed inappropriate, and if he mentioned it upon returning to the Capital, both County Magistrate Xu and Zou Jiang would be in deep trouble, but he had no desire to speak of it.
"I’ve always believed that a smart and capable person should stand at the pinnacle of society. Because of a conspiracy by Zou Youlian, you missed out on decades of opportunity. Now that you have a chance to achieve great success and fame, are you willing to step up?" Ming Shaoqing poured Zou Jiang a cup of hot tea and asked him.
...
County Magistrate Xu looked toward Ming Shaoqing’s courtyard, pacing back and forth, "It’s almost dawn and they still haven’t come out. What are they discussing so fervently?"
What’s there to talk about? Going back to sleep wouldn’t make him feel better? Chatting in the dead of night, it’s exhausting.
County Magistrate Xu was extremely anxious, wanting to sneak a peek at the courtyard entrance. However, before he could get close to the courtyard, he was stopped by Ming Shaoqing’s guards and brought back to his original spot.
"Lord, you must not eavesdrop, or it will be you who suffers," said the guard captain.
County Magistrate Xu, with a smile on his face, took out a silver bar and secretly handed it to him, saying, "Brother, what are Lord Ming and Zou Jiang talking about in there? It’s almost dawn, aren’t they tired?"
The guard captain pushed the silver bar back, with a righteous and stern face: "No comment."
With that, he walked away with the guards.
County Magistrate Xu had no choice but to continue waiting.
As dawn was about to break, Zou Jiang finally came out of Ming Shaoqing’s courtyard with a small bag in his hand, carrying it openly and not avoiding County Magistrate Xu.
Seeing him come out, County Magistrate Xu, delighted, immediately rushed over and tremblingly asked, "Old Jiang, what did Ming Shaoqing tell you? Why did it take so long to come out... I, I won’t be... dismissed and beheaded, right?"
Zou Jiang looked at County Magistrate Xu and chuckled, "My lord, don’t panic. Ming Shaoqing was just making idle chat with me, nothing serious that concerns life."
"Idle chat? Who are you fooling? What can you talk about all night long?" County Magistrate Xu was worried sick, hesitated for a moment, and then gritted his teeth and asked Zou Jiang, "Tell me the truth, are we finished? Just be honest, I’m already prepared."
Ming Shaoqing was known for his impartiality. Since he had already discovered that the evidence Zou Jiang had previously submitted was fake, even though he hadn’t submitted those fake evidences to the Prefecture Government Office, such actions were unacceptable, and Ming Shaoqing would definitely act decisively and deal with them all.
Zou Jiang shook his head with a smile, and said to County Magistrate Xu, "My lord, you misunderstood, Ming Shaoqing and I truly were just making idle chat, and we did talk about some other official matters, but nothing related to the fake evidence."
County Magistrate Xu first frowned, then disbelieved, and finally joyfully said, "Really? Ming Shaoqing really didn’t pursue the matter of the fake evidence?"
Zou Jiang nodded, "Ming Shaoqing indeed didn’t question this matter, so my lord need not worry anymore, and please do not ask further, just peacefully wait for your promotion and transfer."
Fearing County Magistrate Xu would continue asking, he added, "This matter shouldn’t be discussed too much. You know, asking too much might make it impossible for Ming Shaoqing to overlook this matter even if he wants to."
So stop asking questions, it will only worsen things.
County Magistrate Xu was alarmed and hastily said, "Rest assured, I’ll stop asking."
Although he said that, County Magistrate Xu remained uneasy for three days, until the fourth day when Ming Shaoqing left Tianfu County without ever bringing up the fake evidence again—only then did County Magistrate Xu truly feel relieved.
On the day Ming Shaoqing left, General Guo also sent men to escort Zou Youlian and the others towards the Prefecture.
Before leaving, Ming Shaoqing said to County Magistrate Xu, "The Water Bandit Case involves many, affecting noble families, and it probably can’t be resolved within the year. Elder Shangguan has submitted a petition to allow my lord to continue as Tianfu County Magistrate for a few more months, until after the case is concluded, then you may leave the office and proceed to the Capital."
As long as they didn’t pursue the matter of the fake evidence, there was no reason for County Magistrate Xu not to agree, he immediately complied: "Yes, I shall obey the orders."
Feeling ecstatic inside, with these few months, he could also clean up some matters, making his heart a bit more at ease when leaving office, avoiding potential obstacles from the incoming County Magistrate who might dig up the matter of the fake evidence, making his departure unpeaceful.