"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Pang Yue immediately shifted his target back to Han Mo.
But to his disappointment, Han Mo was now like an old monk in meditation, completely detached and aloof, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
"Lord Han, aren't you going to explain?"
Liao Wenxing said mockingly.
"Explain what? What is there to explain? This subordinate still has fifty copies of Wang Youjun's calligraphy of the Lanting Preface, all genuine. Does Your Lord have any interest in taking a look?"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Pang Yue's eyes rolled so far back they nearly touched the sky. Could this kid be any more blatant? Did he think Wang Youjun's Lanting Preface calligraphy was something abundant in his household, like radishes where you pull one and another appears?
"Present them!"
Although he knew the items were undoubtedly fake, Pang Yue feigned ignorance.
His task was merely to concoct a seemingly flawless case; the rest had nothing to do with him.
After Zhou Zhenhao finished speaking, he directly pulled out a blood-stained scroll from his embrace.
"Lord Liao has really spared no expense. Using paper from Chengshen Hall for this, tsk tsk tsk..."
With just a glance at the item, Han Mo said disdainfully.
"What does this have to do with me? Lord Han, you mustn't slander me!"
Liao Wenxing's mouth twitched. It truly had nothing to do with him, though even he marveled at how extravagant Cui Hao was, willing to use such fine paper for such a purpose.
"I'm just saying casually, why is Your Lord so nervous? Look, you're sweating on your forehead. You mustn't be nervous. What if you say something wrong later?"
Seeing him with a profusely sweating forehead, Han Mo said with a cold laugh.
"Lord Han, now you explain!"
Seeing Liao Wenxing's uselessness, Pang Yue inwardly complained. However, since the man was on his side, he could only pretend not to see it at this moment.
"Explain? What is there to explain? Zhang Huai's treason with bandits is ironclad. Can a case be overturned based on this single item that appeared out of nowhere?"
Seeing the mocking expression on Han Mo's face, Pang Yue finally lost his composure.
He had now understood that this fellow didn't put him in his eyes at all!
"Han Mo! I am giving you this chance to refute because you are a Jinshi graduate. Do not misjudge yourself! Do not forget, as the Judge of the Transportation Bureau, I have the authority to supervise officials under my jurisdiction!"
This was a clear attempt to suppress him with authority, causing Lü Ying's heart to sink.
He had managed to latch onto Han Mo's support, and if Han Mo were to fall, he would likely suffer the same fate.
"Lord Pang is also here. What a coincidence!"
Just as Han Mo was hesitating whether to bring out Li Mao'er, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Zhong Jiyi? Why are you here..."
Pang Yue's expression was truly remarkable upon seeing Zhong Yanchong.
Strictly speaking, his official rank was merely a Xuanyi Lang of the eighth rank. Zhong Yanchong should have been the one to pay his respects first.
However, Zhong Yanchong was currently a favored official under Xu Churen, and Pang Yue truly could not afford to offend him.
"What? Lord Pang, if you can come, can't I?"
Zhong Yanchong looked at everyone present with a smile, then his gaze returned to Han Mo.
Pang Yue's heart sank. He then remembered that Zhong Yanchong and Han Mo had been fellow Jinshi graduates.
Moreover, among Han Mo's famous poems, the絶句 "When I lie in bed listening to the wind in the night, iron cavalry and icy rivers flood my dreams" was written about Zhong Shidao, wasn't it?
"No, no, no, Your Lord can certainly come, certainly come!"
After a dry cough, Pang Yue quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile.
"Lord Pang, please do not be nervous. I am here today simply to catch up with Brother Han. We haven't seen each other for over a month since we parted in Bianliang. Since I am free today, I have specifically come to see Brother Han. You all carry on with your matters; do not mind me. Just have someone bring me a chair."
As soon as Zhong Yanchong finished speaking, Xu Fengnian, quick-wittedly, brought a chair from behind and placed it next to Han Mo.
Zhong Yanchong did not stand on ceremony. He directly pulled Han Mo to sit beside him, and the two began to chat in hushed whispers.
My heavens!
Pang Yue's face was now filled with nothing but awkwardness. How could this trial possibly proceed?
What Wang Fu had promised was indeed tempting, but the current manager held more sway than a distant promise.
Despite Zhong Yanchong's youth, in the past month alone, he had dealt with over thirty corrupt military officers who had committed offenses, all of whom had been executed.
Even though he was smiling now, Pang Yue knew that if this fellow were to act, he would not hesitate in the slightest.
Although he had stated he was here to catch up with Han Mo, who could guarantee he wasn't also carrying out other duties assigned by Xu Churen?
His eagerness in the matter of Zhou Ding was entirely due to hearing that Xu Churen was preparing to rectify administrative affairs.
Even if he had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare to leave any leverage in Zhong Yanchong's hands at this moment.
The defendant was being taken away for a chat, and the presiding judge had lost his nerve. How could the case possibly continue...
Seeing that the meticulously arranged trap was about to dissolve once more, Liao Wenxing was immensely frustrated.
This time, he had truly lost both his wife and his soldiers. Not only did he gain nothing, but he had also completely offended Han Mo.
Just looking at Han Mo and Zhong Yanchong chatting and laughing so easily, he was already starting to feel uneasy...
"Sir, you are being overly familiar with the defendant in court. Are you perhaps his accomplice?"
Seeing the increasingly delicate atmosphere, Zhou Zhenhao, filled with frustration, suddenly called out with an inexplicable impulse.
Damn it!
Upon hearing his words, Liao Wenxing truly wished he could jump up and strangle this scoundrel to death.
With so many important figures holding their tongues, this useless fellow, brought here just to make up the numbers, dared to speak such words. Was he not courting death?
"Are you speaking to me?"
Zhong Yanchong, who had been chatting idly, suddenly stopped and looked at Liao Wenxing with a smile.
Liao Wenxing's heart skipped a beat. He almost burst into tears.
If it weren't for the public scrutiny, he would have leaped out to speak on his own behalf.
"I didn't say that. Why are you looking at me..."