Chapter 28: What if he just likes older ones!

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The lord of the government office was dressed in official clothes, wearing an official hat. He sat high in the hall. He repeatedly raised his hand to wipe the fine sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief.

Restless and glancing anxiously at the man standing with his hands behind his back in the middle of the hall.

Compared to his unease, Cui Yun was calm to the extreme.

Below the hall, Lady Dong, usually high and mighty, was now more terrified than anyone when truly facing the court. She, being Mr. Dong's close companion, knew best how many lives the Dong Family had taken.

If truly convicted…

At this moment, she was kneeling on the ground, the hard surface seeming to exude a chill that penetrated from her knees to her entire body. Lady Dong trembled, helplessly clutching the sleeve of Mr. Dong beside her.

The many servants of the Dong Residence were so scared that they didn't dare to breathe heavily, huddling together, trembling with fear.

Outside, a crowd of people gathered to watch the drama.

"What crime did the Dong Family commit?"

"I heard it was murder."

"Ridiculous! Why would the Dong Family need to pay for murder? That year, when the Dong Family son failed to satisfy his lust and in anger killed an entire family, wasn't he still released without harm? What happened today?"

Soon, someone mentioned Cui Yun.

"That young gentleman is handsome. I hear he was the one who reported the crime."

Someone looked eagerly, shyly saying, "If I'd known I'd meet such a refined person, I wouldn't have married."

Soon, someone spat in disdain, "Stop it, you old hag! You're old enough to be his mother!"

The woman put her hands on her hips, "What if he just likes someone of my age!"

Cui Yun seemed as if he wasn't the one being talked about. He lifted his gaze, calm and unruffled, "Mr. Liu, it's time to start the trial."

Mr. Liu jolted, holding a case review stone, he struck it heavily on the table, regaining his usual dignity.

"Prisoner in the court, do you admit to taking a life?"

Mr. Dong knelt, "This commoner does not admit."

Upon hearing this, Lady Dong summoned the courage to shout, "How can you trust this person's one-sided words, Sir?"

Saying this, she glared viciously at Cui Yun.

"Our master ordinarily worships Buddha and is most compassionate! How could we imagine being captured as villains; this is slander!"

"Although our Dong Family is of merchant background, we are not to be bullied casually!"

With that, she attempted to get up from the ground.

"Silence!"

The county magistrate scolded.

Soon, the official unhesitatingly pressed her back to kneel again.

County Magistrate Liu deliberately delivered a grand, righteous speech.

"If you're innocent, a thorough investigation will clear your name. But if guilty, I shall not let this pass."

Mr. Dong said heavily, "I am acquainted with the Magistrate of the city..."

"How can I, as an official, handle cases while looking over my shoulder, fearing consequences? Even with the Magistrate here, I will investigate impartially."

His attitude made Mr. Dong suddenly feel a bit panicked.

At this moment, a commotion arose outside.

Soon, with an official hat on his head, the Magistrate entered with a cold expression.

The county magistrate, seeing this, instinctively stood up fawningly to greet, but the next moment, his legs stiffened.

!! How could he protect someone that the Young Marquis wanted to punish, as a mere Magistrate?

In the past, he had always had to curry favor and fear displeasing the Magistrate, but now compared to the Young Marquis, the Magistrate was nothing!

He quickly composed himself, made a proper bow.

"Sir."

The Magistrate's manner was imposing; he did not even glance at the county magistrate.

"In my opinion, this is just a nonsensical farce."

He was a Standard Fourth Rank Official, in Fengzhou City, he was a local tyrant.

He took a few steps to stand in front of Cui Yun. In a deep, unfathomable voice, he asked.

"Is it you who wants to convict the Dong Family?"

Cui Yun stood with his hands behind his back, neither overbearing nor servile, like a pine or crane.

"In a court of law, it's not a place for eloquent arguments. Everything should proceed according to the statutes."

The Magistrate's face darkened.

If the Dong Family were truly in danger, wouldn't that be a blow to his face? Moreover, he still relied on the annual silver notes the Dong Family sent.

Yet, under such public scrutiny, he truly could not simply take the people away.

He angrily flicked his sleeve.

"Ignorant fool!"

The county magistrate felt pleased almost to trembling!!!

Heavens, heavens, this old thing actually mocked the inheriting Young Master Cui as an ignorant fool.

He even dared show such disdain to Young Master Cui!

The county magistrate struggled to control his facial expression, made a gesture of invitation: "Sir, since you are here, I dare to ask you to conduct the trial personally."

The Magistrate's rank was above his, with the Magistrate present, naturally it wasn't his business anymore.

Of course, he wanted to see the Magistrate embarrassed!

The Magistrate forced a smile, yet said: "I'll just observe."

County Magistrate Liu hurriedly had a chair brought over. Only then did he return to his seat on the high bench.

County Magistrate Liu constantly paid attention to Cui Yun, and remained utterly dedicated.

At this moment the official presented an item.

"Sir, this was found in Dong Feng's room."

County Magistrate Liu glanced at it, nearly falling off his chair from fright.

The crowd also exclaimed in shock.

"How wicked, if you're going to kill, why cut off the head?"

"Deranged, to hide such a bloody thing in the room, do they plan to sleep with it?"

Mr. Dong's body shook: "Sir, I have nothing to do with this matter."

County Magistrate Liu: "Do you recognize this person?"

Mr. Dong's expression flashed a moment of unease: "He... he was a feng shui master invited to my residence."

"Did you have any prior entanglement with him?"

"Never."

"Was his death related to you?"

"Unrelated!"

The Magistrate was growing impatient with what he heard.

What kind of questioning was this! Were they indirectly convicting?

He put down his teacup with a cold laugh: "Mr. Liu."

Speaking, he glanced towards Cui Yun.

"Everyone of the Dong Family is kneeling, yet this person quite brazenly stands. In court, do you tolerate such impudence? Why, are his knees precious?"

County Magistrate Liu agreed: yes indeed!

Being a person of Marquis Yangling's Mansion, if he weren't precious, who would be?

Not to mention kneeling to him; given the Emperor's holy favor towards Cui Yun, even if the Magistrate were kneeled to by him, he could still take his head to see King Yan.

The county magistrate acted like a delicate beauty: "This... is improper according to etiquette."

The Magistrate narrowed his eyes.

Cui Yun's demeanor was indeed extraordinary, yet he hadn't heard of any significant figure arriving in Fengzhou City!

"What is improper about this!"

The county magistrate continued as a Little White Lotus: "The Minister of Justice holds the third rank, is among the nine ministers, favored by the Emperor. How can I dare to endure this kneeling?"

"If there's anything improper, Sir, you didn't yet perform the courtesy to the Marquis just now."

The sarcasm on the Magistrate's face froze.

???

Before he could be stunned, Cui Yun calmly spoke.

"Lu Yuandao, Magistrate of Fengzhou City, appointed and reinstated in the ninth year of Jiayou, till now eight years, has had lackluster performance and troubled prospects for promotion. Could you know why?"

Lu Yuandao's brow twitched.

Cui Yun, with a cold countenance, spoke without haste.

"As the parental official to the people. One should be the happy gentleman, the father and mother of the people."

"Eradicate traitors, relieve the impoverished. It is your duty to let no grievances in lawsuits go unanswered."

"Mr. Lu, with you backing the Dong Family, they must sleep soundly, right?"

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