When Xu Zhen said this, the scene suddenly fell into silence.
"What...what do you mean?" Chen Tiefeng wondered, "Didn't Qiu Batian do it? Are you kidding me? Xu Zhen, are you crazy?"
However, when he saw Magistrate Song, County Magistrate Chen and Cheng Xiao all looking solemn, he realized something was wrong and quickly shut up.
"Human instinct does not tell lies," Xu Zhen said the basis for his inference, "Yesterday after Qiu Batian found out that he had arrived at the Yamen, he always thought that we were setting him up! Later, he found out that the old man was dead, but he still wanted us to give him money.
He gave an explanation?
"Just imagine, if he was responsible for the case, how could he have such a reaction?"
"This..." Chen Xiancheng, an experienced man, grinned, "Don't you... don't have some concrete evidence? I'm afraid it's hard to be sure if you just make assumptions out of thin air!"
It seems that Magistrate Song told Chen County Cheng yesterday about Xu Zhen's speculation.
After all, Chen Xiancheng has not retired yet. If it is really a political struggle, then Chen Xiancheng will definitely be involved.
So Xu Zhen told the coachman what he had asked about, saying that the coachman could prove that the carriage had never left Zuixianju yesterday morning.
Then, he told what happened to the two Jiaofangsi women, proving that Qiu Batian was with them that night.
After listening, the two adults fell into deep thought again, thinking about the reliability of the evidence.
"Here..." Xu Zhen explained, "I have solid evidence!"
"I don't know," Song Zhili shook his head, "That woman should be hidden by the murderer. At the critical moment, she might appear as an important witness and identify Qiu Batian; or she might never appear and let everyone think that she is Qiu Batian.
God is killing people, setting fire to the corpses, and destroying all traces!"
However, he has too many worries:
Was Qiu Batian responsible for the case?
It was obvious that the two still hesitated.
How to avoid being on the wrong team...
"Sir Song," Chen Xiancheng said while stroking his gray beard, "this case concerns our future and destiny. This is how I am, but you can't miss your future because of this!"
"Yes," Song Zhili nodded, "If Qiu Batian did it all, he couldn't have kept that woman alive!"
"As well as the corpse Xu Zhen mentioned," Song Zhili added, "I have to confirm it myself to make sure it is correct."
Next, Song Zhili walked up to Cheng Xiao, held Cheng Xiao's shoulders, and said, "Please be more careful, Mr. Cheng!"
"Don't dare!" Cheng Xiao was flattered and quickly clasped his fists, "It's all a matter of humble duty!"
"Old man Li died in the Yamen, alas..." At this time, Chen Houlu sighed, "This is obviously going to drag us into the water!"
Song Zhili smiled helplessly and said that he was also very confused.
After thinking for a long time, he returned to the inner hall with deep thoughts, while Xu Zhen stayed outside and did not come in.
ah?
Chen Houlu and the three of them shuddered in unison, realizing that the situation was serious.
Everyone was surprised. Just as they were about to ask, they saw Song Zhili and Xu Zhen already outside the door.
Either prove Qiu Batian's innocence and side with the Minister of Civil Affairs; or arrest Qiu Batian and side with the murderer.
Everyone took a deep breath and quickly thought about what this incident meant.
"Yes." Song Zhili nodded. In fact, he knew that he had to use his connections without Chen Houlu's reminder.
"So..." Cheng Xiao thought of something and said, "This case... is it really framed?"
"this……"
"Gulu..." Chen Tiefeng swallowed and said fearfully, "I don't understand, who is trying to frame Qiu Batian? Can this be framed?"
"That group of old man Li's fellow villagers have already gone to the county government to file a complaint," Chen Xiancheng said again, "We can't stop them now. You have to make a decision early! Once people come down from above, we won't be able to stop them anymore."
Now is the chance to choose. What do you think... should you arrest this person... or not?"
"Well," Song Zhili nodded slightly, and after confirming his eyes with Chen Houlu, he said quietly, "Xu Zhen told me just now that he went to dig up the body of the woman from the burned old man Li's house last night!
"Sir Song," Chen Houlu said again, "you have so many classmates and old friends. You can write books on them as soon as possible and ask for information from the DPRK and China, so that you can grasp the trends in advance!"
Who could be the force that framed Qiu Batian?
How can we prove the innocence of Qiu Batian and the Yamen?
What!?
"Also," Song Zhili continued to order, "the case cannot be stopped. We must seize the time to find out the truth. We must at least know how Old Man Li died!"
This Chen Houlu is also an old man. One sentence not only brought them closer to each other, but also shifted the responsibility to the other party.
"Old Chen," Cheng Xiao reminded in a low voice, "this matter may not be aimed at Qiu Batian!"
"Xu Zhen said," Song Zhili continued, "Due to the serious damage, he only dug out part of the body, but he can be sure that the deceased is definitely not the daughter of Old Man Li. It is possible that it was just dug out randomly from a certain grave.
's corpse."
He is a Jinshi, so he naturally has some connections in the court. If he can find out who is targeting the Minister of Civil Affairs, it will naturally facilitate his follow-up operations.
"Captain Cheng," he said to Cheng Xiao, "go with Tie Feng to verify what Xu Zhen said and find connections to ask Qiu Batian's coachman, his men, and the two singing girls from Jiaofangsi. We can't just listen.
He told the truth."
"Sir," Cheng Xiao asked hurriedly, "What did Xu Zhen say? Does he really have evidence?"
"It's actually fake," Chen Houlu opened his mouth, "That means...Old Man Li's daughter may not be dead!?"
"But..." Chen Houlu asked, "If someone really framed her, it seems that the woman's life should not be kept, right? Why should a dead body be used instead?"
"What's the matter, Mr. Song?" Chen Houlu asked anxiously, "What did the little detective say to you?"
Next, they could see that Xu Zhen came close to Song Zhili's ear and said something to Song Zhili.
"Yes," Song Zhili nodded, "Collude with the Yamen to kill people, the crime and influence will be greater. The other party is really evil!"
"yes!"
Song Zhili did not answer, but thought for a moment, and then made a gesture to Chen Tiefeng.
Realizing that the case might be a political struggle, Chen Tiefeng no longer dared to interrupt, and stood beside Cheng Xiao in silence.
"Well..." Song Zhili glanced at everyone and then said solemnly, "You all listen up, there are only four of us in this room, and not a single word of what we are going to discuss will be leaked out! Otherwise, not a single word of what we are going to discuss will be leaked out!
If so, your life may not be guaranteed!!!"
And he only said a few words before he saw Song Zhili's face change drastically!
Not long after, Xu Zhen had finished speaking, but Song Zhili fell into deep thought.
"Okay, I'll arrange it." Cheng Xiao nodded.
"Ah? No...it's not Qiu Batian? Who is that?" Chen Tiefeng was confused for a few seconds before he finally figured it out. He was stunned and asked, "No...it can't be that person, right?"
"Also," Song Zhili thought of something else and said, "Send a trustworthy person to the county government to inquire about information. Once you find out something, report it immediately!"
"Sir Song," seeing Song Zhili's hesitation, Xu Zhen waved to him and said, "please take a step to speak!"
"This matter...don't be impatient!" At the critical moment, Song Zhili said calmly, "There should still be some time before the county government comes, so we must be prepared.
Chen Tiefeng understood, quickly closed the door and inserted the latch.
"ah?"
"Yes!" The two agreed quickly.
"Oh?" Song Zhili looked at Xu Zhen with doubt on his face and did not move.
"Sir Song," Chen Houlu asked, "then what are your plans?"
"By the way," Chen Houlu warned at this time, "you two must remember that you must not let others know that this case was not done by Qiu Batian!"
Song Zhili was in a dilemma. He understood what Chen Xiancheng meant. If this case was really not caused by Qiu Batian, it was probably a political struggle, and he had to take sides as soon as possible.
"Ah? No way?" Chen Tiefeng was shocked and grinned.
"Understood, understood!" Cheng Xiao and Chen Tiefeng nodded repeatedly.
"But what he dug out was a corpse that had been burned by fire but had rotted for a long time!"
"Sir," Cheng Xiao and Chen Tiefeng hurriedly expressed their opinions, "I will never dare to speak nonsense in my humble position!"
"Yes," Cheng Xiao clasped his fists, "The humble job is being handled!"
The topic has returned to its original point again, which side should they stand on?
Qiu Batian... To arrest or not to arrest?
"But..." Song Zhili really had something to say later, and said in Cheng Xiao's ear, "In addition to getting these things done, you also have to think of something for me."
"Oh?" Cheng Xiao said quickly, "Sir, please speak!"
"Once the news is confirmed," Song Zhili said through gritted teeth, "you have to think about it in advance...how can we arrest - Qiu Batian!?"