♂?，，

  The man in the green robe knew he couldn't deceive anymore, and besides, he had already admitted his mistake. At most, it was just a fight, not worth stubbornly denying. As soon as he knelt down, he started kowtowing, and while doing so, he explained everything: "Lord Bao, I was instructed by that Ling Zheng, who gave me 15 taels of silver to go to the Yue Lai Inn with others to beat up a scholar named Chen Shimei. I was temporarily blinded by greed, which led me to commit this unlawful act. I know my mistake now, and I hope you will show leniency in your punishment!"

  Bao Zheng looked at him and asked: "What's your name? What do you do for a living?"

  That man said: "My name is Shi Kun, I have no proper occupation, but when I was young, I learned some boxing and kicking skills. Now I occasionally help people with some guarding and watching the house, barely making a living."

  Bao Zheng nodded: "I'd rather not know the reason, but since it's like this, for fifteen taels of silver, you dare to gather a crowd and attack a civilian's house, disregarding the law! It seems that you are also a scourge among the people. Now that you've fallen into my hands, I won't let you off easily! Considering your straightforwardness, I sentence you to forty heavy blows, branding and exile! Do you have any complaints?"

  "Your humble servant confesses his guilt, your humble servant confesses his guilt."

  Bao Zheng saw that his attitude was still okay, so he called Wang Chao and Ma Han to drag Shi Kun out for a flogging. Wang Chao and Ma Han secretly took a look at Bao Zheng's expression. The two of them had followed Bao Zheng for many years and knew that if Bao Zheng stared coldly at the offender, they should drag him away and beat him severely until his bones were broken. If Bao Zheng didn't look at the offender, then just beating him until his skin was torn and flesh lacerated would be enough.

  "Bao Zheng looked at Chen Yuan and said: 'Chen Shimei, step aside for now. I will have the relevant suspects brought in immediately and a fair verdict will be reached.'"

  Chen Yuan stood up: "Thank you, sir! But I hope you'll hurry up, if it's delayed for too long, I'm afraid someone else will fabricate a case against me."

  Bao Zheng glanced at him: "No need to say more. Zhang Long, bring the documents and go fetch Yang Yu Li. Zhao Hu, go catch Ling Zheng, don't let him escape."

  Zhang Long and Zhao Hu led the order and left. Bao Zheng's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he handed a paper with already written words to Zhan Zhao: "Guard Zhan, this is what the official wants to investigate. Go and take care of it now, and come back quickly."

  Zhan Zhao took it over, glanced at it and said: "Yes sir!"

  After Zhang Long and Zhao Hu walked away, Chen Yuan temporarily retreated to one side. Bao Zheng suddenly slapped the shock wood, causing the entire hall to vibrate with a loud crack. Chen Yuan was startled, and then he heard Bao Zheng's voice suddenly become louder: "Bring in the people! Bring that Bai Yutang up to the main hall!"

  Bai Yutang was not escorted, but he walked in front with a proud expression, wearing prison garb, followed by several bailiffs who held the iron chain attached to his cangue.

  Bai Yutang stopped at the place where Chen Yuan had just knelt down, fell to one knee and said with a full breath: "The defendant Bai Yutang, pays his respects to Lord Bao."

  Lu Fang behind him was somewhat anxious and whispered: "Lao Wu! Kneel down with both legs!"

  Bai Yutang pretended not to have heard and remained on one knee, his head held high.

  Bao Zheng looked at Bai Yutang, his face expressionless, leaving the other three anxious old mice on one side unaware of what Bao Zheng was thinking. Jiang Ping even had an impulse to rush over and kick Bai Yutang's half-squatting leg!

  Bao Zheng slapped the wooden sign again: "No noise is allowed under the court."

  Lu Fang shut his own mouth, and Jiang Ping didn't go up either. Bai Yutang was still half-kneeling there, and Bao Zheng asked with an open mouth: "Bai Yutang! Sneaking into Kaifeng Prefecture at night and stealing the three treasures, is that true?"

  Bai Yutang shook her hair: "That's right, it was me."

  Bao Zheng asked another question: "The one who sneaked into the imperial palace and killed the eunuch Guo An, was it you?"

  "It was me."

  "Sneaking into the imperial study and altering the emperor's memorials, how dare you!"

  "It's me!"

  Bao Zheng burst out laughing: "Well, that's straightforward enough. You've all committed heinous crimes. I'll have you thrown into the great prison first, and then I'll memorialize the Emperor to ask for his decision!"

  Bai Yutang still looked nonchalant, but the other three old mice were somewhat distressed. When they came, Zhan Zhao said that everything would be fine, and Lord Bao had no intention of killing Bai Yutang, as long as Bai Yutang admitted his guilt, Zhan Zhao would take care of the rest.

  Now it's all right, Bao Daren is going to memorialize the Emperor, just because of Bai Yutang killing Guo An, changing the memorial, either way, he can't live!

  Lu Fang's heart ached, and he thought to himself: "Just now, Lord Bao deliberately sent away Zhang Zhao, probably to avoid embarrassing him. If I had known this earlier, why would we have brought Lao Wu here to die? Even if everyone fled together, it would be better for the sake of brotherly love."

  After Bai Yutang was taken away, Zhan Zhao returned soon. He walked straight to Bao Zheng and took out something from his pocket, which Bao Zheng accepted.

  Zhan Zhaochong smiled and nodded at Chen Yuan, indicating that he shouldn't worry, everything was going smoothly. Then he slowly retreated to the side.

  Lu Fang stood on one side, secretly beckoning with his hand, hinting for Zhan Zhao to go over for a moment, but Zhan Zhao didn't pay any attention.

  Zhang Long and Zhao Hu returned almost at the same time. Zhang Long brought Yang Zhanggui's, and the four captors who caught Yang Zhanggui also came along. At a glance, it was clear that Yang Zhanggui had been tortured earlier.

  Two hands were covered in blood, and the whole person walked unsteadily, if it wasn't for Zhang Long's support, he might have fallen down at any moment.

  Zhao Hu also caught Ling Zheng and dragged him in like a chicken.

  When the four bailiffs entered the hall, they all looked flustered and immediately knelt down without waiting to pay their respects. Bao Zheng's gavel slammed down: "Drag these four away! Remove their official robes and give them thirty heavy blows!"

  The four bailiffs' faces changed color, they were used to hitting people with boards, precisely because they often hit people with boards, so they themselves feared being beaten.

  The leader hastily shouted: "Your Honor! I'm innocent! I'm innocent!"

  Bao Zheng: "Beat him!"

  After these four people were dragged away, Ling Zheng's whole body shook, and without waiting for Zhao Hu to throw him down, he was so scared that his legs went soft and he knelt down.

  Yang Zhuanggong looked at Bao Gong with excitement and tears in his eyes: "Lord Bao, I'm innocent! Please, Lord Bao, do justice for me!"

  Bao Zheng nodded and said to the bailiffs on both sides: "Support him to stand aside."

  Chen Yuan was thinking in his heart that he had already told Ling Zheng about the doubts and questions of those cases, they must have thought of a way to deal with it, would Ling Zheng confess now?

  Ling Zheng was also very frightened in his heart, especially when the four catchers had just entered the door and were dragged out by Bao Gong to be beaten, which made him anxious.

  Bao Zheng looked at Ling Zheng and slammed his hand on the desk: "Tell the truth!"

  Ling Zheng was silent for half a day, he knew that once the matter was revealed, he would offend both the Tai Shi Fu and the Kaifeng Fu. In his heart, he now only regretted why he had agreed to help Pang An frame Yang Zhanggui.

  Day 1 of Sanjiang, thanks for all brothers' support!

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