Qin Yihuai let out a sneer, and the curves of his eyebrows and eyes gradually softened.
He didn't pity the Wei family.
He just thought it was rare to find someone as stupid as them.
The official had come to their doorstep, but they still refused to admit their faults.
"Since you won't shed tears until you see the coffin, I might as well be straightforward," Qin Yihuai said.
He took out the copied list of crimes from his bosom and threw it in front of Wei Shishi.
Wei Louming, who had been in the officialdom for many years, naturally recognized what it was.
His legs trembled with fear, and he knelt straight on the ground.
Seeing his reaction, the whole family followed suit.
Only Wei Shishi stood upright, with a look of defiance on her face.
"You don't think you can fool me with forged evidence. I won't believe you!"
Qin Yihuai's face instantly turned cold. He didn't want to implicate the innocent. The Wei family was just a pawn of the county magistrate.
By all accounts, they shouldn't be punished collectively.
Judging from Wei Shishi's reaction, it seemed that she wouldn't realize the danger until she was in prison.
"Come here. Take the evidence and Wei Shishi away. Take them to the Dali Temple for interrogation."
Wei Shishi cried and tried to protect the things behind her, but her strength was too weak to break free from the man's restraint.
The gold and silver treasures in front of her were her last chance. To her, they were not wealth but a life - saving straw.
"You can't take them away. He promised me that if I protected them, I could be his main wife and enjoy wealth and honor," Wei Shishi shouted like a madwoman with tears in her eyes.
Slap!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed, and the yard fell silent, except for the low sobs.
"I think you're crazy to talk nonsense in front of Inspector Qin. If you want to die, don't drag our whole family down!" Wei Louming pushed Wei Shishi away and distanced himself from her.
For a moment, the line was clearly drawn.
"Your Honor, my family has an unfilial daughter. I should be blamed for my poor upbringing. But we had no idea about her relationship with the county magistrate. Even the act of hiding the stolen goods was her lie to deceive us."
The female relatives behind him all chimed in, not wanting to be implicated.
Wei Shishi opened her eyes wide, staring at the people in front of her in disbelief.
She let out a self - mocking laugh.
"When I was wealthy, everyone wanted to curry favor with me. Now that I've made a mistake, you're all kicking me when I'm down..."
Wei Louming didn't give her a chance to continue. He kowtowed heavily and shouted loudly.
"Please, Inspector Qin, be discerning and restore peace to our family!"
Qin Yihuai pursed his lips and said nothing. He raised his hand to signal someone to take the things away.
Wei Shishi was an accomplice. Whether she knew about it or not, she should be taken back for interrogation.
As for how she would live in the future, it all depended on her own ability.
Ye Zhinan was listening outside. She originally wanted to watch the show, but in the end, she couldn't laugh.
She rushed home and nestled in Han Xiangmei's arms, sniffling.
"I'm so glad that mother and father want me. Otherwise, I really don't know what to do."
Han Xiangmei knew that she was still in shock. She gently stroked her head and said all kinds of comforting words.
"Prefect Shen asked us to go. He said it was to watch a show. I'm old. You and your brother can go."
Ye Shenyan's eyes showed an unfathomable look. He slowly stood up and walked into the house.
For some reason, even though it was a happy thing, Ye Zhinan always felt that Ye Shenyan was unhappy.
The two of them got on the ox - cart. Ye Zhinan looked around curiously.
Ye Yingfeng watched his sister's happy expression. After hesitating for a moment, he still spoke.
"Don't mention the Dali Temple official to father when we get home."
Ye Zhinan tilted her head, full of confusion.
She didn't know anyone from the Dali Temple, and she rarely heard that her family had any connection with them.
How could it become a taboo not to be mentioned?
Ye Yingfeng saw her confusion and simply explained the reason.
"The one who came this time is Doctor Wen. He was the one who investigated father's case back then. We thought there was still room for maneuver, but unexpectedly, father couldn't prove his innocence in the end."
He didn't know exactly what had happened.
He only heard Ye Shenyan's sighs in the first few days when they came, and after some inquiries in the past few days, he barely pieced together the whole thing.
Ye Zhinan nodded to show that she understood.
She still remembered that it was Wen Jinwen who personally sent them to the northern border.
Unexpectedly, only a few months later, they would meet again.
Maybe Ye Shenyan wasn't angry. He just didn't have the courage to meet his old friend.
Once they had strived together, but now they were worlds apart.
Even an ordinary person might not be able to accept it.
"I know what to do. Big brother, don't worry," Ye Zhinan showed a sweet smile and patted her chest.
The ox - cart moved slowly. By the time they arrived at the prefect's mansion, it was almost dark.
"Fortunately, the show isn't over yet. You two didn't come in vain," Chen Zhenhai greeted them from afar and whispered a joke to Ye Zhinan.
She was already used to their way of getting along. She smiled and followed him.
The hall was really bustling. The county magistrate's hair was in a mess, and he no longer had his former glory.
Wei Shishi was kneeling on the ground, trying hard to straighten her back, but the desolation on her face had already betrayed her.
Seeing Ye Zhinan coming in, she raised her hand to tuck in the hair beside her temples.
But Ye Zhinan just calmly walked to the corner without even giving her a glance.
"County Magistrate Tang Shang, do you know your crime?"
"I know my crime, Your Majesty."
All the evidence was in front of him. Being stubborn would only add to his crimes.
Wei Shishi was unaware of what the county magistrate had done. She was only detained for three days as a warning.
After everything that needed to be dealt with was over, the idlers all left, and only the five of them remained.
Shen Beiting gave Qin Yihuai a look, and he immediately understood. He turned around and left.
The air gradually fell silent. Ye Zhinan could even hear their breathing.
Just as she was about to speak first, Wen Jinwen took the lead to break the awkward silence.
"I'm very sorry about your father's matter. I didn't expect it to backfire."
Ye Zhinan didn't know what had happened at that time, but out of consideration for their friendship, she didn't want to delve deeper.
Unexpectedly, Ye Yingfeng spoke up and asked directly.
"Back then, my father's case was handled by you. Even if you didn't give him special care, you shouldn't have added to his crimes. What exactly went wrong?"
Ye Zhinan gasped, and her eyes shifted between the two of them.
"In just half a month, my father went from being demoted to being exiled. He almost lost his life," Ye Yingfeng's eyes were blood - red, full of grievance and hatred.
Maybe this matter had nothing to do with Wen Jinwen, but it was indeed a mistake that happened under his watch back then.
Now they could only ask him for justice.
Wen Jinwen was silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a sigh and looked at the Ye siblings guiltily.
"I know words are pale and not enough to defend myself, but back then, they really calculated too viciously. They used my name to harm your father."
He really wanted to help Ye Shenyan clear his name, but he was targeted by them and became their sharpest weapon.
It was only after the matter was over that he gradually realized that it was precisely because of his deep concern that he had harmed the Ye family.