Everyone turned to look at her when they heard her shout.
Chu Nanzhi said calmly, "I've already obtained an important clue to this case. I want to meet the county magistrate."
Her tone was firm and powerful, and her face showed absolute confidence. Otherwise, these people would not bring her to the county office.
However, Lin Jinxiao was instantly enraged when he heard that. He continued to scold her as he lay on the stretcher. "Chu Nanzhi, don't you think you've humiliated us enough? Now you want to embarrass yourself at the county office?"
Chu Nanzhi glanced at him coldly. "You have your own path to walk, but I have the right to my own choices. You chose a dead end, but I want to live."
She knew that his anger could not be dispelled overnight. No matter what she said now, it would not dispel his hatred for the Host.
The redemption of a villain usually begins with cool defiance.
She said resolutely, "I want to seek justice for myself."
Lin Jinxiao was so angry that he could not speak.
He felt that this crazy woman had completely ruined his life.
Officer Zhang, who was the leader, had also heard how disreputable the Host was. He was both amused and angry when he heard her confident words. However, he could not help but walk over and ask, "Madam Chu, are you requesting to go to court?"
"Yes."
Chu Nanzhi nodded.
"This is no laughing matter. Madam Chu, you have to think it over carefully. If you spout nonsense and anger the county magistrate, I'm afraid you won't come back alive."
Officer Zhang reminded her kindly.
Chu Nanzhi smiled calmly. "I know that."
Seeing that she was determined, Officer Zhang had no choice but to bring her back to the county office.
…
The county office of Luyan Harbor was especially lively today. Although the criminals had been imprisoned, it was said that someone had found some clues to the case. There were still many idlers loitering around the court.
Although Lin Jinxiao was only a descendant of a side branch of the disgraced royal family, he was a rather famous scholar in the county. Coupled with his father's reputation for honesty, many of the gentry from the neighboring areas had come to plead for him again. They now formed a crowd around the county office.
In the main hall, the county magistrate smacked the gavel loudly on the table. He was expressionless as he asked Chu Nanzhi in a dignified manner,
"Madam Chu, I heard that you have clues about the tax robbery?"
Chu Nanzhi looked up at the county magistrate and replied calmly, "Sir, that is indeed the case."
"How dare you, a woman, show contempt for the court. You're spouting nonsense."
Contempt for the court?
Chu Nanzhi was dumbfounded.
She had not said anything yet.
She took a second look at the person who had spoken. It was not the county magistrate, but a minor official.
That was odd.
The county magistrate also glanced at the minor official in confusion and said to Chu Nanzhi, "Madam Chu, if you dare to make fun of me, let me remind you that the various torture tools in the county office are not for show."
Actually, he was already as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, but he still pretended to be very calm. "I've long heard of your reputation, but this isn't your house."
"Sir, you must be joking."
Chu Nanzhi said, "I did not think about this case carefully before. I even thought of escaping."
First of all, she had to show that she was honest.
She knew that the county magistrate also wanted to protect her. Otherwise, he would not have interrogated her first.
The county magistrate was very surprised. "What? You tried to escape?"
"Attempted, so I came up with an idea in a hurry and by coincidence, I solved the case."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"In my opinion, this was not the result of any Dongsang sorcery, but someone's deliberate actions."
"Nonsense."
Just as Chu Nanzhi finished speaking, the minor official interrupted her again. "County Magistrate, this woman is spouting nonsense. It would be better to drag her away and give her a hundred strokes to teach her a lesson."
Everyone in the hall looked suspicious. If the pirates had not used sorcery, there would have been other clues.
The county magistrate also said, "Someone was keeping an eye on the taxes from the moment they left the country office to the point that they was lost. The case is closed. Woman, don't confuse the matter further. Sorcery is the only explanation for what happened."
Chu Nanzhi smiled bitterly. "Your Excellency, before this incident, have you ever heard of sorcery or seen anyone who could instantly transform a thousand-pound object under someone's nose?"
"I've never heard of something like that."
The county magistrate looked bitter. "But the traitors of Dongsang Country live overseas. It's not surprising that they know some spells."
"That's right. Your Excellency, you're right. The world is vast. There are all kinds of strange things."
The minor official quickly agreed with him.
Seeing their reactions, Chu Nanzhi shook her head dejectedly.
This was the understanding of ancient people. They thought that those who lived overseas were immortals.
If they were immortals, why would they have the time to ambush and rob others?
She composed herself and patiently explained to these people:
"If the Dongsang people really knew such powerful sorcery, they would have already sent troops west and turned the Dahe Empire upside down. Why would they hide overseas, too afraid to cross the border?"
"That's bullshit."
The county magistrate had lost his patience.
If he had been looking forward to this, he lost all hope after hearing her words. He felt that this woman was just saying crazy things out of desperation.
He banged the gavel on the table and shouted, "Men, drag this woman away and give her a hundred strokes."
"I still have something to say."
Chu Nanzhi stopped the bailiff. "Sir has already given my husband three days grace. There's no hurry to punish me. Don't you want to see the case solved?"
When the county magistrate heard that, he suddenly hesitated and dismissed the bailiffs in a daze.
"I've heard that in the past few decades, Your Excellency and several prefecture magistrates have worked hard to govern the port of Luyan. All is in order and at peace. Just the annual taxes alone account for 30% of the entire Pingning Prefecture's taxes, preventing thieves and bandits from invading. In such prosperous times, the thieves of Dongsang would not dare to breach the border."
Chu Nanzhi tried her best to maintain her composure, using her calm tone to increase the persuasiveness of her words.
The flattery in her speech cheered up the glum county magistrate a little.
She glanced at everyone in the hall and continued, "If sorcery really exists, in my opinion, it's not overseas. It's probably in this county office."
"I think you're crossing the line."
Before the county magistrate could reply, the minor official flew into a rage. He pointed at Chu Nanzhi and shouted, "Quickly drag this woman out."
"Hold on."
The county magistrate slowly dismissed the bailiffs and suddenly smiled kindly at Chu Nanzhi.
"I want to hear what you have to say. Madam Chu, do you know who in this county office can perform sorcery?"
"It's actually not difficult to find out who's behind this."
Chu Nanzhi felt much more at ease after the county magistrate had dismissed the bailiffs. "I'm certain that the lost taxes are still in the county office."
"Oh, this is getting more and more interesting."
The county magistrate smiled in disbelief at the minor officials that flanked him.
"Everyone saw the taxes being escorted out of the residence. I was also there at that time and personally saw the money leave the residence. Would anyone dare to swap the tax money under my nose? I'm sure your husband is not that stupid."
"My husband has always been responsible. He naturally did his utmost when working for you, Your Excellency."
Chu Nanzhi pleaded gently, "I'm willing to answer your questions. Please prepare a few things for me."
"What are they?"
"One tael of gold, a little mercury, a pair of tweezers and a porcelain bowl."
The county magistrate looked puzzled, but seeing her confident expression, he agreed to her request.
After all, the most important thing was to protect his position.