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Although no one spoke, the atmosphere in the cell changed.
Old Lady Fang, who was previously angry, was now somewhat nervous, and County Magistrate Li, who had been feigning death, was also tense.
The officials present all felt it.
It was clear that Funiu Mountain was a place in Dongping County. Was there something unique about this place that made both the plaintiffs and defendants, perpetrators, and victims nervous?
"How do you know?"
Two voices asked in the cell.
One was Old Lady Fang's, the other was County Magistrate Li's.
This made it even stranger.
For Young Master Fang Chengyu to mention this name, it might be surprising for County Magistrate Li, who might have had a guilty conscience, but why was Old Lady Fang also surprised?
Could it be that this place, or this affair, was something even Young Master Fang Chengyu shouldn't have known about?
What kind of matter was this? The officials present were somewhat curious.
What did Funiu Mountain see?
"Chengyu, you..." Old Lady Fang stood up, her expression somewhat anxious.
"This is not something Wang Jiang's side uncovered," Fang Chengyu made a calming gesture to Old Lady Fang, "I found it out myself."
Before Old Lady Fang could speak again, he turned to County Magistrate Li.
"I think everything in this world all boils down to cause and effect. If there's an effect, there must be a cause, so it's very simple. You definitely have some connection with our Fang Family. I investigated all your and your relatives' information, and also checked the Dongping County Chronicles, and I went through some poetry collections. Then I found a poem."
"This poem was written by a scholar of Dongping County. The poem wasn't well written, so I won't elaborate. What intrigued me was its little preface. It mentioned a joyful climbing event at Funiu Mountain on the 18th of September, in the fifth year of Cao Zunyong's reign, participated by friends Wang Ziqing, Huang Ye, and Li Changhong."
Fang Chengyu looked at County Magistrate Li as he spoke.
"Lord Li, could it be that there is another person with the same name as you?"
He had found evidence from a poem that Li Changhong had appeared in Dongping County.
The people present were slightly surprised and touched.
It was easy to say, but one could imagine how much had to be researched.
Clearly, this thin young man had some energy as well.
County Magistrate Li's eyes flickered for a moment.
"So what?" he said, "If I've been to Funiu Mountain, so what? You also mentioned, the poem said I climbed with others; what does it have to do with your Fang Family? Does this mean all those who climbed with me that day were the ones who harmed your Fang Family?"
Yes, what was the issue with having been to Funiu Mountain?
The key point was, what happened that day at Funiu Mountain?
From what Young Master Fang Chengyu suggested, it seemed the Fang Family was also at Funiu Mountain that day, and something happened which happened to be seen by County Magistrate Li, hence setting off the chain of events.
What kind of incident could make a person scheme for decades to harm others?
Everyone present perked up their ears.
County Magistrate Li wore a disdainful cold smile, but there was a hint of expectation in his eyes too.
He seemed to be hoping to hear more specifics being revealed.
Old Lady Fang, however, seemed nervous, stepping forward again; Fang Yuxiu, supporting her, could clearly feel her grandmother's tense body.
What was it exactly? As victims, they couldn't bring forward this accusation against the perpetrator?
A thought flashed through Fang Yuxiu's mind.
In this stifling silence, Fang Chengyu's light and gentle voice sounded again.
"Lord Li, you're rambling too much," he said, "It's no big deal for others to have been there because the one tied up here isn't someone else; it's you. And moreover, I am not saying this to ask for your confirmation."
Not seeking confirmation?
Then why?
As Fang Chengyu spoke, he was stepping back, one step, two steps, three steps, stopping besides a guard.
He gave a slight bow to one of the guards.
"Brother guard, might I borrow your knife?" he said gently.
The guard was slightly surprised, involuntarily looking towards the officials.
"Young Master Fang, you mustn't take the law into your hands," an official finally couldn't hold back and reminded him.
Fang Chengyu respectfully replied that he understood.
"Rest assured, sir, I understand the laws and family rules," he said.
The official said no more, glancing at Prefect Ma, who still looked indifferent as if his mind was elsewhere.
Thus, the guard hesitated no longer and handed him the waist knife he pulled out.
Fang Chengyu thanked him again and held the knife.
His demeanor was both elegant and courteous, yet his childlike slender frame holding such a blood-staining knife seemed extremely out of place, almost absurd.
Moreover, his grip on the knife was obviously wrong.
"This is my first time holding a knife," he probably realized it too, shyly explaining to everyone.
However, no one paid attention to this and his explanation, making him appear more like a child.
Fang Chengyu, holding the knife, walked up to County Magistrate Li.
"I'm just telling you that I know you have a secret," he continued, "now it's not about me giving you evidence, it's about making you admit your secret."
County Magistrate Li laughed, but his laughter halted because the young man placed the knife against his neck.
"The books say scholars have moral integrity, hard bones, and keep promises even to death," Fang Chengyu said, "I have been ill for so many years without textbooks, never meeting people like you scholars. So, I want to see if you truly have such integrity, such that you would say nothing."
County Magistrate Li's complexion slightly changed, and the officials present frowned once more.
"You probably know how boring being ill is. Besides, I've been ill for so long, so I've read a lot of books, including some interesting ones. One talked about ancient torture and penalty methods." Fang Chengyu smiled at him, "I've always doubted its authenticity. Now, perhaps I can test it on you, Lord Li."
Even aside from the chilling sting and icy sensation of the knife on his neck, the way the young man spoke, his expression and tone were eerie enough to creep one out.
"Who do you think you are? Who do you think you all are? Stop pretending here," County Magistrate Li angrily shouted.
As his voice fell, the young man retracted the knife and then suddenly thrust it out.
A low gasp sounded in the cell, and County Magistrate Li broke out in a sweat.
The knife brushed past his shoulder and embedded on the wall behind.
"Do you still not understand who we are? How far we can go?" Young Master Fang Chengyu whispered close to his ear in a low voice, "If someone really spoke up for you, someone to rescue you, my knife wouldn't be resting on you now. Wake up, Lord Li, you are an adult. Don't make me, a child, more clear-headed than you."
Lord Li looked at him, his expression shifting.
Fang Chengyu also looked at him.
"You know what we can do, you actually understand how frightening our reliance is," he continued, "otherwise, you wouldn't have plotted for so many years, harming but doing so cautiously."
Lord Li's lips trembled.
"I don't need to know anything else. I just want you to answer one thing," Fang Chengyu stared at him, "Was this something you decided to do yourself, or was someone directing you?"
Lord Li's gaze was somewhat unfocused, his breath was also rapid.
"You only need to answer yes or no," Fang Chengyu's voice rose again, clear and loud, "Just a one-word or two-word response, and I will grant you a quick end."
He didn't promise to spare him.
In the face of such deep-seated rivalry, a promise to let him go would only deceive a child.
Killing him was inevitable, but how to kill was another matter.
A brutal, torturous death versus a swift throat-slitting end.
It was a cruel yet merciful condition.
The cell was filled with a tense air, Lord Li's scattered gaze suddenly focused and then turned frantic.
"I chose to do this myself. Why couldn't I do it? If your Fang Family could, then so could others. Why can't it be my turn now?" he suddenly shouted, his demeanor wild, as if pushed to insanity.
Everyone in the cell was startled.
County Magistrate Li struggled, the chains clattering.
"I was right there, I saw it too, didn't your Fang Family just seize it first…" he yelled.
Before he could finish, Old Lady Fang took a sudden step forward.
"Kill him," she shouted.
Her words barely escaped when the knife in Fang Chengyu's hand swiftly pressed against County Magistrate Li's neck. With a squelch, blood spattered.
The remaining words of County Magistrate Li were choked in his throat, his eyes widened, and he let out a gurgle, then went limp, motionless.
The cell fell into silence, immediately followed by an uproar.
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The next update will be at 2:00 PM.
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