Chapter 43: 043. Assassination
Translator: 549690339
[Assassination]
After their first Mid -Autumn Festival since Su Liang’s transmigration, Su Liang and Ning Jing had dinner and followed Bai Dama’s advice to worship the Moon Goddess in the courtyard.
Red candles, incense table, four desserts, a plate of mooncakes, four pomegranates, and a pot of wine.
After the worship, Su Liang cut a mooncake in half and shared it with Ning Jing.
“Do you believe in Chang’e in the Moon Palace?” Su Liang looked up at the night sky.
Ning Jing counter-questioned, ‘Why does the moon only shine at night?”
Transmigrator Su Liang was asking about mythology, while the genuine ancient Ning Jing started to explore scientific principles.
Su Liang chuckled lightly, “It’s quite complicated.”
“Please elaborate.” Ning Jing knew Su Liang knew many unimaginable things in this world.
“The moon itself does not emit light. The moonlight we see is formed by the moon reflecting sunlight,” Su Liang said.
Ning Jing frowned slightly as he listened to Su Liang talk about seemingly fanciful things like the universe, the Milky Way, stars, and planets.
After talking for a long time, Su Liang yawned, “Do you think I’m just spouting nonsense?”
Ning Jing shook his head, “Can you write down all the knowledge you’ve learned and let me see it?”
Su Liang was stunned for a moment and shook her head, “It’s not that I don’t want to, but there’s too much.”
Ning Jing nodded slightly, “Then never mind.”
“If there’s anything you want to know, you can ask me, and I’ll surely tell you everything,” Su Liang said.
“Alright.” Ning Jing stood up, “The pomegranate juice…”
Su Liang remembered she promised to make pomegranate juice for Ning Jing but had forgotten.
“Let’s do it tomorrow. Drinking it so late is not good for the body,” Su Liang said.
The next morning, the county government was surrounded by an impenetrable crowd.
The trial’s events had been spread far and wide, and the sudden reversal caught everyone off guard. Zhao Qingsong’s guilt-driven suicide was also well-known.
Su Liang planned to eat breakfast on the street and asked Ning Jing if he wanted to go, and he just nodded.
“The County Magistrate will probably send someone to call you for questioning again.” Su Liang said.
Ning Jing nodded.
“Su Xingzhe really did plagiarize in the Court Examination. His defense, that he couldn’t think of better answers after seeing the standard ones, is not unreasonable, but it’s just sophistry. Knowing full well that his answers would be recognized by Zhao Qingsong, he could have made some changes based on their intent.” Su Liang said.
Ning Jing nodded again.
Su Liang stopped and looked at him, “Are you really not going to speak today?”
Ning Jing nodded again.
Su Liang held her forehead, “Whatever.”
Just after the two finished their breakfast, the bailiff came.
At the county government, they saw Niu Madam’s entire family kneeling in the hall, sobbing heart-wrenchingly and shouting about their grievance.
Mai Fei’s face was stern as he slammed the gavel heavily, “Silence!”
The bailiff brought in the money and property Zhao Qingsong had received and a portrait drawn by an artist based on the memory of a waiter at the restaurant, asking Ning Jing to identify it.
“Ning Jing, do you recognize the person in the picture?” Mai Fei asked.
Ning Jing shook his head.
“Answer the official’s question!” Mai Fei said coldly.
Su Liang quickly stepped forward to explain, “Sir, he took the wrong medicine, injured his throat, and can’t speak temporarily.”
Seeing Su Liang in a pale green dress, Mai Fei paused, and after hearing her words, the corner of his mouth twitched, “Why did Ning Jing take medicine?
“He has always had a weak constitution.” Su Liang casually said. Mai Fei’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Who are you to Ning Jing?”
“Sworn sister.” Su Liang said.
Mai Fei looked at Ning Jing again, “Just now you shook your head because you don’t recognize the person in the portrait?”
Ning Jing nodded.
Mai Fei asked Su Xingzhe, “Do you have anything to add to yesterday’s testimony?”
His family and the spectators were all in an uproar, but Mai Fei coldly snorted,
“The truth of this case has been thoroughly investigated. The chief examiner,
Zhao Qingsong, accepted bribes and framed Su Xingzhe and Ning Jing. Su Xingzhe cheated in the Court Examination. Ning Jing has committed no wrongdoing. ”
Su Xingzhe’s face turned pale, “Sir! The chief examiner wanted to frame Ning
Jing, not me! I was just being used! I didn’t cheat!”
“The source of the money and property Zhao Qingsong received is unknown since he is dead. I, as the official, cannot conclude that it was given by the Ning family simply because they are wealthy. After all, Zhao Qingsong found you first; it may well be your enemy at work,” Mai Fei said coldly.
Niu Madam shouted, “Impossible! It was my son who took the blame for Ning
Jing! ”
“Silence!” Mai Fei’s cold expression remained, “Criminal Su Xingzhe argued yesterday that after seeing the sample answer, he couldn’t think of a better one. But your answers are exactly the same as the sample, which is irrefutable plagiarism! After so many years of studying, couldn’t you have written even one different word?”
The onlookers started discussing again.
“Yeah, how could they be exactly the same?”
“Isn’t that plagiarism? And now he’s acting innocent!”
“Didn’t he say yesterday that he thought Zhao Qingsong was going to marry his granddaughter to him? He must have thought that if he copied well enough, Zhao Qingsong would recognize his paper and give him a pass!”
“Although I didn’t pass the scholar’s exam, I wouldn’t be unable to write a single word after seeing someone else’s answer! Nonsense! ”
“Zhao Qingsong voluntarily gave you the sample paper, even if the mistake was not on you at the beginning, but when you discovered the problem on the day of the court examination, you still chose to copy it as it was, knowing it was wrong. You tell me, isn’t this cheating?” Mai Fei asked coldly.
Su Xingzhe wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn’t make a sound, and his body softened, fainting.
“Zhao Qingsong committed suicide out of fear, and all his bribes are confiscated! Su Xingzhe cheated on the court examination, and there’s solid evidence for that, death penalty! Leave the court!” Mai Fei’s words fell, and he got up and left.
Su Xingzhe was dragged away by two bailiffs, and Niu the meddler had fainted from fear.
Originally, after yesterday’s trial, many people thought that Su Xingzhe would be acquitted, and some even thought he should be compensated, because he was harmed and lost the opportunity to take the court examination, and would have to wait another three years to participate in the imperial examination.
But unexpectedly, Mai Fei resolutely sentenced Su Xingzhe to death.
The punishment for cheating on the imperial examination in Qian Country is extremely severe. From a legal point of view, this result is not wrong.
Su Xingzhe had the subjective intention of cheating and carried out the cheating act in objective terms. He deserved the punishment.
It could be argued that he was implicated by Ning Jing, but the original paper was not for Su Xingzhe, and Zhao Qingsong had explicitly told him not to open it.
If Su Xingzhe had any integrity, he wouldn’t have looked at it, let alone copied it.
He knew very well what was going on. He thought that someone wanted to give Ning Jing some backdoor advantage, and since Ning Jing had burned the paper, only he had seen it; he chose to steal Ning Jing’s “privilege”. If discovered afterward, no one would dare to speak out.
However, he never thought that what he had stolen was a death warrant. It was like someone holding a golden fan claiming to look for Ning Jing; Su Xingzhe saw the gold and greedily impersonated Ning Jing intending to seize it, only to find that the golden fan had turned into a sharp knife when it approached him.
Su Liang still believed that Su Xingzhe was a smart person, but his intentions were not upright.
At the beginning, when he tried to force himself on a widow, Ning Jing and Su Liang didn’t kill him, but in the end, he sought his own death.
After leaving the county government, Su Liang asked Ning Jing in a low voice, “Does Mai Fei still have black fog in the center of his eyebrows?
Ning Jing nodded.
“Then let’s go back to the village after three days.” Su Liang said.
As soon as they returned home, Su Bai came to visit.
He came to the county town specifically for Su Xingzhe’s case, and before today’s trial, he too thought that Su Xingzhe would be fine, but he didn’t expect that the death penalty couldn’t be escaped.
“Uncle Bai, if you want us to save him, there’s no need to say it. Once he did that, there’s no turning back.” Su Liang’s expression was faint.
Su Bai sighed, “I know. I’ve watched that kid grow up and always thought he would achieve something great, but I never thought that after reading so many books of sages, he wouldn’t learn how to be a decent human being. Although the new County Magistrate is young, he’s got a clear mind!”
Those who didn’t know the truth were easily led, but by now, there was little dispute about whether Su Xingzhe was plagiarizing or not. “Uncle Bai, do you have any other business with us?” Su Liang asked.
Su Bai nodded, “Yes. Those who placed in the top three in the court examination can be admitted to Qianshan Academy in the provincial city and receive funding from the county government. I was wondering, after young master Ning leaves, Miss Liang, you won’t be following him, right?”
Su Liang was stunned and looked at Ning Jing, but he shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know.
“You didn’t know?” Su Bai was surprised, “That’s how it has always been. Qianshan Academy is a prestigious institution, and the admission quota is extremely rare. It would be a pity if young master Ning did not seize this opportunity. But Miss Liang, as a girl, you wouldn’t be allowed to enter the academy; you might as well stay in the village, where at least we’re all family, and there would be someone to look after you.” “Are you going?” Su Liang asked Ning Jing.
Ning Jing shook his head; he wouldn’t go.
“Uncle Bai, he’s not going. We’ll go back to the village in a few days.” Su Liang said.
Su Bai left with a large basket of pomegranates.
Su Liang originally wanted to ask Ning Jing about Qianshan Academy, but he didn’t feel like talking today, so she let it go.
Chang’an knocked on the door and waited for a while before hearing footsteps.
The door opened, and Su Liang asked, “Does the County Magistrate want to see Ning Jing?
Chang’an saluted, “My master is unwell and would like to invite Miss Su to come and examine him.”
Su Liang knew that Mai Fei suddenly asked her to see a patient, there must be something fishy, so she refused right away, “I’m not good at medical skills, please find someone else.”
Chang’an stopped Su Liang from closing the door, “Miss Su, please come with me.”
This only confirmed Su Liang’s suspicion that something was wrong, “Where is
Magistrate Mai?”
“Master is at Ling Mountain Temple,” Chang’an said, “The carriage is ready.”
Su Liang knew about Ling Mountain Temple. It was the most famous temple in
Bei’an Countv. located on the west outskirts of the countv town, and she had planned to visit it sometime.
“Alright, please wait a moment outside.” Su Liang closed the door.
Half a moment later, Su Liang came out, changed her clothes, carried the medicine box, and Ning Jing followed behind her.
Chang’an chuckled, “Isn’t young master Ning sick? Why not get some rest at home?”
Su Liang answered for him, “His illness requires him to walk around more.”
Chang’an: .
The autumn scenery at Ling Mountain Temple is stunning.
Upon getting off the carriage, Su Liang admired the ancient temple with its colorful woods and walked in, with Ning Jing silently following behind her, carrying the medicine box. The reason the two decided to come had to do with Ning Jing seeing the black fog in the center of Mai Fei’s eyebrows.
“My master is inside, Miss Su, please.” Chang’an was very polite to Su Liang.
Su Liang suspected Mai Fei intended to confront her. After all, the sedatives had been in Ning Jing’s hands for two days, and he hadn’t done anything.
Entering the quiet guesthouse courtyard, a spectacular red maple tree stood in the middle, as dazzling as the colorful clouds on the horizon.
Mai Fei emerged, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
As he stood under the red maple tree, a sudden change occurred!
A killer in colorful clothes, with a red ribbon wrapped around his head, who had perfectly blended in with the dense red maple tree, suddenly sprang out! Head -down, his straight, long sword pierced upwards at Mai Fei’s head!
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