The Demon Concubine of God

Chapter 172 Collusion

It was four o'clock in the morning that Shen Wen returned to the Shen family's gate.

She stood at the gate of the Shen family, wondering whether to alarm the gatekeeper or find a wall to jump over.

She had just thought for a moment when a gust of wind blew past her and she heard the door move with a "branch" sound.

Shen Wen looked carefully and found that the door was not closed and there was a gap.

What's going on here?

Shen Wen secretly pushed the door a little wider, squeezed his body in a little, listened carefully to the sounds inside, and wondered if the two doormen deliberately left the door open for him, waiting for him to sneak in to play a trick on him?

Hearing that there was no human voice inside, he quickly slipped in, walked out of the doorway, and looked around with the help of the light from the gatehouse.

I saw two people with their butts sticking out, lying at the corner of the screen wall connecting to the alley, chatting and watching the fun with full concentration.

I only heard one person say, "It's been so long and the Marquis hasn't been alarmed yet. Isn't that a bit abnormal?"

Another said, "These are the Fifth and Ninth Young Masters. The people inside know their limits. If they want to alarm someone, they will first alarm the Third and First Masters, the two who are the bosses."

The one nodded, "That too."

Shen Wen naturally understood what was going on, so he quietly turned around and walked towards the alley in the other direction.

Shen Wen took a shortcut back to Linchaoju. Without disturbing anyone, he lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, Zhinuan was the first to enter Shen Wen's room. She saw that Shen Wen was sleeping soundly, so she did not disturb him and quietly opened the door and went out.

Just after closing the door, Amber, who arrived a step later, asked, "Is the Seventeenth Master back?"

Zhi Nuan said, "He's back. He might have come back just after we went to bed last night. He doesn't like to trouble servants, so he probably went to bed without washing or taking off his clothes. He's sleeping soundly now."

Amber had been worried all night and finally felt relieved. She decided not to go into the house to disturb the Seventeenth Young Master and discussed with Zhinuan what breakfast to make for him.

Shen Wen slept until he had breakfast before waking up.

Although he was awake, his body was still tired. He yawned several times and let Amber wipe his hands, face and comb his hair. Like a giant baby, he obediently took off his dirty clothes and put on clean clothes.

Just when he sat down in front of the table and was about to enjoy his meal, Butler Shen brought the officials and came to his Linchao Residence on time to cause trouble.

Steward Shen smiled amiably and pointed at two runners in front of Shen Wen, saying, "Sir, these two are runners from the Weicheng County Yamen. They said that a murder occurred at Baiji Noodle House last night, and someone provided evidence that it was... you, sir, who did it..."

Housekeeper Shen was also wondering, wasn't the Seventeenth Young Master with that noble yesterday? How did he get together with Shen Ju and the others? And Shen Ju was dead, was it true or false? A good person was killed by this person, and now this person is really so powerful?

The two officers said without further ado: "Since there are witnesses to prove it, then Sir, please come with us!"

Shen Wen looked at the two yamen runners. The words "Weixian" were indeed written on their black robes. He did not stand up. He picked up a piece of flower cake and took a bite. He asked, "Baiji Noodle House? Isn't it located on Nancheng Street? Although it's a bit remote, if something happens there, it should be the Jingzhao Yin who should be in charge. Why did the Weixian County Yamen take charge instead?"

Steward Shen said, "My lord, you may not know that the seven county offices surrounding the capital are all under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Yin. Although the Baiji Noodle House on Nancheng Street is in the imperial city, its jurisdiction belongs to the Wei County Office."

Perhaps the soldiers who witnessed the incident at Baiji Noodle House last night were only focused on the tragic murder of the fur merchant, and assigned this kind of fighting to the local government?

Seeing him in a daze, the two officers said impatiently, "Sir, please don't enjoy your breakfast. Come with us first."

Shen Wen glanced at Shen Butler, who just smiled awkwardly and said, "Since the official came with a warrant, then we have no choice but to follow him. By the way, who was the young master with last night? Didn't he go out to accept the invitation from the nobleman?"

Shen Wen said: "Yes! I went out just to accept the invitation from that noble man. I don't know why it turned out like this today?"

Butler Shen was stunned!!!

Shen Wen slowly followed the yamen runner out.

As soon as he stepped out of the door, a little girl came running to him.

Shen Wen said in surprise: "Oh, isn't this little Tian Liu'er?"

Tian Liuer said: "The little brother's house is easy to find, but he is too hard to see."

Shen Wen said: "Oh, you mean my guard dog."

Tian Liuer covered her mouth and smiled.

Shen Wen said he was going to the Wei County government office to sue. He told Tian Liuer to come back to him another day. He also told her that she didn't have to go directly to him, but could go to Doctor Sun or Lord Lin Bao and they would let her in.

Tian Liu'er said nothing. She watched Shen Wen leave with the officers and then follow behind like a little tail.

The two officers who watched shook their heads and smiled bitterly.

When we arrived at the Wei County government office, we saw a large number of people lying and kneeling in the courtroom. Except for Shen Ju, who was covered with a white cloth, all the others were still alive.

Shen Wen cursed in his heart: Good people don’t live long, but bad people live for a thousand years!

As soon as he entered the court, Shen Zhi pointed at Shen Wen and shouted, "It's him! It's him, sir! He is the one who hurt us."

The official sitting in the hall narrowed his triangular eyes, took a closer look, and found that it was a weak scholar, completely different from the murderer he had imagined.

He pointed at Shen Wen and said to Shen Zhi, "Is he the murderer you mentioned? You guys, several big men weighing over 100 pounds, were beaten to death by a skinny little boy like him? Were you beaten stupid?"

Shen Zhi said anxiously: "Sir, I... I can swear to heaven that it was him who killed Shen Ju and injured the other brothers."

Shang Haili, the magistrate of Wei County, picked up the gavel and banged it, asking, "Do you admit your guilt, the defendant?"

Shen Wen said, "Are you talking about me, sir? I... don't know the crime! I didn't do anything."

Shen Zhi said anxiously: "Don't try to quibble. Last night you stretched out your hand and grabbed Shen Ju's neck. Just like that... just like that, you twisted Shen Ju's neck and broke it. I saw it with my own eyes! And..."

He stretched out his neck to show Shang County Magistrate, and said, "He killed Shen Ju, and now he is going to kill my neck, sir... Sir, please look! There is still his handprint on my neck."

Shang County Magistrate was also a good official who worked hard. He immediately said, "Come closer so I can see it clearly!"

Shang Haili walked down the stairs and squinted his eyes to look at his neck carefully.

He returned to the court again, slammed the gavel and said, "Bold criminal, what else do you have to say?"

Shen Wen said: "I didn't do it. I didn't do it. He framed me."

Such an answer stumped Shang Haili. He stroked his moustache and glanced at the lawyer who was recording his confession.

The lawyer stood up and handed a piece of paper to the Shang County Magistrate's desk and said, "Sir, this is the handprint taken from the deceased Shen Ju. We just need Shen Wen to make a handprint for comparison and verification."

Shang Haili immediately followed his master's instructions and said, "Come here, ask Shen Wen to put his fingerprints on the paper."

Shen Wen looked at the two men with a half-smile, and asked, "Sir, do you know the surnames of those who were beaten?"

Shang Haili said: "Of course I know, they are all relatives of Duke Shen's Mansion in the capital."

Shen Wen said: "Your Excellency may have forgotten that my surname is also Shen, and I am also the son of Duke Shen's Mansion."

Shang Haili said: "So what if I know? I am upright and serve the people. No matter whose family has grievances to redress, I will handle it impartially."

Shen Wen said, "You are unwilling to consider the reputation of the Duke's Mansion? Lord Shang! I don't want outsiders to interfere in the family affairs of my Shen family."

Shang Haili was stunned, as if he had just remembered this.

Shen Zhi said quickly: "As the saying goes, if the people don't report it, the officials won't investigate it. Now someone has died! Don't say that we won't report it to the government. This matter is not something that any one family can handle privately!"

Shen Wen raised his eyebrows.

I didn't expect this kid to be so smart.

Shen Wen said, "Shen Zhi! Do you really want to do this? Think carefully. After what happened today, our Shen family can no longer keep you. You will be expelled from the Shen family."

Shen Zhi's body stiffened.

Shen Wen said, "I'm not trying to scare you. My grandfather hates people who don't care about the reputation of the Duke's Mansion... no... Marquis' Mansion. I'm the grandson of Lord Shen. If you put me in jail, I... I might be released in two days. Have you ever seen a son of a marquis' mansion being sued by his brothers and sent to jail? Which family of the family had a good ending?"

Shen Zhi fell into deep thought, he clenched his fists tightly.

The jailers were waiting on the side with paper and ink. As soon as the county magistrate gave the order, they forced Shen Wen to put his fingerprints on him.

Shen Wen stretched out his hands and said to the slave, "Okay, just put my handprints on the paper!"

The servant quickly applied ink to his hands and printed the ink-coated hands on the paper.

After finishing, the jailer handed it to the legal advisor for comparison.

The lawyer compared them carefully and showed them to Magistrate Shang.

Shang Haili read it and said, "So..."

Shang Haili looked at Shen Zhi with sharp eyes.

Shen Zhi's whole body tensed up when he looked at him.

Shen Zhi said to Shen Wen, "Don't be so proud. You are just an unpopular bastard in the Marquis's mansion. The Marquis has never valued you. What's more, you are so cruel that you have killed and beaten your fellow clansmen regardless of brotherhood. You still want the Marquis to be implicated by you and save his face to get you out of the prison. Bah... You are dreaming! You have committed the crime of murder. A murderer must pay with his life. Even if it is the turn of the king of heaven, he will be taken to the vegetable market and beheaded."

Shen Wen sneered coldly and glanced at Shen Zhi dimly.

Shen Zhi anxiously asked Shang County Magistrate: "Sir! Is the evidence solid now? Hurry up and redress my grievances!"

Shang County Magistrate was originally intimidated by Shen Wen, but after listening to Shen Zhi's words, he changed his previous decision.

He had to save this group of false accusers. Who told him that he and they were of the same blood? He had to suppress the stupid things he had done in collusion with them in the past and not let them reveal it. It was not a pity for these people to die, but he, the county magistrate, was very valuable!

Fortunately, the one who is in trouble this time is just a bastard son of Marquis Shen. He uses the bastard son born by a lowly maid to pave the way for the family. I am afraid that the legitimate sons of the Shen family will have to thank him!

and so……