Chapter 169 The next day, the gate of the government office was not opened, but people were already standing outside to watch the excitement.
As Zhao Yan was being escorted, shouts and curses broke out one after another. Some family members of the victims tried to come forward and beat Zhao Yan, but they were all stopped by the nearby sharp sword guards.
Jue Panshi stood beside Zhao Yan all the way. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but sigh: "If you can't prove yourself this time, these people will eat you alive."
"Jue Qianhu, your attitude towards me was not like this back then."
Zhao Yan glanced at Jue Panshi with his only eye.
Jue Panshi smiled coquettishly, "Fang Guogong asked the prince of Prince Xiang's Mansion to bring you back without killing you or destroying your cultivation. Can I not understand the truth behind this?"
When Zhao Yan heard this, he immediately understood what Jue Panshi meant. His expression was startled, and he immediately showed a wry smile. It turned out that Fang Chen's influence had already begun at that time.
"Zhao Yan, you really didn't kill them back then?"
When he was about to enter the government office, Jue Panshi's expression suddenly became solemn.
"No."
Zhao Yan slowly let out a breath. He knew the purpose of Jue Panshi's question. This time, he finally didn't have to be surrounded by enemies like before.
As long as someone stands on his side, this case will always turn around! In the government office, all the officials, big and small, have arrived. This case is very important. If it is not handled well, it will probably cause public outrage in Xiannan County.
The Southland is a place where martial arts are worshiped. Even if ordinary people are anxious, they will have a headache for a while.
Prince Xiang sat on the main seat, Sheriff Ouyang sat on his lower left, then Master Chen and some students from the academy, and the rest were all officials of Xiannan County.
Seeing Zhao Yan being escorted by Jue Panshi, everyone's eyes fell on Zhao Yan. Faced with these unkind eyes, Zhao Yan showed no expression.
People had gathered in circles outside the door, waiting for King Xiang to open the court to hear the case.
"Criminal Zhao Yan, kneel down."
Sheriff Ouyang spoke slowly.
Zhao Yan glanced at him, then at King Xiang, and slowly knelt on the ground.
King Xiang cleared his throat, then looked through the cases in front of him, and his eyes fell on Zhao Yan. Just as he was about to speak, there was a sudden commotion outside.
Everyone frowned slightly. King Xiang glanced at Sheriff Ouyang. He quickly stood up and scolded: "You are not allowed to make any noise here!"
The crowd parted, and an old man lying on a stretcher was slowly carried over. The old man looked as angry as a gossamer, and it seemed that he was not far away from being buried.
"My lords, he is Wang Xiaohua's grandfather. After Xiaohua died, the old man became ill. Now he only has half a breath left. He must watch Zhao Yan, the devil, subjugate himself with his own eyes.
Please forgive me, my lords! "
A young man in charge of carrying a stretcher said to King Xiang and others with cupped fists.
Everyone's expressions changed slightly. Wang Xiaohua was the youngest among the victims. She was only five years old when she died. Seeing this scene, the people around them felt angry in their hearts and kept asking King Xiang to sentence Zhao Yan to death!
"Xiao Hua, grandpa can finally see with his own eyes that your murderer was beheaded. I hope you have a spirit in heaven and can rest in peace!"
The old man stared at Zhao Yan and muttered to himself.
Because of his arrival, the attitude of the people became more determined. There was a strong attitude that if Zhao Yan was not beheaded today, he would directly overthrow the government office.
"Hmph, Zhao Yan, you don't even want to let go of a five-year-old girl. You are worse than a beast. We have a student like you in our academy. How can I be a good person?"
Behind Master Chen, Yu Zhang snorted coldly and looked at Zhao Yan with disdain: "If you don't die today, God will not tolerate it!"
"Yes, it's unforgivable!"
The academy students spoke one after another.
"To shut up."
Jue Panshi suddenly shouted coldly and pointed at the group of students: "Whether Zhao Yan dies today depends on the final direction of this case. If Zhao Yan is really innocent, others will die."
"Zhao Yan is innocent!?"
This group of students looked at Jue Panshi in disbelief, and someone whispered: "How much money did Zhao Yan give to these Jue Qian households?"
Sheriff Ouyang and other officials also glanced at Jue Panshi, with a hint of scrutiny in their eyes, and then secretly exchanged glances.
"All right."
King Xiang spoke slowly, suppressing the whispers of everyone. His eyes were calm: "There are indeed some doubts in this case, so it will be re-tried today. Before I convict Zhao Yan, he can only be regarded as a suspect. After all, it was originally Among the evidence, no one saw Zhao Yan murder with his own eyes."
"Just take out the original evidence and sort it out one by one. I happened to pass by here and came to listen. You won't be surprised, right?" Fang Chen led Xu Ge out of the crowd and went straight to the front of the hall. His appearance To many people's surprise, many officials subconsciously stood up and did not dare to sit down any longer.
"It turns out to be Mr. Fang Guogong. If Mr. Fang Guogong attends today's case, I will feel confident. Please invite Mr. Fang Guogong quickly."
Prince Xiang stood up to greet him, and arranged for Fang Chen to sit in the seat where Sheriff Ouyang had been before, while Sheriff Ouyang stood aside a little awkwardly. Fortunately, an official recognized the idea and gave him his seat, saving Sheriff Ouyang. of embarrassment.
"Is it Duke Fang who is here!?"
"It's really Mr. Fang Guogong! That's great!"
"With Duke Fang here, the devil Zhao Yan cannot escape today!"
The people outside the door looked excited.
Zhao Yan, who had always been expressionless, was a little moved when he saw Fang Chen arriving. His lips moved, but in the end he did not speak.
"Is this Mr. Chen from Nanshan Academy?"
After Fang Chen sat down, he looked at Master Chen and smiled and cupped his hands.
Master Chen also politely returned the greeting: "I have admired the name of the Duke for a long time. It is a blessing to see you today. Please do not be rude to the Duke."
The academy students behind him looked at Fang Chen secretly, with admiration, awe, and excitement in their eyes, as if they did not expect to be in the same place as Fang Chen today.
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
Fang Chen smiled, and then said to King Xiang: "Prince Xiang, read through all the evidence you have before. If this matter is really what Zhao Yan did, I don't see what he has to say."
King Xiang nodded slightly and began to recite the evidence.
The time and location in the evidence are very precise. For example, on a certain day and at a certain time, the female body buried in Zhao Yan's yard was found.
The discoverers are also recorded one by one.
In addition, the time when each female corpse disappeared during her lifetime was also recorded one by one. They were all obtained through various inquiries and comparisons, and there was basically no mistake.
The most important thing is that it was discovered that Zhao Yan was related to the case because someone found the woman's jewelry in the bag Zhao Yan used to pack his books!
Because of this key piece of evidence, the guard finally locked the target and unearthed female corpses that disappeared at different times.
"Zhao Yan, in the face of this evidence, what do you have to say?"
King Xiang said calmly.
Zhao Yan did not speak, but looked at Fang Chen, who smiled and said, "Don't you have Qiqiao Exquisite Heart? If you have any doubts, you should know where to find the problem."
"I looked for him, but he was missing."
Zhao Yan said.
People are missing?
Everyone was slightly startled, who was missing? Zhao Yan: "Huang Xin, the academy disciple who discovered the women's jewelry in my bag, has been missing for many years!"
Master Chen frowned slightly: "Huang Xin has given up school long ago and went to the North to seek refuge with relatives."
"Master Chen, I have been to Beidi. Huang Xin is not with his relatives at all, and his relatives have never seen him."
Zhao Yan said in a deep voice.
"How could this be?"
Master Chen was slightly startled.
"Then Huang Xin might have been killed by you!"
Yu Zhang sneered.
"Such an important witness is missing?"
Fang Chen touched his chin and chuckled, "This is not easy."
Everyone looked at Fang Chen, and King Xiang smiled bitterly and said, "What do you think, Mr. Fang Guo?"
(End of this chapter)