Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 35 Good News and Bad News

"Now, what else can you say in your defense?"

Haiyue looked down at Wang Yuhui.

Wang Yuhui's teeth chattered, and he collapsed like mud. The toughness he had shown when facing Min Ziyong's torture was gone, and he pleaded repeatedly: "I am stupid! I drew the totem because I was confused for a moment! It was just a moment of confusion!"

"call--"

Seeing that this person finally confessed, Min Ziyong felt relieved. His body swayed, and he felt a little weak for a moment, but he turned to Hai Yue and bowed sincerely: "Thank you for your great kindness. We are deeply grateful for your kindness, Master Hai!"

Sun Bin also hurried to Min Ziyong's side and bowed deeply together.

Originally, Wu Lin's plan only concerned his own safety, but by mistake, the postmaster was clever enough to frame the people. If Hainan really broke out in chaos again and the Li tribe directly rebelled, even if the truth was found out later, Wang Yuhui would definitely die, and Wu Lin's crime would be serious. Not to mention being an inspector, his official career would be over.

Now that the truth has been revealed in time, the signs of unrest have been suppressed. As Wu Lin's aide and servant, we share the same fate, so I am naturally extremely grateful.

"First, take the prisoner to the government office and explain the whole story. Then send a message to Xuwen to catch up with Zong Tongpan and confirm the safety of Inspector Wu."

Haiyue's expression was rather indifferent, and she took over the command without hesitation. Min Ziyong nodded, and consciously stayed with Sun Bin, waiting for them to go to the government office to call people.

Without further ado, Haiyue took Yan out without delay.

Na Yan followed behind him and was also shocked by the truth at first, but gradually, his face became gloomy.

As soon as he left the postmaster's house, the Li boy gritted his teeth and said, "After all this fuss, it's all just a false alarm. These high-ranking officials are truly despicable. They can even fake a disappearance? If this gets out of hand, how many people will die? Have they ever thought about it?"

Haiyue was silent.

Wu Lin's action was indeed unkind. If it were in the rich Jiangnan area, even an imperial censor inspecting on behalf of the emperor would dare to use such means?

Basically, he still regarded Hainan as an isolated place of exile overseas, and thought that his three personal followers could handle the officials of Qiongzhou Prefecture and buy time for him so that he could cooperate with him in his plan of escaping!

Haiyue had no idea what this person was going to do in Guangzhou, but as a local of Qiongzhou, she naturally felt uncomfortable being the one being "sacrificed".

"My brother is clearly exceptionally talented, and when he took the imperial examination, he was deliberately made to suffer. It was such a hopeless situation! Born in Qionghai, regardless of whether he was Han or Li, in the eyes of those people, he was just a barbarian!"

Na Yan's tone became more and more indignant.

In fact, the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty restricted people's nationality rather than their ethnicity. That is, people of low nationality and untouchables were not allowed to participate. Monks, Taoists, people with physical disabilities, and people in mourning period were also not allowed to take the imperial examinations. There were no restrictions for ethnic minorities.

In order to change the native system to Han Chinese, some ethnic minorities were even given preferential treatment. For example, in the third year of Jiajing, Yang Zaiqing, a native of Zhenyuan Prefecture in Guizhou, took part in the Guizhou provincial examination, passed the examination, and later became a "local official". Yang Yihan, the then governor of Guizhou, took into account his identity as a foreigner and asked the court to promote him extra, which was equivalent to adding points for ethnic minorities.

But this is an exception. What is more widespread is prejudice and contempt.

When Na Ying took the imperial examination, he was given a hard time by the local examiners. As a result, although he was obviously very talented, he could not even pass the county examination. It was obviously because of his Li ethnicity.

"Wukong was an outlier, yet he possessed such omnipotent abilities. Even though he once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, he sought the true scriptures under the guidance of Guanyin. Did he ultimately become a Buddha and attain enlightenment?"

"So your expectations of the characters in the book are based on your own experiences?"

Thinking of the scenes in the academy where Na Ying, dressed as Li Weining, excitedly discussed Journey to the West with him, Hai Yue sighed, "I will keep a close eye on the Annan thief who murdered your brother and do my best to have him executed by the imperial court!"

"No need! I will avenge my brother myself!"

Na Yan waved his hand and asked, "Is the culprit the Annan assassin the government officials mentioned?"

"Yes." Hai Yue nodded. "Mo Zhengyong, the adopted son of Annan's traitor Mo Dengyong, killed your brother. I have already deposed him. Impersonating a foreign envoy is a crime of deceiving the emperor. Even for the sake of diplomatic relations, the court will not let him live."

"He's dead, and there are other Annamites!"

Na Yan snorted coldly, "I must personally chop off the Annan man's head and pay my respects at my brother's grave to comfort his soul in heaven!"

Hai Yue frowned slightly. He had finally cleared up the misunderstanding about the Inspector General's kidnapping. He didn't want Yan to stir up trouble again under impulse. "Every wrong has its perpetrator. Your brother was killed by Mo Zhengyong. Now Mo Zhengyong is near death. All his subordinates have been captured, and you killed the three who escaped. Stop it!"

Na Yan paused after hearing this: "I forgot to tell you one thing, I didn't kill those three people..."

Haiyue paused: "What did you say?"

Na Yan muttered, "I wasn't the one who killed the three Annan assassins who escaped..."

Hai Yue turned around, stared at him, and confirmed again: "So, the first 'Blood Totem' wasn't left behind by you Li people?"

"What? Is there something you didn't expect?"

Na Yan wanted to smile proudly. Not only was he a martial arts expert, he was also a well-known smart guy among the Li people in the surrounding area. However, when he met this person, he seemed to become a fool and could not see any truth.

But facing Haiyue's gaze, the words on the tip of his tongue suddenly changed to: "Is it wrong to be wronged three times?"

"This matter is of great importance!"

Haiyue's face was serious, and she immediately asked, "Then why did you bring those loyal tribesmen to Qiongshan?"

"My brother has impersonated the Annan envoy. If the government continues to make things difficult for us and refuses to return the body, I will personally bring my own men!"

"After you arrived, did you not check the whereabouts of Zheng Wu and the other two?"

"After I arrived in Qiongshan, I did hear that three people had escaped. But they had been on the run for many days, and I thought they had all escaped Qiongshan. My clan members couldn't see and hear everywhere, so it was difficult to find them!"

"If you didn't do it, why didn't you say it in the beginning?"

"You didn't ask me..."

Na Yan lowered her voice.

Haiyue was speechless.

He himself had a certain sympathy and understanding for these Li ethnic group uprising leaders, and he did not ask too many questions to avoid them saying some outrageous words that would make it difficult for both sides to step down. He simply turned a blind eye.

As a result, this idiot was wrongly accused three times with the "Blood Totem" three times in total. He might as well just weld the shit pot on his head!
"No wonder! According to my previous analysis of the case, everything else can be explained, except that incident..."

A detail surfaced in Haiyue's mind. She then reviewed the entire case and said slowly, "There's good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Na Yan was a little nervous: "What's the good news?"

Hai Yue said, "The good news is that my previous analysis was correct. The 'blood totem' at the posthouse kidnapping scene was painted by Wang Yuhui, the postmaster. After reporting this to the government, your Li people's suspicion will be cleared, and the Han-Li rebellion on the island will not happen again."

Na Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously, "What's the bad news?"

Haiyue twitched the corner of her mouth and said, "That inspector Wu Lin who escaped might have really been kidnapped by thieves."

(End of this chapter)