Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

In fact, after Granny Gui, the "real culprit," came to light, many officials in Yongqing County, led by the old magistrate, were overjoyed.

Therefore, they went to great lengths to bring up this night trial, hoping to seize the opportunity to convict Granny Gui of murdering Chu Tiankuo.

In this way, Chu Tiankuo's death would be just a simple case of revenge, causing the least damage to the officialdom of Yongqing County.

But now, under pressure, Fang Zheng is forcibly demanding a postponement of the interrogation, and is vaguely pointing the finger at County Magistrate Zhu Tianhua.

If no new evidence is found in the end, Fang Zheng's position as a ninth-rank official will be over.

Even Lu Qingyun looked on with admiration and nodded inwardly.

Putting the case itself aside, Fang Zheng's courage alone was something she admired immensely.

A middle-aged prison guard behind Lu Qingyun whispered, "Sir, what Fang Zheng said should all be true."

But now Sun Xianrong is nowhere to be found, his fate unknown, and with no one to corroborate his story, Fang Zheng is likely in serious trouble.

Lu Qingyun nodded, but quickly shook his head: "Judging from this Fang Zheng, he is not a reckless and arrogant person."

Since he dared to say such a thing in this courtroom, he must have a backup plan.

Just you wait, I'm quite looking forward to it.

Zhu Tianhua's expression grew increasingly grim, and his reaction was understandable.

The county magistrate and the county constable had the same expression, and it seemed that the other party was hostile.

Below, many Yongqing County officials glared angrily at Fang Zheng, as if he were framing an innocent person.

Ignoring the stares, Fang Zheng cut to the chase: "Lord Lü, Lord Lu, there are many suspicious points in the case of Chu Tiankuo's murder."

As a ninth-rank supervisory inspector, I suggest that the trial be postponed until new evidence is found and the matter be discussed again.

Please approve!

As the chief supervisor, Lü Zhengfeng did not hesitate to support Fang Zheng at this moment.

"Fang Zheng's words are reasonable and well-founded. I agree with his proposal to postpone Wu Gui's trial."

Fang Zheng was grateful; Lü Zhengfeng was endorsing him.

If he doesn't handle this matter well, Lü Zhengfeng will bear a heavy responsibility.

After all, the one-month deadline is approaching. For seasoned officials, the safest approach is to torture Granny Gui into confessing tonight in front of all the officials, confirming her murder of Chu Tiankuo, and thus closing the case.

The conclusion reached after collective analysis is sufficient for the state government to accept.

This way, they could both report back to their superiors and save face for the officials of Yongqing County, making everyone happy.

But now, neither he nor Lü Zhengfeng has a way out.

Fortunately, Fang Zheng hadn't considered any way out.

"This is utterly absurd!"

Zhu Tianhua said coldly at this moment.

Fang Zheng then said, "Whether it is absurd or not, there is evidence to prove it."

Why is Magistrate Zhu in such a hurry?

"you!

"Well, Fangzheng, I'd like to see how you, a mere patrol inspector, will handle this case."

Zhu Tianhua gritted his teeth in anger, his eyes darting around, but he couldn't do anything about Fang Zheng.

Over there, the county constable wanted to say something, but the old county magistrate coughed and gave him a look, which silenced him.

At this moment, all the officials in the hall turned their gazes toward Lu Qingyun.

The female recruit did not disappoint Fang Zheng. She smiled slightly, stepped forward, and said, "This case is strange and complicated, and it is indeed not advisable to rush into it."

I agree with Lord Lü and Fang Zheng's opinions.

Whatever the Superintendent needs to do, my investigation team will cooperate.

This statement sealed the deal, and the night trial was temporarily suspended.

At Fang Zheng's request, Granny Gui was carried back to the supervisory office for treatment, which also made it easier for her to be questioned.

There is one week left until the closing date set by the state prosecutor.

Since Fang Zheng has raised doubts about the Chu case, he should be responsible for resolving those doubts.

This is by no means an easy task.

........

After leaving the supervisor's office, Fang Zheng returned to his quarters, closed the door, and glanced at the system panel.

"Unyielding in court disputes, discerning even the most doubtful, wisdom +1, righteousness +1."

Now, his attributes of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom have all exceeded 5 points, unlocking a second card slot, which further enhances the power of his cards.

This allowed Fangzheng's strength to increase by leaps and bounds.

If he hadn't clung to those loopholes and refuted the magistrate and the assistant magistrate one by one in that exchange in court just now, the case would probably have been hastily closed.

Fang Zheng snapped out of his thoughts, spread out the evidence he had obtained from the investigation team on the table, and examined it one by one.

Several yellowed books on poison, a few packets of unused medicine powder, and a rectangular lacquer box containing a scroll.

Fang Zheng carefully unfolded it; it was a painting of a lady, the paper pure white, clearly painted not long ago.

The painting depicts Liu Qingyu, standing under a pear tree, holding a green silk fan, her head slightly turned, her eyes smiling.

While the painting technique may not be considered particularly exquisite, the paintings are exceptionally lifelike and full of emotion.

Fang Zheng stretched out his left hand, palm up, and a wisp of red smoke drifted out, condensing into a figure the size of a thumb.

Liu Qingyu landed on the edge of the table and followed Fang Zheng's gaze to the painting.

She froze for a moment, then two lines of bloody tears welled up in her empty black eyes.

"My benefactor, this was drawn by my father."

Fang Zheng patted her little head and nodded: "It was found in Granny Gui's room."

It must have been drawn by Lord Chu before he was placed under house arrest, and she hid it away.

Liu Qingyu floated to the painting, hovering in mid-air, and looked at it bit by bit.

From the strands of hair, one can see the eyebrows and eyes; from the eyebrows and eyes, one can see the folds of clothing; from the folds of clothing, one can see the round fan.

"My benefactor," she suddenly said, "this fan is a little different from mine."

There seem to be words on the fan surface.

Fang Zheng's spirits lifted, and the Yuan energy in his ancestral aperture between his eyebrows surged, opening up his all-seeing vision.

When you look at the painting again, a dense pattern appears on the originally smooth silk fabric of the fan.

Without close inspection, one might mistake it for the texture of a fan.

This was deliberately hidden by Chu Tiankuo.

"It's a code."

Fang Zheng spread out a sheet of paper, picked up a pen, and traced the patterns stroke by stroke.

The ink stains on the paper were crooked and distorted, like scribbles.

He handed the paper to Liu Qingyu: "Take a look, do you recognize it?"

Liu Qingyu leaned closer, looked for a moment, and suddenly shuddered.

"This is the code word my father used in the army on the frontier."

Her voice quickened, "He told me about it, and I wrote some of it down."

Fang Zheng was overjoyed: "Can we break it open?"

Liu Qingyu deciphered each character one by one.

"My benefactor, these are two sentences."

The first sentence, "On the eve of the He family's massacre, they purchased a painting and calligraphy, but the record shows it was destroyed, which is highly suspicious."

"The second sentence states that, according to the coroner, He Tingtao had consumed a large amount of alcohol before his death, and other members of the He family also showed signs of drinking."

Fang Zheng stared at the two lines of text on the paper, clenching his fists.

This is Chu Tiankuo's last words!

The last clue he left behind before being placed under house arrest was hidden in a portrait of his daughter that he had drawn.

"The He family," Fang Zheng said softly, "we should start with the He family massacre case!"

The disappearance of calligraphy and painting transaction records.

Details of his heavy drinking before his death.

These are all the threads he needs to follow up on next.