readytorunbook Chapter 730 Little Thief
Chapter 730 Little Thief
Chapter 730 Little Thief
The next day, inside the Dali Temple, Wang Wenzhou held court again to hear the case.
"Bang!" Wang Wenzhou slammed the gavel and said, "Bring the criminal Wen Tiren to the court."
Led by the yamen runners, Wen Tiren slowly walked into the main hall.
Zheng Sanjun had learned his lesson and stopped demanding that Wen Tiren kneel down. He knew it was pointless to say anything; Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, wouldn't listen anyway.
Wang Wenzhou asked, "Wen Tiren, do you know your crime?"
"Hmph!" Wen Tiren snorted coldly and said angrily, "What crime have I committed?"
Wang Wenzhou cursed and said, "Old Wen, you still won't admit your guilt? How thick-skinned are you? You've only been the Grand Secretary for such a short time, yet you have over two million taels of silver in your family! With your meager salary, you couldn't earn that much even if you were the Grand Secretary for your entire life!"
Wen Tiren shook his head with a wry smile. Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, was really unserious. He had already agreed to act, so why was Wang Wenzhou bringing up these useless things?
"What? Speechless now?" Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Wen Tiren, you're a corrupt official. Tell me, where did all this money come from?"
"Hmph!" Wen Tiren snorted coldly, too lazy to pay any attention to Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "I hate you corrupt officials the most! You're shameless! I understand that men become officials to make big money and seduce women. But you should at least have some shame! As the chief minister, how can you make so much money in such a short time? Do you think you're doing right by the people and the emperor?"
Wen Tiren rolled his eyes at Wang Wenzhou. "Crazy dog, stop spouting nonsense. My family fortune is what I've earned in my entire life. How long have I been the chief minister?"
"Wen Tiren, do you plead guilty or not?" Wang Wenzhou asked angrily.
"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext!" Wen Tiren said, appearing righteous and indifferent.
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and ordered, "Bring up all those antiques and paintings!"
In no time, several yamen runners brought a large pile of things into the hall.
Wang Wenzhou strolled downstairs, pointed at the pile of things, and said, "Old Wen, it's one thing to collect money, but why collect so much junk? Can these antiques and paintings be used as money?"
Wen Tiren shook his head with a wry smile. "Boxin, stop joking! You come from the Xinjian Marquisate, don't you like these things?"
Wang Wenzhou casually picked up a piece of calligraphy and said, "Oh my, this is Huang Tingjian's calligraphy. It should be genuine! I know that the Emperor loves Huang Tingjian's calligraphy the most, but he didn't even dare to buy it. How come you have it! Tell me, how did you get this piece of calligraphy?"
Wen Tiren seemed not to hear him. "Boxin, you're just being silly. I'll cooperate with you when it's time to do so."
“You won’t tell, huh? Old Wen, you’re really stupid! How could you accept this kind of calligraphy and painting? It’s hard to tell if it’s real or fake. If you accept a fake, you’ll lose a lot of money. If it’s real, the previous owner will leave traces, and it will be easy to find out who bribed you!” After Wang Wenzhou finished speaking, he held the calligraphy and painting and examined it carefully.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed loudly, "Isn't what I said right? I've found the previous master. It's all written clearly on Qian Ruyi's name."
"Who are Jiang Zhenghe and Qian Ruyi?" Wang Wenzhou instructed.
Jiang Zhenghe, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was Wang Wenzhou's man. Zhu Youjian sent him to assist Wang Wenzhou in handling this case.
Jiang Zhenghe thought for a moment and replied, "Your Excellency, I do know the son of Lord Qian Qianyi, whose name is Qian Ruyi."
"Yes!" Wang Wenzhou nodded and said seriously, "That's right! It must be collusion between officials! Bring Qian Ruyi to court!"
"Huh?" Zheng Sanjun was stunned. What was Wang Wenzhou, this mad dog, trying to do? Why was he dragging Qian Qianyi into this? Did Wang Wenzhou want to drag Qian Qianyi down with him?
Zheng Sanjun quickly said, "Lord Wang, there's no need to ask. I'm an old friend of Lord Qian. Qian Ruyi is only nine years old this year. How could he possibly bribe Wen Tiren?"
“Lord Zheng, this matter must be thoroughly investigated! Look! This calligraphy really has Qian Ruyi's name on it, it must be related to him. Jiang Zhenghe, quickly send someone to bring Qian Ruyi here,” Wang Wenzhou instructed.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Jiang Zhenghe accepted the order and left.
Zheng Sanjun frowned. It seemed that Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, was trying to smear Qian Qianyi!
A short while later, Jiang Zhenghe returned with his men.
Qian Ruyi was still young, and his mother, Zhu, who was also Qian Qianyi's concubine, was worried about him. After sending someone to inform Qian Qianyi, she followed Qian Ruyi to the city.
As soon as Madam Zhu arrived, she curtsied to Zheng Sanjun and asked, "Lord Zheng, what happened? How could my son, at such a young age, be involved in a case?"
Zheng Sanjun quickly comforted her, "Madam Qian, please don't panic. Lord Wang summoned your son here to inquire why his name is on this calligraphy."
After Zheng Sanjun finished speaking, he took the calligraphy and walked to Madam Zhu, saying, "Madam Qian, please take a look!"
Zheng Sanjun glanced back at Wang Wenzhou, and seeing that Wang Wenzhou hadn't followed, he quickly whispered to Madam Zhu, "Madam Qian, was this calligraphy a gift from Lord Qian to Wen Tiren?"
After examining it carefully, Madam Zhu said, "It should have been given to Lord Wen by our master."
Zheng Sanjun shook his head with a wry smile and quickly asked, "When did this happen? Do you remember?"
After thinking for a moment, Madam Zhu said, "It seems that once when Lord Wen came to the Qian residence, he saw this calligraphy and liked it very much. So my master gave it to him."
Zheng Sanjun nodded and comforted her, "Madam Qian, don't panic. I'll take care of everything. Just answer the truth when Wang Wenzhou asks!"
"Yes!" Madam Zhu nodded.
Zheng Sanjun turned around and looked at Wang Wenzhou, saying, "Lord Wang, I have found out. The reason why Qian Ruyi's name is on this calligraphy is because it was previously collected by Qian Qianyi, Lord Qian. Because Wen Tiren liked it, Lord Qian gave it to Wen Tiren."
"Yes!" Wang Wenzhou nodded and asked coldly, "Qian Ruyi, do you know your crime?"
"Huh?" Everyone present was stunned. Qian Ruyi was only 9 years old and still a child. What crime could a child have committed?
Qian Ruyi turned pale with fright, grabbed her mother's clothes, and hid behind her, not daring to answer.
Qian Ruyi was no stranger to the world; he was a legitimate second-generation official. However, he was still young, and this was truly his first time in court. In the main hall, two rows of stern-faced yamen runners stood, and he was terrified as soon as he entered.
"Bang!" Wang Wenzhou slammed his gavel and said coldly, "At such a young age, you're already learning bad habits! You're bribing officials like others. If this continues, you'll definitely grow up to be a bastard! And now you're still refusing to confess. Guards, take him away and give him thirty lashes!"
"Lord Zheng, save my child!" Zhu's eyes reddened upon hearing this. Her son was so young; thirty strokes of the cane would kill him! Husband! Please come quickly, or you will have no heir!