Xiao Yi quickly walked away.
Xu Jing glanced around the room and then gracefully sat down on the nearby chaise. She picked up a clean cup and unceremoniously poured herself some tea.
Still maintaining his kneeling position on the ground, Sun Youcai was utterly shocked.
Who on earth was this insolent woman, even more audacious than him!
Xu Jing blew on the hot tea in her cup, smirking slightly as she said, "County Magistrate Sun, whatever you're thinking, I'd advise you to drop it. If anything happens to me now, you'll be the prime suspect.
If I were you, I'd spend my time thinking about ways to lessen my own guilt."
Sun Youcai's mouth twitched, his face contorted with anger at Xu Jing. He suddenly stood up, gritting his teeth, and asked, "Was it you who gave Vice Minister Xiao that note?"
Although he had left the library at that time, he had left someone to secretly monitor Xiao Yi.
Thus, he naturally knew that Xiao Yi had suddenly gone to the prison after looking at a peculiar note.
Seeing this woman's odious face, there was a ninety percent chance that she was the one who gave it to him!
Moreover, she could only have had it sent out before she came to the county government.
That is to say, she had already guessed that her situation at the county government wouldn't be good, so she had prepared in advance!
"County Magistrate Sun, please understand. It's hard for a weak woman like me to live alone, so I have to be extra cautious."
Xu Jing took another sip of tea, her eyes gently curved, "Otherwise, I might have been 'forced' to commit suicide by now."
Xu Jing emphasized the word "forced."
Sun Youcai's face changed color. It took several deep breaths for him to calm down, his voice cold as he said, "Miss Xu, I don't understand what you're saying, but all the evidence in this case points to you as the murderer. It won't be easy for Miss Xu to overturn the case!"
With that, he waved his sleeve and hurriedly walked out.
Xu Jing watched Sun Youcai's disappearing figure outside the door, shaking her head leisurely.
This case might be difficult for others to overturn, but unfortunately, they encountered her.
Perhaps it's also unfortunate that they encountered Xiao Yi.
Isn't Xiao Yi said to be exceptionally brilliant and extremely talented? Perhaps he could solve this case without her even lifting a hand.
Xu Jing waited in the room for most of the day, almost falling asleep, when finally a government official came over with a peculiar expression and escorted her to the courtroom.
As soon as she stepped into the courtroom, Xu Jing saw many familiar faces.
Chunxiang and Chunyang, upon seeing Xu Jing, were overjoyed and rushed to her anxiously, "Miss, are you alright? We were so worried!"
Earlier in the cell, they could only hear the sounds coming from outside and couldn't see what was happening.
From those sounds, they could guess that Miss had hit that foul-mouthed government official, and later...later Vice Minister Xiao came and took Miss away!
Given the prior animosity between Vice Minister Xiao and Miss, they naturally didn't dare to assume everything would be fine just because Vice Minister Xiao took her away, leaving them anxious in the cell for a long time until a government official came to take them out.
Seeing Miss safe and sound with a normal expression, they finally felt at ease and started thinking about other matters.
Chunxiang quietly leaned close to Xu Jing's ear, excited and whispered, "Miss, since Vice Minister Xiao is here, aren't we going to be alright?"
Xu Jing glanced at them and said softly, "Here, I am just an ordinary citizen with Vice Minister Xiao, nothing more."
Chunxiang and Chunyang were a bit puzzled.
What did Miss mean by this?
Is she asking them to conceal the previous relationship between Miss and Vice Minister Xiao?
So, is Vice Minister Xiao going to help them or not?
On the other side, the Peng Family led by Mrs. Cao, watched Xu Jing in disbelief. Aunt Xue, who had mockingly taunted Xu Jing in the morning, couldn't bear it any longer and sharply exclaimed, "Why are we brought back here! Isn't it already determined that Lord Peng was killed by you?! What did you, wretched woman, do!"
Xu Jing turned her head to look at them, her lips curling coldly. Before she could say anything, the sound of a gavel rang out, and a deep masculine voice slowly spread from the front of the courtroom, "This is a solemn place, maintain silence."
The man's voice wasn't loud, but it was authoritative. The Peng Family, who had been quite agitated, instantly dared not speak anymore.
Xu Jing instinctively raised her eyes and looked towards the front of the courtroom for the first time since she came in, where she saw a man dressed in a dignified purple official robe and a black gauze cap solemnly seated behind the desk.
He was already handsome and imposing, but his formal attire made him even more majestic and commanding in presence.
If such a man stood guard at one's doorstep, it would surely fend off evil spirits.
Perhaps sensing Xu Jing's gaze, Xiao Yi suddenly turned his eyes to her, frowning slightly, with a faint impatience in his eyes.
Xu Jing raised an eyebrow, caught in the act of staring, and had to pretend nonchalance as she looked away.
Alright, this man must have misunderstood again.
Her habit of always observing those around her needed to change. She thought her scrutiny had been subtle enough that no ordinary person would notice, but who knew this man had such keen senses.
As the woman withdrew her gaze, Xiao Yi's tense expression slightly relaxed. Suppressing the unsuitable emotions in his heart, he spoke indifferently, "Regarding the case of Peng Shilang's murder this morning in Hutou Village, the suspect, Ms. Xu, has appealed her innocence, and thus I have decided to reopen the investigation."
Hardly had Xiao Yi finished speaking when the Peng Family, peaceful for just a few moments, became agitated again.
"Appeal?! Where does this woman get the nerve to appeal! Who else but her could have killed our Lord!"
"Officer, you must not be deceived by this woman's charlatanry! She must be spouting nonsense to evade punishment!"
"Silence."
Xiao Yi's brow furrowed, and he struck the gavel hard again, his voice slightly cold, "What exactly the truth is, I will uncover it. I've already gathered a general understanding of this case.
Bring the body of Peng Shilang here and summon the forensic doctor."
The Peng Family, knowing the prominence of Xiao Yi, dared not speak further and could only express their dissatisfaction towards Xu Jing with their eyes.
Xu Jing stood calmly aside, her eyes flickering slightly at the mention of summoning the forensic doctor, her heart inexplicably restless.
The forensic doctor was, in a way, her counterpart in this world.
She wondered how advanced the forensic techniques of this era were; this was a good opportunity to observe closely.
Soon, two government officials arrived carrying a stretcher covered with a white cloth, carefully setting it down in the middle of the courtroom.
An elderly, short man in shabby deep-gray clothing followed closely behind.
After the officials placed the stretcher, he immediately stepped forward, first saluting Xiao Yi and briefly introducing himself before squatting down and skillfully lifting the white cloth, revealing Peng Shilang's body once more.
Only half a day had passed, and there was little change in Peng Shilang's body, except the knife in his chest had been removed.
All case-related items were being held on a tray by a nearby government official, ready for use at any time.
Upon seeing Peng Shi's body, the Peng Family started crying immediately, several of them attempting to rush forward, held back firmly by the officials.
Although Xu Jing had seen Peng Shi's body in the morning, the dim light at that time didn't allow her a clear view of the body's state. Now, in the bright light near noon, every detail of Peng Shi's body was clearly visible.
She fixed her gaze, her eyes unknowingly narrowing slightly.