LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 37 - II
A few cells away.
Tan Xingwang was also dreaming. While Tan Xingwang dreamt, tears streamed down his face.
He dreamt of being condemned and beheaded.
The dreams depicted the life of his beloved shuanger after his death.
There were also people who frequented the tofu pudding stall every day, expressing their fondness for Chen Fulang. Chen Fulang thought it was acceptable, so he got married.
But that man was not a good person. He loved to drink and would beat others when he was drunk. Not long after the marriage, he beat Chen Fulang every day and even took away Chen Fulang’s money.
Tan Xingwang was so angry when he saw this that he wanted to beat the man to death. But he was just a soul and couldn’t do anything. Only then did Tan Xingwang regretfully remember that he was dead.
Soon after, Chen Fulang started to vomit. When the doctor checked, he found that he had a child.
The man improved for a few days, but then he became the same again, robbing money, drinking heavily, and beating people. Later, Chen Fulang gave birth to a shuanger, and the man simply drove him to the woodshed.
Seeing that the person he liked was so skinny and his eyes were numb, Tan Xingwang was heartbroken.
But still, he couldn’t do anything! He could only watch the person he liked, and the little shuanger, being abused by other men!
Day after day, year after year, until the little shuanger Chen Fulang gave birth to was beaten to death by the wrong hand, Chen Fulang set the house on fire and died together with that man.
When he died, Tan Xingwang saw that Chen Fulang seemed to say a few words, a bit like his name.
In his soul state, Tan Xingwang wanted to hug someone, but his hands passed over Chen Fulang’s body.
“Woo…” Tan Xingwang cried out in pain and sat up suddenly.
The yamen officer who had just been awakened by Wang Xiang was going crazy. He walked to Tan Xingwang’s cell door and asked helplessly.
“What’s wrong with you? Tan Xingwang, why are you crying so late at night? Can you let me have a good sleep?”
The people in the other cells were also very angry. One of them shouted, the other cried, and they all came one after another. Didn’t you want to sleep at this late night?
The yamen servant was furious and shouted at Tan Xingwang loudly.
But Tan Xingwang just leaned against the wall and cried very sadly, as if his mother had died.
Seeing that he was crying so hard, the yamen officer simply lamented and walked away. He couldn’t do anything to him, why not just hide from him!
Anyway, the people in these cells were locked up and couldn’t escape at all.
The officer on duty complained: “One by one being noisy, nothing is easy.”
.
On the morning of the second day, not long after Jing Xingzhi got up.
Wang Zhuang came over there with a happy face, as happy as a heralding bird.
Wang Zhuang said: “Young Master Jing, it’s very useful for you to talk to Wang Xiang and Tan Xingwang. Something happened to them last night!”
“What happened?” Jing Xingzhi chewed a willow branch and spit out a mouthful of water.
Wang Zhuang replied with a smile: “Wang Xiang had a nightmare last night and scared himself to the point of peeing. As for Tan Xingwang, he cried for a long time and was almost beaten by the people in the cell. He kept shouting all morning. He wants to see Young Master Jing!”
“No,” Jing Xingzhi shook his head, expressing his reluctance to see Tan Xingwang.
He didn’t believe there was anything beneficial in meeting Tan Xingwang. It was preferable for Chen Fulang not to visit him, allowing him to grapple with his dreams in solitude for a few nights.
Once he experienced enough heartache, he would come to understand the weight of his decisions.
To induce such vivid dreams for both Tan Xingwang and Wang Xiang, Jing Xingzhi had paid a considerable price. He had drawn a complete Yin Gathering Formation in Wang Xiang’s cell.
“However, please send him a message, urging him to stay calm and avoid any misdeeds. Wait until the prefect come and the trial before engaging in any discussion,” Jing Xingzhi advised, adding an extra caution.
Though Wang Zhuang couldn’t fathom why both Wang Xiang and Tan Xingwang reacted so intensely, he trusted Jing Xingzhi and resolved to follow his instructions.
.
Three days later.
The prefect’s carriages and horses finally arrived in Huanshui County from the state capital, occupying half of the county government offices.
Upon hearing that Prefect Shen Fang was coming, He Zhifang trembled and collapsed onto his concubine’s belly.
He muttered with vacant eyes, “What should I do? What should I do? The prefect is here. He must have found something wrong with the case I am handling. Is he here to strip me of my official position? I should have listened to Wu Qing! Why did Zhang Mingyu kill someone secretly!”
He Zhifang regretted his choices, clambered up from his concubine with a shiver, put on his clothes, and hurriedly went to greet Prefect Shen Fang in a state of anxiety.
The Prefect Shen Fang and Zhang Tong, who arrived together, regarded He Zhifang coldly and urged him to review the case promptly. If there were any issues, Shen Fang vowed to punish He Zhifang.
Ever since Fang Qichen questioned him, He Zhifang knew that the evidence against the supposed “murderer” concocted by him and He Tong had flaws.
He Zhifang tried to stall, but Shen Fang was not one to be fooled. After receiving a significant look from Zhang Tong, Shen Fang insisted that He Zhifang arrange the trial immediately.
Otherwise, his negligence concerning Chief Fang would be reported to the emperor for personal evaluation!
Zhang Tong conducted some preliminary inquiries and, upon hearing from Chief Fang that the second trial was safe, urged He Zhifang to proceed with the case.
And so, just a few days after the last trial of the “Ten Years Female Corpse Case,” another trial dedicated to this specific case commenced.
He Zhifang presided over the proceedings in the courtroom, flanked by the same two figures. Only this time, one was the Prefect Shen Fang, and the other was Zhang Tong, now armed with the imperial envoy order.
Both held the power to directly strip He Zhifang of his official title.
Over the past few days, He Zhifang had attempted to send a letter to the Zhang family, but each time, the letters failed to reach their destination. He Zhifang, crestfallen, no longer dared to harbor any hopes.
With a pallid face, he weakly pounded the gavel: “Bring in the prisoners Tan Xingwang and Wang Xiang, along with the evidence—the piece of feathered-silver blue cloth.”
Wang Xiang and Tan Xingwang were led into the courtroom and knelt below.
Wang Xiang stole a glance and noticed the absence of the fierce old man. However, the county magistrate appeared exceptionally feeble this time, a fact not lost on Wang Xiang.
There must be another influential figure involved, Wang Xiang speculated, and after He Zhifang finished his initial inquiries, Wang Xiang feigned a few tears and declared, “This young man wants to retract his confession! He provided false testimony!”