Chapter 4, Cao Kai's Determination

Ning Jiang lay in bed, listening to the commotion coming from the courtyard, knowing that the aunts and relatives had already arrived

County magistrate Cao Kai, undoubtedly of scholar status, exuded an air of authority at this moment, causing the entire venue to fall silent. Before he posed his questions, no one dared to speak out or make a noise, not even the most outspoken of women.

The person was certainly not killed by Ning Yicheng, but unfortunately, even if Ning Yicheng is in the right, he cannot explain himself clearly. How can he explain that he, the young master of the branch family, appeared in the boudoir of the main family's young lady? How can he explain that he took off his pants and was lying on the maid of the main family's daughter? If he dares to tell others that his true interest is not in the maid, but in the young lady, then he is truly asking for his own demise.

However, as long as a serious crime is committed, a homicide is a homicide. According to the laws of the Great Zhou, even if the victim is a maid, the one responsible must pay with their life. Once the aunts and uncles arrive, the entire city will soon be aware, and someone will report it to the authorities. In such circumstances, even the county magistrate would find it difficult to suppress the matter. After all, it involves a homicide, and he cannot simply cover it up. If he neglects it and the matter reaches his office, it would jeopardize his position.

However, he knows that things are not that simple

Although there is such a possibility, Zhao Hongdao stated, "I have also asked others around me. The servants in the garden were all gathered together at that time, either gambling or chatting, and they had no time to commit the crime. Although Miss Ning does not have an alibi, she is just a girl and has never practiced martial arts. If Kui'er were to stand there, she wouldn't be able to kill her. Who else could it be besides Ning Yicheng?"

After his rebirth, Ning Jiang naturally understood that Cao Kaiding was definitely helping Ning Ji compete for the family assets that rightfully belonged to him, and it was not merely a simple matter of being bribed by Ning Ji. Behind Cao Kaiding, there was a deeper purpose, one that even Ning Ji was unaware of. And because of that purpose, Cao Kaiding was determined to make Ning Ji the head of the Ning family in Gao Su County.

He is well aware that in the Zhou Dynasty, murder is a serious crime, but after all, the one who died was merely a maid. If only the people from the Ning residence were present, with Ji Shu applying some pressure, naturally no one would dare to speak out. As long as there is no complainant reporting to the authorities, even if the government catches wind of something, they would not intervene. Even if there is a complainant, with money to bribe and placate, most of the time it can be settled.

Ning Jiang lay in bed, listening to the sounds outside, already knowing that County Magistrate Cao Kai had arrived

Although Cao Kai Ding does not understand martial arts, he is a scholar who has opened the ancestral orifice in the center of his brow and established the Wenqu Yinfu, making him equally difficult to deal with

Cao Kai took a couple of steps and suddenly said: "Ning Yicheng may have engaged in improper conduct, but while someone saw him acting improperly, no one witnessed him committing murder. Alternatively, it is possible that someone killed Kui'er first, placed her on the bed, and Ning Yicheng, unaware, then acted violently towards her"

As someone whispered, the entire courtyard fell silent, even the previously noisy aunts and uncles dared not make a sound one by one

However, pretending to be asleep in front of them is clearly not an easy task. The captain Zhao Hong is originally a martial artist with internal strength, well-versed in the art of breathing and energy manipulation. Whether a person is truly asleep or merely pretending, he can discern it with a single inquiry

It is almost impossible to pretend to be faint in front of these two individuals

Cao Kai sneered coldly and said, "Take a look!" He led the team towards the residence of the young master of the Ning family...

The high-ranking magistrate Cao Kai entered the courtyard with a group of people, surveyed the surroundings, and let out a cold snort. The celestial beings were in resonance, and the literary energy from the seal on his brow transformed into an intangible official authority, radiating outward and instantly suppressing the entire scene

Ning Ji's son has encountered a problem, which is also a hassle for Cao Kaiding. If he enters the house and finds that Ning Jiang has already woken up, then, regardless of whether there is evidence to prove Ning Jiang's suspicion of murder, Cao Kaiding will find a way to implicate him, first throwing him into prison, and then the rest is merely a matter of coercing a confession.

Eight hundred years ago, the great Confucian Dong Tianshu led scholars from all over the world to the summit of Mount Tai to successfully "forge the sage." The Sage of Literature, Confucius, took residence in the Purple Star Palace as a sage, and the Purple Star was renamed the Star of the Literary Emperor. This led to the dismissal of the Hundred Schools of Thought, establishing the sole supremacy of Confucianism and Daoism. The imperial examination system became the fundamental law of Confucianism and Daoism; as long as one passed the examination to become a "xiucai" (a successful candidate), one could open the literary imprint palace at the ancestral point in the center of the forehead, resonate with the Star of the Literary Emperor, and receive literary energy, also referred to as "the energy of the sage" or "the righteous qi of vastness."

However, although he felt no sympathy for Ning Yicheng, who was being framed at that moment, he could not help but feel guilty when he thought of Xiaomeng, who must be terrified among the crowd. Although this was unavoidable, the more frightened Xiaomeng was and the more at a loss she felt, the less others would suspect her. It is quite normal for a thirteen-year-old girl to be scared when suddenly faced with such a situation.

Cao Kai looked at him and asked, "What has happened?"

Zhao Hong made a respectful gesture of "please allow me to speak aside" and stepped aside to explain the situation in a low voice: "The maid of the Ning family, Kui'er, was found dead in bed, and at that moment, Ning Yicheng was on the bed committing violence against her. My subordinates have already confirmed that the maid Kui'er was strangled to death by someone. It appears that Ning Yicheng is indeed guilty of assault and misconduct."

Ten thousand temporarily recruited ordinary soldiers, under the leadership of a master-level general, are merely a scattered mass. While individual bravery on the battlefield cannot be said to be entirely useless, it ultimately holds little significance. However, under the command of a scholar-general, who is as gentle as a scholar and has the strength of a mere scholar, the atmosphere of culture provides protection, and the fortune is boundless, allowing them to bravely engage in battle against the most elite northern barbarian tribes without falling behind.

Cao Kai furrowed his brows: "How does Ning Yicheng explain this?"

Cao Kai turned his gaze towards the girl who was being supported by two old women, noticing that she was so frightened that her body trembled like a sieve, crying incessantly. It was not to mention that she lacked the strength; even if she had the strength, no one would believe she had the courage to kill. His gaze sharpened as he looked again at Zhao Hong, suddenly asking: "Where is Ning Jiang?"

As one achieves higher accomplishments in the imperial examination, the literary aura obtained through the resonance between heaven and man becomes increasingly potent. This literary aura, unlike martial arts, does not enhance an individual's strength, but instead bestows upon a person an intangible fortune. When applied to punishment, it can transform the authority of officials; when utilized on the battlefield, it can invigorate the morale of the troops. A military general, even one of master-level prowess, is merely capable of facing a hundred or a thousand foes, whereas a Confucian general born as a successful candidate in the examination is truly a 'ten-thousand enemy'.

The county magistrate has arrived

Master! The constable Zhao Hong, who arrived early, stepped forward to pay his respects

It is precisely for this reason that after the establishment of the "Exclusive Respect for Confucianism" in the court of Emperor Wen, the prevailing atmosphere of the entire Zhou Dynasty became one of valuing literature over military prowess. Although the northern tribes and the Miao people of the Western Ridge were formidable, they were never able to pose a threat to the Zhou Dynasty.

Zhao Hong said: "He certainly will never admit it, but when asked why he appeared here, he stammered, his words were evasive, he spoke in circles, and did not reveal the truth, clearly indicating he has something to hide. Moreover, when he was caught, he was hurriedly putting on his pants; if he is not the murderer, then who is?" Ning Yicheng shouted that he was wronged, but which criminal does not claim innocence? The evidence is all there; at the very least, the 'suspect' has no way to escape. Furthermore, when he was caught, he was hurriedly putting on his pants; if he is not the murderer, then who is?" Ning Yicheng shouted that he was wronged, but which criminal does not claim innocence? The evidence is all there; at the very least, the 'suspect' has no way to escape.

Zhao Hong replied: "It is said that after falling into the lake during the day, he has yet to awaken, and the young lady of the Ning family is accompanying him, which is why there are no witnesses."

The young lady of the Zhu family, who is also his cousin of the same surname, has unexpectedly stirred inappropriate thoughts in him. Just this alone, in this era where moral teachings can be lethal, is enough to ruin his entire life. Moreover, even if he were to voice these sordid thoughts, there would still be no way to absolve him of the suspicion of murder

As soon as the seven aunts and eight mothers arrive, Uncle Ji can no longer suppress this matter, no matter how much he wishes to do so

Indeed, there are times when one encounters victims who demand retribution not in terms of money, but rather in the form of the killer paying with their life. They insist on reporting to the authorities, and if the county does not take action, they escalate the matter to the provincial government, which can lead to complications. However, such individuals are relatively rare. Often, families will have their daughters serve as maids for others, and most of these families are from impoverished backgrounds. A little intimidation is usually enough to instill fear, and once they receive compensation, they tend to swallow their grievances, as their daughters were originally sold off.

***

As for Ning Yicheng and Kui'er, Ning Jiang would naturally feel no sympathy whatsoever; one might even say that allowing them to die like this would be too lenient.

He still remembers that in the life before his rebirth, when he reversed time with "Breaking the Universe," he returned from the Western Ridge after mastering the dark arts and how he treated those two individuals. He subjected them to a thousand cuts, making them crawl like blood worms at his feet, their cries for mercy rendered hoarse and dry. And now, under his mercy, he allowed Kui'er to die so decisively, intending for Ning Yicheng's fate to be nothing more than a guillotine.

Not only has he arrived, but he is also walking towards his house