Chapter 679: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 679: Evidence of Framing (4)
Yang Bao, the village elders, and many villagers who cared about the Mo family were worried about Mo Yan. They thought she had made a mistake, and they looked at Mo Qingze, urging him to step in and salvage the situation.
Mo Qingze took a deep breath and remained seated, not moving.
The lead official, recovering from his shock, stared at Mo Yan in disbelief. He had initially hoped to find a way to resolve the issue and clear the Mo family’s name, but now it seemed that his plans were useless.
The six "victims" rejoiced at the apparent acknowledgment of their claims and urged the lead official, “See? This girl has admitted it herself. Hurry and capture those five beasts. The family that keeps them should also be punished and thrown into prison to prevent them from causing more harm!”
“Exactly! They should be arrested, and not one should be spared! This family is truly despicable, raising beasts that harm people. If it weren’t for us catching them, who knows how many more would suffer!”
“Not only should they be imprisoned, but we also demand compensation—five hundred taels per person. Not a single copper coin less!”
The six “victims” continued to make a ruckus in the Mo family’s hall, hurling accusations and demanding imprisonment and compensation.
At this point, Mo Yan knew well that behind these six individuals was a mastermind trying to frame her family. The Mo family had no prior issues with these people; their malicious intent was evident from their excessive efforts to discredit the Mo family and imprison everyone.
Mo Yan’s first suspicion was Prince Heng, but she quickly dismissed this possibility. Prince Heng was indeed ruthless, but he would not resort to such underhanded tactics. Moreover, such methods wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, nor would Chen Ji use them. Chen Ji was cruel but direct, and if he were involved, it would be for a more straightforward attack.
With these two suspects ruled out, the list narrowed considerably. Mo Yan considered past enemies and concluded that Wang Dali, Mo Hongshi, Mo Yongxi, Mo Erni, and Chen Shanshan were potential suspects, with Mo Yongxi and Mo Erni being the most likely culprits.
As for how they knew about the Five Beasts, Mo Hongshi and Wang Dali's families lived in the village, and the recent rumors against the beasts were spread by them. Chen Shanshan had a motive and could have acted secretly, knowing that Chen Ji would disapprove. These people, who harbored deep grudges, were likely seizing this opportunity for revenge.
Mo Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile. Just as the six “victims” were shouting the loudest, she suddenly spoke up, “You all keep claiming that the Five Beasts harmed you. When did I admit to it? Besides, even if the matter were to be judged, it should be done publicly, giving the accused a chance to defend themselves. You are condemning the Mo family outright! Are you more powerful than the officials, or is this whole scheme an attempt to frame my family?”
The six “victims” were momentarily stunned by Mo Yan’s barrage of questions. They were unsure whether to deny it and face embarrassment or to admit and make matters worse. They found themselves trapped in a no-win situation.
Under the gaze of the crowd, the six were sweating profusely. Their quick wit clearly failed them, and after a long pause, one of them pointed at Mo Yan and angrily retorted, “You—you—you’re just making excuses, trying to avoid the truth!”
“Haha!” Mo Yan laughed derisively, as if she had heard an amusing joke. She looked at the obviously guilty six and said seriously, “If you can present evidence, regardless of whether the Five Beasts are guilty, my family will admit to it. However, if you can’t provide evidence, or if it’s fabricated, you will be guilty of extortion. According to the laws of the Da Chu, extorting five hundred taels or more will not only earn you a beating but also several years of labor. With your physique, I wonder if you can survive the hard labor at the quarry!”
As soon as she finished speaking, one person eagerly stepped forward and shouted, “Who says we don’t have evidence? If we produce evidence, will the Mo family admit to it?”
The last part of the question was directed at Mo Qingze.
Mo Qingze’s face darkened. He said coldly, “If you can present evidence today, my family will admit to it. Conversely, if you fail to produce evidence or if it’s false, you will be accused of extortion!”
The six “victims” were initially confident, but upon hearing the last statement, their faces grew pale and their eyes shifted nervously. Yet, with so many witnesses, they had no choice but to press on.
However, they felt secure with the evidence they had prepared. They were determined to get compensation and rewards, and were eager to present their evidence…
If you enjoy our translations and would like to support us, please consider contributing on Patreon or Ko-fi. Your support helps us continue bringing you great content!
►►CLICK HERE FOR LISTS OF CHAPTERS◄◄
No comments: