Traveling to an ancient peasant family: I got rich by doing business

When they came, Han Zheng and Pei Shilang and his party did not bring anything except their luggage. When they left, they not only brought a large box of evidence, but also an old man in his fifties, the so-called witness.

Zhuang Zhubu pretended to say goodbye to Han Zheng and Pei Shilang, "When you two were in the state, you acted decisively and wisely. I admire you very much. I thought I could spend some more time with you two. I didn't expect you to leave now. I really don't want to see you go."

Han Zheng looked at him expressionlessly: "Since you are reluctant to leave, why don't you return to the capital with me? You also helped in the investigation this time. After arriving in the capital, His Majesty may grant you an official position."

Zhuang Zhubu waved his hands repeatedly, "Master Han, please don't tease me. I am just a small Zhubu. How can I have the chance to see His Majesty? Besides, I can't leave Donghai Prefecture. Now the new prefect has not yet arrived, and I have to manage the government office. Since I am the Zhubu, I must do my job well and benefit the people."

"Speaking of the new prefect." Pei Shilang stepped forward and said, "I heard that His Majesty has already made arrangements. If you calculate the time carefully, it will be soon. Congratulations to Zhuang Zhubu. You can rest for a while."

Zhuang Zhubu's expression immediately turned a little bad. He smiled dryly and said, "Master Pei is right. I am also looking forward to the arrival of the new prefect."

*

After finishing their conversation, Han Zheng and Minister Pei did not stay any longer and left in their carriage.

Officers and soldiers walked around their carriages to prevent assassinations.

Seeing them leave the city gate and walk away, Zhuang Zhubu's expression turned sinister.

The bailiff stood beside him and asked, "Sir, are they just leaving like that?"

"After finding out the truth and finding evidence and witnesses, why are they still staying in the state capital?" Zhuang Zhubu said impatiently, "They should have produced the evidence long ago. They have been here for nearly two months, and we have been restricted for two months for nothing."

Yamen runner: "It's mainly because the higher-ups asked them to investigate. Otherwise, if the truth is too easy to find out, they may not believe it."

"That's true." After all, the evidence he prepared for them pointed directly to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. If he were in their place, he wouldn't believe it even if he found out in a few days.

*

The carriage was shaking. Han Zheng and Minister Pei, who were sitting on both sides of the carriage, looked at the old man who was also sitting in the carriage.

The old man's surname was Shen and he was a night watchman. He claimed to be a witness to the murder of the prefect.

According to him, the prefect and magistrates of several other counties found evidence that the prince had embezzled land taxes. The prince was afraid that the truth would be revealed, so he sent people to kill the prefect and the magistrates' entire families.

When the prefect was killed, he was passing by as night watchman and happened to overhear the conversation between the prince's men.

Of course, these are all fake.

Shen Gengfu's family was poor, and Zhuang Zhubu found him and said that if he gave false testimony and pointed out that the prince was the mastermind behind the big case in Donghai Prefecture, his son and grandson would get a thousand taels of silver and live a worry-free life.

Shen Gengfu wanted his descendants to live a good life, so he believed their words and took the initiative to go to the government office to find Han Zheng and Minister Pei, saying that he was a witness.

*

Han Zheng and Minister Pei had already found out his background the day he voluntarily admitted that he was a witness, and were just waiting to interrogate him today.

The timing was right, so Minister Pei asked, "Old man, you said that the prince sent someone to kill the prefect and the county magistrate. Is that true?"

Shen Gengfu was afraid of Minister Pei and always felt that he had been seen through. However, when he thought of his children at home, he mustered up his courage and said, "Yes, I did hear it. It's not wrong."

Minister Pei nodded: "As long as you are sure, you must remember that the prince is the emperor's son and cannot be slandered."

Without waiting for his answer, Pei Shilang said word by word: "Dayu's law stipulates that anyone who slanders the emperor will be sentenced to death by slicing, regardless of the severity of the crime. The mastermind behind it will be exiled a thousand miles away, and all nine clans will be exiled a thousand miles away."

Shen Gengfu was frightened and flinched for a moment, but he still said stubbornly: "I didn't lie, I heard it with my own ears."

Minister Pei and Han Zheng looked at each other, nodded, and said, "In this case, when you return to the capital, remember to identify the prince in the court, but I still have to remind you that you must not lie in front of His Majesty, otherwise your whole family will not be able to escape.

A few years ago, a commoner falsely accused the prince, and after the case was uncovered, his entire clan was exiled to the northwest. I heard that it was winter when they went there, and they all froze to death not long after they arrived."

Shen Gengfu: “…”

When he heard the word death, he was completely panicked.

After all, he is just an ordinary citizen who can risk everything for money, but can also shrink back in fear for his life.

"I." He was so scared that his body was shaking like a sieve. Then, he looked at Han Zheng, who seemed to be easy to talk to, and said, "Sir, I think I heard it wrong. I think I heard Taici, not the prince. I will not go to the capital."

*

Unexpectedly, he was frightened so easily. Han Zheng said, "Since you have already served as a witness, you must continue to serve as one. Otherwise, what do you want us to do? Are you going to ask us to continue to return to Donghaizhou to investigate the case?"

"I...I..." Tears flowed from Shen Gengfu's eyes. "I was wrong, sir. It was the village chief who asked me to identify the prince. He said that as long as I followed his request, he would give my descendants one thousand taels of silver. Sir, please let me go back. I have children at home, and I don't want them to die."

Han Zheng was silent for a while, then said, "You said it was Zhuang Zhubu who asked you to give false testimony?"

Shen Gengfu: "Yes, it was arranged by the Lord Chief Clerk. I didn't see anything that night. Lord, please let me go."

Han Zheng and Minister Pei looked at each other and asked, "Do you dare to swear that everything you said just now is true?"

"I dare, I swear, if I lied just now, I will be struck by lightning and die miserably. Sir, can you let me go?"

Shen Gengfu begged humbly. He was a man in his fifties, and due to his poor life, his face was full of wrinkles and he looked very pitiful.

Han Zheng felt a little uncomfortable. He paused for a moment and said, "You have already agreed to give false testimony to Zhuang Zhubu. If you regret it halfway, you may not survive a day after you return."

Shen Gengfu: “…”

Han Zheng: "And your family, do you really believe that Zhuang Zhubu will give your children and grandchildren one thousand taels of silver?"

Shen Gengfu's eyes widened.

These days, he only thought about his sons and grandsons having enough food and drink in the future, and completely forgot that Zhuang Zhubu was not a good person. His sons and grandsons might not even get one thousand taels, and they might even lose their lives.

The defenses in his heart were broken at this moment, and tears flowed from Shen Gengfu's eyes. He tried to move forward: "I...I was wrong, please save my family."

Han Zheng saw that the time was right and said, "I do have a way to keep your family alive, but you have to help me do something."

Shen Gengfu said excitedly: "As long as I can do it, I am willing to do it even if it means losing my life."

Han Zheng: "I want you to go to the capital as usual. You must explain to His Majesty how you became a witness and how you changed your mind."