Chapter 5: Punishing the Bully (3)

  In the main hall, Wang Kui and Huang Shan stood on either side. Huang Shan's face was expressionless, his eyes not even glancing sideways, as if he didn't recognize Liu Yitiao at all. But Wang Kui glared at Liu Yitiao with anger in his eyes, his mouth open as if he could swallow him whole. Just now, he had asked the doctor to examine Wang Shuai and found that three main arteries in his lungs were severely damaged, beyond cure. Even if he was lucky enough to recover, he would never be able to lift a weight of thirty kilograms again. Wang Shuai's life was as good as over.

  Liu Yitiao calmly and quietly knelt on the main hall floor, looking at Wang Zhihong, who was sitting in the main hall.

  Around thirty years old, with a dignified appearance, tiger eyes, sword-like eyebrows, and a wide mouth, he looks very handsome and has the air of an official. Just now in prison, chatting with Officer Liu, I found out that this Wang Zhihong is actually a scholar who passed the imperial examination, understands astronomy, is skilled in mathematics, knows agriculture, and can be considered a talented person; it's just unknown why he ended up in this small county of San Yuan.

  "Your Honor, Liu Yitiao has committed a heinous crime, beating up an official in the imperial court without reason, causing severe injuries that are hard to heal. The situation is extremely egregious! Please severely punish him!" Wang Kui was the first to speak out, but it seemed like he had forgotten his own identity.

  "How dare you!" Wang Zhihong slammed his hand on the desk, roaring: "Wang Captor, what right do you have to speak here in court?! Get out!!"

  "Yes! Sir." Wang Kui then realized his mistake and quietly replied in affirmation, retreating to the side.

  "What a wise decision!" Liu Yitiao shouted out a flattering comment at this time, he saw that the relationship between Wang Kui and Wang Hongzhi seemed to be not very harmonious. In his heart, he sighed that this Wang Kui was really a failure as a person.

  "Hmm." Wang Zhihong looked down at Liu Yitiao, who was kneeling below him, his face expressionless. He asked sternly, "You're Liu Yitiao? Huang the captain said you beat up Tax Officer Wang Shuai at the county market, is that true?"

  "Return to the adults! It's true! Commander Wang was indeed beaten by the common people." Liu Yitiao calmly admitted.

  "How dare you!" Wang Zhihong's voice suddenly rose, saying: "You beat the officials of the imperial court for no reason, do you still have the law in your eyes?! Come! Take this lawless person out and flog him twenty times!"

  "Yes!" Two burly bailiffs flashed out from behind Wang Kui. Liu Yitiao felt a chill run down his spine as he caught sight of Wang Kui's yellow teeth bared in a cold smile.

  "Wait! Sirs, commoners have something to say!" Liu Yitiao shouted loudly before being dragged away.

  "Speak!" Wang Zhihong waved his hand, signaling the two bailiffs to stop in their tracks.

  "Sir, Wang Shuai privately increased the tax, and forcibly collected heavy taxes in the market. He also seized the white scallions of the common people without reason. The common people acted out of righteous indignation. I hope you will investigate clearly!" As he spoke, Liu Yitiao took out a receipt that had been prepared earlier from his bosom and handed it over, saying: "This is the receipt for Wang Shuai's collection of taxes from the common people, as well as the vegetables that were damaged when Wang Shuai seized them. Please take a look, sir."

  Seeing this, Wang Kui's face changed greatly, secretly blaming his son for leaving such a big handle.

  "One hundred taels?!" Wang Zhihong coldly swept a glance at Wang Kui, saying: "Wang the captain, has Wang Shuai woken up?"

  "Reporting to Your Excellency, I am awake, it's just that..." Wang Kui hesitated and tried to stall for time to think of a countermeasure. However, Wang Zhihong did not give him this opportunity.

  "Bring him here immediately! I have questions for him!" A loud shout cut off his idea of stalling for time.

  "Yes! Sir." He replied in a low voice, Wang Kui's face turned whiter than pig skin. He had expected it, and Sir Wang was likely to make an example of them father and son.

  Before long, four bailiffs carried Wang Shuai, who was lying on a wooden board, into the main hall.

  Wang Shuai still can't get up, and the clothes on his body still have the blood he spat out, looking particularly miserable. Wang Zhihong unexpectedly took a look at Liu Yitiao, who was one size smaller than Wang Shuai, did this little guy really cause Wang Shuai's injury?

  Wang Zhihong slapped the desk and asked loudly, "Wang Shuai! Liu Yitiao said you privately increased taxes and relied on your power to seize his white scallions. Is this true?"

  Wang Shuai looked at his father Wang Kui, struggled to sit up from the wooden board, and trembled: "Your Honor, I have always acted in accordance with the law, and there is no such thing as what Liu Yitiao said. What Liu Yitiao said is purely a false accusation, please Your Honor investigate clearly! Stand up for me!"

  "Then take a look at this!" Wang Zhihong ordered someone to bring the receipt in front of Wang Shuai and said, "Is this receipt written by you? And are those baskets full of rotten leaves and white scallions also your doing?"

  "..." King Shuai once again cast his gaze towards Wang Kui, he didn't know why the usual perfunctory interrogation today seemed so serious.

  Wang Kui saw Wang Shuai's pleading gaze, and with a sigh, he quickly walked up to Wang Shuai and slapped him in the face, scolding loudly: "You ungrateful son! You've always been fond of causing trouble, but I never thought you'd dare to deceive your father and commit such corrupt and unlawful acts. I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son!"

  After finishing speaking, another mouthful of blood was spat out by Wang Shuai again.

  "Father!!" Wang Shuai was stunned. Why would his father, who usually wouldn't even scold him, hit him with such force? Why? Why was the usually lenient court so severe today? And why did Liu Yitiao, who normally only got beaten up, turn around and hit him instead? Today's unexpected events were too many for Wang Shuai to handle.

  Liu Yitiao unexpectedly glanced at Wang Kui, whose actions were beyond his expectations. He had always thought that such things only happened on TV, but he didn't expect to see it with his own eyes here. A father, in order to sever ties with his law-breaking son, actually ruthlessly beat his already seriously injured son.

  Ruthless, that's how Liu Yitiao evaluates Wang Kui. Such a person is terrifying, so Liu Yitiao tells himself that if he has the chance, he must eliminate Wang Kui completely. Otherwise, he will regret it.

  "King Kui!" Wang Zhihong's voice stopped King Kui's scolding. To be honest, King Kui's behavior made Wang Zhihong feel a chill in his heart. If he treated his own son like this, how would he treat outsiders?

  "Your Honor, Wang Kui has lost his composure! Please forgive him!" Wang Kui bowed and apologized.

  "Hmm, you step aside first, your matter will be discussed after the trial of Commander Wang."

  "Yes, sir!" Wang Kui's heart skipped a beat as he looked up at Wang Zhihong, but there was no expression on his face.

  "Your Honor, Wang Shuai, as a law enforcement officer, knows the law but breaks it. He relies on his family's power and influence to privately increase taxes and forcibly seize other people's property. Please severely punish him, restore justice in San Yuan County, and give the people a fair deal!" Liu Yitiao interjected at the right moment.

  Relying on the power of his family? Wang Zhihong glanced lightly at Liu Yitiao in the hall, thinking that this kid was good with words, and with one sentence, he had wrapped up the entire Wang family.

  "This case I will take charge of for you." Wang Zhihong said: "Wang Shuai, listen to the verdict! Farmer Liu Yitiao accused you of increasing taxes by force, and forcibly taking their property. The evidence is clear, and you cannot deny it any longer. Now, according to the law, this official removes your position as tax officer, sentences you to 15 years in prison, and confiscates all your family's property to return to the people. Guards! Take the criminal Wang Shuai away and throw him into the great prison!"

  "Yes!" The yellow shirt gave a wink to the yamen runners behind him, and they lifted Commander Wang down.

  "King Kui!" Wang Zhihong's gaze shifted again to King Kui, who had been trembling with fear all along.

  "The dwarf is here!" Wang Kui knelt down on the ground.

  "Wang Shuai has disrupted the law and oppressed the people. Although this has nothing to do with you, as his father, you are guilty of not teaching him properly and not keeping an eye on him. You should step down from your position as the head of the county's capture squad tomorrow and hand it over to Huang. Then, go home and retire."

  "Thank you, sir!" Wang Kui's body went limp and fell to the ground. From this moment on, he had nothing left.

  "Willow One Stripe!" Wang Zhihong pointed his words at Willow One Stripe again.

  "We want justice!" Liu's voice was loud and clear. With this verdict, he had already won the case.

  "Considering you are still young and this matter has a reasonable origin, I will not pursue the crime of beating an official. You can go home now."

  "Thank you, sir, for your wise decision! I will withdraw now." Liu Yi smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and slowly stood up to leave the court. He didn't notice at all the venomous glare from Wang Kui behind him.