A Journey Through the Worlds of Film and Television.

Chapter 911 New Case

"Sir, I am Tao Sheng. My family is quite wealthy. I own a house in Kyoto and run a porcelain shop in the West Market. I have a son and a daughter, and I live a fairly affluent life.

Just a month ago, my daughter went with me to check the accounts in the shop, and happened to be favored by the eldest son of the Lu family in West City. The eldest son of the Lu family insisted on taking my daughter as a concubine. The eldest son of the Lu family was a playboy and cruel, and my daughter was only twelve years old, so I naturally didn't want her to jump into the fire pit.

Unexpectedly, the young master of the Lu family came to harass us many times. My family was miserable and the business of the store could not be maintained. We had no choice but to file a complaint with the government. The prefect warned the young master of the Lu family, and he did not come to harass us again.

I thought this matter was over. But last month, the young master of the Lu family came to my shop again, claiming that he wanted to order a batch of high-quality porcelain worth 200 taels to celebrate Mr. Lu's birthday. The young master of the Lu family also asked me to sign a contract with him, saying that if I couldn't deliver the batch of porcelain on time, I would have to pay ten times the compensation.

I knew there was something fishy going on and didn't want to agree, but I was afraid of the Lu family's power and dared not disapprove. I had no choice but to sign the contract and accept the fifty taels of silver paid in advance by the other party.

In order to ensure that the goods can be delivered on time, I specially purchased double the amount of goods in advance to deal with unexpected situations. Unexpectedly, on the night before the delivery, a group of people suddenly broke into the store, smashed everything, and broke all the porcelain in the store. I could only use the second set of spare porcelain to prepare for the delivery on time the next day.

However, the next day, before the goods were delivered to the Lu family, they were hit by a frightened donkey cart on the way, causing some of the porcelain to be damaged. For a while, I was unable to deliver the goods, so the young master Lu came to me with the contract and asked me to pay ten times the compensation.

That's two thousand taels of silver. Even if I sell my house and shop, it's still not enough. I can't pay it back, so I can only use the deeds of my house and shop to pay it back. If...if I still can't pay it back, I'll have to send my daughter over..."

Hearing this, Lu Cheng turned to look at Captain Li: "Captain Li, what is the background of the Lu family? Why are they so arrogant?"

Captain Li looked at the victim kneeling on the ground, his face was a little embarrassed, and then he whispered: "Sir, the Lu family was originally just a wealthy family. But the daughter of the Lu family is beautiful, and she is the favorite concubine of the young Marquis of Jing'an Marquis's Mansion. The Lu family has the support of the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion, so naturally...

Mr. Tao had come to our government office to appeal for justice before, but he could not produce any evidence to prove that the person who destroyed their porcelain was related to the Lu family. The Lu family has the contract in their hands, and the Jing'an Marquis Mansion is behind them, so we..."

Lu Cheng nodded, then stepped forward to help the victim up: "I have taken over your case. I will find out the truth later. If the Lu family really deliberately harmed you, I will definitely give you justice."

"I thank you, sir."

At this time, the people around also began to discuss. On one side was a relative of the Marquis's mansion, and on the other was just a small wealthy family. This was something that even the Shuntian prefect did not dare to intervene in. Could Lu Cheng, a sixth-rank magistrate, really manage it?

Not only the common people, but even the victim Tao Sheng himself, did not hold out much hope and just tried his best to save the situation.

In fact, the reason why many murders and wrongful convictions cannot be solved is not because the truth cannot be found or the real culprit cannot be found, but because no one dares to reveal the truth and no one dares to catch the real culprit.

"Captain Li, take this adulterous couple back to the government office and wait for the prefect to pronounce the verdict."

"Yes."

"Mr. Tao, you follow me too. I have something to ask you."

Afterwards, the group headed towards the Shuntian Prefecture government office. Some of the people around also wanted to watch the fun and followed behind.

After returning to the government office, Lu Cheng first asked people to go through the procedures to put Zhang Jin and Wang the butcher on trial, and then the Shuntian prefect would handle the matter.

As for Lu Cheng, he began to ask Tao Sheng some questions: "Tao Sheng, let me ask you, the night before you delivered the goods, when that group of people broke into your store and smashed things, who saw it? Do you remember the characteristics of that group of people?"

"Your Excellency, I was there at the time. Although those men were masked, I could tell they were the servants of Young Master Lu just by their figures and features. The man who drove the donkey cart into the cargo the next day was also a well-known rogue named Peng Lao San in West City. He was most likely bribed by the Lu family."

Lu Cheng then asked for some more details and asked Tao Sheng to go back home and wait.

After Tao Sheng left, Captain Li came in from outside and said, "Sir Lu, the prefect wants to see you."

When they arrived at the back hall of the government office, Shuntian Prefecture Governor was already waiting there. When he saw Lu Cheng coming, he smiled and praised him: "Lord Lu is very observant. It only took him a quarter of an hour to solve a murder case and arrest two criminals on the spot. You are indeed a talent that His Majesty values."

"You are too polite, Lord Prefect. This is all my duty."

"Lord Lu is in such a difficult situation, his future is limitless. I may have to rely on Lord Lu in the future."

"Your Excellency, the prefectural governor has given me too much praise. I am ashamed to accept it. This is all thanks to your good leadership and the capable and smart police officers in the prefectural government."

Upon hearing this, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture also showed a gratified smile: "It seems that Lord Lu is also knowledgeable and sensible. However, the feud between Tao Sheng and the Lu family involves the Jing'an Marquis' Mansion. Tao Sheng himself cannot produce decent evidence. If Lord Lu insists on investigating, it is probably difficult to find anything useful, and he will also offend the Jing'an Marquis' Mansion..."

"Thank you for your reminder, Lord Prefect. However, I have been trusted by the Emperor to serve as the Magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture. I must enforce the law impartially, find out the truth, and uphold the law to repay the Emperor's grace."

"You...never mind, just be careful."

Lu Cheng didn't say much. He just bowed and turned to leave.

Not to mention that there is the Jing'an Marquis Mansion behind the Lu family, even if there is a royal palace behind him, Lu Cheng will find out the truth and redress the people.

The reason why Emperor Changtai placed Lu Cheng in the position of Shuntian Prefecture Procurator was probably because he wanted to see if Lu Cheng had the courage to face the powerful and not fear the strong.

If a concubine's family of the Marquis of Jing'an could make Lu Cheng retreat, then there would be no need for him to train them.

Forbidden City, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After Emperor Changtai learned from the Jinyiwei what happened today, his face showed no joy or anger. He just casually ordered: "Continue to send people to watch and see how our number one scholar will deal with it."

In fact, most of the military heroes in the court favored the emperor, and Emperor Changtai was looking for an opportunity to clean them up.

However, those noble groups have huge networks of relationships in both the military and political circles, and it is difficult to eliminate them all in a short period of time. If we act rashly, we may alert the enemy.

Letting Lu Cheng, the newly crowned number one scholar, confront the nobles can, on the one hand, weaken some of them, and on the other hand, it can also serve as a chance to hone Lu Cheng.

For Emperor Changtai, this is the best of both worlds.

As for Lu Cheng himself, he was skilled and bold, and didn't care about the mansions of marquises or princes. If his opponent was willing to abide by the rules, Lu Cheng could also serve as the Justice Bao for the people for a few more days.

If the other party is unwilling to cooperate, then I'm sorry. I wanted to fight you as an ordinary person, but what I got was you playing dirty tricks behind my back, so I won't pretend anymore and will turn the table...