270: Chapter 270 Anecdotes of the Judge

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the mansion looked flustered.

Liao Meier cried out and begged, "Lin Xiao! Even if the Prince had ten thousand faults, he had already acknowledged his mistakes and pleaded guilty before he died. Please, have mercy!"

"Are you a female member of the Bai Princes Mansion?" Lin Xiao asked.

Liao Meier shook her head sadly, "I am Liao Meier, just a concubine in the mansion without any official status..."

"You are nothing but a concubine without status, yet you dare to defy me for his sake?"

"Even though the Prince did not give me an official title, we have spent years together. We are not unfeeling beings; how could I have no affection for him?"

Liao Meier looked deeply devoted, "I implore Lin Xiao to grant the Prince one last shred of dignity and let him be laid to rest in peace..."

By the end, Liao Meier knocked her head against the ground so hard that her forehead was cut and bleeding!

The woman's performance was so full of genuine emotion that many people on the scene were secretly moved...

To think that a villain like Prince Bai still had such a devoted woman by his side? What a pity, how lamentable!

"I am not opening the coffin for personal revenge, but to verify the truth for the people of the North and for the Imperial Court!"

"This traitor Prince Bai caused so many commoners to be separated from their families and lose their homes; even a thousand cuts would be too good for him!!"

Lin Xiao said sternly, "You want to give him dignity? Does he deserve it?!"

"Even if I agreed to you, ask the commoners outside Yong Province city—would they agree!?"

These resounding words made the commoners nod repeatedly, some even with tears in their eyes!

They had always heard that Lin Xiao's Zhenbei Army was an army of justice, and now, seeing and hearing it for themselves, it was truly so!

The sky over Yong Province has finally cleared!!

"We don't agree!!" "We want to open the coffin!!" "We must see him alive, or see his corpse if he is dead!!..."

Many commoners immediately gathered their courage and shouted, with waves of voices following one after another.

Seeing this, Liao Meier shed tears profusely, not daring to speak again.

Lin Xiao waved his hand, and Qin He stepped forward, prying open the heavy coffin lid with a single blade.

"General Zhao, I have never met Prince Bai. Please, trouble yourself to confirm it."

"I obey the order!"

Zhao Yunting also looked grave; this was no small matter. This scene today would definitely be recorded in history.

He walked to the side of the coffin and, after confirming repeatedly, nodded.

"Lin Xiao, this is indeed Prince Bai. There is no mistake. Judging by the state of the corpse, he has not been dead for long."

Originally, he had thought that Lin Xiao had killed Prince Bai long ago.

That was why there were such strange events in the past few days, like Prince Bai writing a "Confession of Guilt" and agreeing to the decree of bestowing favors.

But upon seeing the corpse, Zhao Yunting's suspicions vanished completely.

Little did he know that Lin Xiao's space was very special; once a corpse was placed inside, the rate of decomposition would slow down significantly.

Upon hearing that Prince Bai was truly dead, many commoners wept with joy, crying out that Heaven had eyes!

Lin Xiao announced on the spot, "Prince Bai is dead. I have been ordered by the Imperial Court to take over Yong Province!"

"From this day forward, if any of Prince Bai's cohorts come to surrender, they may be dealt with leniently."

"If they remain stubborn and hold onto thoughts of luck, the Zhenbei Army will never show mercy!!"

The commoners present heard this and just cheered and applauded.

But the civil and military officials heard it, and many of them sensed that something was not right...

Take over Yong Province? Emperor Hong only issued an edict for Lin Xiao to take over the military affairs of the six provinces.

Did this Lin Xiao just have a slip of the tongue, or was it...?

Some people pretended to be ignorant while knowing the truth, and others dared not think too deeply about it.

In any case, no one dared to object.

Soon, the Zhenbei Army, singing loud military songs, marched into Yong Province city with high spirits.

Although many soldiers felt "ashamed" and their faces turned bright red while singing,

but thinking that they would have their military pay deducted if they didn't sing, they had no choice but to thicken their skin and sing.

The commoners listened and, although they felt it was a bit funny, seeing that the Zhenbei Army truly did not steal, rob, or disturb the people, they felt respect arising from the bottom of their hearts.

That afternoon.

Lin Xiao announced that the Northern Trade Alliance would officially enter Yong Province, and supplies such as honeycomb coal would arrive via Sha Prefecture within two days.

Batches of supplies were transported to the refugee camp outside the city.

Some capable grassroots officials were rapidly promoted, while some connected individuals who were drawing empty salaries were quickly dismissed and investigated.

All the commoners in Yong Province city were stunned by Lin Xiao's astonishing efficiency.

He had just arrived, yet it was like returning to his own home; everything was managed in an orderly manner.

The officials were even more shocked; they didn't even need to do a handover, and there was nothing to say—Lin Xiao was completely clear about their situation.

This meant that the Zhenbei Army had long known the situation in Yong Province like the back of their hand?

For a time, Lin Xiao became even more unfathomable and omnipotent in their eyes!

That evening, a large number of guys who had previously worked for the Bai Princes Mansion and had guilty consciences began to surrender voluntarily.

For a time, the whole city was in an uproar, and a major cleanup of the bureaucracy took place, which had the commoners full of praise!

At nightfall.

Inside the temporary Generals Mansion.

Lin Xiao looked at the large batch of confessions from those who surrendered, unable to laugh or cry.

It was all dogs biting dogs, a mess; the crimes committed by Prince Bai's forces over the years were too numerous to record.

"Husband, these people are shifting the blame onto each other, and many of the statements don't match up at all."

Mu Wanying snorted coldly, "In my opinion, it would be better to just kill them all!"

Lin Xiao shook his head, "Since I said that those who surrender can be dealt with leniently, I cannot go back on my word."

"Many of them deserve to die, but there are also many who were forced by circumstances and had no choice at all."

Mu Wanying frowned, "Then what should we do? Are you going to interrogate them one by one, Husband?"

"Prince Bai has been operating in Yong Province for over twenty years; the roots are already deeply intertwined. How can we finish interrogating them all?"

Lin Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Is Chang Youkui still working as a Judicial Officer in Yangquan?"

He remembered that workaholic, the Iron-Faced Judge.

Upon hearing this name, Mu Wanying couldn't help but smile.

"What's wrong?"

"When you mentioned him, Husband, I remembered an interesting anecdote."

Mu Wanying said, "Didn't you ask him before, Husband, if he had taken a wife?"

Lin Xiao nodded, "Yes, I did."

"Chang Youkui took your words to heart, Husband, so he hired a matchmaker to help him find a match."

"After he became a Judicial Officer, there were indeed many people willing to marry their daughters to him."

"As it turned out, one young woman was very much to Chang Youkui's liking, and the betrothal gifts had also been discussed..."

"Everyone thought that Chang Youkui was finally going to get married, but Husband, guess what happened?"

Lin Xiao was speechless, "Wanying, my dear, why are you still keeping me in suspense?"

Mu Wanying suppressed a laugh, "As it turned out, three days before the wedding, Chang Youkui arrested his future father-in-law!"