The new book of the burning prairie star

Chapter 224: Do the Woman's Family Agree?

"Who's beating the drum?" Yang Biao was discussing with his subordinates the border friction between Qianpu Prefecture and ethnic minorities to see if the dispute could be resolved peacefully, when they heard a burst of rapid drumbeats coming from outside the government office.

"Master, an old woman is suing Tang Kaiwen, the son of the prefect of this prefecture, for forcibly abducting a woman." He went out to check and came back to report to him the reason for beating the drum.

"Oh, let's go to court. Go and call Judge Tang to come and listen to the court." See if he knows about his son's affairs.

Since Tang Kevin was not an official, the old woman did not have to be beaten with a stick when she sued him. She was directly taken to the hall by the bailiffs.

"Who is here in the hall and why are you beating the drum to complain?" Yang Biao picked up the gavel in his right hand and slammed it hard on the table.

"Sir, I am Qian, a commoner, suing Tang Kevin for seeing my granddaughter's beauty a few months ago and taking her to the Tang Mansion in broad daylight to be his concubine."

Qian knelt on the ground and kowtowed. She really had no way to file a complaint, so she came to beat the drum to appeal for justice.

She and her granddaughter depended on each other for survival. Ever since her granddaughter was kidnapped, she went to the Tang family to ask for her granddaughter back many times, but was beaten away every time.

When she recovered from her injury and went to the prefecture to ask for redress again, a kind passerby told her that the new prefect was an honest official and might be able to redress her grievances.

"Besides, you go and summon Tang Kevin to the court for confrontation." Yang Biao signaled him to bring more people with him, fearing that Tang Kevin would be unwilling to come.

According to the law, both the plaintiff and the defendant must appear in court to be questioned by the presiding judge and cross-examined by the other party.

Moreover, he took the order and brought many people to the Tang Mansion. When he arrived at the Tang Mansion, he saw that the gate was well-behaved and there was no sign of bullying.

"Sir, this is the residence of Tang Tongpan, the former governor of Pu Prefecture. What are you doing here?" The two doormen stepped forward to stop these unfamiliar soldiers.

"By order of the prefect of this prefecture, I invite Tang Kevin to go to the government office." After saying this, he pushed the doorman's door open.

"How dare you break into the residence of the Tongpan? Get out of here immediately." The doorman struck the gong, and the guards of the Tang Mansion came out upon hearing the gong.

"We are ordered by the prefect of this prefecture to invite Tang Kevin to the government office for questioning!" He emphasized again that he was acting on orders and not barging in recklessly. This time he brought a yamen runner who knew Tang Kevin with him.

"Our master said that the new prefect is nothing, just a soft dough. If the master wants to make it round, it will be round." The guard drew his knife and said proudly.

The prefect of Qianpu Prefecture is still recovering from his injuries. Currently, the prefect is the highest official position in Qianpu Prefecture. It is really arrogant for a small magistrate to say such words.

"You dare to disrespect the prefect. Brothers, rush in and bring Tang Kevin to court for trial!" He also drew his knife and slashed at the guards.

Moreover, he did not kill anyone, but just chopped them unconscious with his hand knife. Entering the inner house of Tang Mansion, he found that the courtyard inside was decorated with extremely luxurious things, and the entire window lattice and even the window sill were carved with vivid and interesting patterns with exquisite composition, festive and auspicious patterns.

"It seems that this Tang Tongpan is not a good guy." Wu Tong whispered in his ear, and nodded. The monthly salary of a small Tongpan was not enough to support the expenses of such a large mansion.

"Sir He, that man is Tang Kevin." The yamen runner who knew him pointed at Tang Kevin who had changed into servant's clothes and was about to escape.

"Tang Kevin, we are ordered by the prefect of this city to invite you to the court for questioning." He Kuang immediately stepped forward and grabbed him, while he was still struggling hard.

"Wu Tong, go find the kidnapped girl, I'll take this person back first." The victim must be found and rescued. Moreover, the person was tied to the horse and rushed to the government office at full speed.

"Sir, Tang Kevin is here!" He kicked him in the knee, causing him to kneel on the ground in pain.

"Tang Kevin, do you recognize the old woman kneeling in front of you?" Yang Biao glanced at Tang Tongpan next to him and slammed the gavel.

"Of course I recognize him!" Tang Kevin, who was a little panicked just now, felt relieved when he saw his father sitting next to him.

"She sued you for robbing her granddaughter in the street. Do you plead guilty?" Yang Biao slammed the gavel again. He could clearly feel the change in Tang Kevin's expression.

"Sir, I am taking a concubine. How can you say that I am being robbed?" Tang Kevin looked at Tang Tongpan and asked calmly.

"Since you are taking a concubine, do the woman's family agree?" Actually, there is no need to ask. If they agree, why do you need to sit here? But according to the trial procedure, you have to ask this question, and the confession needs to be recorded in written form.

"Well, this..." Tang Kevin hesitated for a moment, and his eyes unconsciously looked at Tang Tongpan who was sitting next to him.

Judge Tang coughed and said to Yang Biao: "Sir, as the saying goes, parents' orders and matchmaker's words..."

"Ms. Qian, where is your son?" Yang Biao turned around and asked the victim without waiting for him to finish.

"Sir, my three sons have fled with their wives and children. This little granddaughter has no father or mother, so I adopted her."

Even though there was drought and riots in Qianpu Prefecture, the Qian family was reluctant to leave the hometown where they had lived all their lives and chose to stay here.

"Oh, this is robbery. Come on, give me fifty lashes!" Yang Biao threw the token in the tube into the hall, and Tang Kevin was dragged out by He Kuang and others to be beaten with a stick. Tang Tongpan sat there with a grim face.

"Sir, I, Zhao Sinian, am also going to sue Tang Kevin for robbing my shop and killing my family of six." Seeing Tang Kevin being beaten, another victim who had endured the pain in silence before appeared again.

"Sir, can you please have a word with me?" Tang Tongpan could no longer sit still. He pulled Yang Biao to the inner court, thinking that since he had managed financial, household registration and other affairs in Qianpu Prefecture for many years and had rich experience in politics, when Yang Biao had just arrived, he had visited him and asked for advice.

"President Tang, is there anything you want to say that can't wait until I leave the court?" Yang Biao asked after being pulled to an empty corner.

"Sir, my son is young and has done something wrong. I hope you will consider my age and spare his life."

Tang Tongpan did not boast about his hard work and great contributions. He just wanted to postpone the matter for the time being and find an opportunity to kill him just like he killed the previous prefect.

"Oh," Yang Biao nodded, returned to the hall and sat down.

"Zhao Sinian, I have recorded your story. The prisoner Tang Kevin will be taken to jail. I will investigate the truth before trying him again!" Yang Biao slammed the gavel and announced the adjournment of the court.

"Master, I went to the Tang family and found that the decoration inside was extremely magnificent. It was not something that people like Tang Tongpan could afford." After Yang Biao left the hall, He Kuang followed him up and told him about his experience in the Tang Mansion.

"Well, find Tang Tongpan's former colleagues and obtain evidence of his corruption and bribery!" The government office was burned down by the mob, taking with it all the archived documents. This was an unusual incident.

"Xiao Ran, are you hot?" Yang Biao poured her a glass of boiled water and fanned her. He had given birth to a child in modern times, and knew that after pregnancy, changes in hormone levels may lead to faster metabolism, causing pregnant women to be easily afraid of heat.

"I'm fine, take a look at the account." Qin Xiaoran finished drinking the water and then opened the account book. The flowers, plants, trees, tables and chairs, bookshelves, and locked cabinets for files in the government office all cost a lot of money.

"Just figure it out." Yang Biao carried her to the small couch, let her rest for a while, and went to the kitchen to make her something to eat.

"Yang Biao, you meddle too much!" Several men in black appeared in the darkness and stabbed at him with swords.