"Humph! At last, soone who understands the importance of knowing what matters!"
Magistrate Cao spoke quite bluntly, finally casting his gaze on Su Pan’er, who was still standing on top of a large stone.
"Su Sikong, Lord Su! Whether Doctor Su is guilty or not, and of what cri, you can’t just decide by the words from your mouth! Capturing a person requires an arrest warrant. As a parent official, don’t you know this? If you dare to act recklessly and hinder Dr. Su’s research, you will answer to !"
While he spoke, he even glared at Su Sikong a few tis.
Cold sweat trickled down Su Sikong’s forehead!
Upon seeing Inspector Liu beside Magistrate Cao, he hurriedly gave him a aningful look.
Initially, Inspector Liu had been quietly hiding in the corner, behaving as though he were an ignorant piece of wood. Unable to withstand the continuous urging from Su Sikong, he stepped forward: "Magistrate, please calm down! Deputy County Magistrate Su has ntioned Seventh and Eighth Masters..."
He whispered sothing into Magistrate Cao’s ear.
A flash of surprise crossed Magistrate Cao’s eyes. He scanned the crowd before gesturing at Inspector Liu.
"Even if it’s the Seventh Master who wants to arrest soone, there must be an arrest warrant issued by the Imperial Court! Killing an official of the Imperial Court is not a trifling matter, it can’t be casually claid!"
His tone had obviously softened, "Su Sikong, tell what exactly happened."
He finally let him speak!
"Magistrate, here’s the situation! A few days ago, the Seventh and the Eighth Masters ca to Yongze County for business. Unfortunately, the Seventh Master and his team were ambushed on Deicide Mountain."
Su Sikong mopped the sweat off his forehead and respectfully bowed toward the magistrate: "More than a hundred people who were with him have all gone missing; their whereabouts and their fate unknown. The Seventh Master was the only one found at the foot of the cliff, fortunately alive. As Su Pan’er was the only cunning woman skilled in dical practices nearby, the Eighth Master brought Seventh Master to the Qin Family. Unexpectedly, she took this opportunity to harm him, causing him to be unconscious until they arrived back in the capital. Only then, after seeking treatnt from the Imperial Physician, did Seventh Master regain consciousness and relay what happened. Therefore..."
"Oh really? Is this true?"
Magistrate Cao, while stroking his mustache, stared at Su Pan’er.
Hatred stirred within Su Pan’er’s heart!
That Su Sikong certainly put up a facade of being upright and kind but was in truth utterly cruel at heart. He’s truly an ingrate! When the original owner was a little child, he ruthlessly oppressed her, and now he even tried to put her to death. His mind is ruthless and vicious!
"Lord, you must not believe one-sided words."
Jumping off the rock, Su Pan’er made a fist salute toward Magistrate Cao before advancing, causing a panic among the governnt employees, who quickly retreated.
"Lord, the words from Deputy County Magistrate Su are full of doubts, I implore you to give a chance to defend myself."
Being well aware of advancing and retreating, Su Pan’er’s behavior made Magistrate Cao nod his head in agreent.
"Alright! You speak!"
"Thank you, Lord."
After giving a fist salute to Magistrate Cao, Su Pan’er turned to Su Sikong: "Firstly, earlier, Lord Su ntioned that the Seventh and Eighth Masters were ambushed at Deicide Mountain and over a hundred people disappeared. I, Su Pan’er am rely a woman, how would I possibly make over a hundred people disappear?"
This comnt made everyone nod in agreent.
Even if Su Pan’er was strong, at the most, she could handle a few more people. But how could she silently dispose of over a hundred people?
"Secondly, according to Lord Su, even if I, Su Pan’er, did deal with a hundred or so people, why would I let only Seventh Master escape? Is there anyone in this world who would intentionally leave themselves with no way out?"
Su Sikong hurriedly started to argue in defense.
"It was Seventh Master who fell off the cliff, and you just didn’t have ti to deal with him! Yes, that must be it! That’s right!"
"Oh--so this is how Lord Su solves cases, by relying on such guesswork! Su Pan’er is ashad that you can disregard human life based on your own conjectures! The way Lord Su handles cases is truly awe-inspiring indeed... ha-ha!"
Su Pan’er scoffed repeatedly, bowing her fist towards Su Sikong.
The color of Su Sikong’s face changed instantly!
Just as he was about to speak, Magistrate Cao spoke first.
"Ahem! Doctor Su is right to say that re conjecture cannot serve as evidence!"
Since Magistrate Cao had spoken, Su Sikong naturally could not continue to refute, so he glared fiercely at Su Pan’er.
"Thirdly, Lord Su just ntioned that I, Su Pan’er, had secretly hard Seventh Master while treating him. Initially, when Seventh Master was gravely injured and on the brink of death, he barely held on at Su Family residence. In the situation where everyone was helpless, I, Su Pan’er, managed to pull Seventh Master’s life back from Yama! If I wanted to harm Seventh Master, I simply needed to ignore him. Why would I bother causing trouble for myself...sigh!"
Su Pan’er shook her head constantly, her eyes full of sorrow as she looked at Su Sikong.
"It is said, ’where there is the will to condemn, there is always a way to do so’! Uncle, today I, Su Pan’er, call you uncle once more before asking you this question: why do you consistently go against , wishing like I was dead? What is all this for?"
Su Sikong was rendered speechless by Pan’er’s question!
He hadn’t expected Pan’er to bring up this matter in the open. Recovering his senses, he rebuked imdiately-
"You, you stop talking nonsense! I, Su Sikong, am an upright person! When have I been hostile towards anyone?"
"Hah...is that so..."
Su Pan’er wore an expression of sadness and shook her head with a bitter smile.
Then she bowed towards Magistrate Cao: "Magistrate, I have made all my statents. I ask for your verdict!"
Magistrate Cao glanced at Su Pan’er, then gazed at Su Sikong’s face.
Su Sikong’s heart skipped a beat. He had an instinctive feeling that things were not going well.
Before he could clarify anything, Magistrate Cao had already turned and began to quietly discuss the matter with Jun Ruochen.
"Lord Jun, how do you see this matter?"
Jun Ruochen scanned the crowd, then suddenly coughed slightly!
"Ahem, Lord Su! Speaking of which, this is also an internal family affair of your Su family. We outsiders should not intervene. However, if it’s really a dostic matter, you can discuss it privately at length. There’s no need to drag in such serious matters like murder."
He suddenly leaned closer to Su Sikong and whispered: "To be frank, even if Su Pan’er were indeed to be thrown into jail because of this, isn’t it your Su family that will ultimately suffer the loss of reputation? It’s like biting one’s own nose to spite the face – why bring this trouble upon yourself?"
"But, this..."
Su Sikong still wanted to argue, but as his eyes t Pan’er’s mocking gaze, he almost choked on his breath as it got caught in his throat.
"Sir! This Su Pan’er is not my Su family’s bloodline at all. She’s an abandoned baby that Su Lao Si brought back from outside, she..."
"Yes, I, Su Pan’er, am an orphan brought ho. But Uncle, do you disdain so much because of that? Is it because of that you’re against at every turn, trying incessantly to kill ? Uncle, I’ve called you uncle for sixteen years! Are you so ruthless that you must sche to have killed?"
Su Pan’er sounded choked with emotion, almost unable to speak coherently.
"From childhood, Pan’er dares not compete or snatch anything, always pretending to be stupid and innocent! Pan’er is willing to lose to Second cousin in everything, with always yielding to her. You told what to do, and I did it, even when you made marry into the Qin family, I never dared to resist! But you... I’ve stepped back ti and ti again, and I really can’t suppress myself anymore, Uncle!"
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