In the deathly silent cell, an eerie voice suddenly emerged, startling Chunyang and Chunxiang.
They saw in the cell to their left, a man with disheveled hair and a full beard sitting against the wall, his clothes so dirty their original color was unrecognizable.
His pair of wild and sinister eyes peered through the tangled hair and beard, fixating on them, his voice hoarse and dry, "Young lady, the Government Official who brought you here said you killed Peng Shi from Hutou Village. Is that true?"
Chunyang and Chunxiang instinctively tried to shield Xu Jing, who gestured them aside, calmly returning the man's gaze, "Peng Shi is indeed dead, but I didn't kill him."
The Government Officials who brought them over were loudly discussing their case on the way, so it's no surprise the other inmates knew about it.
But this man, he clearly knew Peng Shi.
Before Xu Jing finished speaking, the man's eyes lit up bizarrely, mumbling, "Dead… truly dead… hahaha! Dead! That villain, that rogue, is finally dead! Dead!"
Seeing the man suddenly tilt his head back, bursting into deafening laughter, Chunyang and Chunxiang couldn't help but shiver, while Xu Jing frowned slightly, speaking calmly, "You had a grudge against Peng Shi?"
"A grudge? Of course I had a grudge against him! A grave one!"
The man's laughter abruptly ceased, his body trembled, eyes crazed, "My daughter, whom I cherished for fifteen years, was to be married next year, but because that beast took a liking to her, she was forcibly taken into the Peng Family and then disappeared!
I knelt, begging the beast to return my daughter, and that beast said he'd never seen her!
I had no choice but to disguise myself and sneak into the Peng Family, but after searching the entire place, I couldn't find a trace of her! When I asked the Peng Family members, they either said they hadn't seen her or gave evasive answers, warning me never to bring it up again! But I was soon discovered, beaten badly and thrown out by that beast's men, even crippling a leg!
I'm certain my daughter disappeared in the Peng Family! When I reported to the county government, who knew our esteemed County Magistrate Sun, hahah, the people's magistrate, would say my daughter must have eloped and accused me of slandering good citizens, then beat me and locked me up!
My daughter was the most obedient and honest, how could she do such a thing as eloping! Moreover… moreover, the Peng Family took her right in front of me! I saw them take my daughter with my own eyes!!"
The man grew more agitated as he spoke, nearly shouting, like a wild beast in a frenzy.
"It's my fault for being incapable, unable to protect my Yuan'er, it's my fault, it's my fault!"
Suddenly, the man collapsed to the ground, his forehead banging against the floor, muttering with each hit, "It's your father's fault, your father's fault, Yuan'er, forgive your father, forgive your father…"
"Young...young lady..."
Chunyang and Chunxiang were stupefied, witnessing such self-harm for the first time.
No wonder earlier they noticed the man's hair at his forehead was matted together, darker in color, perhaps this wasn't the first time he harmed himself. Without his hair covering it, his forehead must look ghastly.
Xu Jing sighed lightly, "This man is already insane."
Clearly, his daughter was also a victim of Peng Shi.
Chunyang clenched her fist tightly, gritting her teeth, "That Peng Shi is worse than a pig or dog!"
She couldn't imagine if Ms. Xu hadn't held strong, if Peng Shi hadn't been killed, what their fate would be.
It probably wouldn't be much better than now.
Chunxiang perhaps thought of the same, fell silent, not speaking. The three of them huddled together on the haystack for some time before Chunxiang suddenly sniffed, saying, "Young lady, are we really going to die? Yesterday we finally had meat to eat, last night I dreamed about what meat we might have next. I wonder if we'll taste meat again before we die..."
Even in this situation, Chunyang couldn't help but be amused by her, rolling her eyes, "At a time like this, you're still thinking about that!"
Xu Jing also couldn't help but smile at her.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the cell, causing the three of them to immediately sit up straight, looking towards the source of the sound.
The footsteps did not stop, and soon, a tall, thin Government Official with a square face appeared in their view.
The official stopped right in front of their cell, took out a key, opened the cell door, and said coldly, "Criminal Ms. Xu, County Magistrate Sun wants to personally question you, come out!"
Chunyang was startled, hurriedly stood up, "Officer, our lady really didn't kill anyone! If you must take someone, take me instead, our lady is delicate and cannot endure this torture!"
Chunxiang also quickly stood up, "Take me instead! I have more flesh and tougher skin, surely better than young lady and Chunyang to question! Officer, take me instead!"
The official disdainfully glanced at them, still fixating on Xu Jing, "County Magistrate Sun wants only Ms. Xu! Ms. Xu, not coming out? Do I need to drag you out?!"
Xu Jing stood up slowly, her eyes slightly cold, suddenly, she laughed softly, "Earlier in court, County Magistrate Sun didn't ask me a single question before deciding my guilt, now he wants to question me alone.
I fear it's not questioning, but pressuring me to confess, isn't it?"
The official froze, face turning pale.
How did this woman know!
And how composed she is! Is she even a woman?
He couldn't help but raise his voice, "Stop talking nonsense! Our magistrate has always been fair! Get out immediately! Or don't blame me for being rude!"
Xu Jing seemed not to hear his threat, speaking to herself, "How to resolve this case quickly and perfectly? If it were me, merely forcing a confession is too risky, better to... make the accused commit suicide out of guilt, for only a dead person's mouth is reliable, would you agree?"
The official looked at the woman in the cell incredulously.
This woman even guessed that!
Just what kind of witch is she!
But, even if she's from the Abyssal Underworld, she must die today, or it will be his end!
He suddenly slapped the wooden bars of the cell, producing a loud "snap," and shouted harshly, "Say one more word of nonsense! I don't mind showing you some colors right here!"
Xu Jing coldly smirked, slowly saying, "Haven't you heard the saying? A barking dog is only bluffing, afraid to bite.
You wouldn't dare touch me, at least not in front of so many people."
After all, they needed to stage her suicide out of guilt, how could they leave evidence of their own brutality.
If they beat them in front of others and it was mentioned later, they couldn't avoid the accusation of wrongful coercion.
The official's face turned dark as if he'd swallowed a fly, full of frustration.
This wretched woman! Calling who a dog!
Though he indeed couldn't touch her in front of everyone, once they reached a secluded spot, it would be another matter!
Xu Jing coolly watched him for a while, then finally lifted her legs, slowly walking out of the cell.
Chunyang grabbed Xu Jing's sleeve, shaking her head desperately, "Young lady, you can't..."
The thought of him taking their lady alone already terrified them, and her words earlier had made them even more uneasy.
She had a foreboding, if their lady went with him, there would surely be dire consequences.
Yet Xu Jing merely pulled her sleeve free, calmly stated, "We have no choice in this matter, rest assured, I will be fine."
They dare not act in front of others, but forcibly taking her away was possible.
This time, she had to go, willingly or not.
She just wondered if that person could make it in time.
An icy glint flitted through Xu Jing's eyes.
Even if they couldn't make it in time, she would protect herself, even resorting to extreme measures if necessary!