Ever since Zhao Chuanchen was taken away by Li Yuanfang, he had been on tenterhooks.
After he entered the Grand Governor's Mansion, he became even more uneasy and paced back and forth in the hall.
Just as Zhao Chuanchen was about to lose his patience, Di Renjie finally appeared. Zhang Dingguo and Li Yuanfang followed behind Di Renjie.
When Zhao Chuanchen saw a fat old man enter, he immediately realized that it was Lord Di. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed." I am Zhao Chuanchen, the county magistrate of Sanhe County. Greetings, Your Excellency!”
This was obviously a guilty conscience. Otherwise, why would he lower his head and not dare to raise it? He definitely didn't dare to look at Di Renjie, afraid that he would see the fear and uneasiness in his heart!
Di Renjie had rich experience in solving cases and interrogating people. Therefore, he neither asked Zhao Chuanchen directly nor asked him to get up. Instead, he asked Zhao Chuanchen to continue kneeling while he walked to the side to cut the wick of the candle (which could make the candle brighter), hoping to exert psychological pressure on Zhao Chuanchen.
When it was almost time, Di Renjie asked sternly,""Zhao Chuanchen, do you know your sins?"
"I don't know."
"Then let me remind you. A year ago, the state gave a sum of money to each county, but you didn't distribute it to the people. Where did the money go?”
"Sir, this lowly servant left this money behind.”
Although Zhao Chuanchen was already sweating profusely from nervousness, he still tried to say that he didn't know anything, hoping to get through this.
However, when he heard Lord Di directly ask about the consolation money, he still cowered and admitted that he had embezzled the huge sum of money.
"Oh? Why?" Upon hearing Zhao Chuanchen admit his crime, Di Renjie continued to ask, not wanting to give Zhao Chuanchen time to make up a statement.
However, Zhao Chuanchen acted like he was the only one who took all the blame." I have embezzled this huge sum of money. I have committed a grave sin. Please punish me, Your Excellency!"”
Di Renjie naturally knew that he was taking the blame for others.
" Raise your head." Di Renjie waited until he saw Zhao Chuanchen's eyes before continuing," Embezzling the imperial court's huge sum of money is a crime of deceiving the sovereign. The three clans will be wiped out." You have to think carefully."
"This matter was indeed my doing." Zhao Chuanchen said guiltily.
"You did it alone?" Di Renjie continued to ask.
"That's right." Zhao Chuanchen felt guilty again.
"Humph! Not to mention a small county magistrate, even a state official or a provincial governor wouldn't have the ability to do so. I advise you to tell the truth.”Di Renjie made it clear that he did not believe that Zhao Chuanchen was the only one behind this. There must be other high-ranking officials behind this case, so it was better to confess!
" This matter was indeed done by me alone…" Zhao Chuanchen still did not dare to expose his superior.
"There's one thing I have to remind you of. You can't afford this crime. No matter what promise the person behind the scenes made to you, it's all fake! Think about it, if they can throw you out as a scapegoat now, will they care about your life or death in the future? There is only one outcome for you, and that is to be killed by your master!”
Di Renjie did not believe that a Rank-7 County Magistrate could secretly take such a large sum of money. Judging from Zhao Chuanchen's previous behavior, he was actually afraid that he would be killed to silence him if he told the truth.
Additionally, in Youzhou Province, could Sanhe County be the only county that had been embezzled?
Therefore, Zhao Chuanchen was at most an accomplice and an executor of the consolation money. He must have been instructed by someone!
To put it bluntly, Zhao Chuanchen believed that as long as he kept his mouth shut, his backer would definitely think of a way to save him. Even if he lost his official position in the end, he would at least be able to keep his life. However, once he confessed, he would be killed by someone from the backstage.
Therefore, Zhao Chuanchen had been unwilling to tell her everything in order to save his life.
Di Renjie could guess what Zhao Chuanchen was thinking, so he came up with a plan.
"Oh, you don't believe me? " Okay, then let's play a game," Di Renjie said with a smile." Yuan Fang, arrange for Lord Zhao to stay in the East Flower Hall. Send guards to guard the door. No one is allowed to approach!”
"Yes." Upon hearing Lord Di's order, Li Yuanfang immediately took Zhao Chuanchen away to settle him down.
After Li Yuanfang and Zhao Chuanchen left, Di Renjie asked Zhang Dingguo,""Dingguo, what do you think of this Zhao Chuanchen?”
Zhang Dingguo had not interrupted before. He just watched silently from the side. When Di Renjie asked him, he answered slowly,""It's obvious that he's taking the blame for someone else.”
"That's right. He actually thought that someone would save him. How naive!”
Di Renjie was an old fox who had been an official for decades. Of course, he knew the cruelty of officialdom. How could anyone save Zhao Chuanchen at this time? They would definitely kill him first to silence him and quickly remove himself from the consolation fund case. How could anyone jump in voluntarily?
"Yeah, you're really naive! However, as long as we let him understand that even if he doesn't say it, he'll die. I think he'll tell us the truth!”
After Zhang Dingguo said this, Di Renjie looked at him and smiled as if great minds think alike. Then, the two foxes began to plan how to plot against Zhao Chuanchen…
(I was wrong. I shouldn't have said that the day before yesterday.) Recently, I have to think of a way to change my work and rest habits. I can't sleep during the day and come out at night anymore. The efficiency of writing is too low. To make it up to everyone, I've decided to delay the book by a few chapters. The free chapters will be at least seventy chapters.）
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]