A car accident, our family of three crossed

Chapter 166 The Wan Family Voluntarily Donates All Their Assets

On the day of the interrogation of the Wan family, Zhou Ru had already booked the private room with the best view in the teahouse opposite the government office, and prepared tea and snacks, waiting for the arrival of Song Ning's family.

Song Ning and others arrived at the teahouse before the court session was about to start. As soon as they went upstairs, Zhou Huan sent someone to invite Hang Shuheng to the next private room before he entered the private room. It turned out that the two private rooms with the best views in the teahouse were occupied by the father and daughter.

It was only at this time that Zhou Ru realized that her father was actually next door. She and Song Ning went next door to say hello before returning to the private room.

After they left, Zhou Huan and Hang Shuheng were the only ones left in the private room next door. Hang Shuheng smiled and said, "I didn't expect that Shopkeeper Zhou could be so leisurely and elegant."

"I'm here to take a break from my busy schedule and join in the fun." Zhou Huan added tea to his cup. "What does Hang Shuheng think of the Wan family?"

Hang Shuheng raised his eyebrows when he heard this. Zhou Huan had been asked countless times about his opinion on the Wan family's case these days. He took the teacup and sniffed it. He took a sip and said quietly, "Why do I think it's not important? How will the Wan family react? We'll know after the prefect opens the court for trial."

"Isn't Hang Tongsheng curious and doesn't want to guess?"

"What? If you guess correctly, will Shopkeeper Zhou give you a prize?" Hang Shuheng chuckled and joked, then added: "Anyway, the Wan family can't get away with it unscathed."

Zhou Huan paused when he heard this, and finally smiled without saying anything. He turned his gaze to the window and looked at the yamen opposite.

Many eagerly waiting common people had gathered outside the yamen's court. When the time came, the prefect appeared in the court.

Sitting in the hall, the gavel slammed -

"The time has come, go to court."

On both sides of the court, two rows of yamen runners held killing sticks and stood in unison, shouting "mighty".

"Bring the prisoner."

Soon, Mr. Wan and Wan Baolu, the two main figures of the Wan family, were brought to the court, while the rest of the Wan family members remained in jail.

"Who is in the hall? Tell me your name."

The gavel on the hall made the Wan family's father and son's hearts beat wildly, and they kowtowed and introduced their names.

"I, Wan Yougui and Wan Baolu, come to see the prefect."

"Wan Yougui, Wan Baolu, you are suspected of treason, and the evidence is irrefutable. Do you have anything else to say?"

"My Lord, this is unjust. The Wan family has absolutely no intention of treason. Please understand clearly."

"You say it's unjust? Then I ask you, Wan Baolu once publicly declared that he wanted to be the emperor of Pingyang County, do you agree or not?"

Upon hearing this, the Wan family father and son paused, knelt on the ground and did not dare to answer.

The prefect slammed the gavel and said, "You cannot deny this matter. There is more than one witness who can prove that Wan Baolu spoke such outrageous words. Do you need me to invite witnesses?"

Master Wan was disheartened. The only way out now was to insist that the Wan family had no intention of rebelling, and perhaps he could still have a chance of survival.

"Please show some mercy, sir. I love to argue with others, and I said something crazy in the heat of the moment. But it was just a hasty and unintentional joke. The Wan family absolutely does not have the slightest intention of treason. Please understand clearly, sir."

"Wan Baolu is not a three-year-old child. How can I believe you when you tell me that he was just joking?" The prefect sneered and said, "Everyone knows that the Wan family has a huge fortune. If they really want to raise an army, it is not a problem at all..."

"No, no, no, sir, sir, the Wan family's loyalty to the court is evident to all, and we would never dare to show the slightest disrespect." Master Wan panicked and interrupted the prefect before he could finish speaking.

The prefect slammed the gavel heavily and shouted, "Humph! You dare to say such treasonous words, what else can you not dare to say? I think your Wan family is very daring."

"Your Excellency, we dare not do this. Even if we have a hundred guts, we still don't dare..." Master Wan knelt with his forehead pressed to the floor, fighting for a glimmer of hope for his family. After Wan Baolu reported his name, he knelt and trembled, not saying a word.

The prefect looked down at them with sneer in his eyes. He said, "With such low standards, I don't know how he had the courage to say such words."

"You keep saying that the Wan family has no intention of rebellion. This government is neither heaven nor earth, let alone the worm in your stomach. How can I know whether what you say is credible?" The prefect said this and changed the subject: "Let's take a step back and say that even if Wan Baolu was just joking at the time, so what? Even if this government is willing to believe it, the people will not believe it, the court will not believe it, and His Majesty will certainly not believe it."

"How will your Wan family prove themselves then? How will a family that claims to be king and has a huge fortune gain the trust of the people, the court, and His Majesty?"

Master Wan finally raised his head after hearing this. What did the prefect mean? He had some guesses in his mind, but he still didn't give up. He kowtowed and said, "Please show me a way out for the Wan family."

The prefect threw the question back: "My opinion is not important. What is important is how you, the Wan family, can prove yourselves so that people in the world can believe that the Wan family has no intention of rebellion."

Master Wan closed his eyes tightly, wondering how he could prove himself so that others would be convinced. It was obvious that the prefect was hinting at something...

He finally understood at this moment that the prefect knew that the Wan family had no confidence or strength to rebel, but wanted to take the opportunity to attack the Wan family, and the Wan family had no room for resistance.

"If the Wan family cannot prove their innocence, this government will have no choice but to handle the matter impartially."

As if he had made a great decision, after the prefect said this, Master Wan raised his head again and said with difficulty and weakness: "Sir, the Wan family... the Wan family voluntarily donates all its assets to the national treasury to show its loyalty to the court..."

It seemed as if all the strength in his body was used up to say these words. After he finished speaking, Master Wan seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He prostrated himself on the ground, motionless, in stark contrast to Wan Baolu, who was shivering on the side.

Almost as soon as Master Wan finished speaking, there was an uproar around him. The Wan family was actually going to donate all their assets. How much would that be? Everyone couldn't imagine.

The prefect was silent for a long while before he struck the gavel. The voices of discussion around him immediately quieted down.

"The Wan family's heroic act of giving up their wealth to prove their innocence will surely convince the people of the world. I will temporarily accept the Wan family's loyalty on behalf of the court. I hope you will be careful with your words and actions in the future and not say anything rude again, so as not to cause a fatal disaster."

"Yes, the Wan family will follow your teachings..." Master Wan said weakly.

"In that case, this government will send someone to hand over to the Wan family later. Before that, everyone in the Wan family needs to stay in the prison temporarily. Once everything is handed over, everyone in the Wan family can be released without charge."

"Thank you, sir..."

The prefect signaled to the bailiff to take the father and son of the Wan family back to the prison. However, before the prefect could adjourn the court, the sound of drums was heard outside the gate of the county government.

"Who's beating the drum outside? Bring him up to the hall!"