Chapter 59: The Key to Evolving Noble Qi, The Power of the People's Will! - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 59: The Key to the Evolution of Righteous Aura – The Will of the People! Upon hearing your words, everyone was in disbelief. They almost doubted their ears. Old Liu cautiously asked, "Sir?" "Are we truly going to apprehend this woman?" The anticipation was evident on the faces of the others. Clearly, they had never done anything so thrilling. The hall erupted in chaos as the gathered townsfolk were utterly baffled by your actions. "What kind of investigation is this? How can officials do such things?" "Indeed, what kind of justice is this? It's absurd, utterly absurd!" "I never expected the new county magistrate would be such a person." Witnessing the scene, Zheng Boyuan and the other officials voiced their objections. "Sir, this move is absolutely unacceptable!" "Please reconsider, sir. How can the people have faith in the authority if we act this way?" "This could tarnish the reputation of the court!" You, however, remained unfazed and turned to Old Liu and the others. "I instructed you to act, so do it!" "If anything happens, I'll take responsibility!" With your assurance, Old Liu and his companions hesitated no longer, removing their shirts and springing into action right there in the public hall. Yet, because the woman had been accustomed to farm work from a young age, she was brimming with energy even after fifty strikes. As she lay on the floor, flailing her arms and legs wildly, Old Liu and his men couldn’t even approach her. After a while, you finally intervened. "Alright, enough. You guys, get back here!" With disappointed faces, Old Liu and his crew withdrew. It was clear they were frustrated by their failure. The woman, drenched in sweat, sat on the ground fanning herself. You immediately struck the gavel. "Audacious troublemaker, how dare you falsely accuse an honest man!" "Just now, those four strong officers couldn't even get close to you, yet you claimed this frail merchant assaulted you in your own home?" "This is clearly a false accusation!" On hearing your words, the crowd suddenly understood. "So that's how it is! Indeed, given the circumstances, it's obvious that this farmer's wife was framing someone!" "Yes, it seemed absurd at first, but it actually proved effective!" As the people chirped away, the farmer turned pale and eventually confessed to falsely accusing the merchant. She then recounted the events in detail. It turned out that, with her husband absent, the farmer had an affair with the merchant. However, as the merchant planned to leave for business, and seeing that he wouldn't return, he proposed breaking up. Out of spite, she framed him. Meanwhile, you noticed that the farmer kept glancing at Zheng Boyuan, who turned away sullenly. You immediately understood there was a connection between her and Zheng Boyuan. "Someone, get a doctor to tend to the merchant!" "Throw this woman into the dungeon; she'll be executed tomorrow!" Initially, the farmer didn't think her crime warranted death, but upon hearing your words, she panicked. "Mercy, my lord, have mercy!" "It was Lord Zheng, Lord Zheng made me do it!" The farmer, now desperate, was willing to risk everything since death seemed inevitable – she couldn’t die unfairly! You felt satisfied but wore a troubled expression. "Bold woman, do you not know that defaming an official is a capital offense?" "Why would Lord Zheng act as you said?" Zheng Boyuan, hiding his anger and a hint of guilt, confronted her. "Take this treacherous woman away!" You intervened, stopping Zheng Boyuan. "Lord Zheng, why rush?" "Why not hear what this woman has to say? If she's lying, a swift execution will save us the cost of a last meal." Zheng Boyuan was visibly agitated by your words, but with many citizens watching, he couldn’t defy public opinion. If he tried to stop it, it would only provoke more gossip. The farmer proceeded to reveal how Zheng Boyuan instructed her to block the carriage and the benefits promised afterward. The townspeople were shocked to learn Zheng Boyuan plotted against you. Previously, they thought misfortune befell the county magistrates, but now, they had to wonder about Zheng Boyuan’s involvement. "Take her away! To the dungeon with her!" Zheng Boyuan, livid, stood up and ordered the farmer away. Now, your decision? Option 1: Protect the farmer as a key witness and confront Zheng Boyuan and the corrupt county officials head-on. Option 2: Imprison the farmer and wait for autumn to execute her. Option 3: Execute the farmer immediately for false accusations, while feigning cooperation with Zheng Boyuan and others. ... Faced with these options, Su Mo considered carefully. Zheng Boyuan had been digging holes for him continuously, making retreat an unattainable luxury. Regardless of appeasement, Zheng Boyuan wouldn’t cease his pursuits against Su Mo. It was better to confront him directly and cultivate his righteous aura. With this in mind, Su Mo chose the first option. He decided to protect the farmer as a crucial witness and informed everyone that her case would be discussed with the officials for a credible outcome. The townspeople, encouraged by your choice, were stirred with excitement. The officials under Zheng Boyuan’s control had bullied them for too long without consequence, and now, they saw hope in you. Just as Su Mo was about to proceed with further developments, a notification appeared before him. ... "You have received the will of the people, and your righteous aura has evolved, its power increased tenfold!" ... Su Mo was pleasantly surprised to find his righteous aura had evolved solely through the will of the people. Before its evolution, it had the power to vanquish female spirits, and now, with tenfold increase, its potential was unimaginable. Zheng Boyuan certainly had ties to the demons lurking behind the scenes in the county. If pushed against the wall, he might reveal those demonic connections. Anticipating the outcome, Su Mo could hardly wait to see how events would unfold. After imprisoning the farmer, you instructed Old Liu and his men to keep watch. Before leaving the courtroom, you caught a glimpse of Zheng Boyuan's resentful gaze directed at you. A sense of unease crept over, although its source was unclear, leaving you with no choice but to prepare for whatever may come.