My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

Cheng Guang couldn't help shaking his head with a chuckle as he saw the situation, "Please, have a seat. I haven't come over for anything serious this time."

Upon hearing these words from Cheng Guang, Li Mingtang exchanged a quick glance with the county magistrate sitting beside him and slowly took his seat.

Even after sitting down, his body remained somewhat tense, excessively nervous, to the point where sweat involuntarily broke out on his forehead.

He couldn't help being nervous.

If he could please this Nobleman who had arrived in Ping'an County unexpectedly, it would be no exaggeration to say it was like stepping onto the heavens.
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But if he were to offend him, he feared his life would be over.

Cheng Guang, seeing the reserved expressions of Li Mingtang and the others, didn't mind and lifted his teacup, took a sip of the clear tea, and then said:

"This time, I mainly wanted to find a man named Zhang Shunlong."

"Zhang Shunlong?" County Magistrate Li Mingtang was momentarily stunned upon hearing Cheng Guang's words.

It was certainly unexpected that Cheng Guang's reason for coming to Ping'an County was merely to find someone like Zhang Shunlong.

As soon as Li Mingtang heard this name, he felt it was quite familiar.

Li Mingtang turned his head to look towards the county magistrate beside him.

"Lord Yang, have you ever heard of this man?"

The county magistrate was an old man with white hair and a thin frame, sporting a goatee.

Upon hearing Li Mingtang's question, he too began to furrow his brows in thought, then seemed to realize something, and hastily said, "This Zhang Shunlong, seems to be the son of Zhang Heling."

"The son of Zhang Heling?" Li Mingtang inwardly clicked his tongue, realizing who Zhang Shunlong might be after hearing what Yang, the County Magistrate, had said.

Li Mingtang turned his gaze back to Cheng Guang and promptly said, "Princely Heir, I am also aware of this Zhang Shunlong."

"His father, Zhang Heling, stole from the treasury, and because he spent a great deal of the Silver, he was demoted to a slave."

Song Yunqi had previously informed Cheng Guang about this, so Cheng Guang was naturally aware of the situation and nodded in non-surprise before asking, "Where is he now?"

Li Mingtang quickly gestured for Yang, the County Magistrate, to check.

Yang, the County Magistrate, stood up, summoned several officials to sift through the records, and after interrogating a few constables in detail, came back swiftly with the results and respectfully reported.

"Princely Heir, Lord County Magistrate, Zhang Heling, after stealing the treasury Silver Tael, was imprisoned in the dungeon, and his son Zhang Shunlong, having spent a large amount of the treasury Silver, was punished with the same crime and demoted to a slave. Later on, he was bought by the Liu Family within the county."

"He should now be working at the Liu Family."

After Yang, the County Magistrate, finished speaking, Li Mingtang looked towards Cheng Guang and asked, "Princely Heir, do you need us to summon Zhang Shunlong for you?"

Cheng Guang shook his head, "We'll go and see for ourselves."

"What sort of background does this Liu Family have?" Cheng Guang glanced sideways, looking at Yang, the County Magistrate.

Yang, the County Magistrate, quickly responded, "This Liu Family is just an ordinary gentry within Ping'an County. It is said that their third daughter has recently caught the eye of a Nobleman, and they've been somewhat prestigious in the county these days."

Cheng Guang nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Zhang Heling stole from the treasury, and then Zhang Shunlong spent a large amount of the Silver and was demoted to a slave before being bought by the Liu Family.

All these events seemed so abrupt.

Even Cheng Guang himself felt something was off at first glance, and as the County Magistrate, Li Mingtang couldn't possibly fail to see any problems.

So before leaving, Cheng Guang asked, "Lord Li, is there not an issue with Zhang Heling's theft from the treasury?"

Li Mingtang obviously did not expect Cheng Guang to inquire about Zhang Heling's theft of the treasury Silver. He was taken aback at first but then hurriedly spoke up.

"Princely Heir, we too were shocked by Zhang Heling's theft from the treasury. We never expected such an ordinarily honest-looking man to commit such a deed."

"But the evidence later was conclusive, not only were Zhang Heling's own footprints found in the treasury, but some remaining official Silver was also found in his house."

"So he was directly convicted."

Cheng Guang then asked, "Did he ever claim that he was wronged?"

Li Mingtang replied with a wry smile, "Princely Heir, it's quite normal that almost every criminal claims to be wronged after being caught. We speak with evidence here."

Cheng Guang nodded noncommittally and stepped out of the door.

Li Mingtang quickly followed Cheng Guang with a retinue of officials, keeping just half a step behind Cheng Guang, and led him towards the Liu Family residence.

Yang, the County Magistrate, and the chief clerk stayed at the county office and did not leave.

Yang, the County Magistrate, watched Li Mingtang follow the Princely Heir away and slightly furrowed his pale eyebrows, stroking his white goatee, and muttered to himself.

"This honorable Princely Heir has come to seek Zhang Shunlong and inquired about his father Zhang Heling's case; could it be that there is something fishy about this Silver theft case?"

"Lord Sun, perhaps we should re-examine this case," he said to the chief clerk beside him."

The chief clerk, a rather plump man dressed in a thin green official robe, which ballooned out due to his girth, had a strange look on his face upon hearing Yang, the County Magistrate's words, and seemed uncertain about the distinguished Princely Heir coming to the county office to find Zhang Shunlong. However, he still said:

"Forget it, the evidence is conclusive, and the dust has already settled. Zhang Heling is going to be executed soon."

"The Princely Heir didn't say anything, nor did he tell us to re-examine the case, so let's leave it be."

Yang, the County Magistrate, stroking his goatee, still felt something was off, pondering for a moment before reluctantly nodding.

"If the Princely Heir asks us to review it, we will. If not, let it be as it is."

"Without conclusive evidence, I would never have believed that Zhang Heling would commit theft from the treasury."