I Become a Martial Arts God in the Chaotic Demon World-Chapter 427: The Honest Official

"What are you doing, sirs?"

Seeing so many Xuanjia Guards from the Demon Cleansing Bureau outside the door, the woman's face suddenly showed an expression of panic, like a startled little white rabbit.

It's no wonder she's afraid; the crimes Tan Fang committed are enough to have his entire family executed.

However, the case is neither fully concluded nor still open; officially, it's concluded, so for the moment, no one is bothering her, but that doesn't mean no one will in the future.

Liu Yuan whispered behind Han Zheng, "Sir, this woman is Tan Fang's wife, Pan Qiaoniang."

Han Zheng nodded and said to Pan Qiaoniang, "Madam, don't be alarmed; we are here just to inquire about Tan Fang's case."

"Please come in, sirs."

Pan Qiaoniang led the group inside the house. Han Zheng glanced around the courtyard and house; it was reasonably spacious and tidy, without anything overly conspicuous or strange.

Everything aligned with the style of Tan Fang, a fifth-rank official with no involvement in corruption.

After serving them tea, Pan Qiaoniang, with reddened eyes, said, "Sirs, since my husband's death, waves of people have come.

Some were from the Demon Cleansing Bureau, others from the Shuntian Prefecture, and some from the Imperial Examination Hall. I've repeated everything countless times.

My husband committed heinous crimes deserving of death, and I know nothing. But if they want to implicate relatives, I will not flee."

Pan Qiaoniang, on the verge of tears, truly evokes some feelings of compassion.

However, all the men present were seasoned veterans of countless missions, battles, and bloodshed with the Demon Cleansing Bureau, not swayed by women, including the youngest and least experienced, Chu Xinghe.

Han Zheng said indifferently, "Madam, don't be afraid; we're here to investigate, not to judge.

The questions before were from others; we must ask ourselves to understand, don't you think?

Madam, what kind of person do you think Tan Fang was?"

Pan Qiaoniang was momentarily stunned, perhaps not expecting Han Zheng to ask that.

Previous visitors had only asked about Tan Fang's possible outside connections or if he'd seen any suspicious people.

After a pause, Pan Qiaoniang softly said, "My husband was a good person and likewise an honest official.

Although a fifth-rank Capital Official doesn't have a high position, it's not low either. Families of other fifth-rank officials have concubines, but my husband never considered marrying again.

I am childless, and even when I mentioned taking a concubine, he refused, fearing I would suffer from the other woman.

Although he was just a doctor in the Weapons Department, that department is quite lucrative.

Yet he never embezzled a single piece of silver, including this house, bought with years of savings and even selling some of my dowry.

Furthermore, he valued filial piety greatly and intended to bring his parents to the Capital once settled, to enjoy life. Unexpectedly, they were captured by the villains of the Smell Fragrance Sect to threaten him.

From ancient times, one cannot achieve both loyalty and filial piety; he lived in agony daily, unwilling to let harm befall his parents but also not willing to betray the Court's trust.

Forced into a dilemma, he chose to end his life to preserve loyalty and filial piety!"

After speaking, Pan Qiaoniang wept softly.

Seeing her like this, Han Zheng found it hard to ask further and took his leave.

Leaving Tan Fang's residence, Han Zheng asked the others, "What did you see?"

Bao Chong chuckled, "This young lady is quite attractive; I like her."

He was a straightforward man, more suited to fighting than investigating since joining the Demon Cleansing Bureau.

Liu Yuan looked at Bao Chong dismissively and said, "You only think with your lower half."

"You think with your brain; what have you seen?" Bao Chong retorted angrily.

Liu Yuan squinted and said, "Someone has died in that courtyard, more than one person.

Lord Han, I am very sensitive to death qi; you can trust me on this."

Xiang Yuangong shook his head and said, "It might be because someone in the previous owner's family died; house ownership changes hands quickly in the Capital.

But I do feel Pan Qiaoniang's crying is somewhat fake.

Her husband did die, but the problem is, with Tan Fang dead, he didn't leave any instructions for his wife, like urging her to leave the Capital first. Yet she is still so heartbroken?"

Han Zheng said sternly, "Indeed, not only is Pan Qiaoniang somewhat suspicious, but Tan Fang's actions are also questionable.

He claimed he was coerced by the Smell Fragrance Sect with his parents to steal weapons from the Arsenal.

At the same time, he felt guilty toward the Court, leading him to commit suicide out of shame.

However, don't forget - Tan Fang was still a fifth-rank Capital Official. Although just fifth-rank, those who stay in the Capital as officials have undoubtedly been through fierce competition, right?

If he was truly loyal to the Court but wished to save his parents, he could've discreetly informed the Court, and they would have taken over.

Instead, he foolishly allowed himself to be threatened by the Smell Fragrance Sect and eventually took his life out of shame. Does this make sense?"

Tan Fang's actions don't hold water; anyone with a keen eye, like Han Zheng, could see this earlier.

But no one dared to investigate further.

"Go call the Demon Sweeping Captain responsible for Le'an Square."

In Great Zhou's Forty-nine Squares, each workshop had a team of Xuanjia Guards responsible for regular patrols, not very powerful, led only by a Demon Sweeping Captain.

Xiang Yuangong signaled, and shortly, a Demon Sweeping Captain in his fifties quickly arrived with several Golden Rune Team Leaders.

"Tang Tong, Demon Sweeping Captain of Le'an Square, greets the sirs." novelbuddy.cσ๓

Tang Tong was very respectful.

Compared to the Thirteen Guards, the most elite within the Demon Cleansing Bureau headquarters, these Xuanjia Guards who mostly patrolled the streets were vastly inferior.

"Do you know Tan Fang well, responsible as you are for Le'an Square?"

Besides patrol duties, these Xuanjia Guards were also responsible for monitoring various activities.

Officials and even prominent merchants within the squares were often within their surveillance scope.

Tang Tong curiously stole a glance at Han Zheng.

After Qi Zhangwu's order circulated, the entire Capital Demon Suppression Department knew that a young outsider named Han Zheng had taken command of the Jing'an Guard.

Seeing him now, Han Zheng indeed looked young.

However, Tang Tong was very self-aware.

Such a person, already a Martial Arts Grandmaster with a True Pill and esteemed by the Grand Commander to lead the Jing'an Guard, was leagues beyond someone like him.

Tang Tong, after pondering, said, "It was only routine oversight before; after the Arsenal incident, we specifically organized and summarized Tan Fang's daily details.

Before the incident, Tan Fang was as ordinary as any middle-level official could be: No corruption, no factionalism, not ostentatious, and devoid of typical official arrogance; civil to ordinary people.

His household was simple; they hadn't even bought a servant, doing all the chores themselves.

He and his wife Pan Qiaoniang were very loving, almost inseparable, even when she went grocery shopping, he accompanied her.

Vendors praised Tan Fang as a good man.

Unexpectedly, this mild-mannered man committed an act warranting the execution of nine generations."

Han Zheng frowned slightly, "So, there's truly nothing strange about Tan Fang, not even the slightest blemish?"

Tang Tong thought for a moment, "If there's one thing, it's his habit of visiting the Drunken Fragrance House to see a girl two or three times a month when work at the Weapons Department was light, sneaking off during work hours but returning home at the end of the day to be with his wife.

That place isn't a top-tier brothel; a girl costs only ten silver taels, affordable for commoners with some wealth."