Chapter 561: Chapter 550: Confrontation in Court
Soon, a throng of people followed behind them, heading towards the government office. Mrs. Xue intermittently let out mournful and resentful cries.
She never liked Xue Mouyan.
Initially, she was thrilled when her nephew wooed her with sweet words, only for Xue Mouyan to turn around and become someone else’s concubine.
It was only Xue Dan, with his big heart, who always thought this distant relative was innocent.
Because of her, a joke was made at her maternal home, and she was repeatedly excluded by her sister-in-law.
—"How can you act this way as an aunt? You said you found a good match for the girl, but which respectable girl would follow someone without a proper status? If she was really coerced, she would’ve already taken her life with a white silk noose to die with dignity."
—"In my opinion, she’s just a cheap floozy, just hoping to climb up the social ladder. Maybe if she pleases the man well, she can outlive his wife and become the successor. Oh my, indeed how glorious."
Thinking of how Shen Family’s servant came to take away the silk she cherished and saved for her daughter’s dowry, she burned with anger.
It was all Xue Mouyan’s fault!
To think that every gift from the Shen Family used to be a rare treasure, and now, not only have they all been returned, but her man is no longer the teacher at the academy.
The livelihood of the entire family was severed!
The more she hated, the harder she cried.
Xue Dan’s state of mind was only heavier than hers. He lifted the mallet and struck it down with all his might and heart.
Again and again.
’Thump!’
’Thump, thump!’
The person was taken away by the bailiffs to the public hall.
The three shifts of attendants stood by on both sides. County Magistrate Liu was seated high above, with the plaque that read ’Mirror hung high’ hanging squarely above his head. Under the light, it shone brilliantly.
Across the three-foot official desk, decorated with the Four Treasures of the Study, the startling wood, and red and green head case slips. The red case slips were for ordering execution, the green ones for arresting people.
"Proceed with the court session!"
The onlookers squeezed in to watch. Hearing this, they all became silent.
The Xue couple knelt down.
As usual, County Magistrate Liu asked, "Who is under the hall and what is the accusation you bring before this official?"
"Your Honor, I am Xue Dan, and this is my wife, Mrs. Xue, beside me."
"I have been wronged!"
"The Xue Family has a daughter named Xue Mouyan, my distant cousin, who was humiliated and forced by Shen Wei of Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop."
"It has been a long time since there has been any news of her, and I fear for her life."
This statement shocked everyone.
No wonder! Mrs. Xue cried like this, but no one expected it to be for such reasons.
Wait.
That’s not right.
Shen Wei is the model husband of Fengzhou City.
He has been faithful to his wife for ten years and only recently went to the store to buy rouge for his wife.
"Could it be a false accusation against Old Master Shen? After all, the Shen Family is influential and wealthy; if one could extort some money from them, ..."
"This is the teacher from the academy, Master Scholar! It even involves a murder case; it’s clear that he is here only to file a complaint."
County Magistrate Liu squinted his eyes, as he took the petition handed to him and quickly, those involved in this matter were summoned one by one.
First were the parents of the Xue Family.
The parents of the Xue Family were timid and afraid, trembling on the spot, but refused to acknowledge anything.
"There is no such thing. Our Mouyan is fine. She was married off far away a few years ago. Don’t harm her, her distant uncle."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xue immediately cursed: "Pah! Do you even deserve to be parents? What distant marriage? At least have some concern; just ask around nearby if your family has had a wedding ceremony, and the lie would be easily exposed. You even dare to lie in front of the County Magistrate, who gave you the courage?"
The parents of the Xue Family were clearly panicked.
"This... our family is poor, we didn’t have a wedding feast. Not many people know."
"Is that so? Then who is she married to, and where does he live? We don’t believe it; please, Your Honor, summon the person here. Once we see him, then this woman can be at ease."
The parents of the Xue Family were clearly flustered.
Seeing County Magistrate Liu sitting with an impartial expression, they stuttered and couldn’t articulate their words.
"In my view, you are in cahoots with Shen Wei, having caused the death of your own daughter, and now with money in hand, you’ve bought a mansion and have servants at your beck and call, playing the part of wealthy lords. You seem quite at peace, don’t you?"
"Aren’t you afraid that Xue Mouyan will come from hell to claim your life!"
As she spoke, her eyes flickered and she slapped her thigh fiercely.
"My poor Mou Yan, how miserable your fate was."
County Magistrate Liu asked coldly: "Aren’t you going to tell the truth?"
Mother Xue was so frightened that she fell to the ground, completely clueless, forgetting how much she had supported Xue Mouyan becoming someone’s concubine.
"Your Honor, it was the child Mou Yan who was stubborn. She became a concubine not because we forced her, but because we simply couldn’t stop her."
She prided herself on her cleverness and conveniently omitted any mention of the patterned silver.
"She was so frivolous, beyond our control. We just considered her no longer our daughter. Over these years, there has been no communication."
Half-truths and lies were all mixed together.
No communication wasn’t the breaking off of relations, it was clearly the Shen Family who wouldn’t allow Xue Mouyan to show her face in public.
County Magistrate Liu slammed the table heavily and threw the evidence that had been submitted along with Xue Dan’s petitions towards Mother Xue.
"On this court of law, how dare you, a deceitful woman, spout such nonsense!"
"Every six months, your Xue Family receives a large sum in a silver note, yes or no?"
Ownership of the properties and land deeds can be easily verified.
If the silver notes were actually kept at home, they’d be found during a search.
Even if placed in a bank, the government office still has the right to inspect them.
It was at this time that the second branch of the Shen Family arrived.
Shen Zhushi’s legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed. She was caught by Shen He Wen, preventing her from losing her composure entirely.
She remembered something Shen He Wen had said.
—Madam, between you and me, we share both honor and disgrace. You should be clear about this, and know what to say later.
But then she had received a letter yesterday.
In the same handwriting that had prompted her to return to the estate to catch the adulterers.
It read:
—The daughter of the Prefect need not worry about remarriage after divorcing, but if you remain at the Shen Family, who’s to say that Xue Mouyan’s fate today will not be your fate tomorrow?
She lowered her eyes, concealing her unease.
Xue Mouyan had indeed died.
She had watched as the life left the person.
So much so that these past few days, she had been plagued by nightmares.
She had never seen anyone so cruel.
Thinking back to that night, Shen Wei visited, and in an attempt to calm his rage, Shen He Wen took silk paper after silk paper, sprinkled with white spirits, and placed it over Xue Mouyan’s face.
Fitting tightly together, her nose and mouth were blocked. The strong alcohol stung her bruised face, causing unbearable pain.
The more she struggled, the more pain she felt.
She quickly became unable to breathe. She tried to plead, to struggle, hoping that these two men who once whispered sweet nothings in her ear would spare her.
But there was no mercy, as one silk paper after another covered her face. Finally, she breathed no more.
Shen Wei seemed satisfied as he tenderly traced his hand over the thick layers of silk paper on Xue Mouyan’s face.
"This is the consequence of betraying me. Second brother, you’d better remember this."
At the recollection, Shen Zhushi couldn’t help but shiver.
These two brothers were truly more ruthless than the other.
Just as the two had entered the court, there was more commotion outside.
This time, it was Chun Yun, Shen Zhi, and the ailing Shen Wei, sitting in a wheelchair.
The appearance of these individuals created a minor climax.
"What has happened to Old Master Shen?"
"He was fine not long ago, how has he become so ill?"
"What else could it be? In my opinion, it’s just retribution for his misdeeds."
