Chapter 179 - 179 Witnesses and Evidence?
179 Witnesses and Evidence?
Da Bao said coldly, “At that time, my mother’s heart was unstable. She often took it out on us siblings. I had long noticed that she wanted to buy Tang Tang and Si Bao, so I had been secretly watching her and guarding against her. If she had an affair with any wild man, how could she hide from my eyes? ”
“Hmph, you’re so young. Even if you had the intention to keep an eye on her, how could you have stopped her? This testimony is really not enough to be trusted.”
The county magistrate repeatedly emphasized that Da Bao was young because he wanted to exclude all the testimonials that were beneficial to Mo Ruyue. He didn’t believe that there would be people who would stand out and speak for her continuously.
He didn’t expect Da Bao to raise his eyebrows and make a playful expression that was almost exactly the same as Mo Ruyue’s. He said to the magistrate, “Master, I’m already twelve years old this year, not two or three. Why is my testimony not trustworthy?”
“Has your excellency never heard of the saying “age does not determine one’s ambition” even if some people have lived to a few decades, they can still lie in all kinds of ways. Could it be that for the Great Master, age is the only standard of credibility?”
His words actually gave the county magistrate the illusion that he was confronting Mo Ruyue. However, this pair of mother and son had no blood relationship at all.
The county magistrate was choked by a twelve year old boy. How could he tolerate this? Just as he was about to speak, the drum of injustice at the entrance of the court rang again.
“Who is crying injustice outside? Don’t you see that there is a court being raised to question a case inside?”
He was a little impatient. He felt that as long as he met Mo Ruyue, everything would not go smoothly. Even asking about a case made him feel like a fishbone was stuck in his throat. He had a stomach full of anger that could only be suppressed and could not be vented. When had he heard of any official who was as cowardly as him?
A bailiff hurriedly left and quickly returned with a few more people.
Walking in front was an old couple with a graceful bearing. At first glance, it was obvious that they were used to living in luxury. The clothes hanging on their waists were all things that ordinary people could not afford.
The county magistrate immediately stood up when he saw the old couple.
“Old Master Du, Mrs. Du, why have you two come?”
As soon as he saw the old couple, he knew something was wrong.
Both of them were from prestigious and influential families. Old Master Du was once an official of the Supreme Court, and Madam Du was the daughter of the Imperial Censor.
Although Du Zhongheng’s outrageous remarks had caused Old Master Du to resign and return to his hometown, the couple’s family background was still there. They were not people that a small county magistrate like him could neglect.
However, it was said that the two elders had been traveling outside because they were sad about their beloved son’s situation and rarely returned to the old house in the county. When did they come back?
“If we still didn’t come over, I’m afraid that my son’s already unbearable reputation will be tarnished by adultery!”
Old Master Du’s face was cold. He was originally in charge of the trial of cases, and his heart was like a mirror when it came to the twists and turns of these cases. After listening to his beloved son Du Zhongheng’s story, how could he not know that the county magistrate was behind this?
“Old Master Du, this, this case is actually not that serious. I asked just now, but it’s just a dirty quarrel between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. There may be a moment of anger, but it’s impossible to deliberately slander Young Master Du.”
The county magistrate tried to define the nature of the case as a dispute between women, but when he met Old Master Du’s cold eyes, he immediately shut his mouth.
“What a war of words. Just because of the rift between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, you want to make an issue of my son’s reputation? If that’s the case, does that mean that the case of the one who was sentenced to six months in prison will be overturned?”
Old Master Du’s words hit the nail on the head and directly exposed the deepest scheme in the county magistrate’s heart. What kind of case had he not seen before? How could he be deceived by such a small trick when he was the head of the case?
“Old Master Du, you’ve misunderstood. There were indeed rumors yesterday, but today’s matter is indeed open to discussion.”
As the county magistrate spoke, a thin layer of sweat had already appeared on his forehead. Although Old Master Du had resigned and returned to his hometown, his connections were still there. Back then, he was also a top scholar and had brought out more or less disciples in the court. His foundation was not something that a county magistrate like him could afford to offend.
Old Master Du passed the letter in his hand forward and said, “Old Master, please accept this commoner’s complaint.”
“Ah, good. Since you have submitted a complaint, this official will naturally accept it.”
The county magistrate had no choice. This time, he didn’t ask the advisor to take the accusation. Instead, he personally came out from behind the table and went to Old Master Du to take it.
Qin Shi, who was kneeling on the ground, only felt that there were thorns on her back. The cold and sharp pain made her shiver, and she did not even dare to look back.
The county magistrate was already enough to make her tremble with fear. If that Master Du could speak to the county magistrate in such a rude manner, what kind of person was he? Who on earth had she offended?
Mo Ruyue also didn’t expect Du Zhongheng’s background to be so great. To be able to make the county magistrate respect him so much, it wasn’t something that could be done with money.
After the Du couple handed over the accusation, they cast a faint glance at Mo Ruyue and then nodded slightly when their eyes met.
This action made Mo Ruyue a little surprised.
If they were to follow the normal train of thought, shouldn’t they be glaring at a woman who had a scandal of ‘adultery’ with their son?
However, when she thought of Du Zhongheng, who was such a deviant person, it was not surprising that the couple was slightly different from ordinary people.
The complaints written by the Du couple were of a higher standard. They were two large pages long and clearly explained the ins and outs of the matter. There was no place that was illogical at all. They could even turn defense into attack, so that the county magistrate could not find any loopholes to make an issue of.
In fact, when they appeared in court, whether it was Mo Ruyue or the county magistrate, they were already very clear that this case could be closed.
Even Qin Shi, who was kneeling, felt her heart turn cold. She had provoked such a powerful figure, how could he let her have an easy time?
The county magistrate pretended to look at the report for a while. After he put it down, he immediately picked up the gavel and slammed it. He shouted at Qin Shi, “Qin Shi, now that there are witnesses and evidence, you still don’t plead guilty?”
This slap stunned all the commoners who were watching the show. Just now, it was said that it was just a dispute between women. How did it become a witness and evidence now?
Qin Shi had already collapsed on the ground. Although she still wanted to defend herself, she was shaking like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind. There was no trace of her usual might.
“Since you’re not saying anything, it means that you’ve admitted to your crimes. Come on, write down her crimes and let her sign!
Old Master Du coldly reminded him, “You’ve pleaded guilty, but what’s the meaning of your sentence? Could it be that the final sentence is ‘the guilty woman has admitted her guilt’ and the case is closed?”