Chapter 1382: In-Laws Arrive
Chapter 1382: Chapter 1382: In-Laws Arrive
A single remark left Young Master Dou almost speechless.
Damn it, worthy of his nickname as the Evil Merchant Xi, his words were sharper than those of a real scoundrel, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
However, there was still Gu Jin’an.
Gu Jin’an knelt immediately, his attitude calm but resolute, and said forcefully, "Student Gu Jin’an, pays respect to Lord Magistrate. My family was conspired against by Shopkeeper Feng and Lord Jia, and almost resulted in a fatal incident on my sister’s wedding day. I beg Lord Magistrate to uphold justice for my family!"
Qi Kangming, Gu Dexing, Gu Qingtian, Tian Erqiang, and others also knelt and pleaded for justice, "We beg Lord Magistrate to uphold justice for our Gu’s Workshop. There are officials conspiring with our workshop’s longtime customers to seize Gu’s Workshop’s business, nearly causing death!"
Brother Cheng was not present at the moment, as Gu Jin’an had arranged for him to handle other important matters.
If successful, Brother Cheng would gain prestige, ensuring that even if he left home to take the imperial examination or served abroad, no one would dare take advantage of his absence to exploit Brother Cheng’s youth and seize the Gu family’s assets.
Young Master Dou regained his composure and shouted, "My Lord, Gu’s Workshop involves several families, including the Qin Family, Luo Family, and others. The Qin Family’s son has gone to the Northwest to fight, and Assistant Judge Jia and others are plotting to seize the Kangrong Generals’ family wealth. If you still shield Lord Jia, how can the Kangrong Soldiers bear it?!"
Pah!
Magistrate Xi wanted to curse. Qin San Lang was just an insignificant small Company Commander, not worthy of being called a Kangrong General.
But the Dou family’s implication that he would shield Jia Mingfeng forced him to be impartial lest he gained a reputation for protecting an Assistant Officer.
Magistrate Xi said, "As a court official, this court will naturally handle the case impartially. Please rise first."
Kneeling already? It’s not even New Year and you’re already scrambling to kneel. Are you looking for a handout or trying to visit my ancestors early?
Young Master Dou heard the displeasure in Magistrate Xi’s tone and wasn’t afraid. He sneered and said to Judge Tang, "Lord Tang, where is the letter from Magistrate Gu? Show it to Magistrate Xi, lest Magistrate Xi makes a grave mistake."
Judge Tang immediately produced Magistrate Gu’s letter and handed it to Magistrate Xi, "This is the letter from Magistrate Gu to Magistrate Xi. Please have a look."
Read it before deciding which side to take?
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Xi took the letter and read it, his expression changed drastically after reading it... who would have thought, Junior Minister Ming had his eyes on Gu Jin’an, wanting to recruit and support him!
He even thought the Gu family’s greatest patron was the Ouyang family, not expecting an even more formidable one.
Junior Minister Ming, King Ming, was a top-tier powerful minister; he couldn’t afford to offend him.
Magistrate Gu was right, don’t offend a King Ming over someone nearly about to be convicted.
Magistrate Xi, with a merchant’s nature, put away the letter, turned, and sat in court. He struck the gavel and said, "Court in session!"
His attitude changed so quickly that Assistant Judge Jia was stunned, turning pale. It’s over, it’s over; if Magistrate Xi doesn’t help him, he’s doomed!
What on earth was in Magistrate Gu’s letter that caused Magistrate Xi’s attitude to change so dramatically?
Magistrate Xi: "Judge Tang, bring up your government office’s dossiers, evidence, and testimonies."
Judge Tang immediately brought these items up.
Once Magistrate Xi decided to abandon Assistant Judge Jia, the case proceeded swiftly. After reviewing the dossiers, evidence, and testimonies, interrogating the witnesses, listening to Gu Jin’an’s account, and consulting Doctor Wu who detoxified Chai Sanfu, he pointed at Assistant Judge Jia, "Jia Mingfeng, you conspired with your concubine’s father to seize the Gu family’s wealth, nearly causing death. The evidence is conclusive. Do you confess?!"
Assistant Judge Jia would never confess, immediately shouting, "My Lord, this subordinate is wronged!"
What wrong? Hurry and confess, stop wasting the court’s time!
The Gu family is under Junior Minister Ming’s protection. Magistrate Xi didn’t want to risk being killed by Junior Minister Ming by dragging out things with Assistant Judge Jia, so he immediately resorted to punishment, "Twenty strokes of the punishment rod!"
The squad leader immediately led the Government Officials to punish Assistant Judge Jia, but they didn’t dare hit too hard. After twenty strokes, Assistant Judge Jia hadn’t fainted.
Magistrate Xi didn’t actually want to kill Assistant Judge Jia. The twenty strokes were merely to show his stance.
First, to let Assistant Judge Jia know he wouldn’t protect him.
Second, to let Junior Minister Ming know he was helping Gu Jin’an.
However, at this moment, Magistrate Xi was most thankful that he hadn’t let Assistant Judge Jia learn too much about his affairs. Otherwise, if Assistant Judge Jia had something on him, he couldn’t handle matters so officially.
Assistant Judge Jia was pale, clearly realizing his end was near. But for survival, he could only desperately shout, "My Lord, this subordinate is innocent. This subordinate doesn’t know any Shopkeeper Feng and has never plotted to seize the Gu family’s wealth... I don’t even know where the Gu family is."
Assistant Judge Jia, already of advanced age, was pummelled in the cold weather and lamented his grievances, looking quite pitiful.
The onlookers outside the government office... laughed!
"Serves him right, that Jia fellow should’ve been caught a long time ago. Not only does he neglect his duties, but he also lets his sons run amok, even chasing young girls in his old age. He even had a son a few months ago and threw a big feast for it."
"Isn’t that the truth? That Jia is an old bastard. I heard he wanted another son before his 55th birthday. Oh my, how shameless can you be? Are his sons all gone that he needs another one?"
Young Master Dou, upon hearing this, immediately said, "Lord Magistrate, Jia Mingfeng claims he doesn’t know Shopkeeper Feng, but the Chai Family mother and her two sons all say the woman who bore Jia Mingfeng a son a few months ago is the daughter of Shopkeeper Feng; that child is Shopkeeper Feng’s own grandson. They not only know each other but have this connection."
"Nonsense! Lies! The woman who bore my son is the daughter of a humble household in Jiangnan; her father’s surname is Hu, not Feng!" Assistant Judge Jia shouted until his voice almost broke.
However, Young Master Dou had a trump card and said, "Jia Mingfeng, you highly underestimate me and Gu Jin’an. We didn’t travel from He’an Prefecture to here for nothing."
With these words, he gave Assistant Judge Jia a smile that spelled doom and looked at Magistrate Xi, "My Lord, I’ve prepared a grand gift for Jia Mingfeng. If you send someone to Guiye Lane in East City to the Hu Mansion, you’ll find out if Shopkeeper Feng is indeed Hu Xueyao’s real father."
He then turned to Assistant Judge Jia, smiling joyously, "Lord Jia, your in-laws are truly coming over. Today is a perfect day for your family reunion with your beloved father-in-law."
Assistant Judge Jia wasn’t a fool; he had already guessed Young Master Dou’s scheme and silently cursed him for his cunning.
However, remembering he had sent his confidant housekeeper back home to inform Hu Xueyao about the happenings, he assured himself Hu Xueyao wouldn’t fall for it, giving him some peace of mind. He declared, "I haven’t plotted to seize the Gu family’s wealth. Hu Xueyao’s real father is Hu Dawen, a reputable accountant from Jiangnan. I have nothing to fear!"