CH 56

The next day, the magistrate’s court convened for a public trial.

Because of the commotion caused by the arrest yesterday and the fact that one of those arrested was the well-known owner of Yu Qiao Ji restaurant in Yunshui County, a crowd quickly gathered outside the courtyard, gossiping amongst themselves.

“I really didn’t expect the owner of Yu Qiao Ji to do such a thing!”

“It doesn’t seem possible. I’ve bought food there before. The taste was quite good, and the owner was very polite.”

“Just as they say, you may know someone’s face but not their heart!”

Qiao Yuan was summoned to the court. He spent a sleepless night worrying about his husband. He finally saw that Yu Dameng seemed unharmed and showed no sign of being tortured. He felt slightly relieved.

Zhang Wensheng and Qiao Guangzhi were both in the courtroom, with Zhang Wensheng sitting and Qiao Guangzhi standing behind him. Zhang Wensheng looked like he was enjoying the show, while Qiao Guangzhi glared venomously.

Ma Shun’er was called forward, trembling with fear and refusing to meet Qiao Yuan’s gaze. He knelt with a thud and lay prostrated on the ground, declaring, “I am Ma Shun’er, the cashier at Yu Qiao Ji, and I am here to report Yu Qiao Ji of tainting the flour used for pastries with inferior quality substitutes and then repackaging and selling the spoiled goods.”

Ma Shun’er presented his formal complaint. The magistrate made a show of looking it over before slamming the bench decisively. “Qiao Yuan and Yu Dameng, do you acknowledge your crimes?”

Qiao Yuan also knelt down to present their formal response. “Your Honor, what crimes have we committed?”

This document was drafted yesterday with Qiao Yuan’s statement and polished by the most famous lawyer in the county town for a high price.

The magistrate didn’t even glance at it before tossing it aside and continued to roar, “How dare you! Yesterday, the arresting officer already found evidence in your shop, and you still dare to argue!”

The yamen runner displayed the evidence to the crowd.

As soon as everyone saw it, it was really something.

“The rice has blue mold spots on it!”

“There’s bran in the flour, and the snacks are clearly spoiled!”

“With how much money Yu Qiao Ji makes every day, why would they do something like this?”

“It’s not necessarily true. I remember that on Lantern Festival, Boss Qiao set up a porridge stall at Anji Hospital to distribute porridge and donated two hundred taels of silver. How could such a generous person be accused of deceit and greed? We should look more into this.”

The county magistrate felt the commoners’ chatter was bothersome and shouted, “Silence!”

Qiao Yuan stated, “I have arguments to present regarding Ma Shun’er’s accusations.”

“Firstly, concerning the accusation of us using corrupted ingredients, my shop sources its flour and rice from the reputable Jia Cang Grain Store. It’s common knowledge that Jia Cang’s bags have marks on the sides. I observed earlier that the evidence seized by chief arrester Zhuo bears no such mark. Moreover, our shop keeps detailed records of our monthly grain purchases and consumption, revealing that what we buy far exceeds what we use, so there’s no need for us to resort to adulteration.”

When everyone heard this, they agreed. If they used bad ingredients, why would they need to buy so much rice and flour from the Jia Cang Grain Store every month? How much could they eat themselves? They knew the Jia Cang Grain Store, and they specialized in high-quality rice and flour. Although they rarely went there to buy, they were familiar with the store and knew that the products there differed from those packaged elsewhere. It was a store for the wealthy!

“Secondly, regarding the sale of spoiled pastries, my shop has always had good business, and there are usually no leftovers except during bad weather. In such cases, I usually distribute them to neighbors, share them with shop assistants, or take them home for well-acquainted families in the village. Even Ma Shun’er has never missed out on these pastries since he started working at my shop. The owners of Yu Hu Chun and Zhen Wei Liquor Store and families in our village can attest to this.”

“As for these spoiled pastries found in the shop, this humble person does not know where they came from.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd agreed again. Given the limited supply and crazed demand for Yu Qiao Ji’s snacks, especially around the holidays, when they typically sell out very quickly, it was unlikely there would be many unsold ones. No one is foolish enough to over-produce either when the weather is poor. And commoners aren’t stupid – they can certainly tell if food has gone bad!

“Thirdly, regarding Ma Shun’er himself. As he admitted earlier, he is merely a cashier. My shop’s snack recipes are secret, and the kitchen staff are all contracted servants. As someone who was hired, this humble person is wary of him and does not allow him to enter the kitchen. How could he possibly know anything about the kitchen at the shop?”

“Moreover, after yesterday’s incident, I went to Ma Shun’er’s home to look for him. He was not there, but I saw his mother wearing a brand-new gold bracelet. Upon inquiring about their finances, their household income could never afford such expensive jewelry. His mother was also boasting to neighbors about her recent purchase. I suspect Ma Shun’er has been bribed to frame us deliberately.”

By now, Qiao Yuan’s detailed arguments had convinced the crowd. Seeing Ma Shun’er trembling like a sieve, he was clearly wracked with a guilty conscience. They angrily denounced him for being black-hearted and ungrateful.

Yu Dameng felt proud that his capable husband could hold his own. The two exchanged a smile.

The magistrate had not expected Qiao Yuan, a ger, to be so articulate and organized. Breaking into a sweat, he glanced at the pathetic Ma Shun’er again. Annoyed that Zhang Wensheng would rely on such an incompetent fool, he wondered where on earth he found him!

Seeing that the situation turned against him, Zhang Wensheng closed his folding fan and said, “What you just said…”

Qiao Yuan immediately interrupted him, “I have never heard that Zhang Xiucai holds any position in the county yamen. I wonder what identity Zhang Xiucai is using to argue here today. Is he the counsel hired by Ma Shun’er?”

So-called “counsels,” often referred to as litigious rogues or legal hustlers, were usually scholars who repeatedly failed examinations and had no hope of officialdom. They resorted to lawyering for a living. Upright scholars typically looked down on such an occupation.

Zhang Wensheng felt outrageously humiliated; after all, how could someone like Ma Shun’er, a mere commoner, compel him to act on his behalf?

He was so angry that he almost jumped up.

The county magistrate gave him a glance, and Zhang Wensheng immediately closed his mouth and resumed his false gentlemanly appearance.

The official advisor approached the county magistrate and whispered a few words in his ear. The magistrate slammed the table and exclaimed, “Crafty words and strong arguments! As for what you just said, firstly, how do we know that the rice and flour you purchased from the Jia Cang grain store were not kept for your own use and that the materials in your shop are not half fake and half real? The expense records can also be falsified, and there is no way to verify them now. Secondly, the witnesses you mentioned are all your friends, and their testimony is not sufficient evidence. Thirdly, it is ridiculous to conclude that Ma Shun’er was bought by someone based solely on a gold bracelet!”

Ma Shun’er, trembling all over, sat up and stammered, “Co…Correct, Your Honor sees clearly. My family has been law-abiding for generations. How…How could I dare falsely accuse someone? And…And I’ve never had any grudge or quarrel with Boss Qiao, so there’s no reason for me to slander him!”

“Ma Shun’er!” Qiao Yuan’s gaze was like a torch, and his voice was like thunder, “I also want to ask, I have always treated you well. Why do you have to resort to such ungrateful behavior?! Are you not afraid of divine retribution with the deities always watching over us?”

Ma Shun’er stumbled, fell to the ground again, and unexpectedly began to cry softly.

Now, the crowd was certain he had a guilty conscience!

“Insolent!” The magistrate slammed his bench furiously. “Are you threatening the plaintiff right in my court?”

“Your Honor, I wouldn’t dare,” Qiao Yuan replied evenly. “Firstly, I cannot predict the future. If the records were fabricated, why fabricate from the very start before the restaurant opened? As I’ve said, my purchases from Jia Cang Grain Shop far exceed the shop’s needs. A simple verification of the stocks will confirm the truth.”

“Secondly, as a commoner from the countryside with no power or influence, it is impossible for me to persuade so many people to testify on my behalf at once. Thirdly, Ma Shun’er’s behavior exposes his guilt. Just a little interrogation from Your Honor, his guilt will surely expose itself.”

“Does this official still need you to teach me how to handle a case?” The county magistrate shouted angrily, feeling embarrassed and furious. “You, a mere ger, dare to speak recklessly in court, using cunning arguments. You’re really frivolous! I have heard that your uncle raised you since childhood, and even after getting married, you still demanded your parents’ inheritance from him. You disregard the principles of filial piety and family ethics and are not a good person!”

“As an official, I see that you are a young ger. We treat women and children in court with kindness, so I will not punish you.”

“At this point, if we don’t use force, we won’t get any results. Bring Yu Dameng here and give twenty strokes with a cane. I want him to be beaten severely! I want to see if he will confess or not.”

If he wanted to make Yu Xiangxue bow his head, he had to make him suffer a bit so that he knew there was no benefit in opposing him. Therefore, no matter what, Yu Dameng and Qiao Yuan would confess their guilt today.

When the time came, he would make Yu Xiangxue kneel and beg him to release his brother!

With his mind made up, the magistrate tossed down a token and commanded, “Carry out the punishment!”

The onlookers were in an uproar. Even though they may not have recognized many characters or understood the larger principles at play, they knew that this case could not be judged so hastily. Aside from the clear reasoning and comprehensive evidence Qiao Yuan presented, even if there were doubts about his statements, it was the magistrate’s duty to investigate further, not to order a beating on the spot.

As soon as the order was given, two yamen arresters appeared on each side to take Yu Dameng. Qiao Yuan was furious and rushed over to stop them. The arresters then tried to capture Qiao Yuan, but Yu Dameng, who was wearing shackles and had limited mobility, used his body to knock down several arresters and protect Qiao Yuan from being approached by others.

“You dog official! How can you force a confession without distinguishing right from wrong? Where is justice?” Qiao Yuan pointed at the county magistrate and cursed, “If you dare to punish my husband today, I will make sure your head rolls tomorrow!”

“You rebel!” The county magistrate slammed the gavel again. He had previously been hesitant to leave room for Yu Xiangxue, but now he was so provoked by Qiao Yuan that he didn’t care about anything else. He threw down another command token and said, “How dare you insult the imperial official in the court! Very well, I shall punish you as well!”

“You dare!”

Before seeing the person, they heard their voice. The crowd outside the courtroom automatically made way for this person. The county magistrate squinted and stood up, only to see another ger. He felt dizzy and asked, “Where are you from, little ger?”

His luck with gers seemed at odds today!

“I am Chu Li, Prince1This is not “prince” as in son of the king Prince (皇子 huángzǐ). This refers to Wang (王 wáng): This position was usually reserved for adult sons of the Emperor. It means ‘king’ but usually refers to a prince after the Qin Dynasty when Qin Shi Huang united China. Typically when princes reached a certain age, the Emperor would bestow the title of Wang on them (usually named after a territory within the kingdom or after virtues). They would move out of the palace into their own manor or 王府 (wángfǔ). of Dong’an. I order you to release them immediately!” Chu Li’s authoritative shout prompted the armed guards flanking him to rush forward, shielding Qiao Yuan and Yu Dameng as they faced off against the arresters.

Qiao Yuan took the opportunity to snatch the key from an arrester and unlock Yu Dameng’s shackles. There were already heavy marks on his neck, which made Qiao Yuan feel heartbroken.

There was silence all around. Everyone was shocked by this unexpected change. It’s unclear who started it, but everyone knelt down in a crowd.

The commotion in the courtroom escalated as everyone turned their attention to the magistrate still seated at the bench, only to see him laugh dismissively and say, “For an impersonator, you could’ve at least chosen a plausible title!”

“I didn’t even know when this Prince was promoted in the court?” The county magistrate seemed to have heard something funny: “Moreover, you are just a lowly ger. A Prince? Hahaha, it’s simply ridiculous!”

Prince Chu Li was indeed newly invested before the New Year, but unfortunately, the county magistrate in this small town was not well-informed about the news and had no knowledge that this prince had been appointed to the court.

Convinced that Chu Li was a fraud the magistrate’s demeanor darkened, and he commanded the arresters at his sides, “Seize that impostor!”

“How dare you!” Chu Li was infuriated by the magistrate’s arrogance and wondered how such a man could serve as a local official.

“Your insolence and disrespect to a higher authority are crimes punishable by death!”

He was born into a noble family and had a dignified presence. When he put on a serious face, he exuded an air of authority. Seeing his unyielding stance made the magistrate feel uneasy. However, he found it difficult to back down with so many people watching below. He was about to give a vague response and postpone the discussion to another day.

Suddenly, a figure clad in red official robes, holding up his hem and steadying his black hat, hurried into the court, knelt before the ger, and begged for forgiveness, “Your Highness, this official has arrived late, my oversight and lack of discipline is deserving of death, I beg for Your Highness’s mercy.”

The magistrate’s eyes widened in shock—it was none other than the prefect himself!

In an instant, his body went limp like noodles, and he collapsed to the floor.

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