“Sir, I was acting in self-defense in my own home. If I hadn’t, my family might have been beaten to death by Chen Dazhi’s family. It was only natural. Even if there was excessive self-defense, it was still justified.”
Chen Xique stared at Su Luo resentfully. How come she never noticed how eloquent Su Luo was before?
Magistrate Jiang was dressed in his official robes. As the saying goes, even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes. This matter could be big or small, and it was clear that Su Luo did not intend to let Chen Dazhi's family off the hook.
The magistrate slammed his fist on the table, startling Luo Mei and the other two.
"Chen Dazhi, is it true that you beat someone up at Madam Su's house?"
"I...I...I..."
Su Luo walked to Luo Mei's side and pulled out the silver hairpin from her hair.
“Sir, this silver hairpin was bought for my mother-in-law, but now it’s on Luo Mei’s head. How is this any different from a bandit who breaks into a house to rob someone?”
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luo Mei and Chen Dazhi were at a loss for words, exchanging glances.
"Your Honor, I'm innocent!" Chen Xique didn't want to go to jail; she wasn't married yet.
“What other crimes have you committed that have been unjustly accused? Press your fingerprints, and I will deal with you according to the laws of this dynasty.”
"My lord, my lord!"
Chen Xique wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say to avoid the situation.
"No fingerprints allowed, no fingerprints allowed."
The sound came from outside the courtroom.
Su Luo looked over and saw that it was Chen Ping'an and Chen Mengqing. The two tried to rush in, but were blocked by the soldiers. Chen Mengqing could only shout at the door.
"Who is making such a racket here?" the clerk asked the two men at the door.
"Sir, I am Chen Dazhi's son, Chen Mengqing. I have something to say."
Chen Mengqing is very tall, about 1.8 meters. He works in the county, and Su Luo rarely sees him.
"Miss Su, what do you think?" The advisor asked Su Luo for her opinion first.
Su Luo: "My lord, please let them in."
Chen Mengqing entered, bowed to the county magistrate, and then looked at Su Luo.
“Sister-in-law, I know my parents have wronged you, but I beg you, please don’t send them in. They are covered in injuries, they will die if they go in.”
If Chen Ping'an hadn't come to find him today, Chen Mengqing would have had no idea that his parents had been brought to court. In this situation, the only way to save his parents is to beg Su Luo.
"Brother, please save me! I don't want to go to jail!"
Chen Xique clung to Chen Mengqing's leg, crying and begging.
"Second Aunt, if my parents and sister go to jail, it won't be good for your reputation. Why don't we just drop this matter? They've already been punished anyway."
Chen Mengqing went to beg Zhao Ruyun, knowing how to play the soft-hearted one.
"Meng Qing, your aunt will listen to Luo Luo on this matter."
Chen Ping'an was also afraid something might happen, so he whispered something in Su Luo's ear.
“Su Luo, you’ve already hit them and vented your anger. Why don’t you just stop suing your older brother? If they die in there, you’ll be criticized too.”
Chen Ping'an was glad he hadn't listened to his older brother. Su Luo wasn't someone to be trifled with, and now that he'd been beaten, he should have learned his lesson.
Su Luo sneered, thinking that she could let this go? No way.
"Your Honor, the punishment should proceed as before, but if they aren't sent to jail, how can the law possibly make amends for their crimes?"
"Su Luo, how could you be so vicious?"
Chen Mengqing pointed at Su Luo. He was educated, and if An Su Luo did that, his parents would be half-dead.
“I’m vicious. Weren’t your parents vicious when they came to my house to bully us orphans and widows?”
Why didn't you say anything then? Where were you then? What kind of saint are you pretending to be now?
Chen Mengqing was rendered speechless.
"My lord, please do justice for me and handle this matter fairly."
Magistrate Jiang slammed his hand on the table again: "If you don't want to go to jail, then compensate Su Luo's family for their losses. I'll fine you ten taels of silver."
The Chen family injured someone first; the men should receive fifteen strokes of the cane, and the women should each receive ten strokes.
"Sir, you can't hit them! People will die if you do that."
Luo Mei lay on the ground; she was already injured and really couldn't fight anymore.
"Su Luo, I beg you, please let me go. I know I was wrong, and I will never dare to cause you any more trouble."
Chen Xique also knew that only asking Su Luo would work now.
Su Luo stepped aside and watched all of this with indifference. She was not Zhao Ruyun, and she would not be soft-hearted towards these people.
The magistrate gave his clerk a look, and the clerk called out to the yamen runners outside, "Men, carry out the execution."
Chen Dazhi, Luo Mei, and the other two were dragged out, and Su Luo didn't bother to listen to the pig-like screams.
"Chen Mengqing, right? Give ten taels of silver to Madam Su, and you can take your parents back."
Chen Mengqing clenched his fist and it took him a long time to take out ten taels of silver from his pocket and give it to Su Luo.
This was his secret stash of money, hidden away for a long time, unknown even to his mother, but today he had to give it to Su Luo.
Su Luo took the silver and said, "Chen Mengqing, I'll say it again, our two families have already separated. After today, we will have no further relationship."
If I find out again that you're still trying to take advantage of me, things won't be like they are today.
Su Luo took Zhao Ruyun and the two children to Ji'an Hall to apply the medicine before returning home.
Ah Xu drove the carriage back to the village entrance. Everyone in Changping Village was gossiping about Su Luo and Chen Dazhi's family, but Su Luo didn't bother with them.
At the village entrance, Su Luo got out of the car to see Fan Gaocen. He had planted tree branches in all the foundations and tied them with string.
He looked very serious, and only nodded in satisfaction after he had inserted the last branch.
"Master Fan, I had something to attend to earlier. I'm sorry to have left you here alone." Su Luo said apologetically.
"It's alright. I'll take this opportunity to plan out the foundation for your land. Now, I think I know how to design this yard for you."
The ground was covered with branches, which Su Luo couldn't understand anyway.
"Really? That's wonderful. Thank you for your hard work, Master Fan."
Fan Gaocen had a mustache, and when he was thinking, he liked to stroke his mustache the most.
"Miss Su, I'll show you the drawings when I finish them tomorrow. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, we can make changes."
"good!"
Ah Xu then took Fan Gaocen back to the county. He had spent the whole day running errands.
Chen Mengqing managed to hire an oxcart to take Chen Dazhi and the others home, and bought some herbs to brew for them to drink.
"Father and Mother, didn't I tell you not to cause trouble for Second Aunt and the others? You didn't listen, and now you've bitten off more than you can chew."
Chen Dazhi lay on the bed, groaning in pain. After those fifteen strokes of the cane, he felt like he was about to die.
"How was I supposed to know Su Luo was so ruthless? She used to be a mentally unstable person who couldn't take care of herself."
"Meng Qing, thank goodness I still have you, otherwise I would have died."
Luo Mei was alright; her fat body prevented her from injuring any bones.
"Father, Mother, learn your lesson and don't mess with Su Luo again. I'll take good care of you this time I'm home."
Luo Mei immediately sensed something was wrong when she heard this: "Meng Qing, what did you say? You want to stay and take care of us? Then you don't have to do your job?"
Chen Mengqing sneered: "My boss said I offended a big shot and he won't let me work here anymore."
"What?"
Chen Mengqing earns five hundred coins a month. Could it be that she lost her job because they caused trouble for Su Luo today? Su Luo seems to know several young masters.
Luo Mei grew angrier and angrier, and her heart was so heavy that she fainted.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com