Shen Qing believed that this debt was fabricated by them in order to exploit the Gao family's extinction!
Thinking of this, she immediately knelt down and said, "The Gao family has never borrowed 100,000 taels from anyone."
The magistrate took a folded piece of yellow paper from the clerk, held it up in his hand, and said, "This is the IOU that your father-in-law and husband signed in black and white."
"How can you prove that this IOU is genuine?" Shen Qing insisted calmly, "I have never heard my husband mention this debt."
The magistrate, in a fit of impatience, slammed his fist on the court: "Guards! Take the IOU to a place for handwriting and seal comparison!"
Shen Qing suddenly sensed something was wrong.
The corrupt official not only presented the evidence voluntarily, but also offered to conduct a handwriting comparison, which was completely different from his previous sneaky behavior in forcing her to confess.
Could it be...?
"Your Honor," the examiner said as he entered the courtroom, "after comparing the signatures and fingerprints on the IOU with those on the joint petition signed by local merchants, it has been confirmed that the signatures and fingerprints on the IOU do indeed belong to the Gao family."
Shen Qing was horrified.
Is the IOU genuine?
She didn't believe it; the original owner's memories clearly didn't include this debt!
"My lord, I wish to personally compare the IOUs!"
The county magistrate waved his hand: "Granted!"
The inspector handed the IOU and the joint petition to Shen Qing.
Shen Qing carefully compared the two sets of signatures and fingerprints, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he became.
With a background in finance, she has some experience in identifying handwriting and signatures.
The Gao family, father and son, came from an elegant background. Their signatures had their own unique style and were difficult to imitate, while their fingerprints were impossible to forge.
This IOU is genuine!
The Gao family father and son borrowed 100,000 taels of silver without the original owner's knowledge!
Shen Qing's vision went black.
Seeing her like this, the county magistrate smiled smugly and said, "Gao Shenshi, if you don't want to go to jail, then bring out the Gao family's house to pay off your debts."
Shen Qing weighed the options in her mind—
If she doesn't agree to use the house to pay off the debt, she will go to jail again and face certain death.
If she agrees to use her house to pay off the debt, she will be homeless and freeze to death on the streets during the long, harsh winter in Jiangzhou.
Both options were dead ends, leaving her no way out!
She wanted to live, not only to get out of here, but also to save the Gao family's house!
Shen Qing's gaze fell on the IOU, and she suddenly noticed a hidden line of small print on the far left—
Monthly interest is paid on the first day of each month, and the principal is repaid in the ninth month of the eleventh year of the Guangxu reign.
The eleventh year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign is next year!
Shen Qing was excited and looked at the county magistrate: "Sir, is this the tenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign?"
The county magistrate said impatiently, "Of course it's the tenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign!"
Shen Qing pointed to the small print on the left side of the IOU: "The principal will be repaid in the eleventh month of the Guangxu eleventh year, with interest settled monthly. As long as the woman can pay the monthly interest on time, the principal of 100,000 taels can be repaid after ten months!"
The county magistrate frowned and looked at the inspector: "Is what Gao Shenshi said true?"
The inspector nodded: "Yes, sir."
The magistrate shook his head, slammed his fist on the table, and said, "Release Gao Shenshi! Court adjourned!"
Shen Qing still couldn't believe she had been released until Chunju ran to her side crying. Only then did she come to her senses, squinted at the corrupt official's hurried retreat, and said sternly, "Sir, wait!"
The county magistrate paused: "Is there anything else?"
"This humble woman wishes to file a countersuit against Master Zhao for unlawful intrusion into her home, robbery, and attempted rape!"
The crowd gasped in disbelief.
The magistrate coughed lightly and gave Shen Qing a warning look: "Gao Shenshi, I have already found you innocent and released you in court. If you continue to cause trouble, I will have no choice but to put you back in jail!"
Shen Qing was not afraid at all. She straightened her back and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "If you, sir, do not stand up for me, then I will have no choice but to appeal to higher authorities!"
She had to insist on imprisoning that Zhao Yuanwai, otherwise she might be killed the moment she stepped out of the county government office.
The county magistrate was also furious and cursed, "You don't know what's good for you! You'll get what's coming to you later!"
Only after witnessing the constables carrying out their orders to arrest Zhao Yuanwai did Shen Qing feel at ease enough to leave the county government office with Chunju.
The rain and snow along the way made her lacerated wounds even more painful.
She wrapped her thin mourning clothes tighter, looked up at the sky, and said, shivering, "Luckily, the Gao family still has a house, otherwise there would be nowhere to stand in this sky..."
Before she could finish speaking, several thugs rushed over from across the street, grabbed Shen Qing by the neck, and lifted her up.
Shen Qing felt like she was about to be hanged, unable to breathe, and could only kick her dangling legs in resistance.
"Don't think that just because Master Zhao has been arrested, the Gao family doesn't have to pay interest! If they can't pay the monthly interest in five days, they can expect to go to jail!"
The other person increased the force of their grip, and Shen Qing felt that she would suffocate and die in the next second. Her strong will to survive made her kick the other person in the chest with all her might.
The other person, in pain, threw her to the ground and then stomped on her stomach with his foot, applying force viciously.
Chunju shouted from the side, "Murder! Help! Murder!"
Shen Qing struggled to get up, but was stepped on even harder.
She forced herself to stay calm and asked, "I have no grudge against Master Zhao, why would he do this?"
"You've offended someone! Someone wants to kill you!"
Shen Qing squinted.
Master Zhao was indeed a hired gun; he had someone behind him!
Shen Qing wanted to ask more questions, but some people were drawn by Chunju's shouts, and the thugs left in a large group.
Chunju helped her up, crying, "Young Madam, are you alright?"
"Cough cough!" Shen Qing coughed violently a few times. In addition to his neck, his chest and stomach were also a little sore.
She took Chunju's hand, staggered to her feet, and continued walking towards the Gao family's house.
Chunju cried, "Young mistress, who on earth wants to take your life...?"
Shen Qing took a deep breath and pressed his chest to relieve the pain.
I was covered in cold sweat.
Not only was she heavily in debt, but she also faced constant threats to her life.
Thinking about all this, Shen Qing's heart pounded so hard that her entire chest ached, and fear rose from her stomach to her throat, making it hard to speak clearly: "Let's go... let's go back."
Chunju exclaimed "Oh!" and held her tighter.
The two walked forward through the rain and snow for a very long time, so long that Shen Qing could hardly hold on any longer.
"Young mistress, we've arrived!" Chunju lifted her up with all her might and carried her up the steps, letting her rest against a pillar.
Chunju stepped forward and pounded on the door: "Open the door! The young mistress is back!"
With a "whoosh," the dark brown double wooden doors opened from the inside, and several servants ran out and blocked the entrance.
Chunju said urgently, "What are you doing? The young mistress is back, get out of the way!"
"The madam has ordered that the young mistress is not allowed to enter the room," the head servant said, his face filled with shame.
Shen Qing asked weakly, "What did you say? Why can't I come inside?"
The servant stammered, "Madam said...that the young mistress has disgraced the family and will be expelled from the Gao family, never to be allowed to enter the Gao family gate again."
Chunju wept, looking helplessly at Shen Qing.
She felt that it was because she testified in court that Shen Qing had been sexually assaulted by Master Zhao that Shen Qing was expelled from the Gao family.
Shen Qing understood all of this. With a pale face, he smiled at her and said softly, "It's alright, I'll handle it."
After saying that, he looked at the servant and said in a kind voice, "I am seriously injured. Please help me talk to the madam and ask her to let me stay for a few days. Once I have recovered, I will leave the Gao family."
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