Chapter 312 All Parties Make Their Appearance (Part 1)
These words immediately ignited tensions in the room.
Madam Min Qiao glanced coldly at the Lady of the Earl of Annan. Before she could speak, Madam Zheng, who was beside her, retorted with a smile, "Even if all the adult masters of our Duke of Jin's mansion came, there would only be three people. Unlike the Earl of Annan's mansion, whose Earl of Annan is still at the border, there are 1, 2, 3... 8 masters who have come."
As Madam Zheng explained, "Those who know, today is a trial. Those who don't, would think it's a family gathering at the Marquis of Annan's mansion."
Madam Min smiled. She had almost forgotten that Madam Zheng had also survived countless trials and tribulations. This was no small matter; she didn't need to protect her.
The Lady of Annan, sitting opposite her, was furious, but she still had to maintain her composure. "Madam Zheng is joking. My good-for-nothings are here today as the aggrieved party to file a complaint, not to join in the fun."
Madam Zheng nodded in realization. "I had almost forgotten if the Marquis of Annan hadn't mentioned it. My son is an official in the Ministry of Justice, and he's here today as a juror. He's not here just to join in the fun."
"As for my son and me, we're here to support him, of course. After all, he's always held a nominal position, and this is the first time His Majesty has entrusted him with such an important task. We have to do our best!"
Upon hearing this, Lady Annam's expression immediately changed.
My heart began to race. It was common knowledge that Madam Zheng and Madam Min had a very good relationship.
Judging from Madam Zheng's tone, the Duke of Jin was appointed by the Emperor himself as a juror.
What does Your Majesty mean by this?
This was the first time Min Qiao had heard of this matter.
She looked at Madam Zheng in surprise. Madam Zheng smiled at her, leaned closer, and whispered in Min Qiao's ear, "I begged the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager then mentioned it to the Emperor."
"We didn't really expect His Majesty to agree. Who would have thought that His Majesty would agree as soon as the Empress Dowager spoke up?"
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty! And thank you for your planning!" Madam Min Qiao patted the back of Madam Zheng's hand gratefully. "If I can survive this ordeal, I will do my utmost to help the Duke of Jin's mansion in the future, no matter what it takes."
Madam Zheng glared at Madam Min and said irritably, "Still telling me these things? You don't consider me a friend? Keep your little schemes to yourself. Let's get through this today first."
Madam Min didn't say anything more, but smiled gratefully at Madam Zheng.
Just then, the third group of people arrived.
Surprisingly, this third group of people turned out to be Minister Sun from the former Ministry of Works and his two sons.
Minister Sun, who was only in his fifties, walked in supported by his two sons on either side, looking rather old and frail.
After the Sun family entered, they bowed to Madam Zheng and the Duke and his wife of Jin, and then walked straight toward the Earl of Annan.
Sun Shiming took his seat next to the Earl of Annam. His two sons obediently stood behind him.
Because there were quite a few people standing behind Lady Annan, the two sons of the Sun family almost couldn't find a place to stand.
The Feng family members stepped aside or back, managing to make some room for the Sun family members.
As soon as Sun Shiming sat down, the Earl of Annam feigned surprise and asked, "Why is Minister Sun here today?"
Shouldn't the Sun family be observing mourning at home? It hasn't even been a year yet!
Sun Shiming said with a face full of grief and indignation, "Since His Majesty has issued an imperial edict to hold a joint trial today for the murder case of Min Qiaoshi, then I must naturally come to seek justice for my deceased mother!"
Lady Annam looked as if she had just realized something, and said indignantly, "I almost forgot, wasn't it Lady Sun who was angered to death by Madam Qiao?"
"I advise Lady Annam to be careful with her words," Madam Min Qiao scoffed. "The trial hasn't even started yet, and you've already convicted me?"
"I know, they say you have a grudge against me. They're just saying this to annoy me."
"Anyone who didn't know better would think that the three judicial departments were all under the control of your Annam Earl's Mansion!"
"Oh dear, could it be that the Annam Marquis's mansion had already threatened the three judicial departments in advance, and that the outcome of today's joint trial was not to the Annam Marquis's liking, so the Annam Marquis, who is leading troops in the field, is going to do something?"
"Tsk tsk..."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Was Min Qiao's statement implying that the Annam Earl's Mansion would influence the outcome of the joint trial? Or was it implying that the Annam Earl's Mansion was plotting a rebellion?
Good heavens, you're not good when you don't speak, but when you do, you're deadly!
"Don't you dare make false accusations!" Lady Annam hated Min Qiaoshi to the core at this moment.
Now, whenever she hears the phrase "I know...I don't know...", she grits her teeth in anger.
She only made a sarcastic remark about Madam Zheng, and Madam Zheng already responded to her. Now Madam Min is here again?
Just then, a clear voice came from the doorway.
"Who is it that is making false accusations? Isn't it you, Lady Annam?"
As she spoke, Su Rongrong strode in with an imposing air.
It's clear that Su Rongrong has dressed up meticulously today, adorned in fine clothes and jewels, her attire extremely formal.
"Rongrong greets the Grand Madam, the Duke of Jin, and the Madam."
Su Rongrong respectfully curtsied to the three people from the Duke of Jin's mansion before walking to Madam Min Qiao's side and saying affectionately, "Grandmother, I'm late."
Madam Min waved her hand with a smile, "It's not too late, there's still plenty of time."
Su Rongrong smiled and walked behind Min Qiaoshi. A quick-witted yamen runner brought her a stool and placed it respectfully next to Min Yuexi.
On the other hand, neither the seven young masters and ladies of the Annan Marquis's mansion nor the two gentlemen of the Sun family managed to get a single chair.
Seeing this, everyone, whether standing behind or sitting in front, including Lady Annam and Sun Shiming, looked extremely grim.
They all glared at the sycophantic yamen runner with eyes that seemed to hold a knife. But the runner looked up at the sky and down at the ground, ignoring them completely.
The lowly clerk was also feeling bitter. When had the Dali Temple ever received so many important guests?
The chairs in the courtroom were almost all moved from their desks and chairs. Where were there any extra chairs and stools?
Even the stools that the future Third Prince's Consort and the Lady of Enping sat on were found in some obscure corner of the Dali Temple.
They couldn't find many in total, how could there be enough seats for so many people?
While Lady Annan was still angry about the stool, Su Rongrong questioned her again, saying, "Madam just said that Old Madam Sun was angered to death by my grandmother. But I remember that when we left the Annan Marquis's residence, Old Madam Sun was clearly still alive and well."
"If Madam Sun was really angered to death by my grandmother, shouldn't she have died on the spot? How come I heard that she died after returning from the Marquis of An'nan's residence?"
"Could it be that the Marquis of Annan deliberately murdered Old Madam Sun and then pinned the blame on my grandmother?"
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