Chapter 323 Another Death
"And then?" The county magistrate was almost losing his patience after listening for a long time without getting the point.
Ma Xingteng immediately quickened his speech, "We arranged for a maid to take care of her, and the housekeeper came several times a month to bring her some clothes and food. Originally everything was fine, but the maid who took care of my stepmother fell ill some time ago, and the family couldn't spare anyone to go over for a while.
I thought of my stepmother's eldest brother, Sang Yong. He used to be the head of Fufeng Township and was very kind to my stepmother. It should be fine if I leave my stepmother in his care for a few days. When the old woman recovers from her illness and comes back, we will take my stepmother back.
I didn’t expect that my stepmother would die just two days after I brought her back home!”
The county magistrate listened for a long time but didn't think there was anything wrong. He spoke in a bad tone, "So the person was still alive when you took him back, but died two days later? What case should we report?"
Ma Xingteng was anxious and at a loss, nodding and bowing in agreement, "Your Excellency is right, there is indeed no need to report this to the police, but... the servants who collected my stepmother's body came back and said that my stepmother's body was covered with wounds and bruises, and it was obvious that she had been beaten.
They suspected that the woman who took care of my stepmother did it under my instructions. Even my father thought so. I scolded him, but sir, I was really wronged! If I really did it, I would admit it. After all, my leg was broken because of my stepmother. I have nothing to regret for doing so. But the problem is that I really didn't do it! You can't put all the blame on me!
Sir, please make the decision for me! I cannot bear this kind of false accusation!"
The county magistrate looked at Liu Tiechui sternly and said, "Take the yamen runners with you and bring back Sang's body. We can talk about it after the coroner performs the autopsy."
Liu Tiechui looked at Ma Xingteng worriedly, "Does your father agree to the coroner's autopsy?"
Ma Xingteng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly, "My wife has called my sister and relatives here. Even if my father disagrees, I must get to the bottom of this matter!"
Seeing Ma Xingteng clench his fists, Liu Tiechui couldn't help but sigh, "Your father still hasn't let it go?"
Ma Xingteng shook his head expressionlessly, "I can't let it go! Ma Xingfei was also his spoiled son. At that time, he was determined to give up on me to train him. Things are unpredictable. He will be tortured by self-blame for the rest of his life. Sang's death was just an outlet for him to vent. It seems that putting the blame on me can reduce his sins. It's ridiculous. I won't let him get his wish! I just want to investigate the matter clearly and make it clear so that he can't even find an excuse!"
Liu Tiechui patted Ma Xingteng on the shoulder. It was hard for him, an outsider, to see the father and son quarreling like this.
Soon Sang's body was taken away by the yamen runners. In order to make Ma Rencai accept the reality, Ma Xingteng even ignored his wishes and had someone prepare a carriage. He took Ma Rencai, Ma Yujie and Ma's relatives to the county yamen. He wanted to let the Ma family know the truth for themselves.
While the coroner was performing the autopsy, Ma Rencai kept scolding Ma Xingteng outside the county government office, saying that he was unfilial and unfraternal, and he couldn't say anything else.
Ma Yujie was impatient and shouted angrily, "Dad, is this going to end? You want the truth, and my elder brother asked the county magistrate to give you the truth. What are you dissatisfied with? Or do you know in your heart that my elder brother is innocent and deliberately put the blame on him? Dad, are you doing this to our dead mother? You swore at my mother's bedside that you would take good care of us. Is this how you take care of us?"
"You...you rebellious girl!" Ma Rencai covered his chest and gasped, obviously very angry.
Ma Yujie was unmoved, and Ma Rencai couldn't do anything about her. He was so angry that he glared at the brother and sister and stopped talking.
The coroner came out with the autopsy results quickly and went straight to see the county magistrate.
Soon, the county magistrate brought a group of people to the court, and even Shen Yi and Su Tai were called out.
Everyone in the Ma family was bewildered, and Ma Rencai was even more confused about the situation. He couldn't help asking, "Sir, how did my wife die?"
The county magistrate did not answer, but just glanced at him coldly, and Ma Rencai immediately became obedient.
Seeing that the county magistrate ignored them and the yamen runners did not move, Ma Xingteng carefully rubbed against Shen Yi and asked gossipingly, "Brother Shen, why are you and your sister-in-law here too?"
Shen Yi shook his head, "We don't know either. The county magistrate sent someone to summon us, so we came here."
After a while, Mo Laotian and his family were brought in.
Seeing so many people, Mo Laotian trembled in fear and huddled aside with his wife and daughter, not daring to say a word.
"Why is there someone coming again?" Ma Xingteng frowned. Seeing that the county magistrate still did not move, he had to go back and talk to Bai in private.
Just when everyone was getting impatient, Sang Yong's family and the maid who took care of Sang were brought in.
When the county magistrate saw that everyone was present, he slammed the gavel and shouted solemnly, "Court is open!"
Everyone knelt down hurriedly, but still didn't understand what was going on.
The county magistrate looked at Ma Xingteng and asked, "Ma Xingteng, you said that Sang was originally fine, but after being entrusted to Sang Yong, she became injured and died in just two days. Is that true?"
"Sir, it's absolutely true! Aunt Li can testify to this! Oh, by the way, there's also the butler, who often rushes over to deliver things, and he can also testify to this!"
Ma Xingteng pointed at Li Ma and the housekeeper.
The two confirmed Ma Xingteng's words.
Ma Rencai said angrily, "The servants in the house all listen to you two. They agree with whatever you say!"
Ma Xingteng didn't expect that his own father would contradict him in public. He was extremely angry, but he did not argue.
The county magistrate slammed the gavel for the second time, "Ma Rencai, I didn't ask you! Shut up!"
As expected, Ma Rencai no longer dared to act presumptuously.
The county magistrate then said slowly: "So you mean that Sang was beaten in the Sang family, right?"
Ma Xingteng nodded hesitantly, "If my stepmother hadn't left the Sang family, she would have been beaten there."
"You are slandering me! I took my sister in for a few days out of kindness, but I didn't expect you to bite me back!" Sang Yong accused Ma Xingteng in grief and disappointment.
Ma Xingteng shook his head repeatedly, "I didn't, I just told the truth."
"The truth? The truth is that you hate my sister. Not only did you abuse her, but you also wouldn't let us see her. Our family had a hard time taking care of my sister for a few days, so how could we let her get hurt? She was already dying when you sent her here! How hateful that I'm poor, I'm so poor! I can't afford a doctor at all, and I can't treat her! Wuuuu." Sang Yong, a grown man, cried so pitifully that anyone who heard it felt heartbroken and burst into tears.
Ma Xingteng was also anxious, "I didn't! If I really asked Aunt Li to beat her, how could I send her to the Sang family and let you catch me? This doesn't make sense at all!"
"Yes, yes! It really doesn't make sense." After what happened between Shen Yi and the Mo family, the people were obviously much more rational and did not jump to conclusions at the beginning.
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