Chapter 117 Courtroom Proceedings
The temporary government office in Jingchuan, where Wang Da Niang and the others went, was still under construction, so Lord Guo used a wooden shed to hold his court.
"Erlang! Erlang!" When Li rushed over, the area outside was already surrounded by people.
Li squeezed her way to the front, only to find that the wooden shed was covered by a tall white cloth, and people outside could only hear the sounds inside but could not see what was inside.
"What's wrong? What's going on?" Aunt Wang and her husband followed behind, asking the people next to them with some confusion.
The man had clearly arrived early and explained the matter clearly in just a few words.
It turns out that Li Er had apparently kidnapped a woman in the woods to the east. He seemed to be trying to rob her, but his plan backfired. He ran into a tough opponent, not only failing to steal anything but also apparently getting injured and being handed over to Lord Guo.
"It's just his bad luck. He's always been idle and lazy, but why did he have to resort to robbery? Sigh!" The man shook his head and sighed as he spoke.
Li, standing to the side, turned green with anger. She pointed at the man and began to curse, "Go to hell! Who are you calling an idle loafer! Who are you accusing of robbing! You're the one who's robbing! You're so young, you can eat whatever you want, but don't talk nonsense! Be careful you don't go to the eighteenth level of hell and have the evil spirits there pull out your rotten tongue!"
"How dare you talk like that!" The young man recognized Li Shi, and after being scolded like that, he immediately got angry, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to step forward.
Seeing that things were not going well, the men of the Li family immediately surrounded Li Shi, protecting her behind them, and glared at the young man with hostility, saying, "Watch your mouth!"
"Ha! So your Li family has connections, huh!" The young man's face darkened. He was about to wave for help when a very authoritative voice came from behind the white cloth: "Silence! Anyone who disturbs the proceedings will be punished with ten strokes of the cane, Officer Xing!"
"Yes, sir!"
A tall, imposing man emerged from behind the white cloth, carrying a long, flat stick. He was fierce-looking, his eyes bulging like copper bells. He scanned the surrounding crowd and sternly shouted, "Let's see who's making a scene here!"
Seeing this, the young man dared not act recklessly. He could only glare fiercely at the Li family group before moving to another spot to stand.
Seeing someone come out, Li disregarded her fear and stepped forward with trembling legs, asking the constable, "Sir, what...what crime has my son committed? Why...why are you arresting him?"
Constable Xing glanced at her but said nothing. He still held the wooden stick, standing before the white cloth like a guardian deity.
Just as Li was about to continue asking questions, the person inside spoke.
"Who are you, and what brings you to accuse the second son of the Li family?"
The people outside fell silent, holding their breath to listen to what was happening inside. Grandma Wang and Grandpa Wang also remained in the crowd, still feeling that the figure imprinted on the white cloth looked somewhat familiar.
"I, Fan, am accusing Li Erlang of kidnapping me as a hostage! He is plotting to seize my family's wealth!"
"!!!" It's Er Ya! Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang were completely stunned.
Li Er kidnapped her! It was actually her!
"You're lying! I didn't kidnap you!"
Li Er, kneeling on the ground, trembled slightly. Looking at Fan Xiaoxiao in front of him, he began to struggle desperately, his eyes seeming to spit fire!
Fan Xiaoxiao gave a cold laugh, raised her head, and showed the scar on her face to the righteous-looking Lord Guo in the hall.
"My lord, the injury on my daughter's face is proof! And my older sister who was with me, as well as any of my uncles, can corroborate this!"
Lord Guo glanced at Madam Fan and Master Lu beside him. He had already asked the latter two about their statements, and they basically agreed with the lady in the hall.
He had just sent people to check that forest, and it was indeed as the woman had said: there was a trail of someone being dragged deeper into the forest.
He narrowed his eyes, glanced at Fan Xiaoxiao, and then at Li Er, whose calf had been shot.
"Li Er, do you know what punishment is given to those who take hostages?"
The person whose name was called trembled: "I...I don't know..."
"Anyone who evades orders and takes another person hostage shall be beheaded." (Note: From the Tang Code Commentary)
A thud came from outside the white cloth, as if someone had collapsed to the ground.
Lord Guo ignored the commotion outside and continued, "However, your attempt to kidnap was unsuccessful. According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, you shall be punished with twenty strokes of the cane and three years of hard labor!"
Having just escaped the death penalty, Li Er had no time to relax before his body suddenly trembled again. His face was frighteningly pale, whether from blood loss from his leg wound or from Lord Guo's words.
"No...no, I didn't kidnap her! I really didn't kidnap her! I, I just saw her picking herbs there! I was worried something might happen to her! That's why I kindly went up to warn her! Who knew they wouldn't appreciate my good intentions! Instead, they beat me up!"
And...and! And she knows my aunt! How could I possibly kidnap her! It's all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"
Li Er became increasingly confident as he spoke, then suddenly remembered Aunt Wang, and then realized that Fan Xiaoxiao and the others seemed to have a very close relationship with the Wang couple. If he could just bring up the two of them, then this girl would definitely consider her aunt's feelings!
Thinking of this, Li Er felt as if he had grasped a lifeline, and his eyes were fixed on Fan Xiaoxiao.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes!! Sir!! Yes!"
A heart-wrenching cry rang out from outside the white cloth, and Lord Guo frowned.
"Who is making a scene in the hall!"
"My lord! There is a woman who claims to be Li Er's mother!"
"Oh?" Lord Guo glanced at Li Er.
"Bring it up."
"yes!"
A moment later, Li was brought in by Constable Xing. When she saw her son's left leg, which had been wounded by an arrow, tears streamed down her face, and her hands trembled as she dared not touch her son's wound.
"Li, you're saying that the Fan family has a close relationship with your husband's sisters?"
Li trembled, realizing she was kneeling below the hall. She quickly straightened her knees, head bowed, and replied in a trembling voice, "Yes...yes, sir, there must be some misunderstanding. My family may not be wealthy, but we have no reason to do such shady things!"
Moreover…and these two ladies came to my house for a short visit yesterday with my husband's sister. We only met once, so how could I possibly kidnap her?!
"If you hadn't kidnapped my sister, how could your son have sneaked into the woods like that! Taking advantage of my sister being alone, he led her into the woods!" Madam Fan's face was frighteningly cold, and she trembled uncontrollably as she recalled what had just happened. If it weren't for Master Lu, she truly couldn't imagine what had happened.
"I...I just want to say a few words to her!"
Madam Fan snorted coldly: "Why would you need to drag her into the woods to talk to her! I think you're clearly kidnapping my sister to murder her for money!"
"I didn't!" Li Er shook his head in a flustered manner, then, as if remembering something, pointed at Fan Xiaoxiao and continued, "I just saw her squatting there alone! I was worried that she would be attacked by jackals or wild beasts!"
"It was them! They shot me without a word! It must be because I wasn't careful with my tone when I brought them water yesterday, and they're holding a grudge! My lord! These people are vicious! Please see the truth!"
(End of this chapter)
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