Shengjing City, to the east of the central axis is Xingping County, and to the west of the central axis is Shun'an County.
Xishi was under the jurisdiction of Shunan County. If the people had any disputes, they could go to the Shunan County Government to seek redress.
The crowd gathered and went to the county government office.
On the way, the owner of the gold shop ordered his strong servants to block Rong Xi on both sides until he reached the county government gate to prevent him from escaping.
When the Shunan County Magistrate received the request, his face suddenly lengthened.
You know, it is not easy to be the magistrate of Shengjing City. If you are not careful, you may offend the nobles.
He asked the assistant beside him: "Who is the victim? What is the cause of his complaint?"
The assistant clerk had already inquired about the situation and replied, "The victim is the owner of Changming Gold Shop in Xichang City. He filed a complaint because a young man broke his gold hairpin."
"Changming Gold Shop?" The county magistrate was startled and asked hurriedly, "Could it be Rong, Rong..."
"It is indeed the Rong Mansion Gold Shop, and Rong Silang is also a victim." The assistant clerk sighed.
The county magistrate stood up suddenly and said, "Since it was a thief who damaged the hairpin, he should pay compensation!"
After saying this, he went to the court with righteousness.
There were three people standing in the hall. He glanced at them fiercely with an intimidating aura, and one of them immediately knelt on the ground.
The man kneeling on the ground is the owner of the gold shop.
The county magistrate looked at the two young men. One of them was dressed in fine clothes, had a childish face and was no more than thirteen years old. He must be Rong Silang.
As for the other person, he was wearing coarse linen clothes. Although he had a handsome face and extraordinary bearing, in terms of backing, he was definitely not as good as Rong Silang.
He had something in mind, so he slammed the gavel hard and asked, "Why doesn't the young man in the hall kneel?"
There were two young men in the hall, but he was looking at Rong Xi alone.
Rong Xi raised the corner of his lips and asked Rong Han: "Mingfu asked you, why didn't you kneel?"
Rong Silang was just a commoner, and according to the law he had to kneel when entering the court. However, his father was the Minister of the Court, so the county magistrate did not dare to rebuke him.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the county magistrate was reprimanding Rong Xi.
The people gathered outside the yamen and talked about it.
Rong Han proudly asked back: "If you don't kneel, why should I kneel?"
He had always been spoiled by his parents, was ignorant of the ways of the world, and was proud of his status. Seeing that Rong Xi and others did not kneel, of course he disdained to kneel and salute.
The county magistrate was so angry that he slammed the gavel again and shouted, "You should be severely punished for ignoring the law. Why don't you kneel down?"
If Rong Xi was really an ordinary citizen, he would be so scared that he would kneel down immediately.
Unexpectedly, Rong Xi smiled gently and said, "What the lord said is absolutely right. Rong Silang disregarded the law and should be severely punished."
Everyone: “…”
This young man is really daring!
The county magistrate was about to put a stop to his prestige when he saw Rong Xi take out a piece of silk fabric from his sleeve, which looked quite similar to...
"Please have a look, sir."
The assistant clerk hesitated for a few moments, then stepped forward, took the scroll, and placed it on the county magistrate's desk.
The county magistrate unfolded it and took a look. His eyes widened immediately, his lips trembled and he couldn't speak. His palms seemed to be burned, and he let go immediately, not daring to touch it again.
The assistant clerk standing by also saw the letter clearly. His heart was beating like a drum, his blood was surging, and he almost couldn't stand.
"This, this..." The county magistrate suppressed his fear and looked at Rong Xi.
Rong Xi interrupted him and asked, "May I ask if you can continue hearing the case?"
"I dare not, I dare not..." The county magistrate blurted out. Seeing the surprised expressions of the crowd, he came back to his senses and changed his words, "I will, I will..."
Rong Xi quickly stopped him from talking and said with a smile: "Rong Silang really disrespects the law. Could it be that this killing stick in court is just for show?"
Rong Shaoqing is making things difficult for me!
The county magistrate was filled with bitterness, but he did not dare to offend Rong Weijing, so he wanted to disclose the matter.
Unexpectedly, people outside the yamen shouted loudly: "The son of the minister has no merit, why doesn't he kneel? If this is how the yamen handles cases, how can there be justice?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd became outraged and the onlookers made a commotion.
The county magistrate was sweating profusely when he saw Rong Xi standing there leisurely. On the other hand, Rong Silang seemed extremely uneasy and slightly frightened because of the constant clamoring of the people.
He was young and used to being praised by others, and he had never known how embarrassing it was to be criticized by everyone.
"Could it be that you, the Lord, want to know how to break the law?" Rong Xi asked with a smile again.
The county magistrate's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He is stupid! Both of them are the Shangshu's biological sons, and Rong Shaoqing is the eldest son, with a higher official position than himself, while Rong Han is only the second son and a commoner. It is not difficult to make a choice!
The gavel suddenly rang, and the county magistrate said with a serious face, "Rong Silang, why don't you kneel down!"
Rong Han's heart trembled, and he was about to kneel, but he saw Rong Xi seemed to be smiling smugly, and he was immediately furious and blurted out: "He is a thief! Why doesn't he kneel?"
He didn't know what the book or silk Rong Xi took was.
The county magistrate found it incredible. Since Rong Shaoqing is Rong Silang's elder brother, why does Rong Silang seem not to recognize him?
It’s terrifying when you think about it.
He couldn't help but look at Rong Xi, and saw that the young man was tall and straight, with a temperament like pine and cypress. Subconsciously, he did not remind Rong Han, but signaled to the servant.
The guards on both sides of the court shouted in unison, and the sound of the clubs hitting the ground was so loud that it made people tremble with fear.
Rong Han's legs trembled and he fell to his knees.
The trial begins.
The county magistrate asked, "Please tell me your name, my friend."
The gold shop owner was knowledgeable and experienced, and he knew that Rong Xi was not someone to be trifled with. However, since things had come to this, he had to speak up. Besides, he had the Shangshu as his backer, and this little thief was a stranger, so his power must not be as great as the Shangshu's!
"Replying to the Emperor, I am Wang Dashan, the owner of Changming Gold Shop."
The clerk took notes quickly.
The county magistrate turned to Rong Han and asked again.
Rong Han raised his head and replied: "I am Rong Han, the son of the Rong family." His face was full of pride.
The county magistrate did not dare to ask Rong Xi, so he continued to ask the two men, "Why did you two sue Rong Shaoqing?"
The two men mistakenly thought that "Rong Shaoqing" was the name of Rong Xi. Although they didn't know why the county magistrate knew the thief's name, since it involved the profits of the gold shop and the reputation of the Rong family, they didn't think too much about it.
The shopkeeper complained, "My Lord, this thief broke into the gold shop today and damaged a gold hairpin in the shop. This hairpin is very valuable, but he is a scoundrel who refuses to pay for it. I have no choice but to ask the Lord to judge."
The clerk wrote furiously.
The county magistrate asked Rong Han, "Are there any mistakes or omissions in what Wang Dashan said?"
Rong Han thought about it for a few moments, shook his head and said, "Every word he said is true."
"Does Rong Shaoqing have any excuse?"
Rong Xi replied calmly: "It is true that I broke the hairpin, but I cannot agree with the compensation."
"It is only natural to compensate for destroying someone's property. Don't try to make excuses, you little thief!" Wang Dashan shouted angrily.
Rong Xi suddenly smiled and asked, "Wang Dashan, are you really going to sue me?"
His question was strange, and Wang Dashan was startled, but thinking that Rong Weijing was the Minister of Personnel, he suppressed his worries and said with his neck stiff, "That's right!"
Rong Xi asked again, "Rong Silang, are you also suing me for destroying the gold hairpin?"
Rong Han didn't understand, and nodded sincerely: "You did something immoral, so of course I have to sue you!"
Everyone: "..." Could it be that this young man has a brain disease?
The county magistrate sighed secretly, Rong Shaoqing's move was truly brilliant!
Rong Xi looked at the clerk and smiled slightly, "Is the record correct?"
The clerk was stunned for a few moments and then nodded.
"In this case, may I ask the Lord Governor whether the Wei Dynasty has any regulations requiring that any land, shops, etc. that a woman's dowry brings must be registered with the government?"
This law is to facilitate inheritance by children.
The county magistrate sighed softly. Seeing that Rong Silang and Wang Dashan were still confused, he sincerely admired Rong Xi's strategy.
"It is true."
Rong Xi smiled lightly, "Could you please check it for me, Mr. Ming?"
The county magistrate signaled to his assistant, who immediately left the hall to look for records.
While waiting, the people outside the yamen were talking about the matter. Some gossipers had already passed the news to Rong's house. When Rong Zhou heard that Rong Han was going to the court, she almost fainted.
"How is Shiro?"
The servant replied: "It is still in court."
"Go and report to the Master immediately!"
The servant took the order and left, while Rong Zhou called another servant to follow him to the Shun'an County Government Office.
At the same time, in the court, the assistant clerk brought the record and placed it on the desk. The county magistrate stared at it for a long time and asked with a sigh: "I wonder what Rong Shaoqing wants?"
Rong Xi said gently, "I have no demands. I am just here to be brought here by the two victims. I only ask the governor to make a fair judgment."
He is gentle, gentlemanly, and not aggressive, which makes people like him.
But to the county magistrate, the young man was a shrewd hunter, and was good at setting traps to entrap people with ulterior motives, making it impossible for anyone to accuse him of any fault.
He thought for a few moments and decisively slammed the gavel.
"Wang Dashan reported the servant to his master and punished him with forty strokes of the cane."
When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
Wang Dashan stood there in a daze. When he was pinned down by the police, he cried out in surprise, "My Lord, please show some mercy! What do you mean by telling your master about your servant?"
The person he sued was that little thief, so how could he be the master of the house?
A killing stick fell down, and because of the pain, his mind suddenly became clear. He suddenly raised his head with difficulty and looked at Rong Xi.
His last name is Rong! Could it be Dalangjun?
Rong Han was still at a loss as to what to do. When he saw Wang Dashan being beaten with a stick, he was so frightened that he sobbed and shed tears.
"Mr. Rong, as for..." The county magistrate looked at Rong Han with difficulty.
Rong Xi did not force the issue and said with a smile, "This is a family matter, so you don't have to worry about it. However, my property has been taken over by someone else, so I hope you can help me."
In the official records, Zhang's shop was clearly listed, and there was no record of any transfer or sale, which was sufficient to prove that Zhang's shop belonged to Rong Xi.
No one except Rong Xi himself has the right to act without authorization.
"Please wait a moment, young lord. I will send someone to seal up the shop and check the accounts right away." The county magistrate said firmly.
After he finished speaking, he called all the servants to go to Zhang's shops.
After being tortured, Wang Dashan lay on the ground, dying. Rong Han was so frightened that his face turned pale and he was out of his mind.
The county magistrate, with trembling hands, respectfully handed the imperial edict back to Rong Xi.
It’s worth it to be able to touch the imperial edict with my own hands!
Rong Xi didn't even glance at Rong Han and walked out of the yamen calmly.
Just then Rong Zhou arrived, but Rong Xi ignored her and did not slow down at all.
"Da Lang!" Rong Zhou called him.
Crowds of people watched.
Rong Xi turned around with a smile on his face.
Rong Zhou pinched her handkerchief and said in a trembling voice, "You were young at the time and didn't know much about worldly affairs. If there is no one to take care of the shop, wouldn't it be a waste of your mother's hard work?"
"You have some misunderstandings about me. I accidentally damaged a gold hairpin in the shop, and Wang Dashan and my fourth brother were furious and insisted on bringing me to see the official."
He suddenly shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I just returned to Beijing, and I wanted to go to the gold shop to pick out valuable gold hairpins to repay you for your hard work in running the shop for more than ten years. I didn't expect to encounter such a strange thing. It really made the neighbors laugh."
The onlookers echoed.
Rong Zhou's eyes went dark.
When she heard the servant mention the shop, she mistakenly thought that Rong Xi had returned to Beijing to fight for the property, so she and Han'er went to court and asked this question.
It was her fault!
Rong Xi continued to smile leisurely and said, "Fortunately, the prefect made a fair judgment and checked the dowry records of my late mother, and determined that the shop belonged to me. If not for this, I don't know how I would have gotten out of this situation."
“That’s true!”
The common people saw it all clearly, and it was estimated that after today, the matter of the Rong family servant suing his master and the fourth son of the Rong family suing his elder brother would become a topic of conversation among the people after dinner.
"Wandashan was beaten with forty sticks and was half dead."
A voice reached Rong Zhou's ears, and she felt a chill in her heart. She hurriedly lifted her skirt and went into the yamen to look for Rong Han.
Rong Xi walked back to the Prince's Mansion.
As soon as he entered the mansion, he saw Qin Ke coming to greet him. He couldn't help but laugh out loud and asked, "Is everything arranged?"
Qin Ke raised his lips and nodded, "I will definitely not let you down."
The two of them walked into the study hand in hand. Qin Ke poured tea for Rong Xi, who drank several cups swiftly, feeling extremely refreshed.
After thinking about it carefully, he sighed and said, "It's still a pity."
The Wei Dynasty values filial piety, so even if Rong Zhou was at fault, Rong Xi could not sue her.
"It's okay, she will suffer the consequences." Qin Ke comforted her softly.
The next day, the news of Rong Mansion had spread throughout the streets and alleys.
One said that a wicked servant of the Rong mansion reported his master and was punished with forty strokes of the cane. Now he has a miserable end.
Second, Rong's younger brother sued his own brother, was frightened and lost his mind in the court, and is now bedridden, unaware of the world.
Third, Rong Zhou was vicious and had occupied his stepson's property for many years. He secretly colluded with an evil doctor to force his stepson to eat too much nourishing food, which ruined his appearance. He also secretly slandered his stepson's reputation many times.
On the fourth day of the Queen Mother's birthday, Minister Rong met Rong Dalang in Qifeng Palace, but he had no idea that Dalang was his biological son!
The rumors spread more and more fiercely, and the Rong family's reputation became completely ruined.
When Rong Weijing learned about this that day, he wanted to punish Rong Han, but seeing that Rong Han was in a daze, he became worried and looked for a doctor. After a busy night, there was no improvement.
He is not yet aware of the rumors in the market.
The next day when he arrived at the government office, his colleagues all mocked him secretly. Someone close to him kindly told him the reason, and Rong Weijing was so angry that he almost died.
"This is complete nonsense!" He slammed the table and stood up.
How could he embezzle the legitimate son's property?
After enduring a day of torment and leaving the office, he hurried back home to question Rong Zhou about the shop.
Rong Zhou was already worried about Rong Han's illness, and the government was checking the shop's accounts. She felt guilty and collapsed after being harshly questioned by Rong Weijing.
"Han'er's life or death is unknown now, and you are questioning me about this?"
This matter concerns the reputation of the Rong family. How could Rong Weijing not care?
He angrily asked again: "Did you embezzle Dalang's property?"
Rong Weijing never reflects on himself, and all his mistakes are attributed to others.
Rong Zhou suddenly sneered, "I embezzled it? If I hadn't worked hard these years, how could you have managed to get promoted? Rong Weijing, you are so selfish!"
Bang!
The room suddenly fell silent.
Rong Zhou was slapped by Rong Weijing, and her head tilted to one side, with her cheek red and swollen.
After a few breaths, she smiled sadly, raised her eyes and asked in a low voice: "Rong Weijing, I am not the only one who is responsible for the family expenses, why do you think you are innocent?"
Rong Weijing has always been very concerned about his reputation, so naturally he couldn't stand these harsh words.
He said angrily: "How dare you talk back to me!"
After he finished speaking, he called the servant over and said decisively, "Send the lady back to Zhou's house."
Now that rumors are spreading, he must make his position clear.
"I won't go back! I won't go back!" Rong Zhou shouted sharply.
How shameful it is for a married daughter to be sent back to her mother's home by her husband's family? Rong Zhou fought hard.
Rong Weijing was extremely shocked.
He had never seen her like such a shrew. The gentle and virtuous wife in his memory seemed to be fading away.
The servants followed the master's orders and dragged Rong Zhou away from the Rong Mansion.
The incident of Rong Zhou being sent back to her natal home once again caused an uproar.
Everyone said that Minister Rong's action must be because Rong Zhou was indeed at fault.
All the dirty water was borne by Rong Zhou.
Prince's Mansion.
Rong Xi's eyes curved as he said to Qin Ke, "I have looked at the account books of each shop and found countless fake accounts. If the evidence is irrefutable, can we convict him of theft?"
Although he is usually gentle, he will never show mercy to evil people.
The crime of theft in the Wei Dynasty carries a very heavy sentence. If Rong Zhou really stole the money, he would probably have trouble living in peace for the rest of his life.
Qin Ke stroked her hair and replied with a smile: "The government will surely make a fair judgment."
Rong Xi could not stand such tenderness. He could not help but put his arms around his waist, leaning on Qin Ke's broad shoulders, and smiled sincerely.
"Luckily you're here."
The author has something to say:
I will continue to slap you in the face in the next chapter, and I won’t let anyone off~
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