She went to a side room in the yamen to change into the lady's robe. The robe was indigo in color, and the fabric was of the finest quality, with delicate embroidered patterns. The silk thread used reflected a faint shimmer when it came into contact with the light. There was also a lady's crown, exquisitely crafted and adorned with dazzling jewels. The maid who changed her was so careful that she didn't even dare to breathe. Unfortunately, there was no mirror in the side room, so she couldn't see what she looked like.
Song Anxin walked out in her official robes, and everyone was surprised. The woman stood there with a dignified and elegant demeanor, her eyebrows and eyes gentle and magnanimous, her eyes radiating a faint light, and her lips smiling, as if she could calmly deal with everything in the world.
Lin Fengnian... Feng Yao... Brother Lin and Sister-in-law Lin... a group of people still haven't recovered from Song Anxin's promotion. They only woke up when they saw Song Anxin come out in official robes.
She should have been born to wear this official robe, not that coarse cloth! Those were their mother, younger brother and sister-in-law, and second aunt; they were filled with immense excitement and shock.
Song Anbang could not hide his amazement; his elder sister was worthy of her ambition!
In an instant, another group of people bowed down, captivated by Song Anxin's aura, and spontaneously exclaimed in unison:
"Greetings, Madam Hui!"
Song Anxin was startled. She hadn't gotten used to this sudden change in identity yet, but she couldn't help but marvel at how wonderful the distinct social classes of this era were. The arrogant Jiang Liuzhang and his group were now all kneeling at her feet, whether they wanted to or not.
She slowly began to speak: "Everyone, please get up."
Song Anxin solemnly accepted the imperial edict from Prefect Xu, and then said, "Prefect Xu, Lord Yan, thank you for coming all this way to confer this title upon me. My son, Lin Fengshou, is still suffering injustice in prison. After I finish filing this complaint, I will definitely treat you well."
Magistrate Yan was so shocked he almost fainted. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Madam Hui, there's no need for that. I've already investigated and found your son innocent. I'll release him right away."
"Men, release Lin Fengshou from the jail. Do not delay, go quickly."
Immediately, a constable responded and hurriedly ran away.
Song Anxin turned to look at Magistrate Yan, her face smiling but her words cold: "Magistrate Yan, I am accusing Jiang Liu, the eldest son of the Jiang family, and Zhang Jing, the eldest son of the Zhang family, of conspiring with my fellow villager Lin Gangzi to frame my second son, Lin Fengshou. Since my son Lin Fengshou is innocent, does that mean Jiang Liu, Zhang Jing, and Lin Gangzi are guilty? Aren't you going to punish them?!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing's expression changed and he quickly stepped forward, saying, "Madam Hui, it's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. I'm good friends with Brother Fengshou, how could I frame him? Young Master Jiang also greatly admires Fengshou, we should get along more in the future."
Jiang Liu's eyes were filled with disbelief. He still couldn't accept that a poor country woman he could trample underfoot had suddenly become a seventh-rank imperial lady. Her smile was practically a mockery of him, but no matter how unwilling he was, he could only accept his fate.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, Lin Fengshou and I only had a misunderstanding. I won't pursue it further."
Magistrate Yan stepped in to smooth things over: "Hehe, since it's a misunderstanding, it's good that everyone has talked it out. Today, I'm hosting a banquet to celebrate Lady Hui's investiture as a court lady. I would also appreciate it if the Prefect and Magistrate Yan could join us."
Song Anxin's eyes were full of sarcasm. When she was just a village woman, they could ignore her and let her bully her. Now that she was Lady Hui, they acted as if nothing had happened, fawning over her and not even bothering to investigate!
She was determined to get to the bottom of this; how could she possibly let these people go? Countless innocent souls had been killed by them.
She suddenly knelt down and said to Prefect Xu, "Your Excellency, I want to accuse Magistrate Yan of protecting evildoers, colluding with local thugs and merchants such as the Jiang and Zhang families to oppress the people, seize their property, and allow evildoers to do evil, thus failing to act as a local official!"
Magistrate Yan suddenly felt like he couldn't stand up anymore. Oh no, Jiang Liu and the others had caused him so much trouble!
“Is what Lady Sui said true? Official matters cannot be treated lightly!” Prefect Xu said with a stern face.
She glanced at Magistrate Yan, who stood there pale-faced, but her resolve remained unwavering. "He who walks by the river will eventually get his feet wet," she thought. "Today, I will rid the people of this scourge!"
Song Anxin spoke firmly, enunciating each word clearly: "I guarantee in my name, Madam Hui, that this matter is absolutely true. If it is not true, I request that Your Excellency report to the court and strip me of my title."
The magistrate of Yan County's eyes flickered. He knew he hadn't misjudged her when she came out dressed as a lady. Her demeanor and magnanimity were so magnanimous that it was worth it for him to have secured a seventh-rank official position for her and to have brought the prefect here to bestow an imperial title upon her.
He began, "Your Excellency, I've heard a bit about Magistrate Yan's matter since I arrived here. Madam Hui has vouched for it all in her name... this matter..."
Lord Xu narrowed his eyes and looked sharply at Magistrate Yan.
Magistrate Yan immediately knelt down with a thud and cried out, "Your Excellency, I am innocent! Please do not listen to Madam Hui's one-sided story. Madam Hui must be holding a grudge against me for arresting her son, which is why she is slandering me."
Song Anxin stood up, took the contract from the table in the courtroom, walked up to him, and questioned, "It clearly states here that Zhang Jing colluded with thieves to steal my son Lin Fengshou's goods, and then tricked my son Lin Fengshou into signing a huge compensation agreement and debt settlement document. Just a moment ago, you ignored all of this, allowing Jiang Liu and others to threaten us with knives in court and force us to submit. Now that I have been granted the title of Lady Hui by the Emperor, you not only refuse to investigate them but also claim it's a misunderstanding. Isn't this protecting collusion between officials and merchants and allowing others to commit evil?!"
She then said to Prefect Xu, "Sir, if you and Magistrate Yan hadn't arrived in time, you would have been bestowing the title upon a corpse instead of a living Lady Hui!"
Prefect Xu's expression changed drastically: "Such an absurd thing has happened! Magistrate Yan, you actually dared to conspire with others to murder Lady Hui, who was personally appointed by the Emperor himself?!"
Magistrate Yan hurriedly said, "Your Excellency, there is absolutely no such thing. I, Yan, am wholeheartedly devoted to the people. How could I do such a thing as conspiring to harm others?"
Song Anxin scoffed, "Serving the people wholeheartedly? How can you say such a thing? If I don't rid the people of this scourge today, I would be unworthy of the Emperor's bestowal of the title of Consort Hui!"
She looked towards the entrance to the hall, where a large crowd had already gathered. Their eyes held a mixture of reverence and struggling longing, a hopeful anticipation. At that moment, Song Anxin understood them; only those who had struggled through hardship could truly understand.
The people standing outside the yamen were very excited. This was Consort Hui, personally appointed by the Emperor, and she was actually suing Magistrate Yan! Since Magistrate Yan came to their county, he had done nothing but money. Whoever offered him bribes, he would allow them to commit evil and oppression. They had nowhere to turn and no way to voice their grievances; the lives of these common people were filled with misery every day…
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