Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Overturning the Table
A-choo——
A gust of cold wind blew by, and Chen Lingan sneezed loudly.
Zheng Yicai pushed the door open, holding a pile of wine, and asked, "Hey, you got a cold?"
"Don't you want me to be well?" Chen Ling'an asked him to sit down. "Why do you have time to come to my place today?"
Zheng Dicai sighed, "You've given me a difficult problem. I'm at my wit's end, so I have to come to you."
Chen Ling'an was baffled. "What on earth happened?"
"It's Mrs. Zhang's divorce case, and your sister has even come knocking on my door! My superiors won't take it, but you're forcing me to do it. How am I supposed to handle it? How am I supposed to judge it? How will my colleagues view me in the future?"
Zheng Yicai's face was filled with sorrow. She kept shaking her head and squinting her eyes.
Chen Ling'an's face looked a little strange, as if he was smiling but not smiling, as if he was annoyed but not annoyed, and even a little bit nervous, as if he was expecting something and afraid of something.
Zheng Weicai was greatly surprised by this.
Chen Ling'an said slowly, "You were a Jinshi (Jinshi) in the twenty-first year of the previous emperor's reign. Your seniority is even greater than that of the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture. You should have been promoted long ago, but he has always held you back. If I were you, I would accept it, for no other reason than to vent my anger."
Zheng Dicai twirled his goatee and mused, "I'm definitely not afraid of him, but I'm afraid of me. It's just that this case can't be brought to trial. Even an honest judge can't settle family disputes, and it's hard to say who's right and who's wrong."
"What's so unclear? A poor scholar bankrupted his family, abused his wife, and embezzled his father-in-law's property. It's a clear case."
Oh, the review hasn’t been conducted yet, but you’ve already given the conclusion.
Zheng Yicai was still hesitant. "But there's a lot of public support for the Zhang family. If I grant a divorce, I'm afraid I'll be drowned in people's spit."
Chen Lingan sneered, "You are really stupid and honest. What do you rely on to get promoted?"
Zheng Dicai blinked.
"Depend on the praise from the public, or on the emperor's praise?"
"Of course it's the Emperor!"
"You are only concerned with upholding so-called good customs and order, but have forgotten the emperor's evaluation of Zhang Wen - he is untalented."
To be untalented means to be incompetent, dishonorable and dishonorable.
Zheng Dicai seemed to understand, "I remember. Hey, he was so unlucky that he went through all that trivial matter with his wife and concubines."
Chen Ling'an laughed coldly, "Yes, it's a private matter in the harem. A warning is enough. Why was he demoted from the second rank to the seventh rank..."
Zheng Dicai's small eyes immediately lit up, "Is there something else going on?"
Chen Ling'an leaned forward, and Zheng Dicai hurried over when she saw this, but Chen Ling'an sat back down.
"It's hard to say, it's hard to say." He shook his head. "This matter involves the imperial palace. I can only tell you that the emperor is still angry. Every time he thinks of it, he gets upset."
Palace! Zheng Dicai gasped.
Someone has to vent the emperor's anger.
No wonder Chen Lingyi, who loves money so much, is unwilling to help Zhang Wen and even steps on him.
They have a perfect grasp of the emperor's thoughts. This pair of Chen brothers are incredible!
Zheng Yicai's eyes were filled with admiration as he patted Chen Ling'an's shoulder vigorously. "Don't worry, brother. Leave this matter to me. I will definitely do it beautifully and impeccably."
Chen Lingan bowed, "Thank you very much."
"We're all working for the Emperor. Why bother thanking him?" Zheng Weicai waved her hand, then hesitated. "What does the Emperor mean..."
Chen Ling'an sighed slightly, "If you wait for the emperor's instructions before you start working, you'll never get ahead in your life."
"That's right, that's right...you are busy, keep this jar of Fenjiu for drinking." Zheng Weicai laughed a few times and stood up to say goodbye.
After walking a few steps, he turned around and said, "We've been friends for many years. If you ask me, there's no reason for me not to respond. But don't tell me jokes about kicking your head like a ball. It makes me, old brother, feel terrified."
Chen Ling'an paused slightly, touched his neck subconsciously, raised the corners of his mouth, and then quickly suppressed them.
-
The Jiangning County Court received Mrs. Jiang’s divorce petition!
Looking at the officer in front of him, Zhang Wen could hardly believe his eyes.
"Fake, fake, how could it be possible..."
The officer showed the ticket and said, "It has the county seal on it. The court will open at 9:00 PM seven days from now. If you are late, you will be beaten with a stick."
After saying this, he slammed the ticket on the table and walked away without even glancing at the red envelope handed to him by Aunt Sun.
Zhang Wen's eyes rolled back and he felt dizzy.
"Waste!" Old Lady Bian slapped him awake. "Why are you so panicking? The verdict hasn't been made yet. Even if it's a divorce, she can't take away a fortune."
Zhang Wen covered his face with his sleeves. "I'm not afraid of going to court. I can't afford to lose face."
Old Lady Bian said, "She's not afraid of losing face, so why should you be afraid? I'll go with you then. If they dare to make a wrong judgment, I'll die in front of them."
Zhang Wen felt a little relieved. While saying, "It's more than that," he wondered why the Jiangning County Court accepted the case. "Yingtian Prefecture didn't accept it, and the prefect was her father's student."
Old Lady Bian asked Aunt Sun, "Did the third girl go out the past two days?"
"Yes, I went to the Liu family to pay my respects to Madam Qin." Aunt Sun replied with lowered eyes. "The doorman watched her all the way, but he said she didn't go anywhere else."
She didn't know that the guy had lost the person and was afraid that she would scold him, and even more afraid that he would not get the reward, so he simply wandered around outside and came back to get the job done perfunctorily.
Old Lady Bian frowned, "Could it be that the Liu family pressured the county government to accept it?"
"That's for sure!" Zhang Wen said angrily. "That little bitch, relying on Liu Jinshu's support, is trying to force us into a dead end so she can take all the family wealth for herself."
A cold light flashed in Old Lady Bian's eyes. "From now on, her meals will not come from the main kitchen. She will be prepared in the small kitchen in my yard."
Aunt Sun had been with her for many years and immediately understood her intention.
"This... isn't a good idea. Young Master Liu watches Miss Three like the apple of his eye. If something happens, how can we let it go?"
Old Madam Bian looked at her coldly. "Whenever there's trouble, it's the master and I who are at the forefront. Why do you need to interfere? Put away your evil thoughts and don't think you're the only smart person in the world."
Aunt Sun lowered her head and said nothing.
Zhang Wen didn't know what he was thinking about, and he felt a little regretful. "If I had kept the child, she wouldn't have been so noisy."
Old Mrs. Bian's eyes were gray and dark, her face was gloomy and she said nothing.
But when she heard the wind rustling through the treetops outside the house, Aunt Sun started and shivered.
-
Mrs. Jiang was also puzzled.
The county magistrate and the prefect are at odds with each other, aren't they just waiting to be harassed?
Maybe someone passed the message.
She wanted to ask Xiaoman, but the girl hadn't shown up for several days. She only sent a message saying that she was fine, and she couldn't find anyone even when she wanted to ask.
"Did the Marquis' Mansion ask someone to ask the Jiangning County Court for help?" Mother Fang guessed.
Mrs. Jiang shook her head. "It shouldn't be them. If it were them, my sister would have informed me in advance. Maybe it's the Liu family."
The more she thought about it, the more she felt that it was true. "Young Master Liu has a deep affection for Xiaoman and has always spared no effort to help us. He is highly respected by scholars. In addition, with Master Liu joining the cabinet, the Jiangning County Government will definitely give face to the Liu family."
Mother Fang said, "The third girl said he was worried about the issue of being exiled. How could he have the energy to care about our affairs?"
"If it's not him, then who else could it be?" Mrs. Jiang laughed, "It can't be Chen Ling'an!"
As soon as the words fell, their eyelids twitched at the same time.
Mrs. Jiang calmed herself down and said, "Let's prepare for the lawsuit first. Just because the government accepts the case doesn't mean we can win it. No matter who is secretly helping us, we can't let their efforts go to waste."
-
The notice posted by the Jiangning government office alarmed almost half of the Jinling city. Even the hot and humid dog days of summer could not stop people from coming to watch the fun.
As they watched, they argued over who was right and who was wrong: "How shameless! She has brought shame upon all women in the world."
"It's hilarious! You're not a woman, so it's none of your business whether you're embarrassed or not."
"That's right, if a man can force a woman to go to court for a divorce, what good can that man be?"
"Well, who can tell what goes on between husband and wife? I heard the man was dismissed from his post, and the woman is from a high-class family. She must look down on her husband and want to find someone better off."
"If all women were like her, only able to share happiness but not hardship, and disregarding the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, rituals and music would inevitably collapse, social norms would be lost, and morality would decline."
As people were discussing outside the yamen, there was a sudden commotion among the crowd, and a woman in plain clothes appeared in the lobby, led by an official.
Who wouldn't want to see what this lady looked like? People immediately rushed forward and almost knocked over the horses in front of the lobby.
Mrs. Jiang lowered her head slightly, and those glances were like red-hot irons, branding the label of "shrew" on her face.
Even though she was mentally prepared, she still couldn't bear it.
At this time, three drums sounded, and three groups of yamen runners quickly gathered in formation, holding water and fire sticks. A low and majestic chorus came from the hall, "Wei-wu-"
The official went to court to begin the trial.
Zheng Dicai held the complaint in her hand, her expression solemn, "Jiang!"
Mrs. Jiang took a deep breath and said, "I am Jiang, a commoner. I pay my respects to you, sir." Then she was about to kneel down according to etiquette.
"Wait a moment." Zheng Dicai said hurriedly, "Madam, there is no need to kneel. Come, show me a seat."
Then he ordered his attendants, "Bring up the defendant Zhang Wen."
The crowd was in an uproar again. Led by the yamen runners, Zhang Wen walked into the lobby with his head held high.
He dressed up specially today, with a light powder on his face and his eyebrows and beard carefully trimmed. He wore a plain white silk robe that fitted his body, and a gauze gown with a sky-blue background embroidered with green bamboo patterns. He wore his hair in a bun with a jade hairpin and a headband embroidered with orchids on a white background on his bun.
When she walked, her clothes fluttered and her hairband fluttered, giving her a Taoist and immortal look.
In addition, he has a good appearance, and everyone who sees him secretly admires him, what a handsome gentleman!
Even the women who had spoken for Mrs. Jiang earlier couldn't understand why they could give up such a handsome husband.
Unlike the uneasy Mrs. Jiang, Zhang Wen was not at all stage-frightened. He clasped his fists and bowed, then stood there quietly waiting to be questioned.
Zheng Yicai glanced at him and asked, "Are you Zhang Wen?"
"I am Zhang Wen, the husband of Jiang, a Jinshi who passed the imperial examination twice."
"Two successful candidates... Where have you served as an official? What position do you hold now?"
"He used to be the Minister of Personnel. Now, he is unemployed at home and has no official position."
"Oh—" Zheng Yicai dragged out the last syllable. "A second-rank official, demoted from the bottom, how did he end up in such a situation?"
An awkward look flashed across Zhang Wen's face. "Sir, this has nothing to do with this case."
"How dare you!" Zheng Yicai slammed the gavel. "How dare you, a commoner, defy the court? If you don't answer truthfully, don't blame me for torturing you!"
Zhang Wen was furious. He knew that he was biased, but he dared not and could not refute him. He could only swallow his shame and said, "I am not at fault for being implicated in the inner house disputes."
He was deliberately vague, so Zheng Dicai deliberately pointed out, "Why was the defendant demoted?"
This question was addressed to the criminal lawyer. He produced a scroll of imperial newspapers, flipped through them, and replied, "Your Excellency, the imperial edict clearly states: You favor your concubine over your wife, have no private moral integrity, and no public morality. You are demoted to the rank of seventh-rank official in charge of construction."
"The queen harbored resentment, repeatedly made disrespectful remarks, neglected her duties, and refused to repent. Following a request from the Ministry of Personnel, the Cabinet reviewed the matter, and the Imperial Household Department approved the decision, Zhang Wen was demoted to the position of Postmaster."
The lawyer closed the court newspaper and said, "The defendant will not go and has resigned from his post as postmaster."
Zheng Dicai asked, "Zhang Wen, did you hear that clearly? You are innocent. Is it the Emperor who is wrong? Did he wrongly accuse you?"
Zhang Wen's face turned red and white, and he lost most of the momentum he had when he first entered the door.
Zheng Yicai snorted coldly, then turned around and asked, "Jiang, are you divorcing because Zhang Wen is in such a bad state?"
Mrs. Jiang smiled bitterly and said, "Back then, he was so poor that he couldn't afford to go to school, but I didn't despise him. How could I divorce him now just because he couldn't become an official? It's really... I really can't make it anymore."
"The current Zhang residence was bought with my father's money. All expenses of the Zhang family depend on my dowry. After we got married, he never brought a penny home. Even the money for the concubine was paid by me."
"I have been married to him for twenty years, and to date, we have spent a total of 376,400 taels of silver."
The crowd immediately erupted in an uproar, and even Zheng Dicai couldn't keep calm.
Wow, the expenses are nearly 20,000 taels a year. The Zheng family is considered rich, but it's only 7,000 or 8,000 taels a year. Zhang Wen lives like a king or a general!
Zhang Wen's face flushed red as he pointed at Mrs. Jiang and said angrily, "Nonsense! I didn't even spend that much money."
Mrs. Jiang didn't even look at him. "Every expense is recorded. Please understand."
The bailiff brought in a large stack of account books.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhang Wen's forehead.
"I tried my best to run the household, but he called me unvirtuous and jealous, called me a vicious woman, and blamed me for hindering his career. He also said that he was my master, and even if he sold me out, it was only natural."
Mrs. Jiang's voice trembled violently and tears flowed uncontrollably.
Zheng Dicai sighed with compassion, then his expression changed. He asked Zhang Wen sternly, "Is what Jiang said true?"
Zhang Wen wanted to deny it, but faced with the evidence, he couldn't. He muttered, "I didn't steal or rob. She did it willingly."
Mrs. Jiang stood up suddenly and said, "Yes, I volunteered, but I don't want to do it anymore!"
"I regret it so much. I was blinded by his appearance and insisted on marrying him. Now I'm being called cheap and worthless. It's all my own fault."
"Now I have the audacity to ask the adults to hold a public trial, and I also want to use my experience to warn young girls not to make the same mistake as me."
Several women who were watching the excitement outside also started wiping away their tears. The old scholar who had just been shouting about the moral principles fell silent.
Public opinion is finally not one-sided.
Zheng Dicai secretly breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to make a quick decision and close the case in court.
However, just as he raised the gavel in his hand, he heard a shout from outside the yamen: "Wait a minute, I have something to say!"
Several servants and two nuns escorted the black-robed old lady Bian through the crowd.
When Zhang Wen saw his mother coming, he knelt down, kowtowed, and cried bitterly: "I am an unfilial son. I failed to discipline my wife well. I have made it impossible for my mother to live out her days in peace. It's all because of my incompetence!"
Old Lady Bian stroked Zhang Wen's hair with heartache, "I told you from the beginning that our family couldn't afford to marry a daughter-in-law from a noble family. Not every man can provide for his wife like his ancestors, but you refused to listen."
The gavel rang, and Zheng Weicai asked in a deep voice, "Who is here?"
Old Madam Bian pushed Zhang Wen away and said, "My name is Bian, and I am Zhang Wen's mother, Jiang's mother-in-law. I have something to report to you, sir."
"speak."
"Jiang wants to leave, fine, but this isn't a divorce; it's a divorce! Jiang disobeys her parents, slanders her husband, mistreats her concubines, and doesn't teach her children. She's unfit to be a wife of the Zhang family. Today, I'm divorcing her on behalf of my son."
Jiang's whole body was cold, her hands and feet were trembling, her chest was full of pain and stuffiness, and she couldn't make a sound for a while.
Old Lady Bian pressed the issue, "As soon as Jiang entered my home, she asked me to give up my management rights. I had no choice but to go to the nunnery."
"Twenty years. I'm an old lonely woman, living in a nunnery for twenty years. I can only come back during the New Year to play the drama of loving mother and filial piety with my daughter-in-law."
The word "filial piety" is more important than anything else. As soon as these words were spoken, people looked at Jiang with less friendly eyes.
Fang's mother, who was waiting in the classroom, couldn't help but rush out and yell, "Madam, you've come to pick you up so many times, but you didn't come back."
Old Lady Bian didn't respond, but sighed to everyone, "Look, even one of her servants can scold her mother-in-law."
The crowd quickly became agitated, pointing and whispering, and commenting on Mrs. Chiang from a condescending perspective.
"Silence!" Zheng Dicai slammed the gavel with a stern face. Not only was he not moved by Old Lady Bian, but he was even more disdainful of the Zhang family.
If a man divorces his wife because she has done something wrong, he may return less of her dowry or not return it at all.
The old lady here has quite a big appetite.
Zheng Dicai said with a forced smile: "Old lady, words are not enough, do you have any evidence?"
Old Lady Bian smiled and pointed outside the door, "The Zhang family's servants and the nuns in the temple are all witnesses."
The men nodded in unison: "We are willing to testify."
Old Lady Bian continued, "There are also many noble families in the city. My Lord, just ask them. Who doesn't know that Old Lady Zhang is living in seclusion in a nunnery? Who has seen me at a banquet or gathering?"
"Since her own children couldn't even survive, she hated all her illegitimate children. Her eldest grandson didn't dare return home, and her youngest granddaughter lived in a nunnery since she was little. Her fourth granddaughter was the most outstanding, but also the one she hated the most. She tortured her to the point where she was half-dead, barely breathing."
Old Lady Bian wiped the tears from her eyes and bowed to the crowd, "Please, everyone, help us, the orphans and the widows."
"Wait a minute, I have something to say too!" Another clear voice sounded.
Everyone looked over curiously, and a tall, pretty girl led a few people over. The girl was still smiling, "Please make way, the real show is yet to come!"
Amidst a burst of laughter, the crowd made way.
Zheng Dicai took a closer look and said, "Oh, my sister!"
"Xiao Man!" Mrs. Jiang was surprised. "Why are you here?"
Zhang Xiaoman smiled mischievously, then bowed properly and said solemnly, "I am the third daughter of the Zhang family, and I have come to testify for my mother."
Zheng Yicai asked with great interest, "What do you want to prove?"
"The old lady is lying. She's provided with delicious food and drinks every day, wears silk and satin, and has a dozen servants who serve her whole life. How can you say she's suffering?"
"There were other bhikkhunis in the nunnery, as well as vendors and villagers delivering water and fruits and vegetables. Once we asked them, everything became clear."
"As for child abuse, that's even more unbelievable." Xiaoman waved her hand towards the door, "Fourth sister!"
Everyone's eyes were focused on her. Zhang Junyi didn't dare to raise his head. With the help of his maid, he slowly moved to Xiaoman's side.
Her face was pale, her eyes were big and bulging, her cheeks were devoid of flesh, and she looked completely unrecognizable.
He looks like a dying man!
Mrs. Jiang was shocked. "Fourth girl, what's wrong with you?"
"It's all your fault!" Old Lady Bian cursed Aunt Sun for not keeping a close eye on him while stepping forward to hold Zhang Junyi. "Child, just tell me what you have to say. Even if it's not for yourself, think about your aunt and your elder brother."
Zhang Xiaoman said coldly, "If you keep thinking about it, you might even lose your life."
Old Mrs. Bian was furious, but she couldn't show it in court, so she could only look at Zhang Junyi as if warning.
Zhang Junyi pulled his arm back from the old lady's grasp. "Madam does dislike me, but she has never treated me harshly. Even to Fifth Sister, I dare to guarantee it. These are all given to me by my mother on a daily basis."
Then a servant presented a small box. When the lid was opened, the gold and silver jewelry filled the room with brilliant light.
People were so shocked that they opened their eyes wide, opened their mouths, and the sound of gasps could be heard one after another.
"As for my eldest brother, let alone his food, clothing, and other expenses, he was the most important. He studied at Nan Cui Academy, which was even harder to get into than the Imperial College. He wasn't qualified to begin with, so my wife asked the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion for help and spent another five thousand taels of silver to secure a degree for him."
It wasn't a long sentence, but she paused for three or four breaths before she finished.
People are already a little unsteady.
Mrs. Jiang hurriedly helped him sit down on a chair, "How did it become like this?"
Zhang Xiaoman sneered, "They lock people up in a room without sunlight, and only give them one meal a day, which is either pickled bean curd cakes or moldy radish rice. There's no way they'll get better. What was Fourth Sister like when Mother was around, and what was she like when Mother wasn't around? It's clear who's abusing the child."
Old Lady Bian held down the humiliated Zhang Wen and sobbed, "This is unfair! Jiang is from a noble family, rich and powerful. Who knows if she's bribed? Regarding this lawsuit, according to the law, you can only file a lawsuit on your behalf, but didn't she file it herself?"
Then she burst into tears: "Is there any justice in this world? I might as well die here."
Zheng Dicai's heart skipped a beat. The "Collected Regulations" did indeed stipulate that women were not allowed to file complaints with the government regarding matters such as marriage, land, and family property. Their husbands or sons had to file the complaint on their behalf.
If you really want to be picky, it was against the rules for him to accept Jiang's lawsuit.
The old woman was secretly telling him: Those with bare feet are not afraid of those wearing shoes!
There are so many people watching, and if blood is really seen, it will be bad for his reputation as an official.
But Xiaoman said in a sarcastic tone: "First cry, then make a fuss, then hang yourself. Whoever makes the most noise will be the winner. Then there will be no way for the honest people in the world to survive."
Old Mrs. Bian stopped crying.
Zhang Wen couldn't hold back any longer, raised his arm and hit her in the face, "I'll beat you to death, you unfilial daughter! Ah——"
His wrist seemed to be hit by something and was bent into a strange posture. Blood dripped down, staining the flowing gauze dress.
Zhang Wen screamed miserably, his eyes rolled back and he fainted from the pain.
There was chaos in the hall.
Xiaoman realized something and looked around expectantly.
The common people crowded forward to watch the excitement, the yamen runners pushing and shoving with water and fire sticks, the worried county magistrate, the weeping old lady, and Zhang Junyi with a numb face...
Only he was missing.
Xiaoman felt depressed, but also found herself funny and inexplicably a little angry, but she didn't know what she was angry about.
The defendant is unconscious, so the case can only be heard at another date.
There was a lot of noise at the door, so Xiaoman and Mrs. Jiang and others quietly left through the back door of the yamen.
I had not walked far when I saw Liu Jinshu catching up with me.
Didn't look too happy.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
