Chapter 9 Bloodbath "Song Lang has deep feelings for me."...
Just as he uttered these words, a noise began to arise from the surrounding area.
The custom of burying living animals with the dead has been widespread in the Kingdom of Ying since ancient times. However, since the founding of the country, the founding emperor has explicitly prohibited the burial of living animals. Not only living people, but even poultry and beasts cannot be buried with humans. Violators will be executed immediately. Dacheng has survived for a hundred years, and no prefecture or county, even a small border town, has ever reported the burial of living people. Let alone Huaicheng, right at the foot of the emperor?
The case brought by the wife of the Zhu family had indeed stirred the public's interest. Furthermore, the person Zhu Hao was suing was the eldest son of You Lang, the richest man in Huaicheng. Who didn't know that You Yan had made countless achievements in his forty years? From small-scale acts of religious riots and gangs bullying the people to major offenses such as rape, robbery, and bribery, the people of this city feared him and hoped he would be brought to justice.
Therefore, when the people of Huaicheng heard Zhu Hao accusing such scum, they were naturally overwhelmed with emotions. In less than half a minute, the case spread like a drizzle to the whole of Huaicheng, and the spectators outside the government office and along the long street lined up for several miles.
Zhang Qian used the gavel to silence the crowd, "Words are useless! Besides, the You family is powerful. If they want to kill you and bury you with them, how can you escape? Can Zhu bring any evidence or witnesses?"
Zhu Hao pulled out the indenture Song Xieqing had given her. "This indenture bears the private seals of Zhu Lanxiang and You Yan. Why would an ordinary family need a written indenture to take a concubine? This indenture isn't about buying my body, it's about buying my life."
"As for the witnesses," Zhu Hao glanced meaningfully at You Yan, who was standing by, "Mrs. Fang, who lives two miles east of the city, is my witness. In other words, I and Ms. Fang are witnesses for each other. Ms. Fang goes to the government office every day and beats the drum to accuse You Yan of burying a living person! I and Ms. Fang... are both candidates for burial, and I didn't escape from the You family. As Lord Zhang said, the You family is powerful. How can a weak woman like me, who can barely even tie a chicken, stand up to them?"
"You Yan allowed me to return home because a young man surnamed Song paid a hundred gold coins to redeem me. However, the messenger was negligent and didn't pass on the news while I was dressing and changing in You's dressing room. That's how I met Madam Fang there." Zhu Hao said this, tears welling up in her eyes. "I never imagined that when I went to court to appeal my grievances, Madam Fang would disappear. Today's trial took ten days for Xu Yin to plead for! How could she miss the appointment for no reason?"
Although Zhu Hao didn't directly implicate You Yan in Fang Xu's absence, everyone understood the implication. Fang Xu had been beating the drum to protest her injustice for ten days, a commotion known to everyone in Huaicheng. How could You Yan not know? You Yan must have been secretly obstructing Fang Xu's testimony. And since Madam Zhu hadn't appeared until today, You Yan hadn't anticipated her testifying on Fang Xu's behalf. This was why he omitted Zhu Hao, giving her the opportunity to establish a case at the government office.
You Yan remained calm upon hearing this, showing no sign of panic. Zhang Qian, on the other hand, was visibly anxious. "So, how did you and Fang know that You was planning such a shady act? What's your relationship with Song? Why did he redeem you?" Zhang Qian, after answering these questions, directed his instructions to the attendants on either side of the yamen, "Send officers to find Fang. Also, summon the powder seller who dressed Zhu and Fang that day, and the messenger boy."
There were so many people watching outside the yamen, so Zhang Qian had to put on a good show.
Zhu Hao replied, "It wasn't that Madam Fang and I knew of You Yan's secret beforehand. Madam Fang volunteered to be a concubine in the You family, but I was coerced by my aunt. On the night of the wedding, even as I was dressing, there was no news of Mr. Song redeeming me. I was terrified, fearing that Mr. Song would forget our vows and find a new lover. I wanted to question Mr. Song in person, so I considered running away. Madam Fang, upon hearing this, felt pity for me and lent me thirty cents for a carriage."
Having said this, Zhu Hao paused for a moment, a smile spreading across his bleeding lips. "Fortunately, Mr. Song has not changed his mind. He gave me his indenture, intending to marry me. Mr. Song is my fiancé. I am deeply in love with Mr. Song, and Mr. Song also has deep feelings for me."
"Mrs. Fang married into the You family as a concubine to supplement the family income because her mother was chronically ill. So, the next morning, I wanted to return the thirty coins to Mrs. Fang. Halfway through, I saw a funeral procession passing by. There were two coffins being paraded simultaneously. Not only that, but there was also a terrible stench! I have had exceptional hearing since I was young. Suddenly, I heard the sound of something heavy hitting the wall, but I was so anxious to find Mrs. Fang that I didn't investigate further..."
"I never expected... when I arrived at the You family, I suddenly heard that Mr. You had passed away from heart palpitations the very night he came to meet his concubine. The You family's servants told me that Madam Fang and Mr. You were deeply in love, and she couldn't bear to see him buried alone, so she ran into the coffin, wanting to be buried with him." Zhu Hao cried and complained: "I dare to speak frankly. Madam Fang, at her prime, how could she be so deeply in love with Mr. You, who was already in his octogenarian years? She had only been married into the You family for a day, and since Madam Fang had married into the You family for her mother, how could she abandon her mother for worldly love..."
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like throwing gunpowder into the crowd. The people were in chaos like ants on a hot pan, and the onlookers all lowered their heads and listened attentively.
Zhu Hao's words were heated. Zhang Qian, listening to the crowd's comments, was biased towards Zhu Hao. He immediately interrupted Zhu Hao with the gavel and said, "Stop, stop, stop! What's your reputation like? Do you really think I don't know? Do the people of Huaicheng don't know? You may be beautiful, but your reputation is infamous! Since the Song family paid a hundred gold coins to redeem you, they must be from a prominent family. How could their parents allow you to marry? Not to mention as a wife, even if you become a concubine, it would damage their fortune! Zhu, stop your nonsense! You must be conspiring with Song and Fang to defraud the You family of their money!"
Zhu Hao cursed in her heart. She had a bad reputation, so how could Song Xieqing be any better than her?
She thought so in her heart, but her face was full of sorrow and grief. Zhu Hao endured the burning pain in her back and kowtowed to the ground, "I am innocent!"
Zhu Hao cried out "Unjust" several times, and Fang continued, "I remembered the two coffins on the way. The first coffin was made of rare and expensive wood, while the second coffin was relatively ordinary. I suspected it was the funeral procession of the You family. I remembered the knocking sounds coming from inside the coffin and guessed that Madam Fang was faking her death, so I followed the procession to find out what was going on."
"From the soil left on the steps of the You family, I determined the burial site was either Xigao or Huailing. I boldly bet on Xigao, and indeed, I found the ceremonial procession's footprints on the upper part of Xigao. I followed them to a steep cliff. I saw two coffins placed on a base of rough wood embedded in the rock. Just then, Madam Fang swam down the cliff, crying for help! I wanted to report this to the government office, but someone secretly tricked me and I fell off the cliff!"
When the onlookers heard this, they all gasped.
"I was lucky enough to fall onto a burial cliff with a thick log base and survive. Madam Fang and I worked together to lift the coffin lid, but our good fortune didn't last long. The person who pushed me off the cliff threw rocks, causing me and Madam Fang to fall off the cliff together." Zhu Hao wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. "The villain didn't expect there was a pond at the bottom of the cliff, did he? Madam Fang and I were rescued by a hunter. Madam Fang woke up ten days ago and told the hunter about You Yan's evil deeds, and asked him to tell me."
You Yan clapped his hands and mocked, "I've noticed that Madam Zhu not only has extraordinary hearing, but her sense of smell is even comparable to that of a pig or a dog!"
Zhu Hao was too lazy to argue with him and just turned a deaf ear to him.
At this moment, the yamen runner invited the powder-selling woman and the messenger boy to the upper hall. Zhang Qian simply asked them if they had seen any strange sights or unusual events on the day of the wedding. Seeing that what they said was consistent with his wishes, he sent them away.
Zhang Qian naturally knew that the answers given by these two people could not be reused, and this was exactly what he and You Yan wanted.
With so many people watching, Zhang Qian and You Yan had to put on a full show. He then asked Zhu Hao, "Mr. Zhu, where do the hunter and the Song family live? What are their names? Do you know the person who pushed you off the cliff? If not, did you see his face clearly?"
The hunter was arranged by You Heng in advance, and Zhu Hao recited the details by heart: "The hunter's name is Cao Zi. He lives in different places because of his hunting. If I had to say, his permanent residence is the thatched cottage at the foot of the cliff. I don't know the man who pushed me to the cliff to bury me. I only vaguely saw that he was short and plump. As for the immortal..." She paused before answering: "Song Lang's name is Xie Qing. He lives in Songheju in the South Lane. However... Song Lang often returns to the capital to visit his relatives. I have been unconscious for several days. How can I be sure that Song Lang is still living there?"
Who doesn't know Songheju in Nanxiang? This house was formerly the residence of an aristocratic family, but now it has been taken over by the government for its own use, mostly to entertain officials from the capital.
A while ago, I heard that a nobleman from another place bought this house for ten thousand taels. What surprised everyone the most was that Madam Zhu was favored by such a noble man.
The spectators, Zhang Qian, and You Yan all looked at Zhu Hao with lightning-like eyes, but she pretended to be calm.
Zhang Qian threw the arrest warrant at the yamen runner and said, "Call Cao, Song, and Aunt Zhu into the hall!" He then turned to You Yan and asked, "Can You prepare a defense?"
Before You Yan could reply, a spectator suddenly stepped out from outside the yamen. This man, with a round figure and wearing a brown shirt with a smoke pattern, spoke in a deep voice, "I, Wang Mang! I wish to speak on behalf of Master You!"
Since there was a witness, the defendant should have been happy, but everyone saw that Young Master You looked panic-stricken.
Zhang Qian noticed You Yan's panic and thought that the person who came must be harmful to him. However, he was forced to do so, so he had to summon Wang Mang into the hall.
Wang Mang knelt as soon as he entered the hall and shouted, "I am Wang Mang! I am the personal guard of Master You! What Zhu said is completely false! I have been talking outside the hall for a while, and just now Zhu said that she and Fang had removed the coffin lid with their bare hands. Bah! There are steel nails embedded in the corners of Fang's coffin! How could two little girls lift the coffin lid?!"
Zhang Qian wanted to interrogate Zhu Hao, but when he turned around, he saw that she was sweating all over, her lips were trembling, and her eyes were full of fear.
Zhu Hao pointed at Wang Mang and said in fear, "It's him! Lord Zhang! He was the one who murdered me and Madam Fang and made them fall off the cliff! It was him! It was him!"
Wang Mang was You Yan's personal guard on the surface, but in reality he was You Heng's confidant. He seemed to be speaking for You Yan, but in reality he wanted to play a double game with Zhu Hao.
Zhang Qian saw the situation was not good and hurriedly slammed the gavel. "Mr. Zhu! Answer me first! How exactly was Mrs. Fang's coffin opened? If this is a false accusation, the crime will be tripled!"
Zhu Hao burst into tears, "...I, I never lied." She took out a strip of something from her sleeve, and when everyone saw it clearly, they couldn't help but become suspicious.
Why would Madam Zhu have hidden steel nails in her sleeves? Hey! What did Wang Mang say just now? There are steel nails embedded in the corners of the coffin lid. Could it be...
The steel nails on Zhu Hao's palms were stained with rust and blood. She said in a hoarse voice, "This humble lady is entering the Mingtang for the first time, so I am naturally nervous. It is reasonable for me to omit details. As Wang said, there were steel nails embedded in the coffin lid, and I used a hairpin to pry the nails out of the coffin lid."
She raised her hands, her palms covered in scars. "These wounds are from opening the coffin. I'd like to ask Mrs. Wang and Mrs. You! Huaicheng's funeral rituals have abandoned sealing the coffin. This practice is meant to imprison the soul forever! It symbolizes the dead cannot enter the cycle of reincarnation! Since the You family embedded steel nails in Madam Fang's coffin, why didn't they do the same for Mr. You's?"
"If it's to prevent tomb robbers, that's hardly plausible! Madam Fang's coffin is far inferior to Mr. You's. Besides, Mr. You's coffin contains countless burial objects. Do you really think the tomb robbers are blind? Or... is Mr. You just afraid that Fang Sanniang will jump out of the coffin alive?"
Zhu Hao pulled out a piece of brown, smoke-patterned silk ribbon from his sleeve. "'Yan' is pronounced 'Yan'. The people of Huaicheng all know that the person wearing this clothing is none other than Master You's personal guard! This piece of silk ribbon was taken from Wang Mang when he pushed the commoner woman off the cliff to be buried."
You Yan cursed, "You beast! Stop your nonsense! Wang Mang came with me to Qizhou a month ago to discuss business! When I returned to the city, I left him there to handle some matters. To this day, none of the people who stayed with Wang Mang in Qizhou have returned! How could he have appeared in Xigao half a month ago?! I want to ask Wang Mang! Why is he here? Is he here to speak for me, or to throw dirty water on me?!"
There was no need to waste words to wish him well, as the people watching outside the yamen had already started whispering.
"Hey! What the three of them said is different! If what Master You said is true, Wang Mang hasn't returned to the city yet, how could he know that Fang Sanniang's coffin was embedded with steel nails?"
"Wang Mang not only knew that the coffin was embedded with steel nails, he even knew exactly how many there were! From what I can see, Wang Mang ostensibly stayed in Qizhou, but in reality, he was following You Yan's orders to take Zhu and Fang..."
"That's absolutely right! Wang Mang must have shown up now because he was worried about his master being trapped. Who would have thought... that the person who pushed Master You into danger was actually himself!"
A sinister look appeared in You Yan's eyes. He turned and pointed at the people outside the yamen, "Who's talking nonsense?! Get out here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Mang rushed straight to the Dengwen Drum. Everyone heard a muffled sound, and it turned out that Wang Mang had hit his head on the hard part of the drum hoop.
"Young Master You is innocent! I am willing to sacrifice my life to redress Young Master You's injustice! Young Master You is innocent! Lord Zhang, please understand! Young Master You is innocent!"
Wang Mang continued to charge forward, and blood flowed from the drum like red silk. The bailiff was about to pull him away, but Wang Mang pulled out a dagger from his boots and stabbed it straight into his own throat.
Blood splattered, and Wang Mang pointed at You Yan from afar, "...Mr. You, my sister...you must promise me that you will allow my sister...to live..."
The author has something to say:
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Wuwuwuwu, I will update for my double-digit readers. These two chapters are about the plot.
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