Chapter 11
The three were taken to the government office.
"What brings you here?"
The county magistrate, dressed in a blue official robe and wearing a black gauze hat, exuded an imposing aura.
Zhang Weining was the first to kneel down and answer.
"Your Honor, I am Zhang Weining. I was having fun at Mingyue Pavilion yesterday and was just about to leave this morning when this man stopped me from leaving and even threw a tantrum in the street."
"No, no, Your Honor, she did something...something despicable to me yesterday."
Zhu Xuan couldn't hold back her tears.
"Hmph, the Bright Moon Pavilion is just a place for people to have fun. It's normal for things like this to happen. Besides, I've already given you ten taels of silver. Why aren't you satisfied?"
Zhu Xuan took out the silver and threw it to Zhang Weining.
"I don't want your stinking money!"
Zhu Xuan knelt down.
"My lord, I am Zhu Xuan from Mingyue Pavilion. I make a living by dancing in the pavilion every day, but I never sell my body. Last night, Zhang Weining got me drunk, and then... and then..."
"My lord, he clearly acquiesced last night, but this morning he complained that the money wasn't enough and suddenly went back on his word, so he turned around and accused us."
"No, I didn't, I didn't, sir."
The magistrate, having compiled the conversation between the two, began to inquire.
"Is there any witness to your transaction last night?"
Zhu Xuan silently shook his head.
"Then how can you prove that Zhang Weining forced you?"
"I...I have no way to prove it."
"Your Honor, I can testify."
Everyone turned around and saw Huizhi rushing in from outside the door and kneeling down.
"Your Excellency, last night I saw Zhang Weining carry the drunk Zhu Xuan into her room."
"So it's Young Master Huizhi, but you're also from the Bright Moon Pavilion. How can I believe your words?"
"What the magistrate said makes perfect sense, but how can Zhang Weining prove that Zhu Xuan acquiesced to her demands?"
"this……"
Both sides have their own version of events, and neither can prove the other's point! What should be done?
Su Wanxing knelt down and said.
"Your Excellency, Zhang Weining just said in front of everyone that Zhu Xuan tacitly approved of her insistence. I'm sure everyone heard that."
"So what?"
"But this tacit agreement could also be interpreted as the person being drugged, unconscious, and unable to voice their refusal."
"What exactly are you trying to do? Why are you taking sides with these scumbags?"
Su Wanxing suddenly stood up and slapped Zhang Weining across the face, making Su Wanxing's hand go numb.
"Why are men considered despicable? I ask you, isn't this world made up of men and women? Did men contribute anything to your birth? Everyone is equal, everyone only has one life, so why should a man's life be considered inferior to yours?"
The slap and the barrage of words left Zhang Weining speechless.
"How dare you! This is a courtroom; how can you interrogate a prisoner like this!"
The staff member shouted angrily.
The magistrate waved his hand, signaling her not to speak.
Su Wanxing immediately knelt down.
"I'm sorry, Your Honor, I was just too angry. Please punish me."
"Zhang Weining, was what this woman just said true?"
"Your Honor, I, I..."
"You audacious scoundrel, if you don't tell the truth, you'll be dragged out and given fifty lashes!"
"I...I'll tell you! He...he was indeed drunk, but...but our country's laws don't say that public refusal is the only grounds for conviction. If he didn't have that intention, why would he drink with me? Maybe he was just pretending to be drunk to seduce me."
"You, you"
Zhu Xuan was so angry that he couldn't even finish his sentence.
"Your Honor, I believe he is exploiting legal loopholes and engaging in deception. Such a vague answer is completely unacceptable. I believe that such matters should require the consent of the parties involved. Without explicit consent, it cannot be considered a matter of mutual consent."
The staff member spoke quietly with the county magistrate.
"Your Honor, what Zhang Weining said makes sense. The men of Mingyue Pavilion all possess some seductive arts. His lack of refusal suggests he might be using methods to lure women into his trap."
The magistrate nodded silently.
"Zhuxuan, our laws do not explicitly state that matters between men and women require mutual consent. Neither of you has provided clear testimony. Therefore, this magistrate has decided to classify this matter as Zhang Weining's disorderly conduct. Drag her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane, and fine her ten taels of silver."
"Thank you, Magistrate. Zhang Weining will certainly abide by the law from now on."
Zhang Weining stood up, looked arrogantly at Zhu Xuan, and then went down to receive her punishment.
Zhu Xuan climbed up to the magistrate.
"Your Honor, is this judgment made simply because I am a man of Mingyue Pavilion?"
"How dare you, Zhuxuan! How dare you speak so carelessly about the magistrate's judgment?"
Zhu Xuan got up in despair.
"It doesn't matter. We men are born into a lowly status, so I should have expected this outcome. Besides, I am a member of the Bright Moon Pavilion."
Zhu Xuan turned to look at Hui Zhi and Su Wanxing, who were speaking up for him, and silently shed two lines of tears.
At midday, the sun is at its brightest, but in Zhuxuan's eyes, everything turns gray. The cicadas chirping and the chatter of the crowd outside the door become a muffled buzzing sound; he can only hear his own breathing.
"Zhuxuan!"
As Huizhi anxiously called out, blood dripped slowly from her forehead down the pillar.
Su Wanxing was also startled. She thought she had fainted from the shock of the scene, but then Nineteen's voice came from beside her.
"Miss, don't look."
A warm hand covered her eyes.
Su Wanxing grabbed Shijiu's right hand with both hands and kept asking questions.
"Why? Why did this happen? He..."
"Guards, the case is closed. Throw all these unimportant people out."
Nineteen carried Su Wanxing back to the Su residence.
Su Wanxing sat on the edge of the bed with a blank look in her eyes, the scene of Zhu Xuan's tragic death constantly flashing through her mind.
"Miss, have a cup of tea to calm down."
Su Wanxing took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
"Nineteen, why is the world like this?"
Nineteen remained silent for a long time.
"Miss, not everyone will receive the punishment they deserve. This world is inherently unfair. What you should do now is live your life well."
"But, but it was clearly Zhang Weining's fault just now, everyone could see it, so why wasn't she sentenced?"
Nineteen helped Su Wanxing up.
"Miss, that's how the laws are in our country. Even if we all think Zhang Weining deserves to die, the law doesn't allow it, and there's nothing anyone can do."
Su Wanxing hugged Shijiu tightly, hoping to get some warmth from his embrace.
Nineteen also silently wrapped her arms around Su Wanxing, her tone extremely gentle.
"Miss, I never expected you to say such things in court. You are the first person I've met to speak up for us men, especially since Zhu Xuan is from Mingyue Pavilion."
"Nineteen, I will never let you suffer like this again."
"Yes, miss."
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