Chapter 579 The Zhang family confronts Shen Yuanhao face to face!
"I will complete your sentence for you."
"I cannot protect him just because his surname is Shen!"
Zhang shuddered at the sarcasm and began to feel uneasy.
With so many civil and military officials watching, if Shen Lanxi dared to help her brother, she would definitely be criticized.
She dares not!
Even if it's just for the sake of saving face, she would still make Shen Yuanhao marry her daughter.
She doesn't need to be afraid!
"Your Majesty is wise. That's not what I meant. I came here today simply to ask Your Majesty to seek justice for my family and my daughter!"
The princes adopted by His Majesty have half of the Zhang family's blood in them, so it's hard to believe that His Majesty would really harm them.
Shen Lanxi ignored Zhang Shi and said, "Dali Temple, Ministry of Justice, continue!"
Ministry of Justice: "Zhang Churan, tell me in detail how that day's events happened?"
Zhang Churan was so embarrassed.
How could she, a young and unmarried woman, possibly say such a thing? What would become of her reputation if others heard it?
"Zhang Churan, don't think that just because you don't talk, we can't do anything to you."
“If you won’t tell us, we’ll ask the Shen family. Presumably, the incident happened at the Shen family’s house that day, and many people in the Shen family must have seen it.”
Zhang was unwilling.
“Daughter, what do you think? What if their own people help their own people?” Zhang pushed the woman.
Zhang Churan felt even more ashamed. She hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, and she didn't have the strength to fight back.
"The incident happened the day after my sister's funeral, and my brother-in-law drank a lot of alcohol that day."
Shen Yuanhao immediately retorted, "I grabbed a bottle of wine because I was heartbroken, but I didn't drink much of it."
Ministry of Justice: "General Shen, I haven't asked you yet. Please wait a while before answering."
The Zhang family was overjoyed to see that the Ministry of Justice dared to interrupt Shen Yuanhao.
It seems the Ministry of Justice trusts them.
Zhang Churan had already started crying.
"I saw my brother-in-law was heartbroken and had drunk so much, so I was worried about his health and went to persuade him to stop. I didn't expect..." The crying gradually grew louder.
The official in charge of the Ministry of Justice said with a stern face: "Speak properly, and then you can cry. If you can't speak, I'll ask the Shen family instead."
Zhang Churan's expression changed, and the Zhang family's hearts skipped a beat.
Left with no other choice, Zhang Churan decided to go all out.
“My brother-in-law mistook me for my sister. My sister and I look somewhat alike; many people say that we not only look alike in face but also in build. I guess that’s why my brother-in-law made that mistake!”
“My brother-in-law is a military general. How could I, a weak woman, possibly be a match for a military general!”
The head of the Dali Temple said, "You can call for help!"
Zhang Churan: "..."
Zhang family: "..."
Dali Temple: "You said it yourself that it was the day after the funeral. Presumably, everyone in the Shen family was still there. If you had called for help, many people would have heard you. Why didn't you call for help?"
Zhang Churan immediately realized what was happening and stammered, "My lord, I am a woman, and my reputation is of utmost importance to me. If I cry for help, what will people think of me in the future?"
Ministry of Justice: "If that's what you're saying, you should have kept this a secret afterward. But you didn't."
The Zhang family members looked uneasy.
"That's because...that's because, at first, I felt sorry for my brother-in-law when I saw him grieving for my older sister."
"As you gentlemen know, women are always soft-hearted."
The officials twitched their lips. "You're shameless enough to drag them into this."
Besides, not all women are soft-hearted.
They don't need to explain this; Zhang Churan will definitely experience it for himself later.
Dali Temple: "Why are you making a fuss again?"
Zhang Churan lowered her head, hurriedly trying to think of an explanation.
When Zhang spoke, her tone was aggressive.
“Of course I know my daughter has been wronged. My daughter has suffered such a great loss, she can’t just suffer for nothing.”
"No mother in the world can stand by and watch her daughter be bullied."
"My lords, let me ask you this: if your daughters were bullied, would you swallow your anger or seek revenge?"
Dali Temple: "So your family has come to the Shen family."
Zhang: "Yes!"
Ministry of Justice: "How do you want the Shen family to compensate you?"
Zhang blurted out, "Of course, you should marry my daughter." Only after she finished speaking did she realize that she had spoken too quickly, and she hurriedly lowered her head.
Dali Temple: "Are you aware that His Majesty previously decreed that any man in the Shen family who loses his wife must observe a three-year mourning period?"
The Ministry of Justice provided its answer before Zhang even needed to reply.
"I heard that Your Majesty was at the Shen family when Zhang Chuchu died, and you, as relatives, must have been there as well. Your Majesty's words are law, and you couldn't possibly have missed them."
What can the Zhang family say?
If they say they didn't hear it, then they are defying the imperial decree.
They should say they heard it and that Shen Yuanhao should get married, or they should say they are defying the imperial decree.
Cold sweat kept dripping down their bodies.
They finally understood why the Shen family had driven them out of the capital, but it was too late!
The Zhang family members were so frightened that they huddled together, wishing they could disappear into the ground.
Liu Yan said in a relaxed tone, "It seems that things are now very clear."
The Dali Temple: "We still need to add more details." The Shen family hasn't even asked yet.
We must ask all the questions we have, so that no one can use this opportunity to tarnish His Majesty's reputation.
"General Shen, I ask you, how did you determine that the Zhang family drugged you?"
Shen Yuanhao had already thought about this matter, so he answered fluently.
"Although I took some wine that day, I only had two sips. Because of military regulations, I cannot drink alcohol. Over time, I have developed a habit that even if I am very sad, I will not drink much."
After saying that, he added another sentence.
"Having learned this lesson, I will never drink alcohol again in my life!"
The officials whispered among themselves for a while, realizing that it truly takes immense willpower for a man not to drink.
Ministry of Justice: "Has the alcohol been tested to confirm that it was drugged?"
Shen Yuanhao was taken aback, then awkwardly explained, "There was no inspection. I was a bit flustered at the time and didn't pay attention to those things."
Dali Temple: "Tell me in detail about your various reactions after drinking?"
Shen Yuanhao recalled carefully: "I felt dizzy, a little nauseous, and sleepy."
Dali Temple: "..."
Ministry of Justice: "And then?"
Shen Yuanhao: "And then I knew nothing more."
The imperial physician, who had already been summoned, stepped forward to speak.
"Your Majesty, based on General Shen's description, it doesn't seem like he's been drugged; it's more like... he's drunk!"
The officials were speechless. Their gazes toward Shen Yuanhao were all strange now.
No wonder he swore he wouldn't drink; with this level of alcohol tolerance, he's basically done drinking!
Shen Yuanhao was stunned after hearing this. Him?
A grown man got drunk after just two sips?
It would be more accurate to say he took Chinese medicine.
A soft laugh rang out.
"What's so difficult about finding out Shen Yuanhao's drinking capacity?"
Officials: "..."
Really?
~
meeting!
Shen Lanxi laughed and said, "Bring the wine, and drink it in front of Zhang Churan!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
