The noisy crowd below immediately fell silent: life is hard for farmers, and if there are three more mouths to feed, including a baby who is only six months old, it will be difficult to raise them.
Some people started speaking up for Song Lao Er: "The women take care of the children's food and drink. How would the men in charge know these things? It's tough for them too!"
Young Master Lin, who was sitting below the hall, was feeling frustrated by the two idiots when he heard Song Lao Er's clever way of shifting the blame, and his lips twitched.
"Don't let this opportunity be wasted again," he stepped forward and raised his voice, "Lord Jiang, regardless of whether Old Song and his wife were truly abusive, at least the three Song siblings were raised."
The debt of gratitude for raising and nurturing someone may vary in degree, but it cannot be denied that it exists.
With Young Master Lin backing him up, Song Lao Er immediately perked up. He kowtowed repeatedly to Jiang Feng, crying, "Your Honor! This humble subject has been wronged!"
Was he also wronged?
This statement sparked another round of discussion.
Chaos broke out among the crowd outside the hall; some people had already started fighting over disagreements, and the yamen runners began to disperse the onlookers.
Jiang Feng's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the three siblings.
Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes!
No matter how difficult a criminal case is to solve, there is always a clear and understandable motive, a murderer, and the details of the case.
In matters of family and personal life, there is no right or wrong, and no matter what, as long as one is associated with filial impiety, public opinion will be unfavorable to the younger generation.
After all, it's easier to bully the young than the old.
Human nature is unpredictable, and this is the most critical moment. The Song siblings seem to be in the right, but they are also in the most danger.
If anyone senses even the slightest hint of arrogance or pride, you'll be berated and lose everything.
As the younger generation, they could only show their pain and forbearance, and could only play the victim.
Fortunately, so far, only Song Zhenping is speaking among the Song siblings.
Song Liyun and Xiao An either remained silent or shed tears silently, perfectly reflecting their state of being oppressed.
Jiang Feng was completely relieved.
He hoped that the person standing beside the Third Prince would be someone who was both brave and resourceful, and who could adapt to changing circumstances.
Now it seems that Song Liyun fits the bill perfectly.
Seeing that public opinion had shifted to Song Lao Er's side again, Young Master Lin smiled and spoke up: "Lord Jiang, I have another witness who can prove that Song Defu did not abuse the Song siblings!"
Jiang Feng slowly raised his eyes and looked over, but did not ask the witness, "Who are you? What right do you have to speak here?"
Young Master Lin was taken aback. Jiang Feng didn't recognize him? He was pretending!
Jiang Feng certainly recognized him, but this person had been hiding in the shadows and hadn't shown his face until now!
Young Master Lin cupped his hands in greeting: "I am from the Lin Yuwen family of Pingyang Prefecture..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Feng slammed his gavel and said in a deep voice, "Do you have any official rank or title?"
"No! I am..."
"Are they members of the Song family?"
"no!"
"Without official rank, not a close relative, and yet these idle individuals dare to speak recklessly in court and disrupt my judgment! Guards!"
Two bailiffs came out in response.
Jiang Feng had been waiting for this moment. He pointed at Young Master Lin and said, "Punish this man with five strokes of the cane, then drag him out and display him to the public!"
Young Master Lin was stunned. He had only said a few words, and Jiang Feng dared to hit him.
He actually dared to hit me!
Young Master Lin had never suffered such humiliation before. He pointed at Jiang Feng, his hand trembling with anger: "Do you know who I am? If you hurt me..."
"Drag him away and beat him!"
Before Young Master Lin could say anything, a token was already thrown in front of him.
"Clap clap clap clap clap!"
The constables stepped forward, tripped him, and pressed Young Master Lin down onto the bench. He felt a chill on his bottom as the board came down.
"ah!!!!"
Young Master Lin never expected that he would have his pants pulled down in broad daylight and in front of everyone.
At that moment, all thoughts of business and Tianxianglou vanished from his mind, leaving only shame and indignation.
The five strokes of the cane were quickly finished. Only then did his servant squeeze over. Looking at the pale-faced young master, he dared not say a word and carried him away.
If he were to be flogged and then paraded around in public, the eldest son would surely be furious.
Clinging to the servant's back, Young Master Lin turned his head, glaring fiercely at Jiang Feng, and gritted his teeth, saying, "You just wait, you surnamed Jiang!"
Song Lao Er was terrified!
These past two days he's been jumping around a lot, and all he's seen is that Xue family hanger-in-waiting have his scalp ripped off, and then he's in jail so scared he can't sleep at night. He hasn't actually seen anyone being flogged yet.
Seeing the well-dressed Young Master Lin strike without warning, no one dared to say a word, except for the uproar from the onlookers.
This... is different from arguing in the village!
Oh, and the village headman too! Young Master Lin arranged for the village headman to testify for him!
Song Lao Er needs to bring witnesses.
After the young master Lin was beaten, even more people gathered to watch.
People are fickle, and at this moment, the saints have the upper hand.
Everyone immediately accused Jiang Feng, as the county magistrate, of favoring these unfilial descendants.
Upon hearing that the village head of the Song family was also present, they clamored for him to tell the truth.
Song Lizheng and his son were at the back of the crowd, but they weren't brought over by Young Master Lin. Standing next to them was Zhou Xiang.
“Song Lizheng, just tell the truth, say whatever you think, don’t worry about anything else.”
As Zhou Xiang helped the two of them push through the crowd, he glanced at Song Dekui.
The two have known each other since last year and are still friends. However, due to some matters at the Song family's residence, they haven't had a chance to get together yet.
When Song Dekui saw Zhou Xiang looking at him, he grinned and said, "Don't worry, General Zhou, we country folk only tell the truth."
Seeing Song Lizheng standing in the courtroom, Song Lao Er said in a low voice, "Uncle Lizheng, our two families are from the same village. Our descendants will have to deal with each other for generations. You can't ruin our family relationship for the sake of this bastard child who ran away from home."
This is a threat to Song Lizheng.
If Song, the village head, doesn't do as Young Master Lin says, he'll send people into the village to cause trouble.
They also wanted to make Song Dequan, the eldest son of Song Lizheng, who was working as a minor official in the town government, unemployed.
Song Li stared straight at him, his face full of disappointment: "Second brother, how could you have ended up like this!"
Song Lao Er suddenly felt terrified: What does this old man mean? Does he want to go back on his word after seeing Young Master Lin being beaten?
Before he could think further, Song Lizheng had already knelt down before Jiang Feng: "I am the village head of Xiaoshi Village, Qingping Town, Songfeng County. I am incompetent, which is why the Song Zhenping siblings and their two siblings have had their property seized and have suffered so much bullying."
"This is my fault, Your Excellency, please punish me!"
Wow!
People outside thought they would hear the village head testify that there was no abuse, but upon hearing it now, they realized that it was indeed true.
Jiang Feng said in a deep voice, "Song Lizheng, although you are not required to take the imperial examination, you are entrusted with important responsibilities because of the people's expectations. The court wants the country to be peaceful and prosperous. If you are negligent, you will bring disaster to the country and the people!"
Song, the village head, bowed his head and nodded obsequiously, appearing to sincerely admit his mistake.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Song Lao Er was covered in cold sweat.
With the eldest son beaten, Song Lizheng turned against him, and he had no more bargaining chips left.
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