Yin Zhihua: "What grievances do you have? Speak them out quickly!"
"I am Wang Ningshi, the mother-in-law of Ji Fenfang. I am suing this adulterous couple for conspiring to kill my son! Please, Your Honor, do us justice!" After saying this, Wang Ningshi and her family kowtowed deeply to Yin Zhihua.
It turns out that this group of people are Ji Fenfang's in-laws!
The adulterous couple that Wang Ningshi just mentioned are Ji Fenfang and Lin Shikang!
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
Immediately afterwards, the crowd began to discuss amongst themselves, and the entire courtroom became as noisy as a marketplace.
Ji Fenfang looked at Wang Ningshi in horror and repeatedly denied it: "Lin Tanhua and I are completely innocent and have no relationship whatsoever! Hongliang accidentally fell into the water and drowned, it has nothing to do with us!"
"My son is an excellent swimmer, how could he have drowned? You adulterous couple must have killed him!"
"You're talking nonsense!" Lin Shikang said angrily. "I have no grudge against your son, and I have no connection with the Ji family. Why are you slandering me? Someone must be behind this!"
Lin Shikang's face was ashen as he glared at Cen Xiao. He knew that Cen Xiao must have been behind this!
Wang Ningshi angrily retorted: "Innocent and pure? Bah! You have repeatedly met with this slut in my family's orchard, and my family's servants can testify to that! Don't even think about denying it! A life for a life! Don't think that just because you're a third-ranked scholar, you can get away with it!"
Lin Shikang was stunned for a moment. He and Ji Fenfang had indeed met a few times in the orchard, but that was after Wang Hongliang died! But who would believe it if he said that? The guy surnamed Cen must have made thorough preparations to bring them here!
Lin Shih-kang realized at that moment that he had underestimated his opponent!
Cen Daniu, a country bumpkin, is surprisingly difficult to deal with!
No matter what, he couldn't admit to the secret rendezvous! Otherwise, he'd be unable to explain himself no matter how many mouths he had.
Yin Zhihua slammed his gavel: "Shut up! Be quiet! Be quiet!"
The scene then quieted down.
Lin Shikang suppressed his anger, bowed to Yin Zhihua, and said, "A person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear. I beg Lord Yin to investigate the truth as soon as possible and clear my name!"
Lin Shikang was filled with hatred because of Cen Xiao, whose brilliant image he had just established was now ruined.
Upon hearing this news, Yin Zhihua was stunned. It took him a while to react. After thinking for a moment, he realized that it was Lin Tanhua and General Cen fighting each other. He felt sorry for Lin Shikang. Of all people to mess with, he had to mess with the brave general. He was asking for death!
"Wang Ningshi, even if Lin Tanhua and Ji Shi had a secret rendezvous, it doesn't prove that your son's death was related to him. I ask you, when did your son die?"
"Your Honor, my son died last spring. He was an excellent swimmer and couldn't have drowned. I had suspected his death before, but I had no evidence. However, I only found out these past two days that this harlot has been secretly giving my Wang family's money to this adulterous man. They've been having an affair for a long time! A dignified scholar like Lin, how could he be so shameless! Seducing a married woman! And using it as a way to make money for himself. If Lin is so good at business, why bother with his studies? He should just go into business!"
Wang Ningshi became more and more agitated as she spoke, and the people outside the courtroom whispered among themselves.
Dao Ba sneered: "The Lin family is dirt poor, so how could that widow, Old Lady Fan, possibly raise a third-ranked scholar? So that's how they got their money!"
"This is a great way to make money. You get to enjoy yourself with a beautiful young woman and make money at the same time. It's simply amazing... I really want to learn a few tricks from him."
"With your pointy mouth and monkey-like face, forget it! At least you should have someone with that kind of appearance."
"What's wrong with my looks? I'm well-endowed and skilled in bed, definitely better than this weak scholar!"
Hehehe…
Uncivilized laughter erupted outside the courtroom.
Lin Shikang was immediately filled with shame and anger, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Seeing how frustrated Zha Zha Kang looked, Yang Cui couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was so satisfying!
In fact, Lin Shikang's path to success in the original novel was indeed inseparable from his female companions. Because Lin Shikang is the male protagonist with a strong aura, coupled with the different perspective and the author's wording, it didn't seem like Lin Shikang was a gigolo while reading. Now it seems that this guy is clearly a capable gigolo.
Yin Zhihua: "Wang Ningshi, did your son have a coroner examine the body back then?"
No.
"So much time has passed, and your son is now just a pile of bones. The cause of death is difficult to prove. I cannot convict Lin Tanhua based on your one-sided account."
Wang Ning cried, "Did my son just lose his life in vain? Waaah... My poor son..."
The Wang family burst into tears.
However, upon hearing Yin Zhihua's words, Lin Shikang was startled and realized that Cen Daniu's purpose was not to prove his guilt!
He wants to...
Lin Shikang clenched his fists, his heart filled with hatred.
What a cruel heart!
How dare he ruin his own reputation! To let decades of hard work and study go to waste!
Even though Lin Shikang had guessed Cen Xiao's purpose, he was too late to stop things from happening and developing.
At this moment, Wang Ningshi said, "Sir, Ji Fenfang has given Lin Shikang a lot of money over the years. That money belongs to the Wang family. I can at least get it back!"
Lin Shikang, a dignified third-place scholar in the imperial examinations, was once again the first person in history to be pursued by debt collectors in court. The problem was that the debt itself was not honorable, and Lin Shikang was so angry that he wished he could turn back time.
"I have no romantic relationship with Lin Tanhua, and we have never had any financial dealings. Mother, why are you framing me?" Ji Fenfang cried, tears streaming down her face. "You have always been so critical of me, and now you are framing me like this. Don't you know how important a woman's reputation is?"
"Don't try to deny it! If you remarry honestly, I won't say a word, but it's unacceptable for you to use my Wang family's money to support your lover!"
Lin Shikang gritted his teeth: "Do you have any evidence to prove what you're saying?"
Yin Zhihua: "Wang Ningshi, your words concern the reputation of the current third-ranked scholar, so you need to provide evidence!"
"Of course I have one! My housekeeper can vouch for me!"
The Wang family was relatively well-off, owning an orchard and a general store, so they also had servants.
Is that old woman still here?
Before long, Granny Liu, who worked for the Wang family, came to the hall and said that she had personally seen Ji Fenfang give Lin Shikang money, and even gave the time and place, leaving no room for doubt.
Ji Fenfang's eyes were filled with tears: "Why did you frame me? I have always treated you well, why did you treat me like this? My lord, I am innocent!"
"Lord Yin, someone must have framed me! Please investigate thoroughly!" Lin Shikang was anxious. He had originally wanted to get rid of Cen Xiao, but he hadn't expected to get himself into this mess.
Who cares whether Cen Daniu is a bandit now? Lin Tanhua is a gigolo, having an affair with a beautiful widow, and being chased for debts by the widow's in-laws—that's the real sensational and attention-grabbing story!
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