Chapter 24: Interrogation Concluded
“This case still has two minor matters that I need to clarify and conclude,” County Magistrate Huang rapped the startling wood, and silence fell around.
“Have the household registrations of Li Wencai and Li Xiucai’s families been brought? Hmm, since they are here, let’s see whose household registration the ox is listed under,” County Magistrate Huang gestured to the clerk.
The clerk busied himself, unfurled the household registrations, held them up, and spun them around. He then announced loudly, “According to the household registration, one plough ox belongs to the Li Xiucai family!”
“You are the village head of Xiao Li Village. Every one of these household registrations bears your fingerprint and seal. I imagine that whether the ox belongs to your family or Li Xiucai’s family, what is recorded on the household registration must be accurate. The ox taxes for all these years have also been paid by the Li Xiucai family.
“Regarding the plough ox, I rule as follows: One plough ox, along with its calf, belongs to the Li Xiucai family. Li Wencai claims to have jointly raised plough oxen with the Li Xiucai family for a total of…”
County Magistrate Huang looked at the clerk, who quickly bowed and replied, “Five years.”
“For these five years, since the Li Xiucai family was also using the plough ox, it will be counted as Li Wencai renting the Li Xiucai family’s plough ox for two and a half years. After that, the total…”
County Magistrate Huang looked at the clerk again, who quickly replied, “Three and a half years.”
“Hmm, combining the two, Li Wencai has rented the Li Xiucai family’s plough ox for a total of six years. In this area, how much does it cost to rent a strong plough ox for one year?”
This time, County Magistrate Huang looked at Li Shikuan.
“An old ox starts at two diaos of money, and a strong ox costs at least four diaos of money,” Li Shikuan quickly bowed and replied.
“Then it’s four diaos of money, totaling twenty-four diaos of money. Li Wencai is ordered to hand it over to Li Xiucai within ten days.
“Secondly, Li Wencai, as the village head, has oppressed clan members and deceived superiors and subordinates. According to the laws of the land, Li Wencai is removed from his position as village head and will be publicly shamed for ten days.”
County Magistrate Huang rapped the startling wood again and looked at Li Shikuan, saying, “Li Wencai’s other wrongdoings are all due to the indulgence of your Li clan. You will decide what crime and punishment Li Wencai deserves according to the clan rules. Once you have decided on the punishment, have Li Xiucai write a report for me to see.”
“Yes,” Li Shikuan bowed in agreement. Li Xuedong, having snapped out of his daze, quickly bowed along with Li Shikuan.
County Magistrate Huang descended from the high platform, beckoned Li Xuedong over, and quietly instructed him.
Li Yin Zhu was so happy she couldn’t stand still, hopping in place from time to time. Li Yuzhu called out “Eldest Sister,” her throat choked, and tears streamed from her eyes.
Li Jin Zhu stood straight, watching Li Xuedong talking to County Magistrate Huang, their heads close together. After a moment of staring, she turned to look at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan held her Second Sister Li Yuzhu’s arm, still half-hiding behind her, her eyes blinking as she looked at Li Jin Zhu, a smile appearing on her face.
Gu Yan fanned his folding fan with no particular rhythm, watching Li Xiaonan look at Li Jin Zhu. He scanned Li Jin Zhu from head to toe, then from toe to head, examining her carefully twice.
After Lu Xiu came to him, she had asked him to inquire about her three elder sisters.
The night Lu Xiu was sold to a human trafficker by her Third Uncle, this Eldest Sister had grabbed a knife, charged into her Third Uncle’s house, killed her Third Uncle and his wife, and then slit her own throat.
This Eldest Sister was no simple person.
County Magistrate Huang finished his detailed instructions to Li Xuedong and, while chatting with Mr. Yao, walked towards the outskirts of town.
Gu Yan suddenly closed his folding fan and followed behind County Magistrate Huang.
Upon reaching the town entrance, County Magistrate Huang stopped and looked back at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan took off his veil hat, handed it to Shi Gun, stepped forward two paces, cupped his hands in a salute to County Magistrate Huang, and smiled, “I have come from the Capital City, traveling here. I watched Your Excellency’s trial and have a few points I don’t understand. Could you enlighten me?”
“I wouldn’t dare accept the word ‘enlighten.’ Please, just speak,” County Magistrate Huang said with a smile.
Gu Yan walked alongside County Magistrate Huang, asking with a smile as they walked, “That Li Wencai repeatedly tried to harm that young Xiucai scholar. Why did Your Excellency only deal with the ox and the dereliction of duty as village head?”
“The ox and dereliction of duty are two matters with conclusive evidence, so they must be judged.
“As for the attempted murder, it is indeed true, but if we were to truly pursue it,” County Magistrate Huang paused and looked at Gu Yan, smiling, “Seeing that you are also well-read, you naturally know that this dynasty is different from the previous one. Any murder case must be thoroughly investigated by an investigator from the prefectural yamen. After the case is investigated and the facts are ascertained, then I, the county magistrate, will make a ruling.
“Investigating a case requires both witness testimony and physical evidence. In the case of Li Wencai attempting to murder Li Xiucai, he did not succeed. Where can we find physical evidence? As for witnesses, those people spoke the truth just now because they were caught off guard. But when the investigator from the prefectural yamen arrives, Li Wengang and the others will surely be prepared. In the Li clan, the Feng Family Branch and Sheng Family Branch, where Li Wengang and Li Wencai belong, have many people. At that time, whether these people will change their tune is hard to say. Most likely, there will be no solid evidence found.
Gu Yan listened intently and slowly nodded.
“This is the first point. Secondly, even if there were witnesses and the investigator from the prefectural yamen determined that Li Wencai intended to murder Li Xiucai, Li Wencai did not succeed, right? Succeeding and not succeeding makes a big difference. Secondly, Li Wencai is an elder, and he is still within the five degrees of kinship with Li Xiucai. For an attempted murder that did not succeed, should Li Xiucai be magnanimous and lenient, and submit a plea for mercy?
“If he doesn’t plead, then Li Xiucai is too harsh and not magnanimous enough, which would be extremely detrimental to Li Xiucai’s future official career. If he does plead, this attempted murder would only result in exile five hundred li away. If Li Xiucai pleads a bit more, it would only be exile one or two hundred li, and he would return in a year or two.
“Li Wencai is already over fifty years old. According to the law, his nephews and grandsons can serve the sentence on his behalf. Li Wencai has plenty of sons and grandsons; one of them can serve the sentence.
“One cannot be punished twice for the same offense. Since the government office has already investigated and ruled on Li Wencai’s attempt to murder Li Xiucai, the Li clan naturally does not need to pursue it further. In this way, Li Wencai would be completely unharmed?”
“Now, let the Li Wencai’s attempt to murder Li Xiucai be handled by their clan themselves. After half a month or a month, send someone to inquire and see how their clan deals with it,” County Magistrate Huang said with a smile.
Gu Yan listened intently and also smiled. He bowed and thanked him, “I have learned a great deal. Thank you, Your Excellency.”
“I dare not,” County Magistrate Huang returned the salute with cupped hands.
Gu Yan exchanged a few more polite words, took his leave of County Magistrate Huang, mounted his horse, and, under the escort of the crowd, rode about ten li before slowing his pace. He beckoned Wang Gui, who was among the attendants.
Seeing Gu Yan summon Wang Gui, Shi Gun quickly slowed his horse and signaled to the eunuchs and servants to keep their distance from Gu Yan.
Wang Gui was the commander of his Young Lord’s scouts. The Young Lord and Wang Gui only discussed confidential matters.
“Did you hear about that case just now?” Gu Yan asked Wang Gui.
“Yes.”
“First, go and find out which day Li Xuefu and Li Xueshou knocked Li Xiaonan unconscious. Second, on the heads of Li Xuefu and Li Xueshou, inflict a wound three inches long and one inch wide on each of them. After it heals, hair should not grow on these scars either.”
“Yes,” Wang Gui replied crisply without even raising his eyelids.
Any task that was not particularly high-profile was always assigned to him by his Young Lord. Compared to the messy tasks he had handled before, this one was too ordinary.
Regarding proxy exams.
This section has been deleted, it is not good.
Life is always more dramatic than fiction. For example, the case I saw a few days ago, where a scammer who chatted with men online and tricked them out of money, were all ugly men. Oh my god, this is absolutely impossible! How could they not distinguish between men and women? This is too stupid, this is absolutely impossible!
