Chapter 69: Verdict
“Cailian!” Fang Bao shoved Xiao Fei aside and ran over to pick up his younger sister.
“Quickly take her to the back hall.” Lord An pointed to a constable to lead the way for Fang Bao. Old Doctor Sun picked up his medicine box and followed. Seeing this, the other three doctors also hurriedly followed.
The court hall was completely silent as the onlooking crowd digested the huge gossip they had just heard. No one spoke.
Shang Wan glanced at the pool of blood on the floor tiles, then at Lu Chengjing who showed no surprise at all, leaned in, and asked in a low voice, “You knew already?”
Lu Chengjing gave a low hum in response. From the moment Fang Cailian said “Qing Feng Pavilion,” he had vaguely guessed what Fang Cailian was going to do.
He had initially thought Ge Shunliang had coaxed Fang Cailian into framing him, but at least Fang Cailian had been willing. He hadn’t expected that from beginning to end, Fang Cailian had been the one forced.
What had made her determined to tell the truth was probably the child in her womb, right?
A… child with an unknown father.
Lu Chengjing sighed inwardly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Had his good brother, who had schemed to ruin his reputation and leave him to rot in this remote countryside, ever calculated for such an accident?
Lord An was in a very bad mood. With a dark face, he slammed the gavel. “Ge Shunliang, Wang Fei, if you two don’t confess quickly, don’t blame this official for serving severe punishment!”
He didn’t like using torture when hearing cases, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t use it.
Shopkeeper Ge could barely hold steady, but Wang Fei had long panicked. “Spare my life, my lord. I was just following orders. The mastermind is him.”
He pointed at Shopkeeper Ge beside him. “I was just the messenger. I never forced Fang Cailian. It was Fang Cailian who seduced me. I’m innocent!”
Shopkeeper Ge was so angry he nearly fell over. This fool!
“Still quibbling!” Lord An threw down the token. “Drag him away for the plank!”
“Spare my life, my lord!”
“Ah!! I dare not anymore!”
“Spare my life!”
Wang Fei’s screams echoed in, scaring all the rice shop shop assistants pale. Immediately, someone couldn’t hold out and confessed, and soon after, all who had given false testimony turned.
“My lord, the scholar was carried into the side room by the shopkeeper. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“I saw it too.”
“There was sleeping potion in the tea.”
“The shopkeeper said that as long as we helped with the testimony, we’d get ten taels of reward money when we got back.”
“I threw away the date paste cake.”
“The tea set is in the kitchen. I couldn’t bear to throw it away.”
The shop assistants chattered all at once. One or two who originally could have held out and not spoken, seeing everyone else had spoken, followed suit.
Shang Wan clucked her tongue. These people weren’t stupid. Seeing the tide had turned, confessing proactively could get them leniency.
Shopkeeper Ge was so angry his face turned ashen. He hated Fang Cailian to the bone. Facing Lord An’s interrogation, even under the plank, he refused to admit it.
But whether he admitted it or not no longer mattered.
Those testifying against him were different from those who had testified against Lu Chengjing before. Aside from Fang Cailian, there were only the rice shop people, lacking ironclad proof, and the testimonies were vague.
Now with Fang Cailian’s testimony, the child in her womb, Shopkeeper Qi of Qing Feng Pavilion’s identification, Wang Fei and the shop assistants turning, the glass bead in the date paste cake, and so on, it was enough to convict him.
The gavel slammed, and the verdict was announced.
“Ge Shunliang falsely accused Lu Chengjing. Per the law, the crime is increased by three degrees: one hundred canings, no redemption allowed. Raped a good woman, causing Fang Cailian to become pregnant. Heinous circumstances: sentenced to strangulation, to be executed after caning.”
“Fang Cailian falsely accused Lu Chengjing. Per the law, the crime is increased by three degrees: one hundred canings. Due to pregnancy, redemption allowed. If not redeemed, punishment after one hundred days post-childbirth.”
“Wang Fei forced rape of a good woman, evil accomplice, no remorse. Per the law: thirty canings, same strangulation sentence, executed after caning.”
“All rice shop accomplices gave false testimony. Considering their remorse: twenty canings, silver penalty of three taels.”
“Fang Bao shoved Lu Chengjing causing injury: silver penalty of five qian, to be given to Lu Chengjing.”
“Shi Tou injured Ge Shunliang: silver penalty of five qian, to be delivered by the government to his family.”
As for Shang Wan hitting the rice shop people, it was self-defense, and no shop assistants lost an arm or leg, so no punishment.
The constables got busy, grabbing people one by one for caning. For a time, the yamen was filled with everyone’s cries of pain.
Fang Cailian’s child didn’t survive. Hearing Ge Shunliang and Wang Fei were sentenced to strangulation, she wept with joy and, despite her weak body from the miscarriage, insisted on watching the two scum receive punishment.
Fang Bao was full of self-blame and regret. Hearing redemption was allowed, he hurriedly ran home, scraped together six strings of cash, and handed it to the government to spare Fang Cailian the caning.
After court adjourned, Shang Wan’s family was invited to the back hall small parlor to talk.
Qiao Yu’an followed along, nagging like an old nanny, asking about Lu Chengjing’s recent situation.
Lu Chengjing answered sometimes, sometimes not. No matter his reaction, Qiao Yu’an seemed quite happy talking.
Xiao Huan said, “Sis, Shi Tou and I want to go to Lu Shi Rice Shop first and bring back the rice and flour.”
They had already paid the money, who knew this mess with Shopkeeper Ge would happen.
Shang Wan saw the two were uncomfortable staying in the county yamen, nodded in agreement, and exhorted, “While you’re at it, inquire about bricklayers.”
“Okay.” The two left one after the other.
Shang Wan poured a bowl of plain water, let it cool by shaking, and fed it to Yuan Yuan, pondering where to buy an ewe to take home.
The little one was just one year old and needed to keep up her nutrition.
Shang Wan mentioned this to Lu Chengjing. Before he could speak, Qiao Yu’an said, “No need to buy. My manor has them. In a couple days when I visit, I’ll send one over.”
Shang Wan: “That would be too embarrassing.”
“It’s not for you anyway.” Qiao Yu’an pursed his lips. “It’s for Yuan Yuan. None for you.”
Lu Chengjing frowned. “Yu’an, I consider you a close friend and have never slighted your family.”
Toward Qiao Weiwei, he was at most cold. That was good for both their reputations. But Qiao Yu’an toward Shang Wan showed clear lack of respect.
Qiao Yu’an caught his implication and said discontentedly, “Don’t be fooled by this woman. Actually, she…”
Suddenly two coughs came from outside the door. Lord An, changed into casual clothes, walked in. Qiao Yu’an swallowed the rest of his words.
Seeing the three seemed to have something to discuss, Qiao Yu’an made an excuse and took his leave.
Once he left, anxiety appeared between Lord An’s brows. He looked at Shang Wan and got straight to the point. “Madam, hearing of the earthquake in Dongning County, my wife worried and her old ailment flared up, causing unbearable pain. Have you made the medicine?”
“I originally made one bottle.” Shang Wan showed a troubled expression. “But many in the village were injured, so I used it to save them. Only a layer left at the bottom, about three drops.”
“Three drops are good.” Lord An said happily. “Do you have it with you?”
Shang Wan nodded and took out the small porcelain bottle.
Lord An took it joyfully and ordered someone to send it express to the prefectural city.
Lu Chengjing now understood why Lord An was so polite to Shang Wan. He picked up the tea cup, took a light sip, and quietly listened to the two talk.
Lord An said worriedly, “Lady Shang, can my wife’s illness be cured at the root?”
“Madam has a disease of the heart. Treating the body is easy, treating the heart is hard.” Shang Wan said truthfully. “Even if the physical symptoms are cured, as long as the mental illness remains, Madam’s old ailment will still recur.”
Spiritual spring water was indeed powerful for repairing the body, but for mental aspects, it could at most soothe the spirit—treating symptoms, not the root.
