“Thump, thump…”
Hearing someone beating a drum to appeal for injustice, Meng Tong, the Judicial Registrar of the Prefectural Governor's Residence, presided over the case.
Everyone else was in the outer hall listening to the trial, with only the parties involved entering the inner hall of the yamen.
Seeing Shen Jing and the others being brought into the yamen, Meng Tong couldn't help but feel secretly puzzled.
Zhao Ying?
Why was he here?
And what was going on with this Shen Jing?
He had only heard someone mention this morning that Shen Jing was going to marry into the Wang Family today. At the time, he had even casually cursed Shen Jing for being a disgrace!
At this hour, shouldn't he be at his wedding ceremony?
Why had he run to the government office?
Could it be that Shen Jing and Zhao Ying had some conflict?
Did Shen Jing have the guts to have a conflict with Zhao Ying?
If that were truly the case, this fellow was practically seeking death!
While Meng Tong was deep in thought, everyone came before the court.
“Greetings, Your Honor!”
Du Yidao, Wu Xiong, and Wang Zan immediately knelt down to salute.
Shen Jing and Zhao Ying, having scholarly titles, did not need to kneel.
Meng Tong snapped back to attention, striking the gavel in his hand with a loud bang, and asked with full official authority: “Who is before the court, and what is your business?”
Wang Zan looked up: “Reporting to Your Honor, this humble one, Wang Zan, wishes to sue the scholar Shen Jing!”
It wasn't a conflict between Shen Jing and Zhao Ying?
Meng Tong was slightly surprised and said calmly: “Come, present the complaint!”
Complaint?
Wang Zan’s eyelids twitched, and he quickly said: “Reporting to Your Honor, the incident happened suddenly, and this humble one did not have time to find someone to write a complaint.”
Zhao Ying chuckled and bowed slightly: “This junior, Zhao Ying, is the Titled Scholar of Huaizhou in this year’s examination, and can represent Wang Zan in court!”
Hmm?
Meng Tong suddenly understood.
It seemed Zhao Ying and Wang Zan were working together!
In that case, it was simple!
Zhao Ying’s father, Zhao Jianzhi, was his direct superior. He knew exactly who to help and who not to help.
“Granted!”
Meng Tong nodded.
Zhao Ying glanced sideways at Shen Jing and slowly said: “This person, Shen Jing, first signed a marriage contract to marry into the Wang Family for two thousand taels of silver. However, this person is utterly shameless and actually signed marriage contracts to marry into six families simultaneously, intending to use this to evade his contract with the Wang Family…”
Listening to Zhao Ying’s statement, Meng Tong and the yamen runners couldn't help but widen their eyes.
One person signing marriage contracts to marry into six families?
Throughout history, this was the first time they had heard of such an outrageous matter.
“Absurd!”
Coming back to his senses, Meng Tong slammed the gavel and demanded: “Shen Jing, this official asks you, is what Titled Scholar Zhao stated true?”
“Yes!”
Shen Jing admitted it readily.
“Audacious Shen Jing! How dare you, a scholar, commit such a shameless act!”
Meng Tong didn't bother to say more and directly declared: “This official rules that Shen Jing’s marriage contracts with the other families are invalid, and orders…”
“Wait!”
Shen Jing stopped Meng Tong: “May I ask Your Honor, by what imperial law do you deem this junior’s marriage contracts with the other families invalid? Which law of our dynasty stipulates that a person may not marry into multiple families?”
“This…”
Meng Tong faltered slightly.
It seemed the imperial court indeed had no law prohibiting one person from marrying into multiple families.
“Does this even require imperial law?”
Zhao Ying snorted coldly: “Marrying in is like a woman marrying out! Our dynasty’s law stipulates that a woman may not marry multiple men simultaneously!”
Shen Jing wanted to exploit a loophole in imperial law? No way!
“Exactly!”
Shen Jing shrugged, “You just said the law stipulates that women may not marry multiple men simultaneously, but I am not a woman!”
“Precisely!”
Du Yidao nodded in agreement, “Any clear-eyed person can see that Shen Jing is a man. Titled Scholar Zhao, are your eyes in your crotch?”
“What did you say?”
Zhao Ying’s face changed dramatically, and he glared at Du Yidao with eyes spitting fire.
“Well, it seems not only are your eyes in your crotch, but your ears are in your crotch too!”
Du Yidao was very bold.
Extremely bold!
So bold that Shen Jing and Wu Xiong were a little stunned.
Shen Jing even wondered if Du Yidao had taken drugs before coming.
Even if their family came from the martial arts world, they shouldn't disregard Zhao Ying to this extent, right?
Wu Xiong was originally a little nervous.
But seeing Du Yidao so bold, he instantly gained confidence.
The Du Family probably also knew about Shen Jing’s skill in Qimen Dunjia.
That’s why they were so bold!
Standing with Shen Jing this time was definitely the right choice!
Thinking of this, Wu Xiong immediately looked up at Zhao Ying, “Titled Scholar Zhao, this is a public court. You don’t bring your eyes, nor your ears, and yet you’re still here to litigate for someone? If I were you, I’d slink away and stop making a fool of yourself here!”
Listening to Wu Xiong’s words, the people in the outer hall listening to the trial couldn't help but stir up a commotion.
What was going on?
Were the Du Family and Wu Family crazy?
They were directly humiliating Zhao Ying in open court?
Were they not at all afraid of Zhao Ying’s retaliation?
Zhao Ying’s nose was practically twisted with anger, and he stared at the two with a frosty face, “I am a dignified Titled Scholar, how dare you be so rude to me?”
“We are just stating the facts.”
Du Yidao directly ignored Zhao Ying’s gaze, “In open court, are people not allowed to speak the truth? Does this court belong to the Zhao Family?”
“Exactly!”
Wu Xiong also chimed in, “If people aren’t allowed to speak the truth, what’s the point of coming to court? If you’re so capable, why aren’t you standing in the imperial court in the capital, commenting on state affairs?”
The two of them, one after another, choked Zhao Ying, leaving the people listening in the outer hall dumbfounded.
“You… you…”
Zhao Ying trembled with rage, clenching his fists tightly.
They were crazy!
These two old scoundrels were absolutely crazy!
Who gave them the guts to speak to him like that?
Did they think their family’s meager background could contend with the power of the government?
“Silence!”
Seeing Zhao Ying about to spit blood from anger, Meng Tong immediately slammed the gavel and sternly said: “This is the yamen’s public court, not a place for you to spout nonsense! Anyone who dares to speak nonsense again, beware that this official will apply severe punishment!”
Du Yidao lowered his head, desperately trying to suppress his laughter.
Idiot!
Still standing with Zhao Ying here!
Later, you’ll probably cry with that simpleton Zhao Ying.
Shen Jing looked at Du Yidao with a puzzled expression, then bowed to Meng Tong, “Your Honor, as the saying goes, what is not forbidden by law is permissible!”
“Although I married into multiple families, I have not violated any imperial law!”
“If government officials do not judge cases according to imperial law, what use is imperial law to the court?”
“With so many people watching outside, I believe Lord Meng will not fear the power of the Zhao Family and oppress us good citizens!”
Good citizens?
Listening to Shen Jing’s words, Meng Tong and Zhao Ying’s faces twitched simultaneously.
Shen Jing could do something like marry into six families, and still have the nerve to call himself a good citizen?
They had seen shameless people, but never one so utterly shameless!
“Ahem, ahem…”
Meng Tong cleared his throat twice and said righteously: “This official always judges cases fairly and impartially!”
“Then please, Your Honor, judge the case fairly according to imperial law!”
Shen Jing bowed slightly: “As long as Your Honor produces the corresponding law, even if you sentence me to immediate execution, I will have no complaints!”
Meng Tong’s expression changed slightly, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do.
Law?
How could the imperial court have such a law?
When the imperial court formulated laws, it never imagined there would be someone as shameless as Shen Jing!
Without a corresponding law, this case was indeed difficult to judge!
Seeing Meng Tong in a dilemma, Zhao Ying, having recovered, immediately reprimanded: “Do you think just because the imperial court doesn’t have this law, the government can’t deal with you?”
“What, do you want to write a law yourself?”
Shen Jing’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Or are you saying that you believe this world belongs to the Zhao Family, and you can do whatever you want?”
Zhao Ying naturally dared not respond to Shen Jing’s two statements.
If he were to accept those words, things would become very serious.
“No matter how glib your tongue, it cannot change the fact that your morals are corrupt!”
Zhao Ying snorted lightly, then bowed to Meng Tong: “Our dynasty’s law stipulates that those with scholarly titles, if their morals are corrupt, can have their titles revoked! Shen Jing marrying into six families is extremely morally corrupt and has an extremely bad influence. According to imperial law, Shen Jing’s scholarly title should be revoked, as a warning…”
“Who dares touch my son-in-law?!”
Suddenly, an enraged voice abruptly exploded in everyone’s ears.
Meng Tong’s face turned cold, and he sternly rebuked: “Audacious hussy, how dare you…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Meng Tong suddenly stood up, looking utterly terrified at the beautiful woman in splendid court attire who walked in.
A large red satin embroidered Xiapei !
Nine flower hairpins!
Nine rows of pheasant patterns!
This was…
A First-Rank Imperial Matron!