EBE Chapter 129 Disrupting the Courtroom 3
Chapter 129 Disrupting the Courtroom 3
Chapter 129 Disrupting the Courtroom (Part 3)
Sheng Lan lowered her head, avoiding Wang Wenzhou's gaze. She silently looked at her shoes, tears streaming down her face without her realizing it.
Sheng Lan knew that she was going against Wang Wenzhou by doing this, but she couldn't refuse the conditions her mother had set for her.
Madam Yang, the mother, was cunning and calculating. Last time, her precious son dared to throw her in jail. This time, she was sure he would do it again. Madam Yang couldn't bear the shame, so she sent Zhang Jiao to invite Sheng Lan over and make Sheng Lan take the blame.
The conditions set by Madam Yang were very simple: as long as Sheng Lan was willing to take the blame, Madam Yang would agree to let Sheng Lan enter the family as a concubine, and she could be included in the genealogy of the newly established Earl's Mansion.
Many modern people have long lost their family genealogy records, let alone seen one. They don't understand why Sheng Lan couldn't refuse this condition. The Ming Dynasty was a clan society. The clan head even had the power of life and death over clan members. If a clan member was expelled from the clan, not only would they not be buried in the ancestral grave after death, but their name would also be removed from the family genealogy. In the Ming Dynasty, this was a far more terrifying thing than killing that clan member.
Sheng Lan was a woman from the Ming Dynasty. According to Ming Dynasty law, Wang Wenzhou's marriage to her was not a legal marriage and was not protected by the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, when Yang made this condition, Sheng Lan agreed without hesitation.
Wang Wenzhou couldn't understand it. He stared blankly at Sheng Lan, feeling betrayed by the person he loved. It was like being cuckolded; the bitterness in his heart made him want to cry.
"Lazy Blue, do you have a fever?" Wang Wenzhou asked angrily.
Sheng Lan lowered her head and said guiltily, "The injuries on my body were really caused by my own carelessness!"
Wang Wenzhou couldn't bear to vent his anger on the goddess Sheng Lan, so he pointed at Wang Wenhua and roared, "Drag Wang Wenhua out and give him 30...50...no, 100 lashes!"
Just as the constables were about to pull Wang Wenhua out, Madam Yang said, "Wait!"
As soon as the old lady spoke, all the yamen runners turned their gaze to Wang Wenzhou.
"What are you looking at? Drag him out and beat him!" Wang Wenzhou said irritably.
"Wait! Wang Wenzhou, I'm asking you, why did you beat Bo Ren? Is it your mother who taught you to be so vindictive, wicked, incompetent, and tyrannical?" Madam Yang asked coldly.
Wang Wenzhou said sarcastically, "Wang Wenhua and his accomplices committed such a shameful act against a woman in her sixties. What's wrong with me sentencing them to 100 strokes of the cane? What's wrong with that?"
"Young Master! I'm innocent!" Old Butler Wang Zhixin strode into the hall.
"Pfft..." Wang Wenzhou smiled bitterly to himself. Old Wang, why are you getting involved in this too?
Wang Zhixin cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, I am truly ashamed to face anyone! I did it! It has nothing to do with Wang Wenhua and the others! I wanted to confess just now, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I've thought it through. Didn't you say that a man should be brave enough to take responsibility for his actions..."
"Stop!" Wang Wenzhou laughed in anger, pointing at Wang Zhixin and cursing, "Old Wang, Wang Wenhua wanted to kill me, and you're still taking the blame for him?"
Wang Zhixin was made the scapegoat by Yang. Yang is cunning and calculating; how could she not see that all these messes were fabricated by Wang Wenzhou to smear Wang Wenhua?
"Young Master! This matter has nothing to do with the Eldest Young Master. I will take full responsibility for my actions! You may punish me as you see fit!" Wang Zhixin said righteously without changing his expression.
"Good, good, good!" Wang Wenzhou said, emphasizing each word as he repeated "good" three times.
"Who's going to take the blame for Wangcai's mistake?" Wang Wenzhou asked, both amused and exasperated.
Wang Qiang scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Young Master, I'll take the blame!"
"Haha..." The onlookers couldn't help but burst into laughter. Wang Qingtian's family has so many messy affairs. Even a just official can't settle family disputes!
Wang Wenzhou remained silent for a moment. Judging from the current situation, the mastermind behind it all was either Wang Wenhua or his mother. In short, this case was impossible to investigate! If it continued, even his own father might come forward and confess. It felt like he was being abandoned by everyone!
Wang Wenzhou glanced at Wang Wenhua and noticed a wicked smile on Wang Wenhua's face. "Wang Wenhua, you're awesome! I'll let you win the first round! I'll settle things with you later after I've planned everything."
Next, it was Wang Wenzhou's turn to showcase his acting skills.
The onlookers watched as Wang Qingtian stood silently for a while, then suddenly collapsed to the ground. His mouth was foaming, his limbs twitching uncontrollably, and he mumbled incoherently, "Lock them all up...lock them up first, and...I'll try them another day."
"My lord!" Upon seeing this, Li the clerk rushed over, picked up Wang Wenzhou, and pinched his philtrum to save him.
"Damn it!" Wang Wenzhou cursed under his breath, "Little Silver, are you trying to strangle me?! Be gentle!"
Li Yinshui immediately understood that her godfather was putting on an act. Indeed, in this situation, it was not easy to find a way to back down. It was rare for her godfather to come up with such a good idea.
"My lord! What do you want to say?" Li Yinshui, this old fox, was quite good at acting.
"Understood!" Li Yinshui stood up and said, "Lord Wang is unwell and unable to continue the trial today. Those involved will be temporarily detained in the back office. Court adjourned!"
"mighty……"
The onlookers were both amused and bewildered, buzzing with discussion. Wang Qingtian's investigation was more dramatic than any theatrical performance. The Xinjian Earl's family was truly hilarious! Entering a wealthy and powerful family was like entering a deep, dark sea; the affairs of noble families were far too absurd for ordinary people to even imagine.
"Haha..." Wang Chengen laughed and shook his head, saying softly, "I have long heard of the Yang family's name. Wang Wenzhou and his mother are evenly matched, neither of them are easy to deal with. Their battle of wits is quite interesting."
Sun Bing frowned and asked, "Master, do you mean the murderer's target is Miss Sheng?"
Wang Chengen nodded and said, "Let's go, let's wander around some more. I must say, Wang Wenzhou is quite talented, and his method of collecting taxes upon entering the city is unique. But he is still young and impetuous, and too fond of women. He needs to be tempered for a while before he can be put to important use."
The crowd dispersed, and the gates of the government office were closed.
Wang Wen got up on his butt in a flash.
"Brother, are you alright?" Sheng Liang asked with concern.
"Who said nothing happened? You son of a bitch!" Wang Wenzhou raised his hand and slapped Sheng Liang across the face.
Sheng Liang covered his face, feeling wronged. "I didn't do anything wrong, why did you hit me?"
"I'm sorry! I made Lazy Blue angry!" Wang Wenzhou apologized.
Sheng Liang pursed his lips. He was also present when Zhang Jiao went to find Sheng Lan. He remembered his father Sheng Lei's instructions and listened to Wang Wenzhou in everything. He had also tried to persuade his aunt Sheng Lan not to do this, but Sheng Lan stubbornly refused.
"Xiao Liang, prepare the carriage. I'm going to the labor camp to tease Ru Ru and clear my head," Wang Wenzhou instructed.
"Understood!" Sheng Liang nodded in agreement.
Wang Wenzhou was in a state of turmoil. First, he couldn't understand why the goddess Lan Lan would "betray" him. Second, he hadn't figured out a way to deal with it. If his mother was truly the mastermind, even if he was a complete scoundrel, he wouldn't dare to seek "revenge" against her. It was just too damn frustrating.