CHAPTER 130: CHAPTER 130: PUBLIC TRIAL (PART 3)

On the day of the public trial, the proceedings were full of twists and turns. The people who came to watch the spectacle indeed witnessed a grand event.

In the courtroom, County Magistrate Cui and the government officials were also dumbfounded.

The backstory of Zhou Ying killing her father was full of hardship and does not need retelling. Even more eye-catching was the conversation between the Commandery Princess and Prince Consort Lu...

The clerk was writing vigorously, recording every word without missing a single detail in the records.

This record would be sent to the Ministry of Justice for archiving and would become a famous case throughout the world. No one knows how Prince Consort Lu’s "statement" would be recounted in the future... From now on, Prince Consort Lu would have to be completely honest and calm, to truly become a "good father."

Lu Xuan indeed was a determined person. He swallowed such humiliation and continued to plead: "Please, Commandery Princess, spare Zhou Ying from the death penalty!"

Jiang Shaohua gave a barely noticeable tug at the corner of her mouth and said faintly, "Today, the main judge is Yang Shi. Since Prince Consort Lu intends to plead for Zhou Ying, he should ask Yang Shi. It is not my place to intervene."

Unlucky Yang Shi watched helplessly as a huge responsibility was placed on his shoulders, and his heart was full of bitterness: "Prince Consort Lu, please calm down and do not get excited. Everything will be determined after the midwife arrives to examine Zhou Ying."

While speaking, Mrs. Zhou entered the hall with unsteady steps and a pale face. She knelt by her daughter’s side, hugged Zhou Ying, and cried out loud.

The doctor bowed and reported: "Report to the judge, Mrs. Zhou indeed has multiple old injuries, including burns and whip marks, and even two old scissor cuts."

The noise outside the courtroom was boiling, and the government officials had to step forward to stop it, driving the crowd back. However, the crowd’s emotions were overwhelming, ebbing and flowing like tides.

Having seen Mrs. Zhou’s scarred body with her own eyes, Chen Jinyu’s eyes flashed with indignation. She clenched the paper in her hand and retreated to the Commandery Princess’s side.

Jiang Shaohua gave Chen Jinyu a comforting look, and Chen Jinyu took a deep breath and handed the recorded paper to the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua took the paper, glanced over it, and sighed secretly in her heart.

Mrs. Zhou married the wrong person, suffering so much pain, and even implicating Zhou Ying to endure the abuse. Without her backing Zhou Ying, Zhou Ying wouldn’t have escaped death. Accompanying such a vile man in death was truly not worth it.

After waiting for a while, a government official invited the closest midwife.

The midwife was quite famous in Ye County, recognized by many. Seeing the midwife and Zhou Ying go to the back office, the crowd strained to tiptoe and craned their necks.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the midwife returned to the courtroom with the pale-faced young girl. The midwife knelt and reported, "Miss Zhou is indeed no longer a virgin."

Mrs. Zhou almost cried herself to death.

Zhou Ying’s body trembled repeatedly, her eyes reddened, and she straightened her back under everyone’s gaze: "Sir, I have told the truth."

Peng Cheng, that beast, truly deserved to die.

Yang Zheng’s eyes flashed with anger, yet his voice remained steady and cold: "This case has become clear to me."

"Killing your father is a heinous crime! According to Da Liang Law, you should be sentenced to immediate execution! However, Peng Cheng’s evil actions came first, and you and your mother were driven to the extreme, leaving you no choice but to resist. Indeed, there is understandable difficulty!"

"I sentence the confiscation of the Zhou Family’s assets, and you are punished with ten years of imprisonment. Do you accept this sentence?"

Could she really have escaped death?

Zhou Ying’s mind was blank, unsure how to react.

Beside her, Mrs. Zhou quickly wiped her tears, grabbed her daughter’s hand, and kowtowed together to express gratitude: "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! We accept the sentence willingly!"

Yang Zheng’s heart was full of bitterness and he said, "Zhou Ying was able to escape death largely because Prince Consort Lu pleaded for you. You and your mother should properly thank Prince Consort Lu!"

Mrs. Zhou and Zhou Ying immediately kowtowed three times to Prince Consort Lu.

Lu Xuan had grievances but couldn’t voice them, yet had to make a righteous show.

Jiang Shaohua’s lips curved slightly.

Who would have thought the surprise was yet to come?

After kowtowing, Zhou Ying looked up at Prince Consort Lu and said loudly enough for everyone to hear: "I lost control and killed my father out of desperation."

"Though Prince Consort Lu is also a son-in-law, he’s not the same as Peng Cheng. Prince Consort Lu cherishes and respects the Commandery Princess. I will pray for Prince Consort Lu’s well-being every day in prison, hoping that Prince Consort Lu will always be a loving father to his daughters, and that the Commandery Princess never suffers the pains I have endured!"

Lu Xuan’s expression stiffened momentarily, forcing a smile. He wanted to say some pleasantries to save face, but today’s spectacle had exhausted all his strength, and his mind was a blur.

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly and got up to head to the back office.

Chen Zhuo, Song Yuan, and others followed the Commandery Princess.

County Magistrate Cui coughed, stood up, and bowed: "Yang Shi worked hard today. I wonder where this prisoner will be detained?"

Zhou Ying was from Luyang County, but the patricide occurred in Ye County.

Yang Zheng had already thought it over and said, "For such a significant criminal case, she should be directly sent to Nanyang County prison. I will arrange it personally, and County Magistrate Cui doesn’t need to worry."

County Magistrate Cui bowed in agreement.

Yang Zheng glanced at Prince Consort Lu; "This case has concluded. Prince Consort Lu has contributed a lot today, you may as well go home and rest early."

Lu Xuan forced a smile more unsightly than a cry, nodded, and stepped back to his residence.

Aunt Mei led her daughters to greet him.

The abdomen, kicked yesterday, was bruised and ached sporadically while walking. Aunt Mei didn’t want her children to notice, so she quietly endured it.

Upon seeing Lu Xuan, Aunt Mei trembled uncontrollably and lowered her gaze, not daring to meet Lu Xuan’s eyes.

Lu Xuan was in an extremely dark mood, ignoring Aunt Mei and her children as he strode past them.

Lu Ruohua ran to catch up, grabbing Lu Xuan’s sleeve: "Father! Father!"

Without turning his head, Lu Xuan yanked his sleeve back. Lu Ruohua stumbled, fortunately, Aunt Mei quickly rushed over to support her, avoiding a heavy fall.

Lu Ruohua felt both scared and wronged and began to whimper.

Lu Ying, feeling sorry, held her sister’s hand and comforted her in a low voice: "Father is not in a good mood today, let’s not provoke him."

Aunt Mei turned her head aside, wiped her tears, then turned back with a full smile: "Mother will take you back to the room."

...

The public trial concluded, but the ensuing repercussions were truly unpredictable.

The next day, three complaint papers were sent to the county government.

All were filed by women. One was a married woman fighting over inheritance with her brother, another was a mother-in-law suing her daughter-in-law, and the last one, surprisingly, was a woman suing her own father.

County Magistrate Cui specially presented the three complaint papers to the Commandery Princess: "In Ye County, the silk weaving industry prospers, and women skilled in sericulture and silk weaving abound. Thus, the responsibility of supporting the family often falls on women, giving them significantly higher status here than in other counties."

"Even in lawsuits, the number is much higher than in other county governments. These three complaints, please take a look!"