CHAPTER 401: CHAPTER 401: THE WHOLE FAMILY ENSLAVED

Yet Zheng Lin of the Zheng Family has always claimed his innocence, insisting he did not intend to vie with Shangguan Hua over the person, and that someone had told him Xiao Lianxian had first agreed to meet him, but out of fear of offending Shangguan Hua, they sent someone to refuse him later.

Zheng Lin was not much older at the time, just a clueless lad of eighteen, and was doted on by his family. His elder sister was even a concubine, pregnant with the dragon seed, how could he bear such an insult, and immediately brought men to rescue Xiao Lianxian, which led to the events that followed.

However, with the death of Shangguan Hua, how could the Shangguan family believe his words?

Even if the Zheng Family presented Little Heye, the Shangguan family would not believe it. They only thought this was a servant deliberately bought off by the Zheng Family to exonerate Zheng Lin.

Because of this incident, Zheng Lin was nearly beaten to death by his own father. Having already arranged a marriage, and ready to wed, it was due to the death of Shangguan Hua that the wedding was postponed for three years, as a form of mourning for Shangguan Hua.

Unfortunately, the Shangguan family didn’t care at all, and still bore a deep hatred for the Zheng Family.

Over the years, both families resided in Jinling Prefecture, but due to this incident, they have stood in opposition.

Nowadays, Zheng Lin is on the verge of becoming a great-grandfather, but he has never forgotten this matter and wishes to uncover the truth before his death, to convince the Shangguan family that he truly did not intend to harm Shangguan Hua, that he was deliberately toyed with.

If this misunderstanding is not resolved, Zheng Lin will not rest in peace.

Thus, it became possible for Little Heye to survive, and after the Zheng Family learned of the news, they also sent two servants, along with Zheng Ying, to Tianfu County.

The Shangguan family sent someone too, harboring the intent to resolve the feud between the two families. After all, neither family is weak, and after years of strife, they are genuinely tired and do not wish to fight any longer.

"Is this old woman the Shui Baniang of that year?" Zheng Ying, excited, stood up and immediately ordered Squad Leader Cheng, "Leader Cheng, quickly bring the Slave Registration Book, we need to compare the fingerprint pattern of this old woman’s hand with that of Shui Baniang’s."

"Yes." Knowing that the Zheng Family wields not insignificant power and not wanting to offend them, Squad Leader Cheng immediately had the accompanying government official produce the ink and white paper, took Mrs. Han’s hands, and printed her two thumbprints before taking out the brought Slave Registration Book, flipping to the page with Shui Baniang’s indenture, and comparing the thumbprint patterns on both sheets of paper.

Mrs. Han was so scared that she turned pale, shaking and trying to deny that she was Shui Baniang. But as the comparison of fingerprint patterns was already underway, her denial was futile, and she could only think of other ways to save herself.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Leader Cheng finished comparing the thumbprints on both sheets of paper and said to Zheng Ying and Shangguan Zhuo, "Gentlemen, this Mrs. Han is indeed the Shui Baniang of Linglong Painting Boat."

Zheng Ying let out a sigh of relief, his spine straightening a notch. For many years, due to that incident, the Zheng Family could never lift their heads in front of the Shangguan family, but no matter how wronged they felt, their grandfather never allowed them to confront the Shangguan family people face to face.

Shangguan Zhuo also sighed in relief. With the discovery of Shui Baniang, the truth of the past was not far off.

But Mrs. Han was a ruthless person, knowing she might not survive but resolute not to let others off easy, she immediately pointed at Zheng Ying and said to Shangguan Zhuo, "Young Master Shangguan, back then it was Zheng Lin of the Zheng Family who deliberately ..."

Crack!

Luo Wu, having observed the grudge between the Zheng and Shangguan families, moved swiftly to dislocate Mrs. Han’s jawbone, causing her to dislocate her chin, preventing her from uttering any more slanderous words.

Zheng Ying was nearly scared to death, and gratefully glanced at Luo Wu before saying to Shangguan Zhuo, "Brother Shangguan, this old woman is sneaky, may I ask the Zheng Family for three days’ time? In three days, the Zheng Family will surely find out the truth of the past year and provide an explanation to the Shangguan family."

After some thought, Shangguan Zhuo nodded and said, "Of course, that’s possible. However, the Shangguan family shall send a servant to follow along and watch, Brother Zheng has no objections, right?"

Although the Shangguan family also intended to resolve the feud, the grandfather said that the Shangguan family wants the real truth, not a fabricated truth made up by the Zheng Family to clear their own suspicions.

Zheng Ying said, "This matter concerns both our families, so naturally the Shangguan family can send someone to follow."

Shangguan Zhuo, upon hearing this, nodded in satisfaction.

Zheng Ying then said to County Magistrate Xu, "Lord Xu, two of our servants have already identified Old Master Lu as an escaped slave from the Linglong Painting Boat, please commence the court session."

County Magistrate Xu smiled and nodded, straightened his official hat, and took his seat beneath the signboard that proclaimed "Justice Shines Like a Mirror." With a strike of the gavel, he commanded, "Court is in session, bring in the accused!"

Upon the order, the Government Officials immediately brought all the Lu Family People into the courtroom and forced them to kneel properly.

Among this group of Lu Family People, there was an additional Concubine Lu.

County Magistrate Xu frowned, and Master Tian whispered in his ear, "Just now, County Magistrate Zou sent someone to take Concubine Lu to the big prison, claiming she is the daughter of an escaped slave and should rightfully be locked away."

County Magistrate Xu’s expression turned quite unsightly upon hearing this.

County Magistrate Zou was shrewd; as soon as Mrs. Han was thrown into the prison, he had already spent a hefty sum to redeem Zou Yuzhen and Zou Yuwan, while Concubine Lu had been confined in the backyard.

Now, knowing that people from the two major noble families of Jinling Prefecture had come, he hastily had Concubine Lu sent over.

Why send her now and not earlier or later? If not to slap him, the County Magistrate, in the face?

County Magistrate Xu was very displeased, but due to the presence of two distinguished guests, it would be inappropriate to scold County Magistrate Zou in front of them, and he could only suppress the anger in his heart and start the court session.

This court session proceeded very smoothly, as with the new witnesses identifying Old Master Lu as the escaped slave, together with Old Man Xue’s testimony, the case was quickly decided even without the need to compare fingerprints.

Old Master Lu’s identity as an escaped slave was confirmed, and he was sentenced to be sliced at the waist, to be executed in three days; his children and grandchildren, according to the laws of slave-born-slave, were all registered as slaves.

As for the daughters-in-law, they could choose to divorce; once divorced, they would no longer be Lu Family People and need not be slaves.

The grandchildren, being of a different surname, could be redeemed with gold and silver. The Niu Family and Yao Family had already redeemed their own sons a few days ago, but not the daughters; the Niu Family was reluctant to spend the money, so the daughters were also registered as slaves.

All of the Lu Family’s wealth, whether it was in the village or the county town, was confiscated.

Upon hearing County Magistrate Xu’s words, the Lu Family People cried out in tears, proclaiming their innocence: "Your Honor, we have been wronged, we truly did not know Lu Xiangfu was an escaped slave! Please spare us this once, if you want to kill or maim, seek out Lu Xiangfu, we are innocent!"

The one who said this was Lu Laoer, he was crying a river of tears, and the look he gave Old Master Lu seemed like he wanted to devour him alive.

County Magistrate Xu sneered, "Wronged? Lu Xiangfu is an escaped slave, and you are the children born to slaves; you should have been slaves from the very moment of your birth. You have lived as free citizens for decades, enjoyed more than your share of good fortune, now it’s time to pay it back."

Upon hearing this, Lu Laoer cried even more miserably; how had his originally peaceful life turned out this way?

Could it be that the Gu Family was the bane of their house?

Or, as the villagers said, the Gu Family is blessed with good fortune, and none who opposed the Gu Family ever met a good end; is it too late to be good to the Gu Family now?