CHAPTER 800: CHAPTER 800: SOMETHING FISHY

Gu Dashan had never imagined that Liu Eniang’s schemes ran so deep, having plotted against him days in advance.

His hands were shaking with anger. Xiao Yu was right, every white lotus was wicked, employing numerous scary tactics in their machinations.

Gu Dalin tried to console him: "Brother Dashan, don’t be angry. The Lord will surely handle this case justly."

After hearing everything, County Magistrate Zheng angrily questioned Liu Eniang: "Ms. Wang Liu, now that the evidence is conclusive, what do you have to say?"

Knowing that her defeat was certain, Liu Eniang wept and said: "Lord, I know I am wrong. Please, considering this is my first offense, do not blame me."

She then turned to Gu Dashan, crying and pleading: "Brother Gu, please don’t blame me. Truly, as a widow, life has been too hard. Seeing you as an honest and dependable man, I developed an admiration for you, and thought..."

"Enough!" Gu Dashan could hardly stop himself from vomiting: "How can you speak like this, woman? I don’t even know you, and you... you admire me? Don’t you feel ashamed?"

Gu Dashan had never expected to encounter such a shameless and difficult person. Admiration, is that what a woman says to a man?

Gu Dashan no longer wanted to entangle himself with Liu Eniang and knelt down to address County Magistrate Zheng directly: "Lord County Magistrate, I swear to Heaven, I’ve never met this woman, and I have no intentions of taking a concubine. I only want to live with my wife for this lifetime. This woman is too wicked; her words always carry other implications. Please, Lord, settle this case swiftly and restore my good name. If this drags on, I truly don’t know what other disturbing things she could say."

After listening, County Magistrate Zheng knew that Gu Dashan was driven to desperation; otherwise, with his temperament, he would never have said so much. To drive a simple and honest man to such a state, County Magistrate Zheng was also very angry.

And because of the Gu Family’s extensive business, along with relations such as Gu Jin’an, Qin San Lang, Jiang Family, and Master Ouyang, County Magistrate Zheng made the judgment swiftly.

"Ms. Wang Liu harbors malicious intentions and publicly schemed against Gu Dashan. Not only did she fail in her duty as a wife, but she is also suspected of extortion, to be heavily punished with twenty spankings and fined three taels of silver, as a warning to others."

"Wu Changfu and his two associates extorted Gu Dashan, with clear evidence against them, to be heavily punished with thirty spankings and expelled from Tianfu County, forbidden to step foot within its boundaries forever."

As for Qian Dabiao, since he only told Liu Eniang some information about Gu Dashan without participating in the plot against him, and he testified today, his merits offset his faults, and he was not punished.

However, Qian Dabiao knew that he could not escape a beating and only hoped that Qian Donggui would consider their kinship and not drive him out of the gambling house.

Upon hearing this, Gu Dashan contemplated, then courageously said to County Magistrate Zheng: "Lord County Magistrate, could you add one more thing: to forbid Ms. Wang Liu from coming near me. My thoughts are not as deep as hers, and I fear that since her plot has failed this time, she might make another attempt."

County Magistrate Zheng laughed upon hearing this; Gu Dashan truly was frightened. To make such a request...

However...

"There is no clause for this in the Great Chu Criminal Law. This official can only decree that Ms. Wang Liu is forbidden to enter Da Feng Village and any properties run by the Gu Family, reducing her chances to approach you."

Gu Dashan didn’t understand Criminal Law well, but he was happy with the judgment and bowed to County Magistrate Zheng: "I thank you, Lord."

County Magistrate Zheng gave a final strike with the gavel, declaring the case thoroughly closed: "Bring forth the executioners!"

Upon hearing this, the Government Officials immediately proceeded with the execution of Liu Eniang and Wu Changfu with his associates.

Liu Eniang and her group were beaten until their screams were unending, with Wu Changfu being beaten to unconsciousness.

And Liu Eniang, unable to pay the fine of three taels of silver, was directly thrown into the prison.

County Magistrate Zheng declared: "You may write to your family to ask for silver. If you cannot produce the silver, you will have to stay in prison to work off your penalty, the term being one year."

One year!

The prison was damp and moldy, the food was swill; staying in prison for a year, she didn’t know into what kind of wretched state she would be worn down. Deprived of her beauty, who would want her when she was released?

Mrs. Liu trembled as she spoke: "This civilian woman gathered silver by writing letters home."

After finishing her words, she cried. It was real weeping this time, utterly heart-wrenching. Had she known that scheming against Gu Dashan would lead to such a plight, she would not have done it even if it meant death.

She cursed Gu Dashan: "Damn, what sort of man are you? I threw myself at you to sleep with and yet you didn’t touch me, and now you throw me into prison. Are you even a man?!"

Gu Dashan, on the other hand, was quite pleased; he had finally dealt with this wicked woman.

He thanked County Magistrate Zheng, "Lord County Magistrate, thank you so much. If you had not made a swift judgment, who knows what other tricks that woman would have tried."

County Magistrate Zheng laughed upon hearing this: "This is just part of my duty, Brother Gu, there is no need for thanks."

Brother Gu?

Qian Donggui listened, sweating profusely. The Gu Family really should not be trifled with, even Lord County Magistrate addressed Gu Dashan as his brother.

Qian Donggui dared not stay any longer. After another round of apologies, he took Qian Dabiao and ran off.

Once they had left, Gu Dashan also excused himself to go home.

County Magistrate Zheng did not hold him back and said to Luo Wu: "Go send off your Uncle Dashan."

"Yes," Luo Wu replied cheerfully. He followed Gu Dashan, Gu Dalin, and Xiao Mazi out of the county government office’s main gate.

Gu Dashan hurried back home, not engaging Luo Wu in much conversation, only saying: "Everyone at home is well. The embroidery Sister Xiu made for your family is finished. It will be delivered to your house on the second day of February."

The Luo Family’s escort agency had been doing business for two months, but the official opening, with the changing of the plaques, was scheduled for the ’Dragon Raising its Head’ festival on the second day of the second lunar month.

Luo Wu laughed upon hearing this and said, "There’s no rush for the embroidery. Tell Sister Xiu not to overwork herself."

Gu Dashan was happy to see Luo Wu’s concern for Gu Jinxiu and chuckled, "She’s been accustomed to this since she was young; she won’t get tired. Alright, I must hurry home now."

"Uncle Dashan, your mule cart is here." Liu Zi had already brought Gu Dashan’s mule cart over.

After thanking Gu Dalin, Gu Dashan drove the mule cart home.

It was pitch dark by the time he arrived home, and there, he did not dare to conceal anything, recounting the whole incident at the county to his family.

Third Grandpa and Third Grandma, upon hearing this, heavily criticized Mrs. Liu: "That woman is atrocious, so consumed by jealousy! She schemes at the sight of someone else having some silver. Our silver is hard-earned, if she wants silver, she should earn it herself. All this scheming, truly shameless!"

Gu Jinli listened and was very pleased, giving Gu Dashan a thumbs up: "Dad, you are so capable, you handled this exceptionally well. A woman like that should be taken to the government office, put her in fear, so she wouldn’t dare to scheme against you again."

However...

"This situation is a bit odd. You’ve been delivering goods to the county for more than a day or two, why didn’t Ms. Wang Liu scheme against you before but did this time? Did she hear something from someone?"

Definitely, she didn’t hear it from Qian Dabiao since Mrs. Liu actively sought out Qian Dabiao to inquire about her father’s matter.

So, it means that before Mrs. Liu sought out Qian Dabiao, someone must have said something to her, something that stirred her, leading her to scheme against her father.

Who could this person be?