Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Magistrate Wei felt numb as he gazed at the surging crowd and listened to the cries of the people in the courtroom. His mind buzzed with frustration. There were eight counties in the capital, and Marquis Yongyi's residence fell under the jurisdiction of Xun County. Why had they come to Kan County? Fine, these few peasants were indeed under his jurisdiction. "So, you five families are saying that servants from Marquis Yongyi's residence abducted your sons and intend to sell them in Ganzhou? Is that correct?"

"Yes, yes, Your Excellency, please uphold justice for us!"

"Oh, my poor child!"

The courtroom echoed with sobs.

Magistrate Wei struck the gavel with a loud thud, immediately silencing the wailing citizens, who now whimpered softly instead.

Magistrate Wei inquired, "Let me ask you, since you insist that the servants of Marquis Yongyi's residence abducted your sons, do you know the specific servant involved? And how do you know they intended to sell them in Ganzhou?"

"I don't even know their name," one answered.

"A servant from their household mentioned Ganzhou," another responded.

"They...," a third person began, but their voice trailed off.

Magistrate Wei was forced to rap the wooden gavel once more, pointing at a man in his thirties. "You, speak."

"Yes, Your Honor. I don't know the servant's name either; I only heard others call him Headman Wang. Our son was hidden within their estate."

Magistrate Wei asked, "And how did you come to learn of this?"

"They often hire people for work there, and I...I've worked there too, and that's when I saw my lost son."

Magistrate Wei frowned, sensing something amiss. "If they were planning to sell him to Ganzhou, did you hear about it while you were working?"

The man pointed to the woman beside him. "It wasn't me who overheard it; it was his wife when she was working there."

The woman confirmed, "Yes, it's true. They said they're sending all the children to Ganzhou."

Magistrate Wei asked, "Why Ganzhou? Do you know the reason?"

"I...I do know. The owner of that estate is the second lady of the Marquis Yongyi's residence, and her natal family is from Ganzhou."

Magistrate Wei nodded in understanding and gave the order to the head constable, "Go to the estate and bring up Head Wang. Also, bring all the children from there here."

"Yes."

The head constable led a dozen or so bailiffs on swift horses to the manor to apprehend the suspect.

Wang, the head of the manor, had already received word of their arrival. Amidst the chaos, he, though nervous and fearful, was somewhat reassured. He now admired Meng Die greatly; since the establishment of the orphanage, they had ensured that all their documents were in perfect order.

Holding a small box containing all the necessary paperwork close to his chest, Wang led all the children from the orphanage to the county office alongside the head constable.

The head constable was pleasantly surprised. Initially, he had anticipated a difficult task – going to the estate of an aristocrat to make an arrest could easily result in his own beating instead of successfully taking anyone into custody. That's why he had brought along ten bailiffs. To his amazement, the people here were cooperative and reasonable, perhaps they had been misled by a few cunning villagers.

"My son, my dear son."

"My precious child!"

...

The moment Wang Zhuangtou and his group appeared, the five households immediately pulled their children out from the crowd of youngsters, embracing them while bursting into tears.

"It's actually true, they're kidnappers. May heaven strike them down with thunder."

"Pah, I thought Second Lady was being generous selling us such affordable soup dishes, but it turns out she had ulterior motives."

"Oh my, you do have a point. Such savory meat dishes for only twenty coins – only someone with something to hide could sell so cheaply."

"We must never set foot in her place again."

"How could they be of good character? Hiring several widows to cook, just look at them – their eyes are always wandering, suggesting they're anything but well-behaved."

"Yes, it's quite possible their husbands were driven to an early grave by their antics."

"This is a calamity sent by heaven; let it crumble to pieces."

"Indeed, let it crumble."

...

As the cacophony of curses grew louder, Magistrate Wei's head buzzed once more. He slammed his gavel down hard on the bench. "Silence!"

Instantly, whether it was the wailing families below the hall or the cursing citizens outside, all fell quiet, obediently closing their mouths.

"Servant Wang Zhong pays his respects to Your Excellency." Wang Zhuang was of slave status.

"Someone has accused you of trafficking in people," Magistrate Wei pointed at the children, who were being tightly held by several families. "What is the story behind these children? Why were they on your estate? Speak the truth."

"Your Excellency, my master's heart is kind. He instructed us servants to build an orphanage on the estate. Here, this is the construction permit." Wang Zhong took out several sheets of paper from a small box.

The head constable beside him received them and presented them to Magistrate Wei with both hands. The estate was located south of the capital, within the jurisdiction of Lixian County. The seal on the document was that of Lixian County, which Magistrate Wei naturally recognized. "It was completed in October last year."

"Yes," Wang Zhong acknowledged.

Magistrate Wei asked, "Then what about these children? They have both parents. How did they end up in your orphanage?"

Headman Wang was equally perplexed. "Your Excellency, when we took these children in, they all claimed to be orphans. I really have no idea how this happened."

"Disgusting, you're already denying it."

"What kind of despicable creature are you?"

"They have loving parents, yet you insist on calling them orphans. Whose fate are you cursing?"

"Your Excellency, please be discerning."

"Your Excellency, do see clearly."

"We cannot trust his one-sided account alone."

"All matters must be judged by evidence, not simply by his words."

Among the onlookers were scholars who had recently completed their imperial examinations, with the results yet to be announced. At this moment, they found it difficult to concentrate on their studies and were idly seeking amusement. Incidents like accusing a nobleman were precisely what they enjoyed, so they now gathered in groups to witness the spectacle.

Amidst the escalating chaos, Wang Zhong took a deep breath and declared loudly, "Your Excellency, I have evidence."

Magistrate Wei inquired, "Oh, evidence? Show me."

"Your Excellency, according to the laws of our Great Yi Dynasty, orphans taken in by nurseries must be registered at the county office. When we initially took in these five orphans, we did indeed register them at the county office," Wang Zhong retrieved several documents from his small box.

The head constable passed them on to Magistrate Wei, who quickly glanced at the seals to authenticate their legitimacy. They were genuine.

"Your Excellency, three of these orphans were taken in within our Li County, one in Xun County, and the other in You County. At the time of their adoption, we invited the clerks from all three counties to inspect and verify their identities. The records were then authenticated and stamped by the county recorder."

Magistrate Wei hesitated for a moment before instructing his clerks, "Fetch my personal letter of introduction. Invite the account keepers and clerks from the other three counties here for a visit."

"Yes, sir."

Those few households were dumbfounded. What was going on? What did this mean?

"Could it be that they're protecting each other in the bureaucracy?"

"But that's a marquis household – their rank is much higher than Magistrate Wei's."

"What can we do now?"

"Stop the nonsense," a scholar in the crowd clarified. "Those children are already able to speak. During the registry and verification process, the clerks will certainly interview them individually."

"But what if someone from the noble household drugged them before taking them away?"

"If the children were found unconscious for no reason, the authorities would surely send doctors to examine them. The registration and verification can only truly proceed when the children are awake, and they would also need to press their thumbprints as proof."

The common folk around them still seemed somewhat unsure, but seeing the scholars who had stepped forward with integrity, they appeared trustworthy. Moreover, their county magistrate was known to be just; he had recently punished the son of a high-ranking official. So perhaps it was possible that this wasn't a case of child abduction?

Just as the onlookers were beset with confusion and inner turmoil, a man from among the gathered crowd stuttered, his voice trembling, "M-Milord, I... I won't press charges anymore. If only the Marquis's Manor would return our child to us."

A wave of commotion erupted outside once these words were spoken. Not pressing charges? If you're in the right, why aren't you pursuing legal action? Isn't this a clear sign of guilt?

Magistrate Wei was engrossed in reviewing the documents Wang Zhong had just presented when he heard this. He put the papers back on the table and examined the man with his sharp, phoenix-like eyes from head to toe. Noticing how the man's head drooped lower and his entire body trembled uncontrollably, Magistrate Wei could tell something was amiss.

He then directed his gaze to the other households. Women were generally more timid than men, and upon his glance, those ladies immediately lowered their heads, guiltily averting their eyes.

The onlookers outside also noticed the guilt on the faces of several families. Eventually, someone couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that they're falsely accusing the Marquis Manor?"

"Why does it seem to me that you are falsely accusing someone?"

"Which family would abandon their own child?"

"It may not be an outright false accusation, but it's unlikely that the Marquis household was involved in human trafficking. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding."

"It's also possible that, after being disciplined by their elders at home, some mischievous lads might run away from home."

"Indeed, the noble household took me in with kindness, thinking I was an orphan, but..."

"It's impossible," a scholar firmly refuted. "At first, these families claimed they saw their children on the estate. Under normal circumstances, upon seeing their offspring away from home, they would have hurriedly acknowledged them or directly sought out the head of the estate."

"Indeed, Brother Chang makes a valid point. If the claims from the Marquis household are true, there can be no misunderstanding. These families are indeed falsely accusing and attempting to extort the Marquis residence."

Upon the scholar's words, it was evident that the two women kneeling in the hall shuddered, their faces growing even more guilt-ridden.

As an accomplished translator of Chinese and English novels, I am currently immersed in the task of rendering an ancient Chinese palace intrigue romance into English, replete with myriad elements from the imperial court of old. The passage proceeds as follows:

It was then that several bailiffs arrived, accompanied by the account clerks and magistrates from the three neighboring counties. The six of them paid their respects to Magistrate Wei. As magistrates were also appointed officials by the imperial court, the three magistrates were seated. The three account clerks, being scholars with scholarly titles, were also exempt from kneeling and could respond while standing.

Magistrate Wei: "Those children, the servants of Marquis Yongyi's residence claimed they were orphans. When the nursery took them in, they registered them at your office. Can you confirm if these are the same children who were registered?"

One of the census clerks glanced over and promptly replied, "Your honor, one of the children was indeed registered by this lowly official."

Magistrate Wei: "Oh? You recognized him right away?"

The census clerk smiled. "Your honor, to be honest, I wouldn't be able to distinguish their faces immediately. Children grow so quickly. The reason I could identify him instantly is because of the burn scar on the child's right hand, resembling the shape of a chicken's claw. It left a deep impression on me, and I specifically noted this feature during the registration."

All eyes turned to the right hands of the young children. The man from the family instinctively covered his own child's right hand, an action that only served to draw more attention to it.

At this, the other two clerks also nodded in agreement. "Your Excellency, it was indeed these children."

Magistrate Wei asked, "If that's the case, how did you register them at the time? They all had parents."

The clerks exchanged glances. The one from Li County stepped forward to answer, as he had handled the registration of the three children. "In response, Your Excellency, these three children were brought to the county office on the tenth, eighteenth, and twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month last year by Headman Wang."

"Headman Wang claimed he encountered the three children on the road. Since he only saw the children and no elders, he was concerned they might have been separated from their guardians, so he approached them to ask where their home was, intending to send them back. The children told him they had no home, so Headman Wang brought them to the yamen, saying that the Foundling House wished to take them in."

"Following the law, I took the young children separately into the inner chamber for questioning. I asked where their home was, and they said they had none. I then asked about their parents, and they replied that they had none. When I further asked if they had any other relatives, they also said no. I thus dispatched a bailiff to the area where Headman Wang found the children to inquire if there were any families nearby who had lost their children."

"Yet, it turned out that the child was said to have suddenly appeared there. Thus, I registered the incident and had the chief clerk verify its accuracy. Headman Wang then took the child back."

"I still remember that the child adopted on the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month was actually delivered to the county office by Headman Wang on the seventeenth. It was just late in the day, and the office was about to close, so I made the decision to let the child stay in the county office for the night. Our county magistrate inquired about the situation, and the child claimed to have no remaining family. Taking pity on the child, our magistrate even asked his wife to prepare a meal."

The process was recounted clearly and distinctly.

Magistrate Wei gave a subtle signal to the head constable, who then waved at the bailiffs. Immediately, they sprang into action, gently but firmly separating the children from their parents' embrace.

"My child, my child."

"My son, that's my son..."

Magistrate Wei slammed the gavel fiercely: "Silence!"

The uninvolved bailiffs promptly tapped their intimidating clubs on the ground, causing not only the elders of those households to collapse in fear but also the children seized by the bailiffs to tremble with fear, too scared to cry as they curled up into tiny balls.

A hint of compassion flickered in Magistrate Wei's eyes, but he knew that he was in the middle of a trial and couldn't simply side with the weak. "You children, why don't you confess the truth? Why did you claim on that day that you had no relatives?"

The children were so frightened that they could barely stifle their sobs, unable to utter a single word.

The registrar, who oversaw the third district, approached a small child and asked, "Why did you say that you had no parents?" His tone wasn't severe, but his expression was stern. With his adult stature towering over the five- or six-year-old, he exuded an intimidating presence.

As soon as the child opened their mouth to speak, the registrar glared, causing the child to quickly stifle their sobs. Through sniffles, the truth was reluctantly revealed.

The situation was straightforward. The orphanage had taken in abandoned children and, due to its ample provisions, many people envied the orphans' fortunate circumstances, believing they had stumbled upon a great benefactor. Back then, there were only some sour remarks, but no malicious intentions.

Until a scholar was invited to the estate. The fact that the peasant children could learn to read and write was tolerable, but the orphans also received this opportunity, stirring jealousy among many. Their own children couldn't even read, so why should these orphans be so privileged?

At this point, some began to speculate that the orphans' good fortune in being adopted by a kind soul was a trade-off for their lost familial ties. This notion somewhat alleviated the envy of those who had been resentful.

However, not everyone shared this sentiment. A man from one of the households, convinced of his own wit, believed that his inability to earn money was due to others failing to recognize his potential. He was confident that given an opportunity, he would soar to success.

Upon learning about the infant asylum, he swiftly came up with a cunning plan. He decided to "abandon" his second son there, letting the asylum provide for him, with the intention of reclaiming the boy once he grew up, learned to read and write, and made a name for himself.

After all, it was his bloodline, and no one could deny a father the right to acknowledge his own son.

Initially, his wife was hesitant, but he persuaded her by suggesting that if their son studied diligently, he might have the chance to pass the imperial exams and bring honor to the family with an official title. This convinced the woman.

What made the plan even more appealing was that the estate frequently hired workers. They could find employment there, allowing them to keep a watchful eye on their son as if he were visiting relatives nearby.

The more they thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. Immediately, they taught their youngest son to lie, instructing him to tell anyone who asked that he had no home, no parents, and no relatives.

After ensuring their son had learned the lie, the couple promptly abandoned him on a road frequently traversed by Headman Wang. They watched with satisfaction as Headman Wang offered their son meat and even sewed him new clothes – it was pure bliss.

The clever man had several friends, and upon his successful endeavor, he shared the scheme with them. His friends, upon hearing this, universally agreed that it was an excellent idea. They promptly set a date and one by one, discarded their own sons.

Upon hearing these children's accounts, Magistrate Wei's face darkened to an almost dripping black, and the onlooking crowd erupted in an uproar.

"How could they be so morally depraved?"

"The Second Lady of the Marquis Yongyi's household is known to be a kind-hearted soul; I said she wouldn't engage in such matters."

"Yes, their household is famous for offering affordable soup dishes, especially to support us common folk."

"A bowl of vegetables costs only twenty coins, and they even add an extra egg during the festive season."

"The representatives from the Marquis's residence have arrived."

"The representatives from the Marquis's residence are here!"

The onlookers turned their heads to witness a carriage approaching. The coachman was diligently pushing his way through the crowd, calling out, "Make way, make way, we're from Marquis Yongyi's residence."

"Uncle Sun, let me alight here."

"Miss Lu Wei, it's crowded and rather unsanitary here. It's best you remain inside the carriage."

"It's quite all right."

Reluctantly, the coachman yielded and halted the carriage, placing a step stool on the ground for her to use.

Lu Wei descended from the carriage, drawing a collective gasp and hushed whispers from the onlookers.

"Could this possibly be Lady Second?" someone ventured.

"She does have a kindly appearance."

"Certainly not," another contradicted.

"How can you be so sure? Look at how handsome she is!"

"Not dressed in brocade or silk."

"I wear a maiden's coiffure, as befits my status."

As an accomplished translator of Chinese and English novels, I am currently immersed in the task of rendering an ancient Chinese palace intrigue romance into English, replete with myriad elements from the imperial court of old. The passage continues as follows:

The densely packed crowd, upon seeing Lu Wei approach, slowly parted to make way for her. With her head bowed, Lu Wei proceeded inward, finally turning around within the grand hall to face the people and perform a respectful bow, saying, "I am deeply grateful to each of you for yielding the path."

This left quite a number of common folk blushing with embarrassment.

Lu Wei approached the main hall with an unwavering gaze, slightly lifting her skirt before kneeling down. "This servant, Lu Wei, pays respect to County Magistrate Wei. My master is the defendant in this case."

Magistrate Wei gazed at Lu Wei kneeling below, noting her neat and tidy indigo cotton dress. "Why have you come?"

Lu Wei replied with neither arrogance nor humility. " Reporting to Your Excellency, upon hearing the news of someone lodging a complaint against her, my master was struck dumb with shock and immediately fainted. It took quite a commotion from us servants to rouse her back to consciousness. When she awoke, tears streamed down her face like rain, as she couldn't understand why her benevolent intentions had led to such a predicament. Hence, she hurriedly sent me here to inquire about the situation."

Magistrate Wei sighed deeply. "You may rise and speak."

Only then did Lu Wei stand up, standing properly in the hall.

Magistrate Wei secretly nodded, the Marquis Yongyi's residence indeed had a code of conduct; one could discern the master's character from their servants. "It has been ascertained that these individuals falsely accused your master's household. Originally, they intended to enroll their sons in the kind-hearted literacy program your master established, planning to reclaim them once they had learned enough. Upon hearing that you were sending the children to Ganzhou, they wanted their sons back and, realizing their initial plan had failed, attempted to extort the marquis' residence for compensation to cover their perceived losses."

Magistrate Wei emphasized the word "losses" and gave those households a chilly glance.

Lu Wei looked up with surprise. "Does this mean my master's reputation is cleared?"

Magistrate Wei replied, "Indeed, your esteemed master is benevolent and has suffered injustice."

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your meticulous investigation and for clearing my master's name." Lu Wei promptly knelt to express gratitude, followed by Wang Zhong who also offered his thanks.

"Rise, all of you," said the county magistrate amiably to Lu Wei and Wang Zhong. However, as he turned his gaze towards the group of commoners, his demeanor shifted to one of severity. "For deceiving the authorities and falsely accusing the Marquis's residence, each of you shall receive ten strokes of the cane as a warning to others."

"Mercy, Your Excellency, mercy! We know our mistake, we truly do."

"Please spare me, Your Excellency. It was merely a moment of greed. I shall never dare to do so again, never, never."

"Your Excellency, spare my life..."

The punishment of ten sticks from the yamen is no trifling matter; it can certainly leave your skin bruised and torn.

The onlooking crowd cheered and urged for a harsh punishment.

As the punishment came to an end, Lu Wei seized the moment before the magistrate was about to leave the courtroom and knelt down again. "Your Honor, this servant also wishes to file a complaint."

Magistrate Wei, who was about to adjourn the court...

Magistrate Wei: "What injustice have you suffered, and who do you wish to accuse?"

Lu Wei: "Please hear me out, Your Honor. This servant wishes to sue those five households for fraud. There are two matters at hand. Firstly, they abandoned their children at our orphanage for over two months, and I seek compensation for the food and care expenses incurred."

The crowd of onlookers, who had been on the verge of dispersing, suddenly halted their steps when Lu Wei fell to her knees, eager to hear what she had to say.

Upon Lu Wei's intervention, the onlookers immediately divided into two camps. Common folk earned their living with great difficulty, valuing their hard-earned money more than anything else. Similarly, they believed that others' money was equally significant and thus considered the pursuit of retribution justified.

Quite a few onlookers, mostly scholars, furrowed their brows, feeling that Lu Wei's demeanor was somewhat overbearing. After all, it was merely a couple of taels of silver. Could the Marquis household not afford it? Although they thought this, nobody dared to voice their opinions. Lu Wei's request was, after all, both reasonable and justified.

Magistrate Wei nodded. "Your plea is reasonable. Rise and speak."

After expressing her gratitude, Lu Wei turned to Head Wang and said, "Head Wang, could you please calculate the expenses for these children's stay at my nursery?"

"Yes, Your Excellency, everyone." Headman Wang immediately began calculating meticulously, "My master has hired a tutor to teach literacy at eight taels of silver per month. There are sixteen children learning, so that's roughly half a tael per child per month. In two months, it amounts to one tael per person."

"Reading and writing naturally require ink and paper. As they are all beginners, to avoid excessive waste, we've purchased the cheapest supplies. Over two months, each child would have spent a little over two taels, but let's round it up to two taels. Clear records of these expenses are kept in our accounts and can be inspected anytime."

"My master believes that children in their formative years need proper nutrition. If they don't eat enough, their health will suffer irreparably later in life. Thus, the nursery provides three meals a day with meat in every meal, and there were additional servings during the Spring Festival."

"Moreover, due to the cold weather this year, each child was provided with two sets of thick cotton clothes. Now that spring has arrived, each has been fitted with two new outfits for the season." Headman Wang sighed deeply, "These abandoned orphans had nothing; everything had to be newly provided. Including food, clothing, and other necessities, let's estimate it to be another two taels of silver per child. The records for these expenditures are also available for inspection on the estate."

Magistrate Wei nodded in understanding, "So, it seems that each child costs approximately five taels of silver."

Wang Zhuangtou replied, "Yes, Your Excellency."

Magistrate Wei addressed them, his voice firm: "Have all of you understood clearly? Each household is to return five taels of silver to the Marquis's Manor. Do you submit or not?"

Recently having been lashed with rods, even though these five taels of silver seemed to be a matter of life and death to them, they didn't dare to object at this moment. All of them expressed their willingness to pay the silver.

"Many thanks, Your Excellency." Lu Wei shifted the subject. "The second matter concerns reclaiming compensation for emotional distress from those families."

"Compensation for emotional distress?" It was a novel term, one that Magistrate Wei had not come across before. Nevertheless, it didn't hinder his understanding of its meaning.

Lu Wei: "My lord, my mistress has always been kind and sincere in her dealings with others. It never crossed her mind that she would face such a calamity. The mere news of it has already drained her greatly. It is uncertain whether this shock might leave any lasting effects on her health. This so-called act of kindness has truly grieved both her heart and body."

Magistrate Wei instantly found himself in a dilemma. Was Lu Wei right? Indeed, if he put himself in the shoes of Lady Second of the Marquis House, his temples would throb with anger. He would be tempted to beat these families to a pulp. He had gone through so much trouble and expense to do good, yet they were trying to extort him? Even a clay figurine has some stubbornness; it was truly a pity that people like them weren't worth sparing.

Yet, there was no provision for compensation for emotional distress in the laws of the Great Yi Dynasty. He was not an impulsive scholar who could act on his whims. As an esteemed official of the imperial court and the guardian of a county's people, he was duty-bound to uphold the laws of the Great Yi Dynasty with fairness and impartiality.

While County Magistrate Wei was torn, being an official bound by the imperial court's orders, the uninhibited scholar interjected, "Compensation for mental distress? That is not stipulated in the Great Yi's laws."

Lu Wei turned to face the speaker's position and replied, "This gentleman is correct, indeed, in the laws of our Great Yi Dynasty, there is no mention of compensation for mental distress. However, Article 5 of the 258th provision in the miscellaneous laws of our dynasty clearly states that in cases where the aggrieved party has a legitimate grievance, the court may exercise discretion in rendering judgment."

Never could they have imagined that a mere servant would be so familiar with imperial decrees, let alone a scholar who spoke with eloquence. Even Wei Magistrate, who was inwardly conflicted, cast a newfound respect upon Lu Wei, and his estimation of the Marquis household instantly rose.

Magistrate Wei: "Miss has a valid point. The laws of the Great Yi Dynasty indeed prescribe such provisions. If you're seeking compensation for emotional distress, how much are you intending to claim?"

Lu Wei smiled. "Since they originally intended to save money by having us, the orphanage, raise their children, they spent five taels of silver in just two months. Let's follow this precedent. They shall compensate each family with an additional five taels of silver."

The scholar fell silent, for he felt the compensation was reasonable. Initially, he had expected Lu Wei to demand an exorbitant sum. Yet, to his surprise, she only asked for five taels of silver per household – a very generous offer.

The scholar deemed the punishment reasonable, and the five households immediately wailed in distress. Not only had they failed to gain any advantage, but they had also been physically punished. It was likely that they would be bedridden for ten to fifteen days, and on top of that, they would have to compensate the marquis residence with five taels of silver.

Hearing that there were records, they dared not object. This time, they heard it loud and clear: the Great Yi Dynasty did not have any such compensation fee, and they could not possibly pay it. Five taels of silver was enough to sustain a family for two months.

"Your Excellency, we realize our mistake, we have no more money."

"Lady, please come to your senses, it was our fault. We've been beaten and punished, so please give us a chance to live." Two resourceful women rushed to Lu Wei's side, clutching at the hem of her skirt and pleading desperately.

"Your Excellency, my family truly has no more funds left."

...

"Admit your mistake?" Lu Wei scoffed. "If you were truly remorseful, you would have taken your child and left. Instead, you defamed my master. It's clear that you won't learn unless you see the consequences. If I don't give you a lesson you'll never forget today, you'll surely do it again in the future."

"A lady, we genuinely know our mistake now, we truly do..."

A woman kept bowing her head, her hairdo soon falling apart. Already beaten, her face was pale. Compared to Lu Wei, dressed in fine cotton with an impeccable appearance and a cold demeanor, she appeared submissive and vulnerable.

Some onlookers couldn't help but interject, "They've acknowledged their mistake, Miss, please show mercy!"

"Mercy?" Irony etched across Lu Wei's face. "I'll teach her a lesson today. But what if she slanders our noble household again tomorrow, accusing us of human trafficking and oppression? Who will teach me a lesson then? Who will teach my master a lesson?"

Magistrate Wei looked at Lu Wei and said, "Lu Wei, this official senses that you're not truly seeking compensation for emotional distress; you want to vent your frustration, don't you?"

Lu Wei replied, "Your Excellency sees through everything. This servant truly doesn't seek monetary compensation, but neither am I merely trying to vent. If it were about venting, when Your Excellency pronounced the punishment of flogging, I could have disputed the verdict and asked for stricter penalties."

"The reason why this servant insists on money is solely to give these families a searing lesson that will leave a lasting mark, to teach them that gaining unfair advantages is unacceptable, and being shameless is even more so intolerable."

"Miss, Miss, we know we were wrong, we really do."

"Yes, yes, Miss, we genuinely realize our mistake now."

A scholar among the onlookers commented, "They have already received their punishment."

Lu Wei responded, "Received punishment? Being caned was merely the penalty for falsely accusing an aristocratic household. They haven't been punished for trying to take advantage and extort money."

"Miss, we truly know our mistake now. We won't dare do it again in the future."

"Your Excellency, please beat us a few more times. We promise we won't dare do it again."

Magistrate Wei turned his gaze towards Lu Wei.

Lu Wei shakes her head. "This servant only asks for silver as compensation."

"Your marquisate certainly isn't short of that meager amount."

"Does your master, who cares for so many orphans, lack the silver to provide for them?"

"Indeed, indeed."

"Why must you insist on money?"

Lu Wei looked at the crowd and said, "Indeed, my master is not short of that amount of money. The sole reason I insist on receiving compensation is to make them remember for the rest of their lives that all they can do is ask for money."

"As the common saying goes, strike at the snake's vulnerable spot. They abandoned their child to save money, and they falsely accused my master to extort wealth – all for the sake of silver. It seems that money holds an immense value to them, akin to the flesh of their hearts.

"I wish to cut deep into their hearts, figuratively, so that they will thoroughly learn their lesson. This will also serve as a warning to rectify this unjust behavior."

...

Silence enveloped the hall, both inside and out. Many people's gazes toward Lu Wei had shifted. They had initially seen her as a gentle and well-mannered young lady, but now... why did she seem a bit sharp-tongued?

"Miss, perhaps you're making too much of a fuss. Those families only acted on a fleeting greed. Now that they've been punished, they must have realized their mistake."

Lu Wei appraised the speaker: "This gentleman wears an academic cap and a round-collar green robe, suggesting he is also a scholar. Have you perhaps forgotten a phrase from one of the Four Histories, the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms: The Shu Book: The Biography of the First Ruler': 'Do not do evil because it is small, and do not neglect good deeds for their insignificance'?"

"There's even a folk saying in rural areas: one who steals needles as a child will steal gold as an adult. If we don't put an end to their shameless extortion today, won't everyone follow suit tomorrow?"

The scholar's temper flared: "How can everyone follow suit? You're clearly indulging in sophistry. Such matters can be easily investigated."

Lu Wei responded: "Easily investigated? Then allow this servant to ask, if an elderly man falls in a remote place and you witness it, would you help him up or not?"

"Certainly, one would offer assistance to help them up."

Lu Wei: "What if that old man turns around and claims it was Sir who knocked into him, causing him to fall, and now demands compensation? How would you explain yourself?"

"The, the, the..." The scholar's face flushed with a mixture of anger and anxiety.

Lu Wei: "He could even argue, 'If you didn't hit me, why would you bother to help me up? You say you have good intentions, but where is the proof? Or does Sir plan on revealing your true heart?'"

The scholar was left speechless, his eyes wide in astonishment.

{Lu Wei}, having reproached the scholar, knelt once more and said, "Your Excellency, if this wicked and deceitful atmosphere cannot be cleansed, it would truly be a shameful display beneath the bright sun and open skies, chilling the hearts of honest people."

Everyone inside and outside the hall was astounded, their eyes wide with disbelief.

After a long while, Magistrate Wei regained his composure and nodded. "Only when the people are honest and upright can there be a society where lost items are not taken, and a country is strong with its citizens prosperous. Though these few households have committed minor evils, they indeed cause virtuous souls to feel chilled. If this continues, who would dare to do good deeds for fear of self-preservation?"

Magistrate Wei pronounced in court, "Each household shall compensate the Marquis's Manor with five taels for mental distress."

"Your Excellency, we dare not, truly dare not anymore."

"Your Excellency...

Magistrate Wei struck the wooden gavel with authority, "No shouting in court."

Lu Wei bowed, "Thank you, Your Excellency." Rising to her feet, she retrieved two ingots of silver from a pocket within her sleeves and held them high above her head, "Your Excellency, here are fifty taels of silver."

The onlooking commoners were taken aback. Could it be that this was a gratuity for the magistrate's 'favored assistance' towards the marquisate?

Magistrate Wei, however, remained composed. No one had ever dared to bribe him so openly under the bright sun, "What is the meaning of this?"

Lu Wei: "Your Excellency, I've heard that the recent sandstorms have been severe, causing damage to some dilapidated houses in the Huaai Alley. Many of the common folk there lack the means to repair their homes. Let these fifty taels of silver, combined with the fifty taels to compensate my master, be allocated for their restoration efforts."

Magistrate Wei nodded and glanced at the county recorder. "Record this, and when we send people to repair the area, make a detailed account of all expenses. Post it outside the government office so that our fellow villagers can witness the process."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Magistrate Wei looked at Lu Wei with great satisfaction. "Your master is kind-hearted. I hope this incident won't affect her negatively."

Lu Wei: "Please rest assured, Your Excellency. My master often says that it's due to our ancestors' virtues that we receive the emperor's grace. Serving the court and being loyal to the Emperor is our duty. It's well-known that the Emperor loves his people like a father, and even though she is a woman confined to the inner chambers, she is willing to do whatever she can to alleviate the Emperor's worries."

Indeed, impressive! County Magistrate Wei now held Lu Wei in high esteem. Today's incident had already caused a stir throughout the capital, and the Emperor would surely learn of it by tonight at the latest, tomorrow at the earliest. These words would certainly reach His Majesty's ears, and who wouldn't appreciate such sentiments?

"Adjourn the court."

"See you off, Your Honor."

After the county magistrate left, Lu Wei bowed to the testimonial clerks and registrars, waiting for them all to exit before she made her way out. As she did, she cast a cold glance at the families involved: "I'll put your silver to good use, which will count as a merit for you."

Noticing the carriage waiting nearby, she addressed Headman Wang, "Infants are innocent, regardless of their parents' crimes. Especially those in the orphanage. Don't let the people in the village blame or suspect them for this matter, thinking they have brought trouble upon their masters."

Wang Zhuangtou reassured, "Miss, rest assured, I'll mediate the situation properly."

Lu Wei nods, only then does she get into the carriage and depart.

Magistrate Wei's assumptions proved accurate; there was no need to wait until evening for the emperor to learn of the matter. Indeed, scarcely had someone lodged a complaint accusing the Marquis's Manor of human trafficking than the emperor was made aware of these events.

Today is a minor audience, a term used when the emperor convenes with the four cabinet ministers and the six department ministers to discuss pressing issues that have arisen in the past couple of days. The Minister of Works is absent today; he is the chief examiner for the current imperial examination and is still grading the papers before the results can be announced.

In the past, discussions about matters could easily stretch on for an entire day. Today, however, everything proceeded exceptionally smoothly, and several issues were promptly resolved. The emperor glanced at the time and said, "Let's have the banquet. My dear ministers, please stay and join us for the meal."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

While waiting for the dishes to be served, the emperor recalled what he had heard earlier that morning: "What's the situation with the incident at Marquis Yongyi's residence?"

The chief eunuch, Lin Chu, promptly replied, "Your Majesty, it has just been reported outside that the case has been settled. A few troublemakers not only refused to support their own son but also attempted to extort money from the marquis' household."

The emperor raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? They didn't want to support him? How did they plan to extort them?"

"It's rather amusing," Lin Chu recounted the events that transpired in the courtroom, vividly reenacting the scene for the emperor. Lin Chu believed that His Majesty would find it pleasing, judging by the upward curve of his lips that remained constant.

The emperor was delighted: "It's remarkable that a woman confined to the inner chambers can possess such insight. Well said, to rectify this improper behavior. Those unscrupulous commoners are indeed detestable."

The Minister of Revenue, Ran Pengfei, had the most to say on the matter: "There are a few prefectures and counties that fail to collect taxes annually. Initially, I thought it was due to barren lands and the hardship of the people's lives. Later, the county magistrates and provincial governors informed me that it wasn't the land but the prevalent laziness. Some would rather sell their children than diligently cultivate their fields. It's utterly abhorrent."

Prime Minister Qiao Wanming added, "Not only that, in some places, men would deliberately encourage their wives to entice passersby, only for them to then lead a gang to 'catch them in the act.' It's utterly reprehensible."

The emperor shook his head. "That's why it's commendable that the Marquis Yongyi's residence sees this issue clearly, especially from a woman in seclusion. Lin Chu."

"I am here, Your Majesty," Lin Chu replied humbly.

The Emperor said, "Order Imperial Physician Hong from the Bureau of Medicine to attend to Marquis Yongyi's residence. Also, convey to her that her actions are seen by the world, and justice resides in the hearts of the people. She must not grieve or feel wronged."

"Obey the imperial decree."

The emperor had just given his instructions when the banquet was being set up on this side.

Lin Chu promptly instructed her subordinates to attend to the matter.