Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Madam Rong couldn't tolerate it either. "When have I ever spent money recklessly? Every single copper from Third Brother that he initially gave me was spent on necessities. Does Mother-in-law think I shouldn't have honored you two elders with it, or that I shouldn't have bought cotton to make bedding and shoes?"

Old Lady Mu let out a sudden wail, then started bawling. She knelt before Madam Rong and kowtowed. "It's my fault, it's all my fault. The family has been through such hard times, that's why I kept the silver for San'er and Guihua."

Madam Rong was stunned, completely bewildered.

Mu Stump looked up to the sky and sighed deeply. "An unwise wife, an unwise wife indeed..."

Meng Die abruptly rose to her feet. "Wailing for what? You didn't wail when your son died, but instead secretly criticized your daughter-in-law for not abiding by the rules of a virtuous woman, pushing her to the brink of remarriage. Now you're wailing and kneeling before Lady Rong. Do you think that by pretending to be miserable, people will forget the wrongs you've done? You kill someone, then say 'I'm sorry' and expect it all to be over? What's the point of having law enforcement in this world then?"

"Someone, go fetch Little Jasmine from the Marquis household. Set up two chairs outside the door. Let Lady Rong and Little Jasmine sit on them. You kneel and apologize. If you don't kneel a hundred times, don't even think about getting up. Meanwhile, let the onlooking neighbors count and bear witness to this."

Zhao Ge called out, "I'll go fetch Little Jasmine."

Wooden Mother was stunned. This wasn't right. In the past, as an elder, she wouldn't have to kneel or apologize, let alone sincerely, for any mistake she made. Why was it different now?

After Meng Die finished reprimanding Wooden Mother, her gaze fell on Wooden Stump. She sneered. "An unwise wife? You have no right to say that. Haven't Lady Rong and her daughter been living with you? Are you deaf or blind to their suffering? The silver your wife hid must have been spent on you. When there were good times, you turned a blind eye and deaf ear, but when trouble arises, you blame your wife for being unworthy, conveniently hiding behind that excuse. You're even more despicable than a toad."

"Haha..." The onlookers, who were initially indignant, burst into laughter.

The man's face was flushed, and he seemed at a loss: "I...my family is genuinely impoverished, that's why..."

Meng Die scoffed, "Tut, Huizhou isn't some barren land. It has historically been half a land of abundance. Your poverty stems from your incompetence and lack of skills. Instead of thinking about how to earn more money to feed and clothe your family, you dwell on shifting blame and throwing the dirt on your wife, forcing her to take the fall. Never mind being poor now; with your attitude, you'll be destitute for generations to come."

"Amen, Second Lady speaks the truth."

"And he still tries to defraud women. I don't believe he didn't know when the brothel madam was pocketing the silver."

"In rural areas, people live so close that they can't avoid seeing each other. Under the same roof, even a small sound in one room can be heard in another. Saying you don't know is like trying to fool a three-year-old."

"It's not just about one year's worth of money; it's been several years."

Meng Die sat back in her chair and looked at Tang Muyan. "Magistrate Tang, where exactly are they from? I must know the origins of such an influential figure."

The Mu Clan's patriarch panicked. If their Mu Clan were to become notorious for disgrace in the capital, they would be utterly suppressed by the other major clans when they returned to their village. "This is a matter of their family. We are outsiders..."

"Ah!" Meng Die interrupted him forcefully. "Now you're claiming to be an outsider? Back then, when they accused the Rong family of unchastity, weren't you the one calling for them to be drowned? Why are you an outsider now? Indeed, the way you shift blame is identical. You're both descendants of the same ancestor, after all."

Li Ai sneered repeatedly, "A true man doesn't safeguard his homeland or protect his wife and children, but instead bullies widows and orphans – and even does so as a group. As a noble, I've truly broadened my horizons today."

The couple's synchronized words sealed the Mu Clan's reputation for oppressing widows and orphans.

The Mu Clan's patriarch turned ashen with anger.

Tang Muyan also held no regard for this patriarch. He immediately spoke loudly and enunciated each word clearly, "They are from Xixian Village in Hui Prefecture's Xi County."

The onlooking commoners immediately began to chatter. "From Hui Prefecture, remember that. Avoid that place in the future."

"From Xi County, I see, and I won't forget that."

"I'm from Huizhou as well, but not all of us are like that. Our Huizhou has its share of decent men too."

"That's true enough."

"Indeed, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch."

"Or as they say, one stinky fish ruins the entire pot."

The commotion made the patriarch of the Mu Clan's face flush red. He couldn't understand why, usually, their accusations of women not adhering to their wifely duties always worked wonders, but this time it wasn't effective. It was all because of that damn meddlesome woman.

He shot Meng Die a veiled glare, only to shudder when he met her icy stare, beads of cold sweat breaking out all over his body.

Meng Die revealed a disdainful smile, pleased to see the man's face flush once more. She turned to Tang Muyan and said, "It's rare to witness such injustice inflicted upon a widow and an orphan. My anger got the better of me, and I disturbed the magistrate's investigation. I hope Magistrate Tang can forgive me."

Tang Muyan replied, "County Princess is truly genuine in her emotions. I've seen countless people in my life, but troublemakers like them are a rarity. Mu Zhu, you concealed the silver that Mu Laosan gave to Rong and Little Hua Juan. I sentence you to return the full amount. Do you accept this judgment?"

"Impressive, indeed." Mu Zhu knelt and bowed his head, "This old man is willing to repay double."

Li Ai scoffed, "It was just a few taels of silver. Now, Little Osmanthus and the Rong family wouldn't even spare a thought for that money." His tone shifted, "Initially, I dismissed the idea of a dream revelation with disdain. If not for Rong's mention of Mu Laosan losing an arm, I wouldn't have believed a single word. Now, I wonder if there might actually be some hidden truth to it."

Tang Muyan nodded and slammed the gavel, "Mu Zhu, how did you arrange for Mu Laosan's funeral?"

Mu Zhu's swollen mind regained a sliver of clarity, "In response, Your Honor, upon hearing the news of Third Brother's demise, we immediately set up a mourning tent. We invited a local paper artisan to make a horse, child figurines, and other items. We also fetched a pine coffin from the coffin shop, which contained Third Brother's old clothes, found by Rong herself."

"Since Third Brother's remains weren't available, and our family was struggling, we only kept the mourning for three days. In the end, my third grandson, Mu Yao, smashed the mourning bowl and carried the filial piety banner. The coffin was buried in our Mu family's ancestral graveyard. After the burial, Yao burned the first bundle of paper money, followed by the filial piety banner, the horse, and the ten paper outfits of the child figurines."

The patriarch of the Mu Clan also stepped forward, "Due to Third Brother's heroic sacrifice, our main Mu family contributed extra funds to purchase a pair of young boys and girls, along with paper money and clothing, which were all burned together."

Tang Muyan and Dong Hongjie exchanged glances. Although this funeral ritual was not grand, it was typical for common households, and there were no omissions in the process.

Tang Muyan observed Mu Zhu closely and then looked at Mu Yao. From their expressions, he deduced that they were not lying, "I don't hear any issues. Lady Rong, is what they're saying true?"

Lady Rong was seated on a chair at that moment. Her mother-in-law was kneeling before her and Little Osmanthus, counting aloud. With the supportive presence and the counting, Lady Rong's initially anxious heart settled completely. Reflecting on the hardships she and her daughter had endured over the years, she felt even more justified in receiving such respect. Hearing the official's question, she didn't rise from her seat but merely inclined her body slightly, "Your Excellency, what they say is true, so this common woman has no idea why I would have such dreams, and for several consecutive days."

Upon receiving this response, Tang Muyan found himself in a difficult situation. The Mu family had followed proper procedures, yet Lady Rong had these peculiar dreams. If they couldn't uncover any evidence of the Mu family mistreating the widow and orphan, the case could have been closed hastily. However, now that this matter had come to light and attracted the emperor's attention, he had to uncover the truth, no matter what.

The onlooking commoners also chimed in with their thoughts. "After all, he sacrificed himself for the country. This funeral is still too humble."

"One can't really blame them, considering their circumstances. A simple ceremony is understandable."

Zhao Ge interjected, "The government provides a compensation of ten taels of silver per person. It should have been delivered when they reported the death."

This time, the crowd had differing opinions.

"With ten taels of silver, to hold such a modest funeral is rather stingy."

"Well, the deceased are gone, and the living must carry on, isn't that so? The clan has offered additional tributes, so that's sufficient."

"They're just being mean-spirited and stingy."

"I'm not saying they aren't generous, oh dear, how do I put this? In another family's situation, I don't think there would be anything wrong with such an approach. Saving some silver is understandable for the living to continue their lives. But in their case, you're right, they probably have ulterior motives."

"He does have a point, the living do need to go on with their lives."

...

The whispers of the common folk reached the court, and Mu Zhu's body swayed, his family's reputation now irreparably tarnished!

Li Ai looked at Meng Die, who spoke, "Though modest, it's no different from others. Logically, there shouldn't be any issues. Let's reconsider if we overlooked anything."

The head of the Mu clan, taken aback, gazed at Meng Die in surprise. Could this woman actually speak with fairness?

Tang Muyan nodded. "The County Master is right. The major steps couldn't have gone wrong, as they were carried out in front of the entire village. Rong, were you absent during any part of the ceremony?"

Rong pondered carefully. "According to custom, on the first day, my son should have kept watch over the spirit. Since my husband had no son, Mu Yao broke the basin. So, he took the first night shift, while I and Little Osmanthus stayed until midnight. As we needed to mourn the next day, we retreated to our room for a two-hour nap."

Tang Muyan looked at Mu Yao and asked, "What did you do while keeping vigil?"

Mu Yao was merely ten years old this year. He was already scared to appear in court, and now, trembling with fear upon hearing the official's question, he was unable to utter a single word.

His father, Big Head Mu, kowtowed and said, "Your Excellency, Yao'er is young. On the first night of the wake, I accompanied him. We kept the eternal flame candle burning all night, the guiding soul incense never went out, and we burned joss paper throughout the night until dawn broke. Then, many other relatives from our clan came over, and I took Yao'er to rest. On that first night, apart from my son and me, the Clan Chief and several elders were also there. None of them stayed up the entire night; they took turns watching."

The Clan Chief of the Mu family added, "This old man kept watch during the latter part of the night. The eternal flame candle and the guiding soul incense never went out."

Tang Muyan pondered. It was said that the guiding soul incense led the deceased on their journey, so it couldn't be extinguished. The eternal flame candle illuminated the path for the deceased and thus also couldn't be put out. Burning joss paper provided for the deceased's journey. These three elements were crucial to keeping vigil, and everyone knew it. With so many people present, it would have been impossible for them to make a mistake in this matter.

So, where exactly does the problem lie?

Dong Hongjie sat with his eyes lowered, and Lin Chu suddenly whispered, "What do you think, Sir Dong?"

Dong Hongjie lifted his gaze to look at the Mu family, smiling slightly. "What's your opinion, Chief Eunuch Lin?"

They exchanged a knowing smile. Their opinions didn't matter, nor did the mistakes of the Mu family. What mattered was what County Master Meng was thinking and what her true intentions were.

Dong Hongjie ventured a suggestion, "I have an idea. It's said that when one prays to gods or ancestors, sincerity is key. If the heart isn't sincere, it won't be effective. The Mu family has treated Mu Laosan's wife and young daughter so poorly; it's likely they don't have genuine feelings for him. Perhaps their lack of sincerity in mourning or offering paper money is where the issue lies."

Meng Die: "That's possible. Throughout history, there have indeed been many filial children and grandchildren, but there have also been plenty of disobedient ones. One would think that their hearts wouldn't be in the right place when they burn joss paper for their parents. However, there are no records of someone appearing in a dream to complain about being poor. Could it be that such incidents are not suitable for documentation, hence they're not found in books?"

"And there's another issue here. The clan leader mentioned that he appreciated Mu Laosan's bravery, so the whole clan chipped in a penny. If they were sincere in their contribution, I believe they would have definitely fulfilled their part. Why hasn't this portion of money been received?"

Dong Hongjie paused, struck by the rationality of Meng Die's argument. He was momentarily unsure whether Meng Die genuinely disagreed with him or if his reasoning failed to resonate with her, leading to her counterargument.

Meng Die turned her gaze towards the crowd outside the public hall. "Fellow villagers, have any of you heard of similar incidents?"

The common folk were unaware of the intricacies in Dong Hongjie's thoughts. Upon hearing Meng Die's question, they began to discuss among themselves.

"Rebellious sons do exist, but there are also good ones, right? The good son would burn enough paper money to honor them."

"Nonsense. In our hometown, there was a widow who toiled and suffered to raise her son. Yet, he not only failed to show filial piety but also often abused her, considering her an old nuisance who only consumed without contributing. She passed away before the age of fifty, barely leaving any flesh on her bones. Her son didn't even hold a proper mourning period for her. He casually buried her somewhere and burned some paper money just to go through the motions."

"How could there be such an ungrateful creature?"

"Didn't anyone around this ungrateful son receive a dream visit from her?"

"A widow, even if she was poor, who could she turn to?"

"I wasn't finished yet. When the village head heard about this, he forced that disobedient son to buy burial clothes, sacrifice an ox, and purchase paper effigies of boys and girls along with various paper garments to send to his mother's grave. That disobedient son didn't end well either. His mother died from his mistreatment not long after two years. One night, while drunk, he knocked over a lantern and burned himself to death."

"It served him right."

"That's why, if this widow is suffering, she can seek help from the village head. Apparently, she's doing well enough, as I recall that a few years later, her neighbor occasionally dreamed of the widow, who appeared in the clothes she was buried in, but with a youthful appearance, looking content."

"Why would paper money for such a son be acceptable, but not this?"

"Indeed."

The common folk were in heated discussion, and not one of them believed that Madam Rong was lying. As always, since she openly admitted her desire to remarry, the onlookers perceived her as someone who spoke her mind and did not deceive.

Meng Die listened to the voices of the people, her eyes lowered, mentally calculating the time. It was now that she allowed the servants arranged by Nurse Fan to "speak their minds freely."

Someone in the crowd then remarked, "Ah, no matter how disobedient he is, he's still his own flesh and blood."

"What good is that biological son?"

"At least he's better than this nephew, right? He'd at least send some paper money for the afterlife."

"That's not entirely true either. In our old alley, there was an elderly couple who had no children. They adopted a little beggar and raised him. When the couple passed away, the beggar dressed them in funeral clothes and burned joss paper for them. None of us neighbors ever dreamed that the old couple complained about lacking money."

"But they didn't have a son. Who would they appear in dreams to after they passed away?"

"Oh, the couple didn't die together. The old lady went first, and the old man followed five years later. We never heard of the old man dreaming about the old lady either."

Ah, this...

Amidst the chatter of the crowd, the expressions in the courtroom varied. Lin Chu suddenly spoke up, "Just now, Magistrate Dong mentioned that without sincerity, a wish won't come true. I think there's some truth to that. An adopted son isn't one's own flesh and blood, and if he lacks sincerity, it wouldn't work. However, an adopted child, although not biologically related, is raised with sincerity. Perhaps it could indeed be effective."

Dong Hongjie: "The Mu Laosan clan must be sincere as well."

Li Ai continued, "I recall a saying: A cowardly soldier makes a cowardly army, and a cowardly general leads a cowardly troop. If the leader lacks sincerity, it's unlikely that the sincerity of those following would make much difference."

Meng Die: "That's a valid point. As for why even a disobedient son can receive the offerings, I've pondered over Eunuch Lin's words and have an interpretation. Please listen to me and tell me if this makes sense."

"It's often said that parents have the debt of nurturing, as they bring their sons into this world and raise them. Even if a son is disobedient, all their offerings would still be accepted, for the debt of nurturing comes before the debt of birth. The little beggar received the nurturing from the old couple, and with his sincerity, everything he burns in dedication would naturally be accepted."

Many listeners nodded in agreement.

Tang Muyan glanced at Mu Yao and said, "Since this nephew is not one's own flesh and blood, nor has he been raised by us, and his intentions are impure, it's only natural that he wouldn't be capable."

Meng Die chimed in, "Magistrate Tang speaks the truth. He's just an outsider, and without sincerity, how could Mu Laosan gain from his offerings?"

Dong Hongjie furrowed his brow slightly. "How can a nephew be considered an outsider? A nephew is half a son, someone bound by blood ties. He doesn't belong in that category."

Voices from the crowd echoed, "Why would a nephew be an outsider? Isn't he still part of one's own family?"

"That's right, they share the same bloodline."

"What use is blood ties if they can't even be used to pay respects with paper money?"

"Could it be...?"

"Perhaps Mu Yao isn't truly a member of the Mu family. Maybe his mother had an affair and he's from another man."

"Hold your tongue, there might actually be some truth to that."

The crowd began to speculate wildly. Meng Die almost couldn't resist placing her hand on her forehead. Indeed, controlling public opinion was no easy task. She hadn't anticipated that people would immediately jump to the conclusion that Mu Yao's mother had been unfaithful. All she could say was that, fortunately, this tangent didn't disrupt the main course of events.

Mu Laosan's face turned ashen, contemplating Meng Die's words and the whispers of the onlookers. His gaze towards Mu Yao became suspicious.

He was not alone in this sentiment. The patriarch of the Mu family and the rest of the Mus looked at Mu Yao with hostility. If he truly wasn't of the Mu bloodline, then wouldn't all the chaos today be a result of his mother, that unfaithful woman, and him?

Tang Muyan's eyes gleamed. He found the possibility plausible. If Mu Yao wasn't a true Mu and lacked loyalty, it would make sense that he couldn't be appointed as Mu Laosan's heir: "Then let's perform a blood test. Someone, fetch a bowl of clean water."

The common folk were thrilled by the prospect of a blood test. At this moment, Mother Mu had just finished kneeling a hundred times, and Rong Shi carried Little Guihua into the public hall to witness the spectacle.

Mother Mu's head was bleeding from her prostrations, and she was dazed. As she entered the hall, her gaze towards Mu Yao was filled with hatred. It was this bastard who had brought shame upon her and the Mu family. She would one day strangle this illegitimate child, along with his promiscuous mother.

A bailiff approached with a bowl of clear water. Eldest Mu eagerly pricked his finger, letting his blood drip into it. Mu Yao was still in a daze when his hand was seized and his finger was bitten, causing him to cry out in pain.

The blood droplets instantly fell into the bowl from Mu Yao's finger. Tang Muyan rose and walked to the bowl, feeling bewildered. The two drops of blood in the bowl merged together rapidly, clearly indicating a blood relationship between them. They were father and son.

Staring abruptly at Mu Laoniang, Mu Zhu said fiercely, "Was it you? You unfaithful woman, tell me, who is it? Which one of Eldest and Third isn't my biological child?"

As he questioned her, his gaze shifted to Mu Laodao, whose identical half-brow was like a mirror image of his own. A chilling look appeared in Mu Zhu's eyes as he looked at his wife, "Third, Third isn't my biological son, right? No wonder he's over eight feet tall and doesn't resemble any of us Mu family members."

"Slap!" Mu Zhu raised his hand and slapped Mu Laoniang hard across the face. "You unfaithful woman, giving birth to a bastard and dragging our Mu family down with you. Today, I'll kill you."

Tang Muyan: "No nonsense in the court."

Mu Laosan dramatically fell to his knees, "Your Honor, I beg you to sentence this unfaithful woman to death."

With one half of her rapidly swelling face concealed, Mu Laosan finally realized the situation, "Your Honor, I am innocent! I have always been faithful to my duties as a wife, I have never been unfaithful."

Tang Muyan was also taken aback. What, what exactly was going on here?

Meng Die was likewise startled, but her bewilderment stemmed from the unforeseen turn of events. Not only did she doubt Mu Yao, but she now began to suspect Mu Laosan as well. This indirectly highlighted how deeply ingrained it was in people's minds that her nephew was one of their own; even in the face of such suspicion, she instinctively refused to accept that he could be an outsider who would betray his family by having an affair with his uncle's wife.