Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Meng Die turned to look at Li Ai. "When you mentioned before that soldiers' remains couldn't be identified, you said that the closest blood relatives would be invited to the military camp to drop their blood onto the bones for identification, correct?"

Li Ai nodded. "Zhao Ge, return to the commander and inform him of the situation here. Ask Mister Dongfang to bring Mu Laosan's remains over for identification."

"Yes, sir."

The courtroom fell silent for a moment. The whispers of the onlooking citizens also softened. It was true that sacrificing one's life for the country made one a hero, but if the mother had committed adultery, it would indeed cast a blemish on their otherwise impeccable reputation.

Dong Hongjie and Tang Muyan instinctively turned their gazes toward Meng Die, seeing her composed demeanor. Dong knew they were in a stable situation; when he had interrogated Shi Huanli before, Meng Die had worn the same expression.

Lin Chu also looked at Meng Die, lowering his eyes to carefully replay in his mind the words she had just spoken. As Lin Chu lifted his eyelids to glance at Little Osmanthus being held by Madam Rong, he understood where Meng Die's sword was pointing and what her true intentions were.

Zhao Ge was swift in his actions, not keeping everyone waiting for too long before he brought in an elderly man with silvery hair and beard, carrying a modest-sized box in his hands.

Li Ai stood up, "Mr. Dongfang."

Meng Die also rose, "I trouble you, sir."

The two highest-ranking individuals rose, followed by Dong Hongjie, Tang Muyan, and Lin Chu. Tang Muyan clasped his hands in greeting, "We have troubled you, sir."

Mr. Dong returned the gesture with a bow, "Your Excellency is too kind."

Addressing the crowd outside the door, Mr. Dong said, "Folks, in our military camp, there's a rule that all soldiers wear name tags. This way, in case of casualties, we can still identify who is who. However, on the battlefield, swords and spears know no mercy, and accidents abound. Many soldiers lose their name tags and suffer disfigurement, making conventional methods of identification ineffective. Hence, we invite the parents or siblings of the missing soldiers to the camp. After the remains are processed, the blood of a close relative will seep into the bones. This method is inspired by the traditional practice of blood recognition."

The people nodded, some beginning to recall, "Yes, I remember my grandfather mentioning this. He said that when my great-grandfather was a soldier, he went to the camp to identify his body after he didn't return."

"That's right, my father also told me about it."

...

After concluding the matters at hand, Mister Dongfang opened the box, "Inside is Mu Laosan's arm bone. For verification, we shall have a local officer drip his blood onto it."

Zhao Ge offered, "Let me do it." With that, he cut his finger and let the blood drip onto the bone.

The blood droplets trickled down the pale bone, leaving only a faint trail of red. Everyone in the courtroom gathered to examine it, nodding in agreement. Mister Dongfang then carried the box to the entrance, allowing the nearby civilians a clear view.

"A mere trace, it didn't blend in," someone explained loudly to the people further back.

Mr. Dongfang held the box before Madam Mu and said, "To confirm that these are indeed Mu Laosan's remains, please kindly add a drop of your blood to it as well."

Tang Muyan, Li Ai, Meng Die, Dong Hongjie, Lin Chu, and Zhao Ge hurriedly gathered around, with Mu Zhu also approaching cautiously to peer closely.

"Mine, mine." Lady Mu hastily pricked her finger, letting a substantial drop of blood fall onto the bone. Unlike Zhao Ge's drop that had immediately rolled down, this one quivered on the surface of the bone, gradually shrinking before finally leaving behind a crimson dot, resembling a red mole.

Mr. Dongfang: "Given that they're kin, we can now confirm that these remains belong to Mu Laosan."

"I'll do it." With a steady hand, the wooden stake pierced the tip of their finger, releasing a drop of blood onto the bone. The blood droplet quivered on the surface, gradually transforming into a fresh, crimson mole.

Mu Stump was stunned. Mr. Dongfang held the box up once more for the common folk outside to see, and they too were dumbfounded. So this Mu Laosan was indeed Mu Stump's own flesh and blood, and Old Lady Mu had not been unfaithful.

"Why isn't this nephew good enough?"

This question echoed the thoughts of most people.

Lin Chu added fuel to the fire with a remark, "Could this nephew truly be an outsider?"

Meng Die nodded slightly at Lin Chu in gratitude, inwardly admiring her. No wonder she could serve by the emperor's side—her skill in reading people was exceptional.

Tang Muyan's heart trembled. His gaze turned to Elder Mu. Could it be that Elder Mu wasn't actually born to Stump?

Apparently, Stump had the same thought. He glared at Elder Mu, who was equally stunned. Without anyone prompting him, he pricked his finger again and quickly dripped a drop of blood onto the bone. The blood droplet quivered, leaving behind a crimson mole.

Dongfang gentleman requested, "Please examine Mu Yao's blood as well."

Like everyone else in the Mu family, Mu Yao's blood droplet gently oscillated on the bone. Just as the Mus were sighing in relief, the droplet swiftly slid down, leaving only a faint trace, not much different from Zhao Ge's.

The Dongfang gentleman held up the box for the onlooking crowd to see. Those nearby gasped in shock. So, the nephew was truly an outsider? This notion spontaneously arose in everyone's minds. Yet, they couldn't help but doubt – how could the nephew be an outsider when there was clearly a blood connection?

Elder Mu voiced the thoughts of everyone present, "H-How can his own nephew be considered an outsider?"

Meng Die glanced at Elder Mu and said, "There is still a distinction. Mu Yao's blood droplet lingered briefly on the bone before it flowed down. That brief pause likely signifies a blood connection, but if he's not one's own flesh and blood, then he isn't. It was just a momentary halt; in the end, he would be no different from a stranger."

Elder Mu wore a look of confusion. Tang Muyan and Dong Hongjie remained silent for a long while, while Lin Chu had her eyes half-lowered, seemingly lost in thought. Amidst the multitude gathered inside and outside the courtroom, not a single sound could be heard, casting the entire space into an eerie silence.

Perhaps after a moment, or perhaps a long while, someone from the crowd spoke up, "But what about those without sons who suddenly pass away?"

The speaker's voice was not loud, but it was more like he was muttering to himself. However, the entire space was so quiet that everyone clearly heard his words.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, those inside and outside the court instinctively turned their gazes towards Little Osmanthus. Faced with so many inexplicable stares, she shrunk back and clung tightly to Lady Rong, burying her head in her neck.

As someone who had been educated in the strictures of family tradition for decades, Tang Muyan's worldview was undergoing unprecedented upheaval. His beliefs were crumbling step by step. This was no trial; it was a heart-wrenching ordeal for him.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Muyan forced a smile at Lady Rong. "Lady Rong, could you let Little Osmanthus give it a try?"

Lady Rong looked down. "Osmanthus, it'll just be a little prick in your hand, and it won't hurt for long."

Little Osmanthus didn't respond but nestled closer to Madam Rong, timidly extending her tiny hand. She was incredibly well-behaved.

Mr. Dongfang carried the box over to Little Osmanthus's side. Inside it, the bones were eerily exposed.

Hugging close to Madam Rong, Little Osmanthus secretly glanced at Mr. Dongfang. At six years old, she already understood much of the world, piecing together hints from the elders' conversations: "Mother, is that Father?"

Madam Rong's eyes reddened: "Yes, those are your father's remains."

In Madam Rong's embrace, Little Osmanthus straightened her body and looked directly at the bones: "Is it the father who gave me the rattle drum?"

Madam Rong's voice quivered as she said, "Yes, the father who made this rattle drum for you with his own hands. When he was alive, this is the hand that crafted it for you."

Little Guihua held the small rattle drum she had been clutching tightly in her hand and reached into the box. Her slender fingers, along with the drum, touched the finger bone. "Father, it's me, Guihua."

Almost instantly, both the onlooking commoners and those in the courtroom were moved to tears, some even wiping their eyes uncontrollably.

Recalling Mu Yao's evident fear when he saw the remains just now, and comparing it to Little Guihua's affectionate gesture towards the bones, there was no need for further proof. The nephew was indeed an outsider, how could he compare to his own flesh and blood?

Mr. Dongfang paused for a moment but still, with Madam Rong's assistance, he cut a tiny wound on Little Guihua's finger. A drop of blood formed, and Mr. Dongfang held Little Guihua's hand, letting that droplet fall onto the bone. The blood quivered and eventually left behind a vermilion dot, like a cinnabar mole.

Silence once again descended upon the courtroom, only to be abruptly shattered by a flurry of whispers: "Is he really an outsider, just because he's a nephew?"

"How can he not be an outsider? Did you give birth to him or raise him?"

"But isn't there still a blood connection?"

"As the saying goes, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. What use is such a thin blood tie? It's your own flesh and blood that truly matters."

"Exactly! They talk about daughters being outsiders, but that's nonsense. This is genuine kinship, someone who can mourn for you and pay respects with incense and paper money."

At the mention of breaking the basin and burning paper, the crowd fell silent once more, for this touched upon the matter of inheritance. If a daughter performed these rituals, then the estate would be passed to her, wouldn't the family's wealth end up in the hands of outsiders? Wouldn't their silver be inherited by another surname?

"One truly can't deny the shrewdness of merchants."

"What are you implying?"

"Just look at the Hai family, with such vast wealth. How many nephews does Master Hai have? Yet, isn't it rumored that they're seeking a husband for Second Miss Hai now? See, they don't want any distant nephew to inherit."

The phrase "distant nephew" seemed to prick the nerves of many, yet they found themselves unable to refute it. The evidence was plain as day within the court: a nephew was merely someone with a slight blood connection, a nephew, not a son – a pure joke.

Tang Muyan returned to his chair, vexed by the dilemma at hand. The case was not straightforward; the law was clear, and he could not rule in favor of the Mu family returning Mu Laosan's inheritance to Mu Guihua. On the other hand, he couldn't justify denying Little Guihua the right to mourn her father by performing the funeral rites of lighting incense and breaking the mourning bowl.

Lin Chu rose to her feet. "The truth has now unfolded. I shall take my leave and report back to His Majesty."

Tang Muyan stood as well. "Please, Chief Eunuch Lin."

Before leaving, Lin Chu gave the Mu family one last glance.

After seeing Lin Chu off, Tang Muyan took a deep breath. The matter of inheritance and funeral rights were bound by law, making a judgment impossible today. However, there were other aspects of the case that he could still address.

A loud thud of the gavel echoed: "Mu Zhu, for spreading false rumors about Lady Rong's misconduct, you shall receive thirty strikes on the mouth. Mu Zhu, Mu Laoda, Mu Laoer, for showing disrespect to a heroic figure and neglecting his funeral arrangements, each of you will be flogged thirty times. As for Mu Yao, who also showed disrespect, considering his young age and ignorance, his punishment will be reduced to fifteen strikes, to be endured by his father in his stead. Regarding the matter of the broken basin and burnt paper money, this official will submit a report today for the Emperor's judgment."

"Excellent!" As Tang Muyan finished speaking, cheers arose from the crowd.

"Your Excellency is wise. This is exactly how it should be decided."

Mu Laoer hunched her shoulders slightly. The pain in her head had disappeared; flogging could be fatal, but kneeling would not.

Li Ai turned to Meng Die and asked, "Shall we also submit a report?"

Meng Die nodded in consent.

The soldiers swarmed in.

"Please spare us, Your Excellency! I was wrong, I know I was wrong!"

"Your Excellency, please spare us, please, please..."

Amidst the heart-wrenching cries of the Mu family men, the bailiffs forcefully pressed the three of them onto long benches and began administering the bastinado. Not only did they harbor disdain for the Mu family, but with Lord Chang'an, County Princess Meng, and Soldier Zhao watching, they had no choice but to be ruthless in their punishment.

Amidst the cacophony of anguished cries, Tang Muyan's icy gaze fell upon the Mu Clan's patriarch. "As the leader of your clan, you are the pillar of support for your people. You should act with fairness and compassion. I hope you will reflect on this in the future."

"Thank you, Sir, for your guidance," the Mu Clan's patriarch replied, his face burning with shame. He might not have been physically beaten today, but the humiliation he had suffered was no less than that of the Mu family. It was a torment worse than death for him. Moreover, he had concerns. Relying on Mu Laosan's sacrifice, the Mu Clan had recently held a subtle advantage over the other clans.

Now, with this incident, the Mu Clan could no longer bask in the glory left behind by Mu Laosan. Furthermore, given the state of affairs, his fellow clansmen would not let him off lightly. Upon returning, he would surely lose his position as patriarch, and the path he had paved for his son would be destroyed. The thought of losing all the benefits he had gained from being patriarch caused his heart to ache.

The village chief cautiously stole a glance at Tang Muyan, fearing either a beating or a lecture. However, he realized that Tang Muyan hadn't even bothered to spare him a glance. This disregard was more painful than physical punishment for him.

Mu Zhuang, being older, lost consciousness halfway through the thirty strokes. He was revived with cold water by the bailiffs and, despite the agony, managed to endure the full punishment. By the time he was helped down from the chair, he was barely breathing. Tang Muyan instructed that a doctor be summoned to attend to him.

Elder Brother Mu was also young, but he still had to endure fifteen strikes in his son's place. After the forty-five blows, he was completely unconscious, barely breathing like his father.

Their pitiful state would normally evoke sympathy from any normal person, but at this moment, no one felt sorry for them. Those who might have felt compassion glanced at Rong's prematurely gray hair at just twenty-three years old, or at Little Osmanthus's thin, small hands. Though she was six, she looked no more than four. With these two victims before them, the onlookers' hearts remained unmoved by their suffering.

Tang Muyan slammed the gavel. "The Mu family is temporarily forbidden from leaving the capital. Court is adjourned."

With the spectacle over, the crowd dispersed, chatting in twos and threes, all amazed by the revelation that the nephew was considered an outsider. This notion had shattered their long-held beliefs, not just breaking them but crushing them into dust. Many still couldn't comprehend how a nephew, almost like a son, could be seen as less than a daughter, when it was the daughter who was technically from another family.

When one has no son of their own, they lavish affection upon their nephews as if they were their own sons. Now you're telling them that their nephew is an outsider, while the daughter they consider an outsider is the one who will actually perform the funeral rites for them. Such a paradigm-shifting revelation would take anyone some time to process.

Upon returning to Marquis Yongyi's residence, Li Ai and Meng Die, in a display of unspoken understanding, promptly set about drafting their respective memorials to the imperial court.

The Emperor, upon hearing Lin Chu's report, was also contemplating the matter. In the early days of the kingdom's establishment, the founding emperor had indeed attempted to revise this succession law. However, the opposition was too strong, and the attempt ultimately failed. He could only forcefully abolish the practice of honoring women with chastity arches, an endeavor that took nearly three years from start to finish.

Initially, it was declared firmly that, being a newly established kingdom, numerous endeavors were in need of revitalization, and the royal treasury was barren. As a result, the conferment of archways could be granted, but all exemptions from taxes and duties would, alas, not be applicable.

Assuming that without tangible benefits, they would no longer compel widows to remain chaste and create "virtuous widows," it comes as a surprise that some clans, in pursuit of local "high moral standing," still persist in fabricating such "virtuous widows."

Faced with this dilemma, the founding emperor had no choice but to secretly dispatch agents to spread rumors, suggesting that those women who remained chaste might have done so for ulterior motives, perhaps due to some hidden illness preventing them from bearing children, or if they already had, that they were said to be inauspicious, bringing misfortune to their husbands. Essentially, the narrative was that these women's chastity was a cover-up for an embarrassing truth within their families. It was implied that there was something amiss with all the women of those clans.

In short, the entire family's female members were being "smeared." After nearly three years of such maneuvering, the clans finally dared not force their women into strict chastity, and the Chastity Arch was eventually abolished without a hitch.

If the founding emperor abolished the Chastity Arch out of pity for women across the land, his initial attempt to revise the inheritance law was not only to protect widows and young daughters but also to weaken the power of the clans and centralize imperial authority.

The current emperor was no fool; he was well aware of the complexities involved. Spotting a perfect opportunity, he hardly needed to engage in a struggle. Taking advantage of today's incident, he simply instructed Lin Chu to convey his oral edict to the ministers, summoning them to convene in the Diligent Governance Hall to discuss the matter.

Before long, the hall was filled with officials, including the four regents, the six department ministers, the chief justice, the head of the Board of Works, the director of the Board of Rites, the mayor of the capital, Li Ai, Meng Die, Duke An Guo, Fu Yanxiu, as well as the Grand Princess and Prince Qi, among others.

With everyone present, the Prefect of Tang, acting as the lead investigator in this case, stepped forward to give his report, detailing the matter from beginning to end. Tang Muyan said, "Your Majesty, I dare to propose that Your Majesty revise the succession law. If the deceased has no son, the daughter should inherit, performing the rituals of breaking a pottery basin and burning paper money. As long as the widow does not remarry, it is the daughter's duty to support and care for her parent until the end."

Both Li Ai and Meng Die stepped forward in unison, "We second the motion."

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Duke of AnGuo also stood up together, "We second the motion."

The other ministers did not immediately express their opinions. The common people needed time to digest this information, and they needed to ponder it more carefully. The idea that a nephew was an outsider was a greater shock to them than to the general populace.

Most common folk had only meager possessions, and in their daily lives, each family largely took care of its own affairs. Especially in the northern regions, many couples established their own households after marriage, with their names still registered under their parents' homes, but living independently. Thus, at this point, there was naturally little emotional connection or entangled interests between them and their nephews.

The real complexity lies in the involvement of esteemed and influential families. Take Tang Muyan, for instance; he hails from a distinguished lineage. He was educated within his clan from a young age and, after attaining high office as an imperial scholar, diligently instructed his nephews and sons. In fact, he favored his talented nephew more. If he were not the chief examiner and had not personally witnessed the similarity between his nephew's blood bead and that of a stranger, leaving only faint traces on the bones, he would never have suggested this.

Meng Tingyi stepped forward. "Your subject concurs."

Many eyes turned to the Crown Prince. As the emperor's uncle and with a close relationship, the emperor would certainly grant him respect. If he disagreed, the matter...

The Crown Prince stepped forward. "Your Majesty, your subject also concurs. I believe this law has never been entirely suitable. When our late father was alive, he too considered amending it, but due to the chaos of wars and his efforts to suppress bandits, the matter was delayed. Now, Your Majesty, by rectifying these wrongs, you truly act in accordance with the will of heaven, benefiting the people."

Ren Qinghua couldn't help but interject. "Your Highness, does the phrase 'rectifying wrongs' not seem too severe?"

Prince Qi: "Not at all. Just like the Mu family, I assume that even when Mu Laosan was alive, the brothers' relationship wasn't harmonious, and their connection with their nephew couldn't have been amicable either – it would be no different from strangers. A stranger inheriting his assets, performing the funeral rituals, isn't that laughable and chaotic enough?"

"According to the imperial laws, not only nephews but any male relative within the five degrees of kinship can do so. Within these five degrees, I acknowledge that in some large families, there might be centenarians still living with their descendants, and their relationships may indeed be good. But in reality, it's rare for four generations to live together. Even if the elder has not passed away, they often separate early on, living with their eldest son. In such circumstances, how many branches of the family are truly separated from the main line by vast distances? Under these conditions, what kind of bond could possibly exist?"

Ren Qinghua: "Your Highness, it's true that those without a bond shouldn't be performing these rituals. But if there is a bond, or if they've taken in their nephew as their own child?"

Prince Qi paused.

Li Ai: "If there's a bond, then they can perform the funeral rites. Nobody is stopping them. If they've adopted their nephew, they should register the adoption at the local government office and complete the necessary legal procedures. When dealing with the deceased's affairs, this registration serves as proof."

Ren Qinghua pondered for a moment before nodding. "That could be a solution."

The Crown Prince acknowledged with a nod, and the second prime minister followed suit by stepping back. All the ministers agreed, so the emperor, taking advantage of the situation, issued an edict in accordance with Tang Muyan's suggestion. Henceforth, when a male descendant passed away without any sons (or adopted sons), it would be the daughter's responsibility to perform the funeral rituals, inherit all his assets, and support her mother as long as the widow did not remarry. The daughter would ensure her mother's comfort in old age until the end of her days.