Chapter 125 Judgment

Chapter 125: The Verdict

Zheng Fulang took a package from his bosom and said, “Your Honor, this is the poison that Zhang Jizu hid in his home. If he hadn’t tried to administer the same poison to me, I would never have discovered it.”

His eyes burned with fury and an irredeemable regret as he stared at Zhang Jizu. His father had sought a son-in-law to ensure the continuation of the Zheng family, only to invite a wolf into the fold—a vile seed with such a venomous heart.

Zhang Jizu trembled all over, his heart feeling as though ants were crawling all over it, every fiber of his being clenched in fear. “Your... Your Honor, you cannot trust this man’s word alone. It’s because I was taking a concubine that he...”

“Still trying to argue your way out of this!” The prefect slammed the gavel. “Witness Jin Xi, present everything you know before this court.”

Just as Jin Xi knelt to speak, Zhang Jizu lunged at him like a madman. He knew that the shopkeeper knew everything about him and the owner of Baojin Studio, and letting him speak would spell his doom.

The court officers were too far away to react in time. Before their eyes, Zhang Jizu wore a menacing look, and Jin Xi was filled with terror. Zhang Jizu wouldn’t dare kill him in court, but he might tear out his tongue.

His hands were already ruined—he would never use an abacus again. If he lost the ability to speak as well, he would never recover.

Zhang Jizu’s face twisted in madness. His mind was a blur, and his only thought was to silence Jin Xi. But suddenly, a sharp pain in his chest jolted him back to reality. The next moment, Song Tingzhou kicked him, sending him rolling twice across the floor.

Song Tingzhou pulled back his leg, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He said in a low voice, “When evil piles up, it can't be hidden; when crimes are huge, they can't be undone. When you committed those atrocities, you should have foreseen this end.”

Jin Xi, nearly scared out of his wits and afraid he might lose his chance to speak, quickly explained everything. “After Zhang Jizu arrived in the prefectural city, he constantly inquired about Lord Song’s family background. It happened that Baojin Studio wanted to suppress Meng Fulang’s Qingxiao Pavilion business, so the owner got in touch with Zhang Jizu. They worked together. Zhang Jizu was frustrated by being a son-in-law in the Zheng family, constantly controlled by Zheng Linsheng, and wanted to get rid of his father-in-law to take control. He asked our master to procure poison for him, which he then administered daily in small doses to Zheng Linsheng’s tea, unnoticed, successfully poisoning him. Afterward, they had me spread rumors in the city about a fox spirit causing harm, to slander Qingxiao Pavilion’s reputation.”

“If Your Honor doubts me, I know the poison maker was a wandering sorcerer who dealt in sinister tricks, always moving. I only know his surname is Liu, with hair that was half white and half black, and an unpredictable temper.” To show his determination to expose Zhang Jizu’s crimes, he spilled everything he knew.

Since the Wu family was involved, even though this was not an official complaint against a commoner, the new prefect dared not treat it lightly. After all, the previous prefect had been dismembered—his arms, legs, and head separated. And Wu Yong’s death had been gruesome.

“With both human and physical evidence present, Zhang Jizu of Quanshui Town, Guyang County, has poisoned his father-in-law and plotted to murder an Imperial Official. According to the laws of Yu, the sentence is death by beheading.”

The prefect pronounced the verdict. The case details and sentence would be submitted to the Ministry of Justice in Shengjing, reviewed by the Ministry and the Court of Judicial Review, and then sent to the King for final approval. Afterward, the verdict would be transmitted to Changping Prefecture, and the prefect would take the condemned from the dungeon to the execution ground for beheading by the executioner.

However, since the case records were clear, the prefect’s verdict would generally stand.

Zhang Jizu’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, unable even to kneel. He had harmed so many others; now, facing his own death, he knew the terror of dying.

Song Tingzhou watched him, a maggot without soul or dignity, being dragged away by the court officers.

The dark cloud that had lingered over his heart for so long, an ever-present shadow, was finally dispelled—gone without a trace.

In his youth, his resolve had not been as firm as it was now. He had been hurt by the words of classmates incited by Zhang Jizu. He could confide in no one the loneliness and confusion of being ostracized, and he even despised himself for not being as charming and popular as Zhang Jizu.

When he later met Meng Wan, with his beautiful face and gentle temperament, he felt inferior again.

But then, his despicable heart found its answer. In that instant, the dark void in his heart suddenly bloomed with countless flowers, each one blossoming for him. He could no longer allow storm clouds to obscure those brilliant blooms, and he vowed to protect them.

---

Meng Wan returned home with Xue Sheng, laden with packages from the market. Just then, Song Tingzhou also arrived at the alley entrance. He took the bolts of cloth from Meng Wan’s arms and handed him the oil-paper packages he was carrying. “Why did you buy so much coarse cloth?”

“We’re heading back to the village tomorrow. The prefectural city has more fabric colors, so I bought some as gifts.”

Meng Wan lifted the oil-paper package and sniffed it. Oh! It was his favorite roast chicken from Changbei Washiyuan (a famous roast chicken shop).

“Is the case settled?”

Song Tingzhou walked ahead and placed the cloth on the mat in the side room. “Zhang Jizu has been imprisoned, awaiting the court’s verdict.”

Meng Wan mused, “Oh, so this step is because the Emperor wants to keep the power over life and death in his own hands, strengthening imperial control. Also, it’s to prevent local officials from abusing their power and harming the people. This way, submitting to the Ministry of Justice is fairer and more reasonable.”

Song Tingzhou paused. “Strengthening imperial control?”

He smiled. “Wan’er put it succinctly. Yes, that’s right.”

Xue Sheng put the remaining fruit, candies, wine, and other items into the side room, ready to be loaded onto the cart the next morning.

Meng Wan carried the roast chicken. “We’ll have noodles with roast chicken tonight. Xue Sheng, go buy some eggplants and meat from the market, and get more steamed buns to take with us tomorrow.”

He took two small silver pieces from his pouch, but Xue Sheng didn’t take them. “I still have enough from what Fulang gave me last time.”

With that, he left. Meng Wan had no choice but to put the silver back into his little red purse.

Meng Wan kneaded the dough, and Song Tingzhou fetched a bucket of water to help. The young couple worked side by side, chatting casually.

“Yesterday, when I went to the market, I ran into Sister-in-law Chunfang. She’s had another son, just a few months old. Her daughter is old enough to talk now. Both children look like her.”

“Feng Jinzhang should have gone to Fengtian for the provincial exam last year.”

“He did, and he passed and became a juren (provincial graduate). Sister-in-law Chunfang said the local country gentry wanted to buy them a house in the prefectural city, and some wealthy merchants from Changping also sent gifts.”

When Song Tingzhou had passed the provincial exam, the same thing had happened. But they had politely declined everything. There was no such thing as free lunch. Those shrewd merchants wouldn’t give without expecting something in return. It might not show immediately, but if indulged, it would eventually cause trouble.

Meng Wan divided the kneaded dough into large pieces, rolled them into thin sheets, and cut them into fine noodles.

Song Tingzhou stoked the fire. It was hot, and sweat dripped from his forehead and nose.

Meng Wan boiled the noodles, washed his hands, changed the basin water, and dipped a cloth in the well water. He wrung it out and bent down to wipe Song Tingzhou’s sweat.

The well water was cold, and the cloth felt cool and refreshing on his face.

Xue Sheng returned with the meat and vegetables, along with two bags of steamed buns. Seeing that he wasn’t needed in the kitchen for now, he drew water from the well in the yard, washed the vegetables, and brought them to Meng Wan in the kitchen.

Meng Wan placed the vegetables on the cutting board and noticed that Xue Sheng was also carrying two large pieces of premium plum blossom pork.

“Why did you buy so much meat?” Meat doesn’t keep well in hot weather; they usually bought only enough for a few days.

Xue Sheng quickly explained, “I ran into Miss Li from the neighboring house on Liuti Lane at the market. Her husband runs the meat stall. She insisted on giving me the meat for free, but I left the silver on the counter before leaving.”

Meng Wan had taught his family this. He had also instructed Chang Jinhua and Bi Yun not to accept gifts from the villagers when they returned home. Wild vegetables and mountain mushrooms were fine, but nothing of value.

Meng Wan recalled, “I remember Qin Niang mentioned that their meat stall has moved to the south of the city.”

Qin Niang and her husband were both busy. He runs the meat stall and occasionally goes to the countryside to buy pigs or castrate them. She runs a breakfast stall and works early every day. With two incomes, their life was prosperous.

Meng Wan cut half of one piece of meat to use as topping with diced eggplant. He gave the remaining piece and a half to Song Tingzhou. “Husband, help me mince this into filling. We’ll use it for steamed buns tomorrow morning, or it won’t keep well.”

They rinsed the cooked noodles in cold well water to make them more chewy. They brought the eggplant and meat sauce to the stone table in the yard, along with two basins of noodles.

Now that only the three of them were there, they all sat at the stone table, eating noodles and tearing apart the roast chicken. Song Tingzhou held a basin, while Meng Wan and Xue Sheng held bowls.

Autumn was approaching, and the temperature difference between day and night in Changping was significant. As they ate, the sun set in the west, and a cool breeze blew.

After the meal, Xue Sheng cleaned up the dishes, and Meng Wan organized their belongings.

“I’ll also give away some clothes that are too small on me. The children in our clan can alter them. Those coarse cloths I bought are for them.”

Song Tingzhou organized old books in his study. They probably wouldn’t return to Changping often, and unlike clothes, books had to be taken back to Sanquan Village without exception. “I’ll leave some of my beginner’s books for the clan.”

Meng Wan remembered, “Should we set up a private school for the clan this time?”

They had discussed this before, but the timing wasn’t right because of the disaster. Now that potatoes were widespread in Changping, giving the people another staple, and the court had exempted one year’s land tax, life had improved considerably.

Most importantly, Song Tingzhou was now an official and should take care of his clan members while cultivating his own helpers.

Not to mention anything else, just this assignment revealed how important it is to have connections in government. If it weren't for Lord Lin and Lord Wang's help, they wouldn't have found out until the day of the appointment that they were being sent to Leizhou.

They wouldn't even know who they'd offended before getting punished.

"We should set up a school for the clan's children, but for elementary education, a student would suffice." If a child had talent, their aptitude would become apparent after three years of elementary education, and then those who were clever and diligent could be taken out of the village for further cultivation.

The choice of teacher also needed careful consideration. At the elementary stage, the teaching wasn't difficult, so the main requirement was someone of decent character. Teaching and nurturing—not just academics but also moral character. Song Tingzhou already had someone in mind.

That evening, before bed, Meng Wan set the dough to rise. The next morning, the armed escorts brought the carriages, and Xue Sheng and the others loaded the belongings. Meng Wan was in the kitchen making his pure meat buns.

There was about ten pounds of leftover meat, which Song Tingzhou had minced into a large basin of filling. Meng Wan added salt and put it in the well to chill overnight, and in the morning Xue Sheng took it out and set it on the chopping board.

Meng Wan seasoned the filling and made two steamerfuls of meat buns. Their family ate one pot, while Xue Sheng bought fried dough and tofu pudding outside, and together with the leftover buns, he treated the escorts to breakfast.

After loading four carriages full of household goods, everyone ate heartily before hitting the road. Huang Zheng saw them off at the city gate but did not follow them out.

Meng Wan warned him, "Don't get too involved in Jinxi's affairs. We only promised to get him out of the city anyway. Where he goes after that has nothing to do with us. Give him the silver, escort him out of the city, and then return. Even if you see something, don't butt in."

Who knew whom he had offended—old or young, good or evil? Anyway, Jinxi wasn't a good guy. He probably felt no gratitude toward Meng Wan, and Meng Wan would be happy to see someone else teach him a lesson.

Huang Zheng wasn't a greenhorn anymore and had dealt with Jinxi plenty before, so he naturally understood the implication. "I understand, Brother. Take care on the road."

Before leaving, Meng Wan remembered something he had asked Huang Zheng about a few days earlier. "And don't forget to help me find that young man called Xiao E. He was a page at the Wu residence, probably taken by a broker to be resold."

Huang Zheng promised, "Don't worry, Brother. By the time you return from your hometown, I'll have news for sure."

Meng Wan felt reassured and went back inside the carriage.

Huang Zheng watched from behind as their convoy gradually disappeared into the distance.

—

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chang Jinhua was at home as usual, feeding the chickens. When meal time came and she called, all twelve chickens ran home without fail.

She had been raising them for half a year, feeding them well, and two of the hens were about to lay eggs.

Bi Yun was bringing in the bedding that had been airing in the yard. Recently, whenever the weather was good, he'd air the bedding every few days.

He brought the bedding into the house, and Chang Jinhua said to him, "Bi Yun, let's go to the neighboring village later to buy some mooncakes. They say their five-nut and date paste fillings are delicious. Let's buy plenty to save for Wan'er and Da Lang." The neighboring village only sold mooncakes around the Mid-Autumn Festival, not at other times. On ordinary days, villagers rarely bought them, so they wouldn't bother making them.

Hearing this, Bi Yun took a basket from the kitchen and thoughtfully lined the bottom with a clean cloth. "Alright, I'll lock the door."

Chang Jinhua put all the chickens in the coop, washed her hands in the yard's water basin, and patted the rice chaff off her clothes. "Let's go."

Just as they locked the front gate, they saw a long line of carriages and people in the distance.

Chang Jinhua's face lit up, and her voice rose. "Oh! Is that Da Lang and the others coming back?"

Bi Yun was also delighted. "It must be them."

He quickly unlocked the bronze lock on the front gate.

The carriages came fast and soon arrived right in front. The villagers who weren't working came out to watch the commotion.

Song Tingzhou got out first, then reached up to catch Meng Wan as he jumped down.

"Mother, we're back!"