Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Kang Zhanxun dared to take this case to court today only because he had ironclad evidence in hand.

After all, he knew all too well from years of experience how cunning his second uncle and aunt were. If he couldn't land a single decisive blow, the moment he tipped them off, he'd never get another chance to turn things around.

His earlier verbal sparring with Old Madam Kang was simply because he didn't want to let his grandmother off the hook.

Now that he'd backed his grandmother into a corner and rattled her with his questioning, it was time to drop the blade!

Wu Dazhu knelt in the courtroom, his voice hoarse, every word landing like a nail as he gave his testimony:

"...That year, the two masters were traveling together on official business when they ran into bandits along the way. With the First Master's fighting skills, he wouldn't have given those ragtag outlaws a second thought."

"But the Second Master had always been jealous of our First Master. In that moment, evil thoughts took hold—while the First Master was protecting him, completely off guard, the Second Master stabbed him in the back. It was because of that wound that the First Master was overwhelmed and finally cut down by the bandits' blades!"

"After the First Master died, the Second Master killed his personal attendant too. He then threatened me with my whole family's lives, forcing me to help him cover it up and pass himself off as his brother."

"I had no choice—for my family's safety, I had to go along with it."

"With my cover-up, the Old Madam's protection, and the fact that the First Madam had only been married to the First Master for a few months and didn't know him well, the whole thing was successfully covered up..."

At this point, Wu Dazhu's face twisted with hatred: "But greed knows no bounds—a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Once the Second Master had seized the marquisate, how could he stand for the First Madam and her son being in his way? Killing them openly would raise suspicion, so the Second Master and his wife deliberately put on intimate shows in front of the First Madam, hoping to provoke the pregnant woman into losing both her life and her baby."

"The First Madam, not knowing the truth, was indeed consumed by grief and rage. She went into a difficult labor and bled out... Afterward, to tie up all loose ends, the steward, the First Madam's dowry matron, and my whole family were all systematically done away with."

"I alone survived by a miracle, fleeing deep into the mountains, barely hanging onto this worthless life of mine, surviving until today..."

It was because he knew the truth and feared being silenced that he'd prepared in advance and escaped death.

Unfortunately, though he survived, his family had all turned to bones.

He didn't have the power to avenge them himself, so he could only bide his time, waiting for someone to expose the marquisate's filth so he could add the final straw.

Thankfully, heaven had eyes—he lived long enough to see his enemies brought down!

The prefect asked gravely: "Aside from this, do you have any physical evidence?"

"Yes. Back then, sensing trouble, I hid the dagger the Second Master used to kill the First Master. It still has the Second Master's fingerprints on it."

"I do." Wu Dazhu pulled an oilcloth bundle from his robes and unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing a dagger.

The bloodstains on the dagger had turned dark brown, yet the fingerprints on the blade were still as clear as if they'd been made yesterday.

"This is the murder weapon from that day, with the Second Master's fingerprints on it. Also, the First Master once broke a rib during his military years. He kept it quiet for fear of worrying his family. Only the army physician, the deputy general, and I knew about it. If Your Honor opens the coffin and examines the bones, the truth will be clear."

One witness, one piece of evidence—ironclad, airtight.

Second Master Kang's face went ashen. He couldn't utter a single word in his own defense!

The prefect slammed the gavel and barked: "Kang Qixiao, what do you have to say for yourself?"

What could Second Master Kang even say?

All he felt was regret and hatred.

Not regret for killing his elder brother, but regret that he hadn't done a cleaner job of it.

Second Master Kang glared at Kang Zhanxun with bloodshot eyes, cursing bitterly: "If I'd known this day would come, I should've strangled you with my own hands, you little bastard, even if it raised suspicion! What right do you have to take my son's place as heir? What right did my brother have to inherit the title?"

"He and I were twins—born only moments apart, yet he got to be the legitimate eldest son. Born from the same womb, yet he was stronger and smarter than me—why?"

"Unfair... this world is so damn unfair!"

In his fury, he broke into hoarse laughter, tears and laughter mixing together, bordering on madness: "Little bastard, even if you expose the old crimes and overturn the verdict, so what? Even if I die, I'll have all of you to keep me company! The crime of deceiving the emperor calls for the execution of nine clans—with the whole clan as my burial shroud, I don't lose a damn thing! Hahaha..."

Second Madam Kang said nothing more, just collapsing limply to the ground.

When she'd instigated her husband to impersonate his brother all those years ago, she'd known the price of failure—she'd just allowed herself to hold onto hope.

The temptation of the marquisate had been too great. Neither she nor her own family could resist it...

Now, after all their scheming, it had all been for nothing.

And Du Ruorui, who'd been so confidently defending herself moments before, finally broke down in tears:

"Your Honor, please see clearly... I truly knew nothing about my in-laws' impersonation. It was them who proposed the arrangement of continuing both family lines through two branches. I knew nothing else..."

But her defense was far too weak. With ironclad evidence, no one was getting out of this.

"Bang—"

The gavel slammed down again.

The prefect declared solemnly: "This case has complete witness testimony and physical evidence. However, it concerns a hereditary title and involves the crime of deceiving the emperor—this official cannot decide alone. All defendants shall be taken into custody. I will report to the throne and await His Majesty's judgment."

With the crime of deceiving the emperor involved, even Kang Zhanxun, the plaintiff, couldn't escape.

But Kang Zhanxun didn't panic. He stepped forward calmly and presented a sealed letter, saying:

"Your Honor, this letter also concerns the case, but it's not suitable to be read openly in court. I respectfully request that when you submit your memorial to the throne, you present this letter to His Majesty for his personal perusal."

"Granted."

The prefect didn't make things difficult for him and nodded in agreement.

And so, the great storm that had engulfed the Dingbei Marquis's household finally came to a temporary end.

"Who would've thought the old grievances of the Dingbei Marquis's household ran so deep... Seems even the great noble families aren't so different from us common folk—siblings fighting over property, making just as much of a racket..."

"No wonder that after the 'bandit attack' that year, the Dingbei Marquis stopped leading troops personally and stayed in the rear—turns out it was a different man..."

"That Second Master Kang and his wife were truly ruthless—not only did they seize the title, they tried to cut off the eldest branch's line of succession entirely. Absolutely heartless..."

"Actually, you can't entirely blame Second Master Kang for his resentment—being twin brothers, born only moments apart, yet spending his entire life in his brother's shadow, and not even having his brother's health. Put yourself in his shoes—who could truly let that go?"

"But First Master Kang was equally innocent... What happens in the womb is beyond anyone's control. Just the cruel whims of fate."

The crowd buzzed with chatter as they dispersed.

Shen Huaizhi and the others were silent for a long while, their feelings complicated as they sighed.

"Who would've thought Kang Zhanxun was in such a situation in his own household... I always thought he just had no father's love and no mother around. Never imagined he had uncles and aunts like wolves and tigers lurking beside him."

"No wonder his temper always flared out of control, and when he got fierce he didn't recognize anyone—turns out he'd been poisoned..."

"But now, though he's avenged his parents, the crime of deceiving the emperor is a grave offense. He's dragged himself down too—truly a case of hurting the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred of his own."

"But if the truth isn't exposed, how can this bitter resentment be swallowed?"

The ancient system of collective punishment was severe, and when kin turned into enemies, it was the most agonizing dilemma.

Take revenge, and one wrong move could drag you down with them;

Don't take revenge, and this resentment is truly hard to swallow.

Even though they were sworn enemies, Shen Huaizhi and the others couldn't help but feel sympathy for Kang Zhanxun's plight.

But Han Zhang didn't think Kang Zhanxun was willing to go down with his enemy.

He said, "Kang Zhanxun and the nine clans of the Kang family should be safe."

"How so? Usurping a noble title and deceiving the emperor—even if His Majesty shows mercy and doesn't execute the nine clans, they should still have their property confiscated and be exiled."

Han Zhang didn't mind enlightening them and patiently explained, "Normally, that would be the case, but there's also a saying: merits can cancel out faults."

"The Dingbei Marquis household had guarded the frontier for years. Before Second Master Kang usurped the identity, the old Marquis and First Master Kang had earned countless merits for the court, enjoying great prestige among civilians and in the military."

"Over the years, if not for Second Master Kang's fear of returning to the battlefield after usurping the identity, the marquis household would have long since eclipsed the emperor's authority... But even though their merits stopped accumulating, there are still many in the military who say, 'We only recognize the marquis household, not the imperial command token.'"

"Now that the marquis household has fallen into turmoil, it's the perfect opportunity for His Majesty to consolidate military loyalty and showcase his imperial grace."

"As long as Kang Zhanxun, as the heir of the marquis household, is willing to hand over military power and pacify the old troops in the army on His Majesty's behalf, His Majesty will naturally not mind granting the household a pardon to show his great mercy."

And Kang Zhanxun could also use this to let the marquis household lie low, avoid the upcoming succession struggle, and raise the next generation in peace.

Otherwise, if it were merely revenge, there would be no need to stir up such a big fuss and drag himself down just to take his enemies with him.

Shen Huaizhi and the others suddenly understood: "I see. We were just saying that Kang Zhanxun seeking revenge by going down with his enemy would be too much of a loss..."

"Now you understand? Since you understand, go back and write a policy analysis on the Dingbei Marquis household affair and submit it."

Han Zhang nodded, then mercilessly assigned the homework.

Shen Huaizhi: ...

Pan Taining: ...

Zhao Yongchang: ...

Wu Xuelin: ...

Brother Han, you're asking for it!!!

The four grumbled indignantly, tortured by their studies.

Han Zhang, on the other hand, was in a great mood, laughed heartily, and turned to leave, flicking his sleeve.

The others followed: "Wait, Brother Han, where are you going? Didn't we agree to grab a few drinks today?"

"I'll drink with you later. I just heard from the bystanders that Treasure Pavilion has new jewelry today, so I'm going to take a look."

What's drinking with brothers compared to winning over his husband?

The heat had been intense lately, and his husband didn't like him holding him at night anymore—he needed to sweet-talk him.

If he couldn't hold his husband at night, he couldn't sleep at all these days.

Hearing this, Shen Huaizhi was delighted: "Buying jewelry for Lan Geer? Then I'll come along too."

"Again with the husband! Brother Han, you're way too into your husband and not enough into your friends! Your husband isn't going anywhere at home. We brothers rarely get together, and you're ditching us—that's just wrong..."

"Hey, hey, wait up, let's go together, let's go together."

Pan Taining and the other two complained, but they followed along without missing a beat.

They also counted their silver on them.

If Brother Han was buying jewelry for his husband, they'd feel like total jerks if they didn't bring something back for their own spouses!