He was determined to humiliate the Wen family and make them notorious, removing the thorn in the princess's side!
The downfall of the Wen family would be like cutting off an arm of the crown prince.
Without the support of Grand Tutor Wen, would the crown prince still be the gentle, self - disciplined, and capable heir?
Sooner or later, he would be replaced by the prince chosen by the princess!
Cheng Yong was full of ambition.
In the courtroom, Shi Jinglu's eyes swept across Cheng Yong. He suppressed the disdain in his eyes. As he opened his mouth, his voice carried a heavy pressure. "Does the plaintiff wish to present the case in person?"
Cheng Yong was a fourth - rank official. In terms of official rank, he was one rank lower than Shi Jinglu.
However, he thought himself much nobler than Shi Jinglu because of his marquis title and looked down on the Shi family of judges.
If his most capable head steward hadn't been beaten to death by the crown prince, he wouldn't have bothered to appear in court today.
When Shi Jinglu asked the question, Cheng Yong just rolled his eyes haughtily and waved his arm. A servant then handed a lawsuit paper to the ninth - rank registrar, a subordinate of Shi Jinglu.
The registrar, upon receiving Shi Jinglu's order, took the lawsuit paper and read it aloud in the courtroom.
In the lawsuit paper, the reason for Wen Congbai's killing was attributed to an argument with Cheng Jingxuan. It slandered Wen Congbai as having long disliked Cheng Jingxuan, being petty, holding grudges, and deliberately seeking revenge.
The whole lawsuit paper condemned Wen Congbai as evil and violent while portraying Cheng Jingxuan as completely innocent.
Shi Jinglu remained calm. Following the legal procedure, he asked, "Do you have any witnesses or physical evidence?"
The incident of Wen Congbai making Cheng Jingxuan bleed in front of the princess's mansion was a big and well - known event in the capital.
Cheng Yong was extremely confident. "In the whole capital, anyone with eyes and a conscience can testify for this marquis!"
In his eyes, the case was clear - cut.
He had once gone to the Shi family in person to threaten them. Shi Jinglu, that stubborn rock, refused to yield. Then the princess sent people to "greet" Shi Minglang, Shi Jinglu's nephew, on New Year's Eve.
It was said that Shi Minglang had been stabbed eight times and was on the verge of death. He was still lying in bed, barely alive.
Whether the Shi family, known for producing judges, could continue to thrive depended entirely on Shi Minglang. How could Shi Jinglu not be afraid?
The intimidation of the princess had worked.
Cheng Yong said in a commanding tone, "The case is already clear, Lord Shi. Wen Congbai should be sentenced to death by slow slicing. Hurry up and finalize the verdict."
There was an undisguised arrogance in his tone.
Shi Jinglu sat upright in the main hall, like a solemn and imposing stone lion.
"Lord Shi wouldn't want to bend the law for personal gain, would he? The heavens are watching, and the common people are waiting for justice. Many in the court are also keeping an eye on this case. Lord Shi, you can't let down your official hat."
Many of the on - looking common people at the door were illiterate, but they could tell that Cheng Yong was blatantly threatening Shi Jinglu.
With the support of the princess, this marquis was really bold!
Cheng Yong proudly raised his eyebrows at Wen Congbai. His look seemed to say, "Your time is up!"
Wen Congbai neither got angry nor spoke. A hidden killing intent showed in his silent gaze.
Shi Jinglu's expression didn't change in the slightest because of Cheng Yong's words.
He remained as steady as a rock. "Since the plaintiff has omitted presenting evidence, then the defendant, do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?"
Wen Congbai calmly replied, "Your Honor, I did kill the person, but I have evidence to prove that he deserved to die."
The common people outside the courtroom were shocked and began to whisper and discuss.
Shi Jinglu slapped the gavel and loudly ordered, "Bring in the witnesses!"
The first one to come forward was Mama Lin from the Red Lotus Tower.
She was in her forties, with a charming look in her eyes and a strong smell of makeup. But she was fearless. She walked past Cheng Yong with her head held high.
She knelt down and spoke clearly. "On the eighth day of last month, I was seeing off a guest. When I passed by a room on the third floor, I suddenly heard a woman's screams and cries, along with the lewd laughter of a group of men. I recognized it as Miss Shen's cry for help. I immediately ordered someone to break open the door.
The five men were regular customers of the Red Lotus Tower. Miss Shen often came to the tower to check the girls' pulses and treat their illnesses. I thought those drunkards had mistaken Miss Shen for one of the tower girls, so I tried to stop them. But those drunkards were fierce and scolded me not to meddle in other people's business.
Miss Shen cried and said that Cheng Jingxuan had followed her, kidnapped her, and then thrown her into the Red Lotus Tower. He also instigated his cronies to assault her. I couldn't just stand by and watch, so I ordered my people to drive those drunkards away. Only then did Miss Shen manage to escape."
Her words were like a thunderbolt, causing a huge stir.
When Wen Congbai heard the details of Yuhe's humiliation again, the veins on his forehead bulged.
He wished he could dig Cheng Jingxuan out of his grave and slice him a hundred more times.
The common people were outraged and condemned Cheng Jingxuan's evil deeds.
Cheng Yong was suddenly pushed to the forefront of the storm.
A few drops of cold sweat oozed from his chubby face. He glared at Mama Lin fiercely.
Where did this woman, who was even lower than the riffraff, get the courage to go against the princess?
Was she tired of living?
Mama Lin glared back at Cheng Yong and continued, "Young Master Wen and Miss Shen grew up together and were engaged. When his fiancée suffered such a great humiliation, it's only natural for Young Master Wen to avenge her. What crime has he committed?
The real culprit is Cheng Jingxuan. He ruined a woman's reputation, and his crime is unforgivable!"
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, a woman's reputation was highly valued. The law clearly stipulated that ruining a woman's reputation was a serious crime!
The tone of the common people's discussion began to change.
"The Wen family has the best reputation among the noble families. Grand Tutor Wen, who assists the crown prince, is upright and noble. Young Master Wen is a gentle and polite gentleman. He treats us common people with respect. I don't believe he would kill someone just because of a little argument!"
"Mama Lin's story is very detailed. She doesn't seem to be lying!"
"On the contrary, the Cheng family has a bad family style and always takes devious paths. Which of the Cheng family's sons isn't arrogant and dissolute?"
"I heard that the deceased Cheng Jingxuan climbed into the princess's bed for wealth and honor. As the son of a marquis, he was so despicable as to become the princess's male favorite!"
Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Cheng Yong got anxious. He stuck out his short and thick neck and argued, "Who can prove that you're not lying? You must have been bribed by the Wen family to slander my son! My poor son died so miserably, and now he's being slandered!"
"I can prove it!"
A clear and powerful voice sounded.
Wen Congbai suddenly turned around and was too shocked to speak.
Shen Yuhe, wearing a begonia - red brocade dress, burst into the courtroom like a gorgeous sea of flowers.
Wen Congbai's eyes were gradually lit up by her.
The two of them smiled at each other. They understood each other without saying a word.
Shi Jinglu's voice became a bit lighter, though his expression remained serious. There was a faint smile in the corner of his eyes.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Shen Yuhe, the granddaughter of the head of the Imperial Hospital. Lord Shi, I can testify that every word Mama Lin said is true!"
The exclamations of the common people rose one after another and couldn't be suppressed.
Shi Jinglu was too lazy to bang the gavel anymore.
The discussions were like a flood, drowning Shen Yuhe's ears.
"Miss Shen is really brave. This concerns a woman's reputation, but for Young Master Wen, she's willing to stand at the forefront of the storm. She's really loyal and affectionate!"
"Exactly. Miss Shen is worthy of Young Master Wen's anger for her sake!"
Shen Yuhe and Wen Congbai both tilted their ears slightly.
These two voices sounded a bit familiar.