Shen Li climbed the steps in front of the Jingzhao Prefecture Office. She picked up the two drumsticks beside the drum of appeal and struck it three times with a resounding "Dong! Dong! Dong!"
Then, Lord Liang, the prefect of Jingzhao, adjusted the belt around his waist that signified his official rank and walked into the main hall. He then shouted loudly, "Who is the one drumming outside? What grievances do you have? Speak up!"
Shen Li was the first to enter the main hall of the Jingzhao Prefecture Office. She knelt before Lord Liang, who was sitting on the high dais, and said, "I'm Shen Li, a commoner girl. My uncle is Shen Junming, the commissioner of the provincial administration. I'm here today to file a lawsuit against the evil servant in my family, Nanny Zheng, who has bullied me."
"If she is an evil servant in your family, the deed of indenture must be in your hands. You can punish her as you like!" As he said this, Lord Liang frowned slightly. "Such a trivial matter doesn't need to be made such a big deal! You can just handle it in your own mansion!"
For those who sold themselves into slavery, the deeds of indenture were always in the hands of their masters. Once they made a mistake, they would be at the mercy of their masters! There had never been a case where someone brought a servant-related matter to court!
Even though he knew that Shen Li was the daughter of an official family, Lord Liang was still a bit annoyed.
Shen Li didn't show any signs of unhappiness because of Lord Liang's words. She simply said, "My lord, you may not know. That evil servant is not a servant of the Shen Mansion but a dowry maid of my aunt. And today, right in front of everyone, she framed me for having a secret rendezvous with a man!"
"If it weren't for the help of the two gentlemen and the common people today, she might have succeeded! That evil servant is so bold. Naturally, I want to punish her, but unfortunately, she is no longer under the control of our Shen Mansion. So I've come here specially to ask my lord to uphold justice for me!"
Lord Liang had been an official for many years and was well-versed in the ways of officialdom. Although he knew that Shen Li was probably bullied and that the evil servant was most likely instigated by someone, it seemed to be an internal matter of the Shen Mansion and really shouldn't be his business as an official.
He looked down at Shen Li, who still held her back straight even while kneeling on the ground. Then he glanced at the crowd that had surrounded the yamen several times outside. There were also people who heard the commotion and were rushing here for a look.
He naturally knew how powerful rumors could be. If he just drove Shen Li away today, not only was Shen Li clearly a tough person, but the common people outside would also start gossiping. If these words reached the ears of the imperial censor and he was impeached in front of the emperor for his inaction, it would be a big headache for him.
He also had some acquaintance with Shen Junming and knew a bit about his family situation. He really didn't want to get involved in his family affairs.
After some consideration, Lord Liang said, "That evil servant framed and insulted you. Well, I'll uphold justice for you. I'll have that evil servant sold off! In this way, she won't cause any more trouble in your mansion!"
"My lord is wise!"
Madam Shen and Shen Miao managed to squeeze through the on - looking crowd under the protection of several young servants. Just as they heard Lord Liang say this, Madam Shen, regardless of her disheveled hair, quickly said, "That evil servant is truly extremely guilty! We definitely can't keep such a person! After we return to the mansion, we'll sell her off!"
"My lord, this won't do!" Shen Li looked up at Lord Liang. "No matter how bold Nanny Zheng is, how could she casually frame her master? And in her words, she was quite confident. She firmly insisted that I had a secret rendezvous with a man, as if she had some backing. Please, my lord, uphold justice for me!"
"This..." Lord Liang hesitated for a while. Seeing Madam Shen constantly signaling him with her eyes to end the case quickly, he still waved over a young servant beside him and whispered some instructions in his ear.
The common people who had followed here early on all craned their necks to look inside, eager to see how the imperial official would try the case. You know, it was not often that one could witness a case like this on the spot. Naturally, they were all eagerly waiting.
There were also some people who had just come for the fun and didn't know what had happened before. They were now asking those around them. Those who knew were telling them what had happened in Lvyi Alley just now.
After a while, everyone knew about the case and now just wanted to know how it would be judged.
Seeing Lord Liang still hesitating on the dais, Shen Li knew what was on his mind. He just didn't want to offend Shen Junming and wanted to get rid of her quickly, but today he wouldn't get his wish.
"My lord! Today's case is too complex. It not only concerns my personal reputation but also your official reputation!"
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
"At the beginning of today's incident, I said that if I was framed, I would come to the Jingzhao Prefecture Office to beat the drum of appeal and ask my lord to uphold justice for me. I said this because I have great trust in my lord. Today, in front of so many common people, if my lord can clear my name, it will also let everyone see your wisdom and might!"
Lord Liang really didn't expect that a young lady from a boudoir like Shen Li could have the same thoughts as him. It was really astonishing.
Anyway, he was already in a difficult situation today. As for Shen Junming, he had already sent someone to deliver a message, so he had done his best.
For the following things, he would handle them according to the rules and regulations.
As for when Shen Junming would come and how he would solve his family's problems, it was no longer within his jurisdiction.
Lord Liang slapped the gavel on the table with a "Pa!" and shouted to the yamen runners below, "Bring in the suspect!"
Nanny Zheng, with her hands and feet tied and her mouth gagged, was thrown onto the main hall and knelt down. It was a yamen runner who, afraid that she would affect the progress of the trial, stepped forward to untie her.
As soon as she regained her freedom, Nanny Zheng shouted, "My lord! I'm wronged! I'm wronged!"
"This is no place for you to make a racket!" Lord Liang scolded Nanny Zheng, who was wailing below.
Nanny Zheng looked up at Lord Liang's cold face and didn't dare to say anything more. She immediately shut up.
Shen Li then stepped forward and told in detail how she had made an appointment with Mu Ruchu half a month ago, how Nanny Zheng had wronged her for improper behavior when she went to keep the appointment today, and how Nanny Zheng had shown her flaws and been exposed in the end.
After Shen Li finished speaking, Lord Liang asked Nanny Zheng, who was kneeling below, "You are a servant in the family. Why did you frame your master? What was your intention? Tell me everything now!"
Although Nanny Zheng knew that she had been caught by Shen Li today and was now in the Jingzhao Prefecture Office, she knew that her deed of indenture was in Madam Shen's hands. Not only her but also her whole family was under Madam Shen's control.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, she couldn't betray Madam Shen. For now, the only thing she could do was to take all the blame on herself. Even if she was beaten today, when they returned to the mansion, Madam Shen would remember that she hadn't betrayed her and would think well of her.