Chapter 269: Seeing Through but Not Saying Through
urs. You have to take good care of them and prevent anyone ignorant from causing trouble. Otherwise, if there are any more good things in the future, I will be ashamed to ask the magistrate on your be..."Lord Xie, make the decision! Lord Xie, see clearly!"
Li Zhensheng and Li Laoer knelt on the ground, each banging their heads down, both with tears streaming down their faces.
Especially Li Zhensheng, his heart felt like a bottle of condiments had been overturned, he couldn't tell what flavor it was.
After years of injustice, the truth has finally come to light.
He is no longer Wang Xinqu, he is Li Jia's eldest son - Li Zhensheng!
The commoners in the hall were like they were celebrating the New Year, excitedly cheering loudly, "Good judgment! Good judgment!"
"Oh, that's just how it should be! God opened his eyes!"
"Master Wang has become Master Li, finally a good outcome!"
"Acknowledge your ancestors! Acknowledge your ancestors!"
The magistrate stepped down from his platform and personally helped Li Zhensheng up, bowing respectfully and saying, "Mr. Li, congratulations! Your wish has finally come true."
Could it be that he has guessed something This magistrate sure seems to have things figured out.
Li Zhensheng's eyes flashed, he bowed deeply to the ground, "Thank you, sir. Li Zhensheng has wasted decades of time. Now that I have been cleared of suspicion, it is all thanks to your help. In the future, I will definitely repay you."
The magistrate smiled and waved his hand, "I was merely doing my duty. If Mr. Li wishes to express gratitude, he should thank the Emperor. Without the Emperor's decree, this matter would not have gone so smoothly."
Li Zhensheng nodded, "The emperor's grace is boundless, Li will surely keep it in mind."
Having said that, he pulled Li Lao Er over and knelt down toward the palace, shouting loudly: "Thanks to the Emperor's vast benevolence and grace, thanks to the Emperor for helping the Li family reunite, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
The two brothers bowed three times, then turned to the common people below and said, "Thank you, elders and fellow villagers, for your hard work these past few days. Li Zhensheng and Li Jiaming will always remember this kindness and will definitely repay you in the future!"
The common people hurried to make way, bowing and greeting him.
"Mr. Li, these are all we should do."
"Indeed, the Wang family has fallen from grace. Everyone can see that!"
"Mr. Li, hurry home! You'll finally be able to see your mother!"
"Li Yuanwai, you must take good care of your illness and recover quickly!"
Ordinary people or many have minor flaws, like being stingy or trying to get a small advantage, but in terms of their heart, most are mostly kind and simple.
They witnessed Li Zhensheng's vindication from beginning to end. Now that Li Zhensheng has found his family, they are truly happy for him.
You said one sentence, I said another, all of them were words of advice and concern.
Such a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere, it was truly a time for everyone to be moved to tears. Yet, there was someone who wasn't happy, and that was Wang E.
She was terrified.
The son-in-law was brought back by her father, and the two thugs were also killed by her father. But she had nothing to do with it!
The only mistake she made was hiding her illness and not seeking treatment for her husband. She feared that if he recovered, he would leave her, abandoning their home and children.
How could her love for her child and family not be forgiven
Wang E rushed forward like a madman, grabbed Li Zhensheng's robe, and cried: "Woooooo, husband, save me, I don't want to be exiled! I was wrong, I shouldn't have hidden your illness from you. I'll work like a cow or a horse to atone for my sins. Please beg for me, plead with them!"
Li Zhensheng pulled his robe back with a jerk and said coldly, "The crime you have committed is intolerable by national law. After you are sent to the southwest, work hard and don't think about your children! When I return to the Li family, I will raise them well and make them into honest and kind people."
Wang E was about to rush forward, but Li Lao Er was already furious and kicked her aside with one foot.
If possible, Li Lao'er would have loved to eat the woman in front of him raw. The hardships that the Li family had endured for over ten years were all because this woman wanted to find a son-in-law!
Just like that, she still has the face to ask her big brother for forgiveness!
The magistrate couldn't bear it any longer and ordered the guards, "Execute them immediately!"
The guards surged forward, grabbing chairs, planks of wood, and binding people, all in a flurry.
In the blink of an eye, Wang E and Wang Zhong were tied to chairs and faced the crowd, like pigs waiting to be slaughtered!
Wang Zhong's face was ashen. He raised his blurry old eyes and, in a moment of clarity, seemed to see his son shrinking back in the crowd and his grandson staring at him with wide-eyed terror.
He was startled, his original hesitation and fear vanished as he wanted to shout, but then swallowed it back.
These were punishments he should have borne for his sins from years past. By confessing honestly, his descendants would be carefree and live comfortably for generations to come.
But if he were to say something inappropriate, it would only leave his descendants without protection. His son is a gambler after all, and who knows, maybe in a few years the family will be ruined...
"Bang, bang!" The planks of wood, as wide as a slap, rained down on the flesh, making a sound that sent chills down your spine.
Wang E screamed incessantly, and the clothes behind her were quickly soaked with blood.
She desperately searched the crowd for any sign of Wang's family, hoping someone would come to her rescue.
Unfortunately, I didn't see him until I passed out.
She was furious with rage, there were still 20,000 taels of silver at her uncle's house. If she took half of it to bribe the government officials, she wouldn't be in this situation!
In fact, she really wronged the Wang family. Wang Lao Taiye didn't want to embezzle those two thousand taels of silver at all. It was just that there were things happening at home, and he was too busy to take care of himself!
In the morning, they were eager to go to the government office, even though they knew the emperor had decreed that the magistrate should handle the case impartially. They figured that considering Wang family's reputation, the magistrate would show leniency and their niece would suffer less.
Unexpectedly, before they could even step out the door, officials from Dali Temple arrived.
Lao San was then tied up with iron chains like a zongzi and dragged away.
Of course, the old Wang would choose his son over his niece.
But he waited outside Dali Temple all morning and didn't find out a single piece of information. He had no idea what crime his son had committed.
As the sun rose above their heads, a servant hurried in to whisper, "Master, there's news from the government office. Miss has been sentenced to thirty lashes and exile to the southwest, where she will serve twenty years of forced labor."
Old Wang frowned, “Why is the sentence so severe Xiaoye is just a woman and doesn't know the inside story!”
The servant bowed his head, afraid of incurring displeasure, and whispered, "I don't know, Master. But the young mistress and her husband are always a couple for a hundred days of kindness, and there are also two young masters. I heard that Master has gone to Suijin Beach. Should we go and tell Master..."
"Broken Gold Beach You're saying the Lis are from Broken Gold Beach" Old Master Wang’s mind suddenly lit up, as if he had grasped the key to the situation.
The servant grew more and more afraid, hesitatingly replying, "Yes, Master, Cousin's original family was the Li family of Suijin Beach, the one with the Hot Spring Manor..."
"Is Suijin Beach the estate of Hou XinTing" the old Wang asked again.
"It's likely that some people in the city were envious before and got their comeuppance. Rumor has it that Marquis Xinting took a liking to the place and had it registered under his name." The servant spilled everything he knew.
"What a new Pavilion Marquis, so it is the new Pavilion Marquis!" Old Master Wang gritted his teeth.
He said nothing more, but narrowed his eyes slightly, and suddenly understood everything.
My son being brought to Dali Temple, it's most likely the work of Marquis Xinting.
The Marquis of Xinting wanted to protect the Li family, so he didn't want them interfering in the Wang E and her husband's affair. That's why he targeted the third son!
Just then, a small clerk from the Dali Temple crept forward and whispered, "My lord minister, I've heard something. The Third Master was arrested because assassins who killed Marquis Xinting used his vacant manor in the east of the city as their hideout."
As expected!t.Just then, Zheng He came in with new tea and asked, "Master, are you returning to Suijin Beach tonight Word from home says today is Mr. Wen's birthday, and they want to make a big celebration."Li La...