Chapter 48: Confrontation in Court

Crowd: "..."
County office bailiffs: "..."
Talk about a rare sight! After living for so many years, this was the first time anyone had ever taken a fight all the way inside the government office!

Du Jingzhong, the county lieutenant who was currently having his midday meal inside the county office, heard the bailiff's report, tossed his chopsticks aside directly, and raged, "Have they lost their minds? Bring them all in!"

Uncle Quan had just finished conveying the magistrate's instruction for Du Jingzhong to come to the study later and was about to leave when he heard the bailiff come in to report the matter. Thus, he lifted his feet and followed right behind Du Jingzhong. Seeing this, County Vice-Mayor Wu Feng also put down his chopsticks and followed along.

At this moment, Zhen Mi'er was frantic with worry. Holding a silk handkerchief, she carefully dabbed at the blood on Gu Tingzhi's forehead, pressing him, "Husband, do you feel unwell? Come, let me take you to the medical clinic!"

With that, she made to help Gu Tingzhi away.

However, the bailiffs did not afford them this opportunity. Reaching out to block their path, they pointed toward the direction of the county office gates and said, "Please."

With no other choice, Zhen Mi'er had to accompany Gu Tingzhi into the county office.

Gu Qingbai hurried in after them. As for the onlookers, who wanted to follow and see how the matter unfolded while also wishing to hold their places in the queue, they hesitated for a moment. Remembering that the county vice-mayor would not return to help them register until the *wei* hour, they decided to follow along as well.

Such minor matters, as long as they could be resolved at a lower level, were never used to purposely trouble the county magistrate. Du Jingzhong sat upright on the left side of the trial bench, while Wu Feng sat on the right. Neither spoke; they merely watched.

Uncle Quan, trailing in the rear, did not know Gu Tingzhi, but he was very familiar with Gu Qingbai. Seeing him among the troublemakers, he blinked in surprise.

At that moment, Du Jingzhong struck the gavel and demanded, "Who stands below? Why did you start a dispute? State the truth, detail by detail!"

The burly man kneeling on the ground, blood still staining the corner of his mouth, was about to speak when a young man in blue hurried forward, seizing the opportunity to state the cause and effect of the matter first.

"Reporting to Your Honor, this humble one is named Zhang Ziheng and is a candidate who has come to the city to take the examinations. I arrived at the county yesterday afternoon and have been staying at the Fulai Inn."

"This morning at dawn, I bought some breakfast and was walking in this direction when this burly man crashed straight into me, spilling *douzhi* all over my body. Yet this ruffian made a false accusation, claiming that I was blind and had bumped into him."

"Because I was in a rush to come to the yamen for registration and did not want to miss the auspicious time, I chose not to entangle myself with him further. I returned to the inn to change my clothes and hurried over here to wait in line."

"Never did I expect this ruffian to follow me all the way here. While I was standing properly in line, he rushed forward, shoved me to the ground, snatched my money pouch, and shouted 'thief' while acting like the victim, cursing me for stealing his silver. He grabbed the money and tried to leave."

"Yet this money represents the arduous toil and frugal sacrifice of my esteemed father, mother, and elder sister, saved specifically so that I might have the funds to travel to the city for the examinations. How could I possibly let this thief walk away with the silver? We became embroiled in a scuffle as I tried to retrieve my property."

"Knowing his guilt and anxious to flee, he attempted to resort to violence against me. Since I have been frail since childhood, I was no match for him whatsoever. This chivalrous brother here saw injustice on the road and came to my aid, only to be ambushed with a shoulder pole by this ruffian, who struck him in the head."

"This is the entire sequence of events, complete with every detail. I beg Your Honor to make a clear judgment." Having finished, Zhang Ziheng cupped his hands in salute once more and glanced at Gu Tingzhi's bleeding forehead, his face full of worry.

Gu Qingbai also stepped forward at this juncture and offered a bow upward: "Your Honor, just as this scholar has stated, we were entirely unacquainted with the other party prior to this. It is simply that my third brother has always possessed a passionate and righteous heart, unable to stand by in the face of such bullying behavior, and thus he stepped in to assist. Who could have imagined that this burly man would be so utterly devoid of respect for the law? In broad daylight, he dared to use a shoulder pole to injure my third brother. All the scholars present at the scene can serve as witnesses."

The surrounding crowd murmured in indignation; this burly man was simply too lawless. They eagerly raised their voices to corroborate Gu Qingbai's words.

The burly man had suffered internal injuries from Gu Tingzhi's kick, and before he could speak, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Seeing that the current situation was disadvantageous to him, he capitalized on his condition, slumped weakly to the ground to play the victim, and wailed, "Your Honor! Your Honor must uphold justice for this humble one!"

"These two are spouting utter nonsense, hurling malicious accusations! They are in cahoots!"

"One of them stole my silver and framed me, while the other beat me half to death in an attempt on my life!"

"Your Honor, just look at my injuries—they are trying to murder me for my wealth!"

Having listened to this, Zhang Ziheng, who had always prided himself on being a scholar who understood reason and could distinguish right from wrong, nearly failed to maintain his refined demeanor and burst into a stream of furious curses.

On the dais, Du Jingzhong swept his gaze across the expressions of the gathering and waved his hand. "Both of you make your own claims, each insisting on being right, yet you speak with empty mouths and present no evidence whatsoever. How do you intend to prove that this pouch of silver belongs to you?"

As soon as Du Jingzhong finished speaking, one of the bailiffs took the money pouch from the burly man's hand and presented it upward.

Zhang Ziheng stepped forward once more, bowing as he said, "Your Honor, this is not difficult. I can prove that I am the owner of this money pouch." Just outside the county office earlier, he had almost let the burly man make off with the silver simply because his raw physical strength was inferior.

Du Jingzhong looked at him. "If you have a method to prove your ownership, speak freely."

"Would Your Honor be so kind as to provide this humble one with brush and ink? I can write down the exact silver coins and other items inside the pouch in detail on paper. If Your Honor checks them one by one, my innocence will be proven."

Hearing him say this, the burly man's face lit up with delight. Cutting in ahead of him, he spoke first: "Your Honor, this humble one can also verify the quantity of silver and coins inside: twenty whole taels of silver and seventeen copper coins."

With that, he cast a triumphant look toward Zhang Ziheng.

Du Jingzhong opened the presented money pouch and glanced inside. It was indeed as the burly man had stated: twenty whole taels of silver and seventeen copper coins.

He raised his eyes to look at Zhang Ziheng below. "Do you have any other ways to prove your claim?"

Zhang Ziheng did not panic in the least. In a measured tone, he replied, "Reporting to Your Honor, there is an inner compartment inside this money pouch. Inside that compartment rests a silver banknote and a peace talisman. I beg Your Honor to inspect it."

Upon hearing him say this, the burly man's expression changed instantly. Anxious, he blurted out, "Your Honor, there truly is an inner compartment inside this money pouch. It was sewn by my old wife. The banknote was hidden inside so it wouldn't draw attention, and she was the one who put the peace talisman in as well, terrified that I might meet with some misfortune away from home. Only with that peace talisman guarding me does she feel at ease. Who could have imagined that this little thief would steal it and probe every single item inside? That is why he dares to stand here and brazenly confront me in this courtroom! Your Honor, you must uphold justice for me!"

The burly man's acting skills were top-tier. He spoke with deep emotion and apparent logic, swaying many of the onlookers to his side.

Zhang Ziheng turned his head to look at him and pressed on, "Then tell me, what is the denomination of that banknote?"

Naturally, the burly man had no idea what denomination of banknote was hidden in the compartment, but having lived to his age, his eyes were exceptionally sharp when sizing people up, and he had already been observing this young fellow for more than a day.