Jiang Ancheng, seeing that Jiang Si’s expression didn’t seem feigned, hesitated briefly before nodding decisively: “Let’s go!”
After all, Brother Zhen was quite fond of Si’er. If Si’er could indeed produce evidence, it would be an official matter. If not, they could simply consider it a visit to an elder. Either way, there was nothing to lose.
From behind came Madam Feng’s angry shout: “Eldest son, how can you indulge the Fourth Miss’s reckless behavior?”
Jiang Si turned around, smiling as she asked Old Madam Feng: “Grandmother, would you like to make another bet with your granddaughter?”
Old Madam Feng frowned, waiting for her to continue.
“If your granddaughter can retrieve the letter of severance, Grandmother will no longer interfere in Big Sister and Yan’er’s future affairs.”
“And if you can’t retrieve it?”
Jiang Si spread her hands: “Then Grandmother may deal with your granddaughter as she sees fit.”
While Old Madam Feng was still hesitating, Jiang Ancheng had already left quickly with his son and daughter.
The old lady belatedly realized: Wait, in both bets, if the Fourth Miss lost, she would be at her mercy. Wasn’t this like getting something for nothing?
She had been outwitted by a young girl in a moment of carelessness!
While Old Madam Feng was sulking, Jiang Ancheng had already arrived at the Shuntian Prefecture with the Jiang Si siblings.
Zhen Shicheng, sitting behind the court bench, looked at Jiang Ancheng and silently sighed.
Ever since he took office as the Prefect of Shuntian, the Jiang family had become frequent visitors to the prefecture. There was no need to be so enthusiastic in supporting his work.
“May I ask what brings the Earl here?” In court, Zhen Shicheng naturally couldn’t use familiar terms, being very mindful of propriety.
Jiang Ancheng wasn’t confused either, and announced loudly: “Prefect Zhen, I have come to request that the court grant my daughter a divorce from Zhu Ziyu!”
“Uh, may I ask on what grounds?”
“Zhu Ziyu, to be with another woman, attempted to harm his wife!”
A commotion immediately arose in the courtroom.
Zhen Shicheng’s gaze shifted slightly, glancing at the young woman standing discreetly behind Jiang Zhan.
Jiang Si met his gaze, her lips curving slightly.
Zhen Shicheng coughed lightly: “Earl, please wait a moment. This official will first summon the people from the Zhu household.”
Jiang Ancheng nodded and sat calmly on a bench to the side, though his heart was somewhat uneasy.
He felt he might have been a bit impulsive; he should have asked Si’er what evidence she had.
This unease suddenly vanished when he saw his daughter’s composed face.
Si’er wasn’t a rash child; he should trust her. If it were his son – well, that would be a different story, warranting a slap first and questions later.
It wasn’t long before the Zhu father and son arrived at the court with the yamen runners.
The Shuntian Prefecture was surrounded inside and out by spectators, all of whom had rushed over with snacks upon hearing that the Eastern Peace Earl’s household was seeking a divorce from the Zhu family.
The Great Zhou had an enlightened practice where citizens could enter to observe court proceedings.
As for why so many people were standing outside, the answer was obvious – they arrived too late due to slow legs and there was no more room inside!
Zhen Shicheng nodded to Jiang Ancheng: “Earl, since you are accusing the male party of attempting to harm his wife, please state your case first.”
Jiang Ancheng rose and came to the center of the court, speaking loudly: “This matter dates back to when my daughter went to White Cloud Temple to offer incense…”
After he finished speaking, the discussions grew even louder.
“I remember now, there was such an incident. The Eastern Peace Earl’s household reported it to the officials at the time. I even saw constables going to the Zhu residence.”
“It seems there was no evidence, as the officials haven’t taken any action since.”
“Even without evidence, I still think this matter is most likely true. Otherwise, why would the Eastern Peace Earl’s household have reported it to the officials without hesitation?”
“That’s right, for it to escalate to official reporting, it couldn’t have been simple. Indeed, Zhu Ziyu already had someone outside. I heard it was even a young lady from a noble family, but unfortunately, we don’t know which family…”
Listening to these discussions, Jiang Ancheng felt like buying two pounds of braised pork knuckles to reward his daughter.
Si’er’s foresight in promptly reporting to the officials had indeed given the Earl’s household the upper hand now.
“Silence!” Zhen Shicheng struck his gavel and turned his gaze to Zhu Ziyu. “Zhu Ziyu, what do you have to say?”
In just two or three short days, the once-spirited young man had become a withered figure.
Hearing the question, Zhu Ziyu slowly straightened his back, his tone slow but clear: “The horse-startling incident was an act of revenge by the carriage driver and had nothing to do with me. The Jiang family’s accusation of me attempting to harm my wife is merely an attempt to take my wife away from me.”
“Nonsense!” Seeing that Zhu Ziyu still refused to repent, Jiang Ancheng’s anger flared.
Zhu Ziyu retorted: “Father-in-law, you level such an accusation against your son-in-law. What evidence do you have?”
“Of course we have evidence.” A clear, sweet female voice rang out, startling everyone in the courtroom. They all turned towards the source of the voice.
And when they saw the appearance of the speaker, they were even more surprised.
Isn’t this the young lady from the Eastern Peace Earl’s household? A noblelady came to the court with her father and brother.
Facing these gazes, Jiang Si didn’t feel awkward at all. She calmly took out an object from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Ancheng.
Since she dared to stand here, she wasn’t afraid of the public eye.
Her sister had suffered; why couldn’t she, as a younger sister, stand up? Just because she was a woman?
Women also have love and hate, blood and tears, gentle affection, and the courage to repay cruelty with justice. Faced with the beast who had hurt her family, she refused to hide behind her father and brother. She wanted to righteously give Zhu Ziyu, that drowning dog, a sound beating.
After quickly reading the paper Jiang Si handed over, Jiang Ancheng’s face turned ashen. His hand trembled as he handed the paper to the yamen runner to present to Zhen Shicheng.
“Beast!” Jiang Ancheng flew into a rage, kicking Zhu Ziyu to the ground.
Lord Zhu’s face changed drastically: “My in-law, why must you take things to such extremes?”
“Extreme? Zhu Deming, take a good look at what your son has done!”
Zhen Shicheng gestured for the yamen runner to show the paper to Lord Zhu and Zhu Ziyu.
Lord Zhu looked at his son in disbelief.
Half of Zhu Ziyu’s inner support crumbled in an instant.
How is this possible? How did Jiang Si know about Qing’er’s issue?
“Absurd, you want to accuse me of attempting to harm my wife based on just a piece of paper?” Zhu Ziyu protested.
Jiang Si sneered: “Still in denial!”
She clapped her hands lightly, and Aman’s loud voice rang out: “Excuse me, please make way.”
A pair of sisters appeared before everyone. They stood close together, looking like mirror images of each other.
Zhu Ziyu’s face instantly turned ashen.
“Which of you is Qing’er, and which is Yu’er?” Zhen Shicheng asked.
The sisters knelt together, each stating their identity.
“Speak,” he commanded.
Qing’er and Yu’er took turns explaining the matters written on the paper, causing the spectators to gasp in shock from time to time.
“Nonsense, these two girls have been bribed by you!” Zhu Ziyu desperately rebutted.
Jiang Si smiled, staring at Zhu Ziyu: “Don’t be hasty, I have many more witnesses. For instance, the two enforcers from the Yan Spring Troupe, the ruffian who redeemed Yu’er, and… the brother of the Yu’er sisters!”
As she said this, Jiang Si’s gaze swept across the crowd, meeting Yu Jin’s eyes.
She owed thanks to Yu Qi for being able to find the Yu’er sisters’ brother.
Their gazes briefly entangled before Jiang Si quickly withdrew her eyes, enunciating each word: “Zhu Ziyu, if you’re a man, confess to your crimes. At least that way, you won’t look so pathetic.”