WBSGVS Chapter 57 V2

Luo Qingli, quietly observing everything, thought, “???”

She almost laughed out loud; this constable was too amusing, managing to catch Cheng Zhaohua as well.

Now, there was no way Cheng Zhaohua could find a savior today.

Seeing Cheng Zhaoyang’s behavior, the magistrate guessed the situation and did not blame the constable. “You did well; this man has a guilty conscience.”

The constable, feeling satisfied, returned to his spot at the back of the room.

The magistrate smiled slightly, but his expression turned cold as he addressed the bandits, “Do you recognize this man?”

The three bandits looked closely at Cheng Zhaoyang before nodding decisively. “Yes, Your Honor. This is Cheng Zhaoyang. We never harmed anyone during our robberies. He passed by once and almost got robbed, but since he had no money on him, we let him go. Who would have thought he would come looking for us later, offering to introduce us to a deal? The jade pendant was given to us at that time. It’s worthless, but it proves his identity.”

The magistrate nodded in satisfaction and turned to Cheng Zhaoyang, speaking in a serious tone: “Cheng Zhaoyang, your father-in-law, Luo Yuzhi, accuses you of colluding with bandits to commit wrongdoing and attempting to coerce a marriage through deceit. The bandits have confessed; do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Cheng Zhaoyang’s face turned pale, and he trembled all over, his teeth clenched so tightly from panic that they rattled, yet he remained silent.

He was too afraid to speak.

Once he opened his mouth, he feared he would confess.

Indeed, he hadn’t even considered making excuses, as the evidence against him was overwhelming!

Especially at this moment, Cheng Zhaoyang’s mind was blank; he couldn’t think of any good strategy.

However, ancient court proceedings were not as structured as modern ones. With eyewitnesses already present and physical evidence forthcoming, the magistrate ordered directly, “Give him a beating!”

“Yes, Your Honor.” The constable received the order, and soon one person brought in a tool while two others lifted Cheng Zhaoyang, who resembled a limp fish, and placed him on a wooden bench before starting the beating.

“Ah—” Cheng Zhaoyang finally let out a sound, but it was a horrific scream. In his panic, he saw Luo Qingli and cried out desperately, “A Li, save me! A Li, I am your husband; please save me!”

Luo Qingli maintained her icy demeanor and ignored him, even finding a hint of amusement in watching his plight.

This scene seemed to overlap with his nightmares from before; when he was scared, he dreamt that his wrongdoings would be exposed, and no one would want to listen to him, disdainful of his poverty, uselessness, and lameness—just like what was happening now!

Cheng Zhaoyang completely collapsed. As the blows landed on his backside, pain shot through him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. He wailed, not daring to resist, crying out, “I admit it, I admit it, it was me!”

“Stop,” the magistrate commanded.

The constable halted, and Cheng Zhaoyang rolled off the bench, his face flushed, veins bulging in his neck, looking disheveled and grotesque.

At that moment, the constable who had taken the jade pendant to Changgan Town returned, quickly approaching the magistrate. “Your Honor, I showed the pendant to many people, including Cheng Zhaoyang’s childhood friends, and even ran into his sister. It is indeed Cheng Zhaoyang’s pendant, but it was lost three years ago by accident.”

The county magistrate was thoroughly satisfied and said lightly, “Now that we have both eyewitness and physical evidence, and the criminal has confessed, bring Xuong’s mother in. Luo Qingli, you said you heard Xuong and Cheng Zhaoyang’s conversation, so you know the truth. This means Xuong is an accomplice, right?”

Qingli replied in a clear voice, “Yes.”

Before long, an officer brought Xuong’s mother in.

Typically arrogant, Xuong’s mother was now trembling with fear, glancing around anxiously with each step. She didn’t know why she had been brought here, but ordinary people inherently feared the authorities.

Once she entered the hall, Xuong’s mother hadn’t even had a chance to bow before she saw her eldest son’s miserable state. She rushed over, crying out, “Eldest brother, what happened to you? Who hurt you like this?”

Cheng Zhaoyang, already lost in pain, only opened his eyes in fear when he heard his mother’s voice. He quickly pushed her away, panicking, “You need to leave, you need to leave.” He turned pleadingly to the county magistrate, saying, “My mother knows nothing.”

Xuong’s mother, confused, instinctively asked, “What do you mean?”

The county magistrate said in a deep voice, “Shut your mouth! I haven’t questioned you yet.”

Cheng Zhaoyang trembled in fright and tightly covered his mouth.

Xuong’s mother also shivered, fearfully looking at the magistrate.

He said, “Xuong, today the Luo family accuses your eldest son of colluding with bandits to deceive in marriage. Are you aware of this?”

Upon hearing this, Xuong’s mother’s eyes widened in shock as she glared at Luo Yuzhi and Qingli, shouting, “Luo family, you wicked woman! My son is your husband, and you dare to accuse him?!”

The news about her son hit her hard, and in her fury, Xuong’s mother forgot the unusual nature of the situation and instinctively yelled at Luo Qingli.

“Cough, cough…” Qingli seemed startled by her outburst, quickly coughing twice and hiding behind Luo Yuzhi.

Luo Yuzhi shielded his daughter, his anger flaring at Xuong’s mother’s accusations. “So, Cheng Zhaoyang colluding with bandits is justified? I accuse him because he deserves it. Why are you not shocked at all? Do you know what’s going on?”

Bandits?!

Xuong’s mother shuddered, finally understanding what her son had said earlier. Instinctively looking at her son, she saw his eyes red with anxiety and fear, and her heart raced. She quickly countered, “I know nothing! I truly don’t!”

The county magistrate scoffed, saying, “Your reaction indicates that you know, so you’re not surprised at all; you’re just angry that the Luo family accused your son. If you don’t plead guilty, I will proceed with the punishment.”

Xuong’s mother gritted her teeth and shook her head, refusing to relent. “I truly do not know!”

It was only at that moment that Cheng Zhaoyang mustered the courage to speak up. “Your Honor, my mother doesn’t know. This was entirely my doing.”

The county magistrate chuckled and waved his hand, and someone immediately took action.

Just as with Cheng Zhaoyang, the method used on Xuong’s mother was similar. She was heavier, and when the board struck down, it caused her to tremble all over. “Ow!!!” A mournful scream echoed, sharp and horrifying.

Cheng Zhaoyang closed his eyes in fear, bowing his head submissively as he knelt, filled with desolation.

“Keep hitting!” the county magistrate commanded harshly.

“Yes,” the officer replied and struck harder.

With a loud crack, the sound made one’s teeth ache. Xuong’s mother, her face turning red from the pain, couldn’t withstand it anymore and shouted, “I confess! I confess!”

The county magistrate signaled for them to stop. Xuong’s mother was dragged over, kneeling on the ground, crying and shouting, “Your Honor, I truly did not know at first! My son only told me later! I know nothing about this…”

The county magistrate slammed the table, shaking the room. Seizing the moment, he asked, “Then when did you find out?”

Xuong’s mother shivered in fear, the pain from being struck making her cry out. With a sorrowful face, she instinctively said, “When my son was treating his leg.”

“Your son was already lame when he tried to use this to coerce a marriage!” The county magistrate’s gaze turned icy. “Knowing about this but not reporting it is also a crime. Helping your son deceive in marriage is even worse!”

Xuong’s mother felt a deep shock, her body growing cold. Panic seized her as she realized that merely assisting could be considered a crime. She cried out, “Your Honor, please spare me! I was just momentarily bewitched!” She turned to Qingli, pleading, “Luo, my son only made a mistake because he liked her! I didn’t do anything wrong; please ask the magistrate to show mercy and spare me! I beg you!”

“Show mercy? After I learned the truth, I wished for nothing more than for you to reap what you’ve sown!” Luo Yuzhi revealed a triumphant smile and shouted, “Your Honor, this is the financial account I sent to Cheng Zhaoyang after his incident, with Cheng Zhaoyang’s seal. It also includes my daughter’s dowry. Now that this is confirmed as a fraudulent marriage, I ask you to take care of my daughter!”

He presented the account he had obtained after the previous uproar.

The county magistrate took the document, examined it carefully, and nodded. “Indeed, this is a fraudulent marriage. Now that the truth is clear, the marriage is null and void. I will take charge: the engagement between Cheng Zhaoyang and your daughter is hereby annulled!”

Hearing this, Cheng Zhaoyang shot up, panic-stricken. “Your Honor, she is already my wife! How can the marriage be disregarded?”

If this were to happen, his future would be ruined. There was no avoiding imprisonment now; with a lame leg, would he lose his hard-won wife just like that?

He couldn’t accept it, and despite his fear, he still managed to retort.

The county magistrate spoke coldly, “This engagement was deceived from the start. You have taken the dowry and defrauded compensation. Naturally, the engagement must be annulled!”

Cheng Zhaoyang, filled with shame and fury, turned to Qingli with a final glimmer of hope. “What benefit do you gain from harming me?! Even if the marriage is called off, you are no longer a virgin! Do you think anyone will still want you?”

Qingli’s expression hardened. “So what? Watching you face retribution makes me happy! Whether or not to be with you is not your decision. Don’t worry; without you and the Cheng family, I will live a thousand times better in the future!”

Cheng Zhaoyang’s heart ached deeply. All the resentment and bitterness he felt turned into powerless fury as he looked at Luo Qingli’s determined expression.

All his carefully calculated plans for marriage and benefits had fallen apart, and now he faced the reality of imprisonment for the rest of his life, losing his leg and the wife he had fought so hard to obtain!

Overwhelmed, Cheng Zhaoyang felt a darkness engulf him and fainted.

Xuong’s mother cried out in alarm, “Eldest brother!”

The county magistrate frowned. “Bring a basin of cold water!”