nucmednet Chapter 176 Twins: An Unknown Omen?
Chapter 176 Twins: An Unknown Omen?
Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia returned to the main hall after listening for a while. Cui Zhihao pretended to be angry and rang the gavel, questioning the yamen runners present why these people had not been taken away.
The constables looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Seeing this, Shi Wanxia quickly stepped forward and said, "My lord, please calm down. These people must have other clues they haven't revealed yet. I wonder why they haven't spoken up and told us."
Cui Zhihao frowned and looked at Shi Wanxia, saying, "Miss Shi, what do you mean by that? These people are clearly criminals, so why are you deliberately hiding it?"
Shi Wanxia smiled slightly and said, "My lord, there are still many doubts in this case. If we do not interrogate him, I'm afraid the truth will not come to light."
After a moment of contemplation, Cui Zhihao said, "Very well, then let's do as you say and continue the interrogation."
Shi Wanxia cupped her hands and said, "Thank you, sir." Then, Shi Wanxia turned to the constables and said, "Since these people are unwilling to talk, come on! Take them away and subject them to severe torture."
The constables obeyed and took the group away. Cui Zhihao looked at Shi Wanxia and secretly admired her; this person was indeed quite capable.
He just didn't understand what Miss Shi meant. She wanted to save Chen Lao Er. In his opinion, Chen Lao Er was indeed innocent, but it was also true that he disrespected his parents! Was it necessary to save such a person?
The people below were terrified and begged for mercy. "Your Honor, spare our lives! Everything we have said is true! Please, Your Honor, have mercy on my eldest son. He is my only son."
Shi Wanxia smiled gently. "Alright, that's exactly what I was waiting for." "Uncle Chen, you said you only have one son, Chen Da. What about him? Isn't he your son?"
Old Man Chen followed Shi Wanxia's hand and looked at Chen Lao Er, his disgust evident to everyone present. If everyone knew the truth, how could they believe that such parents existed in the world?
This is outrageous! Shi Wanxia didn't really want to get involved in these matters, but Chen Lao Er was a soldier who protected the country! Regardless of why he joined the army, how could his parents and brothers treat him like this not break his heart?
In later generations, soldiers were deeply supported by the common people. We would be the first to object to anyone who dared to bully them like this. Although ancient soldiers were very different from modern soldiers, putting aside their status, what these parents did was truly despicable.
Old Man Chen cried and wailed, refusing to acknowledge Chen Lao Er. "He's not him! He's a jinx! He's been a jinx since birth! How could he be as blessed as my son? He's a jinx, not my son!"
Old Man Chen suddenly broke free from the bailiffs holding him and knelt in the main hall, begging for mercy: "I beg Your Excellency to do the right thing and allow this jinx to be expelled from the family register. I beg Your Excellency to have mercy and forgive my son."
Old Man Chen pleaded earnestly, kowtowing repeatedly as he begged the magistrate to grant his request. The other members of the Chen clan also knelt down to beg, for Chen the Second was of questionable character and a jinx.
It would be best to expel him from the Chen family. The village head also earnestly requests the magistrate to show leniency. "Your Honor, Chen the Second is a twin son of Chen the First. His birth was considered unlucky, and it has caused his elder brother to have been in poor health since birth. Chen the First was a promising student, but he has ruined his potential."
"I humbly request the magistrate's permission to expel this unfilial and disrespectful person from my Chen clan."
"We humbly request Your Excellency's permission to expel Chen Lao Er from the Chen clan."
The members of the Chen family knelt before the hall, pleading. Chen Lao Er, a tall man, staggered back a few steps in disbelief, weeping pitifully and pathetically.
He never understood why his parents favored his older brother so much, never imagining that they were the twins as rumored, and that he was a jinx.
Since they don't want him, then grant their wish! "This sinner also begs Your Excellency to grant their request! I have been the one who has influenced them in this life, and I do not wish to have any further involvement with them."
Cui Zhihao looked distressed; what was going on? Helpless, he could only wave his hand in agreement. The clan chief immediately took out the family genealogy from his robes and shakily stood up.
"Today, right here in the main hall of the government, with the magistrate in charge, I, the twenty-fifth patriarch of the Chen clan, hereby expel Chen Wang's second son, Chen Lao Er, from the clan. I beg our ancestors not to take offense."
With a flick of his wrist, the clan leader erased Chen Lao Er's name from the family register. Upon seeing this, Cui Zhigao cleared his throat.
"Since Chen Lao Er is no longer your son, then he cannot be considered your son. Therefore, there is no basis for the charge of disobedience. Guards, release him."
The constables immediately released Chen Lao Er, but how could the elderly Chen couple give up so easily? What about their eldest son?
The two men loudly berated Chen Lao Er, “You jinx! You’re no longer a member of the Chen family. We’ve raised you for years. How can you bear to watch your brother be beheaded? Why don’t you quickly drop the false accusation against your brother? Let me tell you, even if you’re expelled from the family register, when your mother and I get old and you become successful, the money you earn will still be ours.”
Shi Wanxia was so angry that her teeth itched. These two old guys were really shameless! They had already expelled him from the family register, and they were still putting on airs.
"Huh, strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual. Since you all say so, there's no point in keeping your eldest son around. He even laid a hand on his sister-in-law. What a beastly act of forcibly taking her! I've never heard of such a thing before!"
The elderly couple and the others were so angry they almost cursed, but then they realized this wretched woman was now an official and they couldn't afford to offend her. They could only suppress their anger and keep quiet.
Unaware of what was happening, the clan elders and village headmen stood up and began hurling insults and profanities at Shi Wanxia. Shi Wanxia impatiently picked at her ear and waved for the constables.
"Guards, give them ten strokes of the cane each! Am I being merciful enough?"
The village headman quickly intervened, intending to complain to the county magistrate. "Your Honor," he said, "how can such a woman from the inner quarters appear in this courtroom? She tarnishes the dignity of the imperial court!"
What else could the village head possibly say? Magistrate Wang interrupted him with a grin. “Village head, this Miss Shi is my colleague, the county clerk. Why would you, village head, dare to defy your superior?”
The village head was so frightened by Magistrate Wang's words that he immediately knelt on the ground, trembling and begging for forgiveness. "Please forgive me, Your Honor! I was confused for a moment and failed to discipline my villagers properly. My words offended you, Your Honor! Please forgive me!"
"This humble subject has no eye in his right eye. We have offended you, sirs, and beg your forgiveness. We know we were wrong! Please spare our lives, sirs."
Shi Wanxia smiled gently and gestured for them to rise. "Gentlemen, please rise. What do you think should be done with this Boss Chen?"
The village head and the others dared not stand up, nor dared they answer the woman's question. They all lowered their heads like quails, refusing to speak no matter what.