"If you want to frame someone, you can always find a pretext!"
Granny Bian stared directly at Yu Dab, at the plaque of 'Mirror of Justice' hanging above his head. Her voice was sharp as a knife, filled with indignant sorrow.
Yu Dab's pupils contracted slightly. The Song family fire, this act of wickedness that had ignited the people of Wucheng's fury, naturally required a scapegoat. Granny Bian had a grudge against the Song family and was the aggrieved party in the disappearance case. Before the fire, she had clashed with the Song family's eldest son and issued threats – she was the perfect candidate for a scapegoat. Yu Dab hadn't expected that in this solemn and imposing courtroom, this woman would still possess the courage to resist and argue.
"Presumptuous!"
Yu Dab's anger surged, his eyes like lightning, his voice like thunder. The overwhelming authority poured down upon Granny Bian like a torrential rain. Ordinary citizens would have had their tongues tied and been unable to speak, only able to prostrate themselves and tremble, scared stiff by his imposing aura and official power. But when a person no longer fears death, they become fearless. After her husband's death and her son's disappearance, the only driving force for Granny Bian to live was her son's whereabouts.
And before today, she had already learned of her son's fate.
"What Your Lordship says are all speculations. Did this humble woman only cry out for justice to be considered presumptuous?"
"Your Lordship is high in rank and position. To condemn this humble woman based solely on speculation, is it because the evidence is conclusive, or because there are other hidden circumstances behind the Song family's annihilation? Does Your Lordship simply wish to find a scapegoat to conclude the case quickly? I am a lowly commoner, an ant in the eyes of Your Lordships. But if Your Lordship wishes to pin a false charge on this humble woman, if you wish to force me to admit to this groundless crime, then even in death, I will absolutely not be this scapegoat!"
Yu Dab's brow furrowed, the lines between his eyebrows almost capable of trapping a fly. This Bian Luanshi was merely a common woman. Under such circumstances, not only was she not flustered, but her words were so sharp. Listening to her, it seemed as though she had received some education. But the common folk from Jijiang Alley said that this Bian Luanshi was just a rustic village woman, and that she had gone mad after her child went missing? A madman, however, wouldn't have such clear reasoning and eloquence.
"Bian Luanshi, the situation has come to this, and you still refuse to confess!"
Yu Dab sighed, as if deeply pained. "The soporific potion and diesel were found in your home. Why do you remain silent about these? This official previously pitied you for losing your husband and son, and recently your niece. I thought you were overcome by grief and thus committed such an evil deed. But now, you are obstinately arguing, even attempting to incite conflict between officials and citizens to confuse the issue and escape punishment. Your behavior is so heinous, your intentions so malicious, that it makes this official's heart pound with fear. I can no longer tolerate it!"
"Guards! Bring forth the torture instruments!"
"Hahahaha!"
Granny Bian burst into maniacal laughter. "Evidence? Were those truly the incriminating items found in my room, or were they planted by you with malice..."
The yamen grabbed Granny Bian's shoulders. One yamen stepped forward, swung his arm with all his might, and slapped Granny Bian across the face. Blood trickled from the corner of Granny Bian's mouth. She opened her mouth, and a tooth, along with the blood, was spat onto the yamen's face. "Pah!"
The blood mixed with saliva, emitting a foul stench.
The yamen was instantly enraged and kicked Granny Bian in the stomach with such force that the yamen holding her shoulders almost lost his grip.
Granny Bian hunched over, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth onto the ground. The "drip, drip, drip" sound echoed in the deathly silent courtroom.
"What is this lunatic babbling about?"
"Exactly! It's been so many years since Wucheng has seen such a tragic case. The yamen of the yamen were so idle they were growing sores. Now that there's finally something to do, why would they frame someone just to quickly close the case? It was already a clear-cut matter, but she's made it sound as if there's some great hidden secret, some grand conspiracy. She's not just mad, she's possessed!"
"What you're saying makes sense. I was actually listening to her just now, thinking there might be some hidden circumstances!"
"Such a lunatic should be executed!"
"Precisely, use the刑, use heavy刑!"
One person shouted, and the crowd followed suit, their voices like a tidal wave, demanding that Granny Bian be subjected to severe punishment. Some people felt it was inappropriate, but their doubts were drowned out by the voices of the majority.
Yu Dab's lips curved upwards. The ignorant and foolish people were the easiest to incite. The herd mentality meant that most people wouldn't think for themselves and would even go all out to suppress those who held opposing views.
"The guilty woman has defied the court and refused to confess! Thirty strokes with the plank, as a warning to others!"
The yamen pressed down on Granny Bian's shoulders, forcing her to the ground. The yamen holding the plank stepped forward, standing on either side of Granny Bian. Two more yamen came forward and held down Granny Bian's legs.
"Execute the sentence!"
Yu Dab drew a red-tipped bamboo slip from the lot holder and threw it onto the ground. As the slip landed, the yamen raised the plank in their hands.
"Zheng~"
An arrow tore through the air, piercing the plank and pinning it to the official desk in front of Yu Dab.
"Who dares to be so presumptuous in the court!"
Yu Dab's pupils contracted. He abruptly stood up and looked towards the outside of the court.
The crowd parted, creating a path. The common folk craned their necks to look.
"The Luan sisters?"
The neighbors from Jijiang Alley were slightly stunned. These were, weren't they, Granny Bian's two nieces who had gone missing?
The moment they saw the Luan sisters, Auntie Wang's guilt vanished. In that instant, it was as if the clouds had parted and her soul had returned. She let out a deep sigh of relief, wanting to rush towards the Luan sisters to ask what had happened, but the yamen, holding sabers, filed out, aggressively blocking the path of everyone and surrounding the Luan sisters.
The cook drew his bow fully, the arrow aimed at the yamen in front of him. The arrowhead reflected a cold glint in the sunlight.
"Drop your bows and arrows and surrender, or you will be killed without mercy!"
The yamen roared, exuding an imposing aura.
The cook released the bowstring, and the arrow fell to the ground. The yamen, who had been tense, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The yamen stepped forward, intending to apprehend the two.
Nan Shiying tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the hand about to land on her shoulder. The cook suddenly moved. She swung her long bow, and the bow swept across the yamen's abdomen. In just one encounter, that yamen fell like a meteor into the court.
The yamen of the government were no match for the cook. In just a moment, all the yamen who had come to arrest them were lying on the ground, groaning.
Nan Shiying walked leisurely towards the court.
She reached the front of the court, and the cook kicked away the yamen beside Granny Bian, then helped her up.
Nan Shiying tilted her head slightly, smiling at Yu Dab, who was seated behind the official desk.
"Lord Yu, we meet again!"