His scoundrelly attitude was quite exasperating. The county magistrate furrowed his brow; if the Xun family stubbornly refused to admit fault, this matter would indeed be tricky.
Song Mingze suddenly spoke, his voice calm and his expression gentle, "Wan Niang, do you wish to follow me back to the Song family?"
Shopkeeper Xun, who had been tightly gripping Xun Wan Niang, let go as soon as Song Mingze spoke. Xun Wan Niang shook off Shopkeeper Xun. "Yes, I do. I'm married to you, so I'm your wife. Of course, I want to go home with you."
"Then tell the official, was it you or your maid who gave me the medicine?" Song Mingze asked.
Shopkeeper Xun wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
"If I tell you, will you take me back and treat me well?"
Song Mingze hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I will take you back. Whether I treat you well depends on whether you behave."
"I gave you that medicine. I kept it on me personally, so Qing Shui didn't know about it," Xun Wan Niang said proudly.
"Then can you tell me who gave you the medicine, and why you wanted me to take it?" Song Mingze gently guided Xun Wan Niang.
"My mother gave it to me. My mother said I'm not good-looking, and you might not like me. She said if you took the medicine, you would like me," Xu Wan Niang said mysteriously. "I just wanted you to like me very much, so I gave you all the medicine."
Xun Wan Niang's voice was loud, and the county magistrate and the onlookers heard it clearly.
So, it turned out Xun Wan Niang was indeed trying to harm her husband.
"Your Honor, the Xun family is abetting their daughter in committing murder. Not only that, but their family colluded with the matchmaker to deceive my Song family!" Song Mingze stated forcefully. "I was fortunate to have a famous doctor who saved my life. Instead of trying to resolve this matter, the Xun family devised a plan to have someone else take the blame. This clearly shows they disregard the laws of Da Feng and your authority, Your Honor."
His words were measured and filled with righteous indignation.
After speaking, Song Mingze panted heavily, appearing as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.
The county magistrate's gaze turned cold. "Xun Tian Lai, do you know your crime?"
Shopkeeper Xun's legs went weak, and he immediately knelt on the ground. "Your Honor, you have seen my daughter's condition. She was infatuated with a scholar. We painstakingly chose the Song family, with no other intentions but for them to treat our daughter well. But with her appearance... we truly have no way!"
"Father, why are you kneeling?" Xun Wan Niang asked cheerfully, appearing oblivious, completely unaware of what had happened.
Shopkeeper Xun opened his mouth but said nothing. He regretted his foolishness in colluding with Matchmaker Song to falsify matters. Now that such a mess had occurred, if the Song family refused to let it go, even without involving the authorities, as long as Wan Niang was still a member of the Song family, they could deal with her. Drowning in a pigsty... Shopkeeper Xun shivered. He only had this one descendant.
The county magistrate also felt a headache coming on. Xun Wan Niang clearly wasn't cunning; in fact, she seemed slow-witted. It was unlikely she intended to harm someone. The fault lay entirely with the Xun couple for their poor upbringing.
Looking at Song Mingze kneeling below, his expression resolute, his lawsuit written clearly and his mind sharp, he had guided Xun Wan Niang to clarify the matter. Moreover, Song Mingze had nearly lost his life, and clearly had no affection for Xun Wan Niang. It was likely the Song family would not let this matter rest.
"Song Mingze, Xun Wan Niang is still a member of your Song family and your wife. You are accusing her; what punishment do you wish this official to mete out?" the county magistrate asked.
What punishment? Song Mingze was momentarily bewildered. He harbored hatred, deep hatred. Yet, the joy on Xun Wan Niang's face when she saw him was genuine. Although she had done something absurd to him, it was due to the Xun couple's poor guidance. If Xun Wan Niang were to lose her life because of this, Song Mingze would not be able to bear it.
"Replying to Your Honor, the fault of the father lies in not teaching the son. Xun Wan Niang is slow-witted and committed such an act. The Xun couple bears the greatest responsibility! I implore Your Honor to investigate thoroughly!" Song Mingze said. "As for Xun Wan Niang, before coming here, my elders had already discussed it. The Song family does not want such a daughter-in-law. Furthermore, the other key person in this matter, Matchmaker Song, I hope Your Honor will impose appropriate punishment. Her falsification has already violated the ethics that matchmakers should uphold."
After speaking, Song Mingze calmly looked at the county magistrate.
Song Mingze's lawsuit stated attempted murder of a spouse. Based on this alone, Xun Wan Niang could be sentenced to death.
However, Song Mingze's words clearly showed leniency towards Xun Wan Niang.
The county magistrate pondered for a moment, beginning to understand Song Mingze's intention. He was shifting the blame to Xun Tian Lai and Matchmaker Song. Indeed, without the Xun couple and the matchmaker's scheming, the Song family would not have agreed to the marriage. If the marriage had not taken place, the subsequent absurd events would not have occurred.
"Xun Tian Lai, from this matter, you and your wife are the masterminds. Although Xun Wan Niang was the one who administered the medicine, she did so under your instruction. No one knows her better than you and your wife. Whatever you say, she will do! The charge of attempted murder is not fitting for Xun Wan Niang, but for you. Attempting to take a life is punishable by death according to the law." The county magistrate's final words were like knives, making Xun Tian Lai tremble.
Punishable by death meant beheading.
"Your Honor, it wasn't me, it wasn't me! The medicine given to Wan Niang wasn't from me, it was from my wife," Xun Tian Lai said while kowtowing. "I implore Your Honor to see clearly, please see clearly."
Shopkeeper Xun was directly pushing the blame onto his wife.
Madam Xun, who had been watching the court from within the crowd, could no longer contain herself. She forcefully pushed aside the obstructing yamen runners and rushed into the court. "Xun Tian Lai, do you have any conscience? You gave me that medicine. Don't think I don't know. You used such medicine frequently when you were fooling around with those women in the back courtyard. Where would I, a woman in the inner chambers, get such medicine?"
After accusing Xun Tian Lai, Madam Xun cried out to the county magistrate, "Your Honor, this matter has nothing to do with this humble woman. It was Xun Tian Lai who instructed me and told me to tell our daughter."
The Xun couple's behavior added a dash of spice to the farce, providing ample entertainment for the onlookers.
"Nonsense! How can a woman cause such a commotion in court? This official will make his own judgment on the twists and turns of the case," the county magistrate reprimanded sternly.
Madam Xun, with a wronged expression, mumbled and fell silent.
Qi Zhenzhen's lips curved into a cold smile. Madam Xun's appearance of being wronged, yet her eyes full of calculation, indicated that she was not uninvolved. Attempting to take a life should indeed be punishable by death, but Song Mingze did not die, and there was more than one mastermind. Qi Zhenzhen was curious to see how the county magistrate would rule.