A few ruffians intending to rob a woman for a small sum of money had instead ended up in court.
These men, already steeped in drinking, gambling, and womanizing, confessed before any torture. They revealed their employer to be Hu San, the steward of the Hu manor.
Hu San was brought to the court and denied ever seeing the ruffians.
"Don't think you can disguise yourself and fool us. You changed clothes in the alley opposite the Hu residence and washed off your makeup. We saw it all clearly," one of the ruffians argued when he refused to confess.
"Nonsense! When did I ever leave the Hu manor? I have no quarrel with Mistress Liu, why would I hire people to teach her a lesson?" Hu San's expression momentarily stiffened at their accusations, but he quickly recovered and defended himself as if nothing had happened.
"Your Honor, it's really him! When he was changing, we clearly saw a very large mole on his back. If you don't believe us, make him take off his shirt," another ruffian added eagerly, fearing the magistrate wouldn't believe them.
"Guards, check if he has a mole on his back." The magistrate’s order was immediate. Several yamen runners stepped forward, restrained him, and pulled open his shirt.
"What else do you have to say for yourself?" the magistrate asked sternly, looking at the large black mole on his back.
Hu San’s gaze flickered towards Master Hu, who was mingling with the crowd. Seeing all eyes on him, Master Hu shot a fierce glare.
"It was indeed my doing. I was jealous that Mistress Liu snatched business from the Hu family, making our lives as servants more difficult, so I wanted to hire someone to teach her a lesson." Hu San turned his head, his voice low, making his expression unreadable.
"Have you thought this through? Don't take the blame for others. If you were threatened with your family, you should consider this: if someone had dirt on you, would they let your wife and children live comfortably? It would be more secure to cut the roots," the magistrate reasoned, knowing this was likely ordered by the Hu family's master, as a servant wouldn't dare commit such acts.
Hearing the magistrate's words, Hu San shivered. Knowing the Hu family, they were capable of eliminating all ties. Furthermore, as indentured servants of the Hu family, their deaths would go unnoticed.
After careful consideration, Hu San, ignoring the killing glares from the Hu family, confessed to the magistrate. "My master ordered me to do it. I didn't implicate my master earlier because my wife and child are in the Hu manor, and they hold my indenture. I feared for their safety."
"Arrest the defendant Hu Jiayuan!" Hu Jiayuan, who had been watching the spectacle from the entrance, was brought to the center.
"Defendant Hu Jiayuan, why did you hire people in broad daylight to teach your own granddaughter a lesson?" A loud bang of the gavel startled Hu Jiayuan.
"This, this… it's sheer slander, utter fabrication!" Hu Jiayuan attempted to evade by denying everything.
"I might know something. Once, I went to see my master and overheard him and his wife arguing about a letter from the capital, mentioning a county princess. Shortly after, my master ordered me to handle this matter. All of my master's letters are hidden in his study; you'll find them if you search." Hu San thought that since he had already implicated his master, he should try to lessen his own punishment.
"Since Your Honor already knows, I advise you to investigate no further. After all, Princess Anhe is not to be trifled with. The Liu family was specifically targeted by her. Otherwise, why would I harm my own descendants?" Hu Jiayuan looked at Wu Caiwei with a mixture of pity and regret.
"Are you implying that the two elders of the Liu family and my grandmother were also killed by you?" Wu Caiwei was stunned for a moment before drawing a shocking conclusion. Sudan Novel Network.
"How is that possible? I only dealt with you. The Liu elders were angered to death by your grandmother, and your grandmother died of illness." Although Hu Jiayuan was only flustered for a moment, Wu Caiwei detected his guilt.
"As far as I know, the Liu family are merchants. How could they offend a royal princess?" the magistrate voiced his question.
"I only followed orders. How would I know what the higher-ups are thinking?" Now that the matter was exposed, Hu Jiayuan was no longer afraid. He didn't believe a mere magistrate would dare defy a royal princess. Any smart person would know not to investigate further.
Wu Caiwei was also in a dilemma. She had initially thought that convicting Hu Jiayuan would be the end of it. However, the involvement of the capital complicated matters. She had only heard from Qiushuang and Dongzhi that Prince Qin was now the Crown Prince, but she didn't know his exact situation. History was replete with instances of deposed crown princes. Involvement with royalty required careful consideration.
After weighing the options, the magistrate released Hu Jiayuan, but he was ordered to return the Hu family's property to the Liu family.
He had altered the deeds when he took over the Liu family's property, and the records were filed with the yamen. The magistrate gave him three days to return it, or it would be forcibly executed.
Upon returning home, he argued fiercely with Madam Hu over the matter. Madam Hu was reluctant to part with the wealth accumulated over the years, while Master Hu didn't want to go to jail. Finally, amidst Madam Hu's tears, they sold off all valuable possessions, dismissed as many servants as possible, and even mortgaged the house they were currently living in to raise enough money equivalent to the Liu family's original fortune.
Thus, the Hu family was utterly ruined. Wu Caiwei heard that they had rented a courtyard. Young Mistress Hu had taken a divorce letter and returned to her maiden home, abandoning her children. Hu Jiayuan and his son had not changed their wicked ways, and Madam Hu was struggling alone, constantly quarreling.
Madam Hu resented Hu Jiayuan for deceiving her into marriage, while Hu Jiayuan blamed the Zhang family for implicating him, causing his years of hard work to go to waste.
Wu Caiwei was uninterested in their trivial squabbles. She had not forgotten the fleeting guilt she had noticed in his eyes during the trial.
Hu Jiayuan felt more wronged than ever. He searched every corner of their home and found only a few dozen copper coins. Recalling the ups and downs of his life, he went to a tavern, bought the cheapest wine, intending to drown his sorrows.
As he became thoroughly drunk, he vaguely saw someone approach him. He struggled to open his eyes to see who it was, but a sharp pain struck him, and he lost consciousness.
He awoke again with a splitting headache. Trying to rub his head, he found his hands immobile. It was then he realized with a jolt that he was bound tightly. He desperately tried to recall the events before he got drunk, vaguely seeing someone who resembled Liu Feixue. Unease settled in his heart, knowing that the situation would not end well.
As noon approached, Wu Caiwei, twirling a dagger, entered the wood shed accompanied by guards.
Hu Jiayuan, seeing the menacing Liu Feixue, trembled uncontrollably.
"You only have this much courage. I truly can't believe you're the one who committed those heinous acts," Wu Caiwei said with disdain.
"It must be a misunderstanding. I am your own grandfather. Apart from mistreating your father and grandmother, I haven't done anything else," Hu Jiayuan said with a fawning smile.
"I don't have a grandfather who would harm his own son and granddaughter. It seems Master Hu won't shed a tear until he sees his own coffin," Wu Caiwei said, looking at him with ill intent.