After rebirth, I made the princes cry

Gu Geng cleared his throat: "Uncle Pingyi, since you have submitted the complaint, please don't say any more 'unspeakable' words. I would like to remind you that this matter has been brought to heaven. If you insist on not withdrawing the complaint, it is not your fault." It's a private matter in the Pingyi Bo's house. As the middle-aged woman Shi just said, the person you are suing is not only the earl's son who was canonized according to the imperial law, but also a general of the Chinese army and an important official of the imperial court. If your complaint is true, I will personally It should be judged according to the law, but if the accusation is untrue, I will also conclude that you have made a false accusation and slandered the court officials."

The aloof presiding judge looked at the witness Yang Bao and hunched his shoulders, while Qiao Xi's cheeks also had a vein bulging out from clenching his teeth.

None of the Qiao family felt guilty, but Yang Biao was inevitably weighing the pros and cons.

But Qiao Ke did not give his brother-in-law a chance to repent. Now he no longer coughs or is jealous. His spine is straight: "Is there any reason to withdraw the lawsuit?!"

"Okay, I will ask you this. It is written in your petition that you gave the concubine to the crown prince. What is her name and origin? When did you give her to her?"

"My concubine's surname is Jiang, and her name is Dongzhi. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law were originally servants of my deceased wife, and they have always been loyal. Because I saw that the Jiang family was harmonious and virtuous, I decided to give it to the eldest son. I made this decision after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet this year. At that time, Qiao Hu Although she is not in the capital, Mrs. Jiang is a domestic slave and does not need to receive congratulatory gifts, so I just ordered Mrs. Ren to accept Mrs. Jiang."

"So, the Jiang family is a slave, and it was indeed Uncle Pingyi who took the initiative to give the crown prince the gift?"

"Although Mrs. Jiang is a slave, since she was given by me as the elder and she has not committed any mistakes, how can she allow Qiao Hu and his wife, father and son to kill her?"

"Uncle Pingyi, I will find out who Jiang family was harmed by later. However, I don't agree with what you just said. Although the slaves were given by their elders, can they be concubines and for whom? When it comes to concubines, elders cannot be forced to do so, and etiquette never encourages high-ranking parents to meddle in the affairs of their descendants." Gu Geng turned his head again and asked Qiao Hu, "Prince Qiao, do you agree with Mrs. Jiang as a concubine?"

Qiao Xi lowered his eyes, feeling ashamed and hateful, but he did not forget his wife's advice, and he did find it really difficult to say it, so he just said: "I don't agree."

"Treason! Why don't you agree?!"

"Uncle Pingyi, I respect you for being senior. I just reminded you of the rules of etiquette and law earlier. I have appointed myself as Ting Weiqing. Although I have never judged a human relations case involving a noble family, I am also from a noble family. Practice etiquette and ask yourself that you are not a person who violates etiquette and bends the law. If Qiao Zizhan is unmarried, you, the father, should have made the decision on marriage matters. However, he has already obeyed his parents' orders and found a matchmaker to marry a wife and have children. Pingyi Bo Since you respect your father, how can you force your eldest son to be a slave and a concubine?"

"Ting Weiqing doesn't know something." Qiao Xi hurriedly defended: "Jiang was originally my father's concubine, but my brother...my brother had been provocative first, so my father wanted to avoid resentment between father and son because of the concubine. , leading to... the embarrassment and misfortune of the family, hence the intention of creating a complete family. Who would have expected that before her brother returned to the court, the Ren family would instigate Qiao Qian to rape and kill the Jiang family out of jealousy!"

Gu Geng resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

If he had a son like Qiao Xi, his "family law" would probably be compromised. It seems that Qiao Ke is really old and confused. He actually wants him to seize the title and has the nerve to be taken to prison for such a thing. It's embarrassing to come to the court! ! !

"Uncle Pingyi, is Jiang really your concubine?"

"So what?"

"Qiao Zizhan, my brother said that you had an affair with Mr. Jiang, do you agree?"

"not agree."

"You treacherous son, are you thinking that since Ren and Qiao Qian have silenced Jiang and there is no proof, you can get away with it by sophistry?"

"Uncle Pingyi, I'm interrogating you. When you gave your concubine to the Jiang family, Qiao Zizhan was still out fighting. You knew that Qiao Zizhan was a criminal and had an affair with the Jiang family. But because of Qiao Ziwen's information? "

Qiao Ke was a little panicked when he was asked, because he really couldn't figure out why Ting Weiqing was so entangled in such minutiae. Officials who came from a noble family were most taboo about the privacy of their inner houses. How many nobles could guarantee that they would not keep such private affairs? Just like Jiang Donggu, didn't he also have a ridiculous nephew like Gu Nanjiang who was always in trouble and finally gave up? He is Qiao Pan's biological father! How could Gu Geng insist on believing that his biological father had raped his eldest son?

"My son Qiao Xi has always been filial to his parents and respectful to his elder brother. He is well known for his reputation. There is no way he could frame Qiao Hu!"

Gu Geng nodded: "Qiao Ziwen, I'm interrogating you. How did you know that your eldest brother had unethical thoughts about Mr. Jiang?"

"This is what Jiang said personally..."

"Ms. Jiang is your respected father's concubine. It seems that she is very close to you."

"What does Ting Weiqing mean by this? Everyone in Jiankang knows that a certain person has a deep love for his wife. For many years, a certain person has never had a concubine in his house, so Ting Weiqing actually wants to taint a certain person and have an affair with the Jiang family?" "

"This trial is just to verify the facts of the case as usual. Qiao Ziwen, since Jiang is the concubine of Pingyi Bo, how could she confide her personal feelings to you? This is unreasonable in the first place. This is the execution hall, and this trial is not about you and you. It’s a private matter between the principal wives, but since you are involved in the case and are a key person, you must clear up any doubts.”

"Jiang is timid and is harassed by Qiao Huan. She does not dare to tell the truth to me. The only person she can turn to is Qiao Xi. Ting Weiqing, although Jiang is a slave, her parents are loyal servants. Therefore, I and Qiao Xi never regarded her family as slaves, but as family members. How could this be unreasonable? Ting Weiqing should interrogate Qiao Fu and his son. Qiao Fu had insulted the Jiang family first. If the Ren family didn't know about it, Why did you agree to accept Ms. Jiang as Qiao Huan's concubine in the first place? Ms. Ren clearly had a guilty conscience! Moreover, this woman was jealous and could not tolerate Ms. Jiang at all. Therefore, before Qiao Huan returned, she ordered her son Qiao Qian to rape and kill Ms. Jiang, thinking that They destroyed Jiang's body and wiped out all traces of it, and then put the blame for offending Chen Jun Xie Liu on Taijun Yang. In order to keep his official position, Qiao Fu had no choice but to do anything to her. The Ren family had indeed guessed it, but I can't tolerate such evil. My wife, let alone a rebellious son like Qiao Huan!"

Gu Gengcai asked Qiao Hu, "What does the Crown Prince say? You have always insisted that you have no affair with the Jiang family, but has Lady Ren accepted the Jiang family as your concubine?"

Qiao Huan's face was solemn.

Qiao Qian couldn't help it anymore: "Ting Weiqing, when my grandfather forced my mother to accept Lady Jiang, my father was not in Jiankang. Qian was there to witness that Lady Jiang had been kneeling in front of my mother, crying and begging. My mother was soft-hearted and... She really didn't dare to contradict her grandfather in person, so she had no choice but to take Mrs. Jiang back to her residence. But afterwards, her mother found out that Mrs. Jiang did not want to stay in Pingyi's house anymore, so her mother quietly took Jiang's place in the house. My wife redeemed her citizenship and sent Lady Jiang away from Jiankang. When Lady Jiang left, my father had not yet returned to Beijing. My mother and Qian knew this best."

"Nonsense!" Qiao Ke said angrily: "Ting Weiqing, I still have witnesses, but because of their humble status, they did not dare to come directly to the court earlier. Now Qiao Fu and his son are still trying to make excuses on the grounds of sending Jiang away. , please allow me to have my witness come to court to testify!"

"Where is the witness now?"

"Outside the Tingwei Office, there are three witnesses. They are Jiang's father and mother and Qiao Qian's servant!"

Since there were witnesses, Gu Geng would not refuse to summon them. To show his solemnity, he asked Ting Weicheng to summon the witnesses in person. In fact, there was already a lot of excitement outside Tingweicheng's office. Ting Weicheng stepped out, thinking that he would go directly to the witness. Entering the market, he didn't need to ask any more questions. He immediately saw one of the witnesses standing in the car. He was a middle-aged man with a short build and clothed clothes. His face was like a white-flour steamed cake that had just come out of the basket. He stared at a pair of With bright eyes, he was impassionedly denouncing the crimes of Qiao Huan and his son. The woman standing on the ground was crying "poor daughter". Next to the woman was a young servant who looked quiet and slightly drooped. Head, fingers tangled.

When the young servant heard that he was going to the execution hall for trial, he finally let go of his own finger, but his head hung lower, as if he was reluctant to move away from his own shadow. The woman raised her head to look at the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man raised his fist and said to the crowd: "In order to get justice for the villain, Uncle Pingyi did not hesitate to kill his relatives. The villain also believes that Ting Weiqing will be selfless and severely punish the villains who raped and killed my little girl!"

Ting Weicheng couldn't bear it anymore, and was about to show off his official authority and scold this cunning servant for trying to incite public opinion and threaten a criminal trial, when he heard a woman's voice in the crowd.

"Ting Weiqing must be selfless. Once the facts of the case are found out, he will not let go of the criminals who try to gather accomplices and falsely accuse the court officials before the case is closed."

Ting Weicheng had just seen a lot of spectators who were clearly complaining about the middle-aged man. Unexpectedly, there were still people who dared to complain for Qiao Huan. He couldn't help but look at the woman who was speaking. He saw that she was wearing plain clothes and a silver hair. Guan, standing proudly alone among the indignant crowd, seemed completely unaware of his loneliness and helplessness.

In this world, women really cannot be underestimated.

Ting Weicheng said coldly: "Outside Tingwei's office, noisy and fighting are strictly prohibited. If anyone dares to make a mistake... the national law does not allow it!"

The group of people returned to the execution hall. Ting Weicheng whispered to Gu Geng in a low voice. Naturally, he was talking about the situation outside the door of Tingwei's office at this moment. Gu Geng's brows furrowed. He looked to the right and saw Qiao Ke. , Qiao Xi, and Yang Bao were all very complacent, and they were clearly aware of the turmoil outside. They thought that relying on the support of the spectators, they could successfully put pressure on the Tingwei Office, and an unknown fire suddenly ignited in Gu Geng's heart.

Dayu does not govern the country according to Legalism, but respects Confucianism. It is true that the judgment of cases is often restricted by public opinion. Gu Geng himself is also a Confucian scholar, but after all, he is the minister of the court, so he hates the lack of evidence. , they only talk about relatives and respecting respect, but the current situation is that even the king of a country cannot be arbitrary. There are many rebellious ministers in the temple who are disrespectful and disrespectful. But within the family and the family, the patriarchal power is arrogant. The overall situation has not changed.

Gu Geng thought of a murder case he had reviewed. The father forced his son to divorce his wife because he was dissatisfied with the in-laws' family fortune. However, the son was a person who valued love and justice and refused to give up. Out of anger, he killed his son with a stick. However, the criminal officer responsible for the first trial determined that the daughter-in-law was responsible for the crime. He believed that the daughter-in-law was unfilial and unvirtuous, which caused the rift between father and son. He sentenced the daughter-in-law to hanging. The case file was submitted to the court office. Gu Geng felt that it was absurd, so he changed the sentence to the father. The offender was executed, but because of this case, he was impeached by many ministers. Later, Zhongshu ordered Fan Yanggong to persuade him to give in. Although he saved the poor woman from the gallows, he had to change the sentence again. Only those who kill their children will be punished with the rod.

What is the crime of the deceased? But just because he was a child, he could only die innocently at the hands of his father. Is this in line with the benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, loyalty, filial piety, and brotherhood advocated by Confucian etiquette? !

Gu Geng slapped the hall hard and said: "Whoever is kneeling in the hall, let me know your name first!"