Chapter 749 – And What If She’s a Woman? Did She Eat Your Rice?
Jiang Pengji scoffed and asked, “Why does the governor look so peculiar? Could it be that the witness you mentioned is merely a figment of your imagination?”
After a moment, Wu Ma Shang’s dazed gaze regained its sharpness.
“Don’t be arrogant. Once the witness testifies, let’s see how you’ll argue your case. Treason against the emperor is a capital offense; I advise you to think about your escape route first.”
At this point, not only did Jiang Pengji wear a cold smile, but the other officials also chuckled quietly in their hearts.
Upon hearing Jiang Pengji’s sudden leap from county magistrate to governor, they felt a twinge of jealousy, but they dared not voice it.
Let’s not even talk about treason! With the current power of the Liu family, even if they strutted into court, everyone would still keep their mouths shut for the sake of the greater good, at most rolling their eyes. As for taking Jiang Pengji’s life, Wu Ma Shang’s boast seemed ridiculous.
Treason is indeed a grave sin, but at times, it hardly bears mentioning.
Everyone was eager to see the show, momentarily forgetting they were still in a court session.
After a while, a gaunt old woman knelt at the entrance of the hall, dressed in coarse cloth, her face weathered by the years.
Though she looked like an ordinary old woman, she displayed an unusual calmness in front of the emperor and the assembly of officials.
The old woman knelt, saluted, and in a frail voice stated, “I, Zhao Jiasi, pay my respects to His Majesty.”
Jiang Pengji looked at her and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Wu Ma Shang, is this the so-called witness? Are you joking with me?”
Wu Ma Shang pointed at Jiang Pengji and Liu Zhi, asking the old woman, “Are you certain this father-son duo is your former household?”
The old woman raised her head slightly, took a quiet glance at the two, and softly replied, “Indeed, it is the Old Patriarch and the Eldest Lady.”
The officials were left dumbfounded, with Huang Song displaying a confused expression as if wondering, “Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?”
The old woman spoke eloquently, her words clear and distinct.
Everyone understood the words she said, but when strung together, they made no sense.
Huang Song paused, recovering from his confusion, attempting to correct the old woman’s supposed error.
“Uh… you must have misspoken; it should be ‘Old Patriarch and Second Young Master,’ right?”
The old woman firmly replied, “Exactly, though I’m old, my memory is still intact. This is clearly a pretty young lady.”
Huang Song fell silent, thinking—this old woman might recall things correctly, but her eyesight was definitely poor.
How blind could she be to mistake a handsome young master for a pretty lady? What absurdity is this?
After the old woman responded, she bowed her head again, while Wu Ma Shang smugly hummed in satisfaction.
“Liu Zhongqing, do you dare to admit that this Zhao Jiasi was once a servant in your household?”
Liu Zhi chuckled lightly and replied, “I am a man; affairs in the inner courtyard are typically managed by the women there. How would I know?”
Wu Ma Shang scoffed, “Dodging the issue, huh? You can’t deny it. This Zhao Jiasi was undoubtedly part of your late wife Gu Min’s dowry servants. After your wife passed, you personally let go of a number of servants. Can you really say you don’t recognize her?”
Liu Zhi casually responded, “That was more than a decade ago. I’m not like Wu Ma Shang, who can remember someone else’s backyard affairs so clearly. If you say Zhao Jiasi is your late wife’s servant, then so be it; I have no objections.”
The others thought Liu Zhi’s attitude was rather strange.
Clearly, people were attacking Liu Zhi’s son, yet he didn’t defend him but instead seemed to pile on.
Before anyone could ponder over this, Jiang Pengji, the party involved, seemingly dug her own grave.
“Father, I heard from my stepmother a long time ago about an old servant of mother’s named Zhao Jiasi. Perhaps it’s her?”
Liu Zhi glanced at the old woman, carelessly responding with an “oh.”
At this moment, everyone realized that the father and son pair had left this matter unattended and were evidently playing tricks.
The old woman, kneeling on the ground, secretly clenched her hands and rasped, “I indeed was a servant brought in by the late Madam. Back then, the Madam lost two sons in quick succession; her health deteriorated, and shortly after, she passed away, leaving behind the Old Patriarch and the Eldest Lady.”
Wu Ma Shang asked the old woman, “Are you certain that this Liu Xi is the ‘Eldest Lady’ you speak of?”
The old woman nodded affirmatively and replied, “I can guarantee, the Eldest Lady’s brows, nose, and chin resemble the late Madam quite a bit. Back then, the Madam was particularly fond of the Second Young Master, who drowned due to careless attention from the servants. To console the Madam’s grief, the Old Patriarch falsely claimed that the one who drowned was the Eldest Lady, thus making her live in the shadow of her brother’s name.”
Liu Zhi chuckled coldly. “For my wife and me, each child is dear to us; there’s no distinction between palm and back of the hand. To swap a daughter for a son based on such ridiculous reasoning, making her live under her brother’s shadow, is truly disgraceful for a parent.”
Wu Ma Shang immediately jumped on this, “So you’re denying the facts?”
Liu Zhi replied, “I’m merely denying that laughable reasoning.”
In other words, aside from the reasoning, Liu Zhi would not dispute any of the facts.
Admitting so readily made Wu Ma Shang feel as though he had punched a bag of cotton—frustrated.
Now it was Jiang Pengji’s turn to strike back.
She looked at Wu Ma Shang with pitying eyes and asked, “Is this all the effort you put in, Wu Ma Shang, merely for this?”
Both Wu Ma Shang and the old woman’s expressions froze, caught off guard.
Jiang Pengji continued, “In fact, I should thank you, Wu Ma Shang. Because of what you said, my father and I were planning to clarify the truth to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager after court anyway. However, due to our previous wrongdoings, we always hesitated about how to start. Thanks to your perceptiveness, you’ve helped us settle a major headache.”
Wu Ma Shang’s expression stiffened, and the old woman looked equally bewildered.
After a while, Wu Ma Shang said, “You are quite the schemer. Don’t think a late counter-attack will lessen the crime of treason! If I hadn’t exposed you, who could guarantee that you two would honestly confess after leaving court instead of continuing to deceive the world?”
Jiang Pengji feigned distress and asked him, “Isn’t this just a small matter? Why is Wu Ma Shang making such a fuss over it?”
“Treason against the emperor is merely a small matter to you? Then what does it take to be considered a serious crime?” Wu Ma Shang growled, then knelt down before the Young Emperor, passionately declaring, “Your Majesty, such a criminal must be severely punished to deter miscreants! If this person is not dealt with harshly, soon, everyone will think that treason is a small matter. What will happen to your royal authority? What will happen to the royal dignity?”
Jiang Pengji scoffed—this sound, laced with disdain, resonated clearly throughout the hall.
Wu Ma Shang’s face turned ashen, his eyes wide like saucers, glaring at Jiang Pengji with palpable murderous intent.
“Wu Ma Shang, since you put the crime of treason on my head, I have a few questions for you. If you can answer them, I’ll gladly accept my treason charges.”
