The prince is more stable

Chapter 412: Case Closed
The woman who was beaten was named "Liu" and was the mistress of a wealthy family in Zhending City.

The so-called "well-off families" these days are probably above the middle class and below the powerful, a status that is neither high nor low.

In terms of energy and background, it may be able to influence some small things. If the benefits are sufficient, the government may be partial to them in certain matters. But if it comes to big things, no matter how rich you are, it will be useless. No official will go against his own official hat for those small profits.

Unfortunately, today, Liu encountered a problem that could not be solved no matter how much money was spent, and it also caused great disaster to her husband's family.

The reason was simply because she was talking nonsense in the cosmetics shop.

At least half of the right and wrong in the world are caused by people’s mouths.

When Liu first went to court, she was still full of confidence. She was the victim this time, and her pig-headed face could prove it.

Of course, the victims can justify their actions and don’t even need to spend money to make arrangements. Any normal official will know how to make the judgment.

However, seeing Li Qingchen's various flatteries towards the three girls, Liu gradually felt that something was wrong.

Recalling the dispute on the street just now, when she was wrestling with Niao Niao, a group of strong men rushed in from outside, grabbed her and beat her up without saying a word. These strong men were obviously protecting Niao Niao and the other two girls.

The three girls were stunningly beautiful and were protected by a group of strong men. At the same time, Judge Li from Zhending Prefecture was so respectful to them. Liu suddenly realized that she seemed to have offended someone she shouldn't have.

At this time, she already felt a little regretful. She knew very well what it meant to bring the matter to court.

The court is not a place where you can just go. Once a lawsuit is filed, the official must beat the person with a stick, either the plaintiff or the defendant.

At this time, Niao Niao calmly began to explain the origin of the dispute.

Niao Niao spoke slowly, her pronunciation was clear, and she stated the facts very objectively without adding any spice or exaggeration.

From the way Liu and her companions criticized the new prefect of Zhending, to the way they insulted the border soldiers of the Song Dynasty, to the way he quarreled with Liu in the end, the narration was plain and fair, leaving even Liu speechless.

After listening to this, Li Qingchen frowned and glanced coldly at Liu, then he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Qingchen's character is generally quite upright. Even though he has been isolated by the Zhending officialdom in the past two years, he has absolutely refused to go along with Liu Qianliang and others.

He wanted to favor the women of Duke Zhao just now, but he was worried that the three women, Nianiao, were not in the right, and favoring them in front of so many people would tarnish his reputation as an official.

After Niao Niao finished speaking, Li Qingchen did feel relieved.

As expected, beauty is the key, and being good-looking is the symbol of justice.

Having served as an official for many years, Li Qingchen was very experienced. He quickly made a judgment that the side with better looks would win.

Then Li Qingchen looked at Liu with a gloomy look.

"Liu, is what she said true? Think carefully before you speak. Can you bear the consequences of lying in court?"

Liu shuddered all over. At this moment, she no longer had any trace of arrogance. Now she knew that she might be in trouble, and she just wanted to close the case quickly and avoid this big trouble.

There was no loophole in what Niao Niao said just now, every word was true. It was impossible for Liu to deny it. There were so many people present. If she denied it, the matter would be of a different nature and would only be more serious than what was happening right now.

Liu then lowered her brows and said submissively, "Your Excellency, this... your Excellency's words are true."

When Li Qingchen saw that she had changed her address, he probably realized that he was in trouble and couldn't help but smile coldly.

"You've slandered the prefect, insulted the border troops, provoked others, and caused controversy. Liu, what do you have to say?"

Liu's face paled even further, and she lowered her head, saying, "I beg the officials to forgive me. I was anxious and spoke carelessly. I didn't mean to insult the soldiers. My family had to flee Zhending City to avoid the war, and I felt resentful, so I spoke nonsense."

Li Qingchen said coldly, "Duke Zhao led his troops to fight against the Liao army. The soldiers fought bravely for the people of the Great Song Dynasty. Yet, a foolish woman like you slandered and insulted the soldiers from behind. Can you justify this with a 'grudge'?"

Liu became more and more frightened. From what Li Qingchen said, it seemed that he was going to punish her, and her husband's family might even be implicated. This was a disaster.

So Liu bravely protested, "Your Excellency, please forgive me. The border towns of the Great Song have been harassed and bullied by the Liao people for many years. I personally believe that when the Duke of Zhao led his troops to war, he was likely to have more defeats than victories. I was worried about endangering the lives of the border soldiers, so I spoke without thinking..."

Li Qingchen's eyes grew colder. "Are you saying that Duke Zhao will surely fail in this expedition?"

Liu said hurriedly and fearfully, "I am a foolish woman, how dare I speak of military and national affairs? I have no such intention."

Although she said "I didn't mean that", Li Qingchen could see from her expression that she was sure that the Song army would be defeated.

Li Qingchen was in a dilemma for a moment. He didn't know how to deal with this foolish woman.

This matter concerns the three wives of Duke Zhao. If the punishment is too lenient, the three women, Niaoniao, will be dissatisfied. If the punishment is too severe, it will inevitably cause criticism from the people in the city.

So Li Qingchen couldn't help but glance at the three girls, Nian Nian.

Niao Niao stepped forward, stared at Liu and said coldly, "Listen carefully. I have confidence in the soldiers of the Song border army, and even more confidence in Duke Zhao. They are fighting to protect the safety of the officials and people of Zhending Prefecture. This battle will definitely be won!"

Liu lowered her head, no longer daring to argue with her. She simply agreed, "Yes, yes, the soldiers of our Great Song border army will surely win. I am ignorant and shouldn't have slandered the soldiers. I know I was wrong."

Seeing that she admitted her mistake but still looked unconcerned, Niao Niao became even angrier and her tone became even harsher.

"Since you know your mistake, why don't you come up with something tangible? If the soldiers of our Song Dynasty can defeat the Liao army in this battle, I will punish your husband's family to give out half of their property, and convert it into food and wine, and go out of the city to reward the soldiers. How do you think it is?" Liu was stunned. With the inherent impression over the years, she certainly did not think that the Song army could win this battle. It was considered good enough if they escaped alive. How could they possibly defeat the Liao army?

Although she was determined in her heart, she didn't have the courage to agree to bet half of her husband's family's property. If her husband knew about it, he would beat her to death.

While he was hesitating, Li Qingchen suddenly slammed the table and said, "It's settled!"

"Ah? But the official..." Liu was anxious.

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the courtroom.

A member of the Imperial Guard hurried into the court. Although his armor was not damaged at all, everyone seemed to be able to smell the smoke of the battlefield emanating from him. It was obvious that he had just returned from the front line.

After the imperial guards entered the courtroom, they bowed to Li Qingchen, clasped their fists, and said loudly, "Judge Li, on orders from the Duke of Zhao of the Eastern Suburbs Camp outside the city, I have entered the city to report our victory."

"Today at the hour of Yin, the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Battalion of the Great Song Dynasty raided the Liao army camp to the north. In this battle, we completely wiped out 10,000 Liao soldiers, seized 3,000 war horses, 5,000 sets of leather armor, 2,000 stones of grain and fodder, and countless weapons. All the enemy soldiers were killed, and no prisoners were taken. Duke Zhao has specially ordered me to return to the city to report this victory and inform the officials and citizens of Zhending City."

"The Duke of Zhao also requested that Judge Li draft a memorial to the court and the officials, and report the victory to the capital."

After saying this, the imperial guards bowed hastily, turned around and left.

There was deathly silence in the courtroom.

Everyone looked at Liu strangely.

However, the two girls, Nian Nian and Niaoniao, had smiles on their faces, and their smiles grew deeper and deeper. They could not be rude in the court, but the three girls were holding hands privately, tightly clasping each other's hands. Their little hands were cold, but trembling slightly, silently conveying their excitement to each other.

However, Liu's face was pale as she sat powerlessly on the ground, staring blankly at the plaque in the courtroom that read "A Bright Mirror Hangs High."

Li Qingchen was also ecstatic. If it weren't for his status, he would have cheered and shouted happily at this moment.

Seeing Liu's distraught look, Li Qingchen smiled faintly and said jokingly, "Liu, on behalf of the Duke of Zhao and the border troops, I would like to thank you for this half of your family's property. I will send an official to your house to collect it later."

Liu jumped up as if she had received an electric shock and hissed, "No, I know nothing and I didn't agree to anything!"

"How is it possible to win? Was that man just now really the Imperial Guard? Impossible! The Liao people are so powerful, it's impossible..."

Seeing that she still refused to believe the facts and instead repeatedly looked down on the Song army, Li Qingchen couldn't help but feel more disgusted. He said coldly: "The fact is, my Great Song army did win. We wiped out 10,000 Liao soldiers and didn't even take any prisoners alive. You have to believe it even if you don't want to!"

At this time, Niao Niao came over, stared at Liu and said slowly: "I said, the Song army will win, and the Duke of Zhao will win."

Liu raised her dazed eyes and stared at Niao Niao blankly, saying: "You, you are..."

Niao Niao smiled and said, "Duke Zhao, you are my man, my lord."

Two Japanese sisters also came over hand in hand and said in unison: "He is also our man."

The three girls stood in a row holding hands, their faces filled with happy and sweet smiles.

Liu's eyes widened, as if struck by lightning, and her body was shaking.

I had been guessing the identities of the three women and had guessed that their identities were extraordinary, but I didn't expect that they were actually the women of Duke Zhao.

Sure enough, he got into trouble and caused a big disaster!
No wonder when they heard her slandering Duke Zhao in the cosmetics shop, the three women couldn't help but come out and scold her, and had such a fierce argument with her.

No wonder the three women were followed by a group of strong men protecting them, and no wonder Li Qingchen was so respectful to them, and so blatantly partial to them...

Everything made sense now. It turned out that she was the Duke of Zhao's woman.

The entire Zhending Prefecture, and even the entire cities, towns, officials and military in the western part of Hebei Province, were all under the control of Duke Zhao.

She actually got involved with his woman. Apart from the word "seeking death", she didn't know how to evaluate herself objectively.

What's even more terrible now is that the Song army won and wiped out all 10,000 Liao troops, so she had to take out half of her husband's family property to reward the army.

Does she dare not take it?
Regardless of whether she takes it or not, her husband's family will probably not be able to accommodate her from now on. What awaits her when she returns is bound to be a divorce letter, and her parents' family may even be implicated.

All this happened because of a few mean words spoken in the cosmetics shop today.

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Liu realized that from today on, her life was ruined.

At this moment, Li Qingchen glanced at her calmly, then suddenly slammed the table and said, "Dismiss."

Standing up, Li Qingchen nodded and greeted the three girls, then calmly turned behind the screen.

Soon, Li Qingchen's no longer concealed laughter came from behind the screen.

"Come on, go get some good wine and food. Let's get drunk today and congratulate our army on their first victory! How happy! How happy! Haha!"

(End of this chapter)