Tofu Xishi: General Mo ran

Chapter 43

The villagers surrounding the yamen's gate gradually quieted down. Amidst the serious shouts, County Magistrate Hu came out in a neat official uniform and a cap on his head, with a serious face.

At this moment, Miao Douer, who had just finished eating, hurried over.

"Folks make room, Miss Miao is here."

The neighbors voluntarily made way for Miao Douer to come forward.Miao Douer smiled and thanked everyone in a low voice.Hearing the whispered comfort from the neighbors, she gradually felt some warmth in her heart.

County magistrate Hu looked around majestically and saw that Miao Douer was also coming, so he slapped the gavel in his hand.

"Ascension!"

The long sticks in the hands of the officials and servants sounded again, and it was only then that the court became truly silent.

"Bring the defendants——Zhao Tianxiong, Zhao Lifu, and Zhao Sun!"

Following the order of County Magistrate Hu, the yamen servants dragged the three of them to the hall.

Those three people were Aunt Zhao's father, mother, and the elder brother who was caught on the spot.

As soon as the three fell to their knees, the Zhao Sun family who had come to Miao's house to make trouble yelled loudly: "You arrested the wrong person! You are wronged!"

County Magistrate Hu's eyes sharpened, and he blurted out: "Bold! You were never allowed to speak, why did you shout so loudly? Disturbing the court, come here, clap your mouth!"

A yamen servant came down in response, holding a wooden sign in his hand, grabbed Zhao Sun's chin, and yanked it down!

Just like that, before the trial officially started, Mrs. Zhao Sun was slapped with a swollen face!
All the people in the hall applauded inwardly. County magistrate Hu saw the woman in the hall screaming after being beaten, her face turned red and swollen, so she waved her hand to tell the yamen servant to stop.

"You ignorant woman, you really think the yamen is your courtyard, you can make noise at will? Hmph!"

The three people kneeling in the hall trembled in fright after being slapped in the face.

Magistrate Hu turned his eyes away, not looking at the three people.

"The plaintiff goes to court!"

When Miao Douer heard this, she straightened her clothes and walked out from the crowd.

She walked up to the lobby, some distance away from the three people, and knelt down towards magistrate Hu.

"Miao Douer, daughter of the people, kowtow to the county magistrate."

County magistrate Hu nodded slightly, then turned his head and glanced at the master next to him, motioning him to read the pleadings.

County magistrate Hu knew that Miao Douer's family must be very busy, and he couldn't get out of his stomach.

Therefore, last night he also stayed up all night. First, he led people to arrest the Zhao family, and then he personally ordered the master to act as a lawyer to write this pleading on behalf of Miao Douer, which was extremely efficient. On the second day after leaving, he can be promoted to trial.

After receiving the signal, the master clearly took out the pleadings, cleared his throat, and read aloud.

"Zhao Lifu, Shichuan Village, Zimiaojia Town, because of his sister Zhao Guifen's personal morals, he was resentful for being sent back by the Miao family. He had uttered vicious words in front of the Miao family several times before, intending to blackmail, but the blackmail was unsuccessful. Then he became disgusted and wanted to harm others. On November [-]th, the fifth year of Xiangxing, he was reckless and murdered others. At night, he sneaked into the Miao Mansion and set fire to it, hurting people's money and lives, and was arrested by the county magistrate when he tried to abscond afterwards. The human and material evidences are all there, for this, I invite Master Qingtian to come to the stage."

After the master finished reading, County Magistrate Hu opened his mouth again and said, "Submit the evidence!"

Hearing this, a yamen servant brought up the oil-stained coat that was stripped from Zhao Lifu last night, as well as the oil barrel and flint seized from him at that time, and brought them up to the hall.

County magistrate Hu narrowed his eyes, slapped the gavel again, and sternly shouted at the three members of the Zhao family: "What else do you want to say?!"

(End of this chapter)