Divorced by her husband's family and rejected by her own! She defiantly turned her life around

Before dawn, Liu Dawang got up and sat alone in his room waiting for daylight.

There was finally some movement inside the inn. Liu Dawang opened the door and saw that the inn door was open, but there was still no movement from April's side. He was getting anxious and knocked on the door. Qingwu opened the door. "Master, you got up so early. Madam hasn't woken up yet. Why don't you go back to your room and rest for a while?"

"Aren't we going to the government office? Won't we be too late?"

"No, the court has a set time for hearings. We can have breakfast first and then go."

Liu Dawang had no choice but to go back. He sat alone in his room, lost in thought. If the magistrate gave them a beating and made them return their things, that would be fine. But if he locked them all up in jail, how would his family survive?

Sigh! Life was already hard enough, and then my son died. It's like adding insult to injury!

Liu Siyue finally got up and knocked on Liu Dawang's door. "Second Uncle, let's go."

When they arrived at the inn, Qingwu had already driven the oxcart out. "Qingwu, leave the oxcart at the inn. There will definitely be a lot of people at the yamen today, and it will be inconvenient to drive the oxcart."

Qingwu drove the oxcart back, and the three of them walked to the wonton stall. Each of them ate a bowl of wontons before heading towards the county government office.

"Madam, look, so many people are here to watch the trial! It would be such a hassle to bring the oxcart over. You're so clever, Madam."

Wang Cuilan and Liu Hongsheng had been watching the people coming and going when they finally spotted a familiar figure. They quickly stepped forward, tears streaming down their faces before they could even speak. "Brother Dawang, April, we've finally waited for you! Maoquan has been arrested."

I know I shouldn't say this, but I still hope you can be lenient. As long as the head of the household doesn't go to jail, we'll accept any beatings or punishments.

"Auntie, don't cry. It'll only make us a laughingstock. The village chief has been kind to me, and I will plead for him in court as a way of repaying your kindness."

"April, thank you, Auntie."

A hush fell over the entrance to the yamen. The county magistrate began his court session, announcing, "Bring the plaintiff and the defendant to the court! Mighty!"

There weren't enough people kneeling in the main hall, so they knelt outside. The bailiffs separated the crowd, and the magistrate began the trial. The gavel slammed down, startling everyone kneeling below. Liu Siyue was also startled. The clerk began reading the petition...

The magistrate and Tang Dianshi both looked at Liu Siyue kneeling below the hall. Wasn't this Madam Liu from the Yun residence? How could she be here? The magistrate immediately understood that this Madam Liu was Liu Siyue, the benefactor that his wife had been longing to see.

Tang Dianshi thought that since Lady Liu's surname was Liu, she must have some connection with the plaintiff.

"Do the defendants, the residents of Liujia Village, have any objections to the facts stated by the plaintiff?"

Liu Maoquan said, "I am Liu Maoquan, the village chief of Liu Family Village. Everything stated in the complaint is true. However, there is one point: those who went to rob the goods all say that they did not take any silver. I hope Your Honor will investigate this matter thoroughly."

"If they don't tell the truth and hand over the silver, guards, bring them on! This bunch of troublemakers won't behave unless they're beaten!"

The bailiffs took out their clamps, glaring menacingly at the men, waiting for the magistrate's order. The magistrate slammed his gavel down again, "Whether you speak or not, I'll give you one more chance."

Everyone cried out in unison, "We're innocent! Your Honor, we really didn't take the silver. We were only robbed and stolen because Liu Qingshan misled us. We were just confused for a moment. Please have mercy, Your Honor!"

The magistrate could tell from their expressions and demeanor that they hadn't taken the silver. He turned his gaze to Liu Dawang and Liu Siyue, "Are you sure you lost the silver?"

Liu Siyue replied, "Sir, I swear that my family did indeed lose 130 taels of silver."

The magistrate pondered for a moment. Could it be that someone was hiding too well and he hadn't noticed? He decided to find someone to intimidate him. "Guards, put Liu Qingshan in a cangue."

Just as the bailiffs were about to take action, a shout came from outside the hall: "Sir, this humble citizen has something to report."

Several constables restrained the clan chief, pinning his hands behind his back.

Tang Dianshi came out upon hearing the commotion. "Who is causing this disturbance?"

"My lord, I have something to report."

"I am the patriarch of the Liu clan in Liujia Village, Sifang Town. Today I have come to deliver a fugitive."

Tang, the clerk, waved his hand, and the constable released the clan chief. "Where is he?"

The old clan chief turned around and shouted outside, "Fusheng, bring the person in."

Liu Fusheng and a man from the village brought Gousheng in. "Sir, this is the one who ran away, named Liu Gousheng. This is all the silver we found on her."

Tang, the clerk, took the silver and said, "Come in with me."

The clan chief came to the main hall and knelt down next to Liu Siyue. Tang Dianshi placed the silver in front of the county magistrate, said a few words, and pointed to Liu Gousheng kneeling there.

The magistrate slammed the gavel down again and brought Liu Gousheng in. "Liu Gousheng was so scared that his legs went weak. Two bailiffs carried him to the front of the courtroom and threw him to the ground."

The clerk immediately opened the cloth bag, inside which was a hundred-tael silver note, three ten-tael silver ingots, and a few pieces of loose silver. The clerk immediately stated the amount of silver, and the people of Liujia Village immediately erupted in anger. "You, Liu Gousheng, you are truly inhuman! You stole the silver and dared to keep it all for yourself, making us take the blame for you!"

Those who were fast went up and started hitting. The hall was filled with noise. The magistrate slammed his gavel, and the yamen runners on duty banged their water and fire sticks on the ground. The hall immediately quieted down.

"Drag the troublemakers out and give them ten lashes!" No one dared to make a sound anymore. The sound of lashes hitting flesh and the painful wails of men could be heard from outside the hall.

The magistrate then began to question Liu Gousheng. Liu Gousheng was already terrified and answered whatever the magistrate asked, even revealing his deepest, most sordid thoughts: he wanted to use the money to live a good life, marry a beautiful wife, and have children.

The magistrate slammed his gavel, "The case has been thoroughly investigated. Now, let me pronounce the verdict:"

Liu Qingshan incited villagers to rob, steal, and cause trouble, resulting in injuries to the homeowner. The circumstances were serious, and he was sentenced to 30 strokes of the cane and three years of hard labor.

Liu Gousheng participated in the disturbance and stole 130 taels of money, a huge sum. He was sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane and 5 years of hard labor.

Liu Mao, acting solely as village chief, was unable to distinguish right from wrong and disregarded the laws of the imperial court. He was sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane, three months in prison, and stripped of his position as village chief.

Liu Baiquan, an elder of the Liu clan, was unable to distinguish right from wrong and disregarded the laws of the court, almost causing the deaths of two people. Considering his advanced age, his crimes were to be borne by his children and grandchildren. He was sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane, 6 months in prison, and fined 10 taels of silver.

As for the others, because they were misled and could not distinguish right from wrong, they made mistakes in a moment of confusion. This official will punish them leniently and give them a chance to repent. Each of them will be given 30 strokes of the cane and fined 2 taels of silver as compensation to the aggrieved party.

The caning punishment will be carried out in court. The fine must be paid to Liu Tianbao, the clan head of the Liu family, within three days. If the fine is not paid within the time limit, the sentence will be changed to one year of hard labor.

All property taken from the victim Liu Dawang's family must be returned.

Does the plaintiff have any objections to the verdict?

Liu Dawang replied, "This humble subject has no objection. Thank you, sir, for upholding justice for this humble subject."

The villagers of Liujia Village were immediately overjoyed, fearing that Liu Siyue and Liu Dawang might be dissatisfied with the verdict and ask the adults to sentence them more severely.

Liu Siyue continued, "My lord, I dare to ask you something else."

The people of Liujia Village immediately felt their hearts leap into their throats again, not knowing what she was going to do. They stared at her intently, hoping she would spare them this time.

"Tell me."

"My lord, I wish to plead for leniency for someone. I beg you to consider the circumstances and give a lighter sentence."

Liu Qingshan's eyes lit up immediately. After all, she was his own sister. How could she just stand by and watch him suffer? He was overjoyed.