The atmosphere in the courtroom grew tense due to the starkly differing opinions of the two officials.
“Officer Li, are you suggesting that their blatant seizure of family property is some kind of righteous act worthy of praise?” The Vice Prefect’s face was dark with anger. He no longer paid attention to the plaintiff and defendant below but instead fixed his gaze on Judicial Officer Li, his tone already dripping with sarcasm.
He had long known that this carpenter’s son was fond of money, yet his inherent carpenter’s nature had always kept him within bounds—taking modest benefits and handling matters in a conventional manner. But today, he seemed ready to throw caution to the wind, disregarding propriety and showing clear bias.
Just how much had the Zhou family offered him? Was it worth risking impeachment and ruining his career to insist on helping them?
“You misunderstand,” Judicial Officer Li replied with a solemn expression. “What constitutes ‘seizure’? Taking possession of what does not belong to you—that is seizure. But reclaiming what is rightfully your own—that cannot be called seizure.”
“Your Honor is wise!” Cao Gui exclaimed from below. “I acted out of necessity precisely because my mistress’s dowry was unlawfully taken.”
“Are there any witnesses?” Judicial Officer Li pressed immediately.
The sharp crack of the gavel drowned out Cao Gui’s ready “Yes.”
“A child accusing her father of wrongdoing, and for mere material gain no less—this is an act of grave impiety!” The Vice Prefect rose to his feet, gripping the gavel, his face flushed with anger. “Twenty strokes of the rod! Drive him out!”
The guards roared in unison, brandishing their batons menacingly as they advanced.
Lin Jiu and the others watched with gleeful schadenfreude as Cao Gui and his group faced the threat. In the side hall, First Master Cheng let out a sigh of relief. Though he couldn’t see the scene, he could vividly imagine the shameless judicial officer, on the verge of brawling and scrambling like a madman—as if he’d never seen money in his life. Was it really worth going this far?
“Hold it!”
The sharp, piercing voice of the judicial officer rang out once again in the hall.
“Your Honor, you yourself said that for a child to accuse her father of wrongdoing, especially for material gain, is an act of grave impiety. But what if that were not the case?”
The Vice Prefect stared at him, looking as if he might die of rage on the spot. In his mind, he cursed the carpenter’s son again and again.
“How could this not be the case?” he shouted.
The moment the words left his mouth, both he and Prefect Song in the inner chamber realized their mistake—but it was already too late.
“Your Honor, my mistress did not accuse her father of any wrongdoing. Moreover, the dispute over the property was unavoidable—it was not about wealth itself, but about upholding moral principles!” Cao Gui, pinned down by the guards, immediately spoke up. “I have witnesses! I have witnesses!”
“Summon the witnesses!” Judicial Officer Li snatched the gavel and slammed it down forcefully.
The Vice Prefect, watching the gavel being taken from him, turned livid with rage.
This Judicial Officer Li has truly lost his mind!
No matter what you say, this is ultimately a family dispute. What harm would there be in dismissing it as a violation of moral principles? Just you wait—we’ll see how this plays out!
He flicked his sleeve in frustration and sat back down, his expression cold as he watched.
Witnesses? Not a dispute over wealth? Moral principles? What nonsense is this?
First Master Cheng frowned and took a few steps forward. His eyes fell on a woman being escorted into the room by the guards, and his expression shifted from confusion to outright fury.
How dare they!
“I pay my respects to Your Honor.”
The woman entered the room, knelt down, and kowtowed.
“I am a maid of the Second Madam of the Cheng family, here on behalf of the Second Master and his wife.”
As an official, the Second Master naturally could not appear in court himself, nor would his wife, a lady of the household, attend in person. Thus, the maid was sent as their representative.
“What testimony do you bring?” Judicial Officer Li asked, feeling a wave of relief.
Thank heavens—there really was a witness!
“My lady is not accusing her father, the Second Master, nor is she accusing anyone else,” the maid replied, her head bowed. Although she had been instructed beforehand, this was her first time in court, and her entire body trembled with nerves. Still, she managed to speak, albeit haltingly. “It is about the dowry… the dowry…”
“What about the dowry?” Judicial Officer Li pressed.
“The First Master said that no dowry would be given when my lady marries,” the maid stated.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the courtroom was stunned.
They were shocked by the refusal to provide a dowry—but even more astonished that the Second Master was now testifying against the First Master!
In the side chamber, First Master Cheng trembled with rage, a chill spreading through his entire body.
He knew the second branch had grown dissatisfied with him, but he had never cared much about that. As the head of the household, it was impossible to please everyone. His duty was to maintain the family’s balance and ensure its honor and future.
He was aware that his younger brother was no longer the obedient follower who once looked up to his eldest brother. Growing older, he had developed his own selfish desires—a natural human tendency that First Master Cheng neither blamed nor found surprising.
He had known all of this.
But what he had never expected was that his own brother would betray him like this! Had selfishness driven him to madness?
First Master Cheng reached out to steady himself against the doorframe, his face pale, his heart in turmoil. He wanted to scream in fury, to weep bitterly.
He knew they had gone to see that fool. He had guessed they would speak ill of him behind his back. Let them talk—after all, blood ran thicker than water. Did he really have to fear a few words?
But he never imagined it would go beyond mere words. Instead, they had taken a knife and stabbed him ruthlessly in the back.
The voices in the main hall grew indistinct to his ears. Leaning against the doorframe, he could only hear a dull, buzzing roar.
What had the Zhou family offered them to make this couple commit such an act?
Madness! Absolute madness!
First Master Cheng clenched his fist and slammed it heavily against the doorframe. His pale face turned ashen, and before his eyes once again flashed the image of Abbess Sun bowing reverently to Cheng Jiao-niang—only this time, standing beside Abbess Sun were two more figures: the Second Master and his wife…
Was it an evil spirit deluding their minds? That fool…
First Master Cheng shuddered and snapped back to his senses. Such superstitious thoughts were the kind of nonsense only an ignorant woman like his wife would entertain! How could he let such ideas cross his mind?
The questions and answers in the main hall drifted in and out of his hearing, both distant and near.
“…No dowry? But the dowry was left by Cheng Jiao-niang’s mother?”
“…Yes, it was left by Cheng Jiao-niang’s mother…”
“…Your Honor, please understand—my lady is not pursuing this for wealth, but to uphold her honor. If she marries without a dowry, will she not become the laughingstock of society? Would it not imply she has no mother to support her?”
The tense standoff that had characterized the courtroom earlier had completely dissipated. The Vice Prefect had fallen silent, sitting stiffly with a dark expression, watching coldly from the sidelines. Lin Jiu and the others, initially presented as victims of the brawl, were now ignored, left to stare in stunned silence as Judicial Officer Li, Cao Gui, and the maid from the Cheng family’s second branch engaged in their exchange.
In the end, it had still come down to the dowry.
In the inner chamber, Prefect Song’s expression was equally grim.
He had underestimated Judicial Officer Li’s determination. Even after Prefect Song had made his stance clear through silence, and even with the Vice Prefect’s open mockery, Judicial Officer Li had charged ahead recklessly to achieve his goal.
That carpenter’s son has truly lost his mind!
“If she claims she wants the dowry for the sake of her mother, then are we not also withholding the dowry for the sake of her mother?”
A somewhat somber male voice echoed from the main hall.
It seemed First Master Cheng would have to step in personally—and thus, he too would have no choice but to intervene.
Prefect Song straightened his posture and prepared to rise.
Watching as First Master Cheng entered the main hall, Judicial Officer Li tightened his expression and gave a light, deliberate cough.
“Who enters the court without summons? How dare you intrude upon these proceedings—” he began sternly.
“Judicial Officer Li!” the Vice Prefect could no longer hold back, his voice cold with impatience. “That’s enough!”
“Should we abandon protocol simply for convenience?” Judicial Officer Li retorted, his tone righteous and unwavering.
The Vice Prefect leaned forward, his brows furrowed in displeasure, but First Master Cheng spoke first.
“I beg your attention, Your Honor,” he said, raising his hands in a slight ceremonial salute, his expression grave. “I am Cheng Nan, honored by the grace of my ancestors, and was granted official rank in the eighth year of the Xiping era.”
The Vice Prefect glanced at Judicial Officer Li and gestured politely.
“Fetch a seat for First Master Cheng,” he instructed.
This, too, was according to protocol. Judicial Officer Li offered no further objection, nor did he react to the undisguised resentment in the gazes of both the Vice Prefect and Judicial Officer Cheng.
First Master Cheng took his seat on a low four-legged stool brought by a guard, positioned in the center of the hall.
On the floor, the maid of the Second Madam trembled uncontrollably, not daring to lift her head.
After all, it was the first time since the founding of the Cheng family that brothers had turned against each other so publicly—and in a court of law, no less.
First Master Cheng did not so much as glance at the maid, nor did he look at anyone else in the hall.
“This daughter of ours, Cheng Jiao-niang, is likely no stranger to all of you,” he began. “Born simple-minded, incapable of caring for herself—tell me, could such a child ever be married off?”
Of course not, because no one would be willing to marry her.
“First Master Cheng, the young lady has recovered now,” Cao Gui interjected.
“Recovered? Let’s not debate whether a simple-minded child can truly be cured. Today, I ask you this—who among you would be willing to marry someone who was once mentally impaired?” First Master Cheng’s gaze swept across everyone present in the hall. “Search your hearts and think carefully.”
Of course, no one would. They would become the laughingstock of society. And what if they were to give birth to a child with the same condition?
“First Master Cheng, your question is rather presumptuous…” Cao Gui began.
“Silence in the court! Only answer when questioned!” the Vice Prefect slammed the gavel and shouted. After speaking, he glanced at Judicial Officer Li and smiled faintly. “Should we abandon protocol?”
Judicial Officer Li smiled but said nothing, though the smile seemed forced in the eyes of the Vice Prefect.
Serves him right!
The Vice Prefect snorted inwardly, then turned his attention back to First Master Cheng.
“First Master Cheng, please continue. What exactly are your considerations regarding the dowry?” he asked.
Instead of elaborating further, First Master Cheng drew a document from his sleeve.
“Honored officials, please review this,” he said.
What is this? A clerk hurried over to take the document and presented it to the Vice Prefect.
The Vice Prefect unfolded it, and his expression shifted dramatically—a mix of shock and excitement.
“This is the dowry list left by Cheng Jiao-niang’s mother,” First Master Cheng continued. “Honored officials, please pass it around and examine it.”
As he spoke, he gestured to the others present.
“Let everyone take a look.”
Everyone? The people in the courtroom exchanged puzzled glances. Yet, curiosity is innate to human nature. It was widely rumored that the Cheng family was exceedingly wealthy, and that the late Lady Zhou had brought a lavish dowry when she married into the family. However, the exact details of the dowry had never been publicly disclosed. Instantly, necks craned and eyes strained to catch a glimpse.
The Vice Prefect held the document in his hands, seemingly unable to tear his eyes away—as if mesmerized. It was only when Judicial Officer Li reached over and firmly took it from him that he reluctantly let go. Unlike the Vice Prefect, Judicial Officer Li did not scrutinize the list intently. Instead, he gave it a brief glance, his expression unchanged, and passed it to the clerk beside him.
That carpenter’s son didn’t even fluster—how infuriatingly composed! The Vice Prefect inwardly scoffed. What a performance!
But others were not as skilled at maintaining appearances as Judicial Officer Li. As the document circulated, the once solemn courtroom grew noisy. There were hushed exclamations of astonishment and murmured discussions. Whether openly amazed or not, everyone shared one common trait: their eyes gleamed with unmistakable intensity.
It was the kind of envy and jealousy sparked by the sight of a mountain of gold and silver—a raw, instinctive greed rooted in human desire.
All of this was noted by First Master Cheng, who watched with an impassive expression.
Prefect Song, who had already moved to the doorway of the inner chamber, paused and listened to the murmurs outside.
“…So much money… truly unimaginable wealth…”
“…And this was from years ago… those estates and shops must be worth even more now…”
“…At the very least, fifty thousand strings of cash a year…”
Fifty thousand strings of cash—a year!
Prefect Song’s eyes instantly lit up. So the rumors were true—the Cheng family was indeed immensely wealthy.
First Master Cheng spoke again.
“Gentlemen, if such a dowry were offered, would you be willing to marry a simple-minded girl?” he asked, repeating the question while gesturing with his hand.
The clerk holding the document reluctantly handed the dowry list back to him.
Hearing First Master Cheng pose the same question again, but now under these circumstances, the atmosphere in the hall shifted entirely.
With a dowry like that? They wouldn’t just marry a simple-minded girl—they’d even marry a corpse if asked!
Of course, no one actually voiced this aloud.
First Master Cheng paid no mind to their silence and smiled faintly as he tucked the document back into his sleeve.
“Wealth moves the human heart,” he said. “With such a dowry, my daughter would have no shortage of suitors. But why would they want her? For the money!”
He suddenly raised his voice, startling those who had been lost in fantasies about the fortune.
“For money, they would marry my family’s daughter—and that in itself is not uncommon. These days, families in the city prepare lavish dowries to marry off their daughters. But she is different from others.” He rose from the stool and took a few steps across the hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “She is simple-minded, sickly, her mind underdeveloped, incapable of caring for herself. If such a child is sought after solely because of her dowry, tell me—how much genuine love would she receive?”
People in the hall averted their eyes one after another.
First Master Cheng let out a soft sigh and smiled faintly to himself.
“Having given birth to such a child is our Cheng family’s burden to bear. We cannot escape it, nor can we cast it aside. But what about others?” he asked, his gaze sweeping across those present. “What about outsiders? Strangers with no ties to us—would they accept her solely for wealth? A married daughter is like spilled water—once she leaves, can we truly watch over her forever? Wealth moves the human heart, but it can also be a blade that kills. Tell me, how could I openly display such a dowry? How could I announce to the world that she comes with such a lavish marriage portion? That wouldn’t be doing her a favor—it would be sentencing her to death! That is why we never spoke of withholding the dowry. Why did I do this? Was it not to find a family that would seek her hand sincerely, unmoved by material wealth?”
As he spoke, he took a step forward.
“What is wrong with that?” he raised his voice sharply. “What is wrong with that? What is wrong with that?”
His words echoed thunderously in the hall, striking deep into the hearts of all present.
That’s right—what was wrong with that? There was nothing wrong at all.
A young child walking through a bustling marketplace is not at fault—but if that child carries pure gold through the same streets, then it becomes a mistake, and the fault lies with the guardians!
Watching the involuntary nods of agreement from the crowd in the hall, and seeing the pale, stunned expressions on Cao Gui and the others, First Master Cheng inwardly let out a heavy sigh of relief.
You think you can challenge me? I haven’t lived these extra years for nothing! I’ve tasted more salt than you’ve eaten rice! Young people, better remember this lesson!
Yet, despite his victory, First Master Cheng felt little joy. Winning came at a cost—the moment he was forced to step into this courtroom, he had already lost.
The esteemed head of the Cheng family, dragged into court by his own juniors—what a blow to their dignity! And worse, he had been compelled to reveal the dowry list. “Wealth should not be openly displayed” is an age-old adage for a reason.
This exposure of the Cheng family’s fortune would undoubtedly attract countless greedy eyes. Who knew how much unwanted attention would follow?
First Master Cheng gritted his teeth, seething with silent fury. It was all because of that fool! And that wretched second branch of the family!
This time, when he returned, he would not let them off lightly!
His eyes burning with resentment, he raised his head and looked toward the bench.
“Your Honor! Have I done anything wrong?” he demanded in a low, firm voice.
Both the Vice Prefect and Judicial Officer Li snapped back to attention.
“No,” the Vice Prefect replied, then nodded again as if reaffirming his judgment. “No, you have not.”
He reached for the gavel, ready to declare the session adjourned.
“Wait!” Cao Gui shouted abruptly.
