As the magistrate’s words fell, the Song family courtyard, which had just been huffing and puffing, instantly fell silent as gazes fell on Master Gu in unison.
The old man’s face was as normal as ever, and he arched his hand towards the magistrates, “Today is the day of my son’s betrothal, can you gentlemen be a little more accommodating and give me a moment or two?”
Master Gu had a lot of face in front of the county magistrate, so naturally they, the officials, did not dare to offend him easily.
But, after all, it was a matter of human life, and they had no choice, “I’m afraid that’s not possible, so please understand our difficulties, Master Gu.”
“In that case, please wait outside, I will be right there.”
The officials were very generous and went to wait outside the main gate.
Master Gu apologised and arched his hand towards the Song family, “Everyone, I’m sorry, I’m going to take a trip, carry on as you see fit behind me, don’t worry about me, I’ll be back soon.”
“Master ……”
Master Gu waved his hand to stop Mrs. Gu’s following words, “Don’t worry, just going over to ask a question.”
“Gu Yi and I will go with you.”
Song Wangyue came out of her room, according to the rules she was supposed to stay in her room today and not come out.
“No. ……”
The word “use” had not yet been uttered by Master Gu, Song Wan Yue had already walked over, “It’s been several days and yet the person is dead, don’t you think there is something strange?”
The old man naturally knew that something was fishy, but today was the day Gu Yi and Song Wan Yue were betrothed, and it was inauspicious to follow him to the public court at this time.
“I can manage, you don’t have to worry.”
“I’m afraid you can’t handle it, not only us, but Doctor Yao will have to go along too.”
Master Gu instantly understood that the little girl thought that Yuan’s family was setting him up, so he pondered slightly, “Fine, I’ll go with the magistrates first, you guys pick up Doctor Yao and rush over.”
Master Gu went out of the gate and got into his own carriage, with a few magistrates riding behind him.
Song Wangyue and Gu Yi and Madam Gu also followed out, and Song Si was going to follow too.
Song Wangyue stopped, “Big brother’s status nowadays is not suitable for participation, so pack your things and let second uncle send you back to the academy later.”
Ten beautiful maids and twenty servants followed.
Inside the courtyard, the people who had come to help welcome the guests looked at each other in disbelief, the village chief patted Elder Song’s shoulder, “Put the betrothal gift away first, I believe this matter is a misunderstanding, Elder Gu will be back soon.”
The others hurriedly echoed, “Yes, yes, it should be a misunderstanding.”
“I’ve troubled you all today, I’ll invite you all over to sit down another day.”
Elder Song said.
The people were busy saying no and dispersed.
Song Ming stood at a distance, watching the scene with immense pain. At the end, he spat out a mouthful of saliva towards this side, “Shame on you, right? They deserve it! When that Master Gu doesn’t come back, I’ll see how you guys can still show off?”
……
The county courthouse.
Mrs. Yuan knelt in the lobby, crying and almost fainting. Yuan Tong knelt beside her; he had gone out to talk business a few days before, and today, just after he entered, he heard the news of his sister’s death, and without saying a word, he dragged Mrs. Yuan over to sue the officials.
It was only a broken bracelet, the family could afford to pay for it, but the Gu family insisted on taking his sister’s life.
Master Gu entered with the official and knelt in the lobby.
Although the county magistrate usually gave him a little face, but now it was a matter of human life, he couldn’t be partial, so he heavily tapped on the wood, “Gu Qian, the Yuan family is suing you for sending someone to kill the Yuan family’s young lady, is this true?”
“Master, it is true that I sent a boy to the Yuan family to beat someone up, but that was already a few days ago, and my men were very measured, so they could not have killed anyone.”
“That’s nonsense!”
Yuan Tong glared at him angrily, undaunted by him.
Master Gu only gave him a light look and ignored it.
Yuan Tong was completely enraged, climbing up and rushing over to grab him by the lapels, “You think having more money makes you great? Today you must pay for my sister’s life!”
After saying that, he swung his fist –
“Stop him!”
The county magistrate gave an order, and two magistrates came over, pulling Yuan Tong away with one left and one right.
Master Gu did not panic and smoothed out his own lapels.
The County Magistrate slapped the wood of the hall heavily again, “Yuan Tong, it is not your turn to be the master in the hall, if you dare to disturb the public hall again, don’t blame this official for being ungracious!”
Yuan Tong knelt back honestly.
“Gu Qian, in that case, Miss Yuan’s death is indeed related to you?”
“Your Excellency, seven or eight days have passed since my men made their move, according to the rules, it has been so long that Miss Yuan’s body would not have failed to recover somehow even if she was weak, but now she has suddenly died, I suspect that something has happened in between.”
“You fart!”
Yuan Tong couldn’t help but sound angry again, “After my sister was beaten, she has been unconscious, we have asked all the good doctors in Qingping County to treat her, but she was really beaten too badly, the doctors are simply helpless.”
“My bitter daughter… ……”
Mrs. Yuan cried out in pain.
Yuan Tong also followed with red eyes. Master Yuan only had one son and one daughter, and the two siblings were usually very close, he only went out for a few days, and when he came back, he was already separated from the yin and yang.
“Murder pays for life, you must pay for my sister’s life.”
Master Gu was not intimidated by him and still had that same bland look, “My lord, I request an autopsy, if Miss Yuan really died from a beating, I am willing to take responsibility.”
“No!”
My sister was still an innocent girl, even if she was dead, I couldn’t let those stinking coroners touch her body.
The magistrate was furious, “You don’t have a say in this court, if you dare to speak up again, I’ll have you beaten out!”
“My lord, my lord ……”
Mrs. Yuan thumped her head, “Min’er has died so tragically, how can we let her die in vain again, we don’t agree to the autopsy, we don’t agree to the autopsy.”
“We agree with the autopsy!”
The voice of Master Yuan came from the entrance of the courthouse, he went out to collect the accounts yesterday and did not return to the house, he almost did not faint from heartache when he received the report from his subordinates, at this time he was windy and his eyes were red.
The county magistrate also recognized him and ordered the magistrates, “Let him in!”
Master Yuan entered the lobby and knelt down, “Your Excellency, we agree to have the body examined.”
“Father!”
“My lord!”
Master Yuan’s voice was mournful, “I know your hearts are aching for Min’er, I’m more distressed than you are, but if we don’t examine the body, how will Master Gu admit it?”
After saying that, he looked at Elder Gu, his eyes hated to tear him apart, and every word carried a strong hatred, “The reason I agreed to your people doing it that day was because I thought you wouldn’t let them do it to death, but I didn’t expect you to be so vicious at heart, to take Min’er’s life, I won’t let you go!”
Master Gu was still unperturbed, not taking his hatred to heart in the slightest, “The cause of your daughter’s death is yet to be investigated, if it was due to an injury, I will naturally be responsible, if someone set me up, I will not let him off!”