If Mu Wuniang refused to act as the plaintiff, the government would have to step in directly, which, relatively speaking, would not be as justifiable.
Mu Wuniang slightly parted her lips. Let him die?
Yes. Luo Qingci's voice was resolute and forceful. According to what we know, his previous wife was beaten to death by him, and the child you carried three years ago was also lost due to his beatings.
He already has two lives on his hands. If someone hadn't saved you, you would have been the third life he took.
Even though someone saved you, your body is essentially ruined. You will not be able to lift heavy objects or do heavy physical labor in the future, and your head might also suffer from lingering aftereffects.
It can be said that the rest of your life is basically destroyed. Does such a demon not deserve to die? Not only must he die, but his death must be known to everyone as a warning to all!
As soon as Jiang Jin arrived at the county office, Qiu Liao and the other man were already waiting for her.
She smiled and greeted them. Good morning. How do you feel about our Gefeng?
Qiu Liao's expression was somewhat complex. Gefeng is wonderful, far better than I imagined. Therefore, I plan to go back and bring the villagers down the mountain.
Jiang Jin was overjoyed. Excellent! Gefeng welcomes you. Do you need me to send people to escort you?
Qiu Liao shook his head. No need, we can manage on our own.
He bowed deeply and solemnly to Jiang Jin. From now on, the soldiers and commoners of Babashan are entrusted to you. I also wish to seek a position under your command.
Jiang Jin quickly helped him up. Please rise quickly, Elder Qiu.
She revealed a joyful smile. This is wonderful. Our Gefeng is in desperate need of strategists and civil officials.
It wasn't that she trusted Qiu Liao implicitly, but once people were in her territory, she would be the one calling the shots.
The fact that Qiu Liao could safely hide in the mountains while bringing along someone as unreliable as Nan Wen showed that he was a capable man.
The exact details would only be known after they spent more time together. At the very least, he would certainly be more than qualified to serve as a civil official.
Then you are truly a match made in heaven, Nan Wen said, also looking very pleased.
The veins on Qiu Liao's forehead throbbed. The slight joy he had just felt completely vanished at this inappropriate remark.
Jiang Jin was speechless.
She forced a stiff smile. I haven't told you yet, but in our Gefeng, we need to learn pinyin and simplified characters. I think you are in dire need of studying!
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Just as Luo Qingci had expected, the public trial of the wife-beating case caused a sensation throughout all of Gefeng.
In the courtroom.
Mu Wuniang, her head still wrapped in bandages, lay on a stretcher, looking extremely weak, but her voice was clear.
I only have two requests. First, a divorce. From now on, I am no longer a woman of the Yuan family.
Second, I demand that Yuan Jian be sentenced to death.
The observing crowd was in an uproar. To them, a man beating a woman was a common occurrence. They never expected this Mu Wuniang to actually demand her husband's life.
Some men, in particular, felt that this woman was too vicious.
However, the eyes of quite a few women lit up with a mixture of hope and astonishment.
Yuan Jian was furious. You venomous woman! I spent a string of coins to marry you and bring you home. You are my property. Even if I beat you to death, no one has the right to say anything.
Yuan Jian's mother joined in, cursing loudly. Venomous woman, venomous woman! My son merely patted you a few times, and you want his life! Who would dare to take a venomous woman like you?
Luo Qingci slammed the gavel. Silence!
Yuan Jian and his mother dared not wail anymore. They had been locked up for two solid days and were truly frightened.
Seeing that the two had stopped shouting, Luo Qingci turned to Liu Mi. Doctor Liu, please describe Mu Wuniang's injuries.
Liu Mi nodded. Mu Wuniang has a broken rib...
As the crowd listened, the sympathy in their eyes for Mu Wuniang deepened, and they became filled with indignation toward Yuan Jian and his mother.
Next, Xiaohua, Li Changming, and others stepped forward to testify, proving that Yuan Jian and his mother would beat Mu Wuniang for no reason every few days.
After going through the entire procedure, Luo Qingci did not care about the crowd's reactions and directly announced the verdict.
According to this official's investigation, Yuan Jian's previous wife was beaten to death by him, yet he remains unrepentant...
This official hereby rules: First, the divorce between Mu Wuniang and Yuan Jian is granted. All property belonging to the couple shall go to Mu Wuniang.
Second, Yuan Jian is sentenced to death. He will be executed in three days!
Third, Yuan Jian's mother is sentenced to five years of penal labor.
Yuan Jian and his mother were utterly stunned. They never imagined that beating one's own wife would result in a death sentence!
Yuan Jian's mother, as an accomplice, was actually sentenced to five years of hard labor!
Spare my life! I refuse to accept this! She is my wife, a wife I bought with money. I can beat her however I want! Why should I be sentenced to death? I do not accept this!
Luo Qingci spoke coldly. Shouting in the courtroom and insulting Gefeng officials. Beat him with thirty heavy boards first.
Before long, the sound of the boards striking flesh echoed through the courtroom, accompanied by Yuan Jian's agonizing screams.
Yuan Jian's mother trembled like a leaf in the wind. Facing such a decisive and brutal situation for the first time, she dared not speak.
But seeing her son's miserable state, she kowtowed and cried out her grievances. We are truly wronged! Woo woo, you are forcing our mother and son to our deaths! Is there no justice in Gefeng?
Luo Qingci replied. Questioning the impartiality of this official. Beat her with ten boards.
The commoners were also awestruck by Luo Qingci's domineering presence. The county magistrate, who usually looked so amiable, was unexpectedly so formidable.
Zhang Zhu stood among the onlookers, his brow twitching slightly.
After the beatings were finished, Yuan Jian and his mother lay half-dead on the ground, completely devoid of the strength to cry foul.
Yuan Jian, in particular, was bleeding profusely from his buttocks. The bailiffs had truly shown no mercy.
Luo Qingci stood up. Court is adjourned!
The people in the city were boiling with excitement, and everyone was discussing the matter.
After the commoners had left, Luo Qingci looked at Mu Wuniang with a gentle attitude.
You don't need to overthink things. Focus on recovering your health at the medical clinic first. The Lord is merciful and has waived your medical fees. If you face any difficulties in the future, you can also seek help from the government.
Mu Wuniang's nose prickled, and her heart felt warm. Thank you, My Lord. Thank you, Magistrate.
Luo Qingci nodded and had the medical apprentices carry her back to the clinic.
She was about to handle her official duties when a bailiff came in to report. Magistrate, Young Master Zhang requests an audience.
Luo Qingci was somewhat surprised. Let him in.
Zhang Zhu quickly entered, bowed to Luo Qingci, and stated his purpose directly. Magistrate, I wish to recommend myself.
Luo Qingci looked up at him. Recommend yourself? For what?
I have some knowledge of the law and would like to seek a position in this field. Zhang Zhu straightened his back.
Luo Qingci was intrigued. Don't you think today's sentence was a bit too harsh?
Zhang Zhu shook his head. A life for a life is only natural.
It was precisely because he saw Luo Qingci's verdict that he decided to recommend himself.
He realized that Gefeng was indeed very different from other places.
He had never seen a person in power or an official go to such great lengths for an ordinary woman.
One must know that the main labor force in the city consisted of men. Even if not all of these men had beaten their wives, at least a significant portion of them had.
Even those who hadn't wouldn't necessarily agree with such a severe punishment.
In other words, by handing down this heavy sentence, she had likely offended the majority of the men in the city, as well as some women, since the belief that the husband is the sky was deeply ingrained in some women's minds.
Yet Gefeng had passed this judgment without any hesitation or regard for that.
Luo Qingci smiled. "Do you realize this is the Lord's will?"
Zhang Zhu nodded. "I know."
Gefeng was not a large territory, nor was its population very big. To sentence a person to death under the law for the very first time naturally required the permission of the Lord of Gefeng.
"I have no authority over your affairs, nor can I control the officials of Gefeng at present, but I can ask the Lord on your behalf."
"What is it that you need to ask me?" Jiang Jin happened to walk in at that exact moment.
