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Interrogating Older Tang Brother
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Qi Yang rented a sedan chair, letting Shen Ting Zhu enter the sedan first.
“Heir, where are we going to enjoy ourselves in a bit?” Shen Ting Zhu didn’t doubt him in the slightest, lifting the hem of his gown and sitting into the sedan as he said with a smile, “No, wait, it’s better for heir to tell me later, let me first guess a little on the way.”
Lu Qi Yang stood outside the sedan with his hands behind his back. Hearing what was said, he smiled and said, “Alright, then I won’t tell young master Shen for now. Later, when we get there, young master Shen naturally will know what kind of a place of ecstasy it is.”
Hearing Lu Qi Yang say that it was a ‘place of ecstasy’, Shen Ting Zhu’s entire heart all started itching, his imagination immediately running wild in his mind. He hurriedly nodded his head and said, “Great! Then Ting Zhu will head over first!”
After saying this, he placed down the sedan curtains.
Lu Qi Yang instructed the sedan lifters a few words and handed them a few pieces of silver fragments. Afterwards, he left leading his horse away.
Inside the sedan, Shen Ting Zhu relaxed a breath and comfortably leaned back. As soon as he recalled Miss Hong Ling of Heavenly Fragrance’s beauty, Shen Ting Zhu just felt restless inside, as if a hundred claws were scratching his heart.
The sedan swayed for a good while before finally stopping. Shen Ting Zhu blanked and said, “Arrived already?”
In this bit of time, afraid they haven’t even reached the west district. Could it be that in the east district, there’s also some unique ‘place of ecstasy’?
Thinking like this, Shen Ting Zhu lifted the sedan curtain and looked outside. This one glance just startled Shen Ting Zhu to the point of trembling, like a sudden bolt of thunder directly striking down on his head——–The inscribed horizontal board with the words ‘An Duke Manor’ hung high above the gate. A large crowd of people were gathered before the door. A government bailiff stood at the very front holding a sword. There were another two bailiffs lifting a straw mat. Shen first master had a dark complexion, while Shen second master’s face was full of lament.
From inside that straw mat, a hairpin stained with mud stuck out. Shen Ting Zhu felt that it was very familiar-looking. Carefully pondering for a moment, he realized that this hairpin was precisely the hairpin Chun Xi frequently wore in the past.
Shen Ting Zhu suddenly inhaled a breath of cold air.
Before his eyes, how was this some warm and fragrant cave of ecstasy? Clearly, it’s the Hall of King Yama[1] that’s after his life!
“Father, uncle, what’s going on?” Shen Ting Zhu’s two legs were shaking, inwardly blaming Lu Qi Yang for screwing him over as he carefully asked, “Did something happen at home? I was occupied with official work, thus returned late……..”
Shen first master said in a heavy voice, “What you have done, you should be clear inside.”
With a nod of his head, those government bailiffs just came up and restrained Shen Ting Zhu without a word. Shen Ting Zhu naturally was unwilling to give in, struggling with all his might as he loudly shouted, “What does uncle mean by this? If to say that I’d committed some crime, there still needs to be evidence! I’d been handling official work outside today. It was even the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir that rented this sedan chair to send me back home……..”
When that sedan lifter heard, he put on a confused look. He weighed the money Lu Qi Yang gave in his sleeve and said, “This young master, what are you saying? You came from the east district’s Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion! However long the path is, that’s however much money should be paid. Could it be that this young master wants to play dumb?”
Hearing ‘Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion’, Shen first master’s complexion turned even darker. Waving his hand, he said, “Take him away.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Xiao-shi’s heart was trembling with anxiety. She tightly clutched Shen second master’s sleeve, screaming, “Master, quickly think of something! If Zhu’er really gets taken away, will he still be able to return safe and sound?”
Shen second master’s face was still full of lament. He lightly patted the back of Xiao-shi’s hand and said in a low voice, “Madam don’t worry, this husband naturally has a plan.”
“What plan? If you don’t use it now, then afraid it’ll be too late!” Xiao-shi said.
“Just trust this husband.” Shen second master’s words were like taiji[2], pushing and avoiding back and forth, not giving a clear answer, making Xiao-shi increasingly worried.
As they spoke, the noisy Shen Ting Zhu already got taken away by the government bailiffs. The people of the first branch also successively went inside the manor. Xiao-shi although was frustrated inside, she was just a woman of the back manor. Having no other way, she could only return home with tears in her eyes.
As things stand now, aside from trusting her husband, what other ways were there?
The An Duke Manor’s front gate returned to silence.
• • •
The trial for the murder case committed by Shen Ting Zhu didn’t open its court until three days later.
How esteemed and illustrious was the An Duke Manor, yet their family’s young master had committed such a major crime. When the people of the capital heard of this matter, the discussions were endless, nearly filling skies. Some cursed the Shen family for being arrogant and dissipated, while others praised the Shen family for exterminating their own in the name of righteousness, truly hard to come by. In addition to the two branches of the Shen family only getting along on the surface, they were originally just the topic of discussion after a meal. As such, Shen Ting Zhu’s case was abuzz for several days. On the day of the trial, countless commoners actually came to spectate.
The main judge was Ruan Ying who was rather renowned in the capital. Ruan Ying originally just had a rather deep grudge with Shen second master to begin with. Having obtained such a good opportunity now, Ruan Ying naturally was unwilling to miss it. He’d long made careful preparations, just waiting to give Shen second master a direct punch to the face.
Shen Ting Zhu had squatted in prison for three to four days, his complexion waning quite a bit, no longer having the airs of a noble young master like in the past. As soon as he knelt upon the court hall, he just started crying like a child, loudly calling out to Shen second master outside the hall, “Father! Father, you have to save me! Father! This son is innocent!”
Shen Ting Zhu’s miserable appearance made Xiao-shi extremely heartbroken upon seeing.
Xiao-shi was confident inside that Shen second master certainly will save their son. Therefore, she didn’t make a sound, just putting on the airs of a noblewoman and saying, “Zhu’er, don’t panic, your father certainly will give you justice!”
The heartache in her words couldn’t be concealed.
After saying this, she ruthlessly shot a glare at Shen Lan Chi who was standing on the other side, her gaze like sharp daggers.
Ruan Ying has handled cases for over a decade, so what kind of scene has he not seen before? Without even lifting his eyes, he carried on as he should. He first invited out Hong Yue Niang, letting Hong Yue Niang tell her story. Hong Yue Niang wiped her tears and carefully recounted Chun Xi’s death in detail. When the people outside the court hall heard that this weak and frail woman painfully lost her beloved daughter that she single-handedly raised, they all sighed, the sounds of pity endlessly landing in the ears.
“Really a pitiful person.”
“If this matter is true, then that Shen family young master really is deserving of death!”
Hearing these words, Xiao-shi tightly twisted her sleeve. The resentment in her heart overflowed through the roof, but on the surface, she forcibly endured, turning her head and urging Shen second master in a low voice, “Master, how can you bear watching outsiders slander Zhu’er as such?”
There was hope in her words. She wanted Shen second master to fly into a thundering rage and immediately overturn this court hall. However, Shen second master ignored her, pretending to not hear. This reaction made Xiao-shi feel a bit uneasy inside———It can’t be that master was just trying to deceive her, and in reality, simply doesn’t plan on saving Zhu’er?
Recalling that day in Shen first master’s study, that ‘noble personage behind Hong Yue Niang’ that Shen first master spoke of, Xiao-shi felt increasingly worried.
——–If this person really is some incredible individual that they can’t provoke, then will master……..
Ruan Ying slammed the wooden block[3], then had the servant girls and servant women of the An Duke Manor called up one by one. These servants that served in the second branch originally had long been paid off by Xiao-shi to keep their mouth shut, but now, each and every one were like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube, having Shen Ting Zhu’s usual evil deeds vividly recounted.
“Young master Ting Zhu said that if I become his, he will bestow me a string of coins……but I’ve already been promised to someone……”
“That daughter of mine was merely thirteen, yet young master Ting Zhu wanted her to become a tongfang……”
“We’re all just servants, who would dare to disobey the master? Naturally, it’s tearfully swallowing all the bitterness and hardships.”
These servant girls and servant women all shedded tears, crying like the bitter woman in the plays, nothing like their usual fierce demeanor normally when fighting over Shen Ting Zhu out of jealousy. When Xiao-shi saw, she was both angry and resentful, hating that she can’t charge over and scratch up their faces.
“These lowly sluts! On normal days, each and every one all try to compete for attention, hating that they can’t serve on the master’s bed, yet now, pretended to be pitiful!” Xiao-shi ultimately couldn’t endure anymore, and also didn’t have the energy to continue glaring at Shen Lan Chi. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to charge up upon the court hall.
Shen second master was slightly startled, immediately ordering someone to restrain Xiao-shi, reprimanding in a low voice, “Quickly shut up! Do you still want the Shen family’s face or not! Look at yourself, how are you anything like a madam of the Shen family?!”
The people of the Shen family although were separated from the crowd, they still alerted the people nearby in the end. Several nosy women stuck their head over for a look, commenting, “The ones sitting under the curtains over there, is it the people of the An Duke Manor? Such an extravagant look, they don’t seem like an ordinary family!”
“Sshh, they’re the imperial in-law family. Now that they will lose a young master, who knows how furious they will be inside. Be careful, they might take their anger out on you!” Someone else said.
Xiao-shi got restrained by Shen second master, powerless to struggle, so could only quiet down. After a while, she looked to Shen second master with a pleading look on her face, saying, “Master, if you’re not just trying to fool me, then quickly save Zhu’er.”
Shen second master still didn’t answer, just heavily letting out a sigh. Seeing this, Xiao-shi blanked for a while, her body suddenly starting to tremble, her eyes turning thoroughly red, nearly shedding tears.
She has married into the An Duke Manor for this long, yet has never been this anxious and in this much despair before like today. Even in the past, when that Ji Xiu Wen tried to bully her, she’d made it through, because her husband certainly will help back her. But, today, she was unsure. As such, her heart sank.
On the other side, Ruan Ying let the bailiff show Chun Xi’s belongings that were searched out from Shen Ting Zhu’s room. With both witnesses and material evidence present, the entire court filled with gasps.
Shen Ting Zhu tremblingly kneeled below the court. Seeing the evidence in the bailiff’s hand come out one after another, he felt increasingly alarmed inside. These things, he clearly had long let someone take care of them, so how come they were searched out from his room at this time?
He glanced at Shen second master outside the hall. Seeing Shen second master’s face full of painful regret, sighing and endlessly shaking his head, Shen Ting Zhu suddenly understood something, everything instantly turning bleak before his eyes.
His family saw that this matter can’t be covered up anymore, so plan to abandon him!
The evidence was conclusive. Seeing that the sentence was about to come down, Xiao-shi was like an ant in a boiling pot, finally bursting into tears, crying beyond herself. As she cried, she said, “Master! Didn’t you say that you will definitely save Zhu’er? Master! Say something!”
Shen Ting Zhu who was endlessly trembling below the court also understood, begging Shen second master was useless. He could only turn towards Xiao-shi and miserably cry out, “Mother! This son is innocent!” Back and forth, it was merely just this one line, yet it nevertheless made Xiao-shi painfully cry in heartache.
Xiao-shi was desperate to find a solution. Recalling that her second son Shen Ting Kang has always been smart, she anxiously said to Shen Ting Kang, “Kang’er, go and say something for your older brother. Those women and servant girls are all outsiders, so naturally won’t help our An Duke Manor! But, you’re not the same, you’re Zhu’er’s younger brother!”
Shen Ting Kang was originally indifferently watching from the sidelines. Upon hearing this, he consoled, “Mother, Ting Kang knows. Why don’t you wipe your tears, don’t let others see and laugh at us.” After saying this, he took out a square handkerchief and handed it to Xiao-shi.
Xiao-shi took the handkerchief and gazed up at her second son’s tall and steady figure, her heart slightly steadying.
She can’t count on her husband anymore, so can only hope that Ting Kang has some idea, able to have his older brother fished out.
Shen Ting Kang went forward a step, cupping his fist at Ruan Ying and saying, “Sir Ruan, this humble one is the Shen family second branch’s second son, Ting Kang. This one has something to say.”
When Ruan Ying heard, he stroked his beard and said, “Oh? What do you want to say?”
Shen Ting Kang slightly bowed and then opened his mouth, “My elder brother has sinned, the evidence concrete, so cannot allow for a light sentence. Just, my elder brother has always been stubborn and unruly, having our An Duke Manor kept in the dark. My uncle’s character is upright and honorable, my father is also this way, so certainly won’t shield elder brother. I ask that Sir Ruan sentence strictly, so as to serve as a warning to others, correcting my Shen family’s family honor.”
He spoke in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, resounding and powerful. In addition to him being good-looking to begin with, when the spectating commoners saw, their disgust towards the Shen family faded one after another, praising Shen Ting Kang for distinguishing right from wrong.
“To extinguish one’s own out of righteousness, how can it be easy? The Shen family personally bringing in their own son, it’s more than enough to see their sincerity.”
“Right, right….”
When Xiao-shi heard, her breath nearly didn’t come up, like getting struck by five bolts of lighting in the head.
How can that be…..how can that be!
She’d raised her two sons with great difficulty, yet Ting Kang instead wanted to give away Ting Zhu’s life! How can there be such a thing in this world?!
Xiao-shi’s complexion was deathly pale, and very soon, her legs went limp as she directly passed out.
Once Xiao-shi fainted, there was no one left to make a fuss. Shen Ting Zhu’s sentence was just determined like that. Hearing the two words ‘death sentence’, Shen Ting Zhu’s two eyes turned white, dumbstruck like a wandering spirit. A good while later, he finally muttered, “It can’t be that I’m dreaming, right?”
He merely killed a servant girl, why would it go this far!? His father not only didn’t help him cover up, he even directly abandoned him, this son. Could it be that someone said something to father, thus making father abandon him over something else?
Who was secretly trying to scheme against him?!
Shen Ting Zhu knelt on the ground, laughing for a moment, crying for a moment, a completely deranged look. As he was between laughter and tears, he inwardly thought to himself: ‘Father and younger brother have both abandoned him. In the vast An Duke Manor, only his mother was good to him, even specially instructing him to lie low outside. If not for that Zhennan Wang heir having him sent back to the An Duke Manor in a sedan chair, how could he have ended up as such?’
His mind was muddled, unexpectedly having his anger all turned onto Lu Qi Yang, randomly starting to curse Lu Qi Yang, “Saying that I killed the person, isn’t it all just coming from your mouth! If not for that Lu Qi Yang scheming against me, how could I’ve been sent here? Perhaps, this Chun Xi was killed by the Zhennan Wang heir, so as to pin on my head………”
This kind of nonsense, naturally no one will believe. Not only so, someone even jeered, “Afraid he has lost his mind! How could that heir run to the An Duke Manor to go kill a servant girl? Even if slandering someone, you still need eyes!”
Ruan Ying also didn’t have his words taken seriously, just letting the bailiff have Shen Ting Zhu escorted away. However, at this time, he heard a female voice come from outside the hall, asking, “Sir Ruan, I want to ask, slandering the imperial family, how should this be punished?”
Turns out, it was Shen Lan Chi.
Ruan Ying said, “This……should be punished by whipping.”
“My older tang brother is already carrying a guilty sentence, yet still slandered the heir, so it’s only natural that the punishment should be heavier.” Shen Lan Chi raised her head, her gaze vastly different from before, directly staring at Ruan Ying, solemnly stating, “Hope that Sir Ruan can sentence justly.”
Ruan Ying slightly furrowed his brows, pondering inside——-The crime of slander has always been opened to be pursued or not pursued. But, listening to this Shen Lan Chi’s meaning, it was wanting to ruthlessly teach Shen Ting Zhu a lesson.
Recalling how this Shen Lan Chi once helped his daughter Ruan Bi Qiu, Ruan Ying came to a decision inside, slamming the wooden block and loudly stating, “Criminal Shen Ting Zhu does not know to repent, wrongly framing others, adding to the offense, thus shall be punished by whipping!”
With a loud shout, this murder case concluded. The commoners had seen enough and successively dispersed. The Shen family’s horse carriage was already quietly waiting in the alleyway outside for a while. However, Shen Lan Chi didn’t leave together with her father and older brother, instead catching up to Ruan Ying in a few steps and saying, “Sir Ruan, there’s one more thing, I wish to speak with my older tang brother Ting Zhu.”
Ruan Ying was surprised, turning and saying, “If Shen second miss wishes to say something, it’s naturally convenient.” After saying this, he called over another bailiff to lead the way, taking her to catch up with the party escorting Shen Ting Zhu.
The escort squad hadn’t gone far. Shen Ting Zhu blanked walked in a daze, like having lost his soul, needing the bailiff to push him before he can walk a few steps. Although the punishment has yet to be carried out, Shen Ting Zhu was already no different from a walking corpse.
“Brother Ting Zhu.” Shen Lan Chi slowly approached him, smilingly saying to him, “Lan’er still has something to say to you.”
Shen Ting Zhu lifted his head. Seeing the extremely radiant beauty in front of him, his eyes couldn’t help but be slightly dazzled. However, recalling Shen Lan Chi’s words earlier, he suddenly sobered up and flew into a rage, “Younger, younger tang sister! You! Why did you harm me?!” He shouted at the top of his lungs. That government bailiff was startled, hurriedly kicking his knees, forcing him to kneel down.
“Harm you?” Shen Lan Chi bent down and stared into his eyes, mocking, “Why would I want to harm you? It’s just that the Zhennan Wang heir is mine. No one is allowed to touch him. If you want to harm him, then I will return it to you tenfold. If I have to say, this whipping today is still too light. But, this life of yours will be gone soon anyways, so I gave up on more.”
She turned around, preparing to leave. Before leaving, she turned her head, a trace of ruthlessness congealing in her eyes as she said, “These words, you better remember and take with you to your next life.”
[1] King Yama is the ruler of the underworld in chinese mythology.
[2] Being elusive and indirect.
[3] Similar to a gavel, just in ancient china it’s usually a rectangular block of wood.
T/N: The author switches up the names of the establishments randomly, so sometimes it’s 天香阁(pavilion), and sometimes it’s 天香楼(house/building). I realized by the end of this chapter that it’s much longer than usual but I’d already finished by then, so decided to not divide it up. Also added below what court halls looked like in ancient times.
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