Chapter 213: Trial (I)
Two days later, in the lobby of Dali Temple.
The three judges met in court. On either side of the police, Qin Huai and Wan Yangui knelt in the hall, calm and expressionless. Su Luo sat in the audience, seemingly in a trance, with Madam Qin and Su Jiang beside him.
Li Desheng still didn't wake up, the unknown doctor was still nowhere to be found, Li Rusong was gone, Liu Chengxuan was missing, and Su Luo no longer had anyone to rely on. Su Luo went to Wan's house to look for Qin Qing, but she didn't find Qin Qing, but unexpectedly found Qin Qi in Wan's house.
This little guy was taken away from the capital by the housekeeper, but he sneaked back in less than a day and went to the Wan Mansion on his own to look for Wan Yangui.
Qin Qi did not say what he talked to his uncle. He only said that his uncle was very busy that night. After a few words, he asked him to go find his grandmother while he was busy treating his aunt.
Su Luo couldn't say whether the disease was cured or not, because she later went to Yihonglou to inquire about Liu Chengxuan's whereabouts, and Zi Yan said that the medicine given that night must not have been administered successfully.
The matter came to a stalemate. On the last day of the deadline, Su Luo went to the palace. Wanli was busy playing hide-and-seek with Concubine Zheng. When he passed by, he told Su Luo seriously, " I am the emperor. I cannot take the lead in breaking the law. Also... don't tell Concubine Zheng where I am hiding."
After Su Luo came back, she sat in her room, trying to think of something, but she couldn't think of anything, so she just sat there. It was a joke. Zhou Chongwen had risked his future to get a three-day deadline, but on the last day, she didn't know what else she should do.
There is someone who is a hundred times more anxious than Su Luo, and that is Zeng Xinrou.
Her relationship with Zhou Chongwen must have made a breakthrough, so she is more concerned about this case that Zhou Chongwen is betting his future on. Su Luo couldn't give her any answers, so she asked her to pray to the Buddha for help. She really went, and Su Luo followed her.
Finally, today came. Su Luo took a long, deep breath and turned his attention back to the hall. Su Luo's oral testimony of Li Desheng was suspected to be a lie to delay time. Several servants were summoned, and they all said that the doctor came to treat the housekeeper. It was midnight when Zhang Tie died, and no one knew whether the doctor treated Zhang Tie. When they asked about the doctor's residence, everyone said that Zhang Tie invited him, and they didn't know which family the doctor was from.
The clue was thus cut off, or perhaps Wang Bangyan did not regard this as a clue at all, but just thought it was a trick of Su Luo.
Cui Zhuangyuan has mastered the process very well, Wang Bangyan is very proud of Zhou Chongwen's disappointment, Ning Yushi seems a little disappointed with Zhou Chongwen's performance, Lin Shaoqing and Liu Sizheng are the same as always, one advocates severe punishment and the other remains silent.
"Let's adjourn the court for now and continue after deliberation." Cui Zhuangyuan slammed the gavel, giving everyone some time to rest.
Qin Huai was taken out of the hall again. Before leaving, the jailer made some concessions and let Qin Huai come to Su Luo. Qin Huai first comforted Madam Qin, then reached out and held Su Luo's hand, which was cold to the touch. He then touched the fine scar on her face and said softly, "Don't worry, it will be fine."
Su Luo raised her eyes and looked at him, "Shall we get married?"
Qin Huai smiled and nodded, "Okay."
That smile was just like the one Su Luo had when she first met him, sunny and warm.
Su Luo's heart then warmed up, but her smile remained faint. She tried hard, but tears seemed to flow out as soon as she moved the corners of her mouth.
Qin Huai left again under Madam Qin's reluctant gaze. Madam Qin grabbed Su Luo's hand and burst into tears, "Thank you for making Huai'er happy once at this time."
Su Luo did not answer. She was sincere and did not just want to comfort Qin Huai. She believed that Qin Huai would understand.
Su Luo stood up and walked to Wan Yangui. "After today, be good to Qin Qing. Although she was forced to marry you, she will be devoted to you after marrying you. She truly regards you as her husband."
Wan Yangui snorted softly. Su Luo knew this, but he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. He sat back in his original position, waiting for the final judgment.
When the adults appeared again, Wang Bangyan had already regarded Zhou Chongwen as a criminal. Without waiting for the verdict, he brought up the matter of Zhou Chongwen signing a military order. Zhou Chongwen did not refute, but took off his Jinshi hat and stood down the hall.
Without Zhou Chongwen's obstruction, the deliberation was very successful. Cui Zhuangyuan and Wang Bangyan agreed, and the Dali Temple also had no objection. After asking Ning Yushi, Cui Zhuangyuan slammed the gavel and said, "Qin Huai, listen to the verdict."
Su Luo couldn't help but stand up. Qin Huai turned his head and looked into Su Luo's eyes. Finally , he smiled with relief and lowered his head, "Don't cry..."
Su Luo wanted to endure it, but he couldn't.
Just when Cui Zhuangyuan was making the most crucial speech...
"Sir..." Wan Yangui suddenly spoke, and at the same time a discordant voice sounded outside the hall, "Yo yo yo..."
The cry was so strange that everyone ignored Wan Yangui and looked towards the door instead. Wang Bang's eyes darkened, "How dare you! Who is roaring in the court?"
"It's the villain who is roaring." A fan was waved behind the crowd surrounding the lobby door. A pendant made of pearls was tied to the handle of the fan, sparkling in the sun.
Su Jiang breathed a sigh of relief, "Finally I'm back."
Su Luo's heart was lifted again. Liu Chengxuan? Su Luo hadn't seen him since that night in Yihonglou. Now that he suddenly appeared, would he bring any good news?
After Liu Chengxuan roared like this, he was able to smoothly walk into the lobby through the separated crowd without having to squeeze in any awkward way.
Liu Chengxuan arrived in the hall and looked around as if he was looking for someone. Cui Zhuangyuan was puzzled, "What are you doing?"
Liu Chengxuan shook his head in confusion, "It seems I'm here too early."
Su Luo couldn't bear it any longer and rushed to the classroom, "If you have any clues, tell me now. If you don't, Qin Huai will be dead."
Liu Chengxuan said slowly: "I don't seem to have said any clues." He stretched out each word, which made Su Luo crazy.
Cui Zhuangyuan and Wang Bangyan looked at each other and saw the impatience in each other's eyes. This case was simply too troublesome. It was not the case that was troublesome, but the case went surprisingly smoothly, and the defendant also confessed. The trouble was the people behind the case, sometimes the princess and sometimes the royal relative. Even Wang Bangyan, who wanted to show his meritorious service in front of Wanli, was a little overwhelmed.
"Back off if you don't have any clues!"
"Ah!" Liu Chengxuan tapped the back of his hand with his fan. "Wang Bangyan just said that I was yelling in court. Why don't you punish me now? Could it be that you can forgive me because I have some special status?"
This time, not only was Wang Bang furious, but even Cui Zhuangyuan felt that Liu Chengxuan had gone too far.
"Bold..." He still didn't dare to say the word "troublemaker". Cui Zhuangyuan slammed the gavel and said, "Liu Chengxuan roared in the court, and he should be slapped fifty times!" After saying that, he threw the order and scared Wang Bangyan next to him.
I didn't expect that this top scholar would actually dare to throw it.
The right and left yamen runners looked at each other and had no choice but to step forward. Just as they were about to hold Liu Chengxuan back, Su Jiang stood up in the hearing seat and said loudly, "My two masters, I refuse to accept this."
