AWB Chapter 114 Public Trial
Chapter 114 Public Trial
The clouds were thick and there had been no warm sunshine in Jiangzhou for several days.
In the government office, Fang Shuo, dressed in his official robes, sat in the hall and looked through the case files presented to him.
People gathered outside the hall, eagerly awaiting the final outcome of the case.
Lu Jiankang was dressed in prison clothes, with his hands and feet shackled, and was escorted to the court by the police.
He looked haggard, with none of the boldness he had that day.
As he passed by, someone spat on him.
Lu Jiankang suddenly turned around viciously, struggled like crazy, and was about to pounce on the man.
"If I can't survive, you won't survive either! We'll just have to wait and see! We'll see!"
Just as he stood up, he was hit on the knee by a board. He fell to the ground in a mess, whimpering.
"Who is in the hall?"
Lu Jiankang raised his head and glanced at him disdainfully, without any intention of answering.
Fang Shuo raised his voice and asked again: "Who is here?"
The board came closer to Lv Jiankang. He was so frightened that his legs went limp. He quickly said, "My Lord, my name is Lv Jiankang, and I am the eldest son of the Lv family in the south of the city."
Fang Shuo opened one of the scrolls and pointed at it, saying, "Someone has accused you of bullying people and harming the people. Do you plead guilty?"
This was something he absolutely could not admit. Lu Jiankang immediately cried out, "Sir, those were all untouchables who falsely accused me. I did not do anything that was against the will of heaven and earth! Please understand!"
"Whether it is a false accusation or not, I will investigate it myself." Fang Shuo said, "Bring a witness!"
Five girls wearing veiled hats entered through the main entrance.
In fact, the number of people harmed by Lu Jiankang is far more than these, but many people do not want to reveal their past to others, so they only presented evidence.
Others were watching silently. If Lu Jiankang managed to escape again, they would not be cut off from retreat.
The arrival of these people was indeed beyond Fang Shuo's expectation.
At his signal, the girls slowly took off their veils, revealing their beautiful, delicate yet lifeless faces.
They have been despised and oppressed for many years, and it is not easy for them to survive until now.
The reason he is willing to show up in the hall today is probably because he wants to fight to the last breath.
Fang Shuo stood up and walked in front of them, saying in a gentle voice: "If you have any grievances, please tell me in detail, and I will definitely make a decision for you."
They bowed first, and one of them knelt forward and calmly narrated her experience: "Two years ago on May 18th, I was falsely accused of having an affair with an adulterer and killing my husband, and was driven out by my husband's family.
On the way, he met the bully Lu, who dragged him into the carriage by force and threw him into the forest afterwards.
If it weren't for the hunters in the mountains who rescued me, I would have died in the wilds."
Another girl came forward and said, “I was born in a brothel, but my mother took pity on my poverty and allowed me to raise enough money to redeem myself.
On May 23rd half a year ago, the bully Lu and a group of young masters called my name. That was my last business. I thought I could be freed from the cage the next day, but..."
As she spoke, she lifted up her hair that was scattered on her temples in public.
There were several hideous bite marks on his right cheek, one of which even had a piece of flesh missing, which was shocking to see.
"But they not only tortured me, they also took away all the more than 100 taels of silver in my box, and then accused me of stealing..."
"At the beginning of August last year, Sister Minnu..."
"..."
Behind them stood the witnesses they had found.
The people outside the hall were talking about it, and some couldn't help but speak up to testify for the girls.
Lu Jiankang pointed at them angrily and refuted them one by one: "You have killed your own husband. If I hadn't saved you, you would be a wandering ghost in some river right now!
You are just a prostitute, isn't it your job to serve customers? !
Damn it, you dare to bite me, so what if I ask you for a few taels of silver as compensation!
And you! Your sister is always flirting with men, and I just want to take her as my concubine, and I will do whatever it takes.
The reason why I like her is that she prayed for it in her previous life. If she commits suicide out of despair, who can she blame but me?
You are also an ungrateful person. If it weren't for the fact that your parents took the initiative to use their property to pay off the debt, I would have to sell you!
......"
He looked up at Fang Shuo and said, "They have no evidence at all. They are trying to frame me with just their mouths. You have to be careful, sir."
He seemed fearless, as if everything they were going through had nothing to do with him.
The national law has no deterrent effect on him.
They are so ignorant and stupid that one can't help gnashing one's teeth and wishing one could eat their flesh and blood alive.
Mrs. Lu pushed the servant away, stumbled in from outside, and cried bitterly while hugging her son.
With his mother around, Lu Jiankang felt more confident, "Mom, where are grandpa and the others?"
"They are waiting outside," Mrs. Lu touched his head lovingly, "Don't be afraid, mother will come to save you soon."
She turned around and glared at the girls, saying in a harsh tone, "You shameless bitches, don't you see your status? There are so many women who want to be concubines for my Jiakang'er, how could it be your turn?
"Don't keep staring at our Lu family's wealth. It's really a cheap thing that can't be put on the table! Bah!"
Several girls were shaking with anger.
Like mother, like son, and they finally learned that lesson today.
Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Fang Shuo called in more officers to guard the place.
After several demonstrations, Mrs. Lu gradually stopped cursing.
Lu Si came with Madam Lu. She looked at the mother and son playing together with cold eyes and curled the corners of her mouth in a mocking manner.
Madam Lu pushed her a few times and angrily said, "Kang'er is your own brother, can you just watch and do nothing?"
Lu Si looked at her with a smile, "Are you sure you want me to take care of it?"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Mrs. Lu impatiently made room for her, "Don't forget what you are here for today!"
The scene became quiet, and everyone's eyes were focused on Lu Si.
People didn't have high hopes for her. After all, her last name was Lu, and no matter what, she would always favor her family more.
Lu Si lifted her skirt and knelt forward, "I am Lu Si, a commoner, and I have come here to testify for Lu Jiankang!"
The girls next to them were filled with despair, and the only faint light left in their eyes suddenly went out with Lu Si's words.
Is there really no hope at all?
Yuan Qing sat in a side compartment, only separated from them by a door.
Mu Xiaoxiao whispered in her ear: "The eunuch who is delivering the imperial edict is already waiting in the inner hall. Do you want to go now?"
"Wait a little longer," Yuan Qing raised his hand to stop her, "Let's see what she's going to do first."
After getting Fang Shuo's consent, Lu Si knelt straight and spoke calmly under the smug eyes of Madam Lu and Lu Jiankang: "You oppressed the people, bullied them, seized their land, and murdered them for money... All of the above crimes are true!"
She leaned forward and slammed her forehead heavily on the ground. "I am here today to testify for the many crimes committed by Lu Jiankang! Please, sir, make a decision for the people of Jiangzhou!"