Green Mountain
Chapter 385 - 311. Open court, trial, witness_2

Chapter 385: 311. Open court, trial, witness_2

Outside the hall, Chen Wenzong and two other young men stood quietly with hands down, saying nothing.

At this moment, everyone heard the sound of footsteps, and all eyes turned towards Chen Ji, as if the atmosphere were that of a grand trial, filled with overwhelming authority.

Chen Ji stood firm outside the hall, bowing hands in salute: "Undeserving descendant Chen Ji, greets the Family Head."

Official Chen, with his head of white hair, a thin body cloaked in official robes like in a large cloak, said, "Come forward to speak."

Chen Ji lifted the hem of his robe and crossed the threshold, standing straight in the light of Wendan Hall.

Official Chen sat on the Taishi Chair, carefully eyed him, and then spoke: "I saw the Crown Prince’s memorial petitioning for your merits, claiming you killed one hundred and seven Jing Dynasty traitors in battle. Is this true?"

Chen Ji bowed his head and replied: "It is not true."

Official Chen asked again: "More or less?"

Chen Ji replied truthfully: "Less."

"Good, good, good. If you wish to achieve something, you should not first seek power, money, and influence; you should first have courage!" Official Chen said ’good’ thrice: "The monthly salary will be raised to sixty taels, bridal gifts equivalent to that of a legitimate son; rewarded ten bolts of Yun Jin, ten mu of clan land, one Hu Brush, two ingots of Hui Ink..."

The head of the second family branch, Chen Lizhi, suddenly suggested: "Family Head, he has no one around him. Let’s reward him two maids and two servants as well. I just bought a batch of servants yesterday, for him to choose from."

Official Chen nodded: "That will do."

Chen Ji was slightly stunned. He initially thought that the imposing setup in the hall was to bring charges against him, a joint interrogation, yet unexpectedly, he was met with a series of rewards.

Chen Liqin lightly coughed in reminder: "Aren’t you going to thank the Family Head?"

Chen Ji respectfully bowed again: "Thank you, Family Head."

Official Chen instructed Chen Liqin: "Write an article when you return, dispatch it swiftly to each prefecture, and let it be circulated among the clan. The young talents in the clan should take this son as an example."

Chen Liqin complied: "Yes, I will write it today."

Official Chen waved to Chen Ji: "You may withdraw."

"Hold on," Chen Lizhi solemnly began: "Family Head, I have recently heard of something, and I must ask him."

Official Chen slowly closed his eyes, neither approving nor denying the question.

Seeing this, Chen Lizhi beckoned to the outside.

At the doorway, a young man stepped into Wendan Hall, bowed hands in greeting to Official Chen: "Undeserving descendant, eldest son of the second branch Chen Wende, greets the Family Head."

Official Chen responded with a simple ’hmm,’ without lifting his eyelids: "Speak."

Chen Wende turned to face Chen Ji: "In the clan rewards and punishments are clear, those with merit are rewarded, those with faults are penalized. Let me ask you, when you were in Guyuan, did your third-class maid Yao Man report to Hu Junxian, resulting in Chen Wenxiao’s downfall, is there such a thing?"

It has arrived.

This is the main event of today, the denouement, the revealing of daggers.

Chen Ji calmly replied: "Answering elder brother, the matter of Chen Wenxiao’s offenses is known to all, it cannot be concealed."

Chen Wende leisurely replied: "Before Wendan Hall, one must not contradict a brother. Whatever I ask, you answer, no need to bring up other matters. I ask you again, did your maid Yao Man ever inform Hu Junxian about Chen Wenxiao’s affairs?"

Chen Ji calmly replied: "No."

Chen Wende was taken aback, he paused for a few moments before saying: "Since you do not admit, I will invite a witness to come."

With that, he waved to someone outside, where another young man hurriedly left.

After thirty minutes, he brought in Mrs. Liang, causing Chen Liqin’s expression to change, standing up abruptly: "What business does a woman have in coming to Wendan Hall? This is not a place you should come!"

Yet Mrs. Liang knelt on the blue stone bricks outside Wendan Hall, eyes brimming with tears: "Reporting to Family Head, I saw with my own eyes that Yao Man reported to Hu Junxian that day in Guyuan!"

Chen Wende waved his sleeve, turning to Official Chen: "Family Head, Daning Law says that matters of land, marriage, and debts among the people should be handled by each clan themselves, but in criminal matters, relatives can be shielded. Chen Ji and Chen Wenxiao are real brothers, yet he allowed a maid to harm the clan’s reputation and merits. Today I wish to invoke the family law, Chen Ji to be flogged twenty lashes and to guard the ancestral hall for life, Yao Man to be flogged a hundred lashes and sold to the Six Livestock Farm."

Chen Ji, with his head lowered, squinted his eyes slightly: "Elder brother, Chen Wenxiao’s treachery with the Jing Dynasty cannot be tolerated."

Chen Wende unhurriedly said: "Chen Wenxiao naturally deserves death, even if he didn’t die in Guyuan, the clan would have made him ’suddenly die,’ to provide the court and the Guyuan soldiers with an explanation, absolutely not covering it up."

Outside the hall, Chen Wenzong couldn’t help but step forward, only to hear Chen Wende sternly reprimand: "Did the elders summon you to speak? Don’t you understand the rules, step back!"

Chen Wenzong stood frozen in place.

Official Chen looked at Chen Liqin: "Chen Wenxiao is your legitimate son, what do you think?"

Chen Liqin hesitated for a moment before finally rising: "Junior believes that Chen Wenxiao made a grave mistake, and his crime deserves death. As a maid, Yao Man acted beyond her station, and her crime is also intolerable for the Chen family. However, Chen Ji is not at fault, we can only flog Yao Man and sell her."

Chen Ji clenched his fist.

Official Chen looked at Chen Ji: "What do you think? You may defend yourself."

Chen Ji bowed and replied: "Family Head, since elder brother has brought a witness, junior also has a witness to prove that Yao Man did not report."

Chen Wende frowned: "Still want to argue?"

Chen Ji, neither overbearing nor servile, replied: "It is not arguing, just proving my innocence."

Chen Lizhi, seated, finally spoke: "Who is the witness?"

Chen Ji raised his head, looking directly at everyone in the hall: "Hu Junxian."

The words were resounding.

In the hall, the candlelight flickered, and everyone’s eyes, sharp like arrows, focused on Chen Ji, seemingly trying to see through him.

But Chen Ji stood firm without backing down, calmly saying: "What Yao Man said to Hu Junxian that day was just casual talk. At that time, my legitimate mother was several yards away and naturally couldn’t hear clearly, perhaps there was a misunderstanding. Since Second Master said Yao Man reported to Hu Junxian, I will send a letter to Guyuan, and it will be clear with just one inquiry."

Chen Wende remained silent, contemplating his strategy.

He never expected that Chen Ji not only didn’t admit but would also bring up Hu Junxian.

Yet what was most baffling here was, how could Chen Ji be so sure that Hu Junxian would speak on his behalf?

Mrs. Liang cried mournfully from outside: "That Hu Junxian is sure to cover for you..."

Chen Ji softly retorted: "My legitimate mother, I have no connection with General Hu. He is a Second Grade Product border army General, and I am just a commoner; he is a member of the Hu family, and I am of the Chen family. What reason would he have to cover for me? You must have heard wrong. If one testimony from Hu Junxian is not enough, I can send another letter to Zhou You, the former Vice General of Guyuan, who was also present."

Mrs. Liang angrily said: "Because of your mentor Wang Daosheng, they are familiar with Wang Daosheng!"

Chen Ji continued: "My legitimate mother misunderstood, Hu Junxian publicly stated that the Guyuan border army doesn’t want someone like me, seeming to dislike my conduct. Since he dislikes it, naturally he wouldn’t perjure for me."

Wendan Hall fell quiet again.

A moment later, Chen Ji broke the silence proactively: "Family Head, I will write a letter today, all elders are welcome to inspect it, junior will not hide anything nor collude. As for whether Yao Man is guilty, we can decide after Hu Junxian replies."

Official Chen, on the dais, stroked his white beard: "That will do."

Second Master Chen Lizhi’s face became stern, he glanced gently at his son Chen Wende, who spoke up once more: "Family Head, junior has one more matter."

Official Chen still resting with eyes closed: "Speak."

Just as Chen Wende was about to speak, the hall doors burst open as someone rushed in.

Everyone looked, and it was none other than Chen Lizun stepping into the hall, lifting the hem of his official robe.

Chen Liqin asked suspiciously: "Brother, weren’t you at Tanggu?"

Chen Lizun sneered: "If not for a swift rider bringing the news, I wouldn’t know someone is trying to hold a trial at the residence while I’m away!"

He looked at Official Chen: "Father, Chen Wenxiao’s treason surpasses clan rules, and if we deliberately cover it up, we will surely face impeachment by the Imperial Censor. At that point, memorials like snow will fly into Renshou Palace, providing opportunities for the Eunuch Party and the Imperial Censor’s caballing."

After saying this, he looked at Chen Ji, his tone softening: "Do not be afraid, you did nothing wrong in this matter, the fault lies with Chen Wenxiao."

Chen Lizhi’s gaze shifted between Chen Lizun and Chen Ji, his face gradually darkened.