The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 780 Unyielding (5)_1

Chapter 780: Chapter 780 Unyielding (5)_1

"Ignorance does not free one from guilt? Accidental homicide is still homicide. Since Madam Preaching refuses to admit it, let it be. Those who slander others and harbor criminals must be strictly punished! Otherwise, everyone in Yuanyang County could wantonly slander and recklessly shield murderers." Pei Qin said coldly.

Qian Wanxiu opened her mouth to speak.

Pei Qin looked over indifferently, "Since the Emperor has bestowed upon me the title of Madam Yuanyang, it is my duty to contribute even the slightest effort to Yuanyang County. To uphold the laws of The Imperial Court, to punish evil and promote good. Does Madam Preaching object?"

She straightaway invoked the authority of the Lady of the Imperial Enjoin from Yuanyang, rendering Qian Wanxiu momentarily speechless, unable to utter a word. After a while, she managed to say, "Sir Jiang! Wensheng is still a child, I beg for your mercy and a lighter punishment! We are willing to pay a fine!"

"A prince committing an offense faces the same punishment as commoners." Pei Qin said expressionlessly.

These were the words they had used to pressure Pei Qin the day before, and now she was returning them back in kind.

Qian Wanxiu gritted her teeth, hitched up her skirt, and knelt down, her tears flowing as she pleaded, "Human feelings should weigh above the law, I beg for your mercy! Please lighten the punishment! We are willing to pay a fine!"

"It seems that now, money is almighty. Anything can be bought, but I wonder if it can also buy a life!?" Pei Qin taunted with a cold laugh.

Qian Wanxiu’s heart trembled; she glared at her, crying out in anger and grief, "Pei Qin! Even if you are the Madam Yuanyang, harboring resentment against our family, can you truly be so cruel and unfeeling to want a sickly child, still in his youth, to be punished?"

Pei Qian spat vehemently, "You yourself are so venomous and ruthless, who knows how many dark deeds you’ve committed, how many have you harmed, how much blood is on your hands, and yet you have the audacity to accuse us of cruelty and mercilessness!? Those who have died have not received your pity!"

"Everything will be determined by the law!" Pei Qin said with a cold glance at Pei Wensheng.

Lady Chen opened her mouth to curse, "... Shameless vengeful acts! You will not die a good death!"

Two Government Officials approached, slapping her harshly on both cheeks, "No disturbance is allowed in the court, and for insulting a Third Rank Lady, you are sentenced to ten hits with a stick."

Upon hearing about another ten hits with a stick, Lady Chen dared not continue and cried out, claiming injustice.

"The crime was committed by Zhou Cai, and your complicity is proven! Officers, administer fifty strokes to each of you to set an example!" Jiang Benxin ordered.

Upon hearing fifty strokes, Pei Wensheng’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Qian Wanxiu cried as she clung to him, "Wensheng! Wensheng!"

"Doctor!" Pei Qin commanded coldly.

The doctor, who had been standing by, was quickly summoned to the hall.

Jiang Benxin ordered the doctor to needle Pei Wensheng immediately.

Although Pei Wensheng was accustomed to a pampered life and engaged in no real work, his body was still robust due to the fine food and drink he was given. He had been frightened in the morning, but this time, the shock was not as severe.

Qian Wanxiu’s steadfast denial of her crime of slander and harboring could not withstand the evidence.

As soon as the doctor needled him, Pei Wensheng yelped in pain from the sensitive point, awakening on the spot.

"Proceed with the punishment!" Jiang Benxin commanded loudly.

A few Government Officials came forward and secured Pei Wensheng, placing him on the large bench without removing his thick cotton jacket.

Lady Chen was also hoisted into position; after fifty severe strokes, she would surely be crippled, wouldn’t she?

Pei Wensheng, at only twelve years old, would be gravely at risk if the punishment was executed too harshly.

Though Pei Zongli was furious and hated that his son’s brutal actions led to the smothering of his own brother, he could not simply stand by and watch his son be beaten to death; he knelt down to plead for mercy.

Jiang Benxin would not listen to anyone, and the beating went on unimpeded. He even wanted to investigate Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu for the crime of false accusation.

As the blows came down, Pei Wensheng cried out nonstop in agony.

Lady Chen also screamed like a slaughtered pig, begging for the beating to stop.

Qian Wanxiu cried as if in unbearable pain, kneeling and pleading for mercy.

Pei Zongli, seeing his second son in pain, also felt uneasy and knelt to beg Jiang Benxin to stop the punishment.

Jiang Benxin, with a cold and stern face, ignored everything until the fifty strokes were complete.

Pei Wensheng was left barely clinging to life, his backside and lower back burning with intense pain, as if they were no longer part of him.

Lady Chen was in even worse condition, her tears and snot flowing freely.

Lady Zhu glared at Pei Qin and Pei Qian with furious hatred, as if she wanted to gouge out her eyes at them.

Pei Wenchen also gave them several shadowy looks.

Zhou Cai was taken to prison to await execution.

Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu, along with Lady Zhu, who had slandered Pei Qin for instructing the wet nurse to commit murder, had to apologize in court.

Lady Zhu, with her nose nearly twisted in rage and her complexion turning blue, protested, "We didn’t know anything before, isn’t ignorance not a crime!? Why do we still have to apologize!?"

"With no evidence and merely on conjecture, you recklessly slandered the Lady of the Imperial Enjoin. The official has already spared you the punishment, considering your initial ignorance! Go and apologize at once!" Jiang Benxin rebuked coldly.

Lady Zhu, consumed by hate, wondered how her second daughter-in-law’s offering of two beautiful maidservants as Concubines to the County Magistrate could have been futile.

However, Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu knew that even though Jiang Benxin had accepted two maidservants as Concubines, he was still fearful of Pei Qin. He worried she might deal with him as she had with Magistrate Huang, and thus he had to side with her overtly.

None of the three willingly apologized, yet each had to step forward in turn.

Pei Wenchen stepped out, "My Lord! There is a saying that the son must pay for the father’s debts. Since it’s my parents and grandmother who misunderstood, let me apologize on their behalf!"

Lady Zhu breathed a sigh of relief; although she was indignant about her grandson apologizing, at least she did not have to humble herself to apologize to that contemptible woman.

Qian Wanxiu cried, "Wenchen..."

Pei Zongli also felt a twinge of relief, at least his eldest son behaved well.

"Are you qualified!?" Pei Qin glared at him.

Pei Wenchen’s face stiffened.

Pei Qian scoffed disdainfully, "The one who committed the act should be the one to bear the responsibility!"

Seeing her meaningful gaze, Qian Wanxiu burned with rage, her eyes filled with venom. She stepped forward with barely concealed murderous intent, "To the Madam Yuanyang... My apologies. Please be understanding and forgive our ignorance." This wretched girl! She managed to dodge the bullet again, but next time, she would not be so lucky! She would not rest until they were dead!