Chapter 61

Before long, a head constable from the Zhen'an Prefecture walked into the main hall, followed by a constable holding a tray of physical evidence.

"My Lord, we discovered three paper figures, red embroidered needles, yellow talismans, and other items in the interlayer of Wang Wang Zhangshi's bed, all of which are tools for witchcraft."

Liu Liu Binfang carefully examined the items on the evidence tray and waved his hand. The yamen runner understood and brought the items to Jia Zheng and the Old Matriarch to see.

Jia Zheng saw the names of his wife and Jia Cong written on the three paper figures, with blood-red embroidered needles stuck into the tops of their heads, necks, and hearts. It looked extremely sinister and evil, and a chill ran through his chest.

The Old Matriarch was elderly and even more superstitious about these things. Glancing at the names of Jia Zheng and the others on the paper figures and the densely stuck blood needles, her face turned pale, and she didn't dare to look any longer.

Because of this, she didn't notice that the birth dates of Jia Zheng and Lady Wang didn't actually match.

But even if she had noticed, what could she do? The names of Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and Jia Cong written on those paper figures were absolutely certain.

It was normal for a personal maid like Wang Wang Shanbao's wife not to know the birth dates of the Second Master and Second Lady, but the evidence of her harming her masters with witchcraft was as solid as a mountain.

Liu Liu Binfang bowed to the Old Matriarch: "Lady Lady Rongguo, these paper figures were found in Wang Wang Zhangshi's room, and the names and birth dates of the couple and Young Master Jia Cong were written on them respectively."

Jia Cong bowed to Liu Liu Binfang and then turned to the Old Matriarch: "Old Matriarch, this Wang Wang Shanbao's wife has always been overbearing and venomous in the East Road Courtyard; there is no one who doesn't hate her."

"Since I grew up, I have often been controlled and scolded by her; even my daily allowance was deducted, and the maids around me were all forced to their deaths by her!"

Liu Liu Binfang frowned: "Young Master Cong, what do you have to say?"

Jia Cong continued to say with great indignation: "She has not only violated the laws of the state but also broken the rules of the family!"

"Once she leaves the gates of the Jia family, the laws of the state are strict, but while she is still within these gates, the rules of the family cannot tolerate her!"

"If this shrew is allowed to be taken out of the gates completely unscathed, where will the family style and rules of the Jia family be? Where will the blessings and majesty left by the Old Duke be!"

Everyone knew this stupid woman was her personal maid; by fanning the flames like this, wouldn't she be dragging her in as well?

Jia Cong said again: "If the family rules are not strictly enforced, outsiders will not know and will think that the Jia family's style is loose and that we are unable to manage our subordinates."

"If family rules are not enforced, who knows how much gossip will be made up by outsiders in the future."

What he said was absolutely correct; the laws of the state are strict, and the rules of the family are even less tolerant! Otherwise, where would the blessings and majesty left by the Old Duke be!

Wang Wang Shanbao's wife was still trying to cry out for injustice when the head constable slapped her hard. Just as they were about to take her away, someone in the hall suddenly shouted: "Wait!"

"I thought she only did evil to this extent, but I never expected her to harm people with witchcraft. Harming Jia Cong would be one thing, but she even wanted to harm the Second Master and Second Lady; such a wicked slave is truly unforgivable!"

Lady Xing, who was to the side with a swollen face, looked at Jia Cong in horror. This beast was still adding fuel to the fire at this moment.

Jia Zheng looked excited, and Lady Wang was surprised in her heart.

These words made Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and the others feel solemn. If that shrew were allowed to be taken away by the Zhen'an Prefecture completely unscathed, what kind of unbearable state would the Jia family be seen as by outsiders?

In the Bisha cabinet, Seeing Tan Chun, Lin Daiyu, and the other sisters were all stirred in their hearts. What a good Third Brother Cong!

The Old Matriarch looked at Jia Cong with a complex expression; this grandson, whom she disliked the most, happened to have a heart of gold.

The laws of the state are strict, and the rules of the family are intolerant!

Jia Cong's words rang out in the hall, quite deafening.

"They will also think that the Jia family condones such immoral, wicked slaves who harm their masters with witchcraft, and that there are other hidden secrets; the speculation will surely grow, and I fear it will be difficult to clean up!"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice, all showing expressions of surprise; it was Jia Cong who had spoken.

Every word he said was like a knife, cutting to the crucial points, making it difficult for anyone to refute even half a bit.

"The evidence of Wang Wang Zhangshi's witchcraft is conclusive; I will take the person back to the yamen now. Sorry for the disturbance to your noble mansion."

The Old Matriarch suddenly felt that the descendants of the Duke should be like this!

It was a pity that this boy was born to the wrong mother.

Was he really saying this to maintain the Jia family's style and reputation? Or was he taking revenge for the maid who jumped into the river? It was hard to say for sure.

He was determined to put Wang Wang Shanbao's wife to death! The charge of witchcraft was a capital offense even in the government, but he still spoke like a knife, not even letting her miss a round of family punishment before leaving the gates.

He was so young, and she hadn't noticed it before, but his heart was truly ruthless! Perhaps only someone like this could truly stand up and support the family.

But thinking of her late husband and the humiliation of her eldest son bringing a prostitute into the house, her slight appreciation faded.

Jia Zheng stepped forward with indignation: "Old Matriarch, Brother Cong is absolutely right. The laws of the state are strict, and the rules of the family are intolerant; this shrew must be punished by family law before she can leave the gates."

The Old Matriarch's face was weary, but she said: "I am tired too; you all handle the matter yourselves, and don't let the Jia family's style fall!"

After the Old Matriarch left with her personal maid, Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and the other sisters in the Bisha cabinet also followed back to the Rongqing Hall, leaving only Wang Wang Xifeng and Jia Lady Lian.

Jia Zheng was furious and ordered Lai Da to give Wang Wang Shanbao's wife fifty strokes to uphold family law.

In the past, thirty strokes for a servant in the house was already very heavy; Jia Zheng was also extremely hateful toward Wang Wang Shanbao's wife, which was why he went against the norm to impose a heavy punishment.

Liu Liu Binfang, who was to the side, sensed something was wrong and said: "Master Jia, since this woman is a servant of the Jia family, I have nothing to say about the Jia family enforcing family law."

"But she is a suspect in the Ma Ma Daopo case; if fifty strokes are given, this woman will likely lose her life, and I will have a hard time explaining it to the Prefect when I return."

Jia Cong, who was to the side, suddenly said: "Then break her legs; that way, it won't harm her life, but it will still uphold family law!"

Liu Liu Binfang gasped; this boy had a ruthless heart.

Wang Wang Xifeng, Jia Lady Lian, the steward Lai Da, and the others to the side all changed color.

Jia Zheng frowned and pondered. If such a wicked slave who harmed her masters with witchcraft was not severely punished, how could he warn others and uphold family style? Wouldn't the servants in the house rebel later?

But fifty strokes would leave her at death's door, which would inevitably hinder the government's interrogation and case-solving; there was only the method Jia Cong mentioned.

Lai Da looked at Jia Zheng with hesitation, but saw Jia Zheng glare and say: "Why haven't you executed the family law? Do as Brother Cong said."

Lai Da looked at Jia Cong with a complex expression and ordered the servants to drag Wang Wang Shanbao's wife away to execute the family law.

Wang Wang Shanbao's wife struggled desperately, but it was useless; she just screamed hysterically: "Jia Cong, you bastard son of a prostitute, you have such a poisonous heart!"

After cursing twice, she felt something was wrong and begged: "Third Master Cong, Master Cong, it wasn't me who forced Hearing Zhi Shao to jump into the river; she jumped herself, please spare me!"

The miserable sound echoed in the East Road Courtyard, and the maids and matrons in the courtyard all looked at Jia Cong with terrified expressions.

But they saw him standing tall in the main hall, his expression as cold and sharp as a knife, watching the woman being dragged away without a shred of pity in his eyes.

Jia She and Lady Xing to the side seemed to be completely ignored, but at this moment, could they even say no?

They just looked at Jia Cong in fear, afraid that he would say something terrifying again.

The personal maid of the eldest daughter-in-law had used witchcraft to harm the Second Branch; they were the biggest suspects, and they didn't know what Wang Wang Shanbao's wife would say once she reached the Zhen'an Prefecture.

Looking at her crazy behavior of implicating Jia Cong in the hall just now, at death's door, what nonsense wouldn't this thief hag say?

Jia She and Lady Xing already felt that disaster was imminent; how could they care whether the family law was executed properly?

They even felt that Jia Cong changing the fifty strokes to breaking her legs was somewhat malicious.

It would be better if this shrew were beaten to death with fifty strokes, so she wouldn't live to say crazy things and drag their couple into the water.

The sound of strokes came from outside the main hall; it didn't even sound ten times before, accompanied by Wang Wang Shanbao's wife's miserable screams, there was no more sound.

It should be that her legs had already been broken.

(End of chapter)