Inside and outside the courtroom, everything instantly fell silent.
Those standing outside crane their necks one by one; the people slightly further out wanted to squeeze inward, but those inside refused to yield an inch. Yet, none of them dared to make a sound.
Everyone pricked up their ears to listen quietly.
The spark of gossip burned fiercely in everyone’s hearts.
This was juicy gossip involving the family of Lord Ye, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites!
Zha Zha: [As the saying goes, “one takes the color of one’s company.” or “near vermilion, one gets red; near ink, one gets black.”]
[That Nanny Ma is well up in years, but watching the Madame and the Young Mistress playing with male courtesans in their rooms all day long, enjoying themselves thoroughly, her own heart grew restless with desire too.]
[Taking advantage of Chen’s and Ye Mengzhi’s absence, Nanny Ma forced herself upon a male courtesan she had taken a fancy to.]
[An old cow eating tender grass, combined with the secrecy of it all, made it incredibly thrilling. Once there was a first time, there was a second.]
[Finally, on that dark and windy night, Nanny Ma stealthily entered that male courtesan’s room.]
[Thinking that he would have to serve Chen and Ye Mengzhi shortly, she figured that if she took him before Chen and Ye Mengzhi did, wouldn’t she be one step above them?]
[So, Nanny Ma forced herself upon him, nearly squeezing that male courtesan completely dry.]
Ye Chuchu: [Holy crap, is she really that fierce?]
Zha Zha: [Fierce doesn’t even begin to cover it!]
[That male courtesan nearly died from exhaustion of his vital essence, walking into Chen’s room with trembling legs.]
[That night, Chen was wearing a pink undergarment, and Ye Mengzhi was wearing a red undergarment; the scene was indescribable.]
[But no matter how these two tried to seduce him, that male courtesan just couldn’t perform.]
[Chen was so furious she wanted to drag the male courtesan out and beat him to death, so the male courtesan had no choice but to expose the fact that Nanny Ma had forced herself upon him.]
[Chen was consumed with uncontrollable rage and beat Nanny Ma to death on the spot.]
[Nanny Ma was actually Chen’s wet nurse, who had raised her since childhood.]
Ye Chuchu covered her mouth and smiled: [Tsk tsk tsk, I never thought Chen would also see the day she got cuckolded, and by her own wet nurse of all people, hahaha…]
Nanny Ma’s son could also hear Ye Chuchu’s inner voice.
His face was filled with shame and indignation, his anger beyond resolve. He glared fiercely at Ye Chuchu, wanting to curse her furiously, but it felt as though an evil spirit was choking his throat, leaving him completely unable to speak.
His own mother was Chen’s wet nurse and had always held sway in front of Chen.
Chen had also always treated his mother quite well. Before this, he could never figure out why Chen would beat his mother to death.
Now, everything was explained.
No matter how unwilling his heart was to believe it, he had no choice but to believe this woman’s inner voice.
His mother was already dead, but he could not let her die in vain.
Chen herself was dissolute and unbridled, which was what corrupted his mother. Chen deserved to pay the proper price.
Nanny Ma’s son couldn’t curse Ye Chuchu, so he could only glare hatefully at Chen and shout angrily, “Chen, you are the noble second legitimate daughter of Grand Preceptor Chen, yet you are dissolute and unbridled, keeping male courtesans disguised as women in your courtyard!”
“My mother was merely corrupted by you and enjoyed the male courtesan you bought, yet you beat her to death.”
“You vicious woman, you actually beat your own wet nurse to death.”
Chen’s eyes widened as if she had seen a ghost.
How did he know?
This matter had been hidden very well by her. She had sent people to eliminate the few individuals who knew the truth, except for her daughter, Ye Mengzhi.
It was impossible for Ye Mengzhi to speak of such a matter to anyone.
“You—you are throwing dirty water at me!”
Chen looked at Nanny Ma’s son and Zhou Dahua kneeling on the ground, then glanced at the members of the Ye family, laughing out loud.
“Do you think that by slandering me like this, you can convict me?”
“Wishful thinking!”
“I am the second legitimate daughter of Grand Preceptor Chen.”
Ye Changlin and Ye Jinmo cupped their hands in salute, facing Zhang Ting who sat at the front, and said, “We ask Lord Zhang to act impartially according to the law.”
At this moment, cold sweat broke out on Zhang Ting’s forehead.
This case already had two witnesses; it could be said to be an ironclad case cast in stone.
But Chen was right; she was the second legitimate daughter of Grand Preceptor Chen, so it was not easy to convict her lightly.
If his guess was correct, Grand Preceptor Chen must already be heading this way at this very moment.
Zhang Ting looked toward the front, watching with eager anticipation.
Just earlier when he saw Lord Ye beating the drum to enter the court, he had already quietly sent someone to invite the Second Prince, Yun Songming.
He was merely a Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; the Second Prince, Yun Songming, was the actual person in power at the Court of Judicial Review.
But it had been quite a while now; why hadn’t the Second Prince arrived yet?
If he didn’t come soon, he wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.
Zhang Ting said with a beaming smile, “Lord Ye, Young General Ye, this official knows your grievances. Don’t be angry just yet; how about taking a few sips of tea first?”
Ye Changlin muttered in his heart: Old fox.
Zhang Ting knew that as a fourth-rank official, he could not try Ye Changlin, a third-rank official, and the second legitimate daughter of the Grand Preceptor.
This old fox Zhang Ting was stalling for time, waiting for someone to come and save the situation.
But Ye Changlin was determined not to let him have his way.
Ye Changlin said with a mournful face, “Lord Zhang, this official is not thirsty. This official’s heart aches, a pain beyond measure. I only wish for Lord Zhang to quickly sentence this poisonous woman to death.”
Ye Jinmo also cupped his hands in salute and said, “Lord Zhang, could it really be as Chen said, that you are afraid of Grand Preceptor Chen?”
The commoners standing outside watching the drama discussed animatedly, and the righteous among them had already begun to shout.
“Lord Zhang, the evidence is conclusive! Chen hired assassins to kill, and is dissolute and unbridled. We ask Lord Zhang to seek justice for the Ye family!”
“Lord Zhang, Young General Ye achieved military merits to protect the home and defend the country, yet his mother was brutally murdered. You must seek justice for the Ye family; you cannot freeze the hearts of the common people!”
“The Son of Heaven commits a crime alongside the commoners! Lord Zhang, you cannot practice favoritism and fraud!”
“Lord Zhang…”
Ye Chuchu smiled happily: [Wow, these commoners are so cute!]
[Zha Zha, with so many people applying pressure, why hasn’t Zhang Ting passed judgment yet?]
Zha Zha: [Little Chuchu, Chen is the second legitimate daughter of the Grand Preceptor. This Lord Zhang is cowardly and dares not pass judgment.]
[He just sent someone to invite the Second Prince, and right now he is gritting his teeth waiting for the Second Prince to arrive.]
Ye Chuchu: [The Second Prince?]
Zha Zha: [Yup, it’s the Second Prince, Yun Songming, the person in power at the Court of Judicial Review.]
Ye Chuchu: [Oh, then why hasn’t the Second Prince arrived yet?]
Zha Zha: [The Second Prince, well, he’s been poisoned! He’s vomiting blood, his body is weak, and he can’t make it here anytime soon.]
Ye Chuchu: [Then how should I tell Zhang Ting that the Second Prince can’t come, so he shouldn’t wait and should quickly pass judgment?]
Zha Zha: [Little Chuchu, have you forgotten? You are a mute right now. A little mute poisoned by Chen, a little mute who wasn’t drowned in the well and managed to save her life. You can’t open your mouth, and you can’t speak.]
Ye Chuchu: [Oh right!]
Everyone: What? Chen also poisoned this girl mute and even wanted to drown her in a well?
Too vicious!
Zhang Ting: It’s over, the Second Prince is poisoned and can’t rush over. No one can save me!
Ye Changlin: Heh, Heaven helps me!
Ye Changlin slapped his chest, “Lord Zhang, Chen is vicious. A few days ago, she even poisoned this official’s Chuchu mute, and tonight she even wanted to drown Chuchu in a well. Fortunately, Mo’er returned in time, otherwise Chen would have succeeded.”
Everyone: Oh, so this girl is the Third Young Mistress of the Ye Residence, Ye Chuchu!
Ye Changlin spoke with righteous indignation, “Lord Zhang, the evidence is conclusive, yet you hesitate and refuse to decide the case. What are your intentions?”
“Could it be that Lord Zhang still wants this official to kneel to you?”
“In order to avenge my virtuous wife and seek justice for my daughter, this official will now kneel to Lord Zhang.”
Ye Changlin hitched up his robes, making a motion as if he was about to kneel to Zhang Ting who sat on the bench.
Zhang Ting was scared out of his wits, cold sweat pouring down. He hurriedly stood up, walked out quickly, and firmly held Ye Changlin up.
“Lord Ye, you mustn’t, you mustn’t! Aren’t you shortening this lower official’s life by doing this?”