ATFCM ~ 04

Chapter ~ 04

Conviction

The courtroom fell into a long silence as everyone slowly pulled themselves back from Wang Wanying’s account.

To prove the truth of her words, Wang Wanying actually pulled the collar of her robe down a few inches.

Beneath were mottled purple and blue bruises.

The men in the hall silently averted their gazes.

After seeing this, Shen Zheng felt as if a heavy stone had been pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Wang the Landlord was utterly inhuman!

The two constables who had been holding Wang Guangjin silently released their grip.

The constable who had struck Wang Guangjin’s leg with his staff earlier wore an expression of shame.

“Brother, I used a bit too much force just now. I’m truly sorry.”

Wang Guangjin rubbed his numb leg and smiled wryly. “It’s nothing. I’m used to it.”

……

Unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer, Shen Zheng spoke up and directed the young constable.

“Run over to the Wang residence and bring back Wang the Landlord’s servant.”

Although everyone was already ninety percent convinced of Wang Wanying’s words, in handling a case, they couldn’t rely solely on one side’s testimony.

“Yes, sir!”

The constable trotted out and opened the door of the county office.

Shen Zheng recalled Wang Guangjin’s frantic attempts to stop Wang Wanying from speaking earlier, and now understood why.

He had wanted to protect his sister’s reputation and his mother’s dignity.

To be violated by one’s own biological father, and then beaten and humiliated day after day by one’s husband—

Such things being spread about would be utterly devastating for a woman of this era.

Shen Zheng sighed. It seemed this wasn’t limited to just this era, either.

Even in the era she came from, gossip and slander were inevitable.

Rumors and hurtful words could be just as sharp a blade.

In barely a moment, the constable brought back Wang the Landlord’s servant.

The servant was also quite shaken. As soon as he entered the hall, he trembled and chose a spot farthest from Wang Guangjin to kneel.

Shen Zheng naturally had no kind expression for this servant either.

“Slap!” She slammed the gavel down!

The servant trembled even more violently, and before Shen Zheng could even ask a question, he kowtowed three times in quick succession—thump, thump, thump.

“My lord! When the master did those things to the young lady, this lowly one didn’t dare to stop him, my lord!”

“The young master killed the master! This lowly one was frozen in fear on the side and truly didn’t dare to step forward. I am guilty, my lord!”

“*Slap!*” Shen Zheng slammed the gavel again.

“I ask, you answer.”

“Yes, yes, yes. Please ask, my lord.”

“When the fatal incident occurred today, did you witness the entire process from the side?”

“Yes, this lowly one was right at the doorway of the room at the time.”

“When Wang Guangjin entered the courtyard, did he carry any weapon?”

“This… no, the young master entered empty-handed and even punched me!”

The servant showed Shen Zheng his missing front tooth as proof.

“When Wang Guangjin was struggling with Wang the Landlord, who picked up the weapon first?”

Shen Zheng’s gaze was as sharp as a torch, fixed on the servant below, not missing any subtle change in his expression.

“The master! Yes, the master picked up the scissors first! At that time, the young lady even told the young master to be careful!”

“The one who picked up the weapon was Wang the Landlord, so why was he the one who died?”

Shen Zheng deliberately asked this to get the servant to speak further, solidifying the fact that Wang Guangjin had no intent to kill during the struggle.

It would also corroborate Wang Wanying’s testimony.

“At that time, the master was holding the scissors and nearly stabbed them into the young master’s chest!”

The servant frowned as he spoke, sinking into recollection.

“The young master couldn’t dodge in time and could only grab the master’s wrist. Somehow, the scissors ended up piercing the master’s neck!”

After hearing the servant’s words, Shen Zheng revealed a satisfied smile.

Beside her, Chief Registrar Xu raised an eyebrow and looked at Shen Zheng.

With just a few questions, she had neatly sorted out the case.

“All right, you may withdraw.” Shen Zheng said to the servant.

After the servant left, Shen Zheng turned to look at Chief Registrar Xu.

“Chief Registrar Xu, how do you think the case file should be recorded?”

“Manslaughter?”

“No, justifiable self-defense.”

“Justifiable self-defense? There is no such provision in the laws of our dynasty.”

“Wang Guangjin’s initial intent was to protect his sister, Wang Wanying. The weapon was picked up first by Wang the Landlord. The intent to use the weapon to kill was also first generated by Wang the Landlord. Under extreme threat to his own safety, Wang Guangjin activated his potential and was able to evade those scissors.”

“Therefore, Wang Guangjin’s true intent was not to kill Wang the Landlord, but to protect himself. This is justifiable self-defense.”

Upon hearing Shen Zheng’s words, Chief Registrar Xu fell into silent contemplation.

Justifiable self-defense—it wasn’t without reason.

“My lord, I understand your meaning, but… the laws of our dynasty do not contain such a provision as justifiable self-defense.”

Chief Registrar Xu was also torn. He felt that what his superior said made sense, but he had studied the law for many years, and the law was heaven’s principle.

Although Shen Zheng understood the limitations of the era, she still felt somewhat helpless at this moment.

Tong’an County was not her personal fiefdom. To be an official meant abiding by the law.

If she were to convict based on justifiable self-defense, her term as county magistrate would be over.

Helpless, she could only compromise with the law: “Then record it as manslaughter.”

According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, manslaughter—that is, killing someone unintentionally—carried a punishment of forty strokes of the staff.

Although the staff used was merely an ordinary wooden plank, the area struck was the back, not the buttocks.

Forty strokes delivered, no matter how robust the recipient’s body, would barely leave them alive. Permanent damage to the spine resulting in paralysis from the waist down was also common.

Having said this, Shen Zheng looked at the family of three kneeling below, but the gavel in her hand refused to come down.

Although Wang Guangjin’s life was spared, she still felt this was unfair to the three of them. What wrong had Wang Guangjin committed?

Then it hit her! A seldom-used system flashed through Shen Zheng’s mind.

The Commutation Silver system!

“*Slap!*” She slammed the gavel down.

“Defendant Wang Guangjin, having committed manslaughter, should by law receive forty strokes. However, considering the close relationship between the deceased and the defendant, the Commutation Silver system shall be applied instead!”

Beside her, Chief Registrar Xu abruptly raised his head to look at Shen Zheng.

The Commutation Silver system had rarely been invoked since its establishment—even he had forgotten about it.

Shen Zheng looked at the bewildered family of three below and smiled. “Under the Commutation Silver system, the defendant may seek forgiveness from the deceased’s family. If the deceased’s family agrees, the defendant may pay silver in lieu of punishment.”

The three below remained equally lost. Shen Zheng sighed.

She asked directly: “Surviving family members, Mrs. Wang and Wang Wanying, do you agree to the defendant Wang Guangjin paying silver to be exempted from the staff punishment?”

The three below snapped out of their daze, their expressions identical—mouths wide enough to fit one of Aunt Hu’s eggs.

Mrs. Wang asked cautiously, “My lord, does this mean my son doesn’t have to be beheaded?”

She still couldn’t believe it.

Although the Wang family could be considered well-off and free from want, in the common people’s understanding, if you killed someone, you had to pay with your life.

Shen Zheng nodded patiently. “As long as you and Wanying agree, he won’t be beheaded.”

“We agree! We agree! We agree!”

The two women said in unison.

The three below wept tears of joy. Wang Guangjin was still in a dazed state.

He wasn’t going to die after all?

Mrs. Wang and Wang Wanying pressed their hands to the ground and sincerely kowtowed three times to Shen Zheng.

“Thank you, my lord!”

Then mother and daughter went up and embraced Wang Guangjin, and the three of them sobbed together.

Shen Zheng teased, “Let me make this clear first—this commutation silver goes to the county office, not to you two ladies.”

The county office was undeniably poor at the moment. With this sum of silver, it would just relieve her immediate pressing needs.

By now, Wang Guangjin’s face was covered in tears and snot bubbles. He raised both hands and pressed them forward.

From the look of it, he was about to kowtow again!

Shen Zheng quietly scooted her butt to the side.

She still couldn’t change her way of thinking. In her understanding, only immortals and… were worthy of receiving such deep bows from others.

After three kowtows, Wang Guangjin spoke: “Today, my lord has given this humble one a second life. From now on, I am willing to be your servant and work like an ox or a horse!”

Before Shen Zheng could refuse, he proposed a benefit that she found impossible to turn down.