Giant Ship Across the Song Dynasty: My Supplies Come from My Motherland

Chapter 121 The Third Trial Shocks the World

Chapter 121 The Third Trial Shocks the World

The atmosphere inside the Imperial City Guard was somber.

Sihou Xu Ping sat in the main seat, with officials in charge of Lin'an Prefecture sitting below him. The Imperial City Office was already surrounded by layers of curious people.

Some of them were genuinely interested in the news about Yue Fei's orphan, while others were simply there to join in the fun. After all, even the most troublemakers wouldn't come up with such a tabloid story as "Yue Fei's daughter has an affair with a Jin dynasty son-in-law."

The most interesting thing is that Zhang Caihu, whose face is covered in wounds, is also among them. Unlike Cao Wenda, Zhang Caihu has always worked in the Palace Guard, but the Palace Guard and the Imperial City Guard are not related at all. He was not supposed to be part of this hearing, but he just happened to be sitting here today.

Although this was unreasonable, no one objected, since Zhang Caihu's appearance represented Qin Hui's side. However, it was clear that Zhang Caihu's gaze towards Lin Zhou and Xiao'e was filled with personal grudge.

Xu Ping was authorized to preside over the trial today. He flipped through the case file in his hand, his voice low and deep: "Yue'e, your father Yue Fei has been convicted and executed. You should have been exiled to Lingnan with your family, but you left your place of exile without permission and hid in Lin'an for three years. What were your intentions?"

Xiao'e lowered her head and knelt to one side, her voice low and deep: "I was separated from my family on the way and ended up here, just trying to survive, I have no other intentions."

Zhang Caihu interrupted sharply, clearly driven by personal grudges: "Just to survive? Then why did you repeatedly deal with that merchant Lin Zhou, receiving rice, medicine, and blankets from him? Why did he single you out for assistance?"

Xiao'e suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with tears but she said stubbornly, "He's nothing but a despicable vagrant who lusts after a woman's body. What kind of charity is that? It's nothing but coercion and enticement."

"You're talking nonsense!" Lin Zhou immediately turned around and retorted, "That's because I'm kind-hearted and can't stand seeing you bunch of brats starve to death out there!"

Zhang Caihu sneered, his eyes flashing with a murderous glint as he looked at Lin Zhou: "Kind-hearted? Would a profit-driven businessman be kind to a group of beggars of unknown origin? Lord Si! In my opinion, this woman is definitely colluding with Lin Zhou, and might even be a pawn secretly used by the remnants of the Yue faction!"

Xu Ping raised his hand to stop Zhang Caihu, then looked at Xiao'e with piercing eyes: "I ask you, did Lin Zhou ever inquire about news from the court, military movements, or encourage you to seek justice for your father?"

Xiao'e nodded emphatically, tears streaming down her face: "I did inquire! He not only inquired, but he also wrote letters to who knows who every day, and even told me that if I didn't tell him, he would let me starve to death. I only stayed with him to seek a way to survive!"

Xu Ping pondered for a moment, then chuckled softly: "Since you insist that you only want to survive, I will give you a way out. If you accuse Lin Zhou of having any connections with your father's former subordinates or expose other hidden remnants, you can atone for your crimes and be allowed to return to the ranks of the good people and live a peaceful life."

Before Xu Ping could finish speaking, Xiao'e kowtowed heavily: "I don't know—I haven't been to the city for many years. What I told him were all old stories. Many of them have already passed away or been exiled to the frontier."

Zhang Caihu slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Stubborn fool! Lord Sihou, such a descendant of a criminal official has concealed this and failed to report it. According to the law, he should be severely punished!"

Not as good as————”

The magistrate turned to look at him, his eyes sharp: "Zhang, why are you so agitated? The trial is currently underway; why are you so eager to use torture?"

At present, the presiding judge has a lot of power. Zhang Caihu can stand up to him outside, but if he messes around here, being dragged away and beaten is considered to be disciplining the court.

"Lin Zhou, why are you trying to find out about military secrets?"

"She practically wants to devour me. What important military matters could she possibly give me? Besides, my future father-in-law is a prince of the Jin Dynasty. What would I gain from mourning Yue Fei? That I'm just asking for a beating because I'm living too comfortably in the prince's house?"

These words immediately created a huge buzz, not only making the audience burst into laughter, but also causing officials at various levels to chuckle.

At this point, Lin Zhou continued, "Back then, she personally promised to repay me by serving me as a slave. There were quite a few witnesses at the time. Now she's just going back on her word. How can the Yue family break their promises? No wonder their home was ransacked."

After Lin Zhou finished speaking, few people present looked pleased, whether they were commoners or officials in the hall. Their friction could be considered a dispute, but when Lin Zhou started talking about the Yue family, the nature of the matter changed.

At that moment, in the eyes of others, Lin Zhouchun was a beast, and it was probably true that he used things to force Xiao'e to submit. Indeed, none of those connected with the Jurchens were good people.

Just as Xu Ping was about to speak, Zhang Caihu interrupted, "Bring witnesses!"

"Director Zhang, why don't you conduct the interrogation?"

Hearing the displeased tone of the magistrate, Zhang Caihu laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Please forgive me, magistrate, I was indeed a bit too hasty."

"Bring witnesses!"

Soon, several boys who had been with Xiao'e were brought here. They didn't actually need to coordinate their stories; they could simply state the truth.

Several judges questioned the boys in turn, and their testimonies largely corroborated Lin Zhou's words that he had provided them with food and drink. However, when asked whether Xiao'e and Lin Zhou had had any physical intimacy, they began to stammer.

"We don't know either—we only know that whenever Brother Lin comes, Sister E will stay with him in her dilapidated house."

.

These words caused an uproar. Many of the people eavesdropping outside showed an excited and curious expression, while others wore wicked smiles.

"We—we just—" Xiao'e shook her head vigorously, "We were just in a room, we didn't do anything!"

"Do you all believe me?" Lin Zhou turned around and said, "You've spent the night in the same room with a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl more than once or twice. Do you think you'd just do nothing?"

Now, some people outside believe it while others doubt it, but most are still skeptical.

"That woman will say anything to drag me down with her. She's heartless and ruthless, even worse than a prostitute in a brothel!"

When the daughter of a hero was spoken to in this way, Xiao'e burst into tears, covering her face so that no one could see her expression.

But Zhang Caihu spoke again at this moment: "Lin Zhou! I'm asking you, tell me the truth!"

"Who do you think you are?" Lin Zhou raised his head. "Am I a criminal? You can interrogate her all you want, I'm the plaintiff. You really think you're someone important?"

Zhang Caihu's face turned green. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "How dare you roar in court?!"

Lin Zhou, with a mocking expression, pointed at him with a gesture reminiscent of Donnie Yen turning his head: "Everyone, be the judge, who's really the one yelling in court?"

At this moment, the judge frowned deeply and slammed his gavel down: "Silence!"

After a moment of silence, Lin Zhou pointed at Xiao'e and said to Si Hou, "This girl, I've helped her so many times, and now she's turned her back on me and even insulted me in the street. This debt can't be settled like this! Since she has no money to repay, according to the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, she's already a convict. Now she owes me a debt and has no money to repay. Exiling her would be too lenient. It would be better if I, a humble citizen, spent money to redeem her and make her a maid. I'll have her work to pay off her debt, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao'e cried even louder.

Xu Ping feigned hesitation, then finally nodded: "Very well. Yue'e, it is true that you concealed your status as an exile, and according to the law, you should be punished. However, since a wronged party, Lin Zhou, has pleaded for your release, and considering your young age, you are permitted to use your body as collateral to be registered as a lowly person and taken back by Lin Zhou for supervision. From now on, you must behave yourself and behave properly. If you cause any trouble, you will be punished for both crimes!"

"Lin Zhou, since you voluntarily redeemed yourself, according to the law—" Si Hou picked up the legal code and began to peruse it: "You shall pay seventy-five strings of cash."

Xiao'e prostrated herself on the ground, her voice trembling: "This humble woman accepts the judgment."

"This humble citizen accepts the judgment."

At this point, everyone could have breathed a sigh of relief, but Zhang Caihu spoke up again: "Wait a moment, Yue E cannot be dealt with so hastily. The Yue faction is rampant right now, and I suspect that she is related to the assassination of the Palace Guard Commander a few days ago. I request that the case be transferred to the Palace Guard Command for investigation."

At this moment, all eyes were on him. The key point is that Zhang Caihu thought he was incredibly clever and was looking at Lin Zhou with a smug grin, as if to say, "You've made me uncomfortable. Now I'll see what you do."

Lin Zhou licked his lips, put his hands behind his back, flicked his sleeves, and looked at Zhang Caihu with a smile but did not refute him.

At this moment, Xu Ping glanced at Zhang Caihu: "Without conclusive evidence, the case cannot be transferred. Zhang Sicheng, you have repeatedly obstructed my judgment, which is an act of insubordination. According to the Song Law, you should be punished with thirty strokes of the cane and a fine of three hundred taels of silver. Knowing the law and breaking it will increase the punishment by one degree."

"Lord Si, why are you protecting such a lowly commoner? I remember that the Marquis of Yu was previously a member of the Imperial City Guard. Could it be that you don't want me to continue investigating?"

At this moment, Lin Zhou slowly raised his head, glanced at Xu Ping, and then turned around with a smile to search in the crowd. Soon he met Cao Wenda's gaze at the door.

Cao Wenda nodded at him, his face full of that murderous smile. Lin Zhou chuckled and cupped his hands to Sihou, saying, "Lord Sihou, when I was with this woman before, she asked me to keep an account book for her. I was a bit thoughtful at the time, so I made a copy myself."

After saying that, Lin Zhou stepped forward and took out a copy of the account book from his sleeve and placed it on the magistrate's table: "I don't know if it's true or not, but since this weasel-faced official says he wants to investigate, then let him investigate."

"Why didn't you take it out before?" Xu Ping looked coldly at Lin Zhou. "Do you know what the punishment is for failing to report something you know?"

Lin Zhou quickly feigned fear: "My lord, you have wronged me. I just said that I don't know if it's true or not, and she is here in person. This kind of copy cannot be used as evidence. If I bring it out, it might even be considered perjury. I just heard that you, sir, said that you want to reopen the assassination case. That's when I remembered. I don't know if I can help."

Si Hou remained silent, but opened the fake ledger. It mostly recorded daily interactions, including interactions with Lin Zhou. Among these names, Si Hou was surprised to see Zhang Caihu's name, and below that was a series of names belonging to people from the Palace Guard.

"Oh? Interesting." Si Hou gently closed the ledger. "No wonder Zhang Sicheng was so impatient; it turns out he has something he doesn't want others to know and is eager to silence them. Guards, seize Zhang Caihu, the Left Attendant of the Palace Guard!"