Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 172 - 170

Chapter 172: 170

Early the next morning, Mrs. Shen indeed went to the Government Office to accuse Shen Chengyao’s family of being unfilial.

Xiao’er’s family was summoned to court. Considering their status, Xiao’er and Shen Chengyao didn’t need to kneel, but Mrs. Liu and Shen Jingrui did not enjoy such privilege.

The Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion was a just and solemn person. He banged on the table and spoke seriously, "Mrs. Shen accuses Marquis Shengping of rebelling against his parents, assaulting them, being unfilial and arrogant, caring only for his own luxury, neglecting his parents. Is this true, Marquis Shengping?"

"I would like to know what is meant by rebelling against parents, assaulting them, and being unfilial," Shen Chengyao suppressed his anger and tension and asked calmly.

He never expected his mother to actually take his family to court. Among the brothers, they had been the most filial, the least greedy, and the most generous. What had their piety earned them? A lawsuit!

They had disgraced themselves in front of the emperor himself!

This made him feel like their years of piety were a joke!

"Mrs. Shen, why do you accuse Marquis Shengping and his family of rebelling against parents, assaulting them, and being unfilial?"

"I had found a good match for my granddaughter, the son of the Admiral’s mansion, but they didn’t agree. Isn’t this rebellion? They also threatened to marry off whoever agreed. They even ordered a servant to slap me. See how swollen my face is! Isn’t this assaulting and being unfilial?" Mrs. Shen fell to the ground, her face full of sadness.

"The third child is simply inhuman. Usually enjoying a luxurious life while the parents have to live on chaff and leftover vegetable stalks. Now he even dared to hit his mother. How could heaven permit such a heartless man to possess wealth?" Shen Chengzong spoke angrily and with sorrow.

Upon hearing these words, the people outside the door were all in an uproar.

"Unbelievable, the noble Marquis had his own mother beaten so badly by a servant. Where is the justice in that!"

"Yes, absolutely unfilial. If I had a son like this, I would throw him in the latrine!"

"Oh wow, not satisfied with such a good match from the Admiral’s mansion, I wish it was my daughter!"

"Why doesn’t heaven strike these unfilial descendants with a bolt of lightning?"

...

Xiao’er thought that Mrs. Shen was quite impressive, at least she didn’t lose her nerve.

"Silence!" The Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion banged the table, making everyone quiet down.

"Marquis Shengping, is this true?"

"Respectfully to reply, this...." Shen Chengyao was about to respond when Xiao’er interrupted him.

"Your Honor, allow me to answer. I know what happened better than my father, and it was I who ordered the slap."

The Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion nodded.

"Your Honor, here’s what happened..." Xiao’er explained the events of that day, "I ordered the slap because I was worried that my grandmother doesn’t understand the rules. If she made a big mistake one day, wouldn’t it harm her? Furthermore, there are rules and manners to uphold. Was it wrong of me to order a discipline?"

"Of course not, without rules, chaos ensues."

The Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion was also a person living under the feudal system which emphasized certain interests, so naturally, he did not think it was wrong. Although considerations do go beyond legal reasoning to human sentiments, when actually scrutinized, there was no wrongdoing.

"My family has long been separated. Not only that, but for certain reasons, my grandparents, my eldest uncle, and my second uncle’s family have all severed ties with us. Here are the documents for the separation and severance of relations. When our family was too busy, we would send a servant to deliver food, clothing, and silver to my grandparents. For the sake of convenience and to prevent any pilfering by the servants, I had them carry a ledger. They would make the delivery and if everything was correct, my grandparents would provide a handprint as confirmation." Xiao’er handed over the documents and the ledger.

The assistant hurried over to present them to the Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion.

Mr. Shen stiffened upon hearing this. His third son’s family had been guarding against them all along!

After the documents were presented to the Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion, Xiao’er continued to speak, "I would like to ask Your Honor and the people outside: can grandparents, already separated and severed, still interfere with my affairs? Is it considered rebellion when we don’t agree? Furthermore, the proposal was for my aunt to marry Mr. Chengzong as a form of compensation for maliciously ruining his wound medicine. Such an arrangement, in accordance with reason and human sentiment, cannot be agreed upon by my parents, correct? As for allegations that we live luxuriously without caring for our grandparents, you will know the truth once you look at the ledger!"

Everyone started discussing again after hearing this.

"God, the son of the Admiral suffered a leg injury on the battlefield a few years ago. He can’t walk and is so young. Ruining his wound medicine is equivalent to ruining his future?!"

"Her daughter did something wrong, instead of apologizing, stating the apology, they even wanted to push the granddaughter who hadn’t grown up to apologize, which doesn’t seem like a real grandmother!"

"What kind of grandparents are those who have severed ties!"

"That can’t be said oh. Blood is thicker than water, besides, maybe Marquis Shengping’s household has dissidence, that’s why they severed ties."

...

"Silence!"

The Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion again pounded the table to quiet everyone down.

"Mrs. Shen, is what the Lady of Rui’an County said true? Did that match happen in that way?"

"No, the person they initially wanted was her, they much rather she marry over." Mrs. Shen shook her head. She was not lying, the matchmaker was indeed happy when the subject changed to the Lady of Rui’an County.

"Fu Yin, if we have any doubts about this matter, shouldn’t we summon the Vesir’s son and ask him to get the clear picture?" Di Shaowei spoke from the side.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Di Shaowei arrived just in time to hear this.

The clerk, who initially wanted to say that others can’t interrupt while the officer is dealing with a case, quickly shut his mouth when he saw the two of them.

"Summon the Admiral’s second son!"

"Your Honor, this humble woman has something to say!" Mrs. Liu, who was kneeling there, couldn’t hold back her anger and taking advantage of this interval, began to speak, "I have been married to the Shen family for more than ten years where I have been filial to my parents-in-law and respectful to my uncles, aunts, and cousins. Prior to the family separation, our branch worked hardest and ate the least. However, despite all this, my mother and second uncle’s family still wanted to sell off my daughter. Do you know under what circumstances our family severed relations?"

Mr. Shen hearing these words, became completely flustered and quickly interrupted, "Our third branch, how can you bring up petty household matters in court, isn’t this a waste of the official’s time."

Mr. Shen thought that by saying this, the Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion might step in.

"Father, these may be minor matters to you, but for our family, they are dire."

"Your Honor, elders and friends, you’ll know if we are unfilial once you hear what I have to say." Mrs. Liu spoke of the things that had happened over the years one by one.

"...Every word I said is the truth, and if I spoke any falsehood, may thunder strike me down and I shall not rest in peace."

Humiliated? Yes, humiliated! But she didn’t care anymore, they’ve already been taken to the court anyway. Let’s all join together in losing face!