Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 61 National Law and Family Law

After a while, a constable from Zhen'an Prefecture walked into the main hall, followed by a constable holding a tray of evidence.

"Sir, we found three paper figures, vermilion embroidery needles, yellow talismans, etc. in the mezzanine of Wang Zhang's bed. They are all tools used by witchcraft to harm people."

Liu Binfang carefully looked at the items on the evidence plate and waved his hand again. The bailiff understood and brought the items to Jia Zheng and Jia's mother for them to see.

Jia Zheng saw that the names of himself and his wife and Jia Cong were written on the three paper figures, and there were blood-red embroidery needles stuck on their heads, necks and hearts. They looked extremely creepy and evil, and he felt a chill in his chest.

Grandmother Jia was old and was even more taboo about these things. She glanced at the names of Jia Zheng and others on the paper dolls, as well as the densely packed blood needles, and her face turned pale, not daring to look at them any more.

Therefore, he did not realize that Jia Zheng and Wang Fu-ren's horoscopes were actually incorrect.

But even if he found out, what could he do? The names of Jia Zheng, Wang Fu-ren and Jia Cong written on the paper man were absolutely real.

A servant in Wang Shanbao's household, it was normal for her to not know the Second Master and Second Mistress' horoscopes, but she had irrefutable evidence that she had cast a curse on her master.

Liu Binfang bowed to Lady Jia and said, "Madam, this paper figurine was found in Wang Zhang's room, and it has the names of the Yuanwailang and his wife, and Master Jia Cong written on it.

There is irrefutable evidence that Wang Zhang is harming people with witchcraft. I will take him back to the yamen right now. I am sorry to bother you."

Wang Shanbao was still crying and howling for injustice, but the arresting officer slapped him hard on the face. Just as he was about to take him away, someone in the hall suddenly shouted, "Wait a minute!"

Everyone looked towards the source of the voice, all with surprise on their faces. The person who spoke was Jia Cong.

Liu Binfang frowned and asked, "Master Cong, what do you want to say?"

Jia Cong bowed to Liu Binfang, then turned to Jia's mother and said, "Madam, this Wang Shanbao is always domineering and vicious in the East Courtyard. Everyone hates him.
Since he grew up, Jia Cong has often been controlled and scolded by her. Even his daily monthly salary would be deducted, and the maids around him were forced to death by her!

I thought she only did evil things like this, but I didn't expect that she would use witchcraft to harm others. It would be fine if she harmed Jia Cong, but she even wanted to harm the second master and the second wife. This wicked servant is simply unforgivable!"

Mrs. Xing, with a swollen face, looked at Jia Cong in horror. This beast was adding fuel to the fire.

Everyone knows that this stupid woman is my concubine. If she continues to fan the flames, she will probably bring me into trouble as well.

Then Jia Cong continued to say with emotion: "She violated not only the national law, but also the family rules!
Once she leaves the Jia family, the state laws will be strict, but while she is still in this family, the family rules will not tolerate her!
If we let this shrew go out like this, where will the Jia family's family traditions and family rules be, and where will the blessings and majesty left by the old Duke be!"

The national laws are strict, but the family rules are hard to tolerate!
Jia Cong's words echoed in the hall, and were quite thought-provoking.

Jia Zheng looked excited, and Mrs. Wang was surprised.

Tanchun, Daiyu and other sisters in the green gauze cabinet were all excited after hearing what they heard. What a great Third Brother Cong!

Jia Cong said: "If we don't enforce the family rules, others may think that our Jia family is lax and powerless.

They will even think that our Jia family has forgiven this evil and treacherous slave who used witchcraft to harm his master, and there must be some hidden reason behind it. The speculation will surely spread day by day, and I am afraid it will be difficult to deal with it! "

Jia Zheng, Wang Fu-ren and others were shocked to hear this. If they let that shrewd woman be taken away to Zhen'an Mansion unharmed, the Jia family would be viewed in a disgraceful manner by outsiders.

Grandmother Jia looked at Jia Cong with a complicated expression. This grandson whom she disliked the most, just happened to have a kind heart.

Every word he spoke was as sharp as a knife, cutting at the crucial point, leaving no room for rebuttal.

What he said was absolutely correct. The national laws were strict, and the family rules were even more difficult to tolerate! Otherwise, where would the blessing and majesty left by the old Duke be?

If we don't follow the family rules, I don't know how much gossip outsiders will make about us in the future.

Grandmother Jia suddenly felt that the descendants of the Duke should be like this!
It's a pity that this kid was born into the wrong mother.

Was he really saying this to protect the reputation of the Jia family? Or was he seeking revenge for his maid who jumped into the river? It was hard to say.

He was going to kill Wang Shanbao! The crime of witchcraft was a capital crime in the government, but he still spoke like a knife, and didn't even let her miss the family punishment before leaving. She was so young, I didn't realize it before, but she was really cruel! Maybe such a person can really establish a family.

But when I think of my late husband and the humiliation of my eldest son bringing a prostitute into the family, my slight sense of cherishing talent fades.

Jia Zheng stepped forward with an angry look on his face and said, "Madam, what Cong-ge said is absolutely right. The national law is strict and the family rules are hard to tolerate. This shrew must be punished by the family rules before she can leave the house."

Grandmother Jia looked tired, but she said, "I am tired too. You should do your job well and don't bring disgrace to the Jia family!"

After Lady Jia left with her personal maid, Daiyu, Tanchun and other sisters in the green gauze cabinet also followed them back to Rongqing Hall, leaving only Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian.

Jia Zheng was furious and ordered General Lai to punish Wang Shanbao, the housekeeper, with fifty strokes of the cane in order to enforce the family rules.

In the past, thirty strokes of the cane for a servant in the household was already a severe punishment, and Jia Zheng hated Wang Shanbao so much that he went against his usual practice and sentenced him to a severe punishment.

Liu Binfang, who was standing by, sensed something was wrong and said, "Master Jia, since this woman is a servant of the Jia family, the Jia family must follow their family rules, and I cannot say much.

But she is the criminal in the Ma Dao Po case. If she is beaten with fifty sticks, she will most likely die. I will not be able to explain this to the prefect when I return."

Jia Cong on the side suddenly said: "Then break both legs. This will not only save lives, but also enforce family rules!"

Liu Binfang took a deep breath after hearing this. This boy has such a cruel heart.

Wang Xifeng, Jia Lian, housekeeper Lai Da and others standing by all changed their expressions when they heard this.

Jia Zheng frowned and thought, if this wicked servant who used witchcraft to harm his master was not given severe punishment, how could he serve as a warning to others and maintain a strict family tradition? Otherwise, the servants in the family would rebel in the future.

But after fifty strokes of the cane, he would have been dead and dying, which would hinder the government from investigating and solving the case. The only solution was what Jia Cong suggested.

Lai Da looked at Jia Zheng hesitantly, but Jia Zheng glared at him and said, "Why don't you follow the family rules and do what Cong said?"

Lai Da looked at Jia Cong with a complicated expression, and asked the servant to drag Wang Shanbao away to enforce the family rules.

Wang Shanbao struggled desperately, but it was useless. She just shouted hysterically: "Jia Cong, you are a bastard born of a whore, you have such a vicious heart!"

After cursing for a while, he felt that it was wrong and begged again: "Master Cong, Master Cong, I didn't force Zhishao to death. She jumped into the river on her own. Please forgive me!"

The miserable voice echoed in the east courtyard, and the maids and old women in the courtyard all looked at Jia Cong with horror.

But he was seen standing in the main hall, his expression as cold as a knife, staring at the woman being dragged away without saying a word, without a trace of pity in his eyes.

Jia She and Mrs. Xing on the side seemed to be completely ignored, but at this moment they could still say no.

He just looked at Jia Cong with fear, afraid that he would say something horrifying again.

The companion of the eldest wife's wife used witchcraft to murder the second wife. They are the biggest suspects. It is still unknown what Wang Shanbao will say when he arrives at Zhen'an Prefecture.

Just look at how crazy she was when she implicated Jia Cong in court just now. Even when death was imminent, this evil woman could not utter a word of nonsense.

Jia She and Mrs. Xing both felt that a disaster was imminent, so they didn't care whether the law was properly enforced.

They even felt that Jia Cong had some ill intentions when he changed the sentence of fifty strokes of the cane to breaking both legs.

It would be better to beat this shrewish woman to death with fifty sticks, so that she won’t speak nonsense while she’s alive and drag us two into trouble.

There was a crackling sound of cane hitting outside the main hall, but it lasted less than ten times, followed by Wang Shanbao's shrill screams, and then there was no sound.

His legs must have been broken.

(End of this chapter)