Chapter 130: No mercy for a bad end (2/2)
Right now, Murong Wanru was like Grand Concubine Yi, still recovering from the shock of Han Congan’s choice. After being scared by Han Yuqi, she hadn’t even noticed Lady Xu’s obvious staring.
“Official Ouyang, since Han Yuqi incurred the worse offences of treason and heresy, how should he be dealt with?” Han Yunxi asked on.
The frightened Official Ouyang quickly stood up, glancing between Grand Concubine Yi and Lady Xu without knowing how to reply.
“Answer!” Han Yunxi said angrily, extremely fierce.
Afraid, Official Ouyang didn’t dare delay any longer. “To act so brazenly in a court of law, the statutes state that…that…that it’s a three-year prison sentence!”
“No!” Han Yuqi suddenly roared like a wild beast, struggling madly to get free. Fortunately, the yamen runners held him firmly in place. His howl made the still-stunned Grand Concubine Yi unconsciously scoot back.
She’d never faced such an intense, horrifying scene before. She really was scared. Who cared who Han Yuqi was? She shouted out, “Someone! Hurry! Hurry and take him away! Lock…lock him up in the imperial prisons! Too horrific, he doesn’t obey the laws of the land at all!” At her words, the yamen runners started dragging their prisoner away, but Lady Xu rushed over to stop them.
“Esteemed imperial concubine, spare him! Spare him! Esteemed imperial concubine, I beg you…”
“Madame Xu, what right do you have to beg the esteemed imperial concubine?” Han Yunxi cut her off sternly with her question.
Lady Xu gave a start, but didn’t dare answer. She only kept pleading with Grand Concubine Yi. “Esteemed imperial concubine, have mercy! Have mercy! Yuqi was only…”
But Han Yunxi only cut her off again. “Madame Xu, you sullied the wangfei and made a racket before the Duke of Qin’s fates, damaging our name and reputation. Do you admit to your crimes?”
Without this reminder, Lady Xu might’ve really forgotten that she was hard-pressed to even preserve herself. She suddenly turned calm at the words as she remembered her unfavorable plight. Her crimes were much more severe than Han Yuqi’s. She slowly turned to look at Han Yunxi, meeting that relentless gaze with her weak ones as she fell backwards. Meanwhile, the yamen runners dragged Han Yuqi ouside.
“Mother, save me! Save me!”
“Mother, find grandfather to save me, I didn’t mean it! Mother!”
……
In the silence of the hall, Han Yuqi’s ludicrous pleas for help were even more distinct and ridiculous. His grandfather was the magistrate of the Board of Civil Offices. If he knew what had happened today, it be hard for him to save his own life, much less theirs.
It was better for Han Yuqi to bear the burden of his own crimes.
As for Lady Xu’s crimes, it’d depend on circumstances. If something went wrong, even the magistrate of the Board of Civil Offices would be implicated with her.
Han Yuqi’s cries of help grew fainter until silence returned to the courtroom. Lady Xu knelt on the floor, while Madame Li had already long dragged back an unsatisfied Han Ruoxue. Neither of them dared to make a sound. As for Han Congan, he’d kept his head down from beginning to end, kneeling disconsolately. Everything had finally quieted down, but it was just the calm before the storm. Han Yunxi took a deep breath and returned to her seat by Grand Concubine Yi. She arranged her clothes neatly before sitting down. As long as Han Congan didn’t defame her and stood by her side, she had nothing to fear!
She looked towards Grand Concubine Yi and emphasized word by word, “Mufei, the truth is out. Please make the decision on how to deal with Lady Xu.”
Grand Concubine Yi calmed herself down before slowly turning to look at Han Yunxi. She knew she’d lost again! Han Yunxi was just a young girl with no backing or supporters, but why was she such a difficult opponent? Why would Han Congan leave the future of the Han Family in her hands while refusing her help?
Had she really underestimated Han Yunxi?
Grand Concubine Yi’s heart wavered for the first time. But before she could speak, Murong Wanru interrupted. “Mufei, I think there’s a misunderstanding here! Only a misunderstanding could have led to this!”
At this point, Murong Wanru was due to speak even without Lady Xu prompting her. Truthfully speaking, she’d schemed this up behind the scenes using Lady Xu as her chance. If she didn’t do something, Lady Xu’s personality might very well sell her out. Then she’d be a goner!
“Little sister Wanru wasn’t the one defamed. Won’t your back get sore from talking standing up[2]?” Han Yunxi asked with a cold laugh.
Murong Wanru instantly grew anxious as she rose. “Sister-in-law, don’t say such things. How could that be what I meant? I’m only thinking on behalf of your Han Family, aren’t I? After all, you’re all one family.”
Tsk tsk!
Han Yunxi sighed with emotion in her heart. This Murong Wanru was acting as a quintessential white lotus. But Han Yunxi had never been a clumsy, inarticulate speaker. She lazily asked back, “Little sister Wanru, by this you meant that the Duke of Qin’s household affairs aren’t my family’s affairs? Little sister Wanru doesn’t see me as part of the family?”
-o-
[1] yamen runners (衙役) – yayi, men employed for ‘general services’ in a yamen, or the office & residence of a magistrate. They could work as gatekeepers, wardens, policemen, sedan-chair bearers, gong-beaters, lantern-carriers, night watchmen, etc.
[2] won’t your back get sore from talking standing up (站着说话不腰疼吗) – zhan zhe shuohua bu yao teng ma, to blabber on, to be an armchair expert, to speak up for others without getting anything done.