Chapter 2: Taking It to Court

Thinking of this, Chen Ningya closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, there was no longer any sign of turbulence. "Replying to the Madam, this humble woman’s home is in Fushan Village, outside Yuchang Town, and my husband’s surname is Wen."

"Mistress Wen, since your home is nearby, why were you found lying in a mountain ravine covered in wounds?" Shen Bian frowned. Before taking office, he had made inquiries; the customs in Qing’an County were simple and honest, and malicious attacks were rarely heard of. How could this woman have been injured so severely?

Before Shen Bian could ponder it further, Chen Ningya began to sob, "The Magistrate and Madam may not know, but this humble woman is not a local. Years ago, my hometown was washed away by floods. I fled with my family and begged my way to Qing’an County. I was starving and faint, and after falling and hitting my head, I forgot my past. Deng Laosan of Deng Village saw that I had lost my memory and tricked me into believing I was his daughter. He sold me off for two strings of coins to perform a 'spirit-soothing' marriage. Recently, my mother-in-law passed away, and while at the funeral, I accidentally rolled down a hill and regained my memories. I went to Deng Village to demand an explanation from Deng Laosan, but who would have thought that the father and son were wolves in human clothing? Seeing that I had regained my memory, they decided to finish me off once and for all."

"Outrageous!" Shen Bian’s eyes widened in anger as he slammed the table and stood up.

The doctor was also filled with astonishment, sighing, "The world is declining and hearts are no longer what they used to be! I never expected there to be such vicious people!"

Madam Luo, being pregnant, was naturally sentimental. Hearing Chen Ningya’s ordeal, her tears fell like broken pearls, and she cried until she could barely catch her breath.

Shen Bian hurriedly had his servants escort Madam Luo away, then instructed his trusted aide: "Return to Qing’an County immediately. Take a few bailiffs to Deng Village to make arrests. You must bring Deng Laosan and his son to justice!"

While Shen Bian was busy with the arrests, Wen Youshan had finally found Deng Village after many twists and turns. However, after asking around, the news he received was not good. His father-in-law was indeed named Deng Laosan and lived in Deng Village, but the man had no daughter at all. The Deng family treated him like a stranger and refused to acknowledge him as a son-in-law.

But if this wasn't the place, he truly didn't know where else to look.

Wen Youshan’s heart sank to the bottom. He stood at the entrance of Deng Village, looking around blankly, not knowing which direction to go next.

Just as he was feeling lost, several bailiffs walked toward him.

"Old fellow, is this Deng Village?" the lead bailiff asked.

Wen Youshan nodded uncertainly, "It should be, I’m not sure."

"If you aren't sure, why are you standing there like a fool?" the bailiff said with displeasure. "Let me ask you, do you know where Deng Laosan’s house is?"

Hearing the name Deng Laosan, Wen Youshan finally snapped out of his daze and subconsciously nodded, "It’s the courtyard surrounded by a broken fence in the middle of the village, the one with a willow tree next to it."

The bailiffs exchanged glances and rushed into the village without another word.

Wen Youshan was still troubled by the identity of Deng Laosan, so he simply stood at the village entrance to watch the commotion.

Before long, the quiet Deng Village erupted. First came the wailing and screaming of women, followed by the cursing of the bailiffs, who seemed to have drawn their weapons. All the villagers ran out, but seeing the bailiffs, they dared not step forward, only pointing and whispering anxiously from the sidelines.

Just as Deng Laosan and his son were being dragged out of the village by the bailiffs, the village head of Deng Village finally arrived, panting as he asked, "Officers, these are law-abiding citizens. Why are you arresting them?"

The lead bailiff spat on the ground in disgust and snorted, "Law-abiding? Would law-abiding people kidnap and sell women? Would they commit murder to silence witnesses? I won't hide it from you: the victim has been saved by the Magistrate, and she has told us everything. You’d better prepare to collect the bodies of Deng Laosan and his son!"

Wen Youshan’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively felt this had something to do with his wife, but he dared not step forward to ask. He could only follow the bailiffs back to the county office.

The journey from Deng Village to the county office was not short; it took the bailiffs half a day on horseback. With Deng Laosan and his son in tow, the pace was much slower. By the time the group reached the office, it was already deep into the night. Wen Youshan, who had followed them on foot, didn't arrive until the next morning.

Just as the Magistrate was holding court, Wen Youshan finally saw the wife he had been longing for.

Chen Ningya was being supported by someone as she walked out. Before she could kneel, she heard Wen Youshan calling her name. The familiar voice instantly brought tears to her eyes.

Seeing Chen Ningya crying like that, Wen Youshan’s heart broke. He tried to rush in regardless of the situation. Fortunately, Shen Bian was a reasonable man and did not stop him, despite Wen Youshan looking like a beggar.

The couple, reunited after a long separation, felt as if they had lived through a lifetime. Seeing Chen Ningya covered in wounds, Wen Youshan was so anxious that he didn't even notice his once-distant wife was now much warmer toward him.

"How did you get hurt like this?" Wen Youshan wanted to touch her but didn't dare, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Chen Ningya tugged at Wen Youshan’s clothes, signaling him to look at Shen Bian sitting on the bench, and whispered, "I'll explain it to you later."

Wen Youshan had no choice but to kneel beside Chen Ningya.

Shen Bian let out a sigh of relief and slammed the gavel down heavily. "Bring in Deng Laosan and his son!"

Although the two had guessed why they were arrested, they were still terrified when they saw Chen Ningya. They only dared to glance at her once before looking away, trembling as they cried out, "Your Honor, this humble citizen is innocent!"

"Clack! Clack! Clack!"

Shen Bian struck the gavel three times, glaring at the pair. "What grievances do you have?"

"I..." Deng Laosan froze, not knowing how to start, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Seeing his guilty conscience, Shen Bian knew the man was treacherous and immediately said, "Deng Laosan, do you recognize this woman beside you?"

"Don't know her, don't know her..." Deng Laosan shook his head like a rattle.

Shen Bian took a deep breath and continued, "Mistress Deng, what do you have to say?"

Chen Ningya stared fixedly at the father and son, gritting her teeth as she said, "Reporting to the Magistrate, it was this pair who tried to kill me to silence me. The reason is that I regained my memory and recalled their kidnapping and selling of women. Years ago, it was Deng Laosan who lied and claimed to be my father, selling me as a wife to another."

"What?" Wen Youshan and the onlookers exclaimed in unison, all of them looking shocked.

"No, no, Your Honor! She is framing this humble citizen! I don't know her at all!" Deng Laosan kowtowed vigorously.

Chen Ningya snorted angrily, "Framing you? My parents-in-law know about you selling me. If you want to keep something hidden, you shouldn't have done it in the first place. When they made the deal, the manager and servants of the gambling den were present. Furthermore, when I went to Deng Village to confront Deng Laosan that day, I met many people on the road, and we had a conflict in the village. Many villagers saw it. If the Magistrate brings the villagers of Deng Village here, I believe they would not dare to hide the truth."