Chapter 1294: Chapter 1294: Superb Acting Skills

"What did you say? Someone from the Dou household is carrying a coffin to protest?" Qu Shaoyin frowned, looking at the Government Official and asked, "What injustice is he claiming? Bringing a coffin here, making such a scene, does he think Jingzhao Mansion is his home? Is he not afraid of disgracing the Meng family?"

Merchants are considered lowly; officials in the Capital generally look down on them, which is why Qu Shaoyin only mentioned Meng Imperial Censor’s Family.

The Government Official wiped his cold sweat and said, "Replying to Lord Junior Prefect, the eldest Young Master of the Dou Family said that this time he is here to accuse Ms. Meng of repeatedly attempting to murder him, in the name of his maternal grandfather and his mother. He said that if Jingzhao Mansion does not handle the case impartially, he will commit suicide at the entrance of Jingzhao Mansion to uphold the laws of Great Chu!"

"To die for justice? A mere merchant’s son, is he worthy?" Qu Shaoyin was very angry. He was already busy enough every day; now a merchant’s son, even if he’s the son of an Imperial Merchant, shouldn’t cause him such trouble.

The Government Official had a bitter expression and said, "That’s what he said. He also mentioned he is unmarried, has no son to see him off at his death, so he prepared mourning clothes for himself. The coffin is for his own use."

Don’t take it lightly. He’s serious; he’s even prepared a coffin for himself.

With a bang, Qu Shaoyin slammed the table: "Indeed, just a lowly merchant, causing such disorder!"

As he spoke, he glared at the Government Official who came to report, pointing at him with clenched teeth: "Fang Hu, Junior Prefect Shen is more skilled at handling such matters. You should have reported to him first."

Why come to find him among the two Junior Prefects in Jingzhao Mansion? Isn’t this causing him trouble on purpose?

Fang Hu, feeling wronged, bowed his head and said, "Replying to Qu Shaoyin, Junior Prefect Shen is not present today, and I cannot directly meet Lord Jingzhao Governor, so I had to trouble you, Lord Junior Prefect."

I didn’t want to come either, but I had no choice.

At this moment, another Government Official ran in, stood at the door, and saluted Qu Shaoyin, saying, "Lord Junior Prefect, the eldest Young Master of the Imperial Merchant Dou Family is outside wailing. Many people have gathered to watch the commotion, and he has sent a servant to invite a Daoist to recite sutras for him, saying if he dies, only the guidance of a Daoist can ensure his reincarnation."

Bang!

Qu Shaoyin almost injured his hand by banging on the table, then stood up and cursed: "Is he insane? Who acts like this? Does he not care about his reputation?"

Bringing a coffin and wearing mourning clothes to file a complaint is one thing; inviting a Daoist to recite sutras—is he planning to set up a mourning tent at the entrance of Jingzhao Mansion and be sent off directly?

Fang Hu, a native of the Capital, whose family lived here since the former dynasty, said, "Lord Junior Prefect hasn’t been in the Capital for long, so he may not be familiar with the temper of Young Master Dou. He’s a rogue; forget about bringing a coffin to complain, if there was profit, he would dress as a woman to solicit business in front of a brothel."

Fang Hu quickly recounted some outrageous acts by Young Master Dou and the grievances between Young Master Dou and Mrs. Dou Meng.

Qu Shaoyin, a gentleman from a noble family, conducted himself according to ancient rites, and everyone he associated with was well-mannered. How could he have known there was such a rascal as Young Master Dou? He was momentarily bewildered.

Once he regained his composure, he adjusted his official hat and said, "You there at the door, go outside and disperse the onlookers. Fang Hu, accompany this Junior Prefect to meet Lord Jingzhao Governor to report the matter of the Dou family."

"Yes." Fang Hu followed Qu Shaoyin to meet Lord Jingzhao Governor.

After listening to them, Jingzhao Governor felt a slight headache, but having held this position for years, he was unfazed by any bizarre case or secret scandal: "Qu Shaoyin, go and accept the petition, then send someone to inform the Dou and Meng families about Dou Ke’s affair and see how they want to resolve it."

He was quite adept at smoothing things over; once the Meng Family came, he would toss the problem back to them, leaving it to the Meng Family to discipline their daughter, be it punishment or exoneration.

Qu Shaoyin frowned and asked, "My Lord, do we really need to take up this case? It’s just a dispute between a stepson and a stepmother. We can simply refuse the petition, send Young Master Dou back with the Dou family, and have both families sit together and talk it out."

Jingzhao Governor, however, waved his hand: "In the past, we might have been able to ignore Dou Ke’s petition, but now we can’t. The Dou Ou Bank has greatly helped the Emperor, and he has close ties with the Ouyang Family. Out of regard for the Ouyang Family, we must accept this petition."

He urged again: "Don’t delay anymore; handle it quickly, or Dou Ke will be mourning himself soon."

Having heard this, Qu Shaoyin had no choice but to bow and take Fang Hu along to handle the matter.

Outside Jingzhao Mansion, Young Master Dou was indeed mourning himself, wiping his tears:

"Mother, dear Mother, I am sorry to you. I had planned to marry soon, have a grandson for you, so you could smile in the underworld. But now, it’s impossible; my life seems destined to end at the hands of Ms. Meng, boo-hoo-hoo..."

He continued, "From childhood, Ms. Meng repeatedly harmed me, but I, considering her my stepmother, endured and endured. This time, Ms. Meng... Ms. Meng, you too can be my mother. If you want my life, come and take it. I can offer you my life, saving you from sending Assassins to assassinate me."

Dou Zhi was crying so pitifully, clutching Young Master Dou’s arm, and said,

"Master, don’t cry. You have always been pure and kind, respecting the Second Madam since childhood, yet still ended up in this state. Boo-hoo, slave is saddened for you."

And she added: "It’s okay, Master, don’t be sorrowful. If you die, this slave will definitely follow you to hell, to serve master even as a ghost..."

With that, she pretended to faint from crying.

Young Master Dou admired this; an act like crying was indeed the domain of women. He was almost out of tears, but Dou Zhi’s pretend faint was more vivid.

Dou Meng supported Dou Zhi and cried to Young Master Dou: "Master, you treated this servant like a brother. Without you, this servant would have died long ago. Seeing you suffer injustices for twenty years, and almost losing your life this time... boo-hoo, this servant may not speak well, but desires to accompany you in death!"

The other servants of the Dou family, seeing this, also began to wail, making it seem less like the entrance to Jingzhao Mansion and more like a household with a funeral tent, mourning the dead.

Qu Shaoyin was stunned—is he really in mourning?

The onlookers began to wipe their eyes, saying: "How pitiful, how can there be such an audacious woman in the world?"

Some questioned, "The Meng family is an Imperial Censor’s family, known for integrity. How could they train assassins to kill? Aren’t you lying?"

With two bangs, Young Master Dou’s Shadow Guards tossed two Assassins from a nearby carriage, saying: "These are the assassins sent by the Meng family. The evidence is clear; how could it be a lie?"

Young Master Dou swore to the heavens: "I, Dou Ke, vow that if I falsely accuse Ms. Meng, may I suffer the fate of castration, doomed to have no descendants!"

With those words, the crowd fell silent.

The Great Chu people believe in such oaths, and for a young man to vow to be castrated and have no descendants, it must mean he truly suffered injustice at the hands of his stepmother.