Chapter 1295: Chapter 1295: Ming Shaoqing Steps In

Hey, you have misunderstood. It is true that Mrs. Meng attempted assassination, but when it comes to making vows, Young Master Dou has never taken it seriously. To close deals, save his life, or even to appease women, he has sworn hundreds, if not thousands, of oaths.

Qu Shaoyin’s face darkens; this is the first time he’s witnessed such blatant swearing in public. Truly shameless!

But he hastily speaks out, "This is a Jingzhao Mansion affair, all unrelated persons must leave immediately, or face punishment under Great Chu Criminal Law!"

Upon hearing this, the government officials of Jingzhao Mansion immediately take action to disperse the onlookers.

However, the capital is teeming with nobility, and among the spectators, some of the distinguished philanderers are eager for drama. Not only do they refuse to leave, but they announce their family names and demand, "Quickly prepare seats and refreshments, we wish to be present."

Qu Shaoyin wishes he could strangle them. As he is about to drive them away, an official discreetly informs him to let them stay.

The Jingzhao Governor has instructed that having these noble families present will ensure that even if the case is muddled, once resolved, they will disseminate the verdict, proving to the public that justice was served impartially.

The Jingzhao Governor uses "we," including Qu Shaoyin in this, giving him no choice but to comply.

Yet, the Jingzhao Governor remains tactful and has not yet appeared in court, opting to await the arrival of both the Dou and Meng families.

Young Master Dou has endured Mrs. Dou Meng for years, knowing she persistently dispatched assassins to kill him. If he doesn’t overthrow Mrs. Dou Meng now, he’ll be in even greater peril. He turns to Qu Shaoyin, asking, "Lord Junior Prefect, when shall we begin the trial?"

Saying this, he starts to disrobe.

Qu Shaoyin is shocked, pointing at him, "Dou, what are you doing? Stop immediately!"

Madness, undressing in the courtroom.

Young Master Dou ignores him, painfully taking off his clothes to reveal his wounds to everyone: "Ladies and gentlemen, these are injuries inflicted by Meng family assassins."

Those present are stunned by the wounds on Young Master Dou’s back: "Mrs. Dou Meng is truly vicious; look at that chest wound and the two on his back, you can see the bones. She really intends to kill her stepson!"

Young Master Dou, shedding tears, continues: "I’ve suffered many such injuries from childhood till now. I intended to endure it this time, but I dreamt of Grandpa and Mother; they hugged me, weeping, saying if I continued enduring, I’ll face calamity. They urged me not to bear it any longer and to seek justice from Jingzhao Mansion officials... They advised, if I didn’t want to trouble Father, I should use their names to accuse Mrs. Meng and the Meng family."

In terms of pretending to be supernatural, Young Master Dou is more adept than charlatans, speaking in a mystifying yet seemingly plausible manner.

Listen, Young Master Dou is so filial that he doesn’t want to trouble his father.

...

At this moment, Manager Dou almost wants to skin Young Master Dou alive, this "filial son," pointing at Mrs. Dou Meng, he curses: "Are you an idiot? You’ve already failed once, yet you commission a second assassination? Handing him evidence like that?"

"He’s been unruly since childhood, has a temper, would he suffer you quietly once he has evidence? You’re killing the Dou family and yourself, Meng family!"

He even thought of leveraging Meng family connections to arrange marriages with officials’ legitimate daughters for his second and third sons. Now that this incident has erupted, even if the Meng family stands, no official will marry their daughter to his sons.

With a mother-in-law as vicious as Mrs. Dou Meng, who dares marry into the family?

Mrs. Dou Meng, amidst the scolding, cries, "Master, I didn’t send anyone to kill him. I dispatched people to kill Meng Wu instead. Leaving them alive will ruin us. You knew and agreed to it; now you blame me, boohoo, my life is so bitter. Sacrificed myself for marriage and accepted the reputation of a wicked stepmother, yet now you blame me?"

Ah, pht!!

With matters turning out this way, shouldn’t I blame you?

"Stop crying, quickly pack up and go to the Meng residence with me. No matter what method you use, convince your father to intervene at Jingzhao Mansion, persuade the Jingzhao Governor to settle this privately."

"If settled privately, we can later claim it was a misunderstanding. If the case is fully tried, not only you but also our second and third sons will be implicated!"

The second and third sons, being an official’s grandsons, have half scholarly family bloodline, giving them higher status than the eldest. The third is good at reading and has a chance to secure an official position; he cannot let this matter destroy the third’s prospects.

Mrs. Dou Meng is most concerned for her two sons, feeling they should have been legitimate, but now are considered the sons of a successor chamber. She doesn’t want them to suffer further due to Dou Ke, and promptly sets off, taking a carriage to the Meng residence.

Meng Imperial Censor is livid, initially refusing to see them, but eventually he must. Upon seeing them, he slaps each twice, scolding, "Fools, incompetent wretches, how can you parents not manage a mere youth who just reached adulthood? With this upheaval, the reputation of the Meng family has utterly crumbled!"

"Father, your daughter knows she is wrong, please save her, save your two grandsons. We can’t let them be ruined by Dou Ke, that despicable child!" Mrs. Dou Meng kneels, crying and pleading to Meng Imperial Censor.

Meng Imperial Censor almost kicks Mrs. Dou Meng in response but, being his favored concubine’s beloved daughter, he spares her, instead waving his hand and delivering two more slaps to Manager Dou, angrily declaring: "When you begged for Sister Chang’s hand in marriage, you promised she’d not suffer injustice. If hardships arise, you’d bear them yourself. Now that your eldest brings trouble, you fix it yourself."

Manager Dou falls to his knees with a thud, exclaiming, "Father-in-law, this isn’t possible, the matter is serious. Without your intervention, the Jingzhao Governor will not favor me enough to suppress the situation on my behalf."

Dou Ke carried it too far, clutching the Tang family’s ancestral tablets, donning mourning clothes, and hoisting a coffin to Jingzhao Mansion to protest grievances. Moreover, he captured the Meng family’s assassins alive. It is said many spectators were present; Jingzhao Governor wishes to quiet the matter, but it’s nearly impossible.

With a bang, Meng Imperial Censor angrily kicks Manager Dou, shouting: "You pathetic wretch, unable to control your son! If I knew you were this useless back then, I’d have never given Sister Chang to you, even under mortal threat!"

Manager Dou snorts in disdain, thinking, if not for me marrying your daughter, her reputation of failing to climb into Prince Heng’s bed would’ve led to her demise at the hands of Meng family elders!

When Mrs. Dou Meng was young, she was beautifully alluring, but as a concubine daughter, dreaming of marrying into the Imperial Family was impossible. Any hope of an honored match vanished after climbing into bed.

Back then, he married Mrs. Dou Meng to elevate his status by marrying an official’s daughter.

As for affection, who doesn’t like a pretty woman? He did have feelings for Meng, but being a businessman, his primary concern was always the profit.

Now Mrs. Dou Meng costs him dearly!

"Master, it’s not good, Ming Shaoqing has arrived with Da Li Temple’s prison guards, saying they will escort the Old Master to Jingzhao Mansion!" Meng family’s housekeeper rushes in, panic-stricken.

"What did you say? Ming Shaoqing is here? Why has he come? What does today’s matter have to do with him?" Meng Imperial Censor is so frightened his legs nearly collapse beneath him.