jdhmnovel Chapter 205 Seeking Justice for the Little Beggar
Chapter 205 Seeking Justice for the Little Beggar
Springtime in Jiangnan unfolds like a delicate and beautiful painting, gently spreading across the land. A light breeze carries wisps of floral fragrance and moisture, tenderly stirring the heart.
Emperor Emeritus Xiao Han and Empress Dowager Mu Qingling, surrounded by guards and palace maids, embarked on their journey to Jiangnan. They did not travel with imperial majesty, but rather dressed in the attire of ordinary wealthy families, hoping to find some unique joy and authenticity amidst the everyday life of ordinary people.
At this moment, they were strolling along a winding country road. Beside the road, vast fields of rapeseed flowers bloomed freely, their golden color dazzling and eye-catching, as if the earth had been covered with a shimmering golden carpet. Bees busily flitted among the flowers, their buzzing creating a vibrant symphony. In the distance, rolling mountains appeared and disappeared in the hazy mist, resembling a light ink landscape painting.
Su Wan gently inhaled the fragrance of flowers in the air, a joyful smile spreading across her face: "The spring in Jiangnan truly lives up to its reputation; it's much more vibrant than the scenery in the palace."
Zhao Yu nodded slightly, his eyes filled with emotion: "Yes, after being in the palace for so long, I've almost forgotten how charming the scenery of the common people is."
They continued along the path, and a quaint little town came into view in the distance. Built along the water, the town's cobblestone streets were smooth and warm from the passage of time. Shops lined the streets, their signs swaying in the wind, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughing filled the air—a bustling and lively scene.
Zhao Yu and Su Wan walked into the town and strolled along the bustling streets. They stopped to admire the handicrafts on the street and sampled the local snacks, enjoying this rare moment of freedom.
As they passed a stone bridge, they suddenly heard a pitiful begging cry. Mu Qingling looked in the direction of the sound and saw a ragged beggar huddled in a corner by the bridge. The beggar's hair was disheveled, his face was covered in filth, and his clothes were so tattered that they barely covered his body. In front of him was a chipped bowl with a few scattered copper coins inside.
A feeling of pity welled up in Mu Qingling's heart. She took out some loose silver from her sleeve and was about to step forward to hand it to the beggar when Zhao Yu stopped her.
"Wait a minute," Xiao Han said softly, "This beggar looks a bit strange. Let's take a look first."
Su Wan frowned slightly, looking at Zhao Yu with a puzzled expression: "What's so strange about him? He's just a pitiful beggar."
Xiao Han didn't answer, but quietly observed the beggar. He noticed that although the beggar kept begging, his eyes frequently darted around, as if he were wary of something. Moreover, whenever someone gave him alms, there was no gratitude in his eyes; instead, a barely perceptible coldness flashed across them.
Xiao Han's heart stirred. He gave a wink to the guard behind him, who immediately understood and quietly walked to the beggar's side, squatted down, and began to talk to him.
A moment later, the guard stood up, returned to Xiao Han's side, and whispered, "Your Majesty, this beggar claims his name is Li Er, that he is an orphan who makes a living by begging. But from my observation, he speaks evasively and seems to be hiding something."
Xiao Han nodded slightly; he decided to meet the beggar himself. Xiao Han and Mu Qingling walked up to the beggar, and Zhao Yu squatted down, gently asking, "Child, how did you end up like this? Is there any hardship you're facing? Why don't you tell us?"
The beggar Li Er raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his pitiful appearance: "Grandpa, Grandma, my life is so hard! My parents died early, and I have no skills to make a living, so I can only rely on begging to survive."
Xiao Han looked into Li Er's eyes and slowly said, "I see you are young and healthy. If you really want to make a living, it won't be difficult. Don't hide anything. Tell us what grievances you have, and perhaps we can help you."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Li Er's eyes. He lowered his head, remained silent for a long time, and finally spoke, "Sir, Madam, I truly have been wronged. I was originally a farmer in this town. Although my family wasn't wealthy, we could barely make a living. However, last month, the town's bully, Liu Hu, took a liking to my land and insisted on forcibly seizing it. When I refused, he and his gang beat me severely, stole the land deed, and drove me out of my home. I went to the yamen to file a complaint, but Liu Hu colluded with the county magistrate and completely ignored my grievances. I had nowhere else to turn, which is why I've ended up in this state."
At this point, Li Er couldn't help but burst into tears, his cries filled with despair and indignation.
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingling was furious: "How could there be such a tyrant in this world, and that incompetent magistrate? It's utterly lawless!"
Xiao Han's face also turned very gloomy. He stood up and said coldly, "I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you justice."
Xiao Han and Mu Qingling returned to the inn where they were temporarily staying in the town. Xiao Han immediately gathered some local gentry and commoners to inquire about Liu Hu and the county magistrate.
After some investigation, Xiao Han learned that Liu Hu was indeed a local tyrant who used his wealth and power to oppress the people and commit all sorts of evil deeds. The county magistrate, Wang Fu, was an even more corrupt and incompetent official who colluded with Liu Hu, and the people dared not speak out against them.
Zhao Yu decided to start with Liu Hu and collect evidence of his crimes. He sent guards to secretly monitor Liu Hu's every move, and also sent Mu Qingling with some palace maids to appease the people who had been oppressed by Liu Hu and get them to come forward and testify.
Thanks to Xiao Han's efforts, a large amount of evidence of Liu Hu's crimes was quickly collected, including his illegal occupation of farmland, extortion, and causing death. As for Magistrate Wang Fu, Zhao Yu also found irrefutable evidence of his acceptance of bribes and abuse of power.
With everything prepared, Xiao Han decided to hold a public trial in the town's courtroom. He had his guards bring Liu Hu and Wang Fu to the courtroom, and also invited the victims to testify.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was solemn and tense. Xiao Han sat in the presiding judge's seat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below with an authoritative air. Su Wan sat to the side, quietly observing everything.
"Court is now in session!" With a loud shout, the atmosphere in the courtroom became even more somber.
Xiao Han slammed his gavel and shouted, "Liu Hu, Wang Fu, do you know your crimes?"
Liu Hu and Wang Fu initially tried to argue their case, but when Xiao Han presented them with the evidence of their crimes, they were speechless and their faces turned pale.
Faced with testimonies from numerous citizens, Liu Hu and Wang Fu finally confessed to their crimes. Xiao Han sentenced Liu Hu to death according to the law, dismissed Wang Fu from his post and investigated, and returned all their illegally obtained property to the victims.
After the court hearing, the entire town was in an uproar. The people spread the news, deeply grateful to Xiao Han and Mu Qingling. They spontaneously organized a grand celebration in the town square to thank Zhao Yu and Su Wan for upholding justice for them.
Li Er regained his land, and a long-lost smile finally appeared on his face. He came to Xiao Han and Mu Qingling, knelt down with a thud, and said with tears streaming down his face, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you are my saviors. I will never forget your great kindness in this lifetime."
Xiao Han quickly helped Li Er up and said with a smile, "Child, this is what you deserve. Live a good life from now on and don't let evil people bully you again."
Mu Qingling stepped forward, took Li Er's hand, and said with concern, "Child, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, please come to us."
Li Er nodded heavily, his eyes filled with gratitude.