Transmigrated As A Scholar Chapter 65 Part 2

The preparations had been rushed, evidence was still lacking, and even the courtroom procedures had been something Fang Yu hastily inquired about on the way here.

Qin Keqi himself felt far from confident. His plan had been to listen to the defendant’s statements, then counter and delay as much as possible.

If the hearing could be prolonged until the designated time ran out, the case would have to be adjourned for a later session, buying them precious time to gather evidence. He had not expected Fang Yu to accept the arrangement without protest. He wondered if a mere scholar could truly handle such a high-stakes situation.

The advisor secretly delighted upon hearing this: "Since it is settled, the plaintiff may now state your grievances."

Seeing that the other side had litigation masters, the several commoners accusing Qiao Xinnian felt uneasy. However, under the County Magistrate's imposing gaze, they steeled themselves again: "Your Honor, we commoners heard five days ago that the Qiao family would hold an almsgiving. The offerings this time were generous. As we are poor families, and having suffered flood damage this year, we were all overjoyed at the news and went early to queue at the almsgiving site. That day, the offerings were indeed plentiful, including meat, cloth, grain, and even prepared porridge and soup."

"Because we arrived early and were at the front of the line, we received a lot. We were very happy at the time and cooked a hearty meal upon returning. Unexpectedly, the next day we began experiencing dizziness and diarrhea. Everyone was terrified and hurried to see a physician. The diagnosis turned out to be poisoning!"

"How could we get poisoned out of nowhere? We initially thought it was just our family, but it turned out many others suffered the same misfortune. Comparing notes, we discovered that all those poisoned had received the Qiao family's alms! The Qiao family is known for charitable acts, so it wouldn't make sense for them to harm people. But we couldn't figure out the cause."

"Fortunately, an elderly person with a lifetime of experience in grain spotted something amiss in the leftover alms grain!"

The plaintiff poured a bag of grain onto the courtroom floor, scooped up a handful, and sniffed it: "At first glance, this rice seems fine, but upon closer look, it's ground very finely and actually has a faint moldy smell! Yuncheng suffered flood damage this year, and many commoners' grain stores were affected. Moldy grain is widespread."

Magistrate Qian frowned: "Moldy grain is toxic and inedible. Slightly moldy grain can be treated and fed to livestock. Commoners labor hard to grow grain and are often reluctant to discard moldy stores. Unscrupulous individuals, knowing about this year's disaster, must have had wicked intentions, purchasing moldy grain cheaply to use for almsgiving, trading it for reputation and bustling business for their shops! Wolves in sheep's clothing!"

"Your Honor, please see clearly! Your Honor must surely grant us justice! Although we were fortunately not fatally poisoned this time, we are all poor people. Where would we get money for medicine? The medical expenses are all on credit! The death of one small family is of little consequence, but this matter affects many and must not be leniently treated. Such a sinister, poisonous person cannot be tolerated!"

After hearing the complaint, Magistrate Qian assumed an expression of compassion for the common people: "To think that for mere profit, one would disregard the safety of innocent commoners so utterly! In all Yuncheng's years, such a shocking incident has never occurred before!"

"Qiao Xinnian, with both witnesses and material evidence present, what have you to say?!"

Fang Yu, looking at the person on the judicial seat, strove hard to suppress his anger. Seeing the magistrate handle the case with such obvious bias, Fang Yu felt the scales of justice had already tilted completely in favor of the plaintiffs. Any pretense of fairness seemed lost. Yet, precisely because the victims were many ordinary commoners, no one would likely criticize the magistrate. On the contrary, they would praise him as a compassionate and caring official. This magistrate clearly knew how to play his part well.

"This is a wrong! Your Honor! This humble subject has operated in Yuncheng for decades. This is not the first time I've conducted almsgiving; such a thing has never happened before. How could I harm commoners for petty, temporary gain?!"

"This isn't your first almsgiving, and others aren't giving alms for the first time either, yet this incident occurred precisely this time. Merchants are the craftiest, stopping at nothing for profit. How dare you quibble further!"

"Your Honor! This humble subject..."

The sound of the gavel directly cut off Qiao Xinnian's plea for justice.

"Cease these useless arguments! Speak with evidence! If there is no evidence, the court will adjourn for deliberation!"

Fang Yu sneered inwardly; so they wanted to wrap things up hastily: "Your Honor, this student has some doubts and wishes to ask the plaintiffs a few questions."

Magistrate Qian, already wanting to adjourn, showed displeasure upon hearing there was more to say but still replied, "What is it? Ask."

Fang Yu spoke unhurriedly: "Plaintiffs, you must guarantee that your answers to my following questions are entirely truthful. If there is even half a false word, you will bear the legal consequences yourselves."

"Yes, this humble person's... words will surely be entirely truthful."

"Good." Fang Yu immediately followed up: "These days, there have been countless almsgivings in the city. Apart from receiving the Qiao family's alms, did you also receive alms from other families?"

The man hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, instinctively turning his head to look at the others kneeling beside him.

Fang Yu sternly rebuked: "I am asking you! Why are you looking elsewhere?!"

The man quickly averted his gaze: "N-no, I did not!"

"You stated earlier that your family is impoverished and that you eagerly went to the Qiao family's almsgiving. Why then did you not go to others'?"

"This humble person lives far away, received the news late, and there were many people going to receive alms, so I did not go."

"Oh? You stated that the next day you felt weak, had diarrhea, and were poisoned. Yet now you say it was because you live far away that you didn't go to other almsgivings. Were you unable to go due to illness, or was it because your home is too far?"

The man panicked: "It was because I lived far away and was poisoned that I couldn't make it! Your Honor, please see clearly!"

"Fine. Your situation is also reasonable." Fang Yu then scanned the others: "What about you all? Is your situation the same as his?"

"W-we..."

"The law is strict. I advise you all to tell the truth."

"We... we..."

"Since the plaintiffs are unwilling to answer, then my side will answer on their behalf." Fang Yu said: "Those who received the Qiao family's alms that day were not limited to just these few. Coincidentally, I have also found several witnesses. Your Honor, wise in judgment, would surely not listen to only one side's story, correct?"

Magistrate Qian took a long, impatient breath: "Naturally."

Time had been too tight; the evidence Fang Yu had managed to collect consisted only of a few witnesses. As he turned his head, he spotted a familiar figure in the spectator seats. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and gently closed his lips.