Chapter 275

But of course, the magistrate would not convict Su Xiyang of attempted murder just like what Pei Qi said, with that said he also needs to follow Daqi’s law in judging this case but just before he could finish his sentence, an anxious male voice sounded from outside: “Lord Hu wait!”

The marquis, Qin Zhun, and another middle-aged man in his forties hurriedly entered the public hall, sweating profusely.

Seeing them both made Madam Su feel relieved, she shouted: “Lord, brother!”

The middle-aged man walking with Qin Zhun was none other than Madam Su’s eldest brother, Yanbai, who was also Su Xiyang’s father.

Both of them were relieved when they saw the situation inside, thinking that fortunately, they came in time. The magistrate has not given his verdict yet, after all, once the judgment was made and the case was settled, they could never talk it out in private.

The two exchanged glances with each other. On the way to the public court, the two had already agreed that Qin Zhun would come forward to help Su Xiyang and in return, Yanbai would help him find a vacant position in the Court of Imperial Study.

Qin Zhun has been appointed as the young minister in the government office for several years now. The job there was very idle and was only for fifth-grade ministers, the court of imperial study on the other hand was for ministers under fourth grade, more importantly, the minister assigned to that office was nearly sixty years old, and he was afraid that before he could get his position that minister would soon return to his hometown in two years. He needs to get this opportunity first.

He needs his brother-in-law’s help, so he mustn’t make any mishap in this situation.

Qin Zhun’s stomach was burning with anger, but he said in a righteous way in the surface as he scolded Qin Jiu: “Jiu’er, this is the public court, it’s not our house, don’t mess around! What are you doing here in the first place, why don’t we go home and talk to uncle?!”

Immediately afterwards, Qin Zhun curtsied directly to the magistrate and politely said, “Lord Hu, this is just a fight between two children in our family. It’s because the child doesn’t know anything and disturbs the adults instead.”

“Ai, this eldest nephew of mine has always been aggressive, just because he fell on a horse, he got angry and was a bit impulsive in coming here in the public court. After returning to the manor, this marquis would talk to him properly.”

“This marquis apologizes to your lordship on behalf of my nephew.”

Since he was apologizing in behalf of Qin Zening, it was obvious that he blamed Qin Zening for everything.

For the magistrate, he thought this outcome was the best way after hearing the marquis. After all, if this was really judged as attempted murder, then the Su family would not accept it…and if this continues it may even cause trouble to the imperial court.

Also, the magistrate didn’t want to take this muddy water either, since Qin Zhun had already said so he just went along with the situation and said, “Second Marquis is being polite, it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Qin Zhun was all smile as he faces the magistrates, but when he turned his head towards Qin Jiu and Qin Zening his expression hardened, and reprimanded them, “Ning’er, your sister is still young, so it’s understandable but you are not a child anymore. How can you be so careless in doing things?”

“You are the eldest son of the eldest house, you should learn to be more reasonable, otherwise how can you become a good example for your younger siblings!”

Qin Zening’s thin lips were drawn into a straight line. As he was about to say something, he felt his sister tugging his sleeve and strode in front of him.

“Second Uncle,” Qin Jiu looked at Qin Zhun with her clear and bright eyes as he said in an aggrieved and stubborn tone, “Are you helping Master Su?!”

Qin Zhun stood with his hands behind his back and looked at Qin Jiu with a righteous expression as Qin Jiu continued, “Uncle is helping others while ignoring his family.”

Qin Jiu then slightly bit her lower lip looking even more aggrieved, and asked again clearly and courteously, “The evidence is irrefutable, and yet second uncle wants eldest brother to hold his tongue?”

“Second Uncle, do you want your eldest nephews to have no chance to succeed?”

Qin Jiu took another step closer to Qin Zhun and looked up at him who was three steps away. The fourteen-year-old young lady stood next to the grown-up man forming a sharp contrast, the former was petite, slim, and pitiful while the latter was tall and burly as he scowls while looking at the pitiful young lady who invokes tenderness.

“Second uncle, big brother he…. just wants to build a career, why don’t you even give him this opportunity….”

The young lady’s voice was a little choked and weak looking as if she couldn’t continue to speak anymore, and could only lower her head.

She covered her face with her handkerchief as her shoulders trembled slightly, just like a delicate flower under the wind and rain.

Qin Zhun: “…”

Qin Zhun didn’t expect Qin Jiu to point these words directly at him and couldn’t react for a while and his face already becoming very stiff as if covered with a black cloud.

The magistrate who was in front of Qin Zhun, Qin Jiu, and Qin Zening looked at them and then at the injured man with a splint tied to his leg and couldn’t help but sympathize after hearing Qin Jiu’s words.

As everyone in the capital knows, the title Marquis, belonged to the eldest son of the Qin family who died while in exile, so Qin Zhun who was the second son of the Qin family inherited the title. However, the eldest son had a legitimate first-born son, Qin Zening. So, one could only imagine how awkward Qin Zening’s position in the house was, and he must be afraid of his uncle, Qin Zhun.

Qin Zhun was afraid that his nephew would snatch his title so he had been deliberately suppressing him all these years to prevent his nephew from standing out so that his title could be stabilized.

Not only the magistrate who thought this was the case but so was Gong Liu, Pei Qo, and others present. The young men’s faces were all filled with righteous indignation as they said in one tone.

“Doesn’t that make sense?!”

“The Marquis is suppressing his own nephew, afraid that his nephew will come out on top!”

And since Qin Jiu also took into account that Qin Zhun was her elder, her words were somewhat courteous, but these noble young men on the hand, have no qualms, they directly and with no shame pointed it out to Qin Zhun’s face.

“It’s more than that!” Gong Liu with his pair of fox-like eyes, smiles yet not a smile as he looked between Qin Zhun and Yanbai before he said in a sharp voice, “Now I see ah, I’m afraid that the marquis has long ‘sold’ Zening’s life to the Su family, right?”

Gong Liu’s words were close to saying that Su Xiyang use this insidious means to cause Qin Zening to fall from the horse and this was related to Qin Zhun and Yanbai, they both probably already know, but also reached some kind of consensus.

Listening to what he said, indeed it somewhat hit Qin Zhun and Yanbai’s thoughts. Although they didn’t beforehand what Su Xiyang did, they did reach a certain kind of deal after learning afterward.

Both Qin Zhun and Yanbai’s faces were hard to describe.

In Qin Zeyu’s eyes, this was a guilty conscience. He angrily said, “Second Uncle, Uncle Yanbai, Su Xiyang caused my elder brother to fall off his horse! We must give him justice!”

Hearing this, Yanbai’s complexion darkened even more, but since he couldn’t lower himself to answer this childish accusation from Qin Zeyu and Gong Liu he could only give Qin Zhun a warning look, and said, “Marquis, is this how you educate the children in your house?! Regardless, you must manage your nephews and niece!”

Qin Zhun’s face flushed, and he scolded: “Impudent!”

He was embarrassed and annoyed at the same time, with so many people, and in front of the magistrate and Yanbai, he couldn’t even control his nephews and niece. Today he really lost his face!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Qin Jiu: “Sniff, sniff” (Crying sound)

Qin Jiu still has her little face lowered as she wipes her non-existent tears from the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, she choked and sobs as she said again, “Although us three siblings have no one to rely on, we can’t let eldest brother lose his job, and swallow his anger at the same time…”

At this time she raised her head again, her eyes looked redder than a rabbit, and softly but firmly said to the magistrate, “Please asking Lord Hu to uphold justice for eldest brother and punish the guilty person according to the law!”

“If Lord Hu is going to favor Master Su, then I have no choice but to beat the Dengwen drum!”

Her voice was loud and resolute.

“That’s enough!” Qin Zhun, who was already furious, could no longer suppress his anger, and his voice was raised even higher, “Jiu’er, stop it, don’t go!”

***