Chapter Thirteen: Civil Litigation and Punishment

Di Ying finished with a cold sneer, then shouted, "Bring in the victims!"

"Ma Guangjin, you damned wretch! My husband was merely passing by your governor’s mansion, and you unleashed your vicious dogs, tearing him to death! You even complained that his blood sullied your grand road… Give me back my husband’s life!"

A frail old woman in her fifties, her hair completely white, was helped forward by the soldiers. She stared fixedly at Ma Guangjin, wailing in anguish and anger, as if she meant to leap forward and bite the flesh from his bones.

"Ma Guangjin, you old beast, you raised a son even worse than a dog! My daughter was still a child, not yet of age, and just because your younger son saw her on the street, she was snatched into your mansion… She died, and her body was thrown into a mass grave!

I went to plead for justice, but you colluded with that scoundrel She Jianhong, and they broke my leg! You… you… now, you too have come to this day! Give me back my daughter’s life, give me back my daughter’s life!"

Another middle-aged man, limping, was helped forward, pointing at Ma Guangjin and shouting out his pent-up frustration and rage.

One after another, more victims were brought forward, each pouring out their grievances with cries from the depths of their souls, their long-suppressed pain and wrath exposing one crime after another committed by Ma Guangjin and his cohort.

Ma Guangjin and the others refused to admit guilt, ranting and cursing in a frenzy.

"You ants, you wretches, how dare you defy authority and accuse your betters! Are you even worthy? Look at yourselves—are you worthy? What’s wrong with setting the dogs on you? Are you more precious than the hair on my mansion’s dogs? If you become food for my wolfhounds, consider it an honor you’ve accumulated!

Your daughters, your daughters-in-law, your sons’ wives… all the same, all the same, every last one of you. To be of service to the Ma family (and She family) is a privilege; you ought to bow and give thanks, yet you dare to accuse us, dare to accuse us! Just you wait!

This governor tells you: Di Ying is nothing, accuse us as you wish, but he cannot execute us in public! Once we reach His Majesty and plead our case, His Majesty’s keen eyes will restore us to office. Just you wait, you ants and wretches, just you wait!"

Di Ying watched and listened, noticing with the corner of his eye how the victims’ steps faltered in fear.

He clenched his fists, longing to strike Ma Guangjin and the others, but a smile appeared on his face. His gums, however, were biting down hard.

"Silence these criminals!"

He ordered the soldiers to gag them with their filthy socks, then strode back to the table.

He pronounced the final verdict on these criminals.

He continued, "This official has rendered judgment on these dozens of criminals. But I must disappoint you all—I truly cannot execute them here and now."

Seeing the crowd’s mood on the verge of eruption, Di Ying suddenly raised his head and projected his voice with all his strength.

"Listen closely! Next, these criminals will be locked in cages and transported to the capital!"

With a sweep of his arm, he signaled the soldiers to load the criminals into carts and cages.

Amid the silence, Di Ying turned to Ma Guangjin and She Jianhong, smiling broadly as he declared, "Feel the fury of the ants, and soon you will understand what it means to be judged by the people!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous realization. Countless pairs of eyes shone with dazzling light.

The criminals, after their initial confusion, were seized by terror.

As Di Ying turned, amidst the criminals’ fear, a wild “celebration” began—one led by the common folk!

Hearing the uproar, Di Ying quietly stepped down from the platform and entered a small shop by the street.

Inside sat Meng Zhenyao and his wife, restless and anxious. Di Ying addressed them seriously, "Zhenyao, there is still time to regret. Your father has committed many wrongs, but thanks to your great merit, I can spare his life and commute his sentence to exile. Are you sure you do not wish to save him?"

Without the extraordinary efforts of Meng Zhenyao and his wife, this matter would never have been resolved so perfectly. Di Ying himself would not be standing here unscathed. He was willing to return this favor.

But Meng Zhenyao shook his head.

He replied, shaking his head, "The nation has its laws, the family its rules. Lord Di, you should not bend the law for personal reasons. My father has erred and must pay for his mistakes. As his son, what I have done is only to make amends for his wrongs, but I cannot take the blame for him."

"Zhenyao, you are too rigid. The law has warmth—not only its coldness toward evil, but its kindness toward the good. You and your wife risked much for the people, saving countless lives in Binzhou. Your achievement is extraordinary. I offer only to save your father's life—nothing more."

Di Ying knew that Meng Zhenyao truly bore much, yet remained quietly behind the scenes. He continued to advise him earnestly.

Yet Meng Zhenyao still shook his head.

He smiled bitterly and said, "Lord Di, since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety rarely coexist. If I beg you for mercy, what place have I left for those suffering people? Enough, my wife and I will take our leave now."

With that, he clasped his hands in salute.

Di Ying stepped aside, then patted his shoulder, saying, "The spring examination is in half a month. I wish you success and honor. The nation needs sons like you."

Meng Zhenyao nodded, took his wife’s hand, and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, his wife Anni shook off his hand, stepped back quickly, and pressed a gleaming blade to her throat.

"Anni, what are you doing?"

Meng Zhenyao and Di Ying were both startled. The former almost lunged forward to snatch the dagger from his wife’s hand.

"Don’t come any closer…"

Anni held the cold blade across her neck, and tears fell like pearls, rolling down her cheeks.

"Zhenyao, I’m sorry… There’s something I’ve kept in my heart for so long, so very long. Let me finish, please—don’t come closer, just listen to me, alright?"

"No! Anni, put down the knife. Whatever you want to say, I already know—I know, so please put down the knife, don’t do anything foolish!"

Meng Zhenyao, hearing this, immediately tried to stop her, cautiously attempting to approach.

Anni heard him say he knew, her expression flickered with confusion and pain for a moment.

Yet she pressed the blade harder.

Blood welled at her neck.

Meng Zhenyao dared not move a step.

He slowly extended his hands toward his wife, speaking with deep sorrow, "Anni, you are my wife—my lifelong companion. I care nothing for your origins, your identity, or all that you’ve endured these years. I know you were forced, none of it was your choice. I would never blame you.

Trust me—no matter when, no matter how dire our circumstances, I will never abandon you. Trust me, put down the knife, come here, please?"