Once, there was a legend that could not be termed a legend. The number of toenails on a foot’s little toe signified a member of the same kin, who emerged from under the Big Locust Tree in Shanxi. It can also be said that people with two toenails on their little toe must be northerners. In this place, without the province of Shanxi, Shao Yunan only accidentally discovered that Wang Shijing had two little toenails, which reminded him of this legend. Afterward, he observed Wang Qing and Nizi’s feet, both having two toenails. But Jiang Moxi had one.
Shao Yunan recalled his father telling him about the historical background of the Three Dukes, Five Marquises, and One King, where the Dukedom of Wu family originated from the Qingping Prefecture, a part of the south. Jiang Kangning’s ancestors were also southerners. Therefore, Shao Yunan speculated that the people here definitely had some kind of similar kinship, just like those who came from under the Big Locust Tree. But he didn’t mention this to Wang Shijing, not intentionally avoiding it, but it slipped his mind at that time and wasn’t given much importance.
Now, he needed to explain. He naturally couldn’t refer to the Big Locust Tree. Instead, he asked, “Elder Wang, may I ask, were the ancestors of the Wang family originally villagers from Xiushui Village?”
Wang Zuchang immediately answered. “No. The ancestors of the Wang family were villagers from Wangjia Village in Jiayuan County, Luoyang Prefecture. At that time, due to war and natural disasters, our ancestors migrated south and settled in Yongxiu County, before finally arriving in Xiushui Village.”
Shao Yunan continued. “Have you, the members of the Wang family, noticed that all of you, those with the bloodline of the Wang family, have two toenails on your little toe?”
“I do.” He pulled over Wang Yan, who was barefoot. “And so is Yan.”
“I do too,” said Wang Xing.
“I do too,” said Fourth Uncle Wang.
The people from the Wang family all testified. Each of them had two toenails on their little toe. As each person stood up, a voice echoed in everyone’s hearts… “We truly belong to the same kin!”
Shao Yunan continued. “Then please, people from the Zhao and Sun families, examine your toenails to see if there are two.”
“No.” Grandpa Sun shook his head.
“No.” Uncle Zhao Lizheng also shook his head.
The members of the Sun and Zhao families all shook their heads, feeling a tinge of disappointment. One of them shouted, “I have! I have two, and so does my brother!” Everyone looked over, it was the two brothers Tang Genshu and Tang Gensheng.
Tang Genshu’s mother was from the Wang family. For some reason, Tang Genshu was now teary-eyed. Shao Yunan nodded at him, saying, “Because your mother’s surname is Wang, you resemble your mother, and you have two little toenails.”
“Yunan! Hurry up and tell us!” King Rong urged. Shao Yunan explained (which was bullsh*t). “There’s a saying about feet with two nails. Six hundred years ago, in the north, there was a large Big Locust Tree, enormous and old, which existed for several hundred or perhaps a thousand years. Twenty people holding hands couldn’t encircle it. That Big Locust Tree was known as the Tree God. It protected people for miles around and ensured peace and prosperity. But one day, a lightning bolt struck from the sky, splitting the tree in two, withering its branches and leaves in an instant. Some said it was the Tree God’s ascension to immortality. Others said the Tree God failed its tribulation.”
“While people debated, an omen occurred. People began to fall ill one after the other, followed by a plague. Crops withered, rivers dried up. Suddenly, a bountiful land turned into a hellish place. That night, the inhabitants all had the same dream. They saw the once flourishing Big Locust Tree. It told them to leave quickly as disaster was imminent.”
“Everyone awoke simultaneously. When they looked again, they found the great tree turned into ashes. Fearful, they quickly packed their bags and abandoned their homeland. The population in the fertile land near the Big Locust Tree numbered in the tens of thousands. Some went north, others sought refuge with relatives elsewhere, while some went south.”
“Overnight, the once-prosperous area turned into a disaster zone that everyone dreaded. The people from that place scattered. On the third day after the departure, torrential rain fell. Rainwater poured for a month, turning the once-fruitful land into a vast expanse of water. However, strangely, every person who came from there had two little toenails.”
“Perhaps the Big Locust Tree still had concerns for those who once lived in the prosperous land, or maybe even those who left wanted to return home someday, to reconnect with their roots. These two toenails became their means of recognizing each other. This is why everyone coming from the Big Locust Tree will have two little toenails and will pass it onto the next generation. No matter how sparse the bloodline, as long as one had the bloodline from under the Big Locust Tree, they would definitely have two toenails. Elder Wang, wasn’t Wangjia Village in the north?”
Wang Zuchang wiped away tears and replied, “Yes! It was in the north! Ancestors of the Wang family wrote in their records that the Wang ancestors, due to disaster, were forced to migrate and settled in Xiushui Village, hoping that their descendants would return to their roots someday. Wangjia Village has long ceased to exist, and the genealogy of the Wang family was only written several generations later. They knew it was an inevitable departure from Wangjia Village, but didn’t know the real reason. It turns out, it turns out…”
Wang Wenhe knelt down, “We are the blessed ones of the Big Locust Tree!”
“Yes! That’s right!”
“We belong to the same kin!”
King Rong wiped his tears, “My ancestors actually faced such calamities, fortunately we were blessed by the Tree God. I… I have also found my roots…”
Shao Yunan, “…” Clearing his throat, Shao Yunan quickly said, “Let’s talk about finding your roots later. Let’s discuss Shijing’s matter first.”
Wang Wenhe said, “Shijing is one of our Wang family!”
“That’s right!”
“He belongs to our kin!”
King Rong, teary-eyed, said, “Wang Zhu, do you have anything else to say?”
Zhu Wencai spoke. “Sir Wang, honorable magistrate, I have never heard of this Big Locust Tree. Nor, I believe, has Sir Wang or the magistrate. How did Shao Yunan come to know of it?”
The whole room immediately fell silent, all eyes on Shao Yunan. Shao Yunan, who was helping Nizi put on her shoes, just replied without looking up. “I know a lot more than you don’t know.” After putting on the shoes, he stood up straight and said, “This is the difference between you and me!”
Zhu Wencai, “…”
Shao Yunan looked at Jiang Kangning. “Sir, this was from Brother Tiger in my dreams.” Jiang Kangning, “Brother Tiger in your dreams?”
Everyone, “The three big beasts?!” Shao Yunan began to fabricate again.: “Do you all remember when Shijing and I disappeared in the mountains, and there was an earthquake and floods in Xiushui Village, and the birds flew and beasts scattered?”
“We do!” No one could forget that incident.
Shao Yunan continued, “The disturbance happened at night. Shijing and I were trapped in the mountains, so we found a place to hide. I was too tired and dozed off. In my dream, Brother Tiger brought me to a big locust tree. The tree was very, very tall, reaching the sky. In my dream, I fell asleep leaning against the locust tree. When I woke up, this story was in my head. I was curious and checked Shijing, Nizi, and Brother Qing’s toenails, and indeed found two toenails. However, this matter was too shocking, so I didn’t say anything.”
Jiang Kangning’s expression changed dramatically. King Rong immediately asked, “Magistrate Jiang, do you also know something?”
Everyone noticed the magistrate’s obvious distraction. Jiang Kangning cleared his throat and quickly recovered, saying, “Could it be that the Tree God of the Big Locust Tree rooted itself in Xiushui Village? The disturbance was so huge, yet it didn’t cause any disasters. When the Big Locust Tree was split, there were many disturbances, but it was signaling an impending natural disaster. I thought that the Tree God failed its tribulation. The disturbance in Xiushui Village might be because the Big Locust Tree found a place where people it once sheltered resided, thus rooted itself again, causing such a disturbance.”
King Rong, timing it right, added, “The astronomer from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed an unusual star descending upon Yongxiu County, pointing directly at Xiushui Village. It all fits!”
The crowd instantly exploded, many clamoring to find the Tree God of the Big Locust Tree. Jiang Kangning struck the gavel three times, demanding silence. He looked sternly at the bewildered Old Lady Wang and said, “Wang Zhu! You repeatedly refuse to acknowledge the written evidence, disregarded the laws of our dynasty, and maligned Wang Shijing, who has already been recognized as separated from the family. This is unforgivable!”
Old Lady Wang looked up, gazed at Wang Shijing, then suddenly got up and lunged at him. Wang Shijing didn’t evade, so Old Lady Wang jumped on him, hitting and kicking him, cursing. “You abominable creature! If you had come sooner, I could’ve married him! It’s all your fault! I had to marry that wretch because of you!”
Clash, clash, clash—
If Shao Yunan’s analysis made the villagers believe that Wang Shijing was indeed Wang Dali’s biological son, then Old Lady Wang words just solidified Wang Shijing’s identity as the biological son of Old Lady Wang and Wang Dali.
Wang Dali, in disbelief, stared at Wang Shijing. Wang Tianyan, Wang Zhisong, and Wang Chunxiu were also completely stunned. This sudden turn of events left them defenseless. The yamen officers dragged the frenzied Old Lady Wang away, while Wang Shijing picked up Wang Qing, carried Nizi, and then stood next to Shao Yunan in silence. This time, Shao Yunan didn’t need to intervene, because there was no need.
On one side, Old Lady Wang was going mad, while on the other side, Wang Dali tremblingly got up, walked unsteadily to Old Lady Wang raised his hand and slapped her hard, then grabbed her hair and started hitting her. Wang Dali hated Old Lady Wang, but he also hated himself. Old Lady Wang’s deception made him believe that Wang Shijing wasn’t his biological son, leading to their estrangement over the past twenty years, worsening the situation to what it was today.
Wang Tianyan watched his father venting his anger and began to wail, while Wang Chunxiu also cried out, “Mother! How could you do this? He is our elder brother! He should have been our elder brother! How could you do this! How could you!”
Wang Zhisong looked at his elder brother with indifferent eyes, feeling lost and unsure whether to hate his parents or himself. Everything was gone. His ideals, his ambitions, his future, all disappeared.
“Clap, clap, clap!” Once again, the sound of the gavel echoed through the room. The bailiffs pulled away Wang Dali, his eyes red from rage. Wang Dali yelled in extreme anger, “Divorce… divorce… I want a divorce… I want a divorce!”
Wang Tianyan said, “Father! You divorce her! She is no longer my mother!”
Wang Chunxiu exclaimed, “I don’t have a mother that is so shameless!”
Wang Zhisong just cried, hopelessly wishing for death.
“Clap, clap, clap!” Silence followed.
Jiang Kangning said, “Wang Dali, I ask you, do you want a divorce?”
Wang Dali raised his head. “Yes! Yes!” Tears surged from his eyes.
“Good. I hereby decree, Wang Dali is divorced from Wang Zhu. As per the written agreement, Wang Dali, Wang Zhu, and their children are henceforth slaves to Shao Yunan’s family.”
“You’re wrong, sir! You’re wrong!”
“It was Zhu who insisted on coming to see my elder brother. We all tried to stop her!”
“Sir, it’s a mistake!” The Wang family wept and lamented.
Wang Shijing put down the two children and stepped forward. Wang Tianyan shouted, “Elder brother, elder brother! I was wrong, it was all because of her,” pointing at Old Lady Wang. “She said you were a bastard, that’s why I treated you like that! Elder brother! We will never come to see you again, please spare our family of three!”
Wang Guo knelt, crying and knocking her head. “Elder brother! No, no, no, Lord Wang! Tianyan, Zaizheng, and I will return to our mother’s family. Please spare us…” Wang Chunxiu was wailing, but Wang Zhisong was silent the entire time.
Wang Shijing knelt down and kowtowed three times to Jiang Kangning. If not for their positions, Jiang Kangning would have made him get up immediately.
“Sir…” Wang Shijing said expressionlessly, “Without today’s events, I would have suffered unjustly all my life. From now on, I can tell my son and daughter that their father is not a bastard, but a legitimate child. My family and theirs have nothing to do with each other. I don’t need them as slaves. In the future, I’ll buy the land within a hundred meters of my house. If they enter, I’ll treat them as thieves.”
Wang Dali sobbed, but Wang Shijing remained unmoved. Jiang Kangning said, “The contract says they would become your wife Shao Yunan’s family slaves. Can you decide?”
Shao Yunan said: “My family is going to the capital in a few days. What’s the difference between leaving them as slaves or treating them like thieves? No, we don’t want it.”
Whoosh—
Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan’s family are going to the capital?!
“Wuu wuu wuu…” Wang Chunxiu cried louder, Wang Zhisong remained in a daze, looking at Wang Shijing, Shao Yunan, Jiang Kangning, and King Rong. He shuddered, then crawled in a sorry state toward Wang Shijing, and started to kowtow. “Elder brother, please, please! It’s my fault, all my fault! She….” pointing at Old Lady Wang, “said you were naturally lowly, that’s why I treated you like that! Elder brother! Please, let me join the scholarly ranks! Please! Please!” He hadn’t given up.
Jiang Kangning commanded, “Pull him away!” The bailiffs dragged Wang Zhisong away, who struggled and kept shouting. “Elder brother! Please! Please! I was wrong, I really was! I’ll be a cow or a horse to repay you! Please save me! Please save me!”
King Rong spoke, “Magistrate Jiang, today’s events were all provoked by Wang Zhu and Wang Zhisong. Wang Zhu repeatedly refuses to acknowledge the written agreement, as per the laws of our dynasty. This situation arose from Wang Zhu’s family concealing her unchastity, so they should be punished. As for Wang Dali’s family, let the Wang family leader handle it. Since Shao Yunan and Shijing are going to the capital, keeping them as slaves will only bring trouble.”
Jiang Kangning said, “What Lord Rong said is quite correct.” Once again, the sound of the gavel resonated as Jiang Kangning delivered his verdict.
Once, there was a legend that could not be termed a legend. The number of toenails on a foot’s little toe signified a member of the same kin, who emerged from under the Big Locust Tree in Shanxi. It can also be said that people with two toenails on their little toe must be northerners. In this place, without the province of Shanxi, Shao Yunan only accidentally discovered that Wang Shijing had two little toenails, which reminded him of this legend. Afterward, he observed Wang Qing and Nizi’s feet, both having two toenails. But Jiang Moxi had one.
Shao Yunan recalled his father telling him about the historical background of the Three Dukes, Five Marquises, and One King, where the Dukedom of Wu family originated from the Qingping Prefecture, a part of the south. Jiang Kangning’s ancestors were also southerners. Therefore, Shao Yunan speculated that the people here definitely had some kind of similar kinship, just like those who came from under the Big Locust Tree. But he didn’t mention this to Wang Shijing, not intentionally avoiding it, but it slipped his mind at that time and wasn’t given much importance.
Now, he needed to explain. He naturally couldn’t refer to the Big Locust Tree. Instead, he asked, “Elder Wang, may I ask, were the ancestors of the Wang family originally villagers from Xiushui Village?”
Wang Zuchang immediately answered. “No. The ancestors of the Wang family were villagers from Wangjia Village in Jiayuan County, Luoyang Prefecture. At that time, due to war and natural disasters, our ancestors migrated south and settled in Yongxiu County, before finally arriving in Xiushui Village.”
Shao Yunan continued. “Have you, the members of the Wang family, noticed that all of you, those with the bloodline of the Wang family, have two toenails on your little toe?”
“I do.” He pulled over Wang Yan, who was barefoot. “And so is Yan.”
“I do too,” said Wang Xing.
“I do too,” said Fourth Uncle Wang.
The people from the Wang family all testified. Each of them had two toenails on their little toe. As each person stood up, a voice echoed in everyone’s hearts… “We truly belong to the same kin!”
Shao Yunan continued. “Then please, people from the Zhao and Sun families, examine your toenails to see if there are two.”
“No.” Grandpa Sun shook his head.
“No.” Uncle Zhao Lizheng also shook his head.
The members of the Sun and Zhao families all shook their heads, feeling a tinge of disappointment. One of them shouted, “I have! I have two, and so does my brother!” Everyone looked over, it was the two brothers Tang Genshu and Tang Gensheng.
Tang Genshu’s mother was from the Wang family. For some reason, Tang Genshu was now teary-eyed. Shao Yunan nodded at him, saying, “Because your mother’s surname is Wang, you resemble your mother, and you have two little toenails.”
“Yunan! Hurry up and tell us!” King Rong urged. Shao Yunan explained (which was bullsh*t). “There’s a saying about feet with two nails. Six hundred years ago, in the north, there was a large Big Locust Tree, enormous and old, which existed for several hundred or perhaps a thousand years. Twenty people holding hands couldn’t encircle it. That Big Locust Tree was known as the Tree God. It protected people for miles around and ensured peace and prosperity. But one day, a lightning bolt struck from the sky, splitting the tree in two, withering its branches and leaves in an instant. Some said it was the Tree God’s ascension to immortality. Others said the Tree God failed its tribulation.”
“While people debated, an omen occurred. People began to fall ill one after the other, followed by a plague. Crops withered, rivers dried up. Suddenly, a bountiful land turned into a hellish place. That night, the inhabitants all had the same dream. They saw the once flourishing Big Locust Tree. It told them to leave quickly as disaster was imminent.”
“Everyone awoke simultaneously. When they looked again, they found the great tree turned into ashes. Fearful, they quickly packed their bags and abandoned their homeland. The population in the fertile land near the Big Locust Tree numbered in the tens of thousands. Some went north, others sought refuge with relatives elsewhere, while some went south.”
“Overnight, the once-prosperous area turned into a disaster zone that everyone dreaded. The people from that place scattered. On the third day after the departure, torrential rain fell. Rainwater poured for a month, turning the once-fruitful land into a vast expanse of water. However, strangely, every person who came from there had two little toenails.”
“Perhaps the Big Locust Tree still had concerns for those who once lived in the prosperous land, or maybe even those who left wanted to return home someday, to reconnect with their roots. These two toenails became their means of recognizing each other. This is why everyone coming from the Big Locust Tree will have two little toenails and will pass it onto the next generation. No matter how sparse the bloodline, as long as one had the bloodline from under the Big Locust Tree, they would definitely have two toenails. Elder Wang, wasn’t Wangjia Village in the north?”
Wang Zuchang wiped away tears and replied, “Yes! It was in the north! Ancestors of the Wang family wrote in their records that the Wang ancestors, due to disaster, were forced to migrate and settled in Xiushui Village, hoping that their descendants would return to their roots someday. Wangjia Village has long ceased to exist, and the genealogy of the Wang family was only written several generations later. They knew it was an inevitable departure from Wangjia Village, but didn’t know the real reason. It turns out, it turns out…”
Wang Wenhe knelt down, “We are the blessed ones of the Big Locust Tree!”
“Yes! That’s right!”
“We belong to the same kin!”
King Rong wiped his tears, “My ancestors actually faced such calamities, fortunately we were blessed by the Tree God. I… I have also found my roots…”
Shao Yunan, “…” Clearing his throat, Shao Yunan quickly said, “Let’s talk about finding your roots later. Let’s discuss Shijing’s matter first.”
Wang Wenhe said, “Shijing is one of our Wang family!”
“That’s right!”
“He belongs to our kin!”
King Rong, teary-eyed, said, “Wang Zhu, do you have anything else to say?”
Zhu Wencai spoke. “Sir Wang, honorable magistrate, I have never heard of this Big Locust Tree. Nor, I believe, has Sir Wang or the magistrate. How did Shao Yunan come to know of it?”
The whole room immediately fell silent, all eyes on Shao Yunan. Shao Yunan, who was helping Nizi put on her shoes, just replied without looking up. “I know a lot more than you don’t know.” After putting on the shoes, he stood up straight and said, “This is the difference between you and me!”
Zhu Wencai, “…”
Shao Yunan looked at Jiang Kangning. “Sir, this was from Brother Tiger in my dreams.” Jiang Kangning, “Brother Tiger in your dreams?”
Everyone, “The three big beasts?!” Shao Yunan began to fabricate again.: “Do you all remember when Shijing and I disappeared in the mountains, and there was an earthquake and floods in Xiushui Village, and the birds flew and beasts scattered?”
“We do!” No one could forget that incident.
Shao Yunan continued, “The disturbance happened at night. Shijing and I were trapped in the mountains, so we found a place to hide. I was too tired and dozed off. In my dream, Brother Tiger brought me to a big locust tree. The tree was very, very tall, reaching the sky. In my dream, I fell asleep leaning against the locust tree. When I woke up, this story was in my head. I was curious and checked Shijing, Nizi, and Brother Qing’s toenails, and indeed found two toenails. However, this matter was too shocking, so I didn’t say anything.”
Jiang Kangning’s expression changed dramatically. King Rong immediately asked, “Magistrate Jiang, do you also know something?”
Everyone noticed the magistrate’s obvious distraction. Jiang Kangning cleared his throat and quickly recovered, saying, “Could it be that the Tree God of the Big Locust Tree rooted itself in Xiushui Village? The disturbance was so huge, yet it didn’t cause any disasters. When the Big Locust Tree was split, there were many disturbances, but it was signaling an impending natural disaster. I thought that the Tree God failed its tribulation. The disturbance in Xiushui Village might be because the Big Locust Tree found a place where people it once sheltered resided, thus rooted itself again, causing such a disturbance.”
King Rong, timing it right, added, “The astronomer from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed an unusual star descending upon Yongxiu County, pointing directly at Xiushui Village. It all fits!”
The crowd instantly exploded, many clamoring to find the Tree God of the Big Locust Tree. Jiang Kangning struck the gavel three times, demanding silence. He looked sternly at the bewildered Old Lady Wang and said, “Wang Zhu! You repeatedly refuse to acknowledge the written evidence, disregarded the laws of our dynasty, and maligned Wang Shijing, who has already been recognized as separated from the family. This is unforgivable!”
Old Lady Wang looked up, gazed at Wang Shijing, then suddenly got up and lunged at him. Wang Shijing didn’t evade, so Old Lady Wang jumped on him, hitting and kicking him, cursing. “You abominable creature! If you had come sooner, I could’ve married him! It’s all your fault! I had to marry that wretch because of you!”
Clash, clash, clash—
If Shao Yunan’s analysis made the villagers believe that Wang Shijing was indeed Wang Dali’s biological son, then Old Lady Wang words just solidified Wang Shijing’s identity as the biological son of Old Lady Wang and Wang Dali.
Wang Dali, in disbelief, stared at Wang Shijing. Wang Tianyan, Wang Zhisong, and Wang Chunxiu were also completely stunned. This sudden turn of events left them defenseless. The yamen officers dragged the frenzied Old Lady Wang away, while Wang Shijing picked up Wang Qing, carried Nizi, and then stood next to Shao Yunan in silence. This time, Shao Yunan didn’t need to intervene, because there was no need.
On one side, Old Lady Wang was going mad, while on the other side, Wang Dali tremblingly got up, walked unsteadily to Old Lady Wang raised his hand and slapped her hard, then grabbed her hair and started hitting her. Wang Dali hated Old Lady Wang, but he also hated himself. Old Lady Wang’s deception made him believe that Wang Shijing wasn’t his biological son, leading to their estrangement over the past twenty years, worsening the situation to what it was today.
Wang Tianyan watched his father venting his anger and began to wail, while Wang Chunxiu also cried out, “Mother! How could you do this? He is our elder brother! He should have been our elder brother! How could you do this! How could you!”
Wang Zhisong looked at his elder brother with indifferent eyes, feeling lost and unsure whether to hate his parents or himself. Everything was gone. His ideals, his ambitions, his future, all disappeared.
“Clap, clap, clap!” Once again, the sound of the gavel echoed through the room. The bailiffs pulled away Wang Dali, his eyes red from rage. Wang Dali yelled in extreme anger, “Divorce… divorce… I want a divorce… I want a divorce!”
Wang Tianyan said, “Father! You divorce her! She is no longer my mother!”
Wang Chunxiu exclaimed, “I don’t have a mother that is so shameless!”
Wang Zhisong just cried, hopelessly wishing for death.
“Clap, clap, clap!” Silence followed.
Jiang Kangning said, “Wang Dali, I ask you, do you want a divorce?”
Wang Dali raised his head. “Yes! Yes!” Tears surged from his eyes.
“Good. I hereby decree, Wang Dali is divorced from Wang Zhu. As per the written agreement, Wang Dali, Wang Zhu, and their children are henceforth slaves to Shao Yunan’s family.”
“You’re wrong, sir! You’re wrong!”
“It was Zhu who insisted on coming to see my elder brother. We all tried to stop her!”
“Sir, it’s a mistake!” The Wang family wept and lamented.
Wang Shijing put down the two children and stepped forward. Wang Tianyan shouted, “Elder brother, elder brother! I was wrong, it was all because of her,” pointing at Old Lady Wang. “She said you were a bastard, that’s why I treated you like that! Elder brother! We will never come to see you again, please spare our family of three!”
Wang Guo knelt, crying and knocking her head. “Elder brother! No, no, no, Lord Wang! Tianyan, Zaizheng, and I will return to our mother’s family. Please spare us…” Wang Chunxiu was wailing, but Wang Zhisong was silent the entire time.
Wang Shijing knelt down and kowtowed three times to Jiang Kangning. If not for their positions, Jiang Kangning would have made him get up immediately.
“Sir…” Wang Shijing said expressionlessly, “Without today’s events, I would have suffered unjustly all my life. From now on, I can tell my son and daughter that their father is not a bastard, but a legitimate child. My family and theirs have nothing to do with each other. I don’t need them as slaves. In the future, I’ll buy the land within a hundred meters of my house. If they enter, I’ll treat them as thieves.”
Wang Dali sobbed, but Wang Shijing remained unmoved. Jiang Kangning said, “The contract says they would become your wife Shao Yunan’s family slaves. Can you decide?”
Shao Yunan said: “My family is going to the capital in a few days. What’s the difference between leaving them as slaves or treating them like thieves? No, we don’t want it.”
Whoosh—
Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan’s family are going to the capital?!
“Wuu wuu wuu…” Wang Chunxiu cried louder, Wang Zhisong remained in a daze, looking at Wang Shijing, Shao Yunan, Jiang Kangning, and King Rong. He shuddered, then crawled in a sorry state toward Wang Shijing, and started to kowtow. “Elder brother, please, please! It’s my fault, all my fault! She….” pointing at Old Lady Wang, “said you were naturally lowly, that’s why I treated you like that! Elder brother! Please, let me join the scholarly ranks! Please! Please!” He hadn’t given up.
Jiang Kangning commanded, “Pull him away!” The bailiffs dragged Wang Zhisong away, who struggled and kept shouting. “Elder brother! Please! Please! I was wrong, I really was! I’ll be a cow or a horse to repay you! Please save me! Please save me!”
King Rong spoke, “Magistrate Jiang, today’s events were all provoked by Wang Zhu and Wang Zhisong. Wang Zhu repeatedly refuses to acknowledge the written agreement, as per the laws of our dynasty. This situation arose from Wang Zhu’s family concealing her unchastity, so they should be punished. As for Wang Dali’s family, let the Wang family leader handle it. Since Shao Yunan and Shijing are going to the capital, keeping them as slaves will only bring trouble.”
Jiang Kangning said, “What Lord Rong said is quite correct.” Once again, the sound of the gavel resonated as Jiang Kangning delivered his verdict.
