bayedsolid Chapter 1484 The Case of Establishing an Heir (5)
Chapter 1484 The Case of Establishing an Heir (5)
Sun Shan reviewed all the people involved in the case.
The argument was simply about which stepson to adopt.
Sun Shan first refuted Ma's uncle's adoption plan: "Scholar Ma, whether we are establishing an heir for Master Wen or Young Master Wen, although the Wen clan does not have a suitable heir, there are still distant relatives. Your suggestion to have someone with the same surname as the Wen family heir is without any basis."
After a pause, Sun Shan slammed his gavel and loudly rebuked Ma Xiucai: "Ma Xiucai, you are a well-read person, and you are more knowledgeable about etiquette and law than ordinary people."
Wen Er is not a member of the Wen clan, only someone with the same surname. You, as his maternal uncle, have supported his adoption, not only muddying the Wen clan's bloodline but also attempting to use the guise of succession to devour the Wen clan's talents. This is utterly despicable and utterly despicable!
Sun Shan's words were quite harsh, and Ma Xiucai immediately sensed something was wrong.
He quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and kowtowed, begging for forgiveness: "Please calm your anger, Your Excellency. I was so anxious about my brother-in-law and sister's future lineage that I was blinded by greed and gave them this bad advice. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."
Ma Xiucai knew he was doomed the moment he stepped into court.
It doesn't meet any of the criteria of morality, reason, or law. Unfortunately, bribery proved futile.
I had intended to feign illness to avoid appearing in court, but that would be too obvious and would only make me appear guilty. So I had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the courtroom.
Initially, prepare to state your demands; if the county magistrate objects, then feign ignorance.
She acted as if she was thinking of Master Wen and Madam Wen and was giving them bad advice, but she was just anxious for them to have a son to worship so that they wouldn't be lonely ghosts in the underworld.
Scholar Ma tearfully recounted, "My lord, I have known Master Wen since childhood, and our families are related by marriage. My sister finally gave birth to a son, but unfortunately, he was unlucky and passed away a few days later."
I watched my nephew grow up, get married, and have children. But before his new wife had even been married for a year, my brother-in-law passed away. As his uncle, I only hoped that my nephew could be like his brother-in-law and carry on the family business.
My poor nephew, not long after my brother-in-law passed away, he too fell ill and died. My brother-in-law, my sister, my nephew—the whole family is gone. My heart aches so much…”
After saying that, it made a few "woo-woo" sounds.
It's quite something that a grown man would cry in front of everyone.
It's said that women are made of water, but it seems that men are made of water too.
Look at how Ma Xiucai is crying so hard, it's quite a mess.
Sun Shan secretly rolled his eyes. It was a waste of talent for Ma Xiucai not to go into acting.
He slammed the gavel and shouted, "No noise is allowed in the courtroom! If you make a sound again, you will be punished with a cane!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Xiucai dared not cry anymore. He could vaguely see a hint of anger in Sun Shan.
Scholar Ma knew, of course, that his feigned lamentations wouldn't move the county magistrate. But what he wanted to move was the crowd of onlookers watching the play.
If he still wants to make a living in Yuanlu County, he must salvage his image and portray himself as "a good uncle who cares about his brother-in-law, sister, and nephew, but who acted rashly and inexplicably because he was too eager."
Ma Xiucai must not let outsiders think that he conspired with Wen Er to seize Master Wen's property.
Sun Shan's reprimand was too blatant; Ma Xiucai had to do everything in his power to save face.
Sun Shan stared intently at Ma Xiucai and said coldly, "Ma Xiucai, Wen Er, neither of you are members of the Wen family. Do not mention the matter of adoption again."
Scholar Ma quickly replied, "Yes, sir, I know I was wrong."
Wen Er, who had been brought in by Ma Xiucai to be a tool, quickly kowtowed and said, "Yes, sir, this humble subject also knows his mistake."
Sun Shan slammed the gavel again and said loudly, "A death sentence may be waived, but a living punishment is still unavoidable. It's not that knowing you're wrong means you're innocent! Especially Scholar Ma, who, despite being a scholar, doesn't act like one."
Ma Xiucai's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Sun Shan in horror.
How does Lord Sun intend to punish him? Does he plan to imprison him, or strip him of his scholar title?
Ma Xiucai looked at Sun Shan with unease.
Sun Shan continued, "This official, considering that Scholar Ma is a first-time offender and also a scholar, shall be sentenced to ten strokes of the cane."
He glanced at Wen Er again and said coldly, "Wen Er, you colluded with Scholar Ma to disrupt the continuation of the Wen family bloodline under the guise of adoption. I will consider this your first offense and give you five strokes of the cane."
Ma Xiucai and Wen Er were pale-faced. Why were they being caned?
That would take half his life.
Especially for Scholar Ma, a scholar of high standing, being subjected to caning was one thing, but more importantly, it was a loss of face.
Ma Xiucai and Wen Er were about to cry foul.
Sun Shan waved his hand and said, "The caning will be carried out in the hall. Take Ma Xiucai and Wen Er aside."
Upon hearing this, the yamen runners immediately dragged Ma Xiucai and Wen Er aside.
To avoid the two shouting and disturbing Lord Sun's court proceedings.
The truth is that Ma Xiucai stopped shouting because Sun Shan said "execute under the court," which means "redemption."
This means that some criminals (those who plead guilty or have special status) are allowed to have their sentences reduced by paying a ransom.
For example, officials, gentry and other privileged classes, or the elderly, the disabled, and those who commit crimes by mistake can use fines or redemption money to replace punishments such as flogging, caning, imprisonment, and exile.
The fact that Sun Shan was not flogged in court clearly left Ma Xiucai ample room to maneuver.
This also saves face for Scholar Ma.
Unaware of what was happening, Wen Er tried to shout, but Ma Xiucai rushed over and stuffed a handkerchief he had just used to wipe his snot and tears into Wen Er's mouth, making him blink frantically.
Wen Er nodded and remained silent. He just felt incredibly wronged.
He was lured here by Ma Xiucai for such a small gain, and now his reputation is ruined. From now on, he will definitely stick close to Ma Xiucai.
Hmph, I absolutely cannot let Ma Xiucai leave me behind. After all, my beautiful dream came to nothing, and I must get what I lost back from Ma Xiucai.
Chief Wen and Lady Leng glanced furtively at Scholar Ma and Wen Er, who were being dragged away by the yamen runners like dead dogs, and they were overjoyed.
Bah, what a hypocrite with a sanctimonious air.
He usually acts recklessly because he is a scholar and has the status of a xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination). He is arrogant and presumptuous, and he even wants to seize Master Wen's property. Humph, dream on!
Today, facing the discerning and insightful county magistrate, he was flogged. Hahaha, even Scholar Ma has met his end.
Even if ransom is used to replace the punishment, it will still be enough to make Ma Xiucai suffer.
Haven't you heard the saying, "The yamen gates are wide open, but those with reason but no money shouldn't enter"? If you try to walk out of the yamen, you'll either be dead or crippled!
In fact, Sun Shan also wanted to beat up Ma Xiucai on the spot, but his crime was very minor and did not constitute a crime.
Moreover, Sun Shan was somewhat wary of his status as a scholar, fearing that he might collude with other scholars to cause trouble.
Maintaining stability is the most important thing for officials. If fines are substituted for criminal penalties, then Ma Xiucai will have no reason to cause trouble. Sun Shan has already given scholars such face. If he continues to stir up trouble, then he really will cause trouble.
After dealing with insignificant people like Ma Xiucai and Wen Er.
Sun Shan said to Leng and Wen, "To continue the family line, to be close to each other, to love each other, and to maintain order are all principles of affection and law that cannot be changed."
This means that according to the Great Qian Law, both Master Wen and Young Master Wen are eligible to establish an heir.
If there are no close relatives to choose from, then a distant relative should be adopted; only if there is no distant relative can a person with the same surname be adopted.
Sun Shan continued, "It is permissible for Lady Leng to establish an heir for her deceased husband, in accordance with reason, law, and morality. Lady Leng may choose an adopted son from a distant relative."
He paused, then added, "But the chosen heir must be a nephew succeeding an uncle, with proper kinship and no violation of the proper order of seniority. Moreover, the law stipulates that the heir must be a relative of the Leng family."