Qian Guangzong, fearing for his life, heard from the servant delivering food about Granny Gu being arrested for plotting against Mrs. Fei. He imdiately claid to know Granny Gu’s secret and wanted to trade this secret for clency for his own family.
Zhang Sanjin dared not delay and quickly dispatched a Governnt Official to bring Qian Guangzong’s words to Magistrate Gu.
Originally confident in her victory, Granny Gu was furious upon hearing this, glaring fiercely at Gu Dagu, her eyes turning nacing as she stared at Gu Dagu, wanting to ask her if she had ever told Qian Guangzong about those past matters.
Gu Dagu, seeing Granny Gu’s expression, was so frightened she started trembling again: "Mother, mother, don’t be angry, I didn’t..." on purpose.
"Shut, up!" Granny Gu was enraged. This fool Jinzhi, if she had said everything, it would be difficult for others not to suspect her.
Upon hearing the Governnt Official’s words, Magistrate Gu imdiately turned to Judge Tang: "Lord Tang, I’ll have to trouble you to go in person to interrogate Qian Guangzong, record his words, and bring them back to the governnt office."
Since Qian Guangzong had a venereal disease, he could not be brought into the courtroom for interrogation, and a compromise had to be made.
Judge Tang cupped his hands in assent: "Yes, my lord, I obey."
However, Judge Tang, experienced in handling cases, saw that the Old Gu Family was a troubleso bunch, so he suggested, "My lord, perhaps we should select three citizens to accompany us to prevent Granny Gu and her daughter from later accusing our governnt office of wronging them."
"Lord Tang has a point," Magistrate Gu imdiately responded, "Since Qian Guangzong cannot co to court, to avoid disputes, this office has decided to choose three citizens to go to the Old Gu Family and listen to Qian Guangzong’s testimony."
The onlookers were thrilled upon hearing this, but when they thought of Qian Guangzong’s venereal disease, they hesitated.
Magistrate Gu inwardly disdained them—all eager to watch the commotion almost breaking the governnt office’s gates, yet now they’re frightened to hear firsthand gossip. Truly cowardly.
"There’s no need to be afraid, everyone. It’s just listening to Qian Guangzong speak from outside the door; the disease won’t spread," Magistrate Gu said.
The crowd remained fearful until Doctor Xiao assured them there would be no infection without contact, after which they excitedly signed up.
Finally, Magistrate Gu chose Doctor Xiao, Dou Laotong from the private school, and Ma Dalu from the blacksmith shop to go.
These three were recognized in the city as upright and righteous, making them a convincing choice to accompany Judge Tang.
After selecting the personnel, Judge Tang took them, along with a squad of Governnt Officials, two clerks, and a steward, to the Old Gu Family’s residence.
Seeing Judge Tang bring people to question, Gu Dagu was so anxious her complexion changed and instinctively ran out, only to be stopped by the Governnt Officials. She could only shout, "My lord, please co back, Qian Guangzong is lying, it’s not true!"
Unfortunately, no matter how Gu Dagu shouted, Judge Tang and his group did not turn back.
After they left, the courtroom fell into a silent wait, only interrupted by the occasional sound of rumbling stomachs, as everyone was waiting hungrily for the case to conclude.
Granny Gu was extrely anxious, her eyes darting around, thinking of ways to evade guilt... After a while, she glanced at Gu Dagu, signaling her with her eyes to insist that Qian Guangzong was lying.
As long as they insisted Qian Guangzong was lying and Elder Gu was the one who killed Mrs. Fei, she and her daughter could evade guilt and continue to live prosperously under Lord Lai’s protection.
Having a good rapport with Granny Gu, Gu Dagu understood her gesture, nodded at Granny Gu after a mont of panic to show she understood.
And all their actions were seen by Gu Jin’an.
An hour later, Judge Tang and his group returned, handing Qian Guangzong’s testimony to Magistrate Gu.
After reading it, Magistrate Gu instructed the clerk to read it aloud.
Qian Guangzong indeed knew about Granny Gu’s plot against Mrs. Fei years ago, and he knew because Gu Dagu told him.
While fleeing famine, Gu Dagu suffered greatly and felt it was retribution for her many misdeeds. She decided to confess all her past wrongs to the east with Qian Guangzong as an appeal to God for rcy to survive.
Qian Guangzong’s testimony stated: "Yuan Jinzhi said Granny Gu was pregnant back then but didn’t want to be a concubine. To marry Elder Gu as the official wife, she gave Elder Gu a thorny herb to brew for Mrs. Fei. In less than two months, Mrs. Fei died."
Once Qian Guangzong’s testimony was read, the courtroom and outside erupted, with people pointing at Granny Gu and cursing her.
Gu Dagu quickly cried out her innocence: "It’s false, Qian Guangzong is lying, he’s got a venereal disease and wants to drag down with him!"
As long as she insisted Qian Guangzong was lying, the governnt office couldn’t do anything to her.
Sadly, she forgot the governnt office could still use torture on suspects.
The case had been dragging on since early morning, and Magistrate Gu’s patience had run out. He threw down his official scepter and said, "Mrs. Qian Gu, how dare you perjure yourself in defense of Mrs. Gu Pan! Beat her until she tells the truth!"
"Yes." The Governnt Officials, eager to move after standing for so long, promptly grabbed Gu Dagu, pinned her onto a long bench, and began the beating.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Within just three strikes, Gu Dagu scread in agony, crying out, "rcy, rcy, my lord. This civilian woman really... Ah!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Another three strikes, drawing blood, and even cracking a bone, the pain nearly made Gu Dagu faint.
Seeing the opportunity, Gu Jin’an turned to Gu Dagu and said, "Yuan Jinzhi, committing perjury could get you beheaded. You’re just over forty, you have grandchildren to rely on, living with Lord Lai’s family, and you must have saved quite a bit of silver. With money and support, isn’t it better to live well? Why lose your life for Mrs. Gu Pan?"
This statent made Granny Gu’s face contort in anger, and Gu Dagu’s heart waver.
Indeed, she was just over forty, with at least ten more years to live, while her mother was old, paralyzed, and could die any day. Sacrificing herself really wasn’t worth it.
Magistrate Gu noticed Gu Dagu’s hesitation and signaled the Governnt Officials to beat harder imdiately.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Governnt Officials showed no rcy, striking Gu Dagu hard. Unable to endure, she ignored Granny Gu’s shouts and cried out, "It was my mother who gave the Bloodthorn Vine, my mother who wanted to kill Mrs. Fei... Ah!"
Hearing this, Granny Gu spat out blood and fainted.
Magistrate Gu hurriedly ordered, "Doctor Xiao, save her. We can’t let Mrs. Gu Pan die."
He also ordered the Governnt Officials to stop the punishnt and told Gu Dagu, "Tell us everything you know."
Gu Dagu, on the verge of fainting from pain, cried as she recounted what she knew, which matched Qian Guangzong’s testimony except for one addition: "Mother taught , in case sothing was exposed, to bla everything on Elder Gu. Since I was young, the governnt would not doubt my words, and since Elder Gu wasn’t my biological father, even if he died, I wouldn’t feel guilty."
Elder Gu was stunned to hear this. Was Pan Shuangniang talking about him like this behind his back? Wasn’t he her hero, her heaven?
Elder Gu was dumbfounded for a mont, then burst into tears and laughter: "Pan Shuangniang, I’ve given you my all, yet you’ve been plotting against for forty years... I won’t let you go!"
With that, he got up and charged at the unconscious Granny Gu, biting onto her neck, intending to kill her.
Doctor Xiao was startled and quickly jabbed a needle into the back of Elder Gu’s neck, causing him to imdiately lose strength and collapse to the ground.
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