Chapter 275
Chapter 275
The County Magistrate of Wannian found himself unable to continue the trial. Wang Jiegua realized Shen Lang’s reputation was well-earned. His sophistry was second to none. The moment he opened his mouth, others were swept up in his rhythm, unable to return to their original line of reasoning. A case with solid evidence that should have been an easy win was lost without anyone knowing quite how.
Several people had ganged up on Shen Lang. The court and the plaintiff had colluded, setting a trap for a single defendant. Yet, Shen Lang had turned the tables completely. His prowess was truly remarkable. Of course, Shen Lang’s arguments were nothing extraordinary. If one were to look through the court records of the United States, they would find scenes closer to a battlefield. The way those lawyers approached trials, the sophistry they used to reverse verdicts—their skills were such that they could make a defendant’s clear guilt in murder or rape vanish into thin air.
Wang Jiegua collected his startled wits and sneered inwardly.
‘So what if you’re impressive, Shen Lang? All you can do is delay my judgment in Jin Mucong’s case. The final verdict is still mine to give. Besides, this is a political battle, not an ordinary case. The real contest will be decided in the royal court tomorrow. You may have put on a grand show in my courtroom, but can you spin your sophistry in the imperial court tomorrow?
You don’t even have the right to attend. As a mere Imperial Academy student, you’d be treated as a common peddler and chased away if you even got near the palace without His Majesty's decree. So what if I can’t convict Jin Mucong right here and now? Do you think you can silence the whole world? Can you silence the countless censors and inspectors?
When the court convenes tomorrow, a storm of impeachment memorials from countless officials will flood the palace. People will surround the Count of Xuanwu's estate, and the scandal of Jin Mucong raping an innocent woman will shake the world. Do you think people want to know the truth? With numerous censors leading the charge, the people of the world will just follow their lead and hurl insults. The truth of the matter? Are those ignorant peasants even qualified to know the truth? All they need to do is shout along with public opinion. When the court convenes tomorrow, your Jin Clan will be condemned by the world.’
Wang Jiegua quickly slammed his gavel.
“As both sides have insufficient evidence, the suspect will be temporarily detained. The trial will resume at a later date.”
Several bailiffs then led Jin Mucong to the prison. Gang Leader Yu was about to leave with his wife when Shen Lang called out to him in a cold voice.
“Lord Wang, Mrs. Chen, who takes everyone for a husband, is also a defendant. She is under great suspicion. Surely you are not letting her go free? Furthermore, Gang Leader Yu is an accomplice! If you let them go, we will forcibly take Jin Mucong with us. The esteemed Magistrate of Wannian wouldn't apply the laws of the State of Yue as he pleases, would he?”
The Magistrate of Wannian, Wang Jiegua, wanted to erupt.
‘This is the Wannian County yamen, my territory. Who do you think you are, Shen Lang?’
But seeing the Fifth Prince Ning Zheng sitting beside him, he had no choice but to say, “Guards, detain Gang Leader Yu and his wife for now. They will await the next hearing.”
And so, the couple was also taken to the cells.
***
In the prison cell.
Shen Lang was talking with Jin Mucong, comforting his brother-in-law.
“Never be ashamed of being humiliated by a woman, and don’t let it cast a shadow over your heart. Look at me. Even a man as outstanding as myself was once forced upon by a woman. I was far more miserable than you back then. You only got a few scratches, but it took me over a month of recuperation to fully recover. So, as a man, if you haven't been forced upon by a beautiful woman, your life cannot be considered complete.”
Jin Mucong was utterly dumbfounded.
‘Brother-in-law, you don’t really need to comfort me. I… I actually felt quite relieved. Your words almost make sense, but your method of comforting is a bit strange, isn't it?’
Shen Lang glanced at Gang Leader Yu and his wife in the adjacent cell, his gaze lingering on the woman. To think such a delicate-looking body could commit such a shameless act. She was quite pretty, with exceptionally seductive eyes.
“Fatty, you’re quite lucky. Your first time was with a beauty like her, even if she is a bit older. Did you know? Some men have their first experience with a sheep or a donkey.”
Jin Mucong’s hair stood on end.
‘I missed you a lot, brother-in-law, but I think it would be best if you left now. If I keep listening to you, my values might get turned upside down again.’
Shen Lang looked at Gang Leader Yu next to him and said calmly, “Boss Yu, you’re quite ruthless. A shame about the wife, but I guess you couldn't stop a lecher?”
Jin Mucong interjected, “I’m not a lecher.”
Hearing Shen Lang, Gang Leader Yu sneered. There was no need to keep up the act at this point.
“As they say, human greed knows no bounds. After my brother-in-law published a book at your bookstore, your business multiplied several times over, and you must have become quite wealthy. Why did you have to stir up more trouble?”
Gang Leader Yu replied, “I, too, am a student of the Imperial Academy!”
“Ah! A senior! What a coincidence. I am also a student of the Imperial Academy.”
“What good is having a lot of money in this world? Last time, I lost most of my fortune because I secretly sold *The Battle of Dongli*. All the other bookstores were selling it and got away with it, but I was the only one who suffered. I had already paid a fine of a thousand gold taels, yet officials still came to extort me, and even worthless bailiffs came in droves to my house for money. They threw me in jail three times. Why did they do that? Why? I’ve seen through it all. In this world, you need not only money, but power.”
“So you spent a fortune to connect with Suo Rong, the steward of Marquis Zhenyuan’s estate, and sent your wife to sleep with him?”
At Shen Lang’s words, Gang Leader Yu’s expression changed drastically.
‘That was a top secret. How does Shen Lang know?’
In truth, such matters could never be kept completely secret. When Gang Leader Yu made a fortune publishing *Boundless Wind and Moon of Battle Through the Heavens*, countless powerful figures had reached out to extort him. He couldn’t protect the fruits of his victory, but soon after, all the hands reaching for him withdrew. Moreover, a large sum of money was soon invested in the Tianfeng Bookstore, which was how Gang Leader Yu had been able to expand his business. Shen Lang had quietly sent people to investigate and had easily found out who had protected and helped Gang Leader Yu at that time.
It was Suo Rong, the steward of the Su Clan. What had Gang Leader Yu used to win Suo Rong’s favor? Money? The Su Clan was overflowing with money; what would Suo Rong do with such a paltry sum? The only thing he could offer was his wife. Of course, Gang Leader Yu's wife was quite beautiful, but what kind of beauty hadn't Suo Rong slept with? However, the thrill of sleeping with another man's wife in front of the husband was a unique and different kind of pleasure. It was not just a moment of physical release, but also an act that brought a sense of power and accomplishment.
Gang Leader Yu said in a cold tone, “Shen Lang, don’t just spout nonsense. I have no connection with Lord Suo Rong.”
“You had already saved your fortune by offering your wife! Why did you have to harm Jin Mucong as well? Did you think you could mess with the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate? Were you not afraid of crossing me?”
Gang Leader Yu didn’t answer immediately. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“This is the capital, and the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate is just a turtle guarding its shell.”
Shen Lang immediately understood his meaning. He was saying that the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate only had influence in its own small territory and held no power in the capital, so why should he be afraid? If the benefits were great enough, he would naturally harm the heir of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate.
“Did they promise you an official position? What rank?”
The position the Su Clan promised was ninth-rank. It was the lowest official rank in the State of Yue, but for Gang Leader Yu, an Imperial Academy student who had not passed the civil service examinations, it was a godsend. Back when he got into trouble over *The Battle of Dongli*, even a mere ninth-rank official had come to extort his property. The ninth-rank was an insignificant minor official, but sometimes it held the power of life and death. Suo Rong had promised that if Gang Leader Yu framed Jin Mucong, he would be made a ninth-rank official in the Internal Affairs Bureau, responsible for purchasing jade. That was why Gang Leader Yu had been so determined to harm Jin Mucong.
Shen Lang spoke with contempt.
“Blinded by greed, you’ve brought this upon yourself.”
Gang Leader Yu couldn’t stand it and retorted, “Shen Lang, you are merely the live-in son-in-law of a count's estate. In the capital, you have less power and worth than I do! Don’t act all high and mighty in front of me. You may have won once in court today with your sophistry, but do you think that’s a real victory? After dawn, your moment to weep will come. When the towering waves crash down on the Jin Clan, a mere live-in son-in-law like you will be shattered to pieces.”
Shen Lang looked at Jin Mucong and said, “Fatty, was he this boastful when he tried to befriend you back then?”
Jin Mucong nodded. Gang Leader Yu was just a bookseller, but he loved to discuss world affairs and make impassioned speeches at the drop of a hat. Gang Leader Yu sneered.
“Just you wait! Within two or three days at most, the scandal of Jin Mucong will spread throughout the world, and the colossal wave of public opinion will utterly destroy you. By then, the Jin Clan will be condemned by everyone, and being enfeoffed as a marquis will be impossible. Even if Jin Mucong doesn't die, he will be tortured until his skin is peeled off, and you, Shen Lang, will also suffer great misfortune. No one will care about the truth; they will just parrot what they hear. This is not just an ordinary case; it is a sinister scheme steeped in political intrigue.”
Shen Lang was suddenly struck by the feeling that he was in a taxi on modern-day Earth. Taxi drivers were all like that, going on about politics and national affairs. Seeing Gang Leader Yu act the same way confirmed he was just another ordinary middle-aged man who worshipped politics.
Several bailiffs approached and said, “Gang Leader Yu, we’re moving you to a different cell.”
Moving him to a different cell naturally meant relocating him to a comfortable room. Upon hearing this, Gang Leader Yu became even more triumphant. He looked at Shen Lang and said, “See? This is power, and this is the capital! Jin Mucong, the heir to a count’s estate, has no choice but to stay locked up in this cell, but I, Gang Leader Yu, can stay in a comfortable room and eat fine food. As I said, early tomorrow morning, countless officials will impeach the Jin Clan, and the Jin Clan will be finished!”
Then, Gang Leader Yu laughed heartily three times and left the cell. When he returned to his room, Wang Jiegua’s confidant asked him, “I hear your wife’s cooking skills are exceptional, especially her abalone dish. Is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
Wang Jiegua’s confidant said, “Mrs. Chen, come with me, bathe, change your clothes, and then show our lord your culinary skills.”