Chapter 603 The Dead Are Honored
Qi Niangzi's death was heartbreaking, but before she died, she inexplicably dragged Qiu Huaixin into trouble. Setting aside the officials like Magistrate Jiao in the main hall, at least the villagers in the courtyard looked at Qiu Huaixin with suspicion.
"My lord, although the dead should be respected, I cannot bear the infamy of forcing someone to their death without cause. I implore you to investigate thoroughly," Qiu Huaixin stated firmly, ignoring the hateful gaze cast by Qi Changlin.
The Qiu family was also facing troubled times. Whether for himself or for the Qiu family, Qiu Huaixin could not allow himself to be branded with this infamy.
Qi Changlin, holding the lifeless Qi Niangzi in his arms and looking at the blood-stained clothes on her chest, closed his eyes tightly. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse, "I implore your lordship to show leniency and allow my wife to depart in peace."
As for Qiu Huaixin's request for a thorough investigation, Qi Changlin considered it a desecration of his wife, preventing her from resting in peace even in death! Qi Changlin could imagine the outcome of the official investigation aimed at clearing Qiu Huaixin's name.
"Changlin, you?" Qiu Huaixin was taken aback, not expecting the usually straightforward Qi Changlin to say such a thing, to disregard the truth in order to protect Qi Niangzi.
Suddenly turning his head, Qi Changlin's bloodshot eyes flashed with a terrifying light. His already angry face became contorted and ferocious with a cold smile, "Why is Third Young Master being so aggressive? Can't you even let a dead person rest? Is it not enough that you forced my wife to her death, and you won't be satisfied until you force my entire Qi family of five to their deaths?"
His hysterical questioning was filled with undisguised hatred. Qi Changlin hugged Qi Niangzi's body tightly in his grief. Even though his wife was illiterate, she was the most proper woman, rarely speaking to men outside the family in the village.
But now that she was dead, these people still wouldn't leave her alone, wanting her to die with the infamy of impurity. Qi Changlin could imagine his two children being slandered in the future because they had a promiscuous mother, and he himself would become a laughingstock because his wife was unchaste and sought an affair, ultimately meeting a ridiculous end.
"Changlin, calm down," Jiao Lianyu, who had been observing, said in a deep voice. He looked at his friend, who had just lost his beloved wife, with heartache. He then pleaded with Qiu Huaixin, "Changlin has just narrowly escaped losing his daughter and now his wife. Huaixin, please be more understanding. Perhaps it would be better to wait until Changlin calms down."
Qiu Huaixin could indeed understand Qi Changlin's feelings at this moment and wouldn't hold it against him. However, for the sake of the Qiu family's reputation, Qiu Huaixin could not let the matter drop and had to clarify it in front of Magistrate Jiao.
Once the news of him forcing someone to their death spread, even if the authorities later cleared his name, he doubted anyone would believe it.
Although Qiu Huaixin was unrestrained and casual in his demeanor, he was, after all, a scion of a noble family, having received the best education since childhood. Compared to his own innocence, the people of Qianzhong Prefecture would likely be more inclined to believe the "news" that the youngest son of Lord Qiu had forced someone to their death.
Magistrate Jiao, seated in the main hall, watched the two men turn against each other in an instant. For the sake of both reason and law, Magistrate Jiao had to investigate thoroughly. "Third Young Master need not say more. It is my duty to investigate the case thoroughly."
Upon hearing this, Qi Changlin let out a silent laugh, looking at the ugly faces before him with mockery. "I originally thought your lordship was an upright official, a good official who championed the people. I never expected your lordship to be merely a sycophantic and self-serving individual. Since your lordship wishes to curry favor with superiors, why put on this facade of justice and integrity? It is utterly laughable, utterly laughable!"
Magistrate Jiao ignored Qi Changlin's taunts. Lord Wei, who was responsible for recording the proceedings, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. While he had some talent for scholarship, he was utterly lacking in understanding human affairs. Today's outburst might have been satisfying for him, but it came at the cost of his future.
Given the character of Lord Qiu and Magistrate Jiao, as officials of the court, they would not stoop to the level of a mere scholar like Qi Changlin. However, even if he passed the imperial examinations, if these wild words were to spread, he would only be relegated to a cold bench in the yamen. To slander his superiors so brazenly at the slightest disagreement, what official would dare to promote or utilize such a subordinate?
Regardless of Qi Changlin's anger and unwillingness, Magistrate Jiao, having decided to investigate thoroughly, would not consider his feelings or face. After questioning the villagers, he quickly found some clues.
"Replying to your lordship, this commoner did indeed feel that Qi Niangzi was acting strangely these past few days. She often seemed distracted while working in the fields. If not for my reminder, she would have hoed her own foot with that hoe."
A woman living at the entrance of the village also voiced her confusion, "Three days ago, Qi Niangzi took her two children back to her maiden home, carrying a basket full of things. At that time, I asked Qi Niangzi, and she only said that she had been owing her family for years, so she brought more things this time."
Qi Changlin had to study, and there was no capable man in the Qi family to do the work. Although Qi Niangzi was hardworking, she could not manage some tasks. For the years she had been married to Qi Changlin, her brothers had come to help during the autumn harvest.
Qi Niangzi's family was kind. In the past, whether they caught a rabbit in the mountains or a fish in the water, they would send some to Qi Niangzi, hoping she and her children would eat well.
Every year, they would send over a hundred catties of coarse grains to prevent Qi Niangzi's family from going hungry.
The Qi family was poor. In recent years, Qi Niangzi's family had been supporting them. Apart from the gifts for the three major festivals, she never took anything from her maiden home. It was indeed suspicious that she suddenly took a basket of things back to her maiden home this time.
At this point, a woman from the village who was skilled in tailoring also spoke, "Qi Niangzi made two pairs of shoes and two sets of clothes for her two children, but the sizes were a bit large. The children would likely be able to wear them in a few years. When I asked her, Qi Niangzi said that her mother-in-law's health was deteriorating, and she was worried she wouldn't have time to make shoes and clothes for the children later, so she made them in advance while she had the time."
Children in farming families usually had their clothes made a bit larger so they could wear them for several years. If the size was just right and fitted, children grew quickly, and new clothes would be outgrown within a year. Therefore, the old woman didn't think much of Qi Niangzi's words.
Constable Liu had already returned with the evidence. "My lord, besides the two pairs of new shoes and new clothes, there are also several sets of old clothes that have been altered to be smaller."
The old clothes were Qi Changlin's and Qi Niangzi's. As for Qi Changlin, he was a scholar, and the Qi family, even if they starved, would tailor clothes for him to maintain appearances. Thus, it was suitable for him to have his outgrown clothes altered for the children.
Magistrate Jiao looked at the clothes unfolded by Constable Liu. There were three long robes in total, in shades of green, blue, and moon white. The sizes were roughly suitable for a fourteen or fifteen-year-old.
As for the four garments that Qi Niangzi had altered from her old clothes, the sizes were also for girls of fourteen or fifteen years old. Moreover, girls of this age would not grow much taller, so these four garments could be worn permanently.
Combined with the two sets of clothes made from new fabric, Qi Niangzi had made clothes for her son and daughter from the present until they were teenagers.
"My lord, besides a few old clothes with too many patches, the rest of Qi Niangzi's clothes in the cabinet have been altered to be smaller," Constable Liu had discovered this when inspecting the cabinet. Qi Niangzi had clearly intended to end her life a few days prior.
When Qi Niangzi's parents were brought from the neighboring village for questioning, the old woman cried so hard that she almost fainted. "My foolish daughter..."
Her piercing, grief-stricken cries were the pain and helplessness of a mother who had to bury her child. The simple-minded old woman did not hide anything. Qi Niangzi had returned to her maiden home three days prior, hinting that her parents and brothers should take better care of her two children in the future.
At that time, Qi Niangzi's old mother held her daughter's bony wrist, telling her not to think or speak wildly, to take it easy with her work, and to send word back if she couldn't manage. Her brothers from her maiden home could help.
The old woman also repeatedly urged Qi Niangzi to eat better and even planned to find someone to get a tonic recipe and prescribe some medicine to improve Qi Niangzi's health.
Regarding the basket of items Qi Niangzi brought back to her maiden home, her family not only refused to accept it but also added twenty eggs for her to take back to supplement her health.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Jiao had a clearer understanding. Qi Niangzi's visit to her maiden home outside of festivals was to entrust her children to their care. However, her family mistook her words as a sign of her poor health, leading them to offer such reassurances about looking after her children should she pass away.