Chapter 453: Chapter 442: The Top Scorer from the Farming Family
"Murder, you’re committing murder!" the second rascal screamed, then fearing for his own life, he bolted outside like a streak of smoke.
Ye Baomin’s house was well situated, but his family also domineered, to the point where neighbors on both sides kept their distance. It took a good while for the second rascal’s run to draw the attention of others.
Upon hearing the second rascal’s claim that Ye Baomin’s family had committed murder, everyone came out to watch the excitement, and soon the courtyard outside Ye Baomin’s house was surrounded by people.
"Go report to the authorities, and remember to avoid Ye Wei," Ye Qiu instructed the second rascal in a secluded corner.
In fact, all this was Ye Qiu’s speculation. He felt that Ye Baomin, a man who cared so much for face, would not allow Ye Mei to marry the second rascal that easily. Hence, when the second rascal sought Wang Zhaoxing’s opinion on marrying Ye Mei, Ye Qiu suggested the second rascal to sneakily eavesdrop at Ye Baomin’s house to discern their intentions. They never expected that they would actually seek to take Ye Mei’s life.
That was his own granddaughter!
With the sudden appearance of the second rascal, Ye Lin loosened his grip in panic, and Ye Mei lay frail on the ground. Ye Ming looked at his daughter, gritted his teeth, and again wrapped the belt around Ye Mei’s neck.
Ye Mei’s eyes rolled back as she was choked, which showed how strong Ye Ming’s grip was and how ruthless his heart was.
But it was already too late, as people had entered the yard, pushed Ye Ming aside, and rescued Ye Mei.
"Meimei, my Meimei, how could your grandfather and biological father harbor such venom?" Ye Wangshi held Ye Mei and wept, appearing inconsolably sad.
"Shut up!" Ye Baomin growled. That foolish woman, wasn’t she just confirming the accusation that he and his son plotted to murder their own granddaughter?
The villagers discussed animatedly, pointing at Ye Baomin and Ye Ming and showing disdain.
"Get out, this is my house, what are you doing here?" Ye Lin began to drive people away, looking very fierce.
But the crowd was unmoved, for at that moment, Wang Zhaoxing and Ye Qiu stepped to the front, one a newly advanced scholar, the other a newly passed Scholar, their stance gave everyone confidence.
Although Ye Qiu was older than Wang Zhaoxing, Wang Zhaoxing as a scholar had the eligibility for an official post, so he spoke up, "Village Chief Ye, murder is a crime. Let’s just wait here for the county magistrate to arrive and bear witness."
Ye Baomin’s face turned ugly, his tone firm: "Ye Mei is a member of the Ye family, I’ll do as I see fit with her, and no one else has the right to interfere."
"It’s not as simple as that," retorted Wang Zhaoxing vigorously. "Although Ye Mei is your granddaughter, Ye Baomin, she is also a subject of Dalin. All subjects of Dalin should be protected by the law; you cannot administer vigilante justice."
Seeing him step forward, Ye Mei thought he could no longer bear to see her suffer, and even thought he would rescue her from this torment and marry her. As a result, she broke free from Ye Wangshi’s embrace and crawled to Wang Zhaoxing’s feet.
"Zhaoxing brother, save me, I don’t want to die. My grandfather, my dad, my older brother, they want to kill me, I don’t want to die. Will you marry me please? I’ll treat you well, I know I’m not fit to be your official wife, but even if I could stay by your side as a concubine or a maidservant, I’d be content."
"Ye Mei, girl, what nonsense are you talking? Wait until the government officer arrives to discuss everything, lying down there like that, what does it look like?" Wang Po signaled her daughter-in-law to help Ye Mei up, agreeing was out of the question, but they had to stabilize her for now.
Seeing the Wang family’s kind attitude towards her, Ye Mei really believed they had consented, so she obediently stood to the side.
As Ye Village was somewhat distant from the county, it was already dark by the time the government officer arrived, yet none of the onlookers had left; they surrounded the Ye Baomin family in a siege-like formation.
"Who attempted murder? Where is the victim?" The one who came was the County Magistrate Li Shou. Normally, apprehending a murderer did not require his personal intervention. However, he was informed that the new scholar from Yi’an County was involved, which prompted his presence.
It wasn’t that Yi’an County never produced scholars; Li Shou himself was one. But he was someone who had no hope of advancing further, while Wang Zhaoxing was different. He was among the top scorers in the Imperial Examination at Dingshui State, with the potential to be presented to the Emperor. The County Magistrate did not want any complications, so he paid extra attention to this case.
"Reporting to Your Honor, I, Wang Zhaoxing, can provide you with an answer," Wang Zhaoxing stepped forward and said.
County Magistrate Li Shou was not seeing him for the first time. He had taken notice of this promising young man when he became the top scorer last year, and seeing Wang Zhaoxing’s graceful demeanor and proper etiquette, he nodded to himself in approval.
Then he directed his gaze towards Ye Qiu, feeling even more astounded in his heart. This was the top scorer of the current year, and perhaps next year Yi’an County would produce another scholar!
"Mr. Li, please listen to me explain in detail..."
A moment later, Wang Zhaoxing stopped speaking, "This is the situation, and it unfortunately involves my family. I beg you, Your Honor, to uphold justice for us."
"Hmm," Li Shou nodded, "Who is the eyewitness?"
"It’s me, it’s me," the second rascal bowed and scraped as he stepped forward.
Li Shou frowned imperceptibly, distastefully giving him a glance. After observing two talented men embodying Charming, the sudden appearance of someone sly and sneaky was a bit of an eyesore.
"Everything and everyone involved is present today. Take them all back!"
"Yes!"
Government officers stepped forward to make the arrests; Ye Baomin and Ye Ming became frightened and struggled fiercely: "Ye Mei is a member of our Ye Family, I can deal with her however I want, what right do you have to arrest me?"
"My uncle is your colleague, we’re all our own people, you’ve arrested the wrong person," Ye Lin shouted.
Li Shou furrowed his brows: "Who is his uncle?"
"Reporting to Your Honor, his uncle is named Ye Wei, and he’s a Government Official at the county government," answered Wang Zhaoxing.
Li Shou became angry at the reply: "Merely a Government Official, and his family dares to speak so impudently. Zhao Bing, go and investigate this Government Official named Ye Wei."
"Yes, Your Honor."
Ye Baomin’s face turned ashen. They were all fools; it was over, now everything was ruined.
Seeing her husband and son being taken away, Ye Wangshi was no longer worried about her daughter, and grabbing at the County Magistrate’s robe, she wailed, "Your Honor, injustice, they are wrongfully accused, it’s my daughter who committed the intolerable act, it’s she who deserves to die, arrest her instead."
Ye Mei stared in disbelief at Ye Wangshi, a cold smile forming at her lips. So her own existence was seen as so despicable? Did everyone really want her dead?
Why? Just because she was a girl?
Ye Mei refused to accept this. Since that was the case, if they were unkind, they could not blame her for being unrighteous. She would not submit, nor did she wish to die.
Shortly after, Ye Baomin, Ye Ming, and Ye Lin were taken away. As the victim, Ye Mei was also brought to the county government. Since it was getting late, Li Shou, along with Wang Zhaoxing and Ye Qiu, decided that the County Magistrate would conduct a public trial of the matter the following day.
"After all, it’s a human life," Wang Po lamented, yet she felt no sympathy, "Let’s go home. We can come back tomorrow to see the outcome."