"Dad, the Jiang family can live without me, but not without you! If you do something wrong, can't I, as your son, take the blame and accept the punishment for you? How can I afford to take care of the family? Mom is still looking forward to your return!"
"Shut up, you ignorant boy. The law of the country is as great as the sky. If everyone commits a crime, their descendants will take the blame. Where is the majesty of the law? Shut up right now. If you continue to speak, I will no longer have you as my son!"
"Dad..."
Young Master Jiang called out "Dad" with a trembling voice, and then he started to cry. Because he was kneeling on the ground for a long time, everyone could see that he was already twenty-five or twenty-six years old and tears were streaming down his face, but he didn't wipe them with his sleeves. Anyone could see that he was sad. Zhu Tingfang, who had heard Zhang Shou talk about Young Master Jiang's silly words and deeds before, couldn't help but frown slightly. Filial sons are always treated preferentially.
The biggest feeling of others is that the relationship between the Jiang family father and son is really good! The eldest son of the Qi family showed an envy that was difficult to conceal. For him, who grew up in an environment with little family affection, this kind of father-son relationship is simply incredible.
The other acting heads of the families, the older ones kept stealing glances at Young Master Jiang, while the younger ones kept looking at Old Master Jiang. The older ones wondered why they didn't have such a son, even if he was bad in other aspects, his filial piety alone was enough to satisfy them. The younger ones wondered why they didn't have such a father, who not only didn't have concubines and illegitimate children, but also didn't feel guilty when his son took the blame.
Mr. Jiang was upset by Young Master Jiang's crying. According to his usual temper, he would have scolded him for being useless and too soft. But at this juncture, the second and youngest sons, who were favored because of their young age, did not show up, while the eldest son was running around. How could he push the filial but a little stupid Young Master Jiang into the fire pit
He kowtowed without hesitation and said, "Every word I said before came from my heart. I admit all the four major sins mentioned by the general. I only hope to give my son Siyuan a chance to make amends with the Jiang family."
Although the common people were not allowed to watch the case on that day, there were many runners and clerks in the county government office. Under Zhu Tingfang's instructions, the runners kept quietly passing on various details of the court to the people watching the fun outside.
As a result, the people of Cangzhou who gathered outside the Changlu County Government Office soon found out that although Young Master Jiang was willing to take punishment for his father, Old Master Jiang firmly disagreed and even argued in the court that his eldest son knew nothing about what had happened before.
Although Mr. Jiang admitted to the four crimes Zhu Tingfang mentioned in the court, Zhu Tingfang finally punished him for the second and third crimes that had been fully verified. As for burning down houses and inciting innocent people to change, they had already been reported by the Qi family's servants, and most of them were taken by Mr. Qi, so Mr. Jiang escaped. But even so, Yue's charge was still enough to make him lose a lot of money.
"All military and civilian disputes must be reported from the bottom up. If one goes to the superior to file a complaint without going through the jurisdiction of the official in charge, he shall be caned 50 times. If one goes to the emperor's carriage or beats the drum to file a complaint, he shall be caned 100 times if it is untrue. If the case is serious, the punishment shall be heavier. If the case is true, he shall be exempted from punishment."
Although Zhang Shou had urgently read the Ming Dynasty Law in the past two days, he could not recite the laws by heart like Zhu Tingfang did in the court. After hearing this, although he had discussed with his future brother-in-law yesterday how to sentence Mr. Jiang, Zhu Tingfang did not make it clear after all. At this moment, he calculated in his mind and knew that even if Mr. Jiang's accusation against the eldest prince was half true and half false, he would at least be punished with fifty sticks.