Qing Dynasty Cases

This story takes place in the 30th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign in the late Qing Dynasty, which is 1901 AD. Because it is a story set in that era, the author has decided to use classical vernacular Chinese for narration. If there is anything you don't understand, please contact me for verification, and I also hope that knowledgeable people will offer their corrections.

Now, I will begin to change my style, um... hehe...

Opening poem: The pen falls, dancing with elegance; the writing rises, singing of the nine provinces.

With heart, I record the vicissitudes of life; without intention, I continue the annals of history.

Now, there is a small county in eastern Shandong Province under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, named Chengshui. It is bordered by the Yi River to the south, Weilin River to the north, the South China Sea to the east, and Youcheng to the west. Although it is a small county, its beautiful and secluded scenery is excellent, and it is often visited by literati

, officials, and wealthy merchants for leisurely strolls. If it weren't for the frequent foreign invasions and turbulent times in recent years, it would probably have been a prosperous place. In addition to favorable weather, Chengshui also owes its good fortune to the three treasures: Luo Qingtian, Meng Shanren, and the Yi Cherry Blossom Forest.

Luo Wenbin, a native of Chengshui, is an upright and diligent official. Since taking office, he has promoted water management and agriculture, bringing prosperity to the people. He has also resolved wrongful convictions and difficult cases, ensuring the smooth progress of civil affairs. He is truly a rare and excellent official.

Meng Shanren, a descendant of a sage, originally from the capital, fled here due to political turmoil and unrest.

He was originally from a wealthy family and was known for his philanthropy. After arriving, he opened schools and soup kitchens to provide for the local people, performing many good deeds. Few in Chengshui have not benefited from his kindness.

As for the Yi Cherry Blossom Forest, it is the only local specialty. Thanks to the Yi River, cherry orchards have flourished for miles around, becoming a famous and widely sold summer delicacy.

With these three treasures of Chengshui, the people here can still live a peaceful life with enough food and clothing. This can be considered a paradise in troubled times.

However, as the old saying goes, "Building bridges and paving roads blinds the eye, while murder and arson ensure the survival of one's descendants." Heaven does not favor the good. Old Master Meng passed away from illness before the new year, leaving behind a widow and two young sons. The eldest son, Shouyi, was frail and sickly from childhood, while the younger son, Shouli, was a dissolute playboy. Because his brother suffered from a congenital illness, his parents spoiled him excessively from a young age, and he eventually became a dissolute wastrel, indulging in drinking, gambling, and prostitution.

To bring good fortune, the old lady spent a large sum of money to arrange a marriage for her eldest son. The bride was from Fangjiazhuang on the outskirts of the city, named Fang Yuan. From a young age, she was beautiful, with delicate features, white teeth, and red lips, and had a basic understanding of poetry and literature. Although from a modest family, she possessed the grace of a lady from a wealthy family. Despite strictly adhering to the virtues of a young lady, remaining unmarried, her fate became widely known by the time she reached marriageable age.

At the beautiful age of sixteen, the wedding day was approaching, but alas, fate is cruel; Fang Yuan's husband, Meng Shouyi, tragically died the day after their marriage. In her grief, the mother-in-law took her anger out on Fang Yuan, imprisoning her at home on the grounds that she was a jinx to her husband. She constantly glared at her and spoke coldly to her, leaving Meng Fang

Shi with no choice but to swallow her bitterness and endure it silently. Misfortune struck again: in early spring, Old Madam Meng traveled a long distance to the ancestral hall to pay respects to her ancestors, but upon her return, she fell seriously ill. With no one to restrain the meddlesome Meng Shouli, he squandered the family fortune on a life of debauchery

, nearly destroying the entire fortune. But the troubles didn't end there. Several months later, a massive fire destroyed the entire Meng family mansion, burning it to the ground and affecting over a dozen neighboring households, resulting in dozens of deaths.

This fire was the fuse that ignited everything, exposing things rarely seen in the light of day, leading to the following story. Chapter

One: Natural Disasters and Man-Made Calamities

Just after noon, the gates of the Chengshui County government office were wide open, and dozens of villagers crowded in front of them. Everyone craned their necks and stood on tiptoe to look into the hall, whispering amongst themselves.

One of them, standing on the outside, had probably just arrived and was unaware of what was happening. He couldn't help but ask, "Is Luo Qingtian going to hear a case? What has happened this time?" A man in front of him turned and said, "What do you mean, brother? Last night, the sky was ablaze in the south of the city. The mansion of the benevolent Meng was on fire, and it spread to more than a dozen surrounding houses. Many people died. The fire burned all night and only went out this morning!"

"Is that so!" Upon hearing this, the man was shocked and quickly asked, "Then...then, how are Old Madam Meng and Meng Shouli?"

Another person chimed in, "It's hard to say. It seems that few of them survived. In short, the odds are against them!"

"Alas, that lad Meng Shouli is one thing, but the old lady, like the benevolent man, is a benefactor to all of us villagers. It's truly a tragedy that Heaven is blind!" someone sighed.

One man shook his head, saying, "Who says it isn't? We just don't know if this nameless fire is a natural disaster or a man-made one. If it's a natural disaster, then there's nothing to say; if it's a man-made one… then it's truly an injustice!" "Don't worry…" an old man at the front turned his head and said, "Today, Judge Luo is holding court. Whether it's a natural disaster or a man-made one, he will surely get to the bottom of it!"

As the crowd was discussing this, suddenly a dozen or so yamen runners emerged from both sides of the courtyard, gathering in the hall and standing in three rows on either side. Their fire-and-water sticks were placed sideways on the ground, their formation perfectly orderly and solemn. At the same time, the curtain on the side door of the hall was lifted, and two people stepped out.

The one in front, about forty years old, wearing a round-necked robe and holding a white paper fan, was none other than the county clerk, Kong Fangzhou.

A man stepped forward, his face a deep purple, his forehead broad, and his eyes fierce and imposing beneath a black official hat with a plain gold tassel in the center. A wisp of steel-like beard swept across his face, exuding an air of authority. As he strode forward, the blue feathers on the back of his hat fluttered wildly. His long, blue official robes, trimmed with gold thread, were embroidered with mandarin ducks swimming on the sea and cliffs. Without a doubt, this man was none other than Luo Wenbin, the upright and just official known to everyone in Chengshui.

Magistrate Luo sat deep in the hall, looking down at the officials and the crowd of people outside. He spoke loudly:

"I, the magistrate, have been entrusted by the Emperor to govern this region on behalf of the Son of Heaven. Although I have not achieved any merit, I hope that the people can live in peace and prosperity, so that I may repay the Emperor's grace and bring peace to the common people. However, these are turbulent times, and there is no time for tranquility. Last night, a fire broke out

at the Meng residence, which spread to the surrounding villages and caused dozens of deaths, resulting in widespread suffering. As the father of this region, I cannot stand idly by. Therefore, I have specially opened the central gate today to hear this case. The people are welcome to listen in. I will judge this case impartially!" After speaking, he picked up the gavel from the dragon desk and slammed it down on the table with a loud 'bang!' The head constables

immediately followed and chanted: "Court is now in session!" "Majesty!" The constables brandished their batons, making a deafening sound, and chanted in unison.

After the announcement, Master Kong stepped forward and stood to the right of the magistrate, holding a scroll in his hand. He read aloud:

"Yesterday at four in the morning, a fire broke out at the Meng residence in the south of the city. It was not extinguished until the early hours of the morning, resulting in forty-one deaths and twenty-six burns. Old Madam Meng, Meng Shouli, and all twenty-one members of the Meng household perished, with only four survivors. This morning, the county conducted an initial investigation into the incident. The bodies have been properly disposed of and are awaiting further examination. Furthermore, no signs of arson have been found!" He then stepped aside.

"It's too tragic, only four people survived!" someone in the audience sighed.

Another person said, "Alas, the old lady has truly passed away, what a pity!" Yet another said, "No signs of arson were found? Could it truly be a natural disaster?" *Bang!* The gavel slammed shut, and the magistrate shouted, "Fellow villagers, please be quiet!" Seeing that silence had returned, he said, "Whether it was arson or not, we will only know after the investigation..." Turning to the constable, he ordered, "Head Constable Ma, bring everyone from the Meng family to the court. I will question them one by one!" "Yes!" The constable obeyed and went down from the court, returning shortly with four people. The

group consisted of three women and one man. The man was over thirty, of medium build and thin. The three women were of different appearances. The first woman, dressed like a maid, was in her early teens and quite beautiful. The woman in the middle was nearly forty, and judging from her attire, she was an elderly woman from the household.

If we're talking about fleeting glimpses of beauty, the last woman to enter must be the most striking. She possessed a slender figure with delicate shoulders and a narrow waist, an oval face, beautiful eyes and arched eyebrows, and an air of refined elegance that soothed the soul. Gently stroking her flowing skirt and slowly lifting her silk robes, she moved through the hall as if ethereal, shrouded in mist. If it weren't for the lingering sorrow etched on her face and the unspeakable grief in her brows, she would rival even the moon goddess Chang'e.

Though few had seen her face, anyone who looked at her would know that this was none other than the newlywed, widowed eldest daughter-in-law of the Meng family, Fang Yuan. Moreover, her sorrowful cheeks were adorned with her hair in a bun adorned with a jade hairpin, and she wore a white silk shawl—proof of her mourning for her deceased husband.

Some enthusiasts whispered, "Good heavens, could she be a fairy descended to earth? Such a beauty exists in this world! It seems I've wasted my life!"

Someone echoed, "Don't even think about it. She's already taken. Although Young Master Meng is dead, she belongs to the Meng family from this life!"

"Who said that!" someone sneered. "I heard this woman isn't exactly chaste. Rumor has it she had an affair with her brother-in-law. Now that Meng Shouli is gone, if she can't stand the loneliness, hehe..." As he spoke, his eyes lingered on Fang Shi, as if he wanted to strip her clothes off and kiss her beautiful skin with his gaze.

"Give me a break!" another sneered. "This woman is a jinx; her husband died right after she married into the family, and now she's caused a fire that has razed the entire Meng family home to the ground..." He paused for a moment, then added, "Perhaps she really did have something going on with Meng Er; otherwise, how could she have caused him to perish in the fire?" "Silence! Silence!" The gavel struck, and Magistrate Luo silenced the commotion outside the courtroom before focusing his attention on the four men below. By this time, the men had already knelt down in order at the command of the head constable, each one looking dejected and disheveled, uttering not a sound.

After a long examination, the magistrate raised his voice and asked, "Who is kneeling here? State your name!" After a while, the man finally answered in a low voice, "I am Meng An, the steward of the Meng family!" The old woman followed up, "This old servant is Granny Chang, a maid in the Meng family!"

"This servant..." The maid raised her face to peek upwards, only to meet the magistrate's stern gaze. She trembled and quickly lowered her head to continue, "This servant is Xiao Ju, a maid!" Only the beautiful young woman remained silent for a long while before softly answering, "The widow, Meng Fangshi..." Her sweet voice, like a clear spring, was soothing and refreshing, and her words echoed in the ears of everyone present.

Magistrate Luo was not in a hurry. He waited patiently for everyone to finish speaking before asking, "Do any of you know the cause of the fire at the mansion last night? Anyone who knows must speak frankly and without reservation. If I find out that you knew something but did not report it, I will not let you off lightly!"

Meng An pondered for a moment and answered first, "My lord, last night I accompanied the second young master to a banquet and did not return until almost midnight. Afterward, the young master did not want anyone to accompany him, so I went back to my room to sleep. Around four in the morning, I was not yet asleep when I suddenly heard someone in the backyard shouting 'Fire!' I was awakened, but the fire was too big for human control, so I fled in panic to survive. As for why I escaped, I suppose it was because my place was far from the source of the fire!" Magistrate Luo did not respond. After a moment, Granny Chang replied, "This old servant also..." and then the maid Xiao Ju immediately followed up, "This servant also, this servant also!" As for Madam Fang, she remained silent.

After a long pause, Magistrate Luo gave a cold laugh and said, "Last night the fire was so fierce, yet only four of you from your household survived, and you all emerged unharmed. Could you please tell me the secret to avoiding fire? If I were to encounter a similar situation in the future, I would be able to escape unscathed!"

Seeing the people below him exchanging furtive glances, he suddenly shouted, "As servants, when faced with danger, you only care about your own comfort, disregarding the life and death of your master. What use is a servant like you?

If you continue to lie and deceive, see how I punish you!"

"Your Honor, please calm down! Your Honor, please calm down! I have something to report!" Trembling, Meng An said after being intimidated by the magistrate, "Last night, my young master took me to the South China Sea at your invitation to enjoy the moon and seafood. He... he drank quite a bit, and was rather tipsy when he returned home. He... he's always had a bad temper when drunk. He didn't let me follow him and went into the inner hall on his own. I really didn't dare to follow him!"

When Meng An mentioned the banquet between the magistrate and the second young master Meng last night, Master Luo's anger subsided slightly. After a moment, he said gently, "Yes, the Meng family has done a great deal of good for the peace and tranquility of this county. I was grateful for their kindness to the community and specially prepared a family banquet to entertain them. I never imagined that this gathering would be our last. Alas!" He sighed heavily after speaking, and after a long while, continued, "Since that's the case, Meng An, you may step aside." With that, he waved his hand, and a servant made Meng An step back and kneel in the corner of the hall.

After that, no one spoke in the courtroom, but Magistrate Luo's piercing gaze swept over the three women repeatedly, as if examining their hidden thoughts.

Suddenly, the magistrate loudly asked, "Meng Fangshi, you have not uttered a word since you came to the court. Today, I ask you, was there anything unusual in your household yesterday? You must answer truthfully!" The crowd, not expecting the magistrate to be so silent for so long, immediately turned their attention to this pretty widow. Dozens of eyes in and out of the courtroom were now focused on her.

Fangshi remained silent, but her hesitation was palpable. Someone as perceptive as Luo Wenbin could easily tell that she had something on her mind, a bitter truth she knew she couldn't express, hence her shout.

The booming question startled Madam Fang, causing her to lower her head even further and murmur as if talking to herself, "Yesterday...yesterday I went to bed early, and only woke up when...when the fire started..."

Before she could finish, Master Luo suddenly said coldly, "Isn't that not entirely true?" Startled, Madam Fang immediately stopped speaking, only to hear the magistrate coldly say, "Now it has been clearly investigated that the place where your second son, Meng Shouli, was burned is indeed your bedroom. How do you explain this?" Upon

hearing this, the crowd below the hall was in an uproar. Some said, "How can this be? How could the younger brother-in-law die in his sister-in-law's room? It's very strange!"

Others chuckled. "This woman is indeed unfaithful; the two must have been having an affair, and unfortunately, the fire happened to break out. This is truly justice revealed!"

Naturally, some lecherous men also spat, "Who would have thought? This young widow appears dignified and refined on the surface, but is so licentious at heart. Her husband died, so she went to seduce her second uncle. I bet her consumptive husband was worn out by her!" Already attracting attention, she became the focus of everyone's discussion. Hearing such disgraceful words, Fang Shi couldn't help but turn her head away, but unexpectedly, the magistrate suddenly shouted, "Meng Fang Shi, why don't you confess the truth now?"

"My lord, please forgive me..." Madam Fang's voice trembled with sobs as she replied, "Last night, my second uncle stumbled into my room. He must have been drunk and mistook the room for his own. He came in, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep. I wanted to wake him, but seeing that he was reeking of alcohol and not quite right in the head, I had no choice but to leave. Later, I found my maid, Xiaoju, and we intended to go together to the main room to talk to my mother-in-law, but then a fire suddenly broke out, and we had no choice but to flee for our lives. Xiaoju can testify to this!" As she spoke, she turned her head to look at the maid behind her.

"Yes, yes..." Xiaoju hurriedly replied when she saw Fang looking at her, "This servant was awakened by the eldest young mistress, and that's how I escaped this calamity!"

But Master Luo was unmoved by her words and instead scolded, "Don't interrupt! I haven't asked you anything yet, so don't say anything more!" After Xiaoju lowered her head and dared not continue, he turned back to face Fang and, after a long while, said to the people below the hall, "Where is the coroner? Come to the hall!"

A moment later, a servant in a purple hat quickly walked into the hall, cupped his hands and bowed, "I am the coroner from Chengshui, here to listen to your orders, sir."

"Has Meng Shouli's body been examined?" the magistrate asked.

"Your Honor has already made it clear!" The coroner took out a file and read aloud: "The deceased was a man, about twenty years old, six feet and seven inches tall, with six fingers on his left hand and a brownish-red birthmark the size of a copper coin on his right abdomen. After investigation, it has been confirmed that this person is Meng Shouli, the second son of the Meng family. The autopsy results show that he did not die from burning, but was already dead before the fire started..." As soon as he finished speaking, it caused a commotion among the onlookers, and the four people present were all shocked, looking up at the coroner.

Magistrate Luo interrupted her, saying to Madam Fang, "Well, now you know why I'm questioning you, don't you? Meng Shouli was already dead when the fire started. What explanation do you have for that?" Madam Fang's beautiful eyes darted around, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling. She stammered, "This...this humble servant really doesn't know. Could it be...could this officer have made a mistake? In such a huge fire, even a living person would be burned to ashes. How could he know...know..."

"Knowing means being cremated after death, right? I'll explain it to you clearly!" Luo Wenbin continued unhurriedly, "When a living person encounters fire, they will struggle to survive, and their death will be extremely gruesome. But the dead naturally don't know how to avoid fire. Although their bodies have been burned, they are not twisted. This is why the birthmarks on the abdomen can still be clearly seen upon examination. It seems that he was lying face down when he died, causing his back to be charred while his front remained intact."

"Could it be that my second uncle was drunk and fell to the ground..." Madam Fang hesitated.

"Impossible! You all seem to only know one side of the story. I will now explain in detail,

" Magistrate Luo said with a light laugh. "Most of those who die in fires are not actually burned to death, but rather suffocated by smoke. Therefore, their throats are filled with black ash. Cremated bodies are different. Since the person is already dead and not breathing, the ash only reaches the mouth and nose, while the throat remains clean!" "Your Excellency is right. The body is exactly as you predicted. The mouth and nose are covered with black ash, but the throat is no different from that of a normal person!" The coroner clasped his hands in a salute and confirmed this.

This remark sparked another round of discussion among the onlookers, who all praised the magistrate for his sternness, wisdom, and extensive knowledge.

Knowing there was no way to refute it, Fang hesitated for a moment and said in a mournful voice, "Your Excellency is wise. Even so, how could a mere woman like me, weak as a chicken, kill a strong man in his prime? This matter has nothing to do with me!"

Upon hearing this, the magistrate remained silent and gestured for the coroner to continue. He said, "After examining the body, I found that Meng Shouli's liver and lungs were a deep purple color, and his bones were dark gray. I am certain that he died of poisoning, probably from a deadly poison like arsenic!"

"Poisoning! Poisoning! Meng Lao Er was poisoned to death!" As soon as these words were spoken, someone below the steps immediately exclaimed in surprise.

One man chimed in, "The younger brother-in-law was poisoned to death by arsenic in his sister-in-law's room! What a strange story!"

Of course, the gossipy ones chimed in, "That's right, that's right! This adulterous woman must have been having an affair with him and poisoned him to cover it up, fearing their secret would be exposed. The ancients said, 'The most poisonous heart is a woman's,' and that's exactly the point. Such a woman should be stripped naked and paraded through the streets on a wooden donkey!" Only when the constable at the door waved his baton and shouted "Silence!" did they shut up.

"Ms. Meng, even now you still refuse to reveal the truth. Do you really not know the severity of the law? Do I really want to torture you?" Magistrate Luo said coldly.

The poisoning verdict was now a foregone conclusion. Although Fang was greatly shocked, she couldn't find any words to argue. Sobbing, she said, "My lord, what happened last night was a disgrace to our family. I didn't want to say these things, lest I ruin the reputation of the dead, but... but... Waaah!" She slowly recounted the events through her sobs.

Just after midnight the previous night, Meng Shouli, drunk, burst into Fang's bedroom.

With a bang, he pushed open the door and staggered into the room, muttering, "Sister-in-law, where are you? Shouli has come to pay his respects, sister-in-law!" Fang's husband had recently passed away, and she was in mourning for less than a year. These were difficult days filled with sorrow. The night was deep, but she couldn't sleep. She was embroidering by candlelight, her heart heavy with grief. Suddenly hearing someone break in, she panicked, almost pricking her delicate fingers. She hurriedly put down her work, stood up, and straightened her clothes.

Unexpectedly, Meng Lao Er, though his steps were unsteady, moved quickly and had already passed through the screen to the bedchamber. He suddenly pounced on Fang Shi, saying for no reason, "Sister-in-law, you really haven't gone to sleep yet. You must be missing Shou Li so much!"

Fang Shi immediately dodged to the side when she saw his rude behavior, causing Meng Shou Li to miss his target and fall onto the embroidered bed. Some of the things he was holding scattered all over the bed with a "clatter".

"Sister-in-law, don't panic, Shouli just tripped and fell!" Perhaps the second young master Meng also realized that he had been too frivolous and rude, so he covered up his words while picking up the things scattered on the bed

and said, "Look, what I brought for you, sister-in-law, are freshly picked cherries!" Fang Shi, who had just calmed down, stepped aside and looked up to see him holding a few cherries in his hand. But smelling the strong smell of alcohol on him, she couldn't help but frown and said angrily, "Uncle, it's quite inappropriate for you to come here so late. Please leave first, and we can talk in the courtyard, shall we?" However, Meng Shouli seemed to ignore her words and said, "Sister-in-law, look, these are genuine Yi cherries. Look at how bright, clear, and translucent they are, just like your fragrant and tender skin. It makes one want to take a bite!" As he spoke, he stood up, holding onto the bedpost, and moved closer to her.

"Uncle...you've had too much to drink!" Madam Fang hurriedly retreated, bumping into the screen, and gasped, "Uncle, what are you doing? It's the middle of the night, we can't be like this!" "It's alright, there's no one around. I'll just have a heart-to-heart talk with my sister-in-law!" Meng Shouli said lightly

, taking advantage of his slight intoxication. Before Madam Fang could rebuke him, footsteps suddenly came from outside, and a young girl's voice rang out, "Young Madam, your servant Xiaoju has brought you a bowl of plum juice. It's nice to have some to cool you down on this hot summer night!"

Startled by the sudden turn of events, both of them remained silent. After a moment, Madam Fang forced herself to remain calm and replied, "Oh, put it there. It's getting late, go to sleep!"

"Yes." Xiaoju responded and left.

"I know...I know my sister-in-law doesn't want to be disturbed!" Seeing that Madam Fang hadn't revealed what had happened in the room to the maid, Meng Shouli had a thought and secretly rejoiced, believing that they were in love.

Fang Shi had no romantic interest in him, but simply didn't want her shameful affair to be known. Hearing this, she said shyly, "Uncle, please don't talk nonsense. Please leave quickly, I won't tell anyone!" Saying this,

she retreated to the round sandalwood table in the hall. "If you won't tell anyone, what do you want to say, sister-in-law? I brought you cherry blossoms, what's wrong with that?" Seeing Fang Shi retreat, Meng Shouli shamelessly chased after her, his eyes lingering on her through the round table.

The newly widowed woman felt extremely uncomfortable under his unreasonable gaze. It was the height of summer, and it was almost bedtime. Fang Shi was dressed lightly, her bright red undergarment clearly visible beneath her blue gauze short jacket. She instinctively pulled up her jacket to cover her breasts and neck.

"Uncle, please stop! It would be terrible if the servants heard and started gossip, and even worse if it reached my mother-in-law's ears!" Fang Shi pleaded, using the table to keep her distance from Meng Shouli.

The man remained unmoved, playfully chasing after her around the round table, teasingly saying,

"What do I care about the servants' words? As for Mother, there's no need to worry. She's bedridden now and can't concern herself with such trivial matters!" Suddenly, he grabbed the woman's robe, pulling her into his arms. He sniffed her neck, exclaiming, "How fragrant! Sister-in-law, who are you applying this powder to?"

Fang was extremely embarrassed and tried to slap him, but his tight embrace prevented her from doing so. She cried out urgently, "Let go! Let go! This is so rude, I'll scream!"

"Scream then! With Mother bedridden, I'm in charge of the whole household. Let's see which of those servants dares to interfere!" Meng Shouli said confidently, reaching for her face.

Fang was extremely anxious and cried out, "Aren't you...aren't you afraid I'll tell my mother-in-law?" Meng Shouli paused upon hearing this, then smiled and said, "It's alright, you can go ahead and tell her. On one side is the jinx who killed her precious son the moment he entered the house, and on the other side is her own son. Let's see if Mother will believe you or me."

The woman thought it over and realized she was right. Although she was nominally the eldest daughter-in-law of the family, as the saying goes, a wife's status depends on her husband. Now that her husband had passed away, her mother-in-law would certainly not punish her son on her behalf.

Just as she hesitated, Meng Shouli suddenly whispered in her ear, "Shh, be quiet, someone's coming!" Sure enough, footsteps sounded outside the door again, followed by someone saying at the door, "Young mistress, Granny Chang has brought you lotus seed soup. May this old servant come in?"

Before Meng Shouli could say anything, Fang Shi said, "No...no need to come in. I'm changing clothes to avoid catching a cold. Just leave it at the door!"

"Then...is there anything else you need this old servant to serve you, Young Mistress?" Granny Chang asked from outside the door.

Fang Shi was very anxious and said, "No need, you can go by yourself!"

"Oh...oh, yes!" Granny Chang stammered, paused, and turned to leave.

After she left, Meng Shouli was overjoyed and said gently, "Sister-in-law is indeed very understanding. I thank you!" After saying that, he suddenly kissed Fang Shi on the cheek.

Even though it was just that one bite, Fang felt as if she had suffered a great humiliation. She suddenly broke free from his embrace, filled with fear and shame, and repeatedly said, "You...you...you shouldn't have done that, oh...this...how can this be!"

Seeing that she was out of control, Meng Shouli was not in a hurry. He slowly turned around to stand in front of Fang Shi and walked towards the door, saying, "What's wrong with that? Doesn't your sister-in-law feel lonely living alone in her secluded chamber?" Fang Shi was furious and shouted, "You...you get out of here right now, or else...or else..." At this moment, Meng Shouli had already reached the door and continued, "Or else what? Or else you'll shout and yell?" As he spoke, he pushed the door open, turned around, and chuckled, "Go ahead and shout, I've left the door open for you, you can shout all you want!"

However, given her situation, Fang Shi hesitated for a long time and dared not utter a sound.

Seeing the beautiful young woman's helpless expression, her breasts heaving and her face flushed, gleaming brightly under the red candlelight, Meng Shouli knew she wouldn't dare make a sound. So, he confidently picked up the tray from the floor, closed the door behind him, and strode back to the table. After setting down the tray, he sat down and said leisurely, "Sister-in-law, look how beautiful the evening is, with so much delicious food..." He opened the lid of the lotus seed soup and poured the whole pot into his mouth, but for some reason frowned and put it down. He then picked up the plum juice, smelled it, and drank it down.

Fang, in her predicament, didn't want to face him. She turned away, hugged her shoulders, and sighed, "Uncle, if you leave now, I'll just assume you were drunk and disorderly tonight, and let it end here, okay?" "No, no, of course not!" Before she finished speaking, Meng Shouli rushed over, picked Fang up, and walked behind the screen.

"Let go! How dare you! Stop!" Fang struggled fiercely, but she couldn't break free and was instead held and placed on the bed.

Meng Shouli pressed down on her, kissing her face and neck repeatedly, his mouth lewd: "Good sister-in-law, your uncle has admired you for more than a day. Today, grant my wish!" As he spoke, one hand was already on her bodice.

Fang struggled violently, crying out: "How dare you... No, how can you do this to your brother who died not long ago? He... his body is not even cold yet..." "My brother has been ill for a long time and is powerless to help. He has married such a good wife as you, but he is not fortunate enough to enjoy her. I, Shouli, am willing to fulfill his duty as a human being and also to fulfill my brother's wish in the afterlife!" Meng Shouli was drunk and restless, his mouth was full of nonsense, and his hands were even more unrestrained.

"Stop being so rude!" Fang struggled desperately, but the man, emboldened by alcohol, was too forceful for her delicate frame. She was no match for him. In her struggle, she grabbed something and, without bothering to examine it closely, threw it at his face.

"Ugh..." Meng Shouli's face wasn't hurt by the objects, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was the cherry blossoms he had scattered on the bed. He chuckled shamelessly, "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Of course I'm rude! I brought you cherries, so please enjoy them!" As he spoke, he bent down, picked up a cherry from the bed, and brought it to Fang's lips with his teeth.

Fang refused, but her limbs were immobile, and her delicate body was no match for his size. If she opened her mouth to cry out now, he would surely succeed, so she could only clench her teeth and utter "Ugh—ugh—" repeatedly.

Meng Shouli failed at first, swallowing the cherry himself. He turned and picked up another, but still to no avail. After several attempts, some he swallowed, others fell to the side, and the cherries within easy reach were almost gone. He had to reach for some further away.

Feeling lighter, Fang Shi seized the opportunity to sit up, but Meng Shouli had already propped himself up and blocked her way. Helpless, she grabbed a pair of scissors from her sewing basket, pointing the blades at Meng Shouli with both hands, and scrambled to the corner of the bed. She dared not move, only trembling as she said, "Don't...don't come any closer. If you dare to be so presumptuous, be careful...be careful..."

"Be careful of what?" The man didn't press closer, but stared intently at the young woman, his eyes shining as if infatuated, yet undeniably lewd.

Seeing that Meng Shouli's gaze wasn't on her face or the scissors in her hand, Fang followed his gaze and realized that, perhaps due to the earlier struggle, her silk robe was already open, and to make matters worse, the straps of her bodice had come loose, causing one corner of her breast wrap to droop, revealing one of her already ample breasts.

"Ah!" The beautiful young woman was immediately filled with shame and panic, hastily covering herself with her arms. But Meng Shouli clearly wasn't going to let this opportunity pass, and immediately lunged at her.

At this point, given the distance between them, Fang could no longer threaten him with the scissors. She only had two options: one was to stab him ruthlessly, which would inevitably harm her uncle's life; the other was to throw away the weapon and give up resistance, allowing the man to take liberties with her.

Neither of these was what Fang wanted. First, although Meng Shouli was unruly and despicable, he was, after all, in a drunken stupor, and she couldn't bear to truly harm him. Moreover, Fang had no such experience and dared not do it; she couldn't even kill a chicken normally, let alone a human. Second, Fang had strictly adhered to moral principles since childhood and valued chastity highly. Although her husband had died after a night of passion with her, and she sometimes felt lonely and unbearable in her empty room, she had never even considered immoral or shameful acts, let alone between her brother-in-law and sister-in-law. This was something she could never agree to.

Despite this, the situation presented a dilemma. Seeing Meng Shouli lunge at her, Fang Shi, with no other choice, steeled her resolve and turned the blade to her own neck. Tears welled in her eyes, her lips trembled, and she spoke with a choked voice but unwavering determination: "Stop! If you dare take another step forward, I will not live! I will go to the underworld and tell your brother everything. Let's see how you will face him after you die!" Her delicate brows trembled, and two streams of tears slid down her beautiful face.

Meng Shouli had long coveted this young woman. Today, fueled by alcohol, he sought to take advantage of the quiet of the night, driven by lust. When he glimpsed Fang Shi's half-naked body, her full, beautiful flesh tempting him, and the delicate red nipple, like a flawless cherry in his hand, shone brightly, ignited his long-suppressed desire. Though a sharp blade was pointed at him, it could not quell the demons within him. Therefore, he initially rushed towards her without regard for anything.

However, seeing Fang's desperate attempt to kill herself, and observing her resolute and seemingly genuine demeanor, he dared not press her too hard. After a moment's thought, he had a plan in mind. He feigned concern and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't do this. I won't force you. I just drank a few too many cups of wine today and acted rashly. I hope you will forgive me..." As he said this, he suddenly turned his head to look out the window and called out, "Who's there?" Fang could tell that although Meng Shouli was somewhat drunk today, his actions seemed to be genuine. In desperation, he had no choice but to threaten to kill himself to preserve his reputation. Seeing that he indeed dared not continue to press her, she had just relaxed a little. Suddenly hearing the shout, she couldn't help but look out the window, but saw nothing unusual. Just as she was wondering about this, she suddenly felt someone grab her ankle, and realized she had been tricked. But by then, she had lost her balance and was pulled down onto the bed, and the scissors were released from her grasp.

"My beauty, you're so ungrateful! I, your uncle, understand your loneliness and have come to comfort you, yet you don't appreciate it. You're already a member of the Meng family, so why be so ungrateful? Tonight, I'll teach you the benefits of being a Meng family daughter-in-law!" Meng Shouli chuckled wickedly as he pressed down on Fang Shi, reaching out to remove her lower garments.

Fang Shi was terrified and tried to cry out, but the man covered her mouth. By then, the scissors had fallen to the side, and she could only desperately try to fight back with her bare hands. But these delicate hands, usually used for needlework, paper, and pens, and for playing with flowers and rouge, were no match for the strong man on top of her.

In a short while, Meng Shouli had torn Fang Shi's trousers and buried his face between the young woman's legs, kissing and sucking. However, because of her fierce struggles and twisting legs, he couldn't penetrate her for the time being, but it seemed only a matter of time.

Fang felt the man's face pressed against her lower abdomen, his nose tracing back and forth in the depths of her pubic area, repeatedly brushing against the side of her sacred jade bead. This filled her with unbearable shame and humiliation. Thinking of her husband in the afterlife, and the chastity a woman should uphold, she felt utterly ashamed. If she allowed this man's actions to continue, and the consequences led to the loss of her chastity, she would be too ashamed to live. Thinking of this, she suddenly rose up and resisted with all her might.

Heaven help her, Meng Shouli, intending to penetrate her, bent over and was about to use his hands to spread Fang's jade legs.

Unexpectedly, the woman used this opportunity to raise her knee and elbow, striking his lower abdomen.

"Ugh—" With a cry of pain, Meng Shouli suddenly sprang up, his head hitting the bed frame, and then he fell to the ground, one hand covering his head and the other clutching his groin in excruciating pain.

Fang, no longer caring about his life or death, scrambled off the bed like a frightened bird, hastily adjusting her clothes as she stumbled towards the door.

As she rushed out, she heard Meng Shouli's voice: "You wretched woman, you've made me suffer! Wait...wait, I'll show you!"

Knowing he would soon come looking for her, the woman, in desperation, thought of her maid, Xiaoju, hoping that with others present, Meng Shouli wouldn't dare to be as presumptuous as before. Having resolved this immediate crisis, she immediately went to her mother-in-law to explain the situation, assuming that although the old woman disliked her, she wouldn't be so old and senile as to be unable to distinguish right from wrong.

However, Fang hadn't anticipated that Xiaoju, the maid from the fourth courtyard, wasn't in her room, and she wasn't familiar with the other maids. Just as she hesitated, Xiaoju suddenly entered through the side gate; she had returned from getting up in the middle of the night.

Fang was about to explain when she suddenly smelled a strange odor. Following the trail, she discovered that a fire had broken out in her third courtyard.

The fire spread incredibly quickly, and the two men, without a second thought, rushed out to find others to help fight it, but it was too late. In the end, they were left with their homes destroyed and nowhere to turn. The next day, guided by government officials, they finally arrived at the main hall.

Fang knelt in the courtroom, sobbing softly as she recounted her story in broken sentences. She finished, her voice sweet and melodious, "My lord, Meng Shouli is now dead. Though I have suffered some humiliation, I have upheld my chastity and done right by my deceased husband. Therefore, I did not wish to speak ill of the dead, nor could I bear to tarnish the Meng family's good reputation. But… but… sob… but the truth is this. As for how he was poisoned, I truly do not know. If I have lied, I am willing to be punished!" Her words moved everyone present to tears. One onlooker remarked, "What a depraved and immoral villain! He truly deserves to die. Poor Fang, so chaste and virtuous…" He suddenly felt something amiss between his buttocks and turned to the man behind him, angrily shouting, "Hey, are you perhaps a wildcat?" "Spring, why are you contradicting me?"

The man looked ashamed and awkwardly laughed, "I'm sorry, although what this beautiful lady said was deeply moving, the details were truly unbearable, so... so... hehe!" Magistrate Luo listened quietly, then slowly sighed and said gently, "Meng Fangshi, if what you said is true, you can be exonerated. I will even draft a memorial to report to the court, erect a chastity arch to praise your virtue, and let people admire and emulate you..." Unexpectedly, before the

magistrate could finish speaking, someone suddenly shouted, "You shameless wench, how dare you slander my young master! You are lewd and despicable, do you think no one knows about your filthy deeds? Today, I will expose your immoral and lewd behavior to the world in front of Magistrate Luo and all the villagers, so as to clear the name of my Meng family!"

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