The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 86

The magistrate didn’t respond directly to Wang Fugui’s accusation. His face darkened as he put on an air of official authority. “You think I gave your son fifty lashes because I was bribed by Duke, and acted corruptly?”

He let out a cold laugh. “When a commoner accuses an official, they must first endure a flogging. I am merciful and couldn’t bear to have your son flogged, so I changed it to only a beating. And yet, my mercy in your eyes becomes corruption?”

His tone painted Wang Fugui as nothing more than a troublemaker. What the magistrate said was indeed part of the law. When a commoner accuses an official, the accusation itself is unequal. Before filing an accusation, the commoner must endure flogging.

Wang Fugui choked on his words and glanced at the Fourth Prince, then said, “But you can’t beat someone to death. Besides, Your Excellency, you convicted him of assaulting a court official.”

His tone was not as confident as before. Wang Fugui was, after all, just an ordinary person. He stood tall because the Fourth Prince backed him. Now that the magistrate was quoting the law, his resolve faltered. This subtle shift in Wang Fugui’s attitude didn’t escape the magistrate’s notice.

The magistrate sneered, “When I carried out the punishment, many people witnessed it. After fifty lashes, he left the magistrate’s office alive. Are you saying I’m responsible for his death afterwards?”

Without waiting for Wang Fugui to respond, the magistrate continued, “As for convicting him of assaulting a court official, I didn’t make a mistake. He did attack Duke’s Third Young Master, as witnessed by many. And your son couldn’t prove that the Third Young Master attacked him first. Do you want me to disregard evidence?”

Initially, the Crown Prince’s instructions were to use this case to damage Duke’s reputation. But now that the case implicated him directly, the magistrate’s priority was self-preservation. With his words, the magistrate threw a provocative glance at the Fourth Prince.

Song Jin… Damn! She had thought she had caught the magistrate off guard. Hmph, of course, officials are all cunning and experienced. And if the magistrate didn’t have this level of adaptability, he would have been considered an idiot.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped her nose and smiled at the magistrate, “So, Your Excellency isn’t corrupt. Then, that golden belt at your waist, did you buy it with your salary?”

The onlookers… Wow~ Golden belt? What golden belt? Where’s a golden belt!

Lu Zhan twitched an eyebrow, looking at Song Jin in shock. Could it be that Miss Song smelled it?

The magistrate’s eyelid twitched heavily, a flash of astonishment quickly replaced by anger as he glared at the Fourth Prince, “Your Highness, watch your words! I am loyal to the court and honest to the people, judging cases impartially and without corruption. What golden belt!”

Song Jin raised an eyebrow. “No golden belt? Then dare you stand up and slightly lift your robe?”

“Impudent!” the magistrate roared.

Song Jin chuckled, “I am a prince. An official telling me I am impudent, isn’t that disrespecting royal authority?”

The magistrate’s face darkened. “The Emperor appointed Your Highness to help with this case, out of trust. Do not betray that trust. Today’s events, I will report to the Emperor, so he can clear my name.”

As the magistrate spoke, Song Jin suddenly lunged forward, lifting the magistrate’s robe and grabbing at his waist. The unexpected move made everyone gasp. The commoners’ eyes sparkled with excitement. The constables, after a moment of shock, rushed to the magistrate’s aid.

But Song Jin had already yanked down the golden belt, waving it in the air. “Your Excellency, if this isn’t a golden belt, is it made of red string?”

A belt as thick as a thumb, gold and dazzling, with a fine jade Pixiu attached. Seeing this, the commoners erupted in chatter. The magistrate, humiliated and furious, sprang to his feet, “Your Highness, you’ve gone too far.” He reached out to grab the belt.

(TL Note: A Pixiu , pronounced “pee-shoo” and sometimes spelled Pi Yao, is a mythical Chinese creature that resembles a hybrid between a lion and a dragon. It is often depicted with wings, a single horn, and a robust body, and is considered a powerful protector and symbol of wealth and good fortune. In the context of traditional Chinese beliefs, a Pixiu is thought to bring good luck, attract wealth, and protect its owner from evil spirits and misfortune.)

Song Jin laughed, somersaulted, and landed to the side. “Too far? With your salary, you couldn’t afford such a golden belt in a year.”

The Song family were merchants. Song Jin could easily estimate the value of such an item at a glance. “Moreover, the Pixiu is made of top-grade blood jade. Such a vivid carving must have cost at least thirteen thousand taels of silver. Your Excellency, is your salary that high?”

The magistrate’s face turned livid, about to retort, but then smirked. “Your Highness, you’ve gone to great lengths to frame me. This belt isn’t mine. You had it hidden in your sleeve, and you want to frame me?”

With an air of righteousness, he flicked his sleeves and clasped his hands behind his back. “This trial cannot proceed. I will report to the Emperor that I cannot work with Your Highness.”

The commoners looked back and forth between the magistrate and the Fourth Prince, uncertain who to believe. Song Jin scoffed. “Framing you? If I’m framing you, then dare you take off your shoes and show everyone your socks?”

Lu Zhan… Miss Song can even smell that?

The magistrate turned to the Fourth Prince, alarm bells ringing in his mind. How did this foolish prince know so much? How did he know?

He needed to stop the trial immediately. With a grim face, the magistrate said, “I am a court official, not to be humiliated by you. You are shaming not just me, but the law!”

He turned to leave, “I’m going to the palace.”

At that moment, the Crown Prince entered, “Is the trial so exciting? Both the magistrate and my Fourth Brother are standing?”

Seeing the Crown Prince, the magistrate looked relieved and hurried forward. But Song Jin was quicker, darting to the Crown Prince’s side and linking arms. Consort Jiang was placed in Shen Yue’s household by the Crown Prince. The magistrate was also the Crown Prince’s man. She couldn’t let the magistrate speak first. Hmph!

“Brother, I found this on the magistrate’s waistband. Isn’t it valuable? Could the magistrate afford it?” Song Jin smiled sweetly at the Crown Prince. “Brother, what is the magistrate’s salary? His socks are even embroidered with gold thread. Such extravagance.”