After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 703 - 694 Trial_2

The Zhou Family immediately dared not make a fuss.

Qiao Dacheng glanced at the Zhou Family with satisfaction, then spoke, "Reporting to the County Lord, I am Qiao Dacheng, a humble citizen. This is my sister, Qiao Niang. Two years ago, she married Zhou Ji as his wife. The union between our families was supposed to be a good bonding of two surnames, but the Zhou Family has not treated my sister well. Instead, they constantly abused her."

Qiao Dacheng began to list examples of the Zhou Family bullying Qiao Qiao Niang, such as making her go out alone to fetch water in the cold winter. During the chaotic spring in Luoyang that affected our village, many sought to flee Luoyang, and the Zhou Family packed their belongings to escape but left Qiao Qiao Niang behind.

Qiao Dacheng said, "They feared Qiao Niang would deplete their food supplies, so they sneaked away with their bags while she slept at night. Fortunately, the two villages were not far apart. When our family fled, we specifically detoured to Xiangdong Village and took my sister along; otherwise, she would have been alone in the village, dying of hunger or becoming prey to wolves."

"But considering the difficulty in uniting two families by marriage, as the saying goes, it’s better to tear down ten temples than break one marriage. After the magistrate ordered the return migration, we let Qiao Niang return to the Zhou Family and continue living with Zhou Ji. Who would have thought Zhou Ji was a beast," Qiao Dacheng said, "With the busy harvest, then sowing in autumn, my sister has already become quite thin. He even resorted to violence, so I request the County Lord to rule for a separation between the two families, making them free to marry again without relation."

Zhao Kuan asked the Zhou Family, "Is what Qiao Dacheng said true?"

"No, no," Mrs. Zhou hurriedly said, "This is all slander!"

Zhao Kuan asked, "Alright, let me ask you, did you make Qiao Qiao Niang go out alone to fetch water in winter?"

Mrs. Zhou said, "Reporting to the County Lord, many women in our village need to manage housework like cooking and fetching water."

"Cooking is indeed true, but for women to fetch water, only homes without men or those abusing women would make a girl go out alone in the harsh winter, right?" said the young man standing next to Zhao Hanzhang. "This case tests whether the county magistrate understands the people’s livelihood. If a magistrate is ignorant of ordinary matters, he might genuinely believe her claims."

Zhao Kuan glanced at her and asked, "Was Zhou Ji crippled at that time? Did you send out a woman to fetch water? Let me ask again, during the escape, did you take Qiao Qiao Niang with you?"

"We intended to bring her, having called her at that time, but she couldn’t be awakened. It was our neglect during the chaos, thinking she had already followed us, not realizing she had been sound asleep, oblivious to the commotion outside."

"Nonsense, you clearly gave her tranquilizing medicine, deceiving her as body conditioning medicine for fertility. After consuming it, she slept deeply."

"That’s just one side of the story."

Zhao Kuan struck the wooden gavel and asked, "What about the domestic violence?"

Upon bringing up the assault, Mrs. Zhou immediately became agitated, pointing at Qiao Dacheng and shouting, "County Lord, please stand up for us. My son was also beaten by him, and not lightly, his leg is crippled."

The young man kneeling by the side still bore some injuries on his face, also indignant, glaring fiercely at Qiao Dacheng and Qiao Qiao Niang.

Old Father Qiao sighed and said to Zhao Kuan, "County Lord, my son-in-law’s leg was indeed injured by my son. Please consider leniency on account of his first offense."

Zhao Kuan’s gaze landed on Zhou Ji’s leg, asking, "Is the leg injury serious?"

Mrs. Zhou immediately said, "It’s very serious..."

"Shut up!" Zhao Kuan struck the wooden gavel and said, "I wasn’t asking you, I was asking Zhou Ji. Zhou Ji, answer the county’s question, is the leg injury serious?"

Zhou Ji immediately nodded, "Very serious, the doctor said that even after recovery, it will likely leave lasting problems."

Seeing the resentment on his face, Zhao Kuan asked, "So what is your demand?"

Without hesitation, Zhou Ji pointed at Qiao Dacheng and said, "I want him imprisoned, or have one of his legs broken too."

Zhao Kuan understood and said, "The nation has laws, and since he violated them, we must punish according to the law. How can we cater to an eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth notion?"

Zhao Kuan stated, "Since he assaulted you, I will judge this matter separately. Regarding the matter of separation requested by the Qiao family, how do you respond?"

Zhou Ji said, "I do not wish for separation; I want Mrs. Qiao to serve me continuously. Her brother crippled me, so she must take care of me for a lifetime!"

Qiao Dacheng, his face reddened with anger, pointed at him and shouted, "You wish!"

Zhao Kuan struck the wooden gavel and said, "In the public court, what kind of order is it to quarrel?"

After stopping the dispute, Zhao Kuan looked towards Qiao Qiao Niang, who was continually wiping her tears, and asked, "Qiao Qiao Niang, do you wish to separate from Zhou Ji?"

Qiao Qiao Niang first glanced at her brother, then bit her lip and asked, "County Lord, if I don’t separate and wholeheartedly care for my husband, can my brother’s crime of assaulting my husband be judged lightly?"