Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1145: Stripped of Official Position

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Shi and Academic Administrator Kong were astonished; it turned out that the Capital Ouyang Family sent people to bring Master You and his group.

The head of the Capital Ouyang Family is Ouyang Hong.

Who is Elder Ouyang Hong? A distinguished figure known for wisdom, who has educated several princes of Emperor Jingwu and sons of Emperor Jingtai. Even the current emperor calls him "Master," earning the title of a true two-generation emperor’s master.

Magistrate Shi was delighted. With the involvement of the Ouyang Family, he had nothing to worry about. He coldly glanced at Cao Juren, struck the gavel, and said to Master You, "Master You, what exactly is the matter with Elder Gu? Speak quickly."

He reminded, "Explain honestly and clearly, without any concealment or fabrication."

Master You stood straight as a pine and calmly said, "As a person pursuing spiritual cultivation, the words spoken must be worthy of the heavens and master, never fabricated."

After saying this, Master You recounted the events: selling herbs out of town, encountering Elder Gu and his son being attacked by wild dogs, treating them, burying Gu Youfu, and taking Elder Gu back to the mountain for care.

"Xie Chen is Elder Gu. He is doing well now, eating and sleeping well, following us in spiritual cultivation, seeking redemption for wrongs committed over the decades. He was aware of my visit, and here are his handprints. You can compare them with the imprints he left at the government office to verify if Xie Chen is indeed him."

Elder Gu had dealings with the government office; they have his imprints. By comparing the fingerprint patterns, one can ascertain the authenticity of the handprints brought.

"Squad Leader Song, take these," Magistrate Shi instructed.

Squad Leader Song immediately accepted the paper handed over by Master You, reviewed it with Magistrate Shi, then followed Steward Lin to the archives to find Elder Gu’s testimony with his imprints for comparison.

A short moment later, Steward Lin and Squad Leader Song reported, "Reporting to Lord Magistrate, the fingerprint patterns on both handprints are the same; what Master You presented is indeed Elder Gu’s handprint."

Master You then said, "If you still doubt, you can send someone with me back to the Daoist Temple at Da Song Mountain in Tang Song Town, Hushan Prefecture, to see that Xie Chen is alive, unhurt."

Located at the border of Tang Song Town and He’an Prefecture, Former Magistrate Gu was fed up with Old Gu Family issues, driving them out of He’an Prefecture to fend for themselves, dumping them in Tang Song Town.

Magistrate Shi nodded, "We will naturally send someone with you to inspect the temple."

Squad Leader Xue stepped forward, presenting the County Magistrate’s handwritten letter from Bagu County, "Lord Magistrate, humble officer is the constable Squad Leader from Bagu County. Our County Magistrate, upon receiving a letter from the Ouyang Family, instructed me to lead a team to inspect the Daoist Temple at Da Song Mountain. Indeed, Elder Gu is alive and unharmed. This is our County Magistrate’s handwritten letter for your review."

Magistrate Shi, upon hearing this, appreciated the thoroughness of the Ouyang Family’s actions, bringing all evidence, immediately took the handwritten letter, satisfied after reading it, handed it to Squad Leader Song: "Take this to Cao Fangshan, lest he disbelieves, and accuses everyone of deception."

His words were blunt, practically slapping Cao Juren’s face repeatedly.

"Yes." Squad Leader Song handed the County Magistrate’s handwritten letter to Cao Juren with a smile.

Cao Juren, hands trembling, dizzy and faint, struggled to read, unable to finish before nearly losing breath, eyes rolling, about to collapse.

Doctors Li and Lian immediately performed acupuncture and applied medicine, preventing him from fainting completely.

Magistrate Shi was exasperated, wondering why Cao Juren, at this age where one could die anytime, was still causing trouble?

Doctor Li, after rescuing Cao Juren, said, "Lord Magistrate, it was I who treated Elder Gu and Gu Youfu that night. After they were abandoned, attacked by wild dogs and bitten, Master You and his followers brought them to our clinic. Unfortunately, Gu Youfu was severely injured and did not survive the night. There are records of this—I’ve brought the case notes documenting their examination dates."

Doctor Li maintained detailed case notes for every medical examination, kept in the pharmacy.

"Squad Leader Song, bring them." Magistrate Shi was jubilant, took the case notes handed by Squad Leader Song, reviewed them carefully, turned to Cao Juren, "Cao Fangshan, now with conclusive evidence, Elder Gu is not dead, your allegations against Gu Jin’an are false accusations—what do you have to say now?!"

Cao Juren wished he could faint immediately, avoiding this predicament. His lips moved, words failing to escape, when three men rushed into the courtroom, falling to their knees, crying out, "Lord Magistrate, our father is muddle-headed, he acknowledges his guilt, we plead with you for leniency, don’t hold a grudge against an old man!"

Cao Juren’s three sons, each in their fifties, wept like children.

Looking back at Cao Juren, resentment was clear; he had borne a child with a prostitute secretly and caused such a family scandal.

If the accusations against Gu Jin’an were upheld, not only would his scholarly title be revoked, but the brothers would suffer consequences too—how could the family live in the Prefecture with such a stigma? Even dining publicly would elicit whispers and pointed fingers.

Originally glad to see his three sons, upon hearing their words, Cao Juren wept, pointing at them, "You three unfilial sons... I am your father, how can you not help me?"

"Ha, father, if you cared about us, you would admit your mistakes and return home to live honestly, or go live with that prostitute’s son," The youngest of the brothers, Third Son Cao, with the biggest temper, bluntly stated, expressing "obey or disown you" sentiment.

Cao Juren, hearing this, nearly fainted, cursed: "Old San, you ungrateful child, cough, cough, cough!"

Magistrate Shi saw Cao Juren nearly fainting from intense coughing, quickly said, "Cao Fangshan, it’s confirmed you were bribed by Tong San to falsely accuse Gu Jin’an. This court will deal justly."

He continued, "There’s no need to protest injustice or plea to Gu Jin’an—it’s futile. Gu Jin’an is merely a scholar, not an official; he cannot judge your case."

Effectively obstructing Cao Juren from pursuing Gu Jin’an and entangling him further.

Enraged, blood surged to Cao Juren’s throat, nearly vomiting blood.

Cao Juren’s sons, worried seeing this, asked Magistrate Shi, "Lord Magistrate, does this mean our father’s scholarly title will be revoked?"