Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 825: It’s All Their Fault

"The steward is right, we must consider the other scholars." Magistrate Gu said to Judge Tang: "Let’s go, I will personally handle this case."

With these words from Magistrate Gu, Gu Chengxian was doomed.

Judge Tang was very pleased upon hearing this. Previously, he had said things to support Gu Chengxian because he was afraid of offending Lord Lai. They were of the same rank, and Lord Lai had stronger backing, so it was not wise to offend him. Now that the magistrate himself was handling the case, it was no longer his problem, and he could breathe a sigh of relief.

"Please, my lord." Judge Tang stepped aside for Magistrate Gu.

Magistrate Gu, accompanied by two close stewards and Judge Tang, entered the courtroom. After saluting Lord Yu, he sat under the large hanging mirror, struck the gavel, and said to the scholars who were pleading for justice and their families: "I am aware of the matter concerning Gu Chengxian. Rest assured, if he truly has a venereal disease, I will enforce the law and forbid him from taking the imperial examination."

According to the Great Chu Criminal Law, those with serious illnesses are not allowed to participate in the imperial examination.

The families of the scholars kneeling in the courtroom were overjoyed upon hearing this, applauding and shouting: "The lord is wise, thank you for standing up for us."

Magistrate Gu nodded and said to the three constable Squad Leaders: "Take people to Chunfeng Pavilion and bring the owner of Chunfeng Pavilion here; then go to the Tong Vice Magistrate to take statements from Gu Chengxian and others involved, bring doctors to check their pulses and investigate thoroughly if he has contracted any serious illness; also bring those who spread rumors about Gu Chengxian consorting with diseased prostitutes, I will personally question them."

Magistrate Gu did not wish to waste too much time on such a disgraceful case and acted swiftly, instructing the three groups of government officials to simultaneously execute their tasks.

"Yes, sir." The three squad leaders immediately took their subordinates and rushed to Chunfeng Pavilion, the Vice Magistrate, and the major medical halls.

...

Lord Lai, due to Gu Youwen being bedridden, was becoming increasingly concerned about Gu Chengxian. Knowing that Gu Chengxian’s examination was in a few days, he would always meet him before going to the government office, only feeling reassured after seeing he was well.

However, today he did not meet Gu Chengxian and was puzzled when Lai Zhuang hurriedly reported: "My lord, something has happened. It’s being said outside that Young Master Chengxian slept with a prostitute with venereal disease at Chunfeng Pavilion last night and has now contracted the disease himself!"

Lord Lai frowned, unwilling to believe it: "Nonsense, Chengxian is proud and aloof, how could he be interested in women from a brothel?"

Lai Zhuang swore: "This matter has spread throughout the Prefecture. Upon hearing it, the current scholars and their families went to the Prefecture Government Office to beat the drum and plead for justice, even Lord Yu brought Scholar Yang and Scholar Fang there."

Lord Lai’s heart sank; for an esteemed retired official to personally address this matter, it must be true.

But Chengxian has always been a good child; how could he do such a thing?

"Call the two servants who attend to Chengxian!" Lord Lai instructed with a stern face.

"Yes." Lai Zhuang hurriedly sent the servants to fetch them.

The two servants attending to Gu Chengxian were quickly brought in.

Lord Lai asked them: "Where exactly did Chengxian go? Was it truly to morning study?"

The two servants quickly replied: "Reporting to my lord, Young Master Chengxian indeed mentioned yesterday before dark that he would leave the mansion for morning study and return later, asking the lord not to worry."

As the servant spoke these words, he was fearful. This was because when they went to attend to Gu Chengxian this morning, they found the charcoal fire was out and the bedding was cold, indicating he did not sleep in his room last night.

The servant feared punishment and thus kept this to himself, hoping Gu Chengxian would return soon to cover up the matter.

However, Gu Chengxian had not yet returned, and the squad leader of the Prefecture Government Office brought officials to the door, explaining the situation of Gu Chengxian sleeping with a diseased prostitute and contracting a serious illness. The students of the Prefecture, along with Lord Yu, scholars, and other academics, had gone to the government office to beat the drum and plead for the magistrate to cancel Gu Chengxian’s examination qualifications.

Lord Lai listened, his face turning ashen, and sank into his chair.

Lai Bai, who was not very clever, asked the squad leader upon hearing this: "Is what you said true? Could it be those scholars are afraid Young Master Chengxian would excel and framed him?"

The squad leader laughed: "Framed? Are you suggesting that Lord Yu and the scholars and academics of the Prefecture are framing a student yet to sit for the official examination?"

Do you really think you’re so important? Face the facts!

Is Gu Chengxian such a prodigy that so many accomplished individuals would frame him?

Lai Zhuang glared at Lai Bai and signaled him to step back. He then respectfully asked the squad leader: "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

The squad leader replied: "We are here to see Gu Chengxian, Gu Youlu, and Qian Guangzong and his sons to inquire about the Chunfeng Pavilion incident."

As soon as Lord Lai heard the name Qian Guangzong, he immediately looked at the squad leader: "Qian Guangzong is involved too?"

The squad leader nodded: "Yes, all four of them slept with the diseased prostitute at Chunfeng Pavilion last night."

How unfortunate, a whole family of four got caught up in this bad luck, indeed extremely unfortunate.

Lord Lai gritted his teeth in anger: "Qian Guangzong, I knew it was you and your sons who led Chengxian astray!"

The squad leader didn’t care who led whom astray, pointing to the two doctors behind him with medical boxes: "These are the doctors here to conduct examinations, where are Gu Chengxian and the others? Please take us to see them."

The medical halls in the Prefecture are now overcrowded, and these two doctors were brought from the Qingshan Medical Hall thanks to the connections with the government office.

Lai Zhuang said: "Young Master Chengxian and the others have not returned to the mansion yet."

The squad leader frowned: "They haven’t returned yet? Where did they go?"

As they were speaking, a servant of the Lai family approached, looked around at the group of officials, and, somewhat fearful, found Lai Bai, who was less busy, and quietly said a word to him.

Lai Bai was startled and shouted: "What did you say? Young Master Chengxian was helped back by Elder Qian and the others, looking as if he had been seriously ill!"

Upon hearing this, not just Lord Lai, even Housekeeper Lai, Chengxian’s father, wanted to strangle Lai Bai.

Lai Bai, the fool, couldn’t he just speak quietly? Shouting it out like this, the officials would now know Young Master Chengxian is back, how could Lord Lai maneuver around the situation with them?

The squad leader looked at Lord Lai and bowed: "Lord Lai, since Gu Chengxian has returned, please allow me to bring people for questioning."

Lord Lai, with a stern face, glanced at Lai Bai and then nodded: "Let’s go together."

He then took the lead toward Gu Chengxian’s courtyard.

Lai Zhuang, Zhu Wu, Housekeeper Lai, and the hastily arriving Steward Yue quickly followed, fearful that Lord Lai might do something reckless out of anger.

The squad leader also hurriedly led the officials and doctors to follow.

Gu Chengxian’s residence was serene, perfect for studying, but now the courtyard was in chaos. Qian Guangzong and his sons were instructing two maidservants: "Quickly help Chengxian into the room."

As they spoke, the two men covered their noses with their sleeves, afraid of catching the venereal disease.

Gu Chengxian had fainted once, and now weak, with a gloomy face, half-dead, glaring at Qian Guangzong and his sons.

It was them; it was all because of them. If not for them, how could he have ended up at Chunfeng Pavilion? How could he have slept with a diseased prostitute!

They had ruined him for life.