Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 865: He Is Not My Father

Brother Cheng feared the Old Gu Family, but seeing Elder Gu at that moment, he stood straight, showing no sign of fear.

His elder brother had told him that he had grown up and could no longer fear the past; he must stand up and face everyone in the Old Gu Family!

Elder Gu looked at Brother Cheng, slightly dazed, frozen in place.

Gu Chengli saw that Gu Dashan and his sons were also stunned. How did they become so different, so refined?

Lord Lai knew Elder Gu was useless and feared he would ruin today’s events, so he specially sent Zhu Liu to keep a watch on Elder Gu.

Seeing Elder Gu dazed, Zhu Liu hastily urged, "Don’t just stand there, Gu Dashan is here, quickly go and proclaim your grievances."

Elder Gu snapped back to reality, took a few steps forward, then suddenly knelt on the ground with a thump, crying out, "My lord, please stand up for me. Gu Dashan has prospered and disowns me, his own father, leaving me old and all alone."

The onlooking townsfolk laughed, "Elder Gu, how can you say you’re all alone? Granny Gu bore you three sons; your house is full of children and grandchildren, though they’re all afflicted with venereal disease."

This comment elicited laughter from everyone.

The storytellers were there for business too, listening and then shouting, "Elder Gu, with all his descendants stricken with venereal disease, deems them useless, hoping to reclaim Gu Dashan and Gu Jin’an as his golden children and grandchildren. What a schemer! Calling him shameless is putting it lightly!"

Zhu Liu was furious, scanning the crowd, signaling the thugs hidden within to arrest those storytellers.

However, those storytellers were under Daqing’s protection.

Daqing’s people saw Zhu Liu’s men coming. They avoided engaging directly, instead releasing poisoned darts, taking down five of Zhu Liu’s men instantly.

To avoid causing too much commotion, Daqing’s people carried away the five unconscious thugs, dumping them in an alley before quickly returning to continue their protection of the storytellers.

In the courtroom, Gu Dashan had already knelt with Gu Jin’an and Brother Cheng, saying, "Commoner Gu Dashan pays respects to Lord Magistrate."

Magistrate Gu was personally overseeing the case. On seeing Gu Dashan, he felt a favorable impression compared to the sobbing Elder Gu. Gu Dashan seemed much kinder.

With a bang, Magistrate Gu struck the gavel, pointing at Gu Dashan and asking, "Gu Dashan, I ask you, do you recognize the elderly man here?"

Gu Dashan nodded, "I recognize him."

Magistrate Gu asked again, "Since you recognize him, Gu Shengxiang’s claim of being your father must be true then. He now accuses you of being unfilial to your father and not treating your brothers well. What do you have to say?"

Gu Dashan delivered a shocking reply, "Lord Magistrate, Gu Shengxiang is not my father. Back when we were fleeing famine, both families severed ties under the witness of Scholar Qi Yi."

Such a statement caused an uproar. Storytellers nearly shouted themselves hoarse, "An earth-shattering secret! Elder Gu and Dashan’s family severed ties years ago, witnessed by Scholar Qi Yi and Master Scholar as witnesses!"

Judge Tang glanced at the storytellers, clicking his tongue, wondering if they were aware they might lose their voices and be unable to tell stories in the future.

The onlooking townsfolk were in turmoil after hearing this.

"What? Elder Gu and Dashan’s family have already severed ties, witnessed by the Master Scholar. Goodness! Then what is Elder Gu suing Dashan for? They have no relationship anymore!"

Zhu Liu was also bewildered, grabbing Elder Gu and whispering angrily, "Is what Gu Dashan said true? Have you truly severed ties?"

Damned it, if the severance was real and witnessed by a scholar with an official position, what use is there in fighting this lawsuit? Elder Gu might as well die!

Back before Granny Gu was paralyzed, she and Elder Gu had discussed the strategy, and now Elder Gu was crying out, "Lord Magistrate, it wasn’t my wish to sever ties with Dashan’s family. It was that Qi, relying on his status as a scholar, who forced me to sever ties with Dashan."

The old woman advised that if one is forced to sever ties, it would be ruled invalid, not counting as severing.

Magistrate Gu was shocked upon hearing this, looking at Gu Dashan and asking, "Where is this Qi Yi from? Do you have a name card from his household? Is there a severance letter? Does it bear his signature?"

Gu Dashan nodded, explaining where Qi Yi’s family was from, how they met Qi Yi, and why Qi Yi acted as his family’s arbitrator.

When he mentioned severance occurred because Granny Gu intended to sell off his family for grain, the onlookers were furious again, cursing Granny Gu.

"This Granny Gu is truly vile, tormenting the sons left by her predecessor is one thing, but to sell off her original family’s son, how can her heart be so malicious?"

Daqing’s sent men added, "Hey, Granny Gu isn’t malicious. She treats her late husband’s daughter well. During the famine escape, she took Yuan Jinzhi’s family, reportedly providing food all the way, never cutting off their grain."

"What? Are you saying the reason Granny Gu wanted to sell off Gu Dashan’s family was to swap for grain for Yuan Jinzhi’s family. Damn, this Granny Gu is just evil!"

Cursing Elder Gu again, "Are you a bastard? Can’t distinguish who is your biological and who isn’t? Intending to sell off your own son’s family for your stepdaughter, are you even human?!"

Magistrate Gu was also stunned, looking at Elder Gu as if seeing a ghost... This, is this a real father? Damn, if that were his father, he’d sever ties too.

Judge Tang hurriedly reminded him, "My lord, the evidence."

Magistrate Gu snapped back, addressing Gu Dashan, "Present the evidence."

Gu Dashan handed the evidence to the clerk in the courtroom.

The clerk placed the evidence on a wooden tray and presented it to Magistrate Gu.

Magistrate Gu looked at the severance document intently, growing angrier the more he read. Only because Qi Yi was wise, he clearly laid out the cause and process behind Dashan’s family severing ties.

Elder Gu truly was a vile person, not only intending to sell off Dashan’s family for grain but also wanting to marry the eldest granddaughter to a servant as a concubine. Selling a good registry girl to a slave registry as concubine violates Great Chu Criminal Law.

Judge Tang, seeing Magistrate Gu very upset, quickly advised, "My lord, calm down."

My lord’s fewer judgments, consider him, handling some unusual cases day by day, facing the Old Gu Family’s case now with little surprise.

Magistrate Gu, upon hearing this, promptly checked Qi Yi’s name card, seeing it also bore Qi Family Seal, and the severance letter not only had Qi Yi’s fingerprint but also his name, and observing the script, unmistakably the Changshui Style praised by Emperor Chu.

Changshui Style was created by Qi Yi, named for its flowing, water-like font.

Qi Yi was exceptionally learned, relying on his knowledge and Changshui Style to be selected by Emperor Chu as the top scorer, now becoming a close associate of the Emperor, with limitless prospects.

Qi Yi was renowned for integrity and benevolence, using his position to often counsel the hot-tempered Emperor Chu, saving many courtiers from near execution.

So, how could Qi Yi, upright and kind, ever assist in a severance if Elder Gu were blameless?

Magistrate Gu declared, "The evidence presented by Gu Dashan is valid. This Qi Yi is the top scorer and now a close associate to the Emperor, he would not be involved in forcing anyone to sever father-son ties. Elder Gu, your claim of being forced to sever ties is not viable."

"What? That scoundrel from Qi Family became an official?" Elder Gu was shocked, he thought Qi Yi’s family had died long ago on the famine road. Who knew that damn rascal not only survived but passed as the top scorer and became an official, truly an injustice from heaven.