Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 866: Counter-Suing Granny Gu

With a loud bang, Magistrate Gu struck the gavel, furious: "Gu Shengxiang, do not speak recklessly. It is a grave crime to accuse a court official."

Elder Gu was most afraid of the authorities, and upon hearing this, he quickly fell silent.

Magistrate Gu said: "The severance letter presented by Gu Dashan is valid. He severed father-son ties with Gu Shengxiang four years ago during a time of famine. He is no longer Gu Shengxiang’s son."

Zhu Liu grew anxious upon hearing this and couldn’t help but speak: "Master, Gu Dashan’s family has material evidence but lacks witness testimony. For such a major case concerning filial piety, both types of evidence must be present for a judgment."

Magistrate Gu frowned. An ordinary servant actually understood the process of adjudication. It seemed this was someone on Lord Lai’s orders.

"You want witnesses, right? The old woman is a witness!" Third Grandma and Third Grandpa had long been waiting outside and, hearing this, rushed into the court with Mrs. Chen and Gu Dagui making way.

Once the two elders were in the court, they immediately knelt down.

Third Grandpa said: "Master, both my wife and I can testify. It was Sixth Son Gu who, influenced by Ms. Pan, wanted to sell off Dashan’s family. Dashan and his family couldn’t bear it any longer and only then severed ties with the Old Gu Family under Scholar Qi’s witness."

Elder Gu stared at Third Grandpa and Third Grandma, too shocked to speak.

These two childless ones were actually alive and dressed so well. Where did they get their silver? That fool Gu Dashan must have given them the family’s silver!

Elder Gu looked at the brocade clothes on Third Grandpa and Third Grandma and stood up in fury, cursing: "Oh, you Gu Shengxing, I wondered why Dashan wouldn’t acknowledge me. So it was you, this childless one, instigating things from behind. You can’t have children yourself, so you steal mine. You truly have a venomous heart. I’ll fight you!"

With that, he lunged at Third Grandpa.

Squad Leader Zhang immediately brought people to intervene, but Gu Dashan was a step quicker, already physically blocking Third Grandpa.

Seeing this, Elder Gu began to wail loudly: "Look, everyone, look! This son of mine is a thankless wretch. I raised him with all my hard work, and yet he doesn’t acknowledge me, his real father, but instead protects this childless one. He has acknowledged the childless one as his father!"

Third Grandma was trembling with anger, pointing at Elder Gu and cursing: "Pah, have you ever raised Dashan and his siblings? Your silver went to Ms. Pan, your food nourished Ms. Pan’s children..."

Third Grandma went on to recount how Gu Dashan was sent out to work at seven by Granny Gu, how Granny Gu mistreated Dashan and his siblings, and how Granny Gu tried to sell Gu Daya, forcing her to leave home.

She ended up crying inconsolably.

Gu Jin’an quickly comforted her: "Don’t cry, Third Grandma. We remember the kindness you’ve shown to my father and our family. Even if you aren’t our biological parents, we’ll still care for you in old age."

Gu Dashan also said: "Don’t be sad, Third Aunt. You both have us, and we will always support you."

Brother Cheng then raised his hand to wipe away Third Grandma’s tears, urging her not to cry.

When the Gu father and son said this, the citizens who had been cursing Granny Gu immediately began to praise Gu Dashan and his son: "Look at how grateful Gu Dashan is; even cares for the childless elders in the clan. How could he not care for his real father? It’s all because Elder Gu is too malicious. If he had been nicer to Dashan’s family, he would have been enjoying life by now."

The storytellers began to shout again: "What goes around comes around! Gu Shengxing and his wife are childless, but because they treated Dashan’s family well, Dashan’s family now supports them till the end!"

Judge Tang was impressed; these storytellers had quite the memory. Elder Gu had only mentioned Gu Shengxing’s name once, and they remembered. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The story of how Gu Dashan’s family cared for the childless elders quickly spread, and people spoke of their benevolence, affirming they were not ones to neglect the elderly.

Elder Gu was on the brink of madness, glaring at Third Grandpa wordlessly, but Zhu Liu said: "Master, Gu Shengxing and his wife being cared for by Dashan’s family shows they’re in cahoots, so they can’t be reliable witnesses."

Magistrate Gu really wanted to wring Zhu Liu’s neck, but Zhu Liu’s reasoning was sound, prompting him to ask Gu Dashan: "Do you have any other witnesses?"

Gu Jin’an replied: "We do."

They anticipated this and didn’t wait idly, having prepared extensively.

Magistrate Gu’s eyes lit up: "Where are the witnesses? Bring them forth!"

"Here they are," Luo Wu’s voice piped up before leading Doctor Du and Du Family People into the court: "Reporting to the master, the witnesses have arrived. They are refugees from Northwest Long’an Prefecture Gaoshui County, aware of the severance of ties between the Old Gu Family and Dashan’s family."

Magistrate Gu had met Luo Wu and knew he was a squad leader from Tianfu County’s government, so he nodded and asked Doctor Du: "Share everything you know."

Doctor Du revealed the truth like spilling beans from a bamboo tube, once again shocking those present, finally saying: "The stepdaughter chose to follow Elder Gu’s family with her husband and children during the famine, never lacking food, yet Granny Gu outright refused to spare a half-bowl of food to save Dashan’s second daughter... This severance wasn’t Dashan’s fault; life was unbearable. Even amidst famine, one can still scrounge to eat, but Granny Gu is insatiable, a devourer of human life."

Du Qian followed: "After Dashan’s family severed ties with the Old Gu Family, the Old Gu Family proclaimed harshly that they didn’t need Dashan’s family, disdained their numbers, and severing ties allowed them to reserve more rations."

Elder Gu was startled at seeing Doctor Du’s group; none of them had died, unexpectedly meeting familiar faces again. Why wouldn’t these scoundrels just perish!

Elder Gu wanted to protest, accusing Doctor Du’s group of falsifying evidence, but Magistrate Gu had already struck the gavel and began the verdict: "Concerning Elder Gu’s accusation of Dashan’s unfiliality is already exceedingly clear. Elder Gu and Dashan have severed ties, none of filial impiety is involved."

Fearing further trouble from Elder Gu, Magistrate Gu looked at him sternly: "Far worse is that, you Gu Shengxiang, knowing you’ve severed ties with Dashan, yet accusing him of unfilial deeds, is slander. According to Great Chu Criminal Law, those who falsely accuse others may face execution!"

Judge Tang feared Elder Gu might not understand, echoed the final two words: "Execution means beheading."

"Be-Beheading!" Elder Gu was so frightened he sank to the ground, his earlier intentions to protest dissipated instantly.

Gu Chengli appeared useless throughout, not daring to speak, and upon seeing Elder Gu seated on the ground, he too collapsed fearfully.

Zhu Liu was almost furious with these two useless individuals; this case couldn’t be lost; the verdict needed overturning!

But before he could speak, Gu Dashan opened his mouth, handed over a petition, and choked up: "Master, I wish to accuse Gu Shengxiang’s wife Ms. Pan of murdering my biological mother, to have you mete out justice."

As early as the day of severance, he discovered from Third Aunt’s mouth and Elder Gu’s evasive gaze that his biological mother’s death was suspicious. But they were fleeing famine at the time, and Elder Gu was his real father, making it difficult to pursue.

Who would have thought the Old Gu Family wouldn’t let him go, given this, it was time for clarity.