The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 12 The Widow's Plea: Tears Flowing as She Stumbles

Li Qi's words immediately set the Ministry of Justice abuzz with activity. A large number of clerks he brought with him followed the Ministry of Justice officials as they ran in and out, placing stacks of case files into a specially cleared empty room.

"Your Highness, these are the case files concerning widows suing their husbands' families, which are stored in the Ministry of Justice. Please take a look."

"Thank you for your hard work, Vice Minister Chen."

The number of files is not large.

Even now, Chen Ying still doesn't know what Li Qi is up to. Marriage cases are too minor, and there are basically no cases of levirate marriage in these files.

The case of Wang Wu and Yang Ye fighting for a wife would generally not have reached the judicial level if Wang Wu hadn't persisted in appealing to higher authorities and if Yang Ye, a military household member, hadn't been involved.

Li Qi walked over to the files.

During his two-week leave, he was not always with Princess Lin'an. Yang Jing, who had pushed for the downfall of the Han State, was dead. Now, the only enemies he had in the open were Li Yuanming, the former Minister of Rites, and Zhan Hui, the Minister of Personnel.

He happened to know an anecdote about Li Yuanming's family, so he made some arrangements targeting Li Yuanming and Zhan Hui.

This anecdote is recorded in the Ministry of Justice's files, and this is the reason behind Li Qi's unusual behavior today.

Li Qi flipped through the documents one by one. It didn't take long before he paused, took out the Li case file he was looking for, and examined it carefully.

This is the case that occurred within the Li family, to which Li Yuanming belonged.

The facts in this case perfectly suited his needs; they were the best material for forging a sharp sword!

Li Yuanming will surely die by this sword!
Li Qi raised the case file in his hand and said, "I have seen a case file, so I will use it as an example. I request that Vice Minister Chen send someone to bring both the plaintiff and the defendant in the case file to the yamen. I will tell them that I want to hold court and retry this case!"

Chen Ying sent people to summon both parties from the case file, and at the same time began to read the records in the case file.

Since Li Qi wants to retry the case, it means that the previous verdict was wrong and he wants to change it!
The cause and effect of this case are very clear.

"The plaintiff's surname is Liu, and her husband's surname is Li. She is known as Li Liushi or Liu San Niangzi. In August of the seventeenth year of Hongwu, she married Li Dezu of the Li family in Liuhe County, Yingtian Prefecture."

In March of the nineteenth year of the Hongwu reign, the couple gave birth to their eldest son, Li Hutou.

In May of the 22nd year of the Hongwu reign (1389), Li Dezhu died of illness, leaving behind an orphan and a widow.

Because Li Hutou was young, Li Liu decided to remain a widow in order to raise him. In August of the 22nd year of Hongwu, Li Liu went to the Liuhe County government office to sue Li Dezhu's brothers for stealing her dowry and the inheritance left by her deceased husband to her son.

The magistrate of Liuhe County believed that the clan was a unified entity, and that Li Liushi lacked a sense of proportion and sowed discord among relatives. Considering Li Hutou's young age, he decided not to punish him, and the case was closed.

After reading it, Chen Ying frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "Prince Consort, isn't this judgment quite reasonable?"

Seeing this, Li Qi said, "No rush, let me finish my judgment first."

He sneered inwardly, "You all think Yang Jing did nothing wrong in the Wang Wu and Yang Ye wife dispute case, but he's dead."

If you figure out the secret, how can I use it to lure Li Yuanming into a trap?
Chen Ying was very perceptive and caught the cold glint in Li Qi's eyes. He suddenly remembered something: Liuhe County seemed to be the hometown of Li Yuanming, the former Minister of Rites.

What about the Li clan that Liu San Niangzi sued?
Isn't it...?

He suddenly felt a chill.

……

Both the plaintiff and the defendant were near Yingtian Prefecture. In just one day, Liu San Niangzi, Li Hutou, Li Dezu's elder brother Li Yaozu, his second elder brother Li Guangzu, as well as the Li clan head and Liu San Niangzi's parents-in-law, all came to the Ministry of Justice.

This was Li Qi's first time presiding over a trial. Both the plaintiff and the defendant knelt on the ground, addressing him as "Sir." He looked up at them. According to the records, Liu San Niangzi was twenty-two years old, but judging from her rough skin and disheveled appearance, it was clear that she had been living a very difficult life for the past two years. It was extremely fortunate that she was still alive and present here.

The two exchanged a glance, which passed in a flash.

Without wasting words, Li Qi slammed the gavel down heavily.

Chen Yinggao shouted, "Li Liu, the official in charge is the imperial son-in-law. He has reviewed the case file and believes that your original complaint contained injustice. You can file a new complaint today. If there is indeed an injustice, the imperial son-in-law will give you justice!"

Li Qi already had a conclusion in mind regarding this case; the trial was merely a formality.

Of course, in this process, he will give Liu San Niangzi justice, just as Wang Wu and Ru Niang received justice in the case of Wang Wu and Yang Ye fighting for a wife.

As if the sound of the gavel had startled Liu San Niangzi awake, she trembled, looked up at Li Qi, and suddenly kowtowed three times, crying loudly, "Your Honor, I have been wronged!"

Li is simply inhuman!

Li Qi said in a deep voice, "Tell me your grievances at once!"

Liu San Niangzi screamed hoarsely, tears streaming down her face, her roars and accusations filling the hall.

Li Yaozu's expression changed drastically in an instant, and he angrily cursed, "You vile woman, what nonsense are you spouting in front of the superior? Prince Consort, this vile woman is insane, does she keep her word..."

Li Qi said expressionlessly, "Li Yaozu has disrupted court order. Drag him out and give him ten strokes of the cane!"

"Your Highness, spare my life! This humble subject knows his mistake!"

Two imperial guards dragged him out of the hall, followed by a series of thumping sounds. Li Qi then looked at Liu San Niangzi and said, "Li Liu Shi, what grievances do you have? Speak quickly! If you dare to make false accusations or deceive us, you will be severely tortured!"

As the sound of the cane being struck outside the hall grew louder, Liu San Niangzi's eyes grew brighter and brighter. She looked at Li Qi, who was sitting at the head of the table, and thought of what that nobleman had said to her a few days ago. It was all true!
She kowtowed three times before raising her head and saying, "Your Highness, Prince Consort."

The woman's husband died of illness in May of the twenty-second year of the Hongwu reign (1383), leaving behind only a young child. To support her young son, the woman resolved to remain a chaste widow.

Li Qi didn't speak, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

At this point in the case, nothing seemed amiss to the others, but Li Qi had already sensed what he wanted.

But this is not enough.

His subsequent verdict was very eye-catching. He wanted to make the case of Liu San Niangzi a big deal, to make it known to everyone, to make the world uneasy, and to make people from all over the world attack him!
Liu San Niangzi said sadly, "Li Yaozu and Li Guangzu, along with their parents-in-law, have repeatedly forced me to remarry one of them."

Even Chen Ying couldn't stand it anymore. "How can a family of scholars be so shameless as to force a virtuous woman to remarry!"

"They shamelessly claimed that they didn't want their deceased husband's assets to fall into the hands of outsiders, but in reality, they took all of his property."

Seeing that I was a widow and orphan, the clan chief Li wanted to seize my deceased husband's land and property. He claimed that the clan was one and that we should not distinguish between each other, but in reality, he wanted to take over my deceased husband's land.

The woman was unwilling to accept it, but she was helpless. The land had long since been registered under someone else's name. They used various methods to coerce her, and the woman could no longer bear it, so she filed a lawsuit with the authorities.

However, the magistrate of Liuhe County said that Li Yaozu and Li Guangzu were the deceased husband's brothers and could inherit his property. Moreover, there was no distinction between family members within the clan, and they had not taken away the deceased husband's property. As for the deceased husband's land, it was a family matter within the clan, and he could not interfere.

For the past two years, this woman has relied entirely on working to make a living and support her young child. If things continue like this, she will have no choice but to die!

"I beg you, Your Honor, to do justice for this woman and her young child!"

Liu San Niangzi's voice was so mournful that it saddened listeners and brought tears to their eyes.

(End of this chapter)