After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Wang Shouren frantically pulled another piece of paper from his pocket.

Yang Shen took it, confirmed it was correct, and then presented it again: "I took the wrong one earlier, please forgive me, Prefect Han."

Han Zhong's face was gloomy. He took the documents, glanced at them, and snorted coldly: "Since there are documents from Wuqing County, this prefecture will make an exception and try these two cases. However, there must be an order. You may step aside first."

Yang Shen bowed and said, "Since I've taken on the role of scribe, I might as well also serve as scribe for Director Wang."

Han Zhong shook his head and said, "Wang Sizhi is a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the current dynasty. Why should he write on behalf of someone else?"

Yang Shen said solemnly, "Wang Sizhi is the magistrate of Wuqing County. If he has to personally respond to any lawsuit brought by just anyone, how can Wuqing County function? I am not talented, but I am willing to fight this case for Wang Sizhi."

Upon hearing this, Wu Youfu panicked: "Your Excellency, they're in cahoots! This is against the rules!"

Han Zhong remained silent, seemingly weighing Yang Shen's words.

Although the Ming Dynasty law allowed citizens to sue officials, officials often faced many inconveniences.

As Yang Shen said, is it possible to find someone to act as an agent?

Yang Shen looked at Wu Youfu and said with a slight smile, "Mr. Wu, what's the rush?"

"I'm the plaintiff, how can I not be anxious?"

"You are indeed the plaintiff, but now you are also the defendant."

"What...what do you mean?"

Yang Shen said slowly, "First of all, you've come to sue the head of a county; this is a case of the people suing the government!"

Wu Youfu retorted, his neck stiff, "The laws of the Ming Dynasty clearly stipulate that citizens are allowed to sue officials! What, are you trying to silence the people?"

Yang Shen smiled and shook his head, then turned to the court and bowed, saying, "I report to Prefect Han, this man came to file a complaint, but instead of submitting it directly to the Shuntian Prefecture, he first carried a coffin and caused a disturbance at the county government office. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, commoners must appeal to the authorities level by level, without any unnecessary complications. If Wu Youfu truly wanted to file a complaint, he should have submitted it directly to the Shuntian Prefecture. However, by carrying a coffin and causing a disturbance, blocking the county government office, he seriously disrupted the normal operations of the office. According to the law, he should be punished with caning for the crime of gathering a crowd to cause a disturbance and storming the government office!"

Wu Youfu's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "I...I'm here to demand an explanation! Someone in my family died, can't I even get justice?"

Yang Shen looked at him calmly: "You want an explanation? Is the Shuntian Prefecture government office closed? Or is it that Prefect Han is refusing to accept your complaint? Our Great Ming Dynasty has its own laws. If you trust the court, just submit your complaint. Why bring a coffin to the county government office and wail like a mourner? You've caused trouble, and that's a fact; you must bear the responsibility for causing trouble. If you refuse to accept punishment, you're disregarding the laws of the Great Ming Dynasty. If you disregard the laws, what's the point of filing a complaint?"

Wu Youfu opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

Han Zhong pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Yang Shen's words are indeed reasonable. Guards!"

"exist!"

"Drag the plaintiff, Wu Youfu, out and give him twenty strokes of the cane!"

Wu Youfu cried out in alarm, "Your Excellency! Someone in my family has died! I'm innocent!"

Han Chong's face was grim as he said, "I know you've killed someone, but the imperial court has its laws. If you abide by the law, after these twenty strokes, I will still seek justice for you. If you cause trouble again, that will be contempt of court, and you will receive another twenty strokes!"

Wu Youfu wanted to argue further, but two constables stepped forward and dragged him out.

The crowd outside the hall made way for Wu Youfu as he was forced onto a bench.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

As the water-and-fire stick fell, Wu Youfu howled like a pig being slaughtered.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, after twenty blows, Wu Youfu was dragged back to the hall.

His buttocks were a bloody mess, and he lay on the ground gasping for breath, his face covered in tears and snot.

The onlookers turned their heads, and the murmurs subsided considerably.

Han Zhong looked at him and said, "Wu Youfu, your caning is over. Now you can file a complaint."

Wu Youfu gritted his teeth, trembling with pain, and forced himself to raise his head: "Thank you... thank you, Prefect, for upholding justice... This humble subject wishes to file a lawsuit..."

"Wait a minute!"

Yang Shen stepped forward and said, "This student is filing a lawsuit against Wu Youfu on behalf of 173 aggrieved parties!"

Wu Youfu lay on the ground, turning his head to glare at him: "You... what are you accusing me of?"

Yang Shen said, "I hereby report to Prefect Han that I have a joint lawsuit signed by 173 people, accusing Wu Youfu of extortion, forcibly seizing land, engaging in usury, and driving someone to death. Each person has affixed their fingerprint and attached relevant evidence, including deeds sold at prices far below market value, loan receipts, and corresponding witnesses. These people are currently waiting outside the yamen and can be brought to court for questioning at any time!"

Wu Youfu lay on the ground, sweating profusely from the pain, yet he still struggled and cried out, "You...you're clearly trying to exonerate Wang Shouren! You're all in cahoots!"

Yang Shen looked down at him: "Mr. Wu, let's stick to the case. If you keep rambling, it will make you seem guilty."

Wu Youfu was both angry and furious, and said in a low voice, "I was the one who filed the complaint first! Wang Shouren drove my family to their deaths, that's an indisputable fact!"

Yang Shen asked, "You say so, but I've presented solid evidence: a joint lawsuit signed by 173 people, with both witnesses and physical evidence. Where's your evidence?"

Wu Youfu, panting, said, "Even my servants can testify! Wang Shouren did indeed come to my house for drinks that day and stayed overnight!"

Yang Shen shook his head: "According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, family members and servants have a vested interest in their master and must recuse themselves. Even if they testify, their credibility will be greatly reduced, and their testimony must be corroborated by corresponding physical evidence; otherwise, it is invalid. How can the words of your servants be considered evidence?"

Wu Youfu panicked and hurriedly said, "There's a will! Liu left a will before she died, written very clearly!"

Yang Shen laughed: "What a coincidence, I also have a will here."

As he spoke, he pulled another piece of paper from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"To Prefect Han, this is a suicide note secretly sent by Lady Liu before her death. In it, she says that Wu Youfu, for reasons unknown, forced her to commit suicide. She did not wish to die and begged for help. Unfortunately, Wang Sizhi was measuring fields in Hexi Town at the time and couldn't attend to her. Today, when I went to the county office, the gatekeeper mentioned this and gave me this note, which I brought immediately!"

Wu Youfu's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief: "How could you possibly have her suicide note? It's fake!"

Yang Shen looked down at him: "And how can you prove that the suicide note you have is genuine?"

Wu Youfu hurriedly said, "Of course what I took is real!"

Yang Shen asked, "How can you prove it?"

Wu Youfu opened his mouth, sweating profusely, but couldn't utter a single word.

Yang Shen waited for a while, and seeing that he remained silent, he turned to the hall and said, "Prefect Han, Wu Youfu cannot produce any evidence to prove the authenticity of that suicide note."

Han Zhong asked, "And what about yours? How can you prove it?"

Yang Shen grinned: "Even the students can't prove it."

Wu Youfu's face was deathly pale, and he lay on the ground trembling all over.

The onlookers outside the hall began to whisper among themselves.

"Yang Xiucai has over a hundred people who can testify..."

"So, Wu Youfu is making a false accusation?"

Wu Youfu panicked, muttering, "You...you're lying! The suicide note is real! It's all real!"

Yang Shen looked at him and said calmly, "Mr. Wu, the so-called evidence you presented is completely invalid. Not only will you fail in this case, but you will also be held accountable for wrongdoing."

Wu Youfu was stunned: "Sitting in the wrong place? How is that possible! Someone in my family died!"

Yang Shen nodded: "Someone in your family died, but you know in your heart how that person died."

Wu Youfu trembled and his eyes darted away.

"Wait, I haven't finished yet!"

Yang Shen paused, then continued, "You accused Wang Sizhi, but you'll be punished in return. I have 173 people here, all genuine victims, with witnesses and evidence to prove it. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, your crimes are as follows: those who forcibly seize farmland shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane and the land shall be confiscated; those who privately lend money at exorbitant interest rates exceeding three percent shall be punished with sixty strokes of the cane and the principal and interest shall be confiscated; those who drive someone to death shall be beheaded!"

He paused, then said, word by word, "For multiple crimes, the principal offender should be beheaded, and the accomplices should be exiled and have all their property confiscated!"

Wu Youfu panicked completely, lying on the ground trembling, his lips quivering: "You, you're lying, I didn't, I didn't..."

He couldn't understand how the other party could sentence him to death with just their words.

Han Chong remained silent in the courtroom, flipping through the stack of indictments and evidence, weighing his options in his mind.

More and more people gathered outside the hall, and the discussions grew louder and louder.

"Over 170 people signed a petition to sue him? How many despicable things must he have done...?"

"Who doesn't know how much land the Wu family acquired over the years?"

"Serves you right! This is karma!"

Wu Youfu's face was ashen, and large beads of sweat streamed down his cheeks.

He turned his head with difficulty and looked into the crowd, but Chen Nianzu's figure had already disappeared.