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 Shengxiangâs son."
Zhu Liu grew anxious upon hearing this and couldnât help but speak: "Master, Gu Dashanâs 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 Laiâs 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 Dashanâs family. Dashan and his family couldnât bear it any longer and only then severed ties with the Old Gu Family under Scholar Qiâs 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 familyâs 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 wouldnât acknowledge me. So it was you, this childless one, instigating things from behind. You canât have children yourself, so you steal mine. You truly have a venomous heart. Iâll 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 doesnât 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. Panâs 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 Jinâan quickly comforted her: "Donât cry, Third Grandma. We remember the kindness youâve shown to my father and our family. Even if you arenât our biological parents, weâll still care for you in old age."
Gu Dashan also said: "Donât be sad, Third Aunt. You both have us, and we will always support you."
Brother Cheng then raised his hand to wipe away Third Grandmaâs 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? Itâs all because Elder Gu is too malicious. If he had been nicer to Dashanâs 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 Dashanâs family well, Dashanâs family now supports them till the end!"
Judge Tang was impressed; these storytellers had quite the memory. Elder Gu had only mentioned Gu Shengxingâs name once, and they remembered.
The story of how Gu Dashanâs 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 Dashanâs family shows theyâre in cahoots, so they canât be reliable witnesses."
Magistrate Gu really wanted to wring Zhu Liuâs neck, but Zhu Liuâs reasoning was sound, prompting him to ask Gu Dashan: "Do you have any other witnesses?"
Gu Jinâan replied: "We do."
They anticipated this and didnât wait idly, having prepared extensively.
Magistrate Guâs eyes lit up: "Where are the witnesses? Bring them forth!"
"Here they are," Luo Wuâs 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 Longâan Prefecture Gaoshui County, aware of the severance of ties between the Old Gu Family and Dashanâs family."
Magistrate Gu had met Luo Wu and knew he was a squad leader from Tianfu Countyâs 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 Guâs 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 Dashanâs second daughter... This severance wasnât Dashanâs 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 Dashanâs family severed ties with the Old Gu Family, the Old Gu Family proclaimed harshly that they didnât need Dashanâs family, disdained their numbers, and severing ties allowed them to reserve more rations."
Elder Gu was startled at seeing Doctor Duâs group; none of them had died, unexpectedly meeting familiar faces again. Why wouldnât these scoundrels just perish!
Elder Gu wanted to protest, accusing Doctor Duâs group of falsifying evidence, but Magistrate Gu had already struck the gavel and began the verdict: "Concerning Elder Guâs accusation of Dashanâs 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 youâve 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 couldnât 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 Shengxiangâs 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 Auntâs mouth and Elder Guâs evasive gaze that his biological motherâs 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 wouldnât let him go, given this, it was time for clarity.