Magistrate Gu, seeing two people faint at once, became somewhat anxious and hurriedly said, "Doctor Xiao, they are critical to this case and must stay safe."
Doctor Xiao replied, "Elder Gu and Granny Gu are quite healthy and wonāt be in mortal danger. However, their emotional fluctuations are too severe for the Old Madam to handle alone. Master, you should invite Doctor Liu."
He added, "Although Doctor Liu is expensive, his medical skills are good; he can perform acupuncture, especially in cases of stroke, which only he can manage."
In the government office, there were only forensic doctors; doctors capable of performing acupuncture were absent. Generally, in such situations, people spent money to hire a doctor from the city, and the officials always complained that Doctor Liu charged too much, unwilling to invite him.
Magistrate Gu knew of the grudge between Doctor Xiao and Doctor Liu. Upon hearing this, he quickly said, "Quickly invite Doctor Liu and say Doctor Xiao praised him. If he agrees to waive the consultation fee, tell him Doctor Xiaoās commendation."
"Alright." The Government Official replied with a smile, then dashed off.
In a bit more than a quarter of an hour, they indeed invited Doctor Liu for free.
Doctor Liu was quite pleased and upon arrival, said, "I heard a famous doctor praised my medical skills; Iām truly humbled. Itās just the family trade to make a living. If any of you are sick, feel free to visit the Liu Family Clinic."
Doctor Xiao was long accustomed to Doctor Liuās antics and was too lazy even to roll his eyes. While removing the silver needles from Granny Gu, he complained, "You talk too much. Hurry up and wake Elder Gu. When you perform acupuncture, donāt skimp; inject more heart-protecting needles. His emotional fluctuations are too severe; if you donāt protect his heart, he might faint again upon regaining consciousness and suffer a stroke."
Doctor Liu was furious, wanting to point at Doctor Xiao and berate him, but mindful of the crowd around, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Iāve practiced medicine longer than you; do I need your advice? Ugh!"
Speaking thus, he promptly checked Elder Guās pulse, while the attendant opened the medicine box, preparing for acupuncture.
Shortly after, Doctor Liu finished checking the pulse and began acupuncture for Elder Gu, completing two rounds of needlework, taking a bit more than two quarters of an hour.
During this time, Gu Dagu kept crying out in pain and asking Magistrate Gu, "Lord Magistrate, Iāve told everything I know, can I leave?"
Gu Dagu was frightened, fearing that staying longer would lead her to be locked up in prison.
Magistrate Gu laughed when he heard this: "The case hasnāt concluded yet; you need to wait until your mother and stepfather wake up to discuss further."
You, an accomplice in false testimony, still want to run? Utterly ridiculous.
Gu Dagu, noticing the smile on Magistrate Guās face, felt uneasy, wondering what his words truly meantāwhether she could leave.
...
In the small room at the back office, the Zhan family uncle and nephew were still bound, while Little Sister Gu and Gu Rong hovered around Young Master Zhan San. But Young Master Zhan San was clearly annoyed by their presence.
Gu Rong glanced at Little Sister Gu and said, "Aunt, since Grandma is in the public court at the front, isnāt it proper for you as her daughter to visit and fulfill your filial duty?"
Little Sister Gu retorted angrily, "Youāre Grandmaās granddaughter; why donāt you go?"
Gu Rong smiled slowly, saying, "Aunt, noble families hold filial piety in high regard."
If you want to marry into the Zhan Family, you canāt afford to lack filial piety. So, are you going or not?
Little Sister Gu truly fell for it, saying to Young Master Zhan San, "Third Young Master, Mother gave birth to me, and now that sheās in the public court, I donāt know how sheās faring. Iām going to see her."
Young Master Zhan San wished fervently that they mother and daughter would die; how could he stop her? He kept nodding his head forward, letting her leave.
Seeing this, Little Sister Gu rose to leave, and the Government Official at the door asked, "Stop, what are you doing?"
Little Sister Gu spoke frankly, emphasizing, "Iāve always been filial; I really canāt bear my mother suffering in the front, so I want to see her."
The Government Official coldly sneered, showing no respect, directly exposing her, "If youāre the filial daughter, why didnāt you follow your mother to the public court first, instead of serving men here?"
Little Sister Gu flushed with embarrassment, defensively saying, "Young Master Zhan San has already promised to marry me. He suffered an unjust disaster, so naturally, I have to stay by his side to comfort him."
The Government Official was shocked, looking at Little Sister Gu, wanting to ask if she was truly a decent woman.
Didnāt she know only prostitutes from brothels would blatantly declare accompanying and comforting a man?
"Go, go, donāt cause trouble. If you disrupt the court session, itās none of my business if youāre punished." The Government Official waved her off, letting Little Sister Gu go. Little Sister Gu and Gu Rong came to testify, not as criminals. He could oversee them but couldnāt treat them as criminals.
Hearing this, Little Sister Gu laughed, glaring at Gu Rong before heading to the public court to play the filial daughter role.
Seeing this, Gu Rong smiled, continuing to serve Young Master Zhan San diligently, awaiting Little Sister Guās news... Her intent was to learn about Granny Guās situation; if she indeed was convicted, sheād rush to relay the message home, enabling her elders to prepare early, either having her grandfather divorce Granny Gu or having her parents sever ties with her grandparents. She didnāt want her family to be implicated by Granny Gu.
Little Sister Gu was being used by Gu Rong without realizing it. As she approached the small door leading from the back office to the public court, Granny Gu and Elder Gu had already been revived.
Elder Gu, upon waking, wanted to continue attacking Granny Gu, but the Government Officials had anticipated this, stopping him with sticks to prevent him from assaulting her.
With a loud slap, Magistrate Gu slammed the gavel heavily, questioning Granny Gu, "Your daughter has confessed; what else do you have to say?"
Granny Gu didnāt utter any unnecessary words, simply said, "Injustice, wronged... Meet, Lai!"
That single sentence not only denied Gu Daguās testimony but also requested to see Lord Lai, who she believed could save her, infuriating Magistrate Gu immensely.
Having served in office for many years, he had encountered numerous troublesome people, but none as difficult as Granny Gu; with clear evidence, she still dared to claim injustice, and furthermore, wished to see Lord Lai.
Lord Lai was indeed unfortunate, burdened with such descendants from Granny Gu, a savior. If Lord Lai helped Granny Gu, his position would certainly be at stake.
Magistrate Gu was extremely irked by Lord Lai, choosing not to shield him, instead instructing the Government Official to notify Lord Lai to attend court.
Before the Government Official could leave, Lord Laiās voice echoed, "Sir, your subordinate is present."
Lord Lai originally didnāt want to come and lose face, but the Gu Familyās affair had grown too significant; if he didnāt come resolve it, heād undoubtedly be implicated unto death by the Old Gu Family.
Upon seeing Lord Lai, Granny Gu was extremely excited, believing he would indeed save her; Master Zhi surely still held feelings for her.
Lord Lai gazed at the crying Granny Gu, his face cold, causing Granny Guās heart to sink... What was wrong with Master Zhi? Why this demeanor? She had suffered greatly for him, yet he treated her with such indifference?
The crowd assembled at the government office front was even more stirred than Granny Gu. The storyteller immediately shouted, "As soon as Granny Gu requested to see Lord Lai, he arrived promptly; truly a connection of hearts!"
Magistrate Gu turned towards the shouting storyteller; was this intentional? How could you connect hearts between two elderly folk? Itās truly horrifying.
The crowd shivered at this comment, feeling a chill, and some even felt disgusted.
Lord Lai was indeed disgusted by this remark.
In his youth, he indeed fancied Pan Shuangniang, but it was merely a fleeting affection, used to rebel against his family.