Qingyun's Love: Tiger Boy Falls in Love with a Pretty Lawyer

Chapter 109: Execution and Regret

Ranmo and Qingsheng first went to the county yamen to find the county lieutenant and told him about Min'er's condition and what she had said. Upon hearing this, the county lieutenant was furious and wanted to send someone to arrest Yu.

Ran Mo suggested that they go through the normal court trial procedure. First, they could use the power of the court to intimidate Yu and stop her from making excuses and resisting unnecessarily. Second, they could ensure that Min'er could tell the truth about what happened and make a final decision based on other evidence.

The county lieutenant agreed and immediately ordered his men to summon Yu, Min Fei, and the other related persons to the court for questioning. Ran Mo and Qing Sheng went to pick up Min'er in person.

After seeing him, he comforted and advised him not to be afraid and to tell the truth. Min'er nodded and took note.

In the court, Mrs. Yu was still unaware that Min'er had woken up, and she still acted like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water.

The county lieutenant looked at her and sneered. He motioned for Ranmo to bring Min'er over. When Min'er, looking calm, came into the hall, Yu Shi glanced at him and was immediately horrified, collapsing to the ground.

The county lieutenant saw this and knew that she had something to hide. He slammed the gavel and angrily shouted: "Bold Yu, do you know your crime?" Seeing that Yu fell to the ground without saying a word, he simply spoke for her.

"Yu, as a stepmother, you abused your stepson by beating, scolding, freezing, and starving him. This is your first crime. Out of selfish motives, you drugged him and threw him into a well, murdering him. This is your second crime, and the principal crime.

He even attempted to harm his stepson a second time in the darkness of night, but was prevented by the timely intervention of a righteous man. These multiple crimes must be punished severely, only then can social mores be rectified and the victim comforted. Do you have anything else to say?"

Those in the hall who were unaware of the situation opened their eyes wide in shock when they heard the county lieutenant's interrogation.

Yu suddenly raised her head, looked at the county lieutenant, then at Min'er, and cried out with tears and snot:

"Master, please understand. I am petty and mean-spirited. But what you said about me intentionally harming him and pushing him into the well is simply not true."

The county lieutenant sneered, "I expected you to do this. So tell me the truth. What did you use the Ecstasy Powder for? How did you follow Min Min to the well that day and cause him to fall into it?"

Don't keep making excuses, saying you didn't know. The relevant witnesses are already here in court. If you continue to argue, beware of severe punishment!" The county lieutenant's words were full of deception and intimidation, but they could be used against this treacherous woman.

Yu's psychological defenses began to crumble. Now that things had come to this, with Min'er right before her, she was afraid that if she continued to deny it, she would be in trouble. She could only take a step back and say:

"Because he wasn't working well that day, I was angry and gave him some aphrodisiac to drink. Then I asked him to go out to the well to fetch water. I wished he would fall into the well and drown himself.

But after thinking it over, I still couldn't bear it, so I chased him out and asked him to come back. But he had already reached the well in a daze, and he was about to fall. I reached out to pull him up, but he fell headfirst into the well.

I was just scared for a moment and ran back by myself. I blame myself for not being able to save the child in time..."

Hearing her words, everyone in the room secretly condemned her for shamelessly shirking responsibility. Min Fei, standing by, also had an expression of disbelief, wishing he could divorce this evil woman immediately.

She admitted part of the truth, and the county lieutenant had the clerk record it and present it as evidence in court. Then he turned to Min'er and asked him to explain what had happened.

Min'er briefly recounted the events from the time Yu gave him the drugged rice soup to the time he came to the well in a daze, and then he stopped talking.

Everyone was staring at him, as his subsequent statement would directly determine the nature and direction of the case and the fate of the Yu family.

Yu's face was covered with tears, and she would occasionally glance at Min'er in fear. Min Fei looked at his son with a complicated expression.

Min'er paused and said slowly, "My biological mother died young, leaving me alone without the love of my parents. Although my stepmother wanted to harm me, I had also been thinking about committing suicide for a long time.

That day, I came to the well and thought of the bitter past. I couldn't help but feel extremely sad and didn't want to live in this world anymore. My head was also foggy, and when my stepmother came to my side, I couldn't tell whether I jumped into the well myself or she pushed me in..." By the time he finished speaking, tears were streaming down his face.

Everyone booed when they heard this. Ran Mo hadn't expected Min'er to say this, but his heartbreaking words about not wanting to live in disgrace still pierced Ran Mo's heart, and tears welled up in his eyes.

The county lieutenant summoned everyone to silence. The case hinged on confessions and testimony, including whether the victim's own account matched the defendant's. Since the victim had given this statement, no one else could act arbitrarily. However, Min'er was still underage, so Min Fei's opinion on this matter was necessary.

Min Fei was filled with shame, and he said that he had neglected his family affairs, which had led to such misfortune. He had originally planned to send Min'er to be an apprentice, but he was still a step too late.

As to whether Yu has committed any harm, I beg you to investigate thoroughly. If it is true, he will be severely punished.

The county lieutenant and the others turned their attention to Yu, waiting to see what else she had to say.

Seeing that Min'er had spared her life after all, Yu Shi glanced at him gratefully, then kowtowed and said, "Master, I admit what Min'er has just said. I was indeed wrong in many ways, but I truly have no intention of harming Min'er."

The county lieutenant thought for a moment and said, "Yu, you drugged my stepson, making him unconscious, and even wanted him to fall into a well and die. How vicious is your heart.

After your stepson fell into the well, you fled without rescuing him, which is an even greater crime. You are now detained in the prison and will be tried and sentenced at a later date."

The county lieutenant's approach was a compromise. Yu and Min'er made no further appeals. The others also remained silent.

The county lieutenant adjourned the court. Min Fei took Min'er home, thanking Ran Mo and Qing Sheng profusely before leaving. He also blamed himself for being blind, marrying that evil woman and ignoring his child's suffering.

Qingsheng lectured him and told him to treat Min'er well in the future. Min Fei nodded repeatedly.

Ran Mo stared at Min'er. After this ordeal, Min'er seemed to have matured a bit, her expression slightly calmer, though there was still a flicker of fear in her eyes. It seemed she hadn't completely recovered from the nightmare.

Ran Mo didn't bother to discuss what he had just said. He patted his shoulder, gave him a few instructions, and let him go back with his father.

The two men then went to the back hall to meet with the county lieutenant. The county lieutenant's ability to control the situation during today's trial was quite impressive. The two men praised him, and the lieutenant was impressed, though he only regretted not being able to bring the Yu family to justice.

Ranmo said that this was the only possible solution under the current circumstances. Fortunately, Yu would still receive the appropriate punishment. The county lieutenant said that the case would be reported to the county headquarters, and the county magistrate would personally review it and make a judgment.

A few days later, after the county magistrate personally examined the case, the statements made by all parties were consistent with the confessions made in the previous court hearing. He then sentenced Yu to five years of detention on charges of injury and abuse.

The people applauded the news. Ranmo and Qingsheng felt a sense of relief. Although they felt the sentence was still too light, considering Min'er's own wishes, it was barely acceptable.

Ranmo had been planning to go see Min'er, but unexpectedly he had come to the lawyer's stall to find her. He looked much better than before, and was wearing new clothes that his father had bought for him.

Ranmo looked delighted and started chatting with him. She asked him if he was ready for school. Min'er said playfully that learning from her teacher was enough.

Ran Mo smiled and said that she could come anytime, but she still had to study in a proper manner. When he returned, he would definitely ask his father for permission to go to school. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to go to school with his brother and make many friends?

Min'er blinked and nodded expectantly. Ranmo then told him that if his father didn't agree, he could just come to her. She would surely persuade him with her lawyerly persuasion.

They both laughed heartily, and everything became better.