The Liang family had already moved away from Tanyang County and could not remain there for long, so Lu Zhenxue submitted a petition requesting that the case be heard ahead of schedule. Tao Mo was quite looking forward to it. Since this was the only case on hand in recent days, the court convened after only two days.
Seated high upon the bench, Tao Mo looked down at the two parties gathered below—the Qiu family and the Liang family. After the customary opening formalities identifying those present in court, the case proceeded to the main matter.
The moment Lu Zhenxue opened his mouth, he began by painting an emotional picture of the friendship between the Qiu and Liang families. The audience listened, spellbound, and just as they were fully drawn in, he abruptly changed course and launched into a condemnation of the Qiu family’s ingratitude and their attempt to marry one daughter to two families. The crowd became visibly agitated. Of all those present, the most agitated was Old Master Qiu. Several times he tried to speak, only to be overridden by Lu Zhenxue. In the end, he could only look resentfully toward Sun Nuo.
Sun Nuo, however, remained perfectly composed, neither surprised nor pleased.
After finishing his impassioned speech, Lu Zhenxue stepped aside and quietly waited for Tao Mo to speak.
The courtroom, which had just been filled with heated rhetoric, suddenly fell silent.
Everyone stared expectantly at Tao Mo.
Seeing that Tao Mo remained motionless for quite some time, Adviser Jin could not help coughing lightly.
Only then did Tao Mo come back to himself. Turning toward Lu Zhenxue, traces of astonishment still lingered on his face. “I never expected Young Master Lu to have such a… passionate side.”
Unable to discern the meaning behind those words, Lu Zhenxue assumed Tao Mo was mocking him and frowned slightly. Once again, he privately regretted his earlier blunder at the banquet. However, this was hardly the time for self-reflection. He quickly replied, “It is not that I am passionate. Rather, the Qiu family’s treatment of the Liang family is truly enough to provoke public outrage!”
Old Master Qiu was so angry that his beard nearly stood on end. Clearly, it was the Liang family’s bridal sedan that had failed to arrive after a long wait. That was why he had arranged another marriage for his daughter. How had it become, in Lu Zhenxue’s telling, a matter of him breaking faith and betraying his word?
“Brother Lu’s words are mistaken,” Sun Nuo said calmly as he stepped forward.
Lu Zhenxue smiled. “Could it be that Brother Sun considers keeping one’s word to be of little importance?”
“You are mistaken again, Brother Lu. My view is precisely the same as yours. Trustworthiness and honoring one’s promises are the very foundation upon which a person stands in this world.”
Lu Zhenxue replied, “Then are you planning to take the Qiu family’s money and speak up on behalf of the Liang family?”
“Once again, Brother Lu is mistaken. I have indeed come to defend the wronged party, but not the Liang family—the Qiu family.” Without waiting to see whether Lu Zhenxue would interrupt, he turned toward Tao Mo and cupped his hands. “Your Excellency, may I ask whether keeping a promise is a matter involving both parties?”
“Of course it is.”
“In that case, I ask Old Master Liang: when the Qiu and Liang families originally agreed upon this marriage, was it not stated that the bride would be fetched within two years? Why, then, now that the two-year deadline is nearly upon us, has the Liang family’s bridal sedan still not appeared?” The leisurely demeanor Sun Nuo had shown earlier vanished entirely. His gaze had become sharp and penetrating.
Lu Zhenxue stretched out an arm to stop Old Master Liang, who was about to step forward. “The two-year deadline is only approaching—it has not yet arrived. Since it has not arrived, how can anyone know whether the Liang family’s bridal sedan will come or not?”
Sun Nuo replied, “Marriage is a matter of great importance. How can it be handled carelessly? Less than half a month remains before the agreed deadline, yet the Liang family has still neither presented the betrothal gifts nor set a wedding date. How is the Qiu family supposed to believe that you have any intention of honoring your promise? Or does the Liang family truly think that they can simply choose any day, send a bridal sedan to the Qiu residence, and Second Miss Qiu will obediently climb aboard?”
Old Master Liang’s expression darkened. He seemed about to speak, yet held himself back.
Lu Zhenxue said, “Even if only half a month remains, the agreed deadline has still not arrived! Why is the Qiu family in such a hurry? Could it be that there is some reason they are so desperate?”
Old Master Qiu’s expression changed. The implication hidden within those words was an attack on Second Miss Qiu’s reputation and chastity.
Sun Nuo said coldly, “Brother Lu, I call you ‘Brother Lu’ because I have always regarded you as a gentleman of noble character and integrity. Yet I never imagined that even you could speak so recklessly!”
Without changing expression, Lu Zhenxue replied, “Then how do you explain why Old Master Qiu would rather break his promise and attempt to marry his daughter elsewhere before the agreed deadline has even expired?”
Sun Nuo said, “Brother Lu keeps speaking of one daughter marrying two families. May I ask how you learned that Old Master Qiu intends to marry Second Miss Qiu to Old Master Tong?”
A crafty smile suddenly appeared on Lu Zhenxue’s face. “Naturally, I learned it from Brother Sun himself.”
Sun Nuo immediately realized his mistake, and his expression changed dramatically.
“If Brother Sun had not reminded me, I would never have known that Old Master Qiu intended to marry Second Miss Qiu to Old Master Tong.” Lu Zhenxue’s face could scarcely conceal his satisfaction and confidence.
Sun Nuo did not answer immediately. Judging by his expression, he was no longer regretting his slip of the tongue. Instead, he was already considering how to salvage the situation.
Lu Zhenxue pressed the attack. “May I ask what benefits Old Master Tong has promised the Qiu family?”
Sun Nuo’s lips moved. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly shouted from outside the courtroom, “Your Excellency, this humble one has a way to resolve the case peacefully!”
The voice sounded familiar to Tao Mo. Looking closely, he discovered it was none other than Gu Xiao Jia. The boy was kneeling properly outside the courtroom doors, his eyes darting about as he looked toward him.
Adviser Jin immediately said, “How dare you make such a disturbance in court! Bailiffs—”
“Wait,” Tao Mo hurriedly interrupted.
Adviser Jin frowned and lowered his voice. “Your Excellency, disturbing the court is punishable by ten strokes of the board.”
Tao Mo lowered his voice as well. “But he says he has a way to resolve the case peacefully.”
Adviser Jin’s face stiffened. “Employer, you are the county magistrate. How can you publicly allow yourself to be swayed by the words of an ordinary commoner?”
Tao Mo hesitated.
Mu Chun smiled faintly. “I suspect this commoner is merely delivering someone else’s message.”
Tao Mo’s eyes immediately lit up. Of course. Given Gu Xiao Jia’s personality, there was no way he would involve himself in a lawsuit like this. Gu She must have sent him.
Adviser Jin said, “If it’s Gu She, then that is even worse! Gu She and Sun Nuo are fellow disciples. If Your Excellency listens to his proposal, people will inevitably accuse you of favoritism.”
“Adviser Jin, I think you are mistaken. If this method can truly resolve the matter satisfactorily, then no matter whose mouth it comes from, it is still a good method. And if it is a good method, why should anyone criticize it?”
Seeing that Tao Mo refused to listen, and that Mu Chun appeared content to let matters take their course, Adviser Jin’s temper finally flared. He simply threw up his hands and stopped interfering.
Tao Mo said to Gu Xiao Jia, “Come forward.”
Gu Xiao Jia slowly rose to his feet, walked over beside Lu Zhenxue, knelt again, and said calmly, “Your Excellency. Since what concerns the Liang family is the remaining half-month period, and what concerns the Qiu family is whether the Liang family truly intends to proceed with the marriage, then why not simply wait another half month?”
Old Master Liang’s face changed instantly. “Impossible!”
Lu Zhenxue frowned slightly.
“Why impossible?” Tao Mo asked.
Old Master Liang replied, “The Qiu family and I have already fallen out and brought this dispute before the court. They may very well harbor resentment and deliberately delay matters until the half-month period expires.”
Tao Mo nodded. “That is a valid concern.”
Ever since Gu Xiao Jia entered the courtroom, color had returned to Sun Nuo’s face. “Old Master Liang’s reasoning makes no sense. For two years your family delayed and failed to come to their door. Yet now you turn around and accuse the Qiu family of delaying because they have not finalized a wedding date within half a month. What kind of logic is that?”
Old Master Liang’s face darkened. He said nothing, only looking at Tao Mo. “I ask Your Excellency to make a ruling.”
Tao Mo fell into thought.
Everyone in the courtroom stared at him expectantly.
In truth, the matter was not difficult to resolve. Adviser Jin could already think of at least two or three solutions. Yet he dared not voice any of them. In his eyes, Tao Mo had become an unfathomably mysterious figure. At first glance he appeared to be an extremely simple man, but upon closer reflection, the countless little details of their interactions often left Adviser Jin breaking out in a cold sweat. As a result, he could not even tell whether Tao Mo’s thoughtful silence was genuine or merely a calculated pose.
“Then let us do this,” Tao Mo finally said. “This official orders the Liang family to visit the Qiu family within the next half month and formally discuss the marriage. The Qiu family is not to make things difficult for them. As for the wedding date, there is no need to rush it.”
Old Master Qiu suddenly asked, “And what if the Liang family still fails to come within half a month?”
“In that case, the marriage contract shall be nullified.” Tao Mo picked up the wooden judge’s block and was just about to dismiss the court when Old Master Liang shouted again, “Your Excellency!”
Thinking of the betrothal gifts from the Tong family that would now slip through his fingers, Old Master Qiu was filled with resentment and snorted coldly. “What more does Old Master Liang want?”
Old Master Liang said, “Your Excellency, the phrase ‘not make things difficult’ is far too open to interpretation. Since we are already here, perhaps Your Excellency should simply set a wedding date for my son and Second Miss Qiu.”
Tao Mo froze.
Everyone present—except the Liang family—was equally stunned.
Both Mu Chun and Lu Zhenxue revealed thoughtful expressions.
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