The County Magistrate sitting on the high seat, watching the quarrel below, his face darkened.
"Enough, what are all of you arguing about? If you don’t quiet down, I’ll have everyone dragged out and beaten with wooden boards." After yelling, the County Magistrate looked down at Ye Zi’an and said, "Ye Zi’an, I will ask you one last time, is it Yang Xiao’an and his son that you want to accuse?"
"Yes!" Ye Zi’an straightened his back and said, "The commoner wishes to accuse Yang Xiao’an and Yang Qingwen, one for hacking someone, the other for attempted murder that hurt innocent bystanders."
After saying this, Ye Zi’an turned to Old Lady Hua and said, "Old Lady Hua, please don’t think about having someone take the blame for your second son. The evidence for this crime is now solid, with both human and material evidence. Besides, Eldest and Second are both your own sons, both flesh of your flesh, what drives you to push your eldest son into the fire for the sake of your second son? Aren’t you afraid of breaking your eldest son’s heart?"
After speaking with Old Lady Hua, Ye Zi’an turned to Yang Da’an, "Uncle Yang, actually there is no need for me to say more. You and Yang Xiao’an are close brothers, you know his character best. Think about it, if you really go to jail for him, will he really take care of your wife and children? Moreover, the title of ’Cultivated Talent’ belongs to him, not you. What benefits can you gain from it?"
"Mother..." Hearing this, Yang Da’an hesitated for a moment, then cried out sorrowfully, "Mother, Second Brother, I didn’t do this, why do you want to push the blame on me? Just because Second Brother is a Cultivated Talent, does he think he’s superior to others? Must someone else take the blame for his crime? Why? Mother, please don’t be so biased. You didn’t treat Third Brother well, and he’s not your biological son, but I am your own flesh and blood son, and this is how you treat me?"
Yang Da’an’s words made Old Lady Hua cry and make a fuss, all the words she had once scolded Yang Dachuan with were now directed at Yang Da’an.
The County Magistrate did not want to listen anymore; he felt family was treating him like he didn’t exist. They wanted to change the accused in front of him. The County Magistrate was so angry that he stood up, waved his hand, and declared the court session over. As for the verdict, the original sentence was maintained.
After leaving the county government office, Yang Chuxia laughed, "Brother An, you did a great job sowing discord between them. I was really worried that my uncle would impulsively take the blame for Yang Xiao’an and his son." Her concern was not unreasonable; these days, Old Lady Hua had brainwashed Yang Da’an many times behind the scenes. Although he had been unwilling, his heart was somewhat shaken.
However, when Ye Zi’an mentioned his brother’s character, Yang Da’an suddenly remembered the time when Yang Dachuan was splashed with boiling water.
Back then, his second brother was not much older, only eleven years old, but his heart was already so cruel. Now, Qingwen is just like his father back then. Moreover, as Brother An said, although his second brother has become a Cultivated Talent, he has not brought him any benefits over these years. Instead, he has been asking for money from the family to continue his studies, causing their entire family to not be able to eat meat even a few times a year.
Furthermore, that boy is determined to become successful, and he wanted to sell Yang Chuxia last time just for some books. If he went to jail, perhaps next time it would be his daughter who gets sold. No, absolutely not. So Yang Da’an eventually refused to go to jail in his brother’s place, adamantly.
Ye Zi’an chuckled and didn’t seem at all like the calm and serious young man he was in court.