Upon seeing this, Yang Chuxia told Fugui, "Go, get our family’s cattle cart out and take these people to the county town."
As soon as her words fell, Ms. Ye’s face turned red and unsightly, while a little regret sprouted in her heart. She felt that she shouldn’t have trusted others so easily.
In her heart, she also wanted to back out, thinking that Xiaxia seemed not to be afraid at all. Could it be that what that person said was all lies?
Yang Lichun and Yang Qingwen naturally noticed the hesitation on their mother’s face and said, "Mother, what are you still thinking about? Even if Miss Yang could deceive us, there is still our brother. Don’t you trust our brother? He said that Yang Chuxia has been to the prison cell, so this matter must have something to do with her."
"That’s right, mother, I wouldn’t be wrong about this." Yang Qingwen also chimed in.
Ms. Ye, persuaded by her son and daughter, felt her wavering heart becoming firm once again.
Thus, the three of them got on Yang Chuxia’s cattle cart.
Ye Zi’an said, "Xiaxia, it seems that I’ve brought trouble to you."
Upon hearing this, Yang Dachuan asked what had happened. Ye Zi’an then told Yang Dachuan about the Dean of Wangquan Academy’s words and what happened on the carriage with Yang Aoshuang.
"It’s not your fault." Mr. Yang Dachuan said after listening.
The county town wasn’t close, and by the time they arrived at the county government office, it was already past noon. Usually, the County Magistrate wouldn’t handle cases in the afternoon, but after Constable Hong reported the matter, he reopened the court.
"Who has come here, and who do you wish to sue?" The County Magistrate struck his gavel, asking sternly.
Ms. Ye, startled by the County Magistrate’s severity, fell to her knees with weak legs and stammered, "Commoner girl... commoner girl..." She couldn’t find her words.
Seeing this, Yang Lichun stepped forward and knelt before the County Magistrate, saying, "The undersigned, Yang Lichun, is from Yangshu Village in Wangquan Town. I wish to accuse my fellow villager Yang Chuxia of having someone beat up Yang Xiao’an and Yang Qingwen in the prison, causing Qingwen’s leg to be crippled and Xiao’an’s arm to be crippled. Eventually, Yang Xiao’an starved to death in the cell because he couldn’t move his arm. My lord, please help this girl seek justice. Xiao’an is not just anyone, he is my father."
Yang Lichun spoke concisely, but she wasn’t the one who came up with her words—it was Yang Aoshuang, who had a maid whisper them into her ear.
"What’s your take on this, Yang Chuxia?" After listening to Yang Lichun’s words, the County Magistrate turned to ask Yang Chuxia.
Yang Chuxia came forward and bowed to the Lord County Magistrate, then slowly said, "My lord, this is pure slander. I don’t think you’re aware of the relationship between me and Yang Lichun’s family. Our feud is to the death. If I had the opportunity to have someone beat up Yang Xiao’an and his son from the very beginning, I would have instructed someone to kill them directly. Why would I let Yang Qingwen return to the village? And why would I wait until now for Yang Xiao’an to die?"
After that, she continued, "If, as they claim, I really had someone break their arms and legs that day, then Yang Qingwen has already been back home for some time. Why would they wait until now to report it to the authorities?"
"Yang Chuxia, you can stop trying to argue your way out!" Yang Aoshuang suddenly stepped forward and said, "My lord, I am the daughter of the Dean of Wangquan Academy, Yang Aoshuang. We have witnesses for this matter!"
"I’m really baffled, Miss Yang Aoshuang!" Yang Chuxia snorted coldly, "It seems you’re not even familiar with me, Lichun, and her family. May I ask on what basis you are involved in this matter?"