Chapter 433: Chapter 433 Punishment Chapter 433: Chapter 433 Punishment “Yes, Magistrate, this time it was Yanyan’s mistake. Yanyan is young and that’s why she was foolish. I beg you, please, just this once, for her first offense, spare Yanyan!”
Wan Ruyan also hurriedly admitted her fault and begged for mercy.
Gu Hengniang, holding the scantily clad Wan Ruyan, continued, “Magistrate, you see my sister-in-law has already been punished. She was foolish to harbor thoughts of seducing my younger brother, and for this trouble, Yanyan was almost defiled by my nephew Gu Changshun, and she has been frightened today. Magistrate, please be kind, considering that Yanyan has learned her lesson, spare her this time!”
Wan Ruyan and Gu Hengniang kept begging for mercy, and Su Yunjin was afraid that the Magistrate, out of kindness, would really let Wan Ruyan go.
“Magistrate, since a wrong has been committed, punishment should be accepted. Miss Wan is an adult, not a child, and she should not be let off easily just because she is young and ignorant! Otherwise, if you easily spare Miss Wan this time, Magistrate, won’t other people also feel free to seduce men? If they are caught, can they simply claim they were young and ignorant and get away with it?”
Upon hearing Su Yunjin’s remarks, the women in the crowd began to agree, “No, such a woman absolutely cannot be forgiven! She must be punished with the pig-cage dipping to satisfy everyone!”
Everyone disagreed, and the Magistrate could not easily go against the opinion of the public and spare Wan Ruyan.
“Here’s what we’ll do! Wan Ruyan and Gu Changshun will both undergo the pig-cage dipping tonight. Gu Changshun has committed offenses repeatedly and shall be severely punished with a half month in the pig-cage! As for Miss Wan, since this is her first offense, and considering that she has been frightened, she will undergo the pig-cage dipping for one day only! Furthermore, a woman of such behavior is not welcome in our Gu Family Village. From now on, Miss Wan must not set foot in our Gu Family Village ever again!”
After the Magistrate spoke, Wan Ruyan felt a chill down her spine, nearly fainting, while Gu Changshun turned deathly pale. Half a month? The Magistrate actually said he had to endure the pig-cage for half a month?
The last time he endured the pig-cage dipping for two days, Gu Changshun suffered greatly. This time, half a month? Wouldn’t that claim his life?
Mrs. Zhang’s heart ached for her son.
She ran to the Magistrate and begged for mercy, “Magistrate, half a month is too long; my son can’t bear it. Please, have mercy and shorten his time in the pig-cage!”
“He deserves it! For someone like that, even a year in the pig-cage wouldn’t be too much.” Someone in the crowd spat out those words, which made Mrs. Zhang tumultuously angry and curse the onlookers for meddling.
The Magistrate was very dissatisfied with Gu Changshun’s behavior; moreover, he had declared in front of so many people that he would severely punish Gu Changshun.
If he was to easily spare Gu Changshun now,
how would he command respect from others?
“There is no need for further words; Gu Changshun must endure the pig-cage for half a month. My decision is made and will not be changed!” With one sentence, the Magistrate drained all hope from Mrs. Zhang!
Her son was indeed going to be put in the pig-cage!
Watching the drama unfold to this point, Su Yunjin felt quite pleased with the Magistrate’s verdict, especially the notion of Gu Changshun spending half a month in the pig-cage and Wan Ruyan being banished from the Gu Family Village forever. Su Yunjin felt a surge of satisfaction at the thought.
Coming to watch this play out had been quite rewarding.
Not only had Wan Ruyan been taught a lesson, but Gu Changshun had also been punished again. Su Yunjin was enjoying the moment when Gu Ya, unbeknownst to her, approached from behind and tugged at her sleeve.
“Yunjin, can we go now?” Having seen enough of the spectacle, there was nothing more to watch. Gu Ya came over to summon his young wife to leave.