Traveling through the farm, I just want to earn money by farming

In this way, the two sides decided on the marriage and exchanged engagement letters. When Hua Niangzi met Tan that day, she casually said congratulations. Tan looked confused and after asking, she learned that her family had arranged a marriage for Zhenzhen with the Ji family. She went back with a cold face to ask for an explanation.

Mrs. Hua guessed something from Tan's reaction, but she didn't say much and left quickly. However, the two families behind her didn't ask her to show up again, so she thought the matter was over. Who would have thought that the yamen runners would show up at her door?

"Master Mingfu, everything I said is true and I have not concealed a single word." After saying this, he kowtowed three times to the leader.

"Where is Shi Zhaoshi?"

When Zhao heard her being called, she shuddered all over and then kowtowed and said, "I am here."

"Is what Madam Hua said true?"

“It’s true.”

"Then I ask you, do you know if you can go to see Lady Hua and Shi Shuanghu and their husbands?"

When Zhao heard this, she was immediately confused. This was something she had discussed with her son, and even the two elders were not informed. It was only after she got the word that she went back and told her family.

The sound of the gavel banging startled everyone in the hall.

"Ms. Zhao, please reply." Seeing that Ms. Zhao did not reply, the county magistrate urged her again.

"Replying to Master Mingfu, I don't know."

"You don't know? Marriage is always decided by parents and matchmakers. How can that be? You are the head of your family and you make all the decisions about your children. Don't you need to inform your elders and brothers?"

Zhao was so frightened she couldn't breathe. How could she dare answer? If she said yes, wouldn't that be unfilial and overstepping the bounds of propriety? If she said no, wouldn't she be acting on her own initiative if she went to find Hua Niangzi?

"Shi Mulei, tell me, who is the boss in your family?"

When Old Man Shi was called out, he dared not lie: "It's me who makes the decision."

"Then let me ask you, did you agree and instigate your granddaughter's marriage to the Ji family? Think about it carefully before you speak. If you lie and cover up for her, you should consider the consequences."

Xue Jingtang's expression was solemn, his eyes were as sharp as torches, and his dark thoughts were revealed.

"Yes~I agree with it."

"Shi Shuanghu, do you two know the whole story?"

"I don't know. My husband and I were kept in the dark from the beginning to the end. It was only thanks to Madam Hua that she let the cat out of the bag."

"Shi Mulei, was it really you who instructed Zhao to find a matchmaker to discuss this marriage?"

With a bang of the gavel, Old Man Shi fell to the ground in panic and dared not answer.

"Speak up, Shi Murei. Why don't you answer the governor's questions?" the county magistrate asked sternly.

"Replying to Master Mingfu, it was~this old man's instruction."

"Why don't you mention the marriages of the younger generation who are of marriageable age, but instead mention the marriage of this child who hasn't even reached marriageable age? Was this also your idea? What's the reason?"

"Yes, yes..." Old Man Shi was sweating profusely. His eldest daughter-in-law had originally proposed marriage without telling them, only mentioning it when things seemed promising. He also promised them numerous benefits before they agreed, turning a blind eye. He was just waiting for his eldest grandson to become the steward's son-in-law so they could enjoy the good life too.

"Ji Changan, although the Shi family invited a matchmaker to mediate, have you ever asked why?"

Xue Jingtang looked at Old Man Shi's expression and understood everything in his heart, so he turned around and asked the Ji family again.

"Reporting to the governor, I have asked Madam Hua, and she only said that the Shi family agreed to marry their youngest daughter, but required a gift of thirty taels. Thinking that my family only has one son and is in such a situation, I gritted my teeth and agreed. I really didn't ask any other questions."

Ji Changan was a clever man. That day, when Lady Hua came to propose marriage and told him about the Shi family, he was surprised why they promised a young girl. He thought about it briefly and understood a few things. He didn't ask any more questions and just agreed. He didn't care about the rest of the matter. If anything went wrong, he would be able to get away with it.

"In that case, do both parties have a marriage certificate and a separate document?"

Marriage certificates and farewell papers are necessary procedures before getting married nowadays. They are legally effective and only valid if you have them.

"Reporting to the lord, no, we have only exchanged the engagement letter." Ji Changan answered honestly. At this time, he knew in his heart that the marriage was probably over and he just hoped that there would be less investigation.

"Shi Murei, so you sent your granddaughter to the Ji family? Are you forcing her to marry him?" The grandparents and parents of a girl in the current dynasty can force her to marry.

When his name was suddenly called, Old Man Shi shuddered: "No~No"

"Then how did she get to the Ji family? Her ancestors and parents are all present, and without the three books and six ceremonials, how could they get married?"

"This, this, this~~~" Old Man Shi was completely confused at this time. He was also scared and didn't know how to answer.

"Reporting to the Mingfu, grandpa just sent my younger sister to the Ji family to get acquainted with the Ji family, and has not mentioned marriage yet." Shi Chong saw that Xue Mingfu kept asking questions and the old man Shi had no way to respond, so he hurriedly answered.

"Do I have anything to ask you?" Xue Jingtang sneered and looked at Shi Chong.

"No," Shi Zhong replied with his head down.

"Shi Mulei, answer this officer."

"She hasn't been married yet, she's just been sent to the Ji family to be looked after first."

"Ji Changan, is that so?"

"That's not the case. The Shi family tied her up and sent her here, saying that she would be my Ji family's daughter-in-law in the future. Although my Ji family and the Shi family don't have a marriage certificate, my Ji family has already promised the Shi family the betrothal gift." Ji Changan saw clearly that although Xue Mingfu was questioning them as a routine matter, the Shi family members could not justify themselves, so how could they withstand torture?

He just wanted to find a daughter-in-law, and he didn't want to create any hatred or resentment, and he didn't want to waste himself for this.

"Shi Mulei, what do you have to say?"

Such intensive questioning and training had already worn down Old Man Shi's mentality to the point of collapse. When had the common people ever seen such a scene?

"To be honest, I didn't instruct my eldest daughter-in-law to act as a matchmaker. She did it on her own initiative. She wanted the thirty taels of betrothal gift so that my eldest grandson could marry the steward's daughter."

When Old Man Shi spoke, Shi Zhong remained calm, but Zhao was at a loss.

"Zhao, do you believe what your father-in-law said?"

"Yes, it was I who took the initiative to act as a matchmaker, and it was also for the betrothal gift for my son's eldest son. My father-in-law and eldest son were both unaware of it." Although Zhao was panicked, she agreed to it in order to save her son.

When Shi Chong heard Zhao say this, he felt a little relieved.

Even if Zhao admitted it, nothing would happen. At most, she would be reprimanded. But the relationship with the Ji family would probably be severed, and they would have to find another way.

Until this time, Shi Chong was still thinking about his marriage with the Xu family.

"If that's the case, Ji Changan, go back and send Shi Zhenzhen back safely. Shi Murei, return the betrothal gifts and call off the marriage."

Both sides responded in kind, letting Ji Changan and Hua Niangzi retreat.

"Shi Shuanghu accused you of malicious wounding. What's your defense?"

Shi Chong still cried out for injustice, insisting that he accidentally hurt someone while protecting his grandparents and elders.

The yamen runners had diagnosed the injuries of Shi Shuanghu and his wife, and found that the leg injury was caused by intentional hitting.

Xue Jingtang picked up the certificate booklet that the yamen runner had sorted out, looked up at Shi Zhong, and then at Old Man Shi: "Is Shi Murei really as Shi Zhong said, that Shi Shuanghu and his wife were trying to harm you, and you were accidentally injured by them?"

Old Man Shi was about to reply when he heard Xue Jingtang say, "You have already made false statements regarding the marriage. Although there is no law to bind you, if Shi Shuanghu is indeed guilty of the crime, he should be sentenced to death according to the laws of our dynasty."

The Xia Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. The law clearly stated that if a son reported his parents, he would be sentenced to death, and if he committed violence against his parents, he would be guilty of the ten evil deeds that were unforgivable.

When Old Man Shi heard the death penalty was coming, he fell silent and hesitant. Although he and his wife disliked their two sons, they were still his own children. And although his son and his wife were unlovable, they were also filial. He would be heartbroken to send them to their deaths for such a reason. If he didn't sacrifice his two sons, then his eldest grandson would be beheaded as well! He was now torn between two options, deeply conflicted.

The others had different thoughts. Shi Chong knew that the death penalty was imposed on the younger one, regardless of injury or not, so he had been trying to convince Old Man Shi that it was Shi Shuanghu who had injured the elder. He wanted Shi Shuanghu and his wife to die, but Old Man Shi hesitated when he heard the death penalty was coming.

However, Shi Shuanghu was not very confident. His parents didn't like him very much. If he had to choose between the two, he would probably be the abandoned one. Well, if that was the case, he would repay their kindness of giving birth to him with his life.