Divorced woman with child travels through time

Uncle Liu carried Chen Xuanyu on his back and followed Chen Wenfang and the others to the county government office.

The road to the county government office passed through the market, and the crowd was buzzing with discussion. It was completely packed. After all, Chen Wenfang frequently sold herbs at the market, and almost everyone at the stalls knew her.

Wangcai was also in the crowd. Upon seeing this, he immediately returned to the mansion and told Ouyang Jin.

Ouyang Jin was also very surprised to hear this, "How could Madam Chen kill someone?"

Wangcai said, "I heard from people in the crowd that a hooligan broke into her house trying to rape her and even beat her child. He was stabbed by her and accidentally died."

Ouyang Jin laughed, "This Madam Chen is an extraordinary woman. Well done! Tell Mother we're going to go watch the interrogation."

Wangcai then went to inform Madam Ouyang that he wanted to go and watch a case being heard. Jiang Mingyue asked curiously, "What case is so interesting? I never see him go to watch Father hear cases before?"

Wangcai said, "It's Madam Chen. I heard Madam Chen killed someone."

Jiang Mingyue exclaimed in shock, "What? How could Madam Chen have killed someone?"

Wangcai had no choice but to repeat himself. Jiang Mingyue, being Ouyang Jin's mother, spoke in exactly the same way as Ouyang Jin, saying, "That damned bastard, Chen Niangzi did a good job killing him. Caixiu, go tell the master to make a proper judgment, or I won't stand for it when he comes back."

After making the arrangements, Jiang Mingyue said to Wangcai, "Let Jin'er go and take a look. You also need to take a good look at me. Come back and tell me if anything happens."

Wangcai agreed and went with Ouyang Jin.

Upon arriving at the county government office, several coroners had already completed their autopsies and were reporting the results to Magistrate Ouyang Yanjun and others. After a brief discussion, the court session began. The gavel was struck.

"Bring Lady Chen here!!" someone announced.

Chen Wenfang, carrying the child, came from the side room to the county government office. She knelt down and said, "This humble woman, Chen Wenfang, greets all the officials." Even though Chen Wenfang didn't want to kneel, she had to because she was under someone else's roof.

Ouyang Yanjun then asked, "Get up. Do you know why I brought you here?"

Chen Wenfang said, "I know, it was because of the accidental killing of Wang Ximao." The onlookers, having already learned the whole story, were astonished.

Madam Chen is incredibly capable; she actually managed to kill the scoundrel. She's truly a remarkable woman.

Ouyang Yanjun asked, "Why was it a mistaken killing?"

Chen Wenfang repeated what she had said to the jailer at home. She wiped her face hard with tears, and tears streamed down her face again. Thinking about how she had to suffer like this with a child, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Seeing his mother heartbroken, Chen Xuanyu also burst into tears. The onlookers watched as the two women, their faces bruised and swollen, embraced and wept bitterly. No one who saw them could help but shed tears, and everyone who heard them was saddened.

After Chen Wenfang finished speaking, the onlookers were already furious and cursing.

"Good riddance, this kind of person deserves to die."

"If it were me, I would have killed him too."

"That beast, worse than a pig or a dog, Chen Niangzi did a good job killing it."

"You beast, ptooey!!"

"Kill him..." Someone who was late to the party replied, "He's already dead."

"Then grind him to dust..."

Some people felt sorry for Chen Xuanyu, saying, "This beast, how could he do this to such a young child?"

The crowd continued to hurl insults, and the insults seemed to be getting increasingly vulgar.

Ouyang Jin, who was in the crowd, was also amazed. This Madam Chen was really lucky. If she hadn't killed Wang Ximao, both mother and son would probably be dead.

After finishing his melon, Wangcai hurried home to tell Madam Ouyang. Jiang Mingyue was also very moved when she heard this, thinking how fortunate it was that Madam Chen had killed the man, otherwise her reputation would have been ruined. Madam Chen was truly commendable.

Inside the county government office, Ouyang Yanjun, sensing something was amiss, slammed his gavel and shouted, "Quiet! Let us verify the testimonies and evidence first."

Another midwife was summoned to examine Chen Wenfang's injuries, and Chen Wenfang was led to the back room.

Aunt Wang trembled in the crowd. They said they were going to beat him to death. Wang Ximao was already dead, and they wanted to grind his bones to ashes... They wouldn't beat me too, would they? Maybe I should just let it go; it's too scary.

Aunt Wang Er wanted to make a scene, but seeing how much the crowd hated Wang Ximao, she became timid, fearing she would be beaten to death if she went out.

A short while later, Chen Wenfang came out and stood below the hall with Chen Xuanyu.

Ouyang Yanjun shouted, "Where are Wang Hongfang's family members?"

Aunt Wang was startled and scrambled out of the crowd, kneeling down and saying, "This humble woman is here."

Ouyang Yanjun asked, "Who are you to the deceased?"

Seeing the unfriendly looks from the side, Aunt Wang whispered, "This woman is his aunt." She no longer referred to him as Wang Ximao's mother.

Ouyang Yanjun stated, "We have verified that the account given by the woman, Chen Wenfang, is true. Wang Hongfang, after drinking, broke into the woman's home with the intent to rape her. He also beat Chen Wenfang and her son, nearly killing them. During the rape, Chen Wenfang, whose altered trousers were difficult to undo, was accidentally stabbed to death with a hairpin by the resisting Chen Wenfang. Wang Hongfang's body reeked of alcohol, and apart from the stab wound on his neck, there were no other wounds. The handprints on Chen Wenfang's face, chest, and arms, as well as the handprints on her son Chen Xuanyu's face and the strangulation marks on his neck, all match the handprints of the deceased, Wang Hongfang."

Ouyang Yanjun paused for a moment, then slammed the gavel again and said loudly, "Therefore, the following verdict is hereby pronounced: Wang Hongfang trespassed into a private residence, intentionally injured someone, and insulted a woman, which is true. Chen Wenfang's act of stabbing Wang Hongfang with a hairpin, resulting in Wang Hongfang's death, was a legitimate act of protecting herself and her child. She is not guilty of killing him and bears no criminal responsibility. Chen Wenfang is hereby declared innocent."

"Oh...that's great!" A cheer erupted from the crowd.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu embraced and wept.

"Magistrate Ouyang is truly an upright and just official!!"

"With Magistrate Ouyang here, our Lijia Town is truly blessed!"

"The county magistrate is indeed a good official," an old man praised, stroking his beard.

"Good judgment. Let's see who bullies us women in the future."

Ouyang Yanjun was very satisfied with the public's reaction. He nodded and looked at Aunt Wang Er, saying, "Aunt Wang Hongfang, do you have any objections to the verdict?"

Aunt Wang didn't dare to look up and replied, "This humble woman has no objection."

Ouyang Yanjun slammed his gavel and said, "This case is closed. Wang Hongfang will be taken home by his fellow villagers. All irrelevant persons, please leave immediately..."