The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 534

After Yu Shu heard the whole story,

The plaintiff was asked, "You say this chicken is yours, but what evidence do you have to prove it?"

The plaintiff's eldest daughter-in-law said, "I hatched this chicken from an egg."

Yu Shu nodded, "All chickens are hatched from eggs. You say your chickens were hatched from eggs, and your sister-in-law also says her chickens were hatched from eggs."

After saying this, Yu Shu beckoned over one of the yamen runners next to him.

Then he spoke a few words to the constable.

The constable nodded and left.

No one knew what Yu Shu had asked that constable to do.

But Xu Tian, ​​sitting next to him, seemed to know everything.

He picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a small sip.

He then gave Yu Shu a mysterious look.

Yu Shu then asked the second daughter-in-law, "You say this chicken belongs to your family, but do you have any evidence to prove it?"

The second daughter-in-law said directly, "My third sister-in-law can vouch for me. We are all sisters-in-law, so she can't possibly favor one over the other!"

As she spoke, she reached out to pull the witness next to her.

However, Yu Shu interrupted him.

"I haven't brought in any witnesses yet; I'm asking you questions."

The woman was taken aback; there were clearly only two small children sitting on it.

Why do I feel like their questioning styles are completely different?

Her heart skipped a beat.

However, she felt a little relieved afterward. Although he was sitting in the position of a county magistrate, he was still just a child.

“My chicken was bought a year ago, but three months ago it flew into my sister-in-law’s house and they took it for themselves.”

"Now they're even accusing the guilty party first, saying that the chicken originally belonged to them."

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at the plaintiff.

When the constable who had been sent out returned, he nodded to Xu Tian.

Then he walked over to Yu Shu's side.

Yu Shu said directly, "Have you asked me about everything?"

The bailiff nodded.

"Alright! Speak freely."

The yamen runners spoke frankly and without reservation.

He recounted everything he had just learned.

"I was just ordered by the young master to investigate this matter, and I learned that the two wives have always been at odds."

"Moreover, I also found out that the third daughter-in-law has many grievances against the eldest daughter-in-law's family."

"More importantly, the younger brother found out that the chicken belonged to the eldest daughter-in-law's family."

"Later, it was stolen by the second and third daughters-in-law, who then kept it for themselves. The two of them conspired to frame their eldest sister-in-law."

The bailiff said this.

The second and third daughters-in-law immediately knelt on the ground, shouting, "Injustice! Injustice!"

Yu Shu slammed the gavel heavily onto the table.

"Outrageous! Are you implying that the constable is lying? He has no grudge against you, so why would he frame you?"

Upon hearing Yu Shu's words, the two women were even more frightened.

He kowtowed repeatedly.

He was so frightened that he confessed immediately.

"My lord, spare my life! I only wanted to eat chicken, but I never expected my sister-in-law to take this matter to the authorities. I beg you to spare me."

"I will never dare to do it again."

After the trial concluded, Lu Yanxi was stunned. He hadn't expected that the witness who was so certain that the chicken was his second sister-in-law would suddenly change his mind.

Xu Tian stood up.

“Give this chicken back to the eldest daughter-in-law, and you two apologize to your sister-in-law.”

As soon as he said that, the two women quickly apologized to the plaintiff.

Xu Tian continued, "After you go back, you should get along well. If things escalate to the point of going to court, it won't be so easy to resolve."

The two women quickly kowtowed and agreed.