Chapter 4

Ninth Prince’s face darkened. Who would read the Qing Code just for the sake of it, if they hadn’t committed any crimes?

In the Imperial Academy, the princes had to study the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, as well as mathematics, the national language, Mongolian, and archery, with a full schedule.

Because Ninth Prince liked it, he also learned Italian and French. Who would specifically study law?

He was only able to come out today after submitting a sick leave note to leave the palace.

Shu Shu shook her head, her eyes filled with sympathy. If anyone had read the Qing Code once, they wouldn’t dare to cause the farce in front of them.

The law is merciless, especially under Emperor Kangxi, who not only promoted Confucianism but also emphasized the rule of law.

The rule of law, like Confucianism, is a good tool for centralizing imperial power, which can curb the old feudal system of the Eight Banners. Few officials dared to violate the law, as the law showed no mercy.

Behind the screen, the sound of the gavel was already heard, followed by the clerk shouting: “Bring the plaintiff, the Fifth Banner Manchu’s Fifteenth Company’s guard, Gui Dan...”

Gui Dan gave Shu Shu a smug look, then marched out of the back hall with a proud and confident demeanor. As a third-class guard, he was a fifth-rank official, two ranks higher than Jin Yingbi, the sixth-rank commander of the Northern Guard.

Jin Yingbi clenched his teeth and got up, making a bow to Gui Dan.

Gui Dan accepted it with a grand gesture, returning a casual bow.

The onlookers immediately started murmuring.

“Ha! He’s wearing his official hat. How can the commander judge this case?” someone worried for the commander.

“What can he do? The Donggo family doesn’t have official hats? Qi Xi is a first-rank official...” an old man from the Red Banner, holding a birdcage, still supported the Donggo family.

“Can they be compared? He’s just a junior. If you, an elder, come out directly, it would be a loss of face...” young banner men mostly supported Gui Dan, as he was the prince’s cousin, with a strong backing. The Donggo family, though important in the founding of the dynasty, had been glorious several generations ago.

Shu Shu wasn’t surprised that Gui Dan appeared in court.

This bastard, inside and out, only had these two tricks, “bullying with power” and “borrowing someone else’s might.”

This year was the year when the Eight Banners selected guards and attendants every five years. While other families were still petitioning and testing for the guard positions, Gui Dan had already put on the guard’s uniform. Why?

Just because his aunt was a palace concubine and his cousin was a prince, the guard position was already reserved for him.

By appearing in court in his official uniform, Gui Dan also felt that it was a form of intimidation against the commander and the Donggo family.

Shu Shu looked at Ninth Prince, who indeed had a look of satisfaction and confidence. It seemed that the cousins had the same mindset, but they didn’t think that if the Donggo family dared to take the case, they wouldn’t fear a third-class guard.

In the courtroom, the clerk had already announced again: “Bring the defendant, the owner of Shun An Silver Shop... the Fourth Banner Manchu’s Fifth Company’s officer... Aisin Gioro Fusu...”

The courtroom immediately became quiet, and even the back hall fell silent.

Ninth Prince gritted his teeth, staring at Shu Shu with disbelief, angrily saying: “Do you have any shame?”

Shu Shu raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly: “Isn’t this just following the example set by Second Master Jin? I’m merely ‘seeing virtue and aspiring to it’...”

If the other party didn’t have the intention to “intimidate with power,” would they have let Gui Dan appear in person?

It was just a form of indirect pressure, making the Northern Guard commander biased in the trial. Now, she was just responding in kind.

In the front hall, Jin Chengbi had already risen to greet and had a chair brought for Fusu, respectfully inviting him to sit.

Don’t look at Fusu, who hadn’t yet reached adulthood and didn’t have a yellow sash, but “the Prince of the Imperial Clan” wasn’t a joke. He was of the bloodline of the founding ancestor, and even a first-rank official would have to show respect, let alone a mere sixth-rank official.

“Plaintiff, the Fifth Banner Manchu’s Fifteenth Company’s guard, Gui Dan, did you file the complaint on the thirteenth of this month, accusing Shun An Silver Shop of selling fake gold and silver jewelry?”

Jin Yingbi, wiping the sweat from his forehead, began to ask the case aloud.

Earlier in the back hall, no one had introduced him to this grand figure. Now that the Prince of the Imperial Clan was in court, he had a bad feeling.

“It was indeed I who filed the complaint, accusing Shun An Silver Shop of selling inferior goods and fake items! And I have witnesses and evidence!”

Gui Dan, sensing a change, looked at Fusu with apprehension but still stood firm, speaking confidently and submitting the “evidence.”

A pair of gold bracelets with longevity characters, a gold hairpin with a fortune character, and a gold plum blossom hairpin, all common gold jewelry, suitable for personal use or gifts.

These items were damaged, with obvious cut surfaces revealing the silver inside, indicating they were gold-plated silver, with only a thin layer of gold on the outside.

Each piece of jewelry had the Shun An Silver Shop’s stamp and a “warranty ticket” issued by the shop, stating the date of sale, the weight of the pure gold, and the terms of free cleaning and style exchange within three years.

The Donggo family’s steward, who had previously purchased the gold jewelry, also appeared as a “witness,” recounting the purchase on a specific date.

Jin Yingbi, taking it seriously, looked at Fusu: “Prince, do you have anything to say?”

Fusu took out two ledgers from his sash and said: “These are the inventory and sales records of the silver shop, with detailed descriptions of the materials, weights, and sizes of the jewelry... Just compare the size and weight of these ‘evidence’ items. If they match, then we can discuss further...”

Upon comparison, the specifications and sizes matched, but the weights were completely different, only half of what was stated on the tickets. A pair of gold bracelets weighing six taels was only three taels and four qian; a flat hairpin weighing five taels and four qian was only three taels; a gold hairpin weighing two taels and six qian was only one tael and five qian.

Upon hearing this conclusion, everyone in the courtroom understood.

No one was a fool. A difference of half the weight in gold and silver couldn’t be fooled.

For a poor family that had never touched gold and silver, it might be unclear, but the Guoluo family was clearly not in that category.

Shu Shu glanced at Ninth Prince. Hadn’t he asked before? With such flawed “evidence,” how could Gui Dan dare to sue so confidently?

Ninth Prince finally understood. The Donggo family was well-prepared, and Gui Dan had fallen into a trap. He stood up abruptly and instructed his attendant: “Withdraw the complaint!” Then, he glared at Shu Shu and stormed out.

In the front hall, Jin Chengbi, upon hearing the clerk’s message, knew that the grand figure in the back hall had finally withdrawn the complaint. He was almost overjoyed and decisively struck the gavel: “The complaint by the Fifth Banner Manchu’s Fifteenth Company’s guard, Gui Dan, against Shun An Silver Shop for selling fake gold and silver jewelry is dismissed due to insufficient evidence! Court is adjourned!”

The bailiffs then dispersed the crowd and closed the main gate of the court.

Gui Dan, unaware of the gravity, still argued, saying resentfully: “Where is the evidence insufficient? The stamps and tickets can’t be fake, can they? If the court rules so carelessly, the silver shop will continue to sell fakes, harming the people and the military...”

Jin Yingbi, annoyed by the disturbance, wanted to continue advising, but Fusu was already looking at Shu Shu, who had just entered from the back hall.

Shu Shu nodded. No one was a fool, and lawsuits weren’t something the other party could start and withdraw at will.

Fusu immediately took out several papers from his sash, stood up, and said to Jin Chengbi: “I accuse Gui Dan of forging evidence and false accusation to seize property! I have the testimony of the silver shop’s craftsman, Wang Da, who was bribed, and the testimony of the Imperial Household Department’s craftsman, Zhao Jian, who was bribed to forge the items!”

Gui Dan’s face turned pale, and he was speechless.

Jin Yingbi felt his head buzzing. According to the Qing Code, selling fakes was punishable by eighty strokes, and false accusation resulted in the accuser being punished instead.

Gui Dan, being an official, this wasn’t just a simple financial dispute but involved the seizure of property, which was beyond the jurisdiction of the Northern Guard and would involve the Censorate, the Two Banners’ Manchu Command, the Imperial Clan Court, and the Eight Banners Department of the Ministry of Household!

If it were to be formally tried, the commotion would be huge!

Even without a death, the reputations of both families would be damaged, and the Qi Xi family and the Sanguanbao family would become bitter enemies!

Jin Yingbi looked at Shu Shu, pleading: “Young Lady, the prince is young and impulsive, and may not have thought things through. A lawsuit in the Northern Guard is a small matter, but if it escalates to the Two Banners’ Command and the Imperial Clan Court, it would be a loss of face. It’s better to mediate...”

Shu Shu understood this.

If it escalated to the Two Banners’ Command and the Imperial Clan Court, the Guoluo family wouldn’t get a good outcome, and the Donggo family would also be criticized.

“The silver shop deals in gold and silver, and reputation is paramount. After this incident, the shop might have to close, and the losses must be compensated. I’ve heard that Master Gui also has a silver shop on Drum Tower Street, which could serve as compensation...” Shu Shu calmly stated her conditions.

Jin Chengbi smiled bitterly, knowing that further persuasion would offend people, so he had the clerk accept the complaint.

Shu Shu left with her entourage, leaving a steward to monitor the matter.

Whether it was the settlement of Gui Dan’s case or the withdrawal of Fusu’s case, it wasn’t a simple matter and required relevant documents. She wasn’t in a hurry anymore.