Chapter Forty-Six: Unreasonable, Unfilial, and Without Virtue

“Indeed.” Zhu Yuzheng swept his gaze around, pride in his voice. “Who in Yan Prefecture City does not know of this? Everyone has heard! That Xue family took the commoner’s ancestral grave and built a new one atop it. My father, upon seeing the petition, ordered the grave be opened, and inside they discovered another slab of blue stone, faintly inscribed. He had the dust brushed off, washed it clean, and the words appeared: ‘Grave of the X family,’ with a detailed record beside it—names of the commoner’s ancestors.”

Zhu Yuzheng cast a sidelong glance at those around him, continuing, “At the time, the Xue family denied everything, pressed their claim relentlessly, but my father paid no heed. He judged the grave belonged to the commoner, and declared the Xue family guilty of forcibly seizing land. That commoner knelt and called my father a judge of rare integrity! Such acts, defending the weak against the strong—who but my father would do this?”

Chu Youcai spoke coldly, “But do you know, ten days ago, your father Zhu Wengong passed by that grave by chance. He saw the lush trees, sensed the excellent geomancy, and thought that those buried there would surely produce talent. Yet he heard the people nearby discussing the past, their voices bubbling and agitated. Perplexed, he questioned a resident. The resident said: that grave was acquired through deceit.”

“What? Impossible! You speak nonsense!” Zhu Yuzheng exclaimed furiously.

Chu Youcai went on, “Your father asked for details, and the resident explained: years ago, the commoner buried a carved stone in the grave, fooling the county magistrate, and thus claimed the land. The commoner knew your father despised wealthy bullies and favored the people, so he prepared the stone with inscriptions long in advance and hid it at the grave.”

At this point, the hall was utterly silent.

Chu Youcai continued, “Your father, hearing this, was stricken with regret and rage, so much so he coughed blood, bitterness rising within him. He called upon heaven and uttered four lines.”

“What were they?” Dou Xu, standing beside Chu Youcai, asked curiously.

Chu Youcai replied, “If this place prospers, it is due to geomancy; if it does not, it is due to heavenly justice! Those four lines—on that night, rain poured, thunder and lightning crashed, a single bolt obliterated the grave, leaving a pool where the tomb once lay, and even the coffin and corpse vanished!”

Everyone’s expression changed; silence reigned. Zhu Yuzheng stood frozen, feeling his world collapse, disbelief flooding his mind.

Chu Youcai said, “Though Zhu Wengong was a great man, even he was not infallible! Yet repentance brings retribution—heaven shows its will, and the truth lies in the heart, not in presumption. If one deceives the heart, cheats sages, claims advantage, and buries themselves in auspicious ground, heaven and earth will not tolerate it!”

Chu Youcai’s gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed upon Zhu Yuzheng. “You don’t even know who I am, yet you slander me—this is deceit of the heart! You invoke your father’s name to justify yourself, but how do you know that heaven and earth will not tolerate you? You may fool those around you for a moment, but in the end, retribution will come!”

Zhu Yuzheng’s face was ashen. He wanted to protest, but Chu Youcai’s murderous aura was overwhelming—any movement, and he feared he would lose his life. For the moment, he could only stand there, barely holding himself up.

Chu Youcai coldly continued, “Ten days ago, your father returned home after this, fell severely ill, and has yet to recover. You, as his son, received a letter from your family about his illness, asking you to return, but you ignored it! What filial piety do you possess?”

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Hearing this, Zhu Yuzheng’s face turned deathly pale—he hadn’t expected Chu Youcai to know about the letter he received days ago.

Chu Youcai’s voice cracked like thunder, “Moreover, you are close to Lei Yinyang of the Lei family, and once debauched yourself with women in his home. You knew Lei Yinyang abducted women—a crime deserving death—yet indulged yourself for a moment’s pleasure, ignoring all consequences! What virtue do you have?”

In recent days, Lei Yinyang’s mansion had been destroyed, and after his assets were divided, officials investigated and discovered four or five hundred dead women in the cellar—the missing girls reported in recent times. Public outcry was immense, and many petitioned for Lei Yinyang’s corpse to be flogged.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuzheng shouted anxiously, “You’re lying! I don’t even know him!”

“Do you know me, then?” Hongyu suddenly stood, letting down her hair and revealing her true face.

“You’re… Hongyu?” Zhu Yuzheng blurted out, immediately realizing his slip and shutting his mouth.

“Yes, I am. When Lei Yinyang imprisoned me, I saw you in his mansion!” Hongyu’s anger was fierce. “Do you still dare deny it?”

“I…” Zhu Yuzheng’s face was pale.

Those around now looked at Zhu Yuzheng with undisguised disdain—none expected him to be such a person!

Chu Youcai said coldly, “A person without reason, filial piety, or virtue—how dare you debate with me? I treat my wife, Yun Cuixian, with mutual respect and unwavering devotion; she is the only one I love. Such feelings, how could someone like you defile them?”

At that moment, Yun Cuixian also let down her hair. Her dark tresses fell, and her peerless beauty was revealed to all. She gently curtsied to those present: “I am Yun Cuixian, devoted to my husband Chu Youcai. I ask you all to grant me my innocence.”

Everyone was stunned, their minds blank. Before them stood a woman of breathtaking beauty, her gaze toward Chu Youcai full of affection—how could such emotion be false? Who could bear to sell such a woman into a brothel? And Chu Youcai’s dignified bearing made the truth obvious for all to see.

They fell silent, realizing they had trusted someone unworthy; indeed, one can know a face but not the heart. To think Zhu Huiweng had descendants like this—many sighed in regret.

At this moment, several people began to hurl whatever was in their hands at Zhu Yuzheng with force.

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Driven by Chu Youcai’s murderous presence, Zhu Yuzheng dared not retort or move, watching helplessly as objects struck his head, face, and body, pain piercing him to the core.

Seeing himself condemned by all, he nearly broke down completely. In desperation, he leapt up, trying to flee, overturning the violet jade table in front of him, the judge’s gavel crashing to the floor, and he rushed out of the tavern in panic.

He barely made it a few steps before, in his haste, he tripped and fell heavily, his face bloodied.

But no one pitied him—every eye was filled with fury and contempt.

At that moment, a disturbance arose outside the tavern. A troop of soldiers clad in iron armor stormed in, murderous intent radiating from them, spears in hand. The leader barked, “The Prince’s office is conducting business!”

Zhu Yuzheng saw the armored soldiers as if grasping at a lifeline, crying, “Save me! Save me!”

The soldiers immediately shielded him, as if protecting him.

Zhu Yuzheng breathed a sigh of relief, then pointed at Chu Youcai, saying, “He’s the one who harmed me!”

His gaze was now full of malice. He knew his reputation was destroyed, but if these soldiers took Chu Youcai away and silenced the witnesses, perhaps he could salvage his name.

The lead soldier nodded, scanning the room, his eyes landing on Chu Youcai and revealing a murderous glint. “Take this man away!”

The other soldiers closed in, forming a circle around Chu Youcai, ready to seize him.