Not only Old Madam Liu, but even Fang Miaojuan from the main house and Zhang Zirong felt the same way.

As for Chen Sixi, there was no need to mention him.

“Watch how I deal with this wretched person this time,” Old Madam Liu gritted her teeth and said.

“Mother, just remember, when we get to the court, you’ll be seen as Jian Xiu’s elder, and that’s all that matters,” Fang Miaojuan reminded her.

As long as they held onto this point, Jian Xiu would have no excuse to say anything.

These were facts; even if they had separated and cut ties, they couldn’t sever their blood relationship.

It would never change the fact that she was his mother.

“Do I need to say more? No matter how unreasonable I might be, I am still Zhang Zixuan’s mother, and I raised him to this age. But he, he dares to act so ruthlessly toward me.”

The more she spoke, the more Old Madam Liu felt justified.

The fear she felt earlier was now completely replaced by this sense of righteousness.

She had been afraid to go to the yamen (official court), but now, she couldn’t wait for the carriage to arrive.

She was eager to see how Jian Xiu would beg for mercy.

She couldn’t wait to see how she would deal with her.

Lost in these thoughts, the carriage soon arrived at the yamen.

The officials were efficient; it took barely half an hour to bring them in.

Outside the court, a crowd of villagers had gathered, surrounding the area.

“Let me through, let me through, clear the way…” Two officials shouted at the villagers.

Knowing that Old Madam Liu and Zhang Zirong had their legs broken, the officials had carried them inside.

Once inside, Jian Xiu was standing confidently to the side.

It wasn’t quite what they expected. They thought Jian Xiu would at least be kneeling respectfully.

But surprisingly, she was standing.

Actually, Jian Xiu had just gotten up recently. Before that, she had been kneeling in the court.

“Peasant Zhang Dashan greets the official…”

When Zhang Dashan saw the county magistrate, he hurried to pay his respects.

Though they had never been to court before, they still knew the basic manners.

The others followed suit and knelt to the magistrate.

However, among them, Zhang Zihua and Old Madam Liu did not kneel.

They were both unable to stand, let alone kneel.

The two officials likely understood this, so they had them sit in the middle of the courtroom.

“Zhang Dashan, as the head of your family, do you know why this official summoned you here today?” Magistrate Mo Shanrui immediately asked the old man.

Hearing this, Zhang Dashan didn’t even dare to raise his head. He trembled and replied, “C… commoner knows, commoner knows!”

“Then do you acknowledge your crime?” Magistrate Mo Shanrui asked again.

At this moment, if one admitted their guilt, they would likely be shown leniency.

But if they claimed innocence, then they would need to defend themselves.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dashan froze. He didn’t know how to respond.

“Wronged! Your Honor, this is all a misunderstanding!” Before Zhang Dashan could speak, Zhang Zihua had already shouted.

Old Madam Liu, still a bit afraid, was in her sixties and had never been to court before. Facing the magistrate, she was momentarily stunned.

But upon hearing her son’s words, she slowly regained her composure.

She immediately turned to Magistrate Mo Shanrui and said, “Your Honor, this is truly unjust. As Jian Xiu’s mother-in-law, can I not go to my own son’s house to take some food? How did that become theft? Moreover, I’ve already had my right leg crippled, this was all caused by Jian Xiu, that wretched… that good-for-nothing daughter-in-law of mine. Tell me, is there a more vicious daughter-in-law than this? She has no respect for her mother-in-law. This is unfilial, truly unfilial…”

Old Madam Liu had already thought of these words while in the carriage, and now, saying them out loud, she grew more convinced of her stance.

Ignoring everything else, just the issue of being unfilial alone made Jian Xiu seem unreasonable.

Sure enough, once she said this, the villagers outside the court began to point fingers at Jian Xiu.

Even Magistrate Mo Shanrui, after hearing Old Madam Liu’s words, felt that Jian Xiu might have gone too far.

“Jian Xiu, do you have anything to say? Is what Zhang Liu said the truth?” Magistrate Mo Shanrui asked Jian Xiu again.

“Your Honor, yes and no. I’ve already told you everything. She is indeed my mother-in-law, but we have already severed our ties…”

“Solved your ties? Can ties truly be severed?” Someone from the crowd suddenly said loudly.

This remark instantly caused an uproar, and the villagers began cursing Jian Xiu.

“Look at your mother-in-law. This is more than just unfilial. Jian Xiu is downright cruel! What kind of daughter-in-law acts like this?”

“Exactly! Look at her, so bold and unrepentant, after beating up her own mother-in-law! How dare she?”

“I think she’s the disgrace among women. Someone like her should be beheaded…”

Hearing these voices from the crowd, Zhang Zihua and Old Madam Liu were delighted.