Judge Bao --- The Righteous Judge

The Story

Of

Judge Bao

And

Qin Xianglian

---- Part I ----

Translator :  Angela Hanum  and  Alicia Tan

Adapted From : Kumpulan Kisah Klasik Dari China 

Bahasa Indonesia Version  

1993 TV Series

Tampines Ave 9,Singapore

Back to the righteous judge from China, Judge Bao.  Currently, we present first story from TV series at 1993.  We go look to internet and very difficult to find a complete story of Judge Bao this version even in Mandarin version though.  Featureless,  they present story of Judge Bao this version by synopsis only.  After one hour forcibly disassemble of Google,  we found one site Judge Bao related with this story. This one impressive story.  Hopefully you're enjoy this..........

A long time ago,  when Song Dynasty in power at 960 - 1279, in Junzhou, Huguang,  there was a village hut which inhabited by Chen family whose consisted of  Chen Shimei, Qin Xianglian as his wife whom caring, loving and dutifully to his husband,  Chen Shimei's parents and Chen Shimei's children.

When Chen Shimei devoted his self to Highest Imperial Examination, his wife, Qin Xianglian worked everyday to helped her husband collected money for that examination.  She worked whatsoever what could makes money.  From weaving fabric to selling some groceries.  Also, she looked after his husband's parents whom getting old and weakened.  The money which been collected by Qin Xianglian, she used paid for her husband's education who had obsession being an officials.

But, Qin Xianglian didn't mind for that.  As long as her husband being a successful man as what as he wished, Qin Xianglian willing to do anything for that.  Besides, she should taking care of her children too. She felt so tired everyday.  Her parents-in-law very loved her so much because they felt pity to her but couldn't do anything to helped her.

One day,  Chen Shimei received a letter from the kingdom.  The point of the letter was gave him an opportunity to followed The Highest Imperial Examination.  How so glad he was.  Chen Shimei leaped almost fell down to the one and the only table at home.  Qin Xianglian had just finished weaving fabric,  was surprised when she saw her husband seemed so happy.  Chen Shimei came closer to her and hugged her very tight.

" My beloved wife, I've got the letter from kingdom and I can following the imperial examination ! "  Chen Shimei shrieked.

Qin Xianglian shed a few tears.

" Really ? Are you ? "  she asked.  Chen Shimei rapidly nodded.

He showed the letter to his wife with happiness face and told her that next week is his time to go away to the capital city.  Qin Xianglian smiled for her husband.  She promised to helped her husband prepare everything what he needed during followed the exams.  In the night,  when dinner time, Chen Shimei told to his parents about this happy thing.  His parents kissed his forehead and wished him luck.  They really wished could seeing their son being an officials.

The time has come,  before her husband went off,  Qin Xianglian warned her husband many times to returned to home as soon as possible when he becomes the emperor officials later.

" If you have been eating rice, do not forget to the farmer who planted rice.  When you uses nice dress, do not forget to the weaver who weaving the fabric. "  warned Qin Xianglian when she escorted her husband to the front gate of the town.

Chen Shimei nodded quickly his head,

" Dozen years I can studied, it because of you, your hard work and your helped.  One day if I could be an officials, I would not be the one who forgotten favor of others, my dear. "  answered Chen Shimei convinced his own wife.

Qin Xianglian only could wish the best for her husband as long as followed the exams.

Many years without news from Chen Shimei, one day,  Junzhou village stricken by drought. Prolonged drought so farmer and field didn't had a thing can be eaten. People started to die of hunger.  In every house would not found anything even a grain rice though.  When Qin Xianglian saw none of left rice at home, she determined following her husband to the capital city with her parents-in-law.

Nonetheless, her parents-in-law was too elderly to followed her finding Chen Shimei.  Finally, her parents-in-law died on the way to find Chen Shimei.  They died because bad weather and terrain was so heavy.  Qin Xianglian cried bitterly when she found her parents-in-law died in the morning.  Whereas, they were not half way yet.  With her own hands,  she scavenged to find something to covering her parents-in-law before they buried.  Qin Xianglian found a worn mat to covered her parents-in-law.  With helps from her boy,  she dug up a grave for them.

After buried her parents-in-law with sober ceremony,  Qin Xianglian brought her two children continued their journey to find their own father in the capital city.

" What father was did in the capital city, mother? " asked her elderly boy.

" Your father will become the emperor officials, son. You have to be proud of him later. "  Qin Xianglian smiled to her son.

Along the way to meet Chen Shimei in the capital city,  Qin Xianglian had to beg for living.  Qin Xianglian didn't care of what people said about her.  In his mind only about her husband being an officials. She was very sure her suffer life will be over soon when she meet her husband later.

Nearby border of city, Qin's children fainted because they were so fatigue.  The condition forced her to rent a room for her children reposed.  She rent a room in the small inn.  The receptionist of the inn knew that her came from outside of the city.

" Hey, lady, what are you doing here ? "  asked him rude. " Where is your house? "

Qin Xianglian explained to the receptionist about her purpose to find her husband whom being the emperor officials, Chen Shimei.

The receptionist being aghast after heard Qin Xianglian's explanation.  He told to Qin that a few years ago, there was a young man who stayed in his inn. His name is Chen Shimei from Huguang.  His determined to followed The Highest Imperial Examination.

" I heard he graduated at the top, then he becomes the emperor officials with highest post in the kingdom, Ma'am.  Everyday after his inauguration as city officials, he always here with riding horse and the best suit.  Very dashing, Ma'am. "  said the receptionist.

" One day, when he was here with a few the emperor guardians for welcomed the arrival of The Empress Mother from outside city, The Empress Mother was fascinated to saw him.  She was fascinated by his handsomeness,  his inteligence, his etiquette and his talents.  Then, The Empress Mother commanded him to marry her grand daughter. Currently, Chen Shimei is son-in-law of The Emperor. "  he continued.

" I still remember how so huge the wedding party hosted by the kingdom, Ma'am..."

Qin Xianglian felt her body getting into frozen.  She didn't ready to heard that her husband remarry again and now he forgotten about her and his children.

" I don't know he was get married with you. Because, he said to all people that he's still single when he married The Emperor's daughter. But if you want to meet him, you can stay here.  Normally, he always pass the road on here. "  said the receptionist as closing conversation with Qin Xianglian.

Qin Xianglian broken heart.  She felt her blood does not flow anymore.  Her tears gone out.  The most important thing is she should to find her husband then telling him about his parents died. She waiting for her husband.  The receptionist said room which her rent is free for one day until she meet Chen Shimei.

Next day, early morning, Qin Xianglian asked her children to stood up on the roadside to waiting for their father arrival. No longer then, came the hordes of horsemen.  One of them ride a big horse with luxury suit. People came out of their place to seeing the hordes of horsemen. Some of girls shrieked name Chen Shimei. The hordes horsemen step drew near.  Qin Xianglian watched a big horsemen very well.  Evidently, the big horsemen with luxury suit is Chen Shimei.

Qin pushed her children to getting closer with the hordes horsemen. How so shocked Chen Shimei when he saw his children appeared in front of his eyes.  From the bottom of his heart, he really was missed of his children.  But, he remember he had lied to The Empress about his marital status.


" I am single, My Majesty.  It's honor for me to marry your grand daughter, My Majesty.  I am willing to taking care of her and loving her forever.."  said Chen Shimei when he was in a counter with The Empress where The Empress asked him to the kingdom.


" Great, Chen. I would love to have a grand son-in-law like you in my life. I will arrange your wedding party with my grand daughter soon.  You stay here while we preparing of your wedding.  It will be the luxury wedding party that I've ever held. "  said The Empress very proud.


Chen Shimei's face turned pale every he remembered that thing. He lied to The Empress, a mother of the emperor, so he can married the emperor's daughter.

His children cried, " Father.......father.......these are your kids. We need you....."
Chen Shimei's kids ran closer to their father.

Chen Shimei gulped and shrieked while he stopped his horse's step,

" Hey, who are you, kids? Who's these kids? Who's own these kids? How dare you admitting me as your father, kids ! "


Chen's kids just crying nearby him.  He couldn't bear to hear their cries. He closed his ears by his hands,


" Guardian ! Arrest these kids and whip them ! "  Chen Shime's ordered to his guards.


His guards forward in doubt. They never thought Chen Shimei boldly ordered to whipping kids.


" But, My Majesty.........."  said one of his guard who held the whip in doubt.


" Just do it !!!! "  Chen Shimei kept still shrieked.


When the guard whip up,  Qin Xianglian ran closer to her kids and protected them from the whip.  She looked into her husband sharply.  With shed of tears she said,


" My husband, this is your wife, Qin Xianglian brought your children coming here here to find you. You suppose to knowing us ! "


Actually, Chen Shimei recognized his kids. But he was too much scared if anyone knows that he has family before married the emperor's daughter.  Chen Shimei also taken by surprised when he saw his first wife, Xin Qianglian will coming too.


Chen Shimei down from his horse, come near to Xin Qianglian and appointed to her nose,


" Hey, you ragged lady ! What are you talking about? How dare you talking nonsense. Don't you know who I am in this city ?! "


Chen Shimei gave the sign to his guards,


" Guards, whip her up ! "  Chen Shimei said sharply.


Xin Qianglian was hurt, her heart devastated. He did not even think that her beloved husband really heart to whip her and his own kids.  With broken heart, she conveyed to her husband about his parents death,


" Chen Shimei, I don't care anymore whether you admitting me as your wife or not, but one thing you have to know.  Your parents was died when they followed me.  They died on their way to find you, their own son ! "  she said aloud.


Chen Shimei being aghast.  He gives the sign to his guards to closed the queue of people.  Chen Shimei did not wanted people heard about this thing.  He wanted listening about his parents death from Xin Qianglian with eyes to eyes.  Xin Qianglian told to her husband how his parents dying then dead.  After listened Xin Qianglian's explanation,  Chen Shimei's tears fell down wet his eyes.  He really want to hugged his kids and his wife.


But the next is he rubbed his cap officials and cleaning his officials suit.  He was turned back to his horse,


" Don't say any nonsense.  Many people here could hear you.  Many guards here could telling to the emperor that you just impede my trip.  You can under arrested by the emperor if they knows about this. "  said him while ambled.


Xin Qianglian snort and folded her arms,


" You or I am who makes nonsense here? You are the person who doesn't know reciprocate the favor.  You can be an officials because of me.  I paid your studied, I was take care of your parents. After they death, I was managed their funeral.  I beg people for feeding your kids. For what? To find my forsaken husband who forgotten his wife's favor ! You are nothing without me ! Where is your gratitude now? "  said her aloud and sharply.


Chen Shimei ignored Xin Qianglian.  He kept walking to his horse.  Xin Qianglian got wrath for her husband's attitude.  Her heart burning fire of hate,


" Chen Shimei ! Proverb says, before becomes into the officials, be a human first.  After you become an officials, you forget or purposely forget your wife and your kids ! You forgot you was a poor man. Live from your wife's money.  You forgot about spouse's love,  even you have forgotten your own offspring though.  What kind of human you are ! "  Xin Qianglian shrieked.


Chen Shimei stepped into his horse.  When he was close to Xin Qianglian,  Chen Shimei kicked his wife to the ground. He also kicked his own children to the ground with their mother together.  After all, he left them behind with dusts from his horse's steps.  People who seeing all case between Chen Shimei and Xin Qianglian tried to give  them helps.  They lifted Xin Qianglian and her children's body.  One of them said,


" If you are on right way, lady, don't worry how to handle this.  There's one officials who known well as righteous and straight officials.  He loves justice and hates of evils.  He will coming soon. "


Xin Qianglian nodded her head.  She came back to the inn and cleaned herself and her own kids.  Xin Qianglian did not need long time to meet the righteous officials, because she heard a loud trumpet blast.  She ran towards to trumpet blast. She saw four horsemen and four guardian took up a stretcher.  The officials who sitting down inside of the stretcher is Prime Minister, Wan Yangling.

Xin Qianglian impeded his trip.  She stopped the entourage,


" If you are a good an officials, please....listen to me.....please....stop your stretcher, Officials ! "  Xin Qianglin shrieked repeatedly.


Xin Qianglian had startled Prime Minister because her loud shout.  He asked his guards to put him down from his stretcher. He went out of his stretcher and startled when he saw Xin Qianglian and her children kneel in front of his stretcher.


" What the held is this, young lady? "


Xin Qianglian stood up from her prostration left her children behind for came near to Prime Minister,


" Dear Officials, I am Xin Qianglian, came into here from far away with my children.." said Xin Qianglian while pointed her children.  " We are poor people from village named Junzhou in Huguang.  We impeding your trip because we want to demand for justice ! We.....I and my kids demand for justice ! "


Qin Xianglian shouted like thundered.  People gathered around to seeing what was happened with a woman who admitted as Chen Shimei's first wife.  With rain of tears, she said demand for justice to Prime Minister Wan Yangling repeatedly,


" Are you the officials whom people told about? "  cut her words finally.


" Ha ha ha...what people told me about, young lady? "  asked Wan Yangling back came near to Xin Qianglian with smiled.


" People told about you and you known as the officials who loves justice and hates evils. Are you the person what people meant to? "  asked Xin Qianglian again.

Wan Yangling looked into Xin Qianglian and her children with compassionate.


" Please......I want demand of justice for my kids and myself. "  said Xin Qianglian crying. " I want demanded an officials because Yamen Office did not do anything to him.  He is the highest level officials.  If my demands not granted, me and my kids will going to die in front of your eyes. "


" Hey, wait a minute....."  prevented Wan Yangling. A few minutes,  Wan Yangling thinking about this case.  If I'm not solve this case, it just the same I let free a criminal. It can't be, thought Wan Yangling.

" Alright, I'll granting your demands.  But, you have to follow the rules demanded of person, lady.  First, you have to writing a summons. Do you writing that letter ? "  asked Wan Yangling assertive.

Xin Qiangliang nodded her head.  She stood up and ran to the inn.  She left her kids whom kept kneel on Wan Yangling. Not for long, Qin Xiangliang came back to Wan Yangling and gave a paper folded like a letter.  Wan Yangling received the paper and opened the paper when he saw the paper is only blank paper without any words, he was startled.


" What is this ! Are you playing with me ?! "  Wan Yangling shrieked.

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