Chapter 15
As the Chief Magistrate entered, the government office—noisy like a marketplace—fell silent as if doused with cold water.
Dressed in a crimson official robe, the Chief Magistrate of Hanyang, Jo Galji, ascended the main hall and took his seat.
His gaze turned toward Hari.
‘You again.’
He swallowed a deep sigh.
Just how had Inspector Ahn raised his daughter, that a woman who ought to remain in the inner quarters was instead frequenting the government office and causing troublesome affairs? It was beyond his understanding.
Recalling the contents of the petition Hari had submitted, deep lines formed between Jo Galji’s brows.
‘There’s no room to argue this one.’
People often called private litigators “instigators of lawsuits,” claiming they stirred up disputes—and the term fit perfectly.
Those who constantly raised cases that didn’t even make sense.
‘If only I could round them all up, Hanyang would finally be quiet.’
But the problem was that among them was a noble family’s daughter, which put Jo Galji in a very difficult position.
‘This is a bad omen.’
Not bothering to hide his fatigue, the magistrate spoke.
“Today, the case to be handled by the Hanyang office concerns the annulment of marriage for Kim Nahee, a widow whose husband died before the wedding was consummated. Personal emotions will be set aside, and judgment will be made solely based on clear evidence and the law.”
After the solemn declaration, the clerk of punishments said,
“The plaintiff, Kim Nahee, will now read the petition.”
Hari stepped forward confidently.
“I am the plaintiff’s representative, the private litigator Ahn Hari. I will read the petition on her behalf.”
“Proceed.”
Ignoring whether Jo Galji was watching or not, Hari gave a brief bow and began reading in a clear voice.
“The plaintiff, Kim Nahee, was married four years ago to Choi Gigu, the second son of the defendant, Choi Eum-eup. However, on the very day of the wedding, before the bride’s palanquin even crossed the threshold of the groom’s house, she received news of the groom’s death. Up to this point, it is no different from the tragedies of other widows across the land. One would normally lament her ill fate and remain chaste for life.”
Those standing behind the plaintiff chimed in, “That’s right, of course.”
Ignoring the murmurs, Hari fixed her gaze on Choi Giman, who stood behind Choi Eum-eup.
“However, the defendant’s side knew that Choi Gigu would die before the wedding and deliberately concealed this fact. Marriage is a significant human affair founded on trust between two families. Yet they failed to inform the plaintiff of a matter involving life and death. This is clearly an act of deception.”
The onlookers stirred again.
“What’s she saying? What’s ‘deception’?”
“Sounds like they tricked her? Not sure.”
Not missing the reaction, Hari quickly added,
“Let me explain with a simple example.”
Whether in a modern courtroom or in Joseon’s Hanyang office, public opinion was one of the key forces that could sway a trial.
There was a reason people said that the will of the people was the will of heaven.
“Here, I have an apple that is rotten inside.”
Hari pulled out an apple from her sleeve. It was red, glossy, and looked perfectly fine—contrary to her claim.
“If I sell this at full price—or even several times its value—is that business, or fraud?”
“Fraud!”
Answers burst out from all sides.
“Yes, that’s right. Marriage cannot be compared to a rotten apple, but what the defendant did to the plaintiff is the same. They pushed through the marriage while knowing Choi Gigu would die.”
“Your Honor! What do you mean ‘pushed through’? Did we drag that girl here by the collar? Her own family consented!”
Choi Eum-eup raised his voice.
As expected, Hari turned again to the onlookers and asked,
“Would anyone here buy this apple? I’ll be clear—it’s rotten inside.”
“Who would? We’re not fools. No way.”
“Exactly. If they knew, they wouldn’t buy it. Likewise, if Kim Nahee had known Choi Gigu would die, she would not have accepted the marriage.”
The flesh on Choi Eum-eup’s cheeks trembled. Hari cast him a cold glance before concluding her argument.
“The plaintiff, unaware of all this, wasted four years of her youth fulfilling her duties as a daughter-in-law and wife. This marriage began with fraud. Therefore, it is invalid. Accordingly, as the plaintiff’s representative, I request annulment of the marriage and compensation of four thousand nyang for her mental and physical suffering.”
The entire hall erupted.
Four thousand nyang—how many houses in Hanyang could that buy?
Though the Choi family was wealthy, it was doubtful they could immediately produce such a sum.
“F-four thousand nyang? Not four nyang, but four thousand? This is absurd! It’s unfair! You say we knew our son would die? What parent in the world would just sit still knowing that? We would have called every renowned physician! If you investigate, you’ll see no doctors ever came to our house! Gigu was perfectly fine!”
Hari immediately countered.
“You didn’t call a doctor. He didn’t die of illness. He was beaten to death.”
At Hari’s cold statement, Choi Eum-eup was aghast.
“You wretched girl! How dare you slander my family in this place without evidence? Your Honor! That litigator is spouting nonsense without proof!”
As Choi Eum-eup beat his chest and wailed, Jo Galji looked at Hari suspiciously.
“The defendant is correct. Do you have evidence?”
“Yes, I do.”
Hari smiled calmly and turned to Nahee. Now it was her turn.
Nahee, dressed in mourning clothes, looked pale. As if she might collapse at any moment, she stepped forward and handed over a record and a letter.
“This is Choi Gigu’s diary. It contains accounts of him being beaten and tortured up until the day before the wedding. And this…”
Nahee’s eyes grew moist as she touched the letter atop the record.
“This is the letter Choi Gigu left me on the night before the wedding, when he was burning with fever and struggling to breathe.”
The neatly written letter explained why Choi Eum-eup had rushed the marriage.
[Mother cannot stop my elder brother. That is why she seeks to marry me off quickly and send me away.]
It was also filled with apologies to Nahee.
He had been a kind man.
Even as he sensed his death, he worried about the Nahee who would be left behind and hoped she could live freely. And if by chance he survived the night, he promised to be a caring husband.
[When spring flowers bloom, let us go out together. In summer, we’ll bring watermelon and go to the valley. In autumn, we’ll walk side by side and enjoy the foliage. When winter comes, I will buy you fur shoes.]
Nahee could no longer hold back her tears.
Choi Gigu had been too gentle and kind to be beaten to death by someone.
Hari spoke in her stead.
“This is evidence that Choi Gigu, the defendant’s second son, was beaten to death by the eldest son, Choi Giman.”
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
“Furthermore, Choi Gigu’s parents knew of this but turned a blind eye to the heinous crime within their household in order to protect their eldest son—even on the morning of the wedding!”
As soon as Hari finished, the hall erupted again, louder than before.
“Have they lost their minds? He beat his own brother to death?”
The onlookers, who had come merely for entertainment, were now filled with disgust and anger, pointing fingers at the Choi family.
“This is absurd! It’s slander! They’re trying to harm us with lies—please punish them for false accusation!”
Choi Eum-eup shouted, while behind him Choi Giman trembled, pale and drenched in cold sweat.
“No… I didn’t kill him! That girl is lying!”
His unfocused eyes quivered as he pointed at Hari.
“Does the defendant have any evidence to refute the plaintiff’s claim?”
Jo Galji asked, but neither Choi Eum-eup nor Choi Giman could say a word.
Hari, however, was different.
“There is a witness who saw Choi Giman beat Choi Gigu to death on the wedding day. I request to call that witness.”
“Let them enter.”
With Jo Galji’s permission, a poorly dressed woman pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.
The moment Choi Eum-eup and Choi Giman recognized her, their eyes widened in shock.
“Ya—Yang Heoyeong? How are you here?”
Yang Heoyeong glanced at them before bowing to Jo Galji.
“I am the maid who assisted with the wedding of the Choi family’s second son and Kim Nahee four years ago.”
In Joseon, such a maid handled everything—from matchmaking to assisting with the wedding rites and even the bride’s makeup.
Thus, the moment someone who knew the wedding better than anyone appeared, the verdict was as good as decided.
Yang Heoyeong detailed the events of the wedding day.
Choi Gigu, already showing clear signs of death after being severely beaten by Choi Giman the day before.
Choi Eum-eup ignoring his plea to call a physician.
Hearing the testimony with a deathly pale face, Choi Eum-eup collapsed to the ground.
He was ruined, and his son’s life was over.
After the long testimony ended, the magistrate spoke gravely.
“Choi Giman brutally murdered his own brother, bound by blood. This is a grave and unforgivable crime. Furthermore, the father, Choi Eum-eup, concealed this and orchestrated a fraudulent marriage for the sake of his family. His crime is great and heavy.”
The hall fell completely silent.
“Accordingly, I render the following judgment: First, the marriage between the plaintiff Kim Nahee and the deceased Choi Gigu is null and void. Second, the defendant Choi Eum-eup, having deceived and harmed the plaintiff, shall pay the requested compensation of four thousand nyang.”
Choi Eum-eup foamed at the mouth and collapsed unconscious, while Choi Giman was seized by the guards.
As Choi Giman was dragged away, Hari raised her hand and gave a small wave.
With a perfect victory, Hari extended her hand to Nahee.
“Let’s go, miss.”
Not “Madam Kim,” but “miss.”
Having regained her maiden status, Nahee smiled brightly and embraced Hari tightly.
