The Jiaqing Injustice

The story is about a wrongful conviction in Weinan County, Xi’an, during the reigns of the Qing emperors Jiaqing and Daoguang. The wealthy Liu Quanbi goes out to collect a debt and encounters his tenant Zhu Min. He demands the rent, then orders his servants to beat Zhu Min to death and stage the scene to evade responsibility. Zhu Min’s wife Juan Niang and nephew Zhu Xiaoxiao seek justice, but Xu Run, the magistrate of Weinan County, has taken bribes from the Liu family and twists right and wrong. Dissatisfied, Juan Niang and Xiaoxiao take their case to Xi’an. Liu Quanbi bribes officials at every level, and they shield one another, leaving the injustice unredressed. Several more lives are lost. Yet in the face of feudal violence, Zhu Xiaoxiao refuses to yield. He travels to the capital to appeal, endures untold hardships, and finally clears the case. The plot is full of twists and turns, gripping and tragic, and moving enough to bring readers to tears. The dialogue is humorous, and the characters are vividly drawn. Through this book, readers gain a deeper understanding of the corrupt politics and inner workings of officialdom in the late Qing Dynasty. It also offers insight into history and valuable lessons.