THE BLANK INDICTMENT

Pao-Kung was an upright magistrate of kai Feng Fu. Because his integrity and justice, people call him "pao-chin-Tien", and all the powerful officials feared him.

Chen-Shih-mei was a newly oppointed the highest graduate of the Hamlin Academy. His evil servant was caught by Pao-Kung at the outside of the city, and the criminal was taken back to kai Feng Fu. At this time, Chen Shih mei's wife came to kai Feng from the far country to search for her husband.

Shih mei apologized to Pao Kung for the evil servant, but pao kung refused his apology. For this reason, Shih mei was very worry. To his amazement that his wife could come to look for him.

When Chen Shih mei just became an official, he told a lie that he wasn't married, so the king selected him to be an imperial son-in-law. Now his wife and son came, he was very frightful. He won't lose his riches and honour, and was afraid of princess knowing about this, therefore he drived out his wife and son.

His wife-Hsiang Lien-had no relatives and friends, so she was drifting to an old resturent. However, Shih Mei bribed the master of resturent to drive out Hsiang Lien. This poor woman brought her son to a ruined temple. Dark, wind, and rain, they didn' t know where the home was.

Contrary to expectations, Shih Mei forced his servant to kill them. But, as soon as the servant know the condition about this poor waman, he won't kill them. However, Shih Mei had done him a favor, he couldn't rebeled against his master. The servant was in a dilemma, he didn't know what to do, finally, he killed himself.

Originally, Hsiang Lien planned to go home, but to her consideration, her hus band was so cruel that more people would be injured by him if he became a powerful man someday, therefore, she went to kai Feng Fu to accuse his hus band. Cruel as he waa , he still her husband, she wondered how to write the letter of appeal, all she could do was sending a blank indictment to pao kung.

After understanding the truth, Pao Kung hope this husband and wife could be united again. He persuaded shih mei to accept his wife. however, relying on the princess and queen, Shih Mei was very haughty, and refused to accept his wife, so, pao kung was very ungry, he caught him and put him in prison.

By their power, the Queen and princess ordered Pao kung to liberate Shih Mei, but Pao kung didn't care, he put Shih Mei to death according to the law.