这 这原告如何死的呀
“How did the plaintiff die?”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
求青天大老爷为我们做主啊
“I beg you, My Lord, please uphold justice for us.”
这 这原告 如何 死的呀
“How did the plaintiff die?”
回县尊话
“My Lord,”
“What on earth happened here? How can the very person filing the complaint be dead?”
In traditional Chinese court drama, the magistrate (county magistrate) holds absolute authority over both investigation and verdict, often reacting emphatically to unexpected courtroom developments.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
plaintiff / accuser
A formal legal term used in ancient magistrate courts as well as modern legal proceedings.
how (did they) die
A somewhat literary or formal inquiry into the cause of someone's death.
Adds an inflection of shock, exasperation, and bewilderment to the magistrate's question.