Everyone was excited to hear this. Though they hadn’t yet heard concrete evidence, since handling these ghostly cases, this was the first time someone had cried injustice. It truly wasn’t easy.

In the previous two cases, the families of the accused had all disappeared without a trace. In the land enclosure case, the families of the four death row prisoners, Guan He-shi’s sickly husband, son, and newborn grandson had all “vanished into thin air.”

Here, He Shu’s parents, as plaintiffs, naturally couldn’t disappear without reason, but they existed as allies of Old Man He, which was quite comforting.

Miao Yin seized the opportunity to ask: “Since you believe Old Father He isn’t the murderer, why did you still file charges against him? And why would Old Father He confess?”

Hatred immediately ignited in He Shu’s father’s eyes. The simple farmer’s face also showed a trace of ferocity: “We filed charges against Gu De. It must have been that scoundrel who killed our He Shu. Who knew Gu De would bite back, and through various machinations, actually pin the crime on Old Father. The prefect even decided the case based on this. But Old Father gained his daughter in middle age, his wife died in difficult childbirth – his life has been full of hardships, and now he has to suffer this injustice…”

His wife couldn’t stop her tears, saying hoarsely: “Old Father confessed not for himself, but for Fang Rui and us. Besides, Fang Rui is still in Gu De’s hands…”

Everyone felt stifled hearing this. Lian Yue wasn’t particularly kind, but the case related to her wager with Shuangcheng. Hoping to find some breakthrough from this case, she walked up to the couple and asked gently: “Rest assured, we’ve come on His Majesty’s orders to overturn your case. So please tell us in detail exactly what happened that day, so we can find evidence to clear your tragically deceased son’s name and rescue Old Father He.”

Joy appeared in the middle-aged couple’s eyes. But this joy almost instantly disappeared. He Shu’s father frowned, suddenly showing hesitation. This made everyone feel uneasy.

Very uneasy.

Shuangcheng almost immediately asked: “What exactly happened that day? Please tell us properly.”

The couple exchanged glances. Finally, He Shu’s father began recounting the events.

The matter had to start from several days before He Shu’s disappearance.

It turned out that several days earlier, Fang Rui had gone to the market to deliver embroidery to a shop, where she was seen by the passing Gu De. Fang Rui was already beautiful and in her prime, tender as a flower. Though Gu De had several concubines, he was still moved and molested her on the spot, but Fang Rui escaped.

Naturally unwilling to give up, Gu De inquired with the embroidery shop about Fang Rui’s situation and came calling. Though Gu De was nearly forty – an acceptable age – he was known for his vicious nature and unscrupulous business practices. There were many reports of him beating his wives and concubines. How could Old Man He agree? But Gu De ignored Old Man He’s opposition, forcibly had a matchmaker deliver betrothal gifts, and married Fang Rui as his fifth concubine.

Those betrothal gifts were considered lavish by village standards. Old Man He refused them, but Gu De left harsh words – he would come for the wedding in two days. If Old Man He dared return the gifts, he would make it impossible for him to live in the area.

Old Man He was helpless. Seeing that if he didn’t agree, Gu De would snatch the person on the spot, he could only agree first.

Gu De was no good person. He immediately had people spread the word in the village that Old Man He had accepted his betrothal gifts, and instigated the village head to spread the news. Now Old Man He couldn’t clear his name even with water. As soon as Gu De left, the old man immediately brought Fang Rui to He Shu’s house and explained the situation.

The two families discussed and felt they could no longer live here. Though leaving their homeland was heartbreaking, it was the only solution. They immediately decided to secretly pack their belongings that night, sell their valuable possessions, and steal away the next evening.

Who knew someone in the village saw the two families selling things and secretly notified Gu De for profit. Learning this, Gu De was furious and came for the wedding the next morning, a full day early, catching Old Man He completely off guard.

He Shu’s family didn’t yet know and was still at home packing belongings, until He Jie, a village friend living near Old Father He, came to notify them. Only then did He Shu hurry to the old man’s house with He Jie. The He couple had originally planned to go together, but He Shu’s mother had a heart attack from emotional agitation. He’s father had to stay to care for his half-unconscious wife, calling a doctor for diagnosis and brewing medicine, too busy to attend to He Shu immediately.

From when He Shu left, there was no more news of him. It wasn’t until the moon reached the treetops and He’s mother’s condition finally stabilized somewhat that He’s father, anxious in his heart, hurried to Old Man He’s house. Who knew there was no one at Old Man He’s house – only firecracker debris scattered inside and outside the door. Yet the house showed no trace of celebration. Under the cold high moon with ravens crying mournfully, bloodstains were faintly visible in the hall. He was suddenly alarmed, a chill rising from his heart straight to his throat. He couldn’t sit still, wondering where everyone had gone. Had He Shu and Old Father He gone to Gu De’s house? After a whole day, whether they could get Fang Rui back, there should be some result.

He sat for most of an hour, unable to wait longer, and went to inquire with neighboring households. The results were all the same: during the day, Gu De had come to fetch his new bride. Old Man He refused and was beaten badly by Gu De. Fang Rui, worried about her father’s safety, tearfully entered the bridal sedan.

Gu De had his steward and two thugs stay behind to watch Old Man He, preventing him from going to the Gu house to cause trouble.

Seeing this situation, the neighbors didn’t dare say much. They comforted Old Man He, saying that Gu De was after all from a wealthy family, so Fang Rui wouldn’t lack food or clothing. If they angered Gu De, Fang Rui would suffer instead. Old Man He sat on the ground in despair for a long while, seeming to finally understand and taking their words to heart. He said “Let it be, perhaps it’s fate” several times and had the steward tell Gu De he hoped he would treat Fang Rui well, that he would visit Fang Rui in a few days. He then took the betrothal gifts piled in the courtyard and went inside. Seeing Old Man He finally come to his senses, the steward told him “You can rest assured” and left with his men.

The neighbors, seeing the matter seemed to have calmed down and fearing that saying more would only trouble Old Man He’s heart, returned to their houses.

During this time, they heard He Shu come looking for people, followed by intense arguing from Old Man He’s house. The voices rose and fell, somewhat unclear, but it seemed He Shu was red with anger wanting to go to the Gu house to demand the person back, while Old Man He spoke to stop him.

Everyone found this strange. They had thought Old Man He’s words were from helplessness, but hearing this, it seemed he had truly compromised. It seemed incredible, but on second thought, yielding to reality wasn’t wrong.

When reality could only be thus.

It hurt you, but you couldn’t hurt it back, so you tried to minimize its harm to yourself. Old Man He was doing this for Fang Rui’s good, for his own good. Otherwise, even going to fight desperately would only result in mutual destruction.

But naturally He Shu couldn’t agree. Young people’s love was always thus – charging forward regardless, spilling hot blood, not considering consequences or poverty and wealth.

Later, Old Man He seemed to get angry, sternly scolding He Shu, forbidding him from going to the Gu house to cause trouble. His impulsiveness would only make Fang Rui suffer harm. After that, there was no more sound. Later, when neighbors wanted to check, they found Old Man He’s house was already empty.

Hearing this, everyone was puzzled. According to this account, the court records weren’t entirely wrong either. Old Man He indeed wasn’t greedy for money, but later seemed to change his mind.

These words came from He’s father’s mouth – what he had learned from Old Man He’s neighbors that day, making them credible.

But even if he changed his mind, would Old Man He kill He Shu because of this?

It seemed impossible, yet also seemed possible. If Old Man He accidentally killed He Shu during their argument…

It was just that emotionally, He Shu’s parents were unwilling to accept this cruel reality.

Everyone looked at each other, all seeing doubt in others’ faces. Wu Yan walked up to He’s father, her brow deeply furrowed: “Old man, what happened after that?”

He’s father wiped his eyes with his sleeve and smiled bitterly: “After hearing the neighbors’ words, I was extremely worried, fearing the two had still gone to the Gu house. The Gu family is a major household in Min Province – their bodyguards and guards are no joke. If they caused trouble, wouldn’t they suffer greatly? I feared He Shu and Old Father would have some accident. I couldn’t wait any longer and hurried out, planning to find my way to the Gu house. I thought I’d risk my life – who told Gu De to bully people too much.”

“Who knew, reaching the village entrance, I encountered Old Father, covered in blood, his jacket torn to rags, eyes vacant. I was frightened, fearing he was injured, while also worrying about He Shu’s safety. I quickly supported him and asked.”

He sighed deeply: “Who would have thought that as soon as I mentioned ‘He Shu,’ Old Father seemed to go mad, grabbing my hand and repeatedly telling me to take He Shu’s mother and leave the village immediately.”

“I naturally couldn’t just leave the village like that. My heart burning with anxiety, I asked where He Shu had gone, whether he’d been captured by the Gu family. But Old Father wouldn’t say anything, just wept and broke away from me.”

“I anxiously chased after him, but was told by neighbors who came looking that He Shu’s mother had fallen ill again. I had to return home first, thinking He Shu was either captured by the Gu family or was heartbroken at failing to save the person and had gone somewhere to drink. Either way, he’d return home in a few days. The worst case would be getting beaten half to death by the Gu family, but they’d still release him eventually. Though I pitied Fang Rui, this was fate – in such circumstances, what more could I do? He Shu’s mother’s condition meant I couldn’t leave, so I stayed home caring for his mother while waiting for He Shu’s return. Who knew on the third morning, I received news of He Shu’s death. A corpse floated up in the village fish pond – it was He Shu. Already dead for three days.”