The county magistrate had just stood up when the door opened and Ji Shuhan entered.

His face was stern and cold, his brows tightly furrowed, white vapor seemingly rising from his nostrils. One hand was placed in front, the other behind his back.

His entire appearance seemed to radiate a ball of flames.

This caused the county magistrate to vaguely sense a trace of alarm.

“Lord Ji, it’s so late—how did you come here?” The county magistrate immediately went to greet him.

Ji Shuhan grunted stuffily and sat down.

Of course he had to come at night!

Ji Yinshu had been arrested as a murderer and thrown into prison—the Ji family’s face had been completely lost. He had no face to come during broad daylight.

“Magistrate Liu, you should know why I’ve come, shouldn’t you?”

“I know, I know.” The county magistrate sighed and also sat down to one side. Clenching his fist, he lightly pounded it on his own thigh and said, “This matter involves two lives. The people of the Wei estate all identified her as the killer. This official had no choice but to temporarily detain Yinshu in prison.”

Ji Shuhan glared, his eyebrows seeming ready to shoot up into his hair ornament.

He snorted. “Magistrate Liu, you should know that my Ji family is a prestigious clan. By ordering my daughter’s arrest now, you’re essentially slapping my face.”

“Lord Ji, this official absolutely has no such intention!”

“I don’t care what your intention is. In any case, you must release her.” Ji Shuhan’s words were severe.

He had an aggressive, pressing manner!

The county magistrate wore an expression of great difficulty and said helplessly, “Lord Ji, this official doesn’t want to detain Yinshu either, but as this official holds the position of county magistrate at the yamen, I absolutely cannot disregard law and order. The people of the Wei estate have also submitted evidence. Even if Yinshu is innocent, we can only release her after the truth of the matter comes to light. During this time, we can only trouble her to stay in prison.”

After speaking, Ji Shuhan raised his hand and forcefully slammed the table, glaring fiercely at the county magistrate.

He said angrily, “Do you know that my daughter was originally betrothed to the Wei family, but with Lord Wei and Lady Wei’s deaths, this marriage is also ruined? Now, my daughter has become a suspect—how can my Ji family establish itself in Jinjiang in the future?”

Round and round, it still couldn’t escape the two words “face”!

He said he wanted the county magistrate to release Ji Yinshu, but the drinker’s intent lay not in the wine!

The county magistrate’s lips trembled, but before he could speak evasive words—

Ji Shuhan applied pressure again. “My two sons both hold official positions in the capital. Magistrate Liu, you can’t possibly be unaware of this, right? Moreover, I once held the position of Vice Minister of Rites and have some old friends. I believe this should be enough for Magistrate Liu to give me some face, shouldn’t it?”

Now, he’d even brought all of this out!

The county magistrate’s expression grew tense, sweat forming on his forehead.

At a loss!

Even Jingrong hadn’t pressured him to release anyone—he understood that law was paramount!

This Ji Shuhan truly had eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard.

After a pause, the county magistrate’s face showed bitter distress.

He said, “Please don’t make things difficult for me. This official truly has no choice! However, as long as there’s evidence proving Yinshu is innocent, this official will definitely release her immediately. But right now, it’s thorny, very thorny indeed!”

The county magistrate’s repeated excuses seemed to exhaust Ji Shuhan’s patience.

From his sleeve, he pulled out several banknotes, placed them on the table, and pushed them in front of the county magistrate.

The moment he saw those banknotes, the county magistrate was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped!

Ten thousand taels!

He’d have to work a lifetime for that!

“This… Lord Ji, what is this?” His tone trembled!

Ji Shuhan leaned slightly toward him, lowering his voice. “Magistrate Liu, since you’ve become an official, you should understand what it means to give others an opportunity while also paving a path for yourself.”

“Huh?”

“This matter concerns my Ji family’s reputation. Magistrate Liu is a smart man. With some things, don’t be too serious. You must know that in all of Jinjiang City, with just a stroke of your brush, even a condemned prisoner can be pardoned! The emperor is far away—you know this better than anyone!”

These words truly shocked the county magistrate, his eyes widening.

His entire person froze.

And Ji Shuhan didn’t forget to continue, “Although Lord Wei and Lady Wei died of poisoning, as long as you say they accidentally ingested poison, then release my daughter and clear up everything, you’ll preserve my Ji family’s reputation. And you, Magistrate Liu, can also obtain these ten thousand taels in banknotes. A win-win situation—why not do it?”

It must be said, Ji Shuhan’s words were indeed very tempting.

The county magistrate was also somewhat swayed, his pair of eyes staring at those banknotes, his heart seemingly pulled by a thread.

Hesitating indecisively!

After all, he truly hoped Ji Yinshu would be fine.

Perhaps seeing the county magistrate’s uncertain expression, Ji Shuhan pushed those banknotes even closer to him.

“Magistrate Liu, you must think clearly.”

The county magistrate startled, seemingly jolting awake. He raised his head, stared at Ji Shuhan, steeled his heart, pressed his index and middle fingers on the banknotes, then pushed them back to Ji Shuhan.

And with a completely serious expression, he said, “Lord Ji, this official does not accept unearned rewards. What this official should receive, not a single coin can be refused, but these ten thousand taels—please take them back.”

Ji Shuhan was shocked. “You truly won’t accept them?”

Unbelievable.

“This official absolutely will not accept them.” He continued, “Yinshu is your daughter. You should believe she didn’t poison anyone. And this official will definitely investigate the truth and return her justice. As for you, Lord Ji—for the sake of your Ji family’s reputation, you actually incited this official to hastily close the case, disregarding the law. Lord Ji, you’ve also served as an official, yet you knowingly break the law, using money to bribe this official to distort black and white. If we were to assign blame, wouldn’t your crime be doubled?”

Wow!

When had the county magistrate’s eloquence become so good?

These words truly shocked Ji Shuhan.

His previously aggressive manner also slightly dissipated—first indignation, then panic, and finally, anger.

He collected the banknotes, rose furiously to his feet, his fiery eyes unwilling, and said, “Since Magistrate Liu is so resolute in wanting to be a good official, I have nothing more to say.”

With a flick of his sleeve, he left in anger!

The county magistrate heavily exhaled in relief, his head covered in beads of sweat, his hands pressed against his chest, appearing as if he hadn’t recovered from the shock.

He probably hadn’t expected those words just now had come from his own mouth.

His heart was truly suspended, anxious and uneasy!

Returning to the Ji estate from the yamen, Ji Shuhan was smashing cups and pounding tables!

The entire Ji family great hall became quite “lively”!

Old Madam Ji sat to one side with a somber face, while Ji Muqing, Ji Wanxin, and Ji Yuanzhi sat on both sides.

After Ji Shuhan finished venting his anger, Old Madam Ji asked, “So what happened exactly? You came back smashing things—what did Magistrate Liu say in the end?”

Ji Shuhan couldn’t help himself and pounded the table again.

“Like a stubborn rock—completely impenetrable.”

“How could this be?”

He snorted and shook his head. “I don’t know. He even brought up the Great Lin legal code.”

Ji Yuanzhi anxiously interjected, “Father, was ten thousand taels not enough?”

Ji Shuhan didn’t answer, brooding with suppressed anger.

“Why don’t we give him twenty thousand taels and see if he relents?” Ji Yuanzhi said.

“It’s not a matter of money.”

“Then what is the problem? With so much money, Magistrate Liu still won’t soften? It’s just asking him to close the case and say that Lord Wei and Lady Wei accidentally ingested poison themselves—just one sentence. Isn’t that very simple?” Ji Yuanzhi was extremely agitated.

Ji Shuhan shook his head and sighed, not knowing what to say.

Meanwhile, Ji Muqing on the side snorted, pursing her small red lips. “I think she probably poisoned them to death—she just didn’t want to marry that fool herself.”

“Muqing, Yinshu wouldn’t do such a thing. She’s kind-hearted and would absolutely never poison anyone. Besides, the Wei family treated her so well—how could she bear to do it?”

Ji Wanxin furrowed her worried brows and argued back.

“Ji Wanxin, I know you’re very close with her, but shouldn’t you also open your eyes and see clearly? Previously she pushed Lingzhi, and later when I fell into the water, maybe she pushed me too and blamed it on Lingzhi. She’s capable of such things—what can’t she do?”

“That’s impossible. In any case, I believe Yinshu wouldn’t do it. Let’s discuss the matter at hand—don’t mix everything together.”

“How am I mixing things together? Ji Yinshu is just that vicious. If you say she poisoned someone, I’d definitely believe it. She should be sentenced to beheading.”

Smack—

Accompanying Ji Wanxin’s last word, Ji Shuhan once again forcefully slammed the table.

A pair of furious eyes looked at Ji Muqing. “Do you know that if our Ji family truly produced a murderer, what a great humiliation that would be? How could I establish myself in the future? Your eldest brother and second brother’s official careers in the capital would also be greatly affected.”

Ji Muqing felt somewhat wronged and lowered her head. “Father, I…”

Before she could finish, Ji Shuhan interrupted her. “And you—think about it. If Yinshu really killed someone, could you still become Crown Princess?”

“Ah!”

This scared Ji Muqing terribly!

“If my Ji family produces a murderer and word reaches the Emperor and Empress, you can forget about becoming Crown Princess. All the paths Father paved for you will be destroyed.” Ji Shuhan’s words struck at the vital points.

Ji Muqing’s face turned pale. Since childhood, she’d been cultivated in the direction of becoming Crown Princess.

Soon she would be entering the capital for the Crown Princess selection. If something went wrong at this critical juncture, wouldn’t she bash her head against the wall in death?

Her expression panicked, her eyes reddening. She quickly said, “Father, your daughter absolutely must become Crown Princess. In the future when the Crown Prince becomes Emperor, your daughter will be Empress. We absolutely cannot have any mishaps. Why don’t we add more silver to send to Magistrate Liu? We’re only buying one sentence from him—it shouldn’t be difficult.”

Old Madam Ji also said, “That’s right. If we give him another ten thousand taels—anyway, our Ji family doesn’t lack that bit of money. As long as we can suppress this matter, we’ll do whatever it takes.”

“I already said, it’s not about the money.” Ji Shuhan was very helpless, continuously shaking his head, truly at a loss. “That Magistrate Liu seems iron-hearted. He simply won’t listen to my words. Even giving him more money would be useless.”

“Then what do we do now?”

Old Madam Ji was anxious too!

Ji Wanxin spoke up. “Grandmother, Father, Yinshu absolutely couldn’t have poisoned anyone. The truth will definitely come to light. When her innocence is proven, won’t everything be fine?”

“What do you know!” Old Madam Ji said hurriedly. “When has anyone from our Ji family ever entered prison? No matter what, it’s inauspicious. If word spreads to the capital, it will affect our Ji family too.”

“Enough, enough.” Ji Shuhan raised his hand and sighed. “Now, we can only hope that Yinshu is not the murderer.”