East Street was particularly lively today because the prefect was going to try a case. It was said that a young miss who had been sent to a manor killed a maid on the manor and threw her into a dried well, with the witness being the son of the manor’s steward. With both witness and physical evidence present, people mostly discussed how the murderous miss had such a vicious heart, not knowing where the maid had offended her. Others said the miss lowered herself to actually care so much about a mere maid that she would take a life, wondering which family’s miss could be so arrogant.

Above the court hall, a pot-bellied middle-aged man currently sat in the central seat, wearing a lake-green silk robe embroidered with brocade patterns. The jade belt around his waist seemed strained as it couldn’t contain his fat figure. This person was plump and fair, wearing a gold-inlaid jade thumb ring on his finger – this was the local prefect, Qian Wanli.

To the left of the central seat sat someone quite unlike the wealthy Qian Wanli. On the contrary, his clothing material was extremely plain, even crude, his entire body exuding an air of poverty that was completely out of place in this opulent hall.

However, Qian Wanli was extremely respectful, even fawning, toward this simply-dressed guest. He ordered his subordinates to pour the man a cup of hot tea and put on a smile: “Lord Wang, regarding this case, what do you think…”

Lord Wang glanced at him and said neither coldly nor warmly: “You try the case; I’ll just watch.”

“Yes, yes.” Qian Wanli secretly pulled out a handkerchief from his chest to wipe his sweat, then looked at his subordinates and struck the gavel: “Bring up the prisoner!”

When Jiang Ruan was brought out of the prison cell by Li Mi, Shufen anxiously grabbed her hand: “Nothing bad will happen, right?”

“Nothing will happen.” Jiang Ruan patted her hand: “My father has come to fetch me. Remember my words, don’t worry – everything will be fine soon.”

Only then did Shufen release her hand. Li Mi looked at Jiang Ruan with some pity. In fact, Jiang Ruan’s father hadn’t come to fetch her at all, nor had anyone pleaded on her behalf. Today was merely the trial. Now all evidence pointed to Jiang Ruan, yet there wasn’t a single person who could speak up for her. Even if he himself wanted to help, he was powerless, and moreover, as an investigator, he had to avoid suspicion. Li Mi sighed inwardly, thinking that Jiang Ruan would surely not escape this calamity – this crime was definitely going to stick to her. Thinking of Jiang Ruan’s tragic future, Li Mi’s attitude became much gentler.

In the public hall, when Jiang Ruan was brought up, the crowd gathered outside the hall to watch the excitement was somewhat surprised. They had expected that a miss bold enough to kill must surely be fierce and menacing, a crude and vulgar shrew – after all, one’s face reflects one’s heart. Who knew that the one brought up was actually a beautiful little girl, with gentle tranquility between her brows and eyes, without the slightest trace of terror. People easily trust their own eyes, and for a moment they didn’t believe Jiang Ruan was the mastermind behind the murder.

Qian Wanli was also amazed in his heart, not expecting that this principal character was actually a delicate little beauty. This way, it made him appear unsympathetic to feminine charm. However… he glanced at the person in the side seat, coughed, struck the gavel, and shouted loudly: “Audacious criminal! Why don’t you kneel!”

Jiang Ruan lowered her brows and quietly knelt down. Only then did she raise her head, revealing a clean and delicate little face, asking in confusion: “I don’t know what crime this common woman has committed, My Lord?”

Her brows and eyes were graceful, and her voice was extremely soft and pleasant. For a moment, she was like a beautiful painting, with every movement involuntarily drawing admiration. Her tone when speaking was also very puzzled, as if she truly didn’t understand, causing another uproar around her. Among the initially certain crowd, voices of doubt gradually emerged.

Qian Wanli frowned and struck the gavel: “Silence! Criminal Jiang Ruan, you killed the maid Chunying and threw her body into a dried well. With both witness and physical evidence present, let’s see how you deny it!” Then he shouted outside: “Bring the witness!”

A flash of dissatisfaction crossed the eyes of Lord Wang in the side seat. This method of trying a case was simply like forcible seizure, hardly giving the person a chance to speak, harsh and crude, as if rushing to pin a crime on the prisoner, eager to determine her guilt.

The “witness” was quickly brought up. Chen Zhao had changed into white clothing today and was dressed extremely neatly. Upon entering the hall, he bowed to Qian Wanli.

Qian Wanli asked: “Chen Zhao, did you personally witness Jiang Ruan killing someone?”

“In response to My Lord, that is correct.” Chen Zhao answered, glancing at Jiang Ruan: “I personally witnessed Miss Jiang kill Chunying and drag her into the well.”

Another round of discussion arose from the crowd. With such concrete evidence, it indeed seemed that Jiang Ruan had killed someone.

Jiang Ruan looked up at Chen Zhao: “I have a few questions. May My Lord allow me to question him?”

Qian Wanli looked at Lord Wang beside him. Lord Wang waved his hand, and only then did Qian Wanli say: “Ask away.”

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Thank you, My Lord. I want to ask Chen Zhao – did you see me killing someone?”

“Yes.” Chen Zhao said: “At that time I was outside the room and personally saw the miss kill Chunying inside.”

“Chen Zhao, setting aside how you, as an outside man, could enter my courtyard at will without announcement, since you saw me killing someone, why didn’t you come in to stop me? Instead, you watched me kill and dispose of the body. Doesn’t this count as aiding and abetting? If I truly deserve punishment, shouldn’t you also be penalized?”

Chen Zhao was stunned and instinctively said: “No, no. When I saw her, she was already dead.”

“Then,” Jiang Ruan said calmly, “you’re saying that when you saw Chunying, she was already a corpse. How did she die, why did she die, and why are you so certain that I killed her? You only saw a dead body and didn’t actually see me killing anyone, isn’t that right?”

Chen Zhao realized his mistake and immediately shook his head: “No, at that time only you and she were there, and besides, your actions were indeed killing someone.”

Qian Wanli nervously gripped his handkerchief tighter, his complexion looking poor. Then he heard Jiang Ruan continue: “Fine, even if you saw me killing someone, according to what you said, there was no one else around me at the time. But I am now only ten years old, while Chunying was already eighteen. My height doesn’t even reach Chunying’s chest, so how could I carry Chunying’s corpse such a long distance and throw her into the dried well? Can you explain this more clearly?”

“You… you dragged her.” Chen Zhao stammered somewhat, sweat beads faintly appearing on his forehead.

“Lying,” Jiang Ruan shook her head: “Chen Zhao, before lying, perhaps you should think first. The difference between Chunying’s and my builds was too great, and I don’t have such great strength. Chunying was bigger and stronger than me, with quicker reflexes – how could I possibly stab a knife into her heart?”

“What knife? She was strangled to death!” Chen Zhao shouted.

Jiang Ruan looked at him with a half-smile: “Oh, is that so? The coroner hasn’t examined the body yet – how do you know she was strangled? Didn’t you say that when you saw her, she was already dead?”

Chen Zhao was drenched in cold sweat, and Qian Wanli’s face also turned white as paper. With testimony full of holes, the crowd had already understood. Jiang Ruan nonchalantly played with the tips of her hair: “My Lord, do we need to continue this trial?”