Wu Yan remained silent, looking toward the corridor. Two figures slowly approached. When they came closer, Cheng Qizhu could see clearly – a blood-covered woman supporting another woman dressed as a young mistress. The latter had a protruding belly and gentle features – a face he knew well.

That woman covered her mouth and cried out, then broke free from the two and threw herself into Cheng Qizhu’s embrace.

Cheng Qizhu held his wife tightly with one arm: “I’m glad you’re safe.”

His wife Zijun cried: “Just after you left this morning, I was seized by a man and woman who suddenly burst into the room. The woman put on my clothes and lay on the bed while the man forcibly took me away…”

“Sorry.”

The woman who had been supporting Zijun shrugged with a spirited manner – it was Bai Hu.

Wu Yan looked at the couple: “We speculated that you wouldn’t feel secure hiding this batch of medicine elsewhere – only by hiding it in your mansion could you watch it constantly. But if we searched rashly and found nothing the first time, you would certainly burn the medicine afterward. We had no choice but to use this desperate measure. We knew your household often consulted Dr. Han for medical treatment, so we contacted this gentleman and worked with him to set up this small trap.”

“It was also fated – your wife happened to be pregnant, which enabled our plan. Young Master Cheng, your father died from Guan He-shi’s accidental blow – in this you are a victim. But have you considered that it was your selling of fake medicine that first harmed Guan He-shi’s daughter-in-law, leading to the later tragic consequences? This perfectly demonstrates the principle of karmic retribution. Those who harm others – if people don’t punish them, heaven will. You were actually worried about retribution too, otherwise you wouldn’t have been so nervous hearing your wife was poisoned. I hope after this incident, you and all your peers will have some enlightenment. What you control are human lives and all the family happiness in this world.”

Cheng Qizhu lowered his eyes slightly without speaking.

Everyone could only hear Zijun’s painful sobbing: “I’ve harmed you…”

Cheng Qizhu held his wife, his gaze very gentle as he shook his head firmly.

Wu Yan turned to the man in blue robes: “Wu Yan’s interrogation is complete. How to judge, please decide, Sixth Young Master.”

Lian Yu considered briefly: “Guan He-shi’s accidental killing was wrong, but her daughter-in-law died tragically first – there are mitigating circumstances. The Cheng father and son used inferior medicine to fill orders, causing death. Considering the father is already dead – a life for a life – the Cheng family shall compensate Guan He-shi with relevant silver. Additionally, Cheng Qizhu is sentenced to one year imprisonment under government supervision. All fake medicine shall be publicly burned, and half the Cheng family assets confiscated for compensating past medicine purchasers.”

Cheng Qizhu: “Yes.”

Lian Yu said calmly: “I originally intended to sentence you severely, but considering your genuine affection for your wife, I hope you take this as warning and extend empathy to others. You are talented – in future endeavors, truly live up to the name of a medical family.”

“Thank Your Majesty for your grace. This humble citizen will certainly remember today’s teachings.”

At this point, Cheng Qizhu helped his wife kneel down and kowtowed deeply.

Lian Yu smiled: “Oh, you figured it out? Young Master Cheng is indeed clever.”

Cheng Qizhu: “Your Majesty overpraises me. It’s just that with Marquis Huo and the two Prime Ministers here, yet Minister Wei… no, Minister Wei consulted the Young Master, which gave me enlightenment.”

Lian Yu looked at Huang Tianba with a slight smile: “Min Province is indeed a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Don’t you think so, Magistrate Huang?”

At this moment, Huang Tianba’s expression was extremely ugly. Quan Feitong patted his shoulder: “Magistrate Huang, the criminals were cunning. Your misjudging the cases was understandable.”

The meaning was obvious – Lian Yu could at most charge him with dereliction of duty.

Huang Tianba’s expression relaxed, though he dared not look at Lian Yu again. Having lost two cases in a row, he finally understood this emperor’s capabilities.

Lian Yu glanced at Quan Feitong and left first with his people.

The others gradually departed. Other officials led Cheng Qizhu away while Zijun, clutching her big belly, stumbled after them with tears streaming down her face. Cheng Qizhu sternly told her to go back.

Watching this parting scene, Wu Yan couldn’t help but stop.

Strangely, she didn’t find it tragic.

Yes, as long as there was still hope, what was there to fear? One year’s time – what did that mean for love?

Having been mentally tense these past days, her spirit relaxed and she discovered she had exhausted almost all her strength. She half-knelt on the ground, covering her aching legs.

A dark, large hand extended before her. For a moment, she forgot to think and instinctively reached out to grasp it, but the hand suddenly withdrew. She looked up in surprise to see Huo Chang’an looking at her with mockery in his eyes, quite meaningfully.

“Tsk tsk, I forgot – I’m not Lian Yu. I don’t have the right… to touch you.”

He smiled slightly and turned away so decisively.

Wu Yan sat on the ground without getting up, losing composure for the first time in her life. Finally, he would no longer come to entangle her. She knew this.

But why did she only want to cry?

Philanthropist Liao had already received notice from the yamen that Accountant Hu Wei’s case was scheduled for the afternoon, so he wasn’t rushed to go observe the trial. At this moment he sat in his room, holding a tea bowl and sipping leisurely while listening to his steward, who had gone out early to hear the trials, describe the first two cases.

But the steward looked worried: “Master, this time they really come with ill intent. These two cases were solved just like that. Both Gu De and Young Master Cheng are no ordinary people. Look at our situation…”

Philanthropist Liao’s usually kind-seeming face immediately turned sinister. He set down his tea bowl heavily: “What are you afraid of? I ordered you to kill the man – you won’t be the one held responsible. I’m not even afraid, yet you’re panicking first?”

“I supervised you doing the Hu Wei matter. It was done clean without leaving any evidence. They absolutely can’t figure anything out. Prepare the sedan chair.”

The steward dared not say more, repeatedly saying “Yes” before leaving.

Philanthropist Liao waited quite a while without seeing the steward return. Displeased, he was about to send someone to check when the steward hurried in: “Master, two officials request an audience.”

Philanthropist Liao sneered: “Oh, they can’t wait to personally escort me? Fine, I’ll go meet them.”

The two officials waited in the courtyard near the main gate. One wore a face mask while the other led a fierce, glossy-coated wolf dog.

Philanthropist Liao’s heart skipped a beat. The other party was also polite – the one with the wolf dog smiled: “Philanthropist Liao, we brothers were patrolling by and got thirsty. We’d like a bowl of water.”

Philanthropist Liao became even more suspicious. Unable to figure out what they were up to, he saw the big wolf dog suddenly lunge toward him, its bloody maw and gleaming white fangs… Though he tried to remain calm, he was still badly startled.

But the wolf dog didn’t bite him. Instead, it leaped to the empty ground beside him, sniffing left and right. Finally, it began howling fiercely.

The steward quickly went to help Philanthropist Liao while sternly ordering the household servants: “Quickly drive this mad dog out!”

The two officials exchanged glances. The masked official chuckled: “This dog can’t be driven away. You’re all so panicked – could there be something strange buried in this ground?” This scene seemed familiar. Philanthropist Liao and the steward were shocked. Philanthropist Liao had just demanded “What do you mean by this?” when the dog handler waved toward the gate and coldly commanded: “Everyone come in. Dig this place up. I want to see what’s hidden inside that warrants such alarm!”

Quick as lightning, a group of soldiers marched in aggressively. The gatekeeper couldn’t stop them and shouted in amazement: “You can’t enter without announcement!”

Philanthropist Liao and the steward were immediately seized. Coincidentally, these soldiers actually carried iron spades with them. Within moments they had dug a large hole in the courtyard. The steward angrily cursed: “You’re not real soldiers! Real soldiers wouldn’t do this. What exactly do you want to do…”

When two soldiers lifted up a rotting corpse, his remaining words could no longer be shouted.

Philanthropist Liao’s appearance caused public sentiment to reach a fever pitch. The excited, boiling crowd nearly broke through the barriers. General Shao, originally tasked with protecting the emperor, had to lead troops to maintain order.

Philanthropist Liao was escorted into the courtroom!

His identity was special – as the employer of the previous case’s victim, yet also a suspect in a new case.

“Philanthropist Liao, we meet again.”

A faint voice came from the court, the tone indescribably profound.

Philanthropist Liao looked up at the green-robed woman disguised as a man on the bench. He remembered her – at the time, he knew she was one of the most formidable among this group.

On the way here, he had regained his composure. Hearing this, he immediately shot back coldly: “Your Honor, what do you mean by framing and wronging me?”

Wu Yan adjusted her robes and slowly sat in the chair in the center of the court, smiling slightly.

“How have I wronged you? Hu Wei’s case was solved the same way. Besides, I haven’t even said you killed the person, yet you’re already eager to accuse me. There’s a common saying – what’s it called… ah yes, ‘guilty conscience.'”

This Philanthropist Liao was used to running rampant in Min Province. Being so thoroughly rebuked by the presiding official immediately drew cheers from below the court.

Su Zhen still stood quietly below the platform. Seeing this, she unconsciously glanced at the blue-robed man who had quietly returned to his original position. For this case, he had sent both his trusted aides Qing Long and Xuan Wu to help, showing how seriously he took it. At this moment, he slightly narrowed his eyes as he watched, with eyes only for the person on the presiding platform.