Mr. Hu thought of the unconscious Elder Yu, glanced at the chaotic scene surrounding Madam Yu and the others, then looked at Concubine Fei, whose face was ashen, though a glint of determination flashed in her eyes. After pondering briefly, he finally said in a low voice: “That man surnamed Guo is a jinshi graduate from the Dingchou year.”

Concubine Fei’s expression changed dramatically.

If the accuser were an ordinary civilian filing a complaint against an official, regardless of whether they were right or wrong, upon entering the yamen, they would first receive twenty strokes of the heavy bamboo. Many didn’t even get to speak before dying from these twenty strokes. Thus, even for blood feuds, common people rarely filed complaints against officials. However, if the accuser was a jinshi graduate, he was qualified to sit in the hall and question the accused without causing physical harm. If one complaint didn’t work, he could file a second; if the second didn’t work, he could file a third. If unsatisfied with the county’s verdict, he could appeal to the prefecture; if unsatisfied with the prefecture, he could appeal to the provincial level… Some, for the sake of justice, would even appeal to the Court of Judicial Review. Even if the accused was innocent, having the case escalate through so many levels would ruin their reputation.

Mr. Hu saw that she understood the gravity of the situation and regarded her more highly. After some thought, he simply said in a low voice: “Lady Fei should advise Madam to make early preparations.”

“Thank you for your guidance, sir.” Concubine Fei’s voice trembled as she curtseyed to Mr. Hu.

Mr. Hu cupped his hands in return and left the side room.

Concubine Fei helped Madam Shu carry Madam Yu to a nearby lohan bed and wiped her face with a cold cloth. Madam Yu slowly regained consciousness and looked around for Yu Huai’an: “Where is Depu? Where is he now?”

Yu Huai’an quickly stepped forward and said softly: “I’ll go find the young master right away.”

Madam Yu nodded and instructed him: “Tell him to come back quickly, say that the master has collapsed.”

Yu Huai’an acknowledged and left.

Madam Yu then saw Concubine Fei bringing her a cup of hot tea and asked: “Where is the first young mistress?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the large kang by the window.

Madam Fan was leaning on Mobian’s shoulder, crying softly.

Madam Yu suddenly felt an inexplicable anger rise in her heart and threw the teacup that Concubine Fei had handed her at Madam Fan: “What are you wailing about? Depu isn’t dead yet! Our Yu family’s good fortune has all been cried away by you.”

Madam Fan couldn’t avoid it in time. The full cup of hot tea spilled over her, scalding her hand red, but she didn’t dare make a sound. She suppressed her sorrow and wiped away her tears.

Mobian’s eyes reddened at the sight.

Madam Yu was still not satisfied and said: “Your father-in-law is unconscious, your mother-in-law is bedridden, and all you know is how to cry. Didn’t your mother teach you how to serve tea and water?”

Madam Fan felt bitter inside but quickly rose to personally brew a fresh cup of hot tea for Madam Yu.

Madam Yu then ordered her to check if Yu Huai’an had returned: “Now that Depu is in trouble, don’t you know to show some concern!”

This was typically a task for maids and servants, but now she was ordering Madam Fan to do it, clearly showing her displeasure. She was also placing the blame of being indifferent toward her husband on Madam Fan, who could say nothing in response.

Madam Fan went to the outer courtyard, her face turning ashen.

Madam Yu then beckoned Concubine Fei and asked: “That Min shi… what do you think of her?” Her tone was much gentler than when speaking to Madam Fan.

Concubine Fei was momentarily taken aback and smiled bitterly: “Madam, you don’t know, I am caught between the young master and the first young mistress. If I get close to Min shi, I wrong the first young mistress; if I distance myself from Min shi, I wrong the young master. I can only pretend not to see, complete the tasks the young master entrusts me with, and leave. How would I dare speak much with Min Shi?”

Madam Yu was quite surprised and wanted to ask more, but a young maid ran in: “Madam, the master has woken up.”

“Really!” Madam Yu’s face lit up with joy as she lifted her skirt and rushed toward the study.

The maids and old women all followed in a flurry.

The imperial physician checked his pulse again, wrote a prescription, instructed him to rest quietly, and then took his leave.

Madam Yu quickly ordered someone to prepare the medicine and asked him anxiously if there was any discomfort, if he wanted a cup of hot tea, or if he wanted to eat something. She didn’t mention Yu Jingxiu once, afraid that her husband would faint again from anger.

Elder Yu then asked about Yu Huai’an.

“I sent him to find Depu,” Madam Yu carefully observed her husband’s expression.

“That’s good,” Elder Yu nodded slightly, “I have something to ask him.” Then his expression became solemn, and he said: “I have something to tell you.”

Madam Shu quickly led the maids and old women serving in the room outside.

Elder Yu said in a low voice: “That man surnamed Guo is just a small county assistant magistrate. He wanted to break off the engagement because Min Shi’s family fell into hard times, showing he is a petty person who forgets righteousness when seeing profit. He doesn’t have just this one son, but for this son, he dares to accuse Depu at the Court of Judicial Review. There must be someone behind this. Thinking it over, besides Zhao Ling, there is no one else…”

“How could this happen?” Madam Yu’s face turned ashen. “So much time has passed, they were living well, and we didn’t provoke them. Why is he still holding on to this so tightly?”

“Don’t complain yet,” Elder Yu said softly. “Let me finish speaking.”

Madam Yu responded with an “Mm” and quietly looked at Elder Yu.

“Since Zhao Ling dares to encourage Guo to file a complaint, the evidence must be solid. We won’t find any loopholes there. Now the only plan is to establish connections with the Court of Judicial Review…”

Madam Yu’s eye twitched as she listened: “You mean, to bribe the people at the Court of Judicial Review?”

Elder Yu nodded slightly, lowering his voice even more: “How much money is left in the house?”

“There are banknotes worth thirteen thousand four hundred and fifty taels of silver,” Madam Yu said.

“Too little,” Elder Yu said. “Find a way to gather thirty thousand taels of silver.”

Now that her husband had a plan for their son’s life-or-death moment, Madam Yu took a deep breath and said: “I understand. I’ll go gather the silver right away.”

Elder Yu nodded and instructed Madam Yu: “Invite Mr. Wu to come.”

Madam Yu responded with a “Yes,” when Yu Huai’an’s voice came from outside: “Master, Madam, I’ve returned.”

His voice sounded somewhat panicked.

Elder Yu and Madam Yu both felt their hearts sink upon hearing this.

“Come in and speak!” As soon as Madam Yu finished speaking, Yu Huai’an rushed in.

“Master, Madam, it’s terrible,” he shouted, drenched in sweat. “The young master has been taken away by people from the Court of Judicial Review…”

“What did you say?” Elder Yu’s face was filled with shock.

Madam Yu’s body went weak, and she couldn’t speak.

“It’s true,” Yu Huai’an said with a grief-stricken face. “Not only was the young master taken to the Court of Judicial Review, but Min Shi and the maids and old women around her were all taken as well. I heard that the one who was ordered to hire an assassin was Min Shi’s wet nurse…”

“This root of calamity!” Elder Yu was both angry and anxious, almost fainting again.

Madam Yu came to her senses and clutched Elder Yu’s sleeve tightly: “Weren’t they supposed to summon him for questioning first? How could they suddenly arrest him and put him in prison? This must be Zhao Ling’s sinister plot. If he could buy off that Guo person, he could buy off the jailers.” At this point, she shuddered and pleaded with Elder Yu: “Master, you must save Depu!”

“He is my son too!” Elder Yu looked at his wife and said helplessly. “When he’s in trouble, don’t I feel heartbroken?” He continued, “Now thirty thousand taels of silver may not be enough. Try to gather another twenty thousand taels, a total of fifty thousand, and I’ll go to the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Alright!” Madam Yu agreed hastily. She left her maid to take care of Elder Yu while she and Madam Shu went to gather valuables.

Madam Shu worriedly said, “Pawnshops are most skilled at taking advantage of people’s desperate situations. Knowing that we urgently need silver, they probably won’t offer a good price for this gold and silver jewelry.”

“There’s no other way.” Madam Yu looked at the lotus seed-sized ruby headpiece in the box, steeled her heart, closed the box, and placed it with the gold jewelry to be pawned.

“Why not,” Madam Shu suggested, “speak to the first young mistress? She could gather around ten thousand taels of silver…”

“No need,” Madam Yu said. “They need to live too. We haven’t reached the point of touching our son and daughter-in-law’s private funds yet.”

Hearing this, Madam Shu couldn’t help but mutter: “Your silver is the young master’s, but the first young mistress may not be of one heart with the young master. Her silver may not necessarily be the young master’s…”

Madam Yu’s movements paused, and her face darkened.

She slowly sat down on the edge of the kang and said: “Go and call the first young mistress here.”

Madam Shu was startled before going to fetch Madam Fan.

Madam Yu pointed to the edge of the kang for her to sit and told Madam Fan about Yu Jingxiu’s situation, finally saying: “…We’re now gathering silver to bribe the people at the Court of Judicial Review.”

Madam Fan’s tears had already started falling. While wiping them, she blamed Min Shi: “It must have been her instigation. Poor young master, for her sake, he even disobeyed his parents’ wishes. The young master’s reputation has been ruined by her hands…”

Madam Yu remained silent, sitting quietly and listening.

After speaking for a while and seeing no reaction from Madam Yu, Madam Fan quickly changed the subject: “Why did Mother call me here? Is there something you need?”

“Nothing much,” Madam Yu said. “Just wanted to inform you.”

Madam Fan sniffed with red eyes and said: “Mother, I was wrong before. I shouldn’t have been angry with Depu. When Depu returns, I will live well with him and not let Father and Mother worry about us anymore.”

Listening to this, Madam Yu’s brow flashed with disappointment: “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

Madam Fan thought for a moment and said: “Mother, are you blaming me for not taking good care of Depu, leaving him childless even past thirty? In the future, I will…”

“Future matters can be discussed later,” Madam Yu interrupted her, with a tone carrying some displeasure. Currently, the family doesn’t have enough silver. See how much silver and valuables you have and help gather the money needed to bribe the Court of Judicial Review.”

Madam Fan was stunned, speechless for a long time before finally saying: “I don’t have much left… young lady Zhen frequently needs medicine…”

“It’s just for an emergency,” Madam Yu said, her tone growing increasingly cold. “In a few days, Huai’an will return to Nanjing. On your side, bring whatever you have.”

With the conversation having reached this point, Madam Fan could say no more.

She softly responded with a “Yes” and went to retrieve banknotes and valuables.

“You were right,” Madam Yu watched Madam Fan’s retreating figure, her gaze sharp as a knife’s edge. “My silver is Depu’s, but her silver may not necessarily be Depu’s.”

Madam Shu dared not respond and lowered her head.

Madam Fan brought two thousand taels in banknotes and a few pieces of jewelry that Madam Yu had given her, explaining to Madam Yu: “I didn’t expect an emergency need, and I’ve been extravagant daily, so only these banknotes remain. As for valuables, only those bestowed by you are worth something.”

Madam Yu merely glanced at them before instructing Madam Shu to accept them.