Zhou Shaojin indignantly wrote a letter to her father, while Zhou Chujin went to see Cheng Mian.

After hearing the entire account, Cheng Mian was so astonished his mouth hung open for a long time. He asked Zhou Chujin: “Do you have confessions?”

Zhou Chujin said: “We’ve never dealt with lawsuits before. We had them mark their thumbprints, but we don’t know if it meets the authorities’ requirements?”

Cheng Mian took the signed confessions and looked them over: “Don’t spread word of this matter for now. I’ll go to the Jinling Prefecture Office right away.”

Zhou Chujin solemnly replied “Yes” and returned to Wanxiang Residence.

That afternoon, Cheng Mian had someone deliver Xinlan and Lanting to the Jinling Prefecture Office.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

With the people handed over to the authorities, whether Xinlan and Lanting lived or died would no longer concern them. Otherwise, if a death occurred at her sister’s hands and word got out, regardless of right or wrong, her sister would be stuck with a reputation for having a vicious heart and cruel methods. Just like in her previous life when Li Shi kept the child but not the mother—though it conformed to propriety, Father ultimately felt she was ruthless. Small matters between husband and wife gradually became rifts, rifts became friction, and finally they hurled harsh words at each other and turned against one another.

This was also why Zhou Shaojin suggested her sister hand the people over to the authorities for official interrogation.

With the Zhou and Cheng families’ connections, she wasn’t afraid the authorities wouldn’t handle matters impartially.

However, Zhou Chujin felt discontent in her heart.

When your head is chopped off, there’s only a bowl-sized scar—disposing of Xinlan and Lanting this way was too easy on those two!

They should at least be made to suffer a bit.

But the people had already been delivered to the authorities. Whatever she wanted to do was too late now.

If she’d known, she should have waited a few more days before telling Uncle Mian…

When Zhou Chujin got up the next morning, her expression was somewhat unpleasant.

Zhou Shaojin knew her sister must be feeling as distressed as she was. She silently helped her sister with the porridge and moved her sister’s favorite sesame oil vegetarian shredded tofu and jellyfish salad in front of her.

Zhou Chujin smiled with gratification and patted her sister’s hand. She picked up some steamed dumplings that Zhou Shaojin liked and said with a smile: “You eat too! Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine in a few days.”

Zhou Shaojin understood.

Just like in her previous life—when she encountered sad and distressing things with no one to talk to, she would quietly stay by herself for a few days. Then her anger would dissipate.

She squeezed Zhou Chujin’s hand.

If only one day her sister would confide in her!

She would comfort her sister just as her sister comforted her.

After the sisters finished their morning meal, they went to see Old Lady Guan.

This matter was kept from others but not from the old lady.

Old Lady Guan dismissed the servants attending in the room and kept the sisters to talk, saying: “You did the right thing in this matter. We are a proper scholarly family—we cannot tolerate bullying the weak or having blood on our hands. However, this matter cannot be handled as quietly as you and your uncle discussed, with everything disposed of without a sound. The necessary words must still be spoken, and some hints must be dropped. Especially regarding the side at Cunyi Lane.

“When we previously returned the property registered under our family’s name to them, Madam Bai stopped coming over as often. I think she must harbor resentment in her heart. I’ve been somewhat worried that if Cheng Lu gains power in the future, he might form a grudge against our family. Though we’re not afraid of him, having someone hold such hatred toward you is always an uncomfortable matter.

“Now that such a major incident has occurred, our not pursuing the Cheng family’s responsibility already shows leniency and magnanimity. The two families can be considered even.”

Old Lady Guan wanted to use this matter to restrain Cheng Lu.

Both Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin agreed.

After all, even if they reported Cheng Bai, since he’d been dead so many years, nothing could be done to him anyway. Instead, it would drag up the old grievances between the Cheng and Zhuang families and implicate Zhuang Liangyu in public criticism.

Better to spread some rumors favorable to themselves and make Dong Shi and Cheng Lu unable to hold their heads up in the Cheng family in the future.

“Then it’s settled.” Old Lady Guan was very satisfied with the sisters’ obedience. “Don’t concern yourselves with this matter—I have my own plans. For the next few days, Chujin shouldn’t help your aunt manage household affairs, and Shaojin shouldn’t go to Jing’an Study either. Just stay at home. If anyone asks, just say you’re feeling a bit unwell and need to rest for a few days.”

This was having them pretend to be grief-stricken!

No need to pretend. They were already distressed enough. But if it could humiliate Dong Shi and Cheng Lu a bit, Zhou Shaojin was willing to put on an act.

The sisters nodded in unison.

Only then did Old Lady Guan say: “Keep a good copy of both the complaint sent to the authorities and the authorities’ judgment. Though they say if the people don’t report, officials won’t investigate, if someone who dislikes that Cheng Lu reports this matter to the Ministry of Rites… with a father like that, I’m afraid wanting to become an official will be rather difficult for him!”

Ginger gets spicier with age!

The Zhou sisters were overjoyed beyond expectation and thanked Old Lady Guan repeatedly.

By that afternoon, news that Zhou Shaojin’s birth mother Zhuang Shi had been murdered by the maid Xinlan, and that Cheng Bai who lived next door to the Zhuang family’s maiden home was also implicated, sprouted up like bamboo shoots after rain within a certain range of Jiuru Alley.

Ji Ying came to visit Zhou Shaojin and comforted her somewhat awkwardly: “Heaven’s net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it. Otherwise, after so many years, you still wouldn’t have discovered any clues. Don’t worry—neither of them will have a good end.”

Zhou Shaojin felt warmth in her heart and thanked her gratefully.

Ji Ying then asked curiously: “Logically speaking, since that Xinlan was already married, if she wanted to follow Cheng Bai, she should have just quietly run away. Why would she turn back to harm your mother? This person is truly strange! Could it be she wanted your mother to back her up? Could it be that your mother disapproved of her behavior and threatened to report her to the authorities or tell her husband, so she developed vicious intentions?”

Zhou Shaojin broke into a sweat.

Old Lady Guan had been deliberately vague, wanting to blur the perspective and let everyone speculate on their own, trying to keep Zhuang Shi out of it as much as possible. She hadn’t expected Ji Ying to arrive at such a conclusion.

If only everyone thought like this!

Zhou Shaojin went to close the door and quietly told Ji Ying the full account—since Ji Ying had taken out her privately hidden silver hairpin, possibly even a life-saving hairpin, to help her, she couldn’t selfishly keep things from Ji Ying.

After hearing this, Ji Ying’s face flushed red with anger. She said repeatedly: “How could you hand those two cheap servants over to the authorities? If you ask me, you should have lit them up as human candles so others could see what happens when they offend you.”

Human candles!

Zhou Shaojin vaguely remembered reading about this in some book.

Very cruel.

She asked: “Have you lit someone up as a human candle?”

“Oh!” Ji Ying looked somewhat uncomfortable. “No. However, my brother has lit someone up as a human candle.”

Zhou Shaojin was very doubtful.

Ji Ying quickly changed the subject: “Isn’t the Cheng family supposed to be Jinling’s foremost family? Your Cheng family’s calling card should carry a lot of weight at the Jinling Prefecture Office. Can’t they sentence them to death by a thousand cuts or something… I’ve heard that’s just as severe as lighting human candles.”

“I don’t know!” Zhou Shaojin said somewhat listlessly. “My sister has been quite unhappy about this matter!”

“If it were me, I’d be unhappy too.” Ji Ying had a very good impression of Zhou Chujin, finding her dignified and generous yet gentle and kind-hearted.

Zhou Shaojin was about to say a few words of comfort to Ji Ying when Cheng Jia arrived.

As soon as she entered, she exclaimed: “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier? If I’d known, I definitely wouldn’t have let you hand them over to the authorities.” Then she looked around and asked, “Where’s Sister Chujin? Didn’t they say you two weren’t feeling well? Where did she go? Why isn’t she here keeping you company?”

“I’m not a three-year-old child,” Zhou Shaojin said reproachfully, instructing a maid to serve tea and snacks to Cheng Jia.

Only then did Cheng Jia notice Ji Ying. She greeted Ji Ying.

Ji Ying nodded faintly and sat there deep in thought.

Cheng Jia didn’t mind and said in a low voice to Zhou Shaojin: “Do you think we could pretend to be Lanting’s relatives, then send her a pot of poisoned wine to poison her to death…”

Zhou Shaojin said irritably: “That’s no better than sentencing her to immediate execution!”

Cheng Jia giggled and embarrassedly touched her head.

Ji Ying suddenly said quietly: “I actually have an idea…”

The two looked at her in unison.

She raised her hand to adjust her hair at the temples and said unhurriedly: “When I was at home, I heard people say that the darkest place in the world is the prison, full of criminals who’ve committed all sorts of crimes. They’re capable of anything. But the prison is also the easiest place to get things done—as long as you have silver, those jailers don’t care about your former status or position, or what you’ve done. None of them are good people anyway—they can kill and commit arson with clear consciences. I think, rather than pretending to be Lanting’s family and sending her poisoned wine, it would be better to use that silver to bribe the prison guards to make her suffer with every meal, three times a day, and make her regret… That would be even better!”

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia looked at each other: “Is that really possible?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Ji Ying said displeased. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Uncle Cheng Chi. He’s used to dealing with the authorities. He knows this better than anyone.”

“I believe Ji Ying!” Zhou Chujin’s voice suddenly rang in everyone’s ears.

The three turned around to see Zhou Chujin walking in looking somewhat haggard.

She glanced at Ji Ying and said: “I believe what Ji Ying says.” Then she added, “Ji Ying, if I send someone to bribe those jailers, who should I look for? The prefect? The vice prefect? The assistant administrator?”

“It should be the head of those jailers, right?” Ji Ying thought for a moment and said uncertainly, “Last time during the boat incident in Huai’an, Qin Ziping had one of his chief stewards handle it. If we were looking for the prefect, vice prefect, or assistant administrator, Qin Ziping should have gone in person.”

Zhou Chujin nodded and said sincerely to Ji Ying: “Thank you! When I’m done handling this matter, I’ll invite you over for a meal.”

“No need, no need.” Ji Ying felt somewhat embarrassed. “It’s just a small favor. Miss, you don’t need to be so courteous.”

Zhou Chujin smiled without saying more, but Zhou Shaojin could tell that her sister had made up her mind and would definitely invite Ji Ying for a meal. She thought this was quite good.

Ji Ying was a friend worth having.

Zhou Chujin called Ma Fushan into the residence, and the two decided to take out two hundred taels of silver to bribe those jailers.

Zhou Shaojin quickly said: “Let me pay for this silver!”

But before she finished speaking, she thought of her empty chests and trunks. Her momentum immediately weakened, and she quietly observed her sister and Ma Fushan.

Zhou Chujin was focused on thinking about how to “take care of” Xinlan and Lanting, while Ma Fushan was pondering who would be a good intermediary for this matter. Neither noticed her expression. Ma Fushan even laughed: “How could we let Second Miss pay for this? This is a family matter—if money needs to be spent, the family should pay. Second Miss should save her silver to buy flowers to wear!”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t even dare say polite words and returned to her side room feeling dejected.

Silver, silver!

So gleaming white silver was this important!

She needed to find a way to increase income and reduce expenses!

Old Madam Guo sent Biyu to invite Zhou Shaojin over to talk.