What Ruyi said was the truth. With both men now in the hall, anyone with eyes could see the difference between common reeds and a jade tree.

But speaking so bluntly was tantamount to slapping He Zeyou hard across the face.

“You, you shameless woman! How dare you speak such wild words!” He was both ashamed and angry, pointing at her and wanting to curse more, but was mindful of the crowd watching outside.

Swallowing his anger, He Zeyou turned to the judge: “This woman harbors such hatred toward me, thus seizing my property deeds. Please see clearly, sir!”

The judge smiled awkwardly and respectfully gestured toward Shen Qiyuan.

With this lord sitting here, what place did he have to speak?

He Zeyou reluctantly looked at Shen Qiyuan: “This marquis knew nothing of the Huixian Wine House case, so we can set it aside. But regarding those thirty-plus shops on Gongshen Street, surely you cannot show favoritism and pervert justice!”

Shen Qiyuan acted as if he hadn’t heard, speaking unhurriedly: “According to Great Qian law, false accusations warrant ten strokes of the rod.”

He had no intention of letting it slide.

He Zeyou’s eyes bulged with rage: “I am the dignified Marquis Ningyuan—you want to beat me? When I supported His Majesty’s entry through Hening Gate…”

“If princes and nobles can escape the law, how can the realm be governed?” He raised his hand. “Strike.”

The Lin’an yamen bailiffs were too frightened to move, but the purple-hatted guards stepped forward directly, seven or eight hands pressing He Zeyou down as they raised the intimidation rods and struck hard.

In broad daylight and public view, the beating itself was minor—losing face was major.

He Zeyou was furious beyond measure, grabbing a bench and cursing: “Shen Qiyuan, you lowly scoundrel! How dare you abuse your authority and humiliate a noble… ah!”

The more fiercely he cursed, the harder the rods fell.

This scene frightened quite a few people, but when Shen Qiyuan looked up, he saw Ruyi standing to the side with her sleeve covering her lips, the corners of her eyes curved with brimming laughter.

Good! Well beaten! Hit louder!

—This was the meaning he read from her eyes.

Taking pleasure in others’ misfortune was not the conduct of a gentleman.

But she had said she wasn’t a gentleman.

Shen Qiyuan fell silent for a moment, turning his head to pretend he hadn’t seen.

He Zeyou came from a military background—these ten strokes meant nothing to him physically, but he was utterly humiliated. After the beating, he struggled to his feet, supporting his waist, and cursed: “Today this Lin’an yamen is shrouded in dark clouds with not a shred of integrity! This marquis will enter the palace to file an imperial complaint. Just wait—if I don’t take revenge, I’ll write my surname backwards!”

The judge’s forehead streamed with cold sweat: “Marquis, please calm down! Imperial complaints aren’t filed so easily, and Lord Shen was only following the law.”

“Get away, all of you get away!”

He shoved aside the bailiffs who came to help him and limped outside.

“Sir, what about this?” The judge looked anxiously at Shen Qiyuan.

Shen Qiyuan showed no reaction, only gathering the case files on the desk and saying: “Remove Miss Liu’s shackles.”

The judge became urgent: “Sir, even if the Huixian Wine House murder has nothing to do with her, there’s still the matter of the shops.”

“Property deeds are issued by the Ministry of Revenue to determine ownership of fields, land, and shops.” Shen Qiyuan looked at him. “The owner’s name is written on them.”

Whoever’s name was written owned it—what was there to dispute?

The judge was stumped and said again: “But Miss Liu attempted murder in the street.”

Shen Qiyuan’s hands, organizing the files, paused.

He lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembling almost imperceptibly.

The surroundings grew somewhat quiet. Ruyi looked up, puzzled, and heard Shen Qiyuan speak softly: “I was right beside her at the time.”

His voice was extremely strained—

“Miss Liu had no intention to kill.”

Her pupils contracted slightly, and Ruyi’s eyes suddenly widened.

Wind picked up outside, bending the straight small trees by the yamen to one side, like someone helplessly and briefly bowing their head, just kissing a passing magpie.

The Ministry of Justice’s carriage began its journey.

Ruyi sat in the carriage, staring unblinkingly at the man across from her.

Shen Qiyuan’s face was shrouded in frost, his hands on his knees clenched white, his entire being radiating an aura that warned others to stay away.

She still fearlessly spoke: “You lied.”

He looked up, ice daggers flying from his eyes as if to pierce her through.

She remained unmoved, lifting her chin to scrutinize him: “Why?”

He didn’t answer.

She pressed closer: “You and I can only be considered strangers who met by chance, yet you seem very concerned about me. Afraid I’d be imprisoned? Hmm?”

The carriage space wasn’t large. With her pressing forward aggressively, he had nowhere to retreat.

Shen Qiyuan finally said irritably, “Sit properly.”

Seeing this man’s face alternating between red and white, Ruyi kindly closed her mouth.

But the next moment, she couldn’t help but laugh softly, her voice clear and crisp like jade porcelain touching ice.

Shen Qiyuan squeezed his eyes shut hard.

Heaven knows why he chose to cover for her in that moment. Seeing her smug expression, he should have let her go to prison and suffer, to see if she could still laugh.

“Sir, Marquis Ningyuan has reached the imperial presence.” Zhou Tingchuan rode up to report. “But His Majesty hasn’t yet issued an edict summoning you.”

Shen Qiyuan opened his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed: “Go directly to the palace interior.”

“Yes.”

Ruyi stopped laughing, showing slight concern: “Though Marquis Ningyuan has no real power, he did render service saving His Majesty. With this torrent of accusations, you’ll likely face some censure.”

As Zongzheng, he already had more constraints on his conduct than others. Even if Marquis Ningyuan spoke nonsense, it would inevitably bring him punishment.

Shen Qiyuan glanced at her without explaining anything, only saying: “If His Majesty summons you later, don’t speak wildly again.”

Ruyi nodded gravely.

Since he had lied to save her, what difficulty was there in following some rules?

However, when waiting for summons in the side hall, Ruyi discovered she had misunderstood.

“Your Majesty.” Shen Qiyuan said in a deep voice. “When a subject files a complaint, how can a ruler dismiss it without inquiry? This chills loyal hearts—the beginning of a kingdom’s ruin.”

“But his conduct violated palace rules, and he spoke wildly, slandering you.” The ruler was very angry.

Shen Qiyuan said coldly: “Your Majesty doesn’t know the cause and effect—how do you know it’s slander?”

“With your pure character like clear moon, like jade and autumn frost, how could you judge cases randomly or pervert justice through favoritism?”

“Even so, let Marquis Ningyuan finish speaking. What reason is there to have the eunuchs drag him away?”

Speaking to the point of anger, Shen Qiyuan even removed his official hat and held it above his sword-like brows: “If I cannot remonstrate with the ruler above or subdue nobles below, then I request to resign and return home to farm.”

The ruler’s attitude immediately softened: “Ziyan, why such distress? I’ll summon him back to clarify things.”

Ruyi’s eyelids twitched as she listened.

What? What was this?

So earlier, when he looked worried, he wasn’t afraid His Majesty would be biased and blame him, but afraid His Majesty would unreasonably protect him?

Ruyi couldn’t help but look at Zhou Tingchuan beside her, who appeared completely accustomed to this.

Though this new emperor was young, he wasn’t a pushover—rumors even said he was somewhat tyrannical. Even if Shen Qiyuan was the Eldest Princess’s son, there was no reason for such protection.

Noticing her confusion, Zhou Tingchuan leaned close and lowered his voice: “Miss, do you know there’s a legend about our lord?”