Liu Ruyi had shown them what living with complete freedom and abandon looked like. Though not everyone could achieve it, it was deeply inspiring. The two who had been harmed by those in power now dared to face authority again.

So after dinner, Qingyi escorted these villainous servants to the authorities, and the three together filed charges against the marquis’ manor servants for forcibly seizing others’ property and abducting a civilian woman into the manor, refusing to return her.

The presiding magistrate who received the complaint initially listened somewhat carelessly, but when he glanced toward the side hall, he immediately straightened in his seat and declared indignantly, “Such a thing still exists! Quickly, bring men and follow this official to Ningyuan Marquis’ Manor for questioning.”

Zheng Qingyi bowed deeply in gratitude. “Thank you, Your Honor, clear-sighted magistrate!”

The magistrate humbly helped him up. “Not at all, not at all. Pleading for the people is the fundamental duty of us parent-officials—nothing worthy of praise… What did you just call me? You can say it louder.”

“Clear-sighted magistrate!” Zheng Qingyi obediently raised his voice.

The magistrate nodded with satisfaction and immediately led them all toward Ningyuan Marquis’ Manor.

Shen Qiyuan, standing behind a pillar in the side hall, nodded slightly. “These new officials certainly handle matters with much more dedication nowadays.”

Ruyi glanced at the crimson official robes he wore, then at the presiding magistrate’s seat so close at hand, unable to determine for a moment whether this was intentional on his part.

She was somewhat worried. “He Zeyou is, after all, a marquis personally appointed by imperial edict. Going there like this—can they expect good results?”

“No,” Shen Qiyuan answered bluntly.

Ruyi fell silent.

Currently unable to transform back into human form, she couldn’t protect Fuman, Tinglan, and the others. It was only now that she realized, though she lived freely and often taught them to live more freely too, without something beyond ordinary royal authority to rely upon, even if they became enlightened, they still couldn’t live well.

She seemed to have been rather too idealistic.

Sensing the magpie in his sleeve was in poor spirits, Shen Qiyuan stepped outside.

Seeing him follow, the magistrate’s confidence immediately swelled. Upon reaching the marquis’ manor, he went straight up to knock on the door, and the moment it opened, he led his people streaming inside.

He Zeyou was at the manor today and was quite incensed by the sight. “I am a dignified marquis’ manor—by what right does a mere fifth-rank magistrate force entry?”

“My apologies, Lord Marquis. Someone has accused you of abducting a civilian woman. As a parent-official of Lin’an City, this humble official must certainly come take a look.” The magistrate cupped his hands, showed him the search warrant, then ordered his men to search everywhere.

Seeing the situation going badly, Old Mistress He immediately said, “No need to search—she’s in my courtyard. But sir, she’s my daughter born from my womb. How can keeping her in the manor be called abducting a civilian woman?”

“Oh?” the magistrate said. “Please trouble the old mistress to produce household registration records for comparison. If she’s truly your daughter, this official will certainly severely punish these false accusers.”

Old Mistress He choked, frowning. “She’s my daughter—how could I not know? What household registration is needed?”

“The Ministry of Justice has ordered that everything must be based on evidence. You say you gave birth to her, but without household registration to corroborate, we should listen to what the girl herself has to say.”

The bailiffs had already brought the person out. He Tinglan looked pale, with a clear handprint swollen on her face.

Hua Fuman stepped forward to support her, frowning deeply. Zhao Yanning’s face darkened as she spoke directly: “You even used private punishment?”

“Just one slap—what private punishment is that?” Old Mistress He curled her lip. “Can’t I discipline her?”

He Tinglan knelt directly before the magistrate. “Please, Your Honor, render justice for this civilian woman. This household forcibly captured this civilian woman into their manor, seeking to embezzle this civilian woman’s private property, and even forcing this civilian woman to help them conceal a murder case in their manor!”

“What nonsense are you spouting!” He Zeyou scolded her.

“A minor concubine taken into the marquis’ manor less than a year ago has died. They concealed it without reporting, even wanting to use silver to dismiss the concubine’s family. Please investigate clearly, Your Honor.”

The magistrate’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Others might not dare handle a case involving such a noble house, but Zhang Siguo was precisely at the age for achieving merit, and Lord Shen was watching from the shadows. If such a major case could be investigated thoroughly, why worry about a smooth path ahead?

So he immediately declared, “Men, according to what she says, go find the corpse.”

“Yes!”

He Zeyou stepped forward two paces, pulling him aside and saying urgently, “I have some friendship with your father, Marquis Zhang. Can Your Honor not suppress this matter for me?”

Zhang Siguo righteously flicked his sleeve. “Marquis Zhang is Marquis Zhang, this official is this official—don’t confuse the two. If Your Lordship has a clear conscience, this official certainly won’t wrong you.”

He Zeyou’s face turn ashen. Instinctively wanting to signal his servants to hide the corpse stored on the mountain behind the rear courtyard, but before the servants could grasp his meaning, Wen Zhenxue, who had been hiding in the back, stepped forward first: “Follow me, all of you. I know where it is.”

“Zhenxue!” He was startled. “Are you mad?”

Wen Zhenxue didn’t look at him, only clenched her fists. “I’ve had enough. I want to clear my name, too!”

That old woman in the manor kept saying openly and covertly that she bore the guilt of a life, but she hadn’t killed anyone. The old woman was probably crying a thief while being the thief herself, wanting to extort even more silver from her.

Better to investigate thoroughly and be done with it.

Zhang Siguo was absolutely delighted by this turn of events, immediately having the bailiffs follow along, then turned to ask He Tinglan: “Is your household registration with this family?”

He Tinglan shook her head. “No, I’ve severed all connections. I’m not a person of the marquis’ manor, just an ordinary civilian.”

“That settles it, then. Abducting a civilian woman in Great Qian warrants thirty strokes of the rod.” He said, “Please accompany this official, Lord Marquis.”

He Zeyou laughed bitterly in his rage. “You want to have me beaten with rods for such a common woman? She hasn’t suffered any serious injury.”

“Lord Marquis, the law is strict and shows no favoritism based on status. Even the late emperor once received thirty strokes for wrongfully capturing an innocent person—how much more so for marquises and princes?”

“I won’t speak with you—I want to speak with your superior, Lord Lin.” He Zeyou impatiently waved his hand. “If you take someone from my manor today, I might as well stop being a marquis.”

As his words fell, manor guards and household servants poured out, over thirty people surrounding the front, creating a tense standoff.

Zhang Siguo looked back with difficulty. His fearlessness was one thing, but whether he could take someone away was another matter entirely.

Just then, Shen Qiyuan very coincidentally and extremely opportunely happened to pass by the marquis’ manor gate, and was recognized by a sharp-eyed bailiff who shouted, “Lord Shen!”

Zhang Siguo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, immediately going out to welcome him. “What a coincidence to encounter Your Lordship here. There’s exactly a matter here—please come in and hear it.”

Shen Qiyuan had already changed into civilian clothes, holding a birdcage and reluctantly saying, “I’m off duty today.”

“Oh, Your Lordship, please come inside! This humble official really can’t handle this.” Zhang Siguo half-invited, half-dragged him forcibly before He Zeyou.

Seeing his attire didn’t suggest he’d come specifically to cause trouble, He Zeyou’s expression softened, saying rather pitifully, “Lord Shen, please render justice for me too!”