C18 Who Was the One Who Ordered It?

Mrs. Lau arrived at the county courthouse with a pale face, finding a crowd already gathered outside, buzzing with excitement as if anticipating a spectacle.

With her head lowered, Mrs. Lau was flanked by two officers who parted the crowd to escort her into the courtroom. The varied gazes from the onlookers made her skin flush with heat, and she felt tense all over.

Mrs. Lau had no idea how much Zhang Da and Chunniang had revealed, but she felt as if she were on a spit over a fire, one misstep away from complete ruin.

As soon as she entered the courtroom, before the judge could speak, she threw herself at Lan Qingjia, holding her tightly and weeping bitterly.

"Jia, my child, who would be so cruel as to harm you? Don't be afraid, your mother is here, and I will make sure justice is served!"

Lan Qingjia hung her head, crying alongside Mrs. Lau, yet she didn't utter a word, looking utterly pitiful.

Zhang Da was seated on a wooden bench, his backside already showing signs of punishment, his face pale.

Seeing Mrs. Lau, his eyes lit up, and he quickly called out, "Madam, please save me..."

Before Zhang Da could finish, Mrs. Lau interrupted him sternly, "Save you? How dare you ask me to save you? You were tasked with driving the carriage and ensuring the young lady's safety, but what have you done?"

"Is this how you protect the young lady? What use is there in keeping someone as ineffective as you?" After berating Zhang Da, she turned her fury toward Chunniang. "And you, you lowly creature! Of all the people to target, you dared to set your sights on a girl from the Lan family! A perfectly innocent girl nearly ruined by your actions! You truly have a heart of stone!"

Mrs. Lau's eyes reddened with emotion as she scolded, clearly distressed over her family's honor. Her words were harsh, and even though Chunniang was used to such treatment, it still stung. She wasn't some naive girl who hadn't seen the world; she knew Mrs. Lau's display was more for show than genuine concern.

Chunniang spoke slowly, her voice filled with feigned remorse. "I know I've done wrong, but thankfully, I stopped before it was too late. I turned the driver over to the authorities, hoping to make amends. I ask for your leniency in considering my punishment."

Mrs. Lau's anger flared anew upon hearing this. So, it was Chunniang's betrayal that had led to this mess! She was truly something else!

Lord Liang, who had been dozing off during the commotion, finally spoke once the drama had unfolded.

"Zhang Da, who’s really behind all this? Are you going to talk or not?"

Mrs. Lau tensed up immediately, her eyes narrowing sharply. Ignoring the formal setting, she directly addressed Zhang Da, "If you confess, the judge might be lenient. Think about your family, if not yourself. Right now, only you can save yourself!"

Her words carried a hint of something deeper, as if she was suggesting more than she said. Zhang Da's expression shifted several times, but he remained silent.

Lord Liang, straightforward and blunt, declared, "Still won't talk? Then give him ten more lashes until he does!"

This seemed to jolt Zhang Da. His face changed drastically, and he hurriedly exclaimed, "I'll talk, I'll talk!"

Mrs. Lau's tension increased, her voice taut with urgency, "Think carefully before you speak!"

Zhang Da appeared to make a decision, gritting his teeth before admitting, "No one instructed me. It was all my doing."

Hearing this, Mrs. Lau finally felt a sense of relief. Lord Liang tapped his gavel and continued calmly, "What grudge do you hold against Miss Lan? Why did you harm her? You're just a coachman with a modest salary. Where did the extra money come from? And how did you afford to bribe Chunniang? Answer these questions, and I might believe you."

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