C52 Chosen

In the courtroom, Judge Ding Yuv granted permission. Feng Qing sat on the left side, observing Mrs. Zhao on the ground with a cold gaze, his dark eyes like deep pools.

Feng Tiange approached Mrs. Zhao and looked down with a hint of sarcasm. "I know a bit about your situation. It seems you were no longer working at the Marquis Mansion even before my mother was expecting me."

"That's... that's because I discovered the lady's affair with Lee Lin. She was afraid I'd spill the beans, so she accused me of theft and kicked me out," Mrs. Zhao said, spitting blood, her back stained red.

"But from what I know, you were really caught stealing from my mother, which is why you were expelled. Despite that, my mother, worried about your well-being, gave you fifty taels of silver," Feng Tiange replied coldly, her eyes frosty.

Since it was a public trial, many townsfolk had gathered outside, murmuring at Feng Tiange's words. Among them was Sunn Hexiang, standing next to a young man with a sleazy appearance.

"That's just the lady feeling guilty! She wanted to shut me up with fifty taels of silver!" Mrs. Zhao shouted with all her might.

Feng Tiange knew that most of the servants in the mansion sided with the old lady and the second household. Even if someone knew the truth, they wouldn't testify. Fortunately, there were still plenty of witnesses.

"Your Honor, I would like to call a few witnesses to the stand," Feng Tiange said, turning and bowing to Judge Ding Yuv.

Seeing Ding You nod, a few officers immediately brought out three witnesses from the back room.

Feng Tiange pointed to the first witness. "Sir, this is the manager of the Tian Family Pawnshop. He can testify that Mrs. Zhao pawned five pieces of jewelry before leaving the Marquis Mansion, and he has sketches of those pieces. The sketches can prove that the jewelry belonged to the palace."

Before Mrs. Zhao could protest, Feng Tiange moved to the second witness. "This is Mrs. Lee from Pear Blossom Alley. She and many residents there can attest that Mrs. Zhao has always lived in poverty, but two weeks ago, she bought herself three pieces of expensive gold jewelry."

"I didn't... I didn't buy anything!" Mrs. Zhao protested in a panic.

Ignoring her, Feng Tiange approached the third witness. "This is the owner of the Four Seas Gambling House. He can confirm that Mrs. Zhao's son paid off a 300 silver debt two weeks ago and then lost 1,000 silver in cash at the gambling house."

"My son gambled again?"

Mrs. Zhao seemed shocked and crawled toward the third witness, but Feng Tiange blocked her. "With a mother like you, I'd be surprised if he didn't gamble."

"Sir, I now suspect someone bribed Mrs. Zhao to falsely accuse my mother. If Mrs. Zhao can name that person, I'm willing to drop the charges and forgive her ignorance."

The atmosphere shifted dramatically as Sunn Hexiang's heart skipped a beat outside the hall. She forcefully pushed Mrs. Zhao's son to the forefront.

"Mom..."

Mrs. Zhao saw her son and also noticed Sunn Hexiang hidden among the crowd.

"Your Honor, please see the truth! I'm innocent... County Princess Chu Yue really did have an affair with Lee Lin! If you don't believe me, you can summon Lee Lin!" Even Mrs. Zhao, not the sharpest, realized she had no way out.

Ding Yuv heard this and glanced at Feng Tiange.

"Tiange almost forgot, I have another witness to call."

This time, the person Feng Tiange summoned was Lee Lin, the so-called Lee Lin in Mrs. Zhao's words.

Lee Lin's leg had been broken over twenty years ago when he was on his way to the capital to make a living and was attacked by bandits. Life in the capital hadn't been easy for him until he was fortunate enough to be noticed by County Princess Chu Yue, who saw that he could read and had him hired by the Marquis Mansion.

Lee Lin remembered this kindness and always spoke of County Princess Chu Yue as his benefactor. After Chu Yue disappeared, the old lady had him moved to the woodshed for twenty years, claiming his appearance was unsightly.

"Your Honor, don't listen to Mrs. Zhao's nonsense. I am innocent with County Princess Chu Yue!" Lee Lin, no longer the refined man he once was, stood in a simple gray cotton jacket, his hair half white. "Your Honor, I have an unsigned note here. It says if I don't admit to an affair with County Princess Chu Yue, they'll kill my only son..."

On one side, Imperial Tutor Hee immediately walked over to take the note from Lee Lin's hand and presented it to Ding Yuv.

"Sir, there's something you don't know. My son isn't my biological child; he's the son I adopted years ago. I... I can't have children of my own..." Lee Lin knelt on the ground in sorrow, curling up in his humility, unable to hold back his tears. "Those who want to ruin the County Princess's reputation are utterly shameless! The Princess is such a good person..."

Feng Tiange gently crouched beside Lee Lin, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

The night Xue Li mentioned Lee the Cripple to her, the old servant who had been in the woodshed for twenty years came to her, handing her the note to read.

At that moment, she was convinced of Lee Lin's loyalty.

In the courtroom, Feng Qing sat silently, his hands clenched into fists within his sleeves, a vein subtly visible on his forehead.

From the moment Chu Yue married into the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion until now, he had never doubted her fidelity.

Such an elegant woman, as serene as a chrysanthemum, simply standing there, she seemed like the purest snow lotus blooming in the world—serene, proud, and unparalleled.

And he never imagined anyone would stoop so low as to tarnish the honor of such a woman!

In the crowd, cold sweat soaked Sunn Hexiang's back. She never expected Lee Lin to pull such a move on her.

Fortunately, she didn't have to appear in person.

In the courtroom, Mrs. Zhao was stunned.

Lee Lin couldn't have children?

"Sir... Sir, Lee Lin is lying! He can have children... he can!" Mrs. Zhao cried out in terror, crawling toward Lee Lin and grabbing his collar with a fierce grip, her face twisted in desperation. "You're lying! Why are you lying?"

"Between you and me, who's really lying? The County Princess has been generous to you. Not only did she not send you to the authorities back then, but she also gave you fifty silver coins to make a living. And what did you do with it?" Lee Lin pushed Mrs. Zhao away angrily, his eyes bloodshot.

Mrs. Zhao, knocked to the ground, ignored the sharp pain in her back. Her eyes, filled with intense fear and panic, searched the crowd outside the hall for Sunn Hexiang. She saw Sunn Hexiang standing behind her son, making a throat-slitting gesture.

How did it come to this?

She had been poor for so long, and the thought of ten thousand silver coins blinded her!

"Sir, Lee Lin's condition has been verified by five highly respected doctors in the city. Here are their written statements and signatures," Feng Tiange stepped forward, handing the document to Imperial Tutor Hee. "If you have any doubts, you can request a consultation with the royal physicians."

Ding Yuv didn't need to say a word; the case was already clear.

It seemed this eldest daughter of the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion came well-prepared.

"Mrs. Zhao, tell us, who's the mastermind behind you?" Ding Yuv's face was gaunt, with deep-set eyes that emitted a chilling glare, reminiscent of a grim reaper. His casual question lowered the temperature in the entire courtroom of the Ministry of Punishments, making everyone instinctively shiver.

"No... I'm telling the truth! It's Feng Tiange, they conspired to frame me, sir, you must see the truth!" Mrs. Zhao was sprawled on the ground, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly pitiful.