Yun Zhu smiled with mockery. “Chen De is the county assistant’s brother-in-law. They treat the magistrate’s office as if it were run by their own family, and the constables are birds of a feather with them. Bullying and exploiting the common people daily is a well-known fact.”
“What is your county magistrate, Ning Sichang, doing? Is he just letting them act so outrageously?!” Duchess Wen Qing asked, suppressing her anger.
Yun Zhu could tell that this Duchess recognized the magistrate. Hearing her question, she merely offered a faint smile and did not respond.
Ning Sichang had only taken office in Daliang County half a year ago. The entire county office—and perhaps all of Daliang County—likely only knew the county assistant, while remaining ignorant of the county magistrate.
“Senior Sister—”
A man’s voice called out from outside.
Yun Zhu raised her eyes to look. She saw a man around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed in official robes, with a refined face, eyes calm as a deep pool, and an aura that exuded gentleness and restraint step inside.
Was this the magistrate of Daliang County, Ning Sichang?
Ning Sichang walked up to Wen Qing and bowed respectfully. “Senior Sister, why didn’t you send someone to inform me when you arrived in Daliang County?”
Wen Qing scoffed softly. “If I had informed you in advance, would my eyes have been opened like this tonight?”
An awkward look flashed across Ning Sichang’s face. “Allowing Senior Sister to be frightened was my failing.”
On the way to the inn, the guards of the Duke of Ying’s estate had already explained the whole affair to him in full detail.
With an outsider like Yun Zhu present, Wen Qing did not make things too difficult for Ning Sichang either, turning instead to say to Yun Zhu, “This is your magistrate of Daliang County. If you have any grievances, feel free to speak to him.”
Ning Sichang looked at Yun Zhu. Seeing her show a moment of hesitation, he offered a gentle smile. “Do not be afraid, Little Sister. If you truly suffer from grievances, this official will certainly grant you justice.”
Since the county magistrate himself had asked personally, Yun Zhu recounted the sequence of events from beginning to end.
“Chen De?” Ning Sichang paused briefly.
“What?” Wen Qing sneered. “Could it be that you, a dignified county magistrate, are actually afraid of a mere jailer?”
Seeing Wen Qing sharp-tongued as soon as she spoke, Ning Sichang felt somewhat helpless. “Senior Sister, things are not what you think.”
Saying so, Ning Sichang looked back at Yun Zhu. “This official will verify the matter you spoke of. If it is proven that your words are true, this official will definitely grant you justice.”
Ever since he took office in Daliang County, he had been sidelined by the joint efforts of the county assistant, the registrar, and the jail master. Over the past half year, he had laid low, making discrete inquiries and investigating those men thoroughly from top to bottom.
It was time to pull in the net!
And tonight’s incident served as the exact catalyst!
“Many thanks to Your Excellency for granting justice to this humble woman!” Yun Zhu offered a bow to Ning Sichang, yet held no real expectations in her heart.
In Daliang County, even the common folk knew that this Master Ning held no real power.
“This is his duty!” Wen Qing cast a annoyed glance at Ning Sichang. “Little Sister, it is getting late. Take your child back to your room to rest first.”
Yun Zhu had not anticipated such a reversal in tonight’s turn of events. Regardless of the outcome, she could at least get a good night’s sleep tonight.
Upon returning to her room, Yun Zhu scooped up her daughter, kissed her small face, and praised her with a smile: “Yiyi, you took the initiative to thank the Duchess of Ying earlier. You were really wonderful!”
“Mother, was my performance really that good?”
The little girl blinked her eyes and pressed her lips together, seeming to try to conceal the joy in her heart, yet unaware that her expression had long betrayed her.
“Truly!” Yun Zhu offered firm affirmation. “Yiyi must be as brave and confident as today in the future, alright?”
“Mm!” The little girl nodded with sparkling eyes.
***
Early the next morning, Yun Zhu took her daughter to Zuixiao Restaurant to bid farewell to Manager Qin, preparing to return to the village.
“Lady Yun, I’ve heard about the incident at the inn. You should have listened to me last night and stayed at the restaurant,” Manager Qin said with lingering fear. “Fortunately, you met the Duchess of Ying. The matter regarding Chen De will likely yield a result soon, so don’t leave just yet.”
Yun Zhu hesitated: “Manager Qin, I have also heard a thing or two about Master Ning’s situation in Daliang County. I fear this matter…”
Manager Qin laughed: “Lady Yun, you underestimate Master Ning too much! Since Master Ning has made this commitment, he will definitely not go back on his word!”
Ning Sichang served as the Governor of the Capital Prefecture in the capital for five years, handling countless strange and complex cases. Later, he was merely demoted here. He believed that a mere Daliang County would not be enough to baffle him.
Manager Qin had indeed guessed correctly. Before noon, Ling’er, a maid beside the Duchess of Ying, came to Zuixiao Restaurant to invite Yun Zhu and her daughter to the county magistrate’s office.
Arriving at the magistrate’s office, Ling’er led them straight into the rear courtyard of the office.
Just as they stepped into the courtyard, Yun Zhu saw a seven or eight-year-old boy sitting on a stone bench reading a book.
Hearing footsteps, the little boy looked up, then stood up with a smile and called out, “Sister Ling’er.”
However, when his eyes fell upon the beautiful woman beside Ling’er, his smile froze on his face.
Was the Duchess of Ying playing matchmaker for Father again?
His mother had passed away early, and starting three years ago, the Duchess of Ying had been arranging for his father to remarry, claiming he was young and needed someone to care for him.
But he could take care of himself!
He didn’t want to call another woman mother!
“Young Master Ning Ze,” Ling’er introduced with a smile. “These are Third Lady Lu and Young Lady Yiyi, invited by my Duchess and Master Ning.
“Third Lady Lu, this is Master Ning’s only son, Young Master Ning Ze.”
Ning Ze offered a cold greeting: “Third Lady Lu, Young Lady Yiyi.”
Yun Zhu smiled softly: “Greetings, Young Master Ning.”
Yiyi offered Ning Ze a smile, imitating her mother as she greeted in a soft, sweet voice: “Greetings, Young Master Ning!”
When the little girl smiled, two shallow dimples appeared, looking exceedingly adorable. Ning Ze couldn’t help but glance at her twice more, only withdrawing his gaze after their silhouettes vanished beyond the entrance hall.
Inside the main hall of the rear office, Wen Qing and Ning Sichang were speaking. Seeing Yun Zhu and her daughter enter, both of their gazes fell upon them.
“You are… Sister Yun?” Wen Qing stared at Yun Zhu’s face with a countenance full of smiles.
Last night, both mother and daughter had been in disguise, making it impossible to see their true faces clearly. She hadn’t expected this Sister Yun to be so beautiful!
Without warning, Wen Qing’s gaze darted toward Ning Sichang.
Ning Sichang’s brow twitched. Instantly guessing her thoughts, he hurriedly got straight to the point: “Third Lady Lu, this official has investigated last night’s matter thoroughly, and Chen De has confessed to his crimes!
“Inviting Third Lady Lu over today is to inform you of the outcome of this case,” Ning Sichang said. “Chen De has committed numerous acts of bullying men and seizing women over the years, and even took several human lives. He has been sentenced to execution after autumn.”
Wen Qing chimed in, “Although Chen De did not manage to do anything to you in time, you are a woman after all, so you were not made to confront Chen De in the open court, lest it ruin your reputation.”
In this world, life was difficult for women to begin with, and Sister Yun was a widow. If malicious rumors were spread, she wouldn’t be able to survive.
Yun Zhu felt a pang of warmth in her heart.
She hadn’t expected the Duchess of Ying and the county magistrate to consider things so thoroughly on her behalf. She offered a solemn bow of gratitude to both of them: “This humble woman thanks the Duchess and Master Ning…”
“Father—”
Before Yun Zhu could finish her words, Ning Ze suddenly charged inside in a panic: “Wang Liang has brought men to surround the rear office!”
Yun Zhu’s heart sank.
Wang Liang, the county assistant of Daliang County—and Chen De’s brother-in-law!