However, Fang Yun, a widow, caused a huge uproar.

Fang Yun loved to gossip and spread rumors. With her silver tongue, she managed to win over many men in the village, making her a "charming" woman in the eyes of the villagers.

That day, Fang Yun heard about Shen Minglan from somewhere and began to stir up trouble throughout the village.

She first went to a man named Li Laoshi in a neighboring village and tearfully complained to him, "Brother Li, you have no idea how domineering that woman Shen Qingtang is! Her brother is a good man, but she controls him like a leash! I heard that Shen Minglan actually has feelings for me, but he doesn't dare to say it because of his sister's intimidation..."

Li Laoshi was honest and simple-minded, and he believed Fang Yun's words after being provoked.

He immediately retorted angrily, "Is this even possible? Shen Qingtang seems shrewd, how could she treat my older brother like this! Neither of us is married, it's our freedom to like whomever we want, what right does she have to interfere!"

Seeing that he had taken the bait, Fang Yun immediately added fuel to the fire: "That's right! Shen Minglan also has feelings for me, but he's afraid of upsetting his sister. Now, the whole village and even the whole town almost know about it. Everyone's saying that Shen Minglan and I are in love, but his sister has broken us up. Can you imagine how heartbroken Shen Minglan must be..."

These words spread like wildfire throughout Luanshi Village and even reached the town.

The villagers were already fond of gossiping, and with Fang Yun fanning the flames, the rumors became increasingly outrageous, eventually reaching the point where it was said that "Shen Mingyuan and Fang Yun had long been engaged, but were forcibly separated by Shen Qingtang, who even threatened Fang Yun not to get close to Shen Minglan."

Upon hearing the news, Shen Minglan trembled with rage, her face turning ashen.

He only has Qin Wanqing in his heart, how could he possibly have anything to do with Fang Yun! But now rumors are spreading everywhere.

His biggest worry was that Qin Wanqing would hear these rumors and misunderstand him.

He wanted to settle accounts with Fang Yun, but she avoided him and deliberately put on a pitiful act in front of the villagers.

This drew more sympathy for her, and people accused Shen Minglan of "starting a relationship and then abandoning her".

"That's utter nonsense!" Shen Minglan slammed her fist on a tree, her eyes filled with anger and helplessness. "I'm going to find Fang Yun and get to the bottom of this! And those people who spread rumors, they're just bored and have nothing better to do!"

But he also knew in his heart that once rumors spread, they would not be easily cleared up.

Now everyone in the village and even the town is talking about this, even if Qin Wanqing hasn't heard it.

They'll find out sooner or later. The thought that Qin Wanqing might misunderstand him made Shen Minglan extremely anxious.

He couldn't wait to find Fang Yun.

Tear that mouth of hers, that mouth that stirs up trouble, to shreds.

Shen Minglan was already furious about the rumors. That day, he ran into Li Laoshi, Fang Yun's sycophant, at the village entrance. Li Laoshi was surrounding several villagers, spewing accusations about his "affair" with Fang Yun and calling him a "coward" and "afraid to admit it."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Shen Minglan could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and grabbed Li Laoshi by the collar, her eyes bloodshot. "When did I ever have anything to do with Fang Yun? If you dare to spread rumors again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Li Laoshi was startled by his imposing manner, but relying on the support of several villagers behind him, he braced himself and retorted, "What? Are you feeling guilty because I hit the nail on the head? Fang Yun herself said that you two have been together for a long time, and now you don't dare to admit it?"

These words completely ignited Shen Minglan's anger, and he punched Li Laoshi in the face.

He beat the other man until his nose bled profusely. Li Laoshi also got anxious and pounced on Shen Minglan, wrestling with him.

The two fought from the village entrance to the edge of the field, their fists and kicks showing no mercy. The surrounding villagers were too frightened to intervene and could only watch from a distance.

Shen Minglan, already turbulent with anger and blood, lost his temper and pushed Li Laoshi to the ground.

Li Laoshi hit the back of his head on a stone on the edge of the field with a muffled groan.

There was silence immediately.

The air froze instantly.

Shen Minglan stared blankly at Li Laoshi lying motionless on the ground, her mind going blank.

Fang Yun was also squeezed in the crowd. When she saw that Li Laoshi was no longer breathing, she screamed in fright and collapsed to the ground, her face ashen: "Someone's dead...someone's been murdered..."

The news spread like wildfire throughout Luanshi Village and quickly reached the town.

Li Laoshi's family cried and wailed as they reported the incident to the authorities. The county magistrate, Zhou Wangcai, immediately dispatched his constables, who, without a word, locked up the still-dazed Shen Minglan and took her to the county jail.

"It wasn't my intention... I didn't mean to kill him..." Shen Minglan struggled to explain, but the constables wouldn't listen and just thought he was making excuses out of fear of punishment.

This incident caused a great uproar. Not only people in Luanshi Village, but also people in several surrounding villages knew about the news that "the eldest son of the Shen family committed murder due to adultery." The rumors became more and more offensive.

Upon hearing the news, Qin Wanqing was extremely anxious and immediately rushed to the county government office to visit him in prison.

However, Zhou Wangcai accepted bribes from Li Laoshi's family and, considering Shen Minglan to be a relative of an exiled convict, didn't take him seriously at all.

He directly refused Qin Wanqing's request to visit him in prison and even ordered the yamen runners to throw her out.

Qin Wanqing was unwilling to accept this, and only after asking around did she learn that Zhou Wangcai had already set the tone to sentence Shen Minglan to death for "intentional homicide".

Close the case as soon as possible.

She was frantic, but there was nothing she could do. She was just an ordinary woman and couldn't possibly fight against the government.

Meanwhile, Shen Minglan suffered even more injustice in prison. The jailer, having accepted bribes, not only refused to provide her with water or food.

They would also punch and kick him from time to time, and call him a "murderer".

Shen Minglan huddled on the cold haystack, feeling anxious and wronged. He had only wanted to teach Li Laoshi a lesson, so how did he become a murderer?

Just then, Shen Qingtang and Pei Wuwang returned.

Upon learning of Shen Minglan's accident, Shen Qingtang's eyes instantly turned cold.