"Don't care about them. They slander your appearance, but they don't know how many women have smiled with joy with the rouge you made yourself. They see you as a murderer, but once the truth comes out, you will still be a pure and innocent person, while they will be imprisoned in this dark cell with the shadow of their crimes. If your heart is clear, you don't have to lose to any of them. Why be afraid of these ignorant women?"
"Remember, your concessions are not out of kindness, but a sign of weakness, which will only embolden others to bully you more."
Cao Shuwan had never heard such words from anyone before, and her tears fell uncontrollably again.
A moment later, she looked at the female prisoners, a flash of anger in her eyes.
I have never offended any of you. Just because I am plain-looking and because I was framed and accused of murder, you beat me and insulted me. Even though I have done nothing wrong, why do you treat me like this?
The venomous fire flashing in her eyes swept through like a raging storm, piercing the depths of everyone's heart.
The female prisoners would involuntarily lower their heads once their eyes met hers.
Jiang Huaiyu sighed softly and gently patted her shoulder. "Go ahead, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
A hint of hesitation flashed across Cao Shuwan's face as she glanced worriedly at the prison warden standing beside her.
The prison eavesdropper was shocked when he heard Jiang Huaiyu's words.
The prison warden was still standing there perfectly fine, and this woman dared to openly incite the prisoners to cause trouble?
Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Huaiyu spoke again.
"Your Excellency, you once said that with so many prisoners in the jail during these twelve hours, there are bound to be oversights, aren't there?"
The words that the prison warden was about to say had to be swallowed back down.
He looked down at Cao Shuwan. Her body was covered in wounds. The hardships she had endured in prison these past few days had made her look emaciated and barely recognizable.
The prison warden's cold gaze swept over the group of female prisoners. "You've repeatedly failed to learn your lesson. This is your own fault, and you have only yourself to blame!"
After he finished speaking, he turned his back to the outside of the cell.
Cao Shuwan instantly understood. She looked at Jiang Huaiyu and saw him nod slightly. She then struggled to her feet and approached the female prisoners step by step.
The cell was bustling with noise, but she stared intently at the obese female prisoner, her eyes flashing with a ferocious light like a wild beast, which was terrifying.
The once arrogant and rude obese female prisoner instantly lost her arrogance upon seeing her like this, and panicked as she hid at the back of the crowd.
Ms. Cao, you have been bullied by many people. If you want to vent your anger, go and settle accounts with them first...
As Cao Shuwan approached step by step, the other female prisoners, feeling guilty, made way for her.
“The abuse and humiliation you suffered every day were all caused by her coercion…” She pointed to the fat and burly female prisoner deep inside the cell.
The obese female prisoner glared and shouted angrily, "Dare to betray me? Are you all courting death? Aren't you afraid of my revenge?" Her tone was as tough as ever, intimidating, but the hint of panic in her eyes betrayed her true emotions.
So, she can feel fear too?
Cao Shuwan's eyes were like torches, her heart filled with mockery. Without a moment's hesitation, she pounced on the fat female prisoner.
The obese female prisoner, who usually verbally abused and physically assaulted her, seemed powerless to fight back at this moment, only retreating in fear. Cao Shuwan seized the opportunity, grabbed her arm tightly, and bit down hard.
The obese female prisoner let out a shrill scream like a pig, the sound echoing throughout the prison.
A fierce glint flashed in Cao Shuwan's eyes as she bit down hard on the fat female prisoner's arm, as if she wanted to tear a piece of her flesh off.
The screams continued unabated, and the female prisoners nearby scurried away in fear, terrified of becoming the next victim. The prison warden remained facing outwards, seemingly oblivious to what was happening inside the cell.
After a while, Cao Shuwan released the obese female prisoner with her mouth full of blood.
The latter quickly covered his wound and hid in a corner, his panicked expression a stark contrast to his previous arrogance.
The prison warden appeared just in time, cleaned up the mess, and took the opportunity to give everyone a stern warning.
After Cao Shuwan calmed down a bit, Jiang Huaiyu gently asked, "Miss Cao, could you tell me in detail what happened before?"
Cao Shuwan nodded and replied, "I can."
Jiang Huaiyu turned to the prison warden and politely requested, "Could you please take us to a quiet corner so we can talk in detail?"
Normally, the interrogation room in prison is a forbidden area, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. However, the magistrate had instructed him to try his best to meet Jiang Huaiyu's needs. After all, this case was indeed somewhat unjust for the Cao family, and if the case could be successfully overturned, it would naturally be a good thing.
In addition, the methods Jiang Huaiyu had just displayed aroused a sense of anticipation in the prison warden's heart. He nodded and agreed, "Please come with me."
Upon entering the interrogation room, Jiang Huaiyu first asked the prison warden to bring clean water for Cao Shuwan to rinse her mouth.
After rinsing her mouth, Cao Shuwan did not speak immediately. Instead, she carefully scanned the blood-stained instruments of torture with her eyes.
Surprisingly, things she used to be too afraid to look at no longer frighten her.
After a moment, she slowly opened her mouth and said, "I didn't kill anyone, boss. I know you trust me. I admit, I did kick that old man, but my kick couldn't possibly have killed him. However, even if he were dead, I can't provide any evidence, and no one else wants to believe me..."
Jiang Huaiyu asked curiously, "Isn't that the old guy you're talking about your uncle? You seem to dislike him quite a bit?"
Cao Shuwan said indignantly, "He doesn't deserve the title of 'uncle' at all!"
After saying this, she saw Jiang Huaiyu's confused expression, so she explained, "In terms of blood relations, he is indeed my cousin, my elder. But he doesn't deserve that title at all."
"Is it because he repeatedly asked you for money?"
Cao Shuwan replied, "If he was only after some money, then it would be fine, after all, he is my relative, and I can't just stand by and watch my uncle's family fall into trouble. However, what they did was outrageous. I think kicking him and chasing him away is too lenient a punishment."
“When my father was alive, we were able to maintain a peaceful relationship with my uncle. However, when I was ten years old, he unfortunately passed away. My grandfather’s branch of the family lost its pillar, leaving only my mother and me to guard the meager farmland. Seeing that we were an orphan and a widow, powerless to resist, my uncle drove us out of the ancestral home and seized the farmland. My mother had no choice but to do rough work such as washing and mending in town to barely make ends meet.”
(End of this chapter)
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