The magistrate had just raised his gavel when he was interrupted.
"I am Tian Alang, a student of Lu Teng at Qingshan Academy," Tian Alang introduced himself.
The county magistrate, who was about to fly into a rage, changed his expression upon hearing Lu Teng's name.
Everyone knows that Master Lu of Qingshan Academy rarely accepts students. Those who come out of his school are either exceptionally talented and admired by the world, or they enter the court as officials and hold important positions.
"May I ask what brings you here, Young Master Tian?" The county magistrate looked at Tian Alang with a fawning expression and asked his clerk to offer him a seat.
Tian Alang remained neither humble nor arrogant, and bowed to thank the county magistrate.
"Li Youran, the owner of the steamed bun shop, is my savior. May I have a word with her?"
"Of course," the county magistrate said with a smile.
Immediately afterwards, the gavel struck, and the court took a break.
Early in the morning, Tian Alang went to the academy to ask his teacher for help with his difficult questions. However, he found that Li Youran's bookstore was not open. When he returned to the wonton shop, he did not see Li Niangzi either, so he became suspicious.
Not only that, the steamed bun shop and the pancake shop were also closed. After hurriedly asking others, they learned that the Li family had all gone to the yamen.
"What exactly happened to Miss Li?" Tian Alang looked at Li Youran with concern.
Li Youran then told Tian Alang the whole story.
“I don’t know who is targeting me and sent this scoundrel to cause trouble.” Li Youran frowned and said, “Moreover, all the customers who were willing to come forward as witnesses changed their minds this morning and refused to testify for me.”
After much thought, Li Youran finally figured out who she had offended.
"Don't panic, Miss Li, I'm here," Tian Alang said softly. "Just do as I say in a moment."
After hearing Li Youran's account, Tian Alang had a general idea. Although he couldn't guess exactly who Li Youran had offended, he was certain that this person was not only powerful, but also extremely powerful.
The customers who are willing to come forward to testify for Li Youran must be honest, kind, and upright people. Simply using money to manipulate them will not necessarily succeed.
However, with the addition of intimidation and threats, it can be done easily, since those witnesses are ordinary people, and what ordinary people fear most is the government.
Having money and power, yet still picking a fight with a small steamed bun shop, can only mean that this person is narrow-minded and hot-blooded.
To crack this case, we must start with this scoundrel.
"You idiot, I advise you to confess, or you won't even have a chance to cry later."
"Don't try to scare me. He's just a poor, pedantic scholar," Er Lengzi said in a fearless tone.
Upon seeing this, Tian Alang knew that his guess was correct, so he gave Li Youran a meaningful look.
"You idiot, I advise you to tell the truth. The person behind you has been locked up by his elders and is now in dire straits."
After Li Youran finished speaking, she deliberately made a gloating expression.
"Stop talking nonsense. I'm not falling for your tricks. I don't have anyone backing me up." Although he spoke toughly, Er Lengzi started to have doubts in his heart.
Was that handsome young master really confined by his elders? Would he still get the fifty taels of silver he promised? If I really am imprisoned, will he still come to my rescue?
Tian Alang's eyes darted around, revealing that his resolve had wavered.
"Do you know that my master is Master Lu Teng? Even the county magistrate treats him with great respect."
After Tian Alang finished speaking, he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the county magistrate in the hall, who nodded and smiled in response.
The county magistrate was calculating in his mind. He believed that doing a favor for Master Lu's student might be very useful in the future.
"If you confess voluntarily, we'll let it go."
Er Lengzi glanced at Li Youran sideways after hearing her words, but didn't say a word, appearing completely unmoved.
"But once the witnesses are willing to testify for me, I won't let you off the hook. You'll be locked up in jail and executed in the autumn!"
Li Youran exuded a cold aura and had a powerful presence, which terrified Er Lengzi.
He just wanted to make some money to spend, how did he end up losing his life!
Is the young master actually under house arrest? How can this be so unreliable?
It really proves the old saying, "A young man with no experience is unreliable." The simpleton was filled with regret.
"Hurry up and confess!"
The gavel struck, and Er Lengzi was so startled that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Your Excellency, please spare me! Your Excellency, please spare me! I just wanted to make some money to spend."
Er Lengzi recounted the whole story in a straightforward manner.
Li Youran breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Tian Alang. He saw that Tian Alang had a calm expression and a composure beyond his years.
He was just a teenager, yet his intelligence and mental fortitude surpassed those of others.
Li Youran thought to himself, "A prodigy is indeed a prodigy; he was born extraordinary. How can a mere mortal like myself compare?"
First, she was crushed by social class, and then by intelligence. Li Youran felt a bit of angina.
"Thanks to Ah Lang today."
Li Youran then voiced her doubts.
"Actually, it was just a guess. It just so happens that the thief was a coward and easily frightened," Tian Alang said casually.
Even so, Li Youran was still impressed by his strong logic.
"It's a waste that I've lived so much longer than you," Li Youran sighed.
Upon hearing Li Youran's words, Tian Alang pursed his lips slightly, lost in thought.
“We are about the same age, which is roughly the same in arithmetic terms,” Tian Alang said seriously. “Therefore, we are the same age, about the same size.”
What Tian Alang feared most was that Li Youran would say he was too young and use that as an excuse to reject him.
“Ah Lang is a good kid too.”
“Old man, I think Young Master Liu is better,” said Madam Li, shaking her head.
Young people are fickle; it's better to find someone a couple of years older who is not only caring but also reliable.
Achoo! Achoo!
The north wind blew up the curtain of the carriage, and Liu Zhiyuan felt a chill, followed by two sneezes.
"Liu Er, you need to go faster!"
"drive!"
Liu Er couldn't understand why Liu Zhiyuan cared so much about Li Youran. After learning that Li Youran had gone to the yamen, he hurried along the road, extremely nervous.
Although the matter was resolved, Li Youran thought about it all the way but still couldn't figure out who was working against her.
"Little sister, here's a box and a letter," Li Haoran said, handing the items to Li Youran.
"Strange, I clearly put away all the gifts I received yesterday."
As Li Youran spoke, she opened the box.
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