Tantai Yueming, for some unknown reason, exclaimed in surprise.
Upon hearing the sound, Zhang Qingshan immediately realized that his behavior of being frightened by an old woman was indeed unbecoming of his official position. He immediately waved his hand to have several officers pull the old woman away before speaking.
"Old Madam Lin, I did not ask you anything, so stop talking nonsense, or don't blame me for being ruthless."
After reprimanding her, Magistrate Zhang turned to look at Lin Jiujiu.
"Mrs. Lin, you say that Old Madam Lin is not your grandmother. What makes you say that? Do you have any evidence?"
Seeing that they were finally getting back to the main topic, Lin Jiujiu didn't intend to waste any more time on it and spoke directly.
"It is true that Old Mrs. Lin gave birth to a baby boy in full view of everyone back then, but the fetus was too big, which caused Old Mrs. Lin to give birth prematurely. The child was stuck in the womb for too long and it was impossible for him to survive."
Grandma Lin and the child were taken to the county clinic for treatment. The doctor said that to save the child, at least a hundred-year-old ginseng root would be needed to prolong his life. Moreover, because he had been suffocating for too long, his brain might have been damaged, and even if he was saved, he might be mentally disabled.
On the same day, a woman also gave birth at this clinic.
Seeing that the family was dressed in fine silks and satins, Old Lady Lin assumed that the family must be wealthy.
They believed their child would have survived in that family's hands.
Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, they secretly switched the two children.
Lin Jiujiu's explanation sounded like a traditional opera performance to everyone; they found it all incredibly amazing.
However, Old Lady Lin disagreed. Her small eyes darted around, and she pouted.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you brat? Do you think your father was switched at birth just because you were switched at birth? What a coincidence!"
Although what Lin Jiujiu said was almost exactly what happened back then, so much time has passed.
She didn't believe Lin Jiujiu could have any evidence left.
Furthermore, after that incident, they inquired and found out that the family in question was not from their county at all.
They haven't found it after all these years; maybe everyone involved is dead.
Once she calmed down, Old Mrs. Lin sat on the ground and glared at Lin Jiujiu with an expression that said, "I'm not afraid of you."
Lin Jiujiu laughed when she heard that there was no evidence.
"Who said I have no evidence?"
However, Old Mrs. Lin did not believe it. After all, more than forty years had passed. Back then, she not only changed the swaddling clothes, but also the clothes on the child. What evidence could she possibly have?
Lin Jiujiu smiled when she saw her so confident.
"Isn't the evidence right on you?"
He pointed to Old Lady Lin's belt as he spoke.
"When you switched my father with someone else, you did it carefully, changing all their clothes and swaddling clothes, but you have a flaw: you are greedy."
Even if the child who was switched out was your own, you saw that the jade pendant on my father was of good quality but couldn't bear to put it on him. Instead, you secretly took it off.
You didn't tell anyone about this, not even Old Man Lin, who has shared a bed with you for over forty years.
"You've been hiding it in that belt all these years, haven't you?"
Upon hearing that there was such evidence, Zhang Qingshan immediately ordered a search, but all the people he brought were men.
Just as Zhang Qingshan was in a dilemma and Lin Jiujiu was about to take action herself, an invisible gust of wind rushed towards Old Madam Lin.
Before anyone could react, her belt had already broken in two and was lying on the ground.
Seeing Zhang Qingshan still in a daze, Tantai Yueming couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What are you waiting for? Let them search us."
After speaking, Tantai Yueming raised an eyebrow and glanced to her side.
Everyone assumed he was the one who did it, but little did they know that the person who actually did it was the man next to him.
As Tantai Yueming finished speaking, his telepathic message reached Baili Chenyuan's ears.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't concern yourself with worldly affairs anymore? What? Are you afraid she'll be wronged?"
Baili Chenyuan rolled his eyes at him without saying a word, but that look, as if he were looking at an idiot, still made Tantai Yueming extremely unhappy.
Even if he was unhappy, there was nothing he could do. Don't be fooled by the fact that this guy now called him brother. In the cultivation world, even his sect's patriarch wouldn't dare to be arrogant in front of him.
Tantai Yueming wisely pinched her nose and dared not be presumptuous anymore.
Zhang Qingshan only realized what was happening after being reminded, and waved to the officials.
"Bring the things over here."
Old Mrs. Lin then realized what was happening and reached out to grab the belt, but the officer slapped her hand with a scabbard, causing her to pull her hand back in pain.
The officer squeezed the old woman's belt with some disgust, and as expected, he pinched something hard.
Upon tearing it open, it revealed a small jade pendant, even smaller than a baby's palm.
When Old Man Lin saw that there really was such a thing, he cursed Old Woman Lin half to death in his heart.
That old hag is incorrigible in her greed; she's never told me about something this important.
The county magistrate was about to examine the newly found evidence closely when Tantai Yueming snatched it away upon seeing the design of the jade pendant.
The county magistrate had not expected that the prince would have such a strong reaction upon seeing the jade pendant.
After carefully examining the items and confirming that they were correct, Tantai Yueming returned them to Magistrate Zhang.
Magistrate Zhang wasn't stupid. Seeing Tantai Yueming's attitude, he knew that Tantai Yueming recognized the jade pendant, so he mustered his courage and asked.
"Does Your Highness recognize this item?"
Tantai Yueming nodded, but did not say it in front of everyone.
He simply waved to Magistrate Zhang and told him what he knew.
But when he saw Lin Jiujiu, he remembered that she had also been switched at birth, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
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