Chapter 14: Taking on the Task
This was said clearly and unambiguously. The Jin family did not mind throwing money around, and was willing to spend a large sum of money to ask the Wang Mansion to intervene. As long as they could save Jin Tang, it would be best if the Yu family could withdraw the lawsuit and let Jin Tang get away.
After all, the deceased was merely a humble commoner, a distant relative whom the Jin family had supported year after year. The only thorny issue was the identity of the county lord's husband. As long as the Changhua Palace didn't make things difficult, a sentence of exile or military service would likely be sufficient. With the Jin family's power, there was no reason why he couldn't find a comfortable place to continue living a good life.
Qiandeng looked at the two families through the curtains, thinking of Yu Guangling who died tragically in a pool of blood, and an unspeakable sorrow swept through his heart.
Of these two parents, one lost his eldest son, but used this opportunity to gain benefits for his youngest son; the other knew that his child might have made a big mistake, but only wanted to use his wealth and power to protect him, and did not care about national laws and human lives at all.
Jin Baoyi and Yu's parents were bargaining in the outer hall, but they couldn't agree on the price.
However, the center of the incident, the deceased and the suspect, the case and the truth, were thrown aside and no one cared.
Qiandeng didn't want to listen any further, so he stood up silently and walked to the corridor.
Aunt Xuanji lowered her voice and said, "County Lady, since you've already made it clear to the Jin family, I believe they will do their utmost for their child. There's a lot of discussion about this matter in the capital right now, so it's best for us to avoid getting involved in this mess."
"I know." Qiandeng looked at the wind and rain outside, thinking of another terrifying thing -
Is Yu Guangling's death related to the death of Uncle Fu and her mother's lost letter, which she has been searching for?
Her backyard is now a hodgepodge of people. Even if Jin Tang is not the murderer, there is always another candidate for her fiancé, hiding behind the scenes with sinister intentions.
As the person at the center of the storm, the best thing she can do is to wait and see, wait for the opportunity, and wait for the person at the center of the vortex to completely appear.
She sighed and raised her hands to cover her eyes, a look of fatigue on her face. "Forget it, I'll just supervise the Dali Temple behind the scenes. After all, as a woman, and in mourning, I shouldn't show up too much."
Aunt Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's right. Even if you are the county lady, why would you bother with such matters..."
Before she finished speaking, a strange voice suddenly came from the side, interrupting her: "County Lady, save me! County Lady is so kind! County Lady is so kind!"
Qian Deng was startled and looked up.
It was the parrot Jin Tuan Tuan that was jumping under the eaves. Because of something that happened in Jintang, she had the parrot brought here to be raised. When it saw her, it flapped its wings and called out happily.
Qiandeng looked at its cheerful jumping appearance, and suddenly the scene of Jintang on the day of selection, who was nearly dead due to Meng Lanxi's little trick, appeared in front of his eyes.
At that time, Jin Tuantuan also shouted joyfully, imitating Jin Tang's tone to defend himself: "The county lady is really good, she is not a she-devil."
Jintang struggled to stop it, afraid that it would reveal his thoughts, and his face turned red to his ears.
Jin Tang, who knew nothing about her at that time, insisted that she was a good person just because she occasionally gave him an umbrella and a hand warmer, and even happily came to run for election.
But the foolish son of this richest man probably never thought that he would encounter difficulties again and again and even end up in jail.
And what about Yu Guangling?
Is that person with the silent smile also going to be buried in injustice and become a handful of silent dust?
Qiandeng raised his hand and gently scratched Jin Tuantuan's back. After a long time, he finally closed his eyes tightly, left Aunt Xuanji with a worried look on her face, and turned back behind the curtain.
The two parties who were arguing heard the county lady cough after she sat down again in the inner hall.
Only then did they come to their senses and quickly stood at attention with their hands down, waiting for the county lord to speak.
Qian Deng spoke slowly and asked, "Have you never considered finding the real culprit to comfort Guangling's spirit in heaven and clear the injustice of Jintang?"
Her voice was not loud, but it made the three people outside stunned.
Finally, it was Jin Baoyi who spoke first, overjoyed: "The county lady means that my son has indeed been wrongly accused, and can the county lady clear his name?"
Yu's parents stared at each other without saying a word.
"I was at the Imperial College when the incident happened. I found the scene somewhat suspicious and suspected there might be something else going on."
Aunt Xuanji was stunned and desperately winked at Qiandeng, indicating that the two families should fight among themselves and not get involved in unnecessary trouble.
Qian Deng ignored this and instead spoke more clearly: "Since the elders from both sides are here today, I'll bring it all out here. If the Yu family insists on having an official position, unless my younger brother can pass through numerous vetting processes, fill his elder brother's vacancy, spend three years in my mansion, and ultimately emerge as my husband-in-law—do you, the Yu family, have the guts to send another son to a man like me who is unlucky in marriage?"
How could Yu's father dare to agree? Yu's mother's face turned pale, and neither of them dared to say a word.
"As for the Jin family, the national law is in place. You don't need to do anything behind closed doors. The imperial court's laws are complete, and what must be done must be done. We will not let the criminals go free, nor will we wrongly accuse innocent people."
Jin Baoyi quickly responded, "Yes, yes, the county lady is right. I just don't know how this case will be handled, and whether the county lady has any clues on this matter."
"This case is closely related to my Changhua Palace. Since the court has handed it over to the Dali Temple, I will personally supervise and restore justice to Guangling and Jintang." Qiandeng said, raising his hand behind the curtain, signaling them to leave. "If anyone comes to my palace and makes a noise again before the truth of the case is revealed, I will not let them off easily!"
"County Lady, why are you doing this? Why are you taking on this?"
After the Jin and Yu parents left, Aunt Xuanji couldn't help but nag Qiandeng, "Once this matter came out, the streets have already been buzzing. You, the county lady, should be prudent and protect yourself. It's best not to get involved!"
"I know." The cold rain slanted across her hair and skin, as cold as a needle. Qiandeng stood under the eaves and watched the three people leave, letting the autumn wind lift up her white skirt.
"But Auntie, Yu Guangling and Jintang were both with me day and night. Their fates... were changed by me. There's already enough gossip out there, so why should I care? At most, it's just another unlucky husband, besides being cut off from all relatives. As long as I ignore it, why should I be afraid of rumors?"
Aunt Xuanji looked at her frail figure in the wind and rain, and her eyes became wet.
Perhaps she is the only one in the world who knows that this stubborn little girl who always claims to be unafraid of rumors can only fall asleep every night holding the cloth tiger her mother sews for her.
But the mountains are thousands of meters high, and the wind and rain are dark. She will have to trek alone in countless dark nights in the future. There is no one in this world who can shelter her from the wind and rain.
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