Yin Zhihua: "The fact that Young Master Cen was in Anjia Village late at night does not mean that he committed a crime. It is true that these thugs were armed with large knives and tried to rob the village chief's house. They have already confessed. Lin Tanhua, don't change the subject."
Lin Shih-kang choked.
Immediately afterward, Lin Shikang said, "They are covered in wounds. Could it be that they were harmed or coerced by someone?" After saying that, he looked at Cen Xiao with a meaningful gaze.
Yin Zhihua sneered: "Lin Tanhua, do you suspect that I tortured you into confessing?"
"The students did not mean that; they were just worried that the criminals were too cunning."
"So you're saying I'm too stupid, unable to judge people or make sound judgments!" Yin Zhihua slammed his gavel, his face stern. "Even if Lin Shikang is a third-place scholar, you have no right to interfere in the affairs of this county! You can come and make your comments when you become my superior!"
Lin Shikang was surprised that Yin Zhihua was so disrespectful; he had never treated him like this before! Why was he being so assertive now? Was it because of the Star Gazing Tower again?
Damn the observatory!
Yin Zhihua said to Zhang Chuntao, "Zhang Chuntao, why did you frame Young Master Cen? What is your purpose? And who instructed you? Tell the truth now!"
Zhang Chuntao trembled with fear: "I...I..."
“Yes…” Zhang Chuntao’s gaze fell on Ji Fenfang, somewhat bewildered and unsure of what to do.
"Zhang Chuntao, do you also want to be subjected to severe torture? Hmm?"
Seeing the people around her covered in wounds, and then seeing the instruments of torture brought up by the constables, Zhang Chuntao was terrified.
Just then, the magistrate's words rang in my ears again: "Confess the truth, and you will be spared physical punishment!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chuntao immediately pointed at Ji Fenfang: "It was her, she made me do it!"
"Mother, don't talk nonsense!" An Xiuping rushed in upon hearing this. "You were the one who said Yang Cui made us suffer and that we should take revenge on them! Aunt Fang saved me, why are you repaying kindness with enmity? Sir, what my mother said is not true. I can testify that it was my mother's idea to slander Cen Daniu, and it has nothing to do with anyone else!"
"Disrespectful to the courtroom! Come on! Seize this woman first! Give her twenty lashes!"
An Xiuping was dumbfounded.
"Spare me! Spare me!"
Lin Shih-kang couldn't stop her. In court, without being summoned, she rushed in, interfering with witnesses and affecting the case. Yin Zhihua had every right to punish her.
Last night, as soon as Ji Fenfang was taken away by the yamen officials, Lin Shikang knew something was wrong. Fearing that Zhang Chuntao would be arrested and confess, he quickly sent someone to contact An Xiuping in secret. This led to An Xiuping rushing into the courtroom to give false testimony for Ji Fenfang.
He never expected that Yin Zhihua would punish An Xiuping and publicly execute her! Of all his plans, the one thing he hadn't anticipated was Yin Zhihua's attitude!
After receiving the twenty strokes of the cane, An Xiuping fainted, and she didn't even have a chance to say those words.
Seeing her daughter's terrible condition, Zhang Chuntao was terrified.
Yin Zhihua added fuel to the fire: "Zhang Chuntao, if you don't tell the truth, you'll suffer the same fate!"
Zhang Chuntao hurriedly kowtowed and admitted her mistake, pointing at Ji Fenfang: "It was her, sir! She gave me the money and said she would introduce a good marriage for my daughter. I... I was blinded by greed!"
"Are you sure it's all true?"
"It's true! It's all true. If I'm lying, may I die a horrible death! Please, Your Honor, show me mercy and spare me." Zhang Chuntao kowtowed as she spoke, tears streaming down her face.
She was genuinely scared!
Seeing this, Lin Shikang stepped forward again and said, "Sir, I don't believe Zhang's words. Her daughter just said that she slandered Cen Daniu because of personal grudges, and it has nothing to do with anyone else!"
Yang Cui sneered: "Does Lin Tanhua have a problem with me and my fiancé, or is he in cahoots with these thieves? The evidence is already conclusive, so why are you still trying to exonerate them at every turn?"
Having already suffered severe torture, Ji Fenfang was already weak and exhausted. But upon hearing Yang Cui's words, she perked up and immediately defended Lin Shikang: "Don't talk nonsense!"
"I didn't say anything, why are you so agitated? But you get so excited just because I mentioned Lin Tanhua, what's the relationship between you two..." Yang Cui smiled meaningfully.
Lin Shikang's expression changed drastically: "Yang, watch your words! We have absolutely no relationship!"
"Lin Tanhua's lie is so careless. She was caught right in front of your bedside. They have no relation whatsoever. She was at your bedside? Why wasn't she at someone else's bedside?"
The moment the magistrate uttered these words, an uproar erupted outside the courtroom!
Wen shouted, "It's obvious that the two of you are having an affair!"
"I just don't know how you two got together?"
"To engage in illicit relations without a matchmaker is punishable by being drowned in a pig cage!"
"A dignified third-place scholar, outwardly virtuous, but secretly a heartless scoundrel! Bah!"
Several of Zhou's sons, who were also watching the commotion outside the courtroom, immediately remarked, "Lin the Scholar is quite the ladies' man. First, he had the daughter of a high-ranking official in the capital as his fiancée, and now he's got a beautiful widow. Tsk tsk..."
...
Lin Shih-kang was so angry he felt like vomiting blood!
His handsome face turned a deep purplish-red, and he gritted his teeth: "Don't talk nonsense!"
Ji Fenfang, quick-witted, said, "I just saw that Lin Tanhua was recuperating at the clinic, and I wanted to ask for a calligraphy model so that my son could practice copying it."
Despite being born into a poor family, Lin Shikang had beautiful handwriting. The original novel mentions that his calligraphy was praised by the emperor.
People only know that Lin Shih-kang came from a poor family, yet he achieved so much, which is truly remarkable. Therefore, they think his mother is great and Lin Shih-kang is very ambitious.
Little did people know that Lin Shikang's achievements were inseparable from his female confidantes. For example, his excellent handwriting was mainly due to his teacher's niece, Liang Xinrong, who secretly gave him many calligraphy models, brushes, ink, paper and inkstones from famous calligraphers for him to copy and practice.
"I don't care what your relationship is, but as an outsider, and not a local official, isn't Lin Tanhua being a bit too nosy?"
Yang Cui practically said he was meddling in other people's business.
"I'm doing this for everyone's safety. If he really is a bandit, Xiao Cui, you'll be in danger too!" Lin Shikang said righteously.
Cen Xiao, who hadn't spoken until now, said, "Lin Tanhua is worrying too much. Why don't you solve your own problems first?"
Lin Shikang's heart skipped a beat, sensing that Cen Xiao's words had a hidden meaning.
Before he could think, the group rushed into the courtroom, knelt down in front of Yin Zhihua, and cried out, "Please, Your Honor, do us justice!"
Upon seeing this group of people, Ji Fenfang and Lin Shikang's expressions changed drastically! They immediately sensed something was wrong!
"How dare you be so insolent in the courtroom!" Yin Zhihua declared with unparalleled authority.
"Judging from their sorrowful appearance, they must have been wronged. Lord Yin, you might as well listen to them first."
"Yes, yes, Young Master Cen is right." Yin Zhihua's attitude was extremely amiable.
Lin Shikang was dumbfounded by this scene. Why was Yin Zhihua so... submissive to a country bumpkin?
Yang Cui was confused and asked Cen Xiao in a low voice, "What's going on? Did you arrange this? Who did it?"
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