Chapter 19: Waiting for a Result

At the mention of physical evidence, the courtroom fell silent.

"Present it."

A bailiff presented the small box in Qiu Heng's hands to the Prefect of Jingtian. Upon opening it, a jade pendant was revealed, protected by soft cloth.

The jade was exquisite, and the craftsmanship even better; it was clearly the work of a master artisan. A jade pendant of this quality was not something an ordinary person would possess.

Inscribed on the jade were the words: *Cheng Yun*.

"This jade pendant was dropped by the person who struck down my foster father. I ask Your Honor to discern the identity of its owner."

The Prefect of Jingtian pointed at the jade and asked Han Ziheng, "Does Young Master Han recognize this pendant?"

Han Ziheng's expression shifted.

The people of the capital valued elegance, and for elegant objects, lineage was paramount. Masters of incense, tea, or calligraphy... the leaders of every craft were men of renown.

This jade pendant had been commissioned from a famous master carver; any noble or scholar of standing in the capital could recognize whose handiwork it was. And the two characters, "Cheng Yun," were the pseudonym he had chosen for himself.

But he could not swallow this insult by admitting it.

Just as Han Ziheng was preparing to stubbornly deny it, Han Wu, the Commander of the Palace Guard, stepped forward to inspect the jade. He clasped his hands in a gesture of shame. "It is indeed my son's jade pendant."

"Father!" Han Ziheng gasped in disbelief.

Han Wu struck Han Ziheng with a sharp blow. "You fool! Speak clearly!"

Han Ziheng froze, then lowered his head under his father's stern gaze. "That day, we were in a hurry to return to the city and accidentally struck someone... but I didn't know they had been killed."

This casual attempt to deflect responsibility caused Qiu Heng to look at him deeply.

"Did you not dismount to check on the person after striking them with your horse, Young Master Han? It is clear that the lives of ordinary citizens are like mere grass in your eyes."

"How dare a little girl like you slander me? I was in a hurry!" Han Ziheng glared at Qiu Heng, his eyes burning with rage.

A little peasant girl dared to sue him, making him the subject of gossip for the masses? He would ensure her life became a living hell!

"What was this emergency, Young Master Han?" the Prefect asked.

"I—" Receiving a meaningful look from Han Wu, Han Ziheng had a sudden flash of inspiration. "I was feeling unwell and was in a hurry to return to the city for medical treatment."

Han Wu breathed a secret sigh of relief.

With the intervention of the Imperial Guard and his son's personal jade pendant, denial was impossible. The goal now was to minimize the punishment.

According to the laws of Great Xia, striking someone while riding was a crime of "vehicular injury and killing," but if the injury occurred due to an emergency such as seeking medical aid, the punishment was significantly lighter.

"I see—" the Prefect mused.

Qiu Heng saw the Prefect's biased attitude toward Han Ziheng, and her heart turned cold.

If this was how it was with the Imperial Guard involved, she could only imagine what would happen if she were alone.

"Your Honor, on my second day in the capital, I was out with my grandmother when the carriage was overturned by Young Master Han's galloping horse. It is evident that riding recklessly through the streets is a common habit for him; claiming illness to seek medical aid is merely an excuse."

"I *was* unwell that day! You call me a liar, but what proof do you have?" Han Ziheng sneered.

"Regarding this medical treatment—who was the physician?"

"A doctor from Suiyun County. How should I know his name?"

"Ahem." The Prefect cleared his throat. "Since both parties hold conflicting accounts, this official will dispatch someone to Suiyun County to verify the facts before rendering a judgment. Do you have any objections?"

Han Ziheng dismissed it easily. "The official may investigate as he pleases."

"I have no objection."

Qiu Heng knew very well that this so-called "investigation" was actually a contest of wits between Xue Quan and Han Wu. For the crime of vehicular injury and killing, one could argue for a reduction to intentional injury or even negligent injury, or perhaps even settle it with a mere ransom.

She wanted to see with her own eyes what the outcome would be.

Exiting the courtroom, Qiu Heng glanced at the Earl of Yongqing, who was chasing after Han Wu, and boarded the carriage sent from the Earl's manor to collect her.

"The Sixth Lady has returned."

Upon hearing the maid's report, the Old Madam barked, "Let her in!"

As soon as Qiu Heng entered, a command rang out: "Kneel!"

In the room were the First Madam Zhao, the Second Madam Lan, and the sisters Qiu Xuan and her sibling.

Qiu Heng knelt silently.

"You said you went to the streets to buy rouge, but instead, you went to the yamen to sue the son of Commander Han? Are you trying to bring ruin upon the entire Qiu family?"

Facing the Old Madam's interrogation, the young girl's voice remained calm. "Han Ziheng has already admitted in court that he struck my foster father dead with his horse."

"Admitted it?" The Old Madam was stunned.

"Yes. The authorities will continue to investigate the nature of the case."

"Even so, you should not have gone to the officials without informing the family! You are a noble lady of an Earl's manor; are you not afraid of being ridiculed for confronting someone in court? How will you ever marry? What will people say of this manor?"

"Granddaughter has done nothing wrong."

The Old Madam slammed the table in fury. "What did you say?"

"I said I have done nothing wrong. To know who killed my foster father and pretend ignorance for the sake of a bright future—that is what is truly despicable."

"And what of the manor? Have you ever thought of the manor!"

Unlike the raging Old Madam, the girl kneeling on the floor kept her back straight, like a pine tree facing the snow—calm and upright. "It is precisely because I am thinking of the manor that I reported it to the authorities myself. The world knows I have only just returned from the countryside; my conduct cannot be blamed on the upbringing of this manor."

The Old Madam laughed in bitter anger. "How thoughtful of you."

"Granddaughter only seeks to have a clear conscience."

"Sharp-tongued brat!" The Old Madam was consumed by rage. "So what if you sued him? That Young Master Han may receive a light or heavy punishment, but he has a father with immense power! Do you think Commander Han holds a grudge only against you? He holds it against the entire Earl of Yongqing's manor!"

As her anger grew, the Old Madam grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Qiu Heng.

Qiu Heng did not dodge, allowing the cup to strike her arm.

Pain flared, and her sleeve was soaked with tea.

A soft cry rang out in the room, though it was impossible to tell who had made it.

Qiu Heng, however, did not utter a single sound.

This small amount of pain meant nothing to her, and the Old Madam's fury was equally inconsequential.

"Go to the ancestral hall and kneel in reflection! Do not come out until you realize your mistake!"

"Grandmother—" Qiu Xuan could not help but speak up.

The Old Madam snapped back, "This is no place for your voice!"

Qiu Xuan's face flushed red, and she lowered her head.

"Take the Sixth Lady away at once!"

As the Old Madam gave the order, two servant women stepped forward to seize Qiu Heng, but the Third Master Qiu burst into the room.

"Heng'er! I heard you went to report to the authorities. Why didn't you let your father accompany you—"

The Third Master had heard the news while out shopping. He was rushing home on his donkey, with a large bag still slung over his arm. Because he had been running so fast, the bag had burst open, spilling rouge, scented powder, wooden combs, silk pouches... a heap of trinkets scattered across the floor.

Among them, a black-and-multicolored clay dog rolled right to the Old Madam's feet, staring up at her with a look of misplaced majesty.

"What on earth have you bought!"

The Third Master's mind was entirely on his daughter, offering only a meager response to his mother's question. "It's a clay dog."

As he spoke, he picked up the clay dog and blew hard into the hole on its body.

A sharp, piercing whistle rang out, vibrating through the very roof tiles.

The Old Madam's vision went dark, and she had to pinch her thigh hard to keep from fainting.

(End of Chapter)