"I, a civilian woman, know that Gao Sanxiong committed a grave mistake and should be beheaded. As his family, we live off the silver he gained from his evil deeds, and according to the Great Chu Criminal Law, we should all be implicated. But I beg the steward for mercy, to spare my four daughters-in-law and three granddaughters," Mrs. Gao Huang said, shedding tears. "Especially the eldest and second daughters-in-law, they are innocent. One is the daughter of Master Tongsheng, and the other was chosen by the second son for her beauty, forced into marriage using rogue tactics. They have suffered half their lives and shouldn’t be further implicated by the Gao family."

As for the other two daughters-in-law, they were married to Gao Sanxiong’s bastards, one for the love of wealth, and one through manipulation. Mrs. Gao Huang didn’t mind the legitimate or illegitimate and pleaded on their behalf too.

Squad Leader Jiang frowned upon hearing this and said harshly, "Mrs. Gao Huang, since you know your whole family lives off the silver Gao Sanxiong got from evil deeds, you should know none of your family is innocent. Saying such things now is not knowing repentance, and purposely making things difficult for Steward Zheng!"

Steward Zheng, like County Magistrate Zheng, came from a branch of the Zheng Family. Although only moderately wealthy, they received noble family teachings, where every word and deed is meticulous, fearing to bring shame to the Zheng family name.

Mrs. Gao Huang’s words would be of no use against such a rustic brute, but against Steward Zheng, they could have some effect.

Indeed, Steward Zheng looked at the crowd of defenseless women and children, hesitating.

Seeing this, Mrs. Gao Huang knew Steward Zheng was hesitating due to his concern for the Zheng family name, and hurriedly said, "Steward, I know you come from a great family and emphasize accumulating virtue and doing good. Please spare my daughters-in-law and granddaughters."

She only asked Steward Zheng to spare her daughters-in-law and granddaughters, not her grandsons, thinking Steward Zheng might agree.

"Steward Zheng," After capturing Gao Sanxiong and several others, Qin San Lang received news from Section Leader Hong and immediately rushed over, stopping the hesitating Steward Zheng in time.

Steward Zheng, upon seeing Qin San Lang, relaxed his heart, quickly stood up, and walked over to talk with Qin San Lang quietly: "... These are all defenseless women and children, and she only asked for the safety of daughters-in-law and granddaughters without exonerating the grandsons, showing she knows the rules. The Great Chu Criminal Law pays attention only to men and treats women arbitrarily. Due to the tax chaos, the people have grievances in their hearts. It’s better to let them go, allowing the county’s people to see the government’s benevolence."

He also added, "Of course, you are the Company Commander, and in terms of position, you are the highest here, so how to handle them depends on your decision."

Steward Zheng was only County Magistrate Zheng’s steward, possessing an official position but no official rank.

"Steward Zheng, please follow me." Qin San Lang, hearing this, turned and left.

Huh?

This young man, why did he leave suddenly?

Steward Zheng had no choice but to follow Qin San Lang out of the courtyard.

Seeing this, Mrs. Gao Huang was startled. Is this the Qin Yan Wang? How come he showed up at this crucial moment, wasn’t he supposed to be capturing Gao Sanxiong? Could it be that Gao Sanxiong was so useless and got resolved by Qin Yan Wang so quickly?

By the slab path outside the courtyard, under an osmanthus tree symbolizing wealth and auspiciousness, Qin San Lang said, "What Little Uncle Zheng said earlier makes sense, but there’s something wrong with Mrs. Gao Huang; she seems not simple."

Privately, Qin San Lang had a good relationship with County Magistrate Zheng and others, so he sometimes called County Magistrate Zheng Big Uncle Zheng and Steward Zheng Little Uncle Zheng.

He took out a roll of documents and handed them to Steward Zheng, "Little Uncle Zheng, take a look."

Steward Zheng hastily took it, and cold sweat immediately ran down his forehead: "This, you suspect that Mrs. Gao Huang is hiding Gao Sanxiong’s family fortune with his daughters-in-law?"

Qin San Lang nodded: "According to my investigation, Mrs. Gao Huang indeed has this suspicion. She appears to have been at odds with Gao Sanxiong for over ten years, but Mrs. Gao Huang doesn’t have strong maternal support, and Gao Sanxiong is very domineering; not someone she could tolerate, so why wasn’t Mrs. Gao Huang divorced?"

She publicly disgraced Gao Sanxiong multiple times, even beat him, utterly humiliating him. Given Gao Sanxiong’s character, even if he didn’t kill Mrs. Gao Huang, he would have tormented her until bedridden. Why would he let Mrs. Gao Huang manage the household?

Qin San Lang: "This is a couple colluding in evil, staging a play, but the act is not thorough enough, leaving unreasonable areas."

"What should be done now? Arrest them immediately and take them to the government office?" Steward Zheng believed Qin San Lang, thus was quite angry.

That Mrs. Gao Huang, relying on her kind appearance and her well-known discord with Gao Sanxiong, nearly deceived him, leading him to make a grave mistake.

Qin San Lang said, "No need to drag them to the government office; just confine them in the house. The guarding can be relaxed, and when Mrs. Gao Huang can’t stand it anymore, she’ll surely have her daughters-in-law find chances to contact outsiders to transfer the hidden silver. Then we act like the stalking magpie."

Steward Zheng, hearing this, couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up: "San Lang, your family may be three generations of soldiers, but your mind and strategy are truly no small matter, comparable to noble family sons no less."

Though born in a distant poor branch of the Zheng Family, Steward Zheng also received good teaching and saw how the legitimate sons handle affairs.

Honestly, San Lang’s skill is higher than that of the Zheng family’s current legitimate heir, Zheng Ying.

Qin San Lang, embarrassed, smiled, "Little Uncle Zheng praises too much. I merely learned from my father and read some military books, nothing deserving of the strategic title."

Eldest Brother’s mentor was once the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice, Lord Feng.

Lord Feng came from the Central Plains Feng Family, as ancient as the Zong family. His father was the first in legal name drafting the Great Chu Criminal Law. Due to Eldest Brother, when in the Capital, he was also taught by Lord Feng.

However, Lord Feng was implicated by family matters and dismissed by the Emperor, relying on medicine daily and forbidden from going out or casually communicating.

"Alright, we’ll proceed as you suggested." Steward Zheng pat Qin San Lang’s shoulder and walked away with a smile, but before entering the courtyard door, put away the smile, glanced coldly at Mrs. Gao Huang, and said, "Company Commander Qin reminded me earlier that you all are family members of a major criminal and cannot be released casually, or I’ll be held accountable."

Then said, "But rest assured, County Magistrate Zheng is benevolent and won’t make things hard for you women and children. Just stay at home for now, don’t go to the government office. As for whether you’ll be released eventually, we’ll decide after reporting to Lord County Magistrate."

Mrs. Gao Huang, hearing this, hatched a deep grievance inwardly. Qin Yan Wang, this boy, though young, is quite adept at intervening, foiling things all too well.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Gao Huang hid her resentment, maintaining her kindly appearance, tearfully grateful: "I, a civilian woman, thank Steward Zheng for the mercy, thank Company Commander Qin for the mercy."

Crying to her daughters-in-law: "My poor daughters, you don’t need to suffer at the government office anymore, boo hoo hoo..."

The Gao family’s several daughters-in-law began crying along, joined by the wailing granddaughters, appearing very pitiable.