County Magistrate Zheng looked exasperated: "You woman, you can’t even bother to lie properly, you just pick up stupid excuses. Mrs. Gao Hong was drugged, so you make up such a lie. But you are Mrs. Gao Huang’s daughter-in-law, how could she drug you and cut off her own son’s descendants?"

Chang Taohua was stunned, then cried out: "My lord, Gao’s second son has four maids, and keeps two widows outside, he doesn’t lack women to bear him children. Mrs. Gao Huang must have drugged me to threaten a civilian woman like me, I truly..."

"Enough, the evidence is conclusive, no need to say more." County Magistrate Zheng said impatiently: "Gag her, then have them thumbprint the confession."

"My lord, please, I was forced!" Chang Taohua cried out, but no sooner had she started shouting than a Government Official gagged her, pressed her handprint, and dragged her away to the women’s prison.

Mrs. Gao Wu also wanted to plead for innocence, but the Government Official swiftly gagged her too, forcing her to confess with a handprint, and she was taken to the cell.

Thanks to her father and brother performing meritorious service despite their crimes, Mrs. Gao Hong was spared imprisonment, but to be truly exonerated, they had to wait for the Prefecture Government Office’s approval.

Mrs. Gao Hong was only an accomplice, so as long as the Prefecture Government Office agreed, she could be released without the need for approval from the Imperial Court of Judicial Review in the Capital.

Only major cases like murder, silver robbery, corruption, or treason are reviewed by the Da Li Temple.

"Sister Ye, don’t be sad, I bet the Old Devout Woman lied about you being infertile, father will get a good doctor to examine you." Uncle Hong looked at his daughter with deep concern, blaming her beauty and innocence for being deceived by Fourth Son Gao.

Seeing this, Section Leader Jiang requested: "My lord, Doctor Zhou is still in the Punishment Room, why not have him examine Mrs. Gao Hong?"

It was convenient, quick, and cost-effective.

County Magistrate Zheng, having received three pots of gold from the Gao family, was very pleased and nodded in agreement: "Okay, let Doctor Zhou examine Mrs. Gao Hong."

"Thank you, my lord, thank you!" Uncle Hong was moved to tears, anxiously waiting for Doctor Zhou.

Soon, Section Leader Jiang brought Doctor Zhou over, and after taking Hong Ye’s pulse, he regretfully said: "She was indeed drugged with tiger and wolf medicine, likely during her confinement, the chances of cure are slim."

"Doctor Zhou, please help, treat my daughter Ye! She’s so young, with decades ahead, she wants to marry again, she can’t be childless." Uncle Hong pleaded with Doctor Zhou: "Doctor Zhou, rest assured, whatever medicine you prescribe, our family will ensure full payment, no delays."

Doctor Zhou was in a dilemma: "This kind of illness needs good medicine over many years, how could an ordinary family afford that? Your daughter has already given birth once, just having a child is enough, don’t waste the family’s silver."

With today’s heavy taxes, silver should be spent on life-saving needs, matters of childbirth can wait.

"Father, there’s no need to treat it, I’m fine." Hong Ye, having not conceived for years, already suspected she couldn’t have more children, and didn’t mind. Not bearing children for the Gao family was a relief to her: "I’ve come to terms... if I remarry, I’ll find someone with a son, I’m not picky."

Hong Ye didn’t want to remarry, but her father was old and couldn’t protect her forever, her brother was married and couldn’t support her indefinitely; not being a burden to her family, remarrying was her best solution.

"Father, I’m begging you, don’t treat me, okay? I don’t want to trouble the family anymore."

Uncle Hong, hearing this, could only sob, look at his son, and think of today’s taxes and the other grandchildren. He agreed with tears: "Alright, no treatment. Rest assured, I’ll find you a good family so you won’t suffer anymore."

"Okay, I trust you, Father." Hong Ye smiled, wanting to ask about her son Brother Liang, but just as she began, Hong Wen tugged her sleeve, and Hong Ye wisely said no more.

County Magistrate Zheng and the others didn’t linger, instructing Uncle Hong: "Watch over Mrs. Gao Hong, she must not leave the house without the Prefecture Government Office’s approval."

With that, they returned to the back office, continuing to deal with tax matters.

"Lord Company Commander, a group has come outside, two old men leading, surnamed Zhou and Lin, claiming to be your fellow villagers and famine escapees, demanding to see you." Zhang Zhong personally came to the back office to find Qin San Lang and discreetly informed him. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Qin San Lang, knowing who they were upon hearing this, told Section Leader Jiang and County Magistrate Zheng: "They are Elder Zhou and Elder Lin from Li Village, Niugou Town, undoubtedly here to plead for Zhou Laoer, sirs need not worry, I’ll handle them."

"Go ahead." County Magistrate Zheng and Section Leader Jiang, reassured, continued handling tax issues and appeasing the people.

...

"My son only went with Li Kuihu to visit the Gao family, who knew they would commit such crimes? But my son didn’t do any evil, he was innocently implicated, he shouldn’t have been arrested," Elder Zhou cried at the government gate, insisting Zhou Laoer was innocent and wrongly detained by Government Officials.

Thud!

Qin San Lang struck the government gate’s drum with the blade of his sword, interrupting Elder Zhou’s cries.

"Company Commander Qin, see, that’s the Company Commander Qin you’re looking for." The villagers kneeling at the gate helpfully informed Elder Zhou but stepped back a few paces, not wanting to be caught in Company Commander Qin’s wrath.

Just look at how dark Company Commander Qin’s handsome face had turned? He seemed about ready to draw his sword.

Elder Lin and Elder Zhou turned to see Qin San Lang, his expression stern and gaze lethal, a murderous aura enveloping him, frightening them to step back in haste.

Elder Zhou collected himself, crying: "Qin family boy? Oh San Lang, you must save your Uncle Zhou Er."

"Silence." Qin San Lang coldly interjected, his voice soft yet imposing, trapping Elder Zhou in stunned silence.

My, how ferocious is this boy from the Qin family?

"Before you came to the county government, did you visit Gu Family at Da Feng Village?" Qin San Lang asked.

Elder Zhou, seeing Qin San Lang’s demeanor, hesitated to respond.

Elder Lin then said: "We did, Zhou wanted to ask the Gu Family for help, but we weren’t allowed in, they drove us away, so the Zhou family had no choice but to come to you."

He added: "I came along not to help the Zhou family but to prevent any further troubles they might cause."

"Lin Laodi, you have a cold heart, distancing yourself from my family just because my second son is in trouble." Elder Zhou was so enraged he wanted to hit someone, losing respect from Lin was infuriating; in the past, Elder Lin listened to him.

"You’ve gone already? Then there’s nothing more to say." Qin San Lang’s hands shifted behind him: "Zhou Laoer violated the Criminal Law, Zhou Family people should be implicated too, arrest them all and throw them in prison!"

Since they wanted to see Zhou Laoer, he’d grant their wish.

"Yes!" Zhang Zhong, with Military Office soldiers, Luo Wu and the Government Officials swarmed towards the Zhou Family People, arresting the sobbing Elder Zhou, Zhou Sanlang, Zhou Laoer’s wife, and the innocent Young Master Zhou.

"The government was going to let you go, but since you insist on coming here, you can’t blame us." Luo Wu had long disliked the Zhou Family People, and arresting them suited him just fine.

However, Qin San Lang didn’t really intend to punish the Zhou Family People, only to teach them a lesson and prevent further trouble.