"Summon Zhao Ran for interrogation! Someone! Bring Zhao Ran here!" Zheng Yu directly ordered, "This case, I, this town chief, will personally preside over."
"Yes."
"My lord, Zhao Ran has been brought." The man threw Zhao Ran to the ground and then left after saluting.
"My lord, this commoner is innocent! This commoner—" His voice abruptly stopped the moment he saw Lu Yu.
When Zheng Yu had sent people to arrest Zhao Ran that day, not a single whisper had leaked out. Zhao Ran had thus believed that Lu Yu and Shen Xuan had already met their demise, meaning no one would know about their actions.
This was the plan they had devised to escape, as there were no witnesses to contradict them.
But she never expected Lu Yu to still be alive! She, she was still alive!
The moment Zhao Ran saw Lu Yu, she panicked. Lu Yu being alive meant Shen Xuan could also be alive, which meant the entire plan had failed. The two hired individuals and that young servant would definitely be caught. In that case, how would she escape?
"What? You're surprised I'm still alive?" Lu Yu didn't miss the panic in Zhao Ran's eyes and spoke with a cold laugh.
"Zhao Ran, I have sufficient evidence to prove you are the mastermind behind this matter. Why don't you confess quickly!"
"My lord, this commoner is innocent!" Zhao Ran was certain that Zheng Yu wouldn't find any evidence linking her to the crime, so she just kept crying out her innocence.
"Those two women were bribed by Chang Ping, a subordinate of Chen Yao. After interrogation, Chang Ping confessed that you instructed her. As for that young servant, A Zuo, he said he was threatened by you to do it. Do you have anything else to argue?"
"Impossible! It wasn't me! I don't even know him!"
"Still trying to argue? Both of them have identified you. Are you saying someone framed you?" Zheng Yu deliberately uttered the word "framed" to remind Zhao Ran that she still had a chance.
"My lord, the Shen family trio has arrived." A guard entered from the main door and reported loudly, standing beside Zhao Ran.
"Bring them in! It's perfect, let them confront each other directly." Zheng Yu looked down at the kneeling Zhao Ran and let out a cold laugh.
"This commoner, Shen Lin, along with my husband Zhao Liu, and son Shen Jia, pay our respects to the esteemed Town Chief." Shen Lin walked ahead, saluting Zheng Yu respectfully. His gaze swept over Lu Yu beside Zheng Yu, his disgust undisguised.
Lu Yu didn't care. She never cared about others' opinions of her. She merely sneered inwardly, Shen Lin, Shen Lin, you won't be smiling for much longer.
Zhao Liu and Shen Jia followed behind Shen Lin, heads bowed. It was their first time witnessing such a grand occasion, and they were so terrified they dared not lift their heads.
"You've arrived at a good time. I have something to discuss with Madam Shen."
"Madam Shen, Zhao Liu, A Zuo has now confessed that everything was planned by Zhao Ran and that she coerced him into doing it. I apologize, it was my misunderstanding of you before."
"Town Chief Zheng, shouldn't A Zuo be punished the same as Zhao Ran?" Lu Yu glanced at the kneeling Zhao Ran and spoke at the opportune moment.
"Of course, they cannot be punished the same. Everything must follow the rules. Since A Zuo was neither the mastermind nor an accomplice, but merely coerced by Zhao Ran, he naturally cannot be treated as an equal offender."
"The mastermind and other accomplices are also judged differently. For instance, in this matter, the mastermind Zhao Liu plotted to harm someone's life, coupled with the previous incident of drugging the county magistrate, it is undoubtedly a capital offense."
"What about Chen Yao?"
"Chen Yao, at most, is guilty of poor management of subordinates and misjudgment of character."
Zheng Yu ignored the people standing below and patiently explained the matter to Lu Yu, his gaze occasionally flicking towards the kneeling Zhao Ran.
For a moment, only Zheng Yu's voice filled the hall. Zhao Ran trembled uncontrollably from fear, while Zhao Liu beside her pushed all the blame onto her.
"No! That's not it!" Zhao Ran, as if driven mad, lunged forward, but was tightly restrained by the guards beside her.
"Zhao Ran, the situation has come to this. Do you have anything else to say?" After saying this, Zheng Yu turned to Shen Lin. "Since it has been ascertained that this matter was orchestrated by Zhao Ran and has nothing to do with your esteemed husband, you may leave."
"Don't leave! You! It's you! You all conspired to harm me!" Zhao Ran's eyes widened, veins bulging on her forehead, her facial muscles twitching incessantly, as if she were about to devour Zhao Ran.
Zhao Liu was terrified by her gaze and dared not move. Looking at her going mad, he felt a chill run through his body. He wanted to step forward and cover Zhao Ran's mouth, but he couldn't do so in public. He just stood there, looking at Zhao Ran with eyes full of coercion.
But the current Zhao Ran was completely enraged and stood there laughing maniacally, paying no attention or desire to notice Zhao Liu's threatening gaze.
After a fit of manic laughter, Zhao Ran turned to look at Zheng Yu and Lu Yu seated above, her eyes filled with madness.
"Since that's the case, I'll tell you everything. Let's all die together!"
"Town Chief Zheng, I will now tell you this matter from beginning to end. Dosing the county magistrate was Chen Qi's idea. Her intention was to frame you and seize your position as town chief."
"Who knew Lu Yu would see through it? Chen Qi then wanted to get rid of Lu Yu, but how?" Zhao Ran's expression was frenzied, and she threw her head back in laughter. "Of course, it was me!"
"Patriarch Shen, you might not know this yet, but your son—"
"Zhao Ran!" Zhao Liu shouted, interrupting Zhao Ran's words, staring intently at Zhao Ran with eyes full of fear.
"Hahahaha, you're scared now?" Zhao Ran's eyes were full of hatred. Zhao Liu's fearful expression excited Zhao Ran. She was extremely excited, her face contorted like a demon.
"Patriarch Shen!" Zhao Ran looked at Shen Lin standing aside with a grim expression, grinning excitedly. "I know Patriarch Shen values his reputation the most, but today, your reputation will be completely ruined by your husband and son!"
"Your son, Shen Lin, has long been involved with Chen Yao. Who knows, perhaps your son is already carrying Chen Yao's child."
"No, Mother, don't be fooled by her." Shen Jia stepped forward and grabbed Shen Lin's sleeve, his voice urgent, though his body trembled uncontrollably.
"A Zuo is Zhao Liu's person. Guess why Zhao Liu is helping Chen Qi? Isn't it because of your son?"
"Why do I know A Zuo is Zhao Liu's person? Isn't it because your precious son told me!"
Zhao Liu ignored Shen Jia's feeble, pale defense and continued to look at Shen Lin. This was what she wanted. This was the retribution for Zhao Liu and Shen Jia.
"Patriarch Shen, let me tell you another piece of news. Your former husband, Li Ning, was truly devoted to you. It's a pity he was schemed against by Zhao Liu."
"Zhao Liu made me prepare the medicine to frame Li Ning and Wei Han back then, and you believed it. Remember, all your reputation was ruined by those two father and son!"
Shen Lin's face turned ashen with anger. He yanked his sleeve away from Shen Jia's grasp. Regardless of whether this was true or not, being exposed in public meant Zhao Liu and Shen Jia would not have an easy time when they returned.