Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 023 Turn Around

Beauty is like a poisonous flower, deadly in a smile.

Chen Zhao's body softened, and he felt that Jiang Ruan had dug countless traps in her gentle words. No matter how he answered, it would be wrong. From the beginning, he lost.

Qian Wanli was not much better than Chen Zhao. Jiang Ruan's sabotage made it impossible to continue the trial. 

Qian Wanli had received money from others, and he had always done a very good job on the surface. Today's thorny situation was beyond his expectations, not to mention that there was Lord Wang watching on the side. 

If he sided with Chen Zhao, it would be difficult to convince the public. Not sure what Lord Wang was thinking. If he sided with Jiang Ruan, he would eat Chen Zhao's money but was unwilling to spit it out. Besides, he was planning to make a fortune from Jiang Quan, and the fat meat he got could not be lost in vain. But how can he come up with a solution that has the best of both worlds?

But the facts did not allow Qian Wanli to think about it. After a while, the sound of drums outside reached everyone's ears. Li Mi walked in and clasped his fists to Qian Wanli: "Sir, there is someone outside complaining about injustice."

Complaining about injustice, there are already very few people on East Street who do this. Everyone knows what kind of place the government office is. If there is really injustice, silver is much more effective than beating drums. If there is no silver, even if you beat for a year or two, no one will pay attention to it, and you may even be arrested and thrown into prison.

Qian Wanli was also stunned: "Who is complaining about injustice?" He looked at Lord Wang on the side and asked: "Sir, what do you think?"

"Bring her in." Lord Wang snorted coldly, and this snort hit Qian Wanli's heart, making him tremble with fear.

The person was brought in quickly. It was a young girl, dressed as a maid, who knelt down as soon as she entered the court.

"Who are you? What injustice do you have?" Without waiting for Qian Wanli to speak, Lord Wang took the lead. 

Qian Wanli did not dare to stop him, but only complained in his heart. It seemed that Lord Wang had decided to intervene in this case. But he could not refuse. 

This Censor Wang was a favourite of the emperor and he often submitted memorials. This man was like a stinky and hard stone, stubborn and unbearable. The officials who were impeached by him did not end up well in the end. It can be said that Censor Wang was the plague god in the hearts of officials. 

Now that this plague god had spoken, he did not dare to neglect it. Although the silver was good, he had to keep his official hat first. Qian Wanli made up his mind. It didn't matter if he didn't want Chen Zhao's silver or Jiang Quan's. Today, with Censor Wang in front of him, he would act like a parent official.

Thinking of this, Qian Wanli said kindly: "If you have any grievances, just tell the truth. This official and this lord will make a decision for you."

The people outside burst into laughter. Qian Wanli's words really made people laugh. A dog official who did all kinds of evil said these words with confidence, which only made people think that he was pretending. 

Chen Zhao looked at Qian Wanli in astonishment, and suddenly a panic rose in his heart. Things did not develop as he thought. Qian Wanli's attitude was unclear. What if he turned against him at the critical moment?

The girl rushed up and kowtowed in a proper manner: "Thank you, sir, for making a decision for me. I am not vindicating myself, but Miss Jiang. I am the head maid of the Jiang family farm. I can testify for Miss Jiang. It was not Miss Jiang who killed Chun Ying, but him-Chen Zhao!"

She raised her head and revealed a familiar face, it was Qiu Yan

"Qiu Yan... what nonsense are you talking about?" Chen Zhao was incredulous after the initial panic. No matter what, Qiu Yan should be on his side. There is no reason to side with Jiang Ruan. 

Now she comes out to testify against him. Why?

"I didn't lie," Qiu Yan didn't even look at Chen Zhao. "I and Chun Ying are both maids in the farm. We usually live together. That day, I went out to buy something. When I came back, I heard a strange noise in the house. I didn't dare to go in for a while, so I looked in through the small hole in the window." 

"I saw Chen Zhao pressing Chun Ying to the ground. Chen Zhao covered her mouth and nose. Chun Ying already didn't struggle at that time. I was scared to death. I ran away for fear of being discovered by him." 

"I didn't dare to mention this matter to anyone afterwards. Who knew that I learned yesterday that the young lady was arrested and thrown into prison. Although I am a coward, I can't watch an innocent person take the blame for this devil. I thought about it and came out to testify."

"What nonsense are you talking about, you idiot? Jiang Ruan has given you so much good things that you can slander my son like this. The great judge is fair and will naturally know who is lying. Be careful not to be thrown into prison! Little whore, wait for you to come out and see if I can't tear your mouth apart!" 

A familiar voice suddenly came out from the crowd. It was Zhang Lan. 

Zhang Lan was naturally anxious when she saw Chen Zhao was doing well at first, but she became more anxious when she saw Jiang Ruan talking. At this moment, Qiu Yan came out to stir up trouble. Zhang Lan immediately realized the danger and started to curse like a shrew regardless of the occasion.

Qian Wanli was not very happy to hear such words. Seeing that Wang Yushi on the side had frowned, Qian Wanli slammed the gavel: "Silence!" After it was quiet, Qian Wanli asked Qiu Yan: "Do you have any evidence for what you said this time?"

Jiang Ruan smiled lightly. In the quiet court, her smile was particularly clear, and it felt like a soft breeze blowing into people's hearts. Seeing everyone's eyes, Jiang Ruan slowly said: "My lord, you don't have to think that Qiu Yan is speaking for me. Everyone in the manor knows that except Zi Su and Lian Qiao, the maids in this manor are not familiar with us."

Jiang Ruan's smiling eyes fell on Qiu Yan: "Qiu Yan is willing to come out to testify for me, I am also surprised."

Qiu Yan dodged Jiang Ruan's gaze: "I just don't want to let my conscience down."

"You lied!" Chen Zhao said angrily: "You are obviously talking nonsense! You are colluding with her to frame me!"

"You are so funny." Jiang Ruan raised her eyebrows and looked at him: "I stayed in the prison all day and never had the opportunity to communicate with Qiu Yan. Could it be that we had colluded before? But how did we know that Chen Zhao would bring officials to the courtyard to arrest people yesterday? Could it be that I am a ghost or a monster?"

Chen Zhao looked at the beautiful face in front of him. Her eyes were as bright as spring water, but he could easily fall into a trap. 

Her lips were as plump as flower petals, but she always spoke harsh words. Her eyebrows and eyes were charming, but she was full of murderous intent. 

She was not a fairy, but a demon. She was not a beauty, but a snake.

A trace of panic flashed through Chen Zhao's heart. He felt that the other party had turned from a charming beauty into a terrible monster, with an ominous aura all over her body.

"I can also testify for Miss Jiang. It was not Miss Jiang who killed the victim!" 

Another voice interrupted at the right time.

(End of this chapter)

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