Chapter 368: Punishment

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Madam Zhao was only deceived.

Su Xiaoling could not blame Madam Zhao.

Su Xiaoling comforted her sensibly. Madam Zhao’s face was covered in tears, and her heart ached.

Su Sanlang looked at Zhou Heng. She had a lot to say.

Zhou Heng was calm and composed. He revealed his mature side to Su Sanlang and said, “Let’s talk when we get home.”

After the officials took their testimony and recorded this matter, he would explain it clearly when they returned home. He would be responsible for Su Xiaoling.

What he said today was definitely not a temporary trade-off.

Su Xiaoling secretly glanced at Zhou Heng as various thoughts ran through her mind.

Today, it was all thanks to him.

When the family arrived at the government office, Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng were all High Scholars. They did not kneel when they saw officials.

Su Sanlang and the others bowed slightly.

The bailiff handed over the testimonies he had taken earlier to the county magistrate.

Madam Zhang and Yan Wu were still about to complain when Zhou Heng said, “Sir, please investigate. This person insulted my fiancée’s reputation and stole my fiancée’s private things. Her intentions are punishable.”

The county magistrate, Qi Cheng, didn’t dare to be negligent and immediately asked sternly, “Madam Zhang, why are you doing this? Hurry up and tell the truth.”

The three High Scholars had yet to reach the end of the imperial examination. Who knew how far they would go?

If he offended them, he would suffer enough when they advanced in the ranks in the future.

Madam Zhang still wanted to argue, but Yan Wu had already seen the situation clearly. He kowtowed and apologized. “Sir, please forgive me. It’s all my fault for secretly admiring Miss Su. That’s why I made this huge mistake and did something I shouldn’t have done.”

Now that things had become like this, it was no longer something they could control. The only thing they could do was admit their mistakes and reduce their crimes.

It was better to do something wrong than to have evil intentions.

Therefore, Yan Wu was prepared to bite this point to death.

After Yan Wu kowtowed, he continued to confess with tears in his eyes. “Lord, I shouldn’t have liked Miss Su. If I hadn’t been infatuated with her, my mother wouldn’t have thought of such a method. My mother couldn’t bear to see me getting thinner and thinner and was afraid that I would exhaust my body, so she used such a despicable method. We thought that when Miss Su’s reputation was ruined and no one wanted her, I would be able to marry her.”

“Lord, I regret it. I already know my mistake. I already know my mistake. Miss Su, please let us go. Even if you can’t let me go, please let my mother off. She only made a mistake by loving me too much.”

Yan Wu looked at Su Xiaoling again and apologized in pain.

Madam Zhang felt terrible. She immediately kowtowed. As she kowtowed, she begged, “I beg you, please spare us. I was evil. I shouldn’t have harbored evil intentions for my son. Let me bear all of this. I came up with everything.”

Madam Zhang understood what Yan Wu meant. If they wanted to be punished lightly, she had to admit her mistake and beg for mercy. Moreover, her attitude had to be sincere.

Qi Cheng looked at the Su family.

This case was neither big nor small. It all depended on the Su family’s choice.

If the Su family didn’t mind, he would just warn Madam Zhang and Yan Wu to end this case.

If the Su family did mind, they would investigate Madam Zhang and Yan Wu and convict them.

Therefore, Qi Cheng did not say anything.

Su Sanlang looked at Madam Zhang and Yan Wu, who were crying and begging for mercy, and felt suffocated.

He wasn’t ruthless enough. Although he couldn’t forgive Madam Zhang and Yan Wu, he was already moved.

Madam Zhao did not feel good either. She did not know what to do and looked at Su Xiaoling.

Su Xiaoling’s expression was calm. She said coldly, “Your mother-son relationship is touching. I believe you’re telling the truth.”

Hearing Su Xiaoling’s words, Madam Zhang and Yan Wu looked happy.

However, Su Xiaoling’s next words made Madam Zhang and Yan Wu’s faces stiffen.

Su Xiaoling paused. Just as Qi Cheng thought that she was going to let Yan Wu and Madam Zhang off, Su Xiaoling said, “But that’s that. The laws of the Great Zhou can’t be trampled on. If you commit a crime, you have to be punished according to the country’s laws. If the crime has no cost, it will be an infringement on the entire world.”

“I hope that I will be the first and last victim of Yan Wu and his mother’s actions. I am the end, not the beginning. I believe that you will be fair and just and will definitely punish them fairly.”

After saying that, Su Xiaoling looked at Qi Cheng.

She asked, “Do you think I’m right, my lord?”

Qi Cheng nodded. “Miss Su is right.”

This meant that they were going to pursue the matter, but it was only a matter of fact. They would punish them as they should. They would not let him off, nor would they add undeserved punishment.

Since Su Xiaoling had made such a request, Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao agreed.

Everyone agreed with Su Xiaoling.

Madam Zhang and Yan Wu were clearly dissatisfied with this punishment. Their original intention was to turn this matter into a small matter.

Being punished was not what they wanted.

“My lord…”

Madam Zhang had just opened her mouth when Zhou Heng interrupted her.

“It’s a good thing that you know your mistakes and can change them. Only this punishment can show the world that you must always remember that the Great Zhou Dynasty is a country with strict laws. As long as you commit a crime, you will definitely be punished. With this precedent, it can also stop those with sinister thoughts.”

Zhou Heng cupped his hands and said, blocking Madam Zhang’s heart.

Qi Cheng nodded. “High Scholar Zhou is right. Don’t worry, I will definitely punish them severely.”

After being locked up for a period of time, he would walk around the town every day with the prison cart and announce their crimes.

Madam Zhang and Yan Wu were obviously dissatisfied with this outcome.

However, it was no longer up to them to defend themselves.

If he said anything more, Qi Cheng would doubt their true intentions.

“Take them down.”

Qi Cheng gave the order.

Madam Zhang wailed. She was really afraid now, but she didn’t dare to defend herself, afraid that the crime would be even more serious.

She was extremely regretful. If she had known this would happen, she would never have done such a thing.

But how could she have known?

Yan Wu also regretted it. He looked at Su Xiaoling and couldn’t help but think that if they hadn’t deliberately put on airs and handed everything over sincerely, would there have been a different ending?

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world, and there was no turning back.

Qi Cheng cupped his hands at Su Chong and the others. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely deal with it impartially.”

Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng cupped their hands in return.

“Thank you for your trouble, my lord. Our family will go back first. We will set off for the capital tomorrow. We really can’t delay.”

Su Hua said gently. Su Chong and Zhou Heng nodded.

Qi Cheng said to Su Hua and the others, “Alright, then you can go back. If there’s any news about the case, I’ll get someone to inform your family.”

“Alright, then I’ll have to trouble you to send the news to Chen Hu’s family,” Su Hua instructed seriously. If Chen Hu knew the news, he could get Chen Shi to write a letter and tell him. This way, they would know from far away in the capital.