Madam Xu was so happy she almost laughed out loud. “Sir, he agreed to this himself.”

She even turned and gave orders, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and search him!”

Prefect Ding furrowed his brows tightly and shouted, “Madam Xu, you’re just a commoner. How dare you give orders over this official? Otherwise, I’ll come down and let you sit here to conduct the trial yourself.”

Madam Xu’s smile stiffened on her face.

Seeing Prefect Ding’s cold expression, she realized she had overstepped and silently regretted being too impatient earlier.

Prefect Ding snorted coldly and looked at Gu Qingyan. “Are you willing to submit to a search?”

Below, Assistant Magistrate Zhang gave a glance, wanting to warn this hotheaded young scholar that the Li family had surely set a big trap for him to fall into.

Gu Qingyan cupped his hands and bowed. “Sir, I am willing, but I have one more request.”

Prefect Ding nodded. “Speak.”

Gu Qingyan looked toward Madam Xu. “I have never taken a single cent from the Li family. Madam Xu knows this well, yet she still acts so aggressively. It shows there is no motherly affection left between us.”

Madam Xu’s expression turned cold. “You’re not my biological son, yet you’ve monopolized my son’s fifteen years of honor and wealth. Where is the motherly affection in that?”

A pang hit Gu Qingyan’s heart, but his face remained calm. “Madam Xu, you came here alone today. For such an important matter, doesn’t the Li family have anyone else to represent them?”

Madam Xu snorted coldly. “I alone am enough to deal with you. Don’t expect any backup.”

Unknown to her, Prefect Ding and the others upstairs were already frowning.

Madam Xu was a concubine of Li Shi Lang. Although she had lived long in Qingzhou Prefecture, after all, she was still a woman.

Coming to court alone today—fine if no one from the Li family came—but even her own son didn’t show up.

Gu Qingyan chuckled bitterly.

He vaguely remembered when he was young and sick, Madam Xu always blamed him for playing too much and not taking care of his health. He never imagined that after a year, he’d see her charging into battle for her own son.

With the system, he understood their calculations better than anyone.

Gu Qingyan said loudly, “I’d like to ask you first to search the bodies of these constables. Earlier they were so aggressive, insisting the item was in the ox cart. The timing is too suspicious.”

“I suspect they are secretly hiding the bracelet, planning to plant it during the search to frame me.”

Before he finished speaking, the lead constable’s face changed drastically.

“Don’t talk nonsense! When have I ever framed someone?”

Gu Qingyan said calmly, “Not yet. That’s because I rushed straight to the magistrate’s office without letting you come near me. If you had gotten close, then who knows what would’ve happened.”

Prefect Ding narrowed his eyes. “Gu Qingyan, do you have any evidence?”

Gu Qingyan cupped his hands. “I have no evidence.”

“Sir, he stole something himself but won’t admit it, falsely accusing us with empty words!” the constables protested.

But Gu Qingyan said, “If nothing is found in the search, I am willing to admit to false accusation and give up my civil service ambitions.”

At these words, the crowd’s expressions shifted slightly.

A false accusation charge is no lighter than theft.

Prefect Ding stroked his long beard, making up his mind. “Very well, then conduct the search.”

“Assistant Magistrate Zhang, you take charge.”

Zhang promptly walked toward the constables.

The constables were sweating profusely, trembling in fear, cursing the Li family mother and son harshly inside their hearts.

If they’d known Gu Qingyan would be so difficult, why would they have touched the Li family’s silver? Who could have guessed the silver was such a hot potato?

Meanwhile, Madam Xu was still oblivious, even sneering coldly, “Truly courting death. Originally just theft, now false accusation too. With multiple charges, you’ll be locked up for at least three to five years.”

Gu Qingyan glanced at her but said nothing.

Seeing the constables’ expressions, Assistant Magistrate Zhang knew something was wrong.

Sure enough, as soon as he reached out, he quickly found something. “Sir, I found it.”

He took it out and it was a gold filigree bracelet decorated with cloisonné flowers of the four seasons.

Madam Xu’s face turned pale, and she pressed her lips tightly, as if remembering something.

Prefect Ding’s expression darkened. “Li Yong, you better confess honestly!”

Assistant Magistrate Zhang coldly scolded, “You are a constable who knowingly broke the law. If you don’t confess, your sentence will be even harsher.”

The constable dropped to his knees with a thud. “Sir, I’m innocent! Madam Xu forced the bracelet on me, telling me to block Master Gu from finding the stolen item. If they couldn’t find it, I was to plant this bracelet.”

Prefect Ding shouted coldly, “Madam Xu, do you know your crimes?”

Madam Xu clenched her handkerchief tightly.

Gu Qingyan looked at her, waiting for her decision.

Because he knew better than anyone that Madam Xu didn’t know about the planting scheme—it was Li Jingtin who secretly instructed the constable.

Suddenly, Madam Xu knelt down, crying out, “Sir, I’m innocent! I only found a bracelet missing and guessed Gu Qingyan stole it, wanting only to recover the dowry.”

“I was confused and worried he wouldn’t admit it, or might throw it away or hide it and lose it. That’s why I thought of this method.”

“I only want to find the lost item. Sir, you can search them. He must still be hiding another bracelet on him.”

Gu Qingyan chuckled quietly.

Madam Xu’s face twisted with rage. “What are you laughing at? If not for you, my son wouldn’t have suffered for fifteen years. If not for you, he would have passed the exams and brought me to the capital. If not for you…”

Gu Qingyan said calmly, “Madam Xu, why not call Li Jingtin here, let everyone present see if he really suffered for fifteen years.”

Madam Xu’s face darkened.

Gu Qingyan cupped his hands. “If that’s the case, please thoroughly search me, to restore my innocence.”

Madam Xu’s face brightened.

Prefect Ding nodded toward Assistant Magistrate Zhang.

Zhang laughed heartily, “I’ll do the search. Don’t worry—no one dares to play tricks under my watch.”

Gu Qingyan spread his arms wide.

Zhang the assistant magistrate finished searching in just a few moments: “Nothing was found.”

“And the book boy, he must be hiding it on himself or in the ox cart,” Madam Xu screamed.

Zhang the assistant magistrate searched one by one but shook his head each time. Although he found the book boy sweating profusely and acting suspiciously, there was indeed nothing found.

“Magistrate Ding, nothing was discovered.”

Madam Xu couldn’t believe it: “How is that possible? You must be protecting him.”

Magistrate Ding’s face darkened with anger: “Madam Xu, you are slandering and defaming an official of the court. Hmph, I want to ask Minister Li far away in the capital why he tolerates such arrogance from a concubine in his household.”

Only then did Madam Xu feel afraid.

If this matter was brought to Minister Li’s attention, she would definitely be punished.

Thinking of the grievances she had suffered over the years and her own biological son at home, Madam Xu gritted her teeth and said, “I mean no harm; he must have hidden it. Perhaps he dropped it in that alley.”

Magistrate Ding sneered coldly: “If that’s the case, then let me thoroughly dash your hopes.”

“Guards, send people to thoroughly search the back alley of the Li residence; do not leave a single inch unchecked.”

Gu Qingyan lowered his eyes and stood silently, his expression solemn, looking like a pitiful victim bullied by the Li family.

Magistrate Ding sighed in his heart.

Even without considering the Pei family’s influence, he would not tolerate a madwoman behaving like this.

This is Qingzhou Prefecture, not the Li family’s private fiefdom, where a concubine can stomp her feet and have her way.

Soon, the officers returned.

“Sir, there was nothing found in the alley.”

Madam Xu screamed hysterically: “Impossible! Did you search properly? Or did you take a bribe from that boy and deliberately hide the truth?”

The officers were offended: “You, woman, don’t talk nonsense. The alley was swept clean, you could see all the way through it. If there was a bracelet, how could it have not been found?”

“Exactly. We went together with many witnesses.”

“You just said the young master stole your bracelet because he was short of money, but now you say he bribed us. If he was short of money, where would he get money to bribe others?”

“You’re such a vicious woman, scheming to frame someone just because your own son can’t read as well as Gu Qingyan. That’s too cruel.”

Madam Xu began to panic.

Magistrate Ding struck the judge’s wooden gavel: “Silence!”

“Madam Xu, do you know the severity of your crime?”

Madam Xu’s face darkened, and she glared fiercely at Gu Qingyan. After a long pause, she spoke with difficulty:

“I only lost something and was anxious in the moment. I beg your honor to forgive me.”

Magistrate Ding sneered: “Being anxious doesn’t justify false accusations. Being anxious doesn’t justify bribing officers to frame others. If everyone in the Great Zhou were as impatient as you, what use would laws have?”

“Today, two crimes will be punished together. Xu Madam will receive twenty strokes, Li Yong thirty strokes. Carry out the sentence!”

Madam Xu’s face changed drastically. As a mere woman, if she was beaten with twenty strokes, there would be no way she could survive.

Even if she lived, she would have no face to show anyone again.

“Sir, I am his foster mother. Since ancient times, parents suing their children are innocent.”

Magistrate Ding sneered: “What kind of foster mother are you? Since the child has been returned, this child’s surname is Gu; his parents and brothers are all named Gu, unrelated to your Li family. If you want to claim being the foster mother, wouldn’t your son also have to recognize the Gu family as his foster parents?”

Madam Xu instantly regretted coming to the magistrate’s office. She turned to Gu Qingyan: “Son, can you really bear to watch me punished? After all, I raised you for fifteen years.”

“Madam Xu, do you know that in half a month, I will take the prefectural exam?” Gu Qingyan asked.

Madam Xu’s eyes flickered uncertainly.

Gu Qingyan understood immediately, and cupped his hands: “Sir, please listen to me.”

Magistrate Ding said indifferently, “The state has its laws and the family its rules. She falsely accused and bribed officers. If not punished, how can I command respect in the future?”

Gu Qingyan said, “Although Madam Xu has no motherly love for me, what she said is true—the Li family did raise me for fifteen years.”

“Today, I am willing to take the blame and repay the fifteen years of upbringing.”

Madam Xu’s face turned pale and then flushed; her eyes were complicated as she looked at Gu Qingyan.

In the end, she only stammered, “Fine, you take the punishment for me. From now on, we are even.”

Magistrate Ding frowned, clearly disapproving.

In his view, Madam Xu showed no parental kindness—first framing and slandering, then insulting repeatedly. It didn’t seem like the way one treats a child raised for fifteen years, more like how one treats an enemy.

He pondered briefly: “Gu Qingyan, have you really thought it through?”

“My resolve is firm,” Gu Qingyan said.

Complete separation: the bridge is the bridge, the road is the road, no longer owing Madam Xu any gratitude for raising him.

Magistrate Ding nodded: “Then I will fulfill your wish.”

“Today, Madam Xu committed a serious crime, two punishments combined. The former foster son Gu Qingyan shows filial piety by willing to take responsibility and repay the fifteen years of nurturing. From today on, Gu Qingyan and the Li family are completely severed.”

“Madam Xu, from now on you are not allowed to mention the nurturing debt again. Do you accept?”

Madam Xu nodded repeatedly: “I accept. I will never mention it again.”

Magistrate Ding was about to give the order.

Several people hurried in from outside—it was the Li clan head and his son, followed by Li Jingtian.

Gu Qingyan’s expression stiffened. He knew Li Jingtian must have learned of the matter and hurried over, fearing Madam Xu’s imprisonment would tarnish his own reputation.

The Li clan head’s face was dark as he came in, glaring fiercely at Madam Xu before bowing: “Sir, Madam Xu is at fault, but she is after all a relative of the official family. Executing her here would be improper. It would be better if the Li family took her back to handle.”

Magistrate Ding gave no face: “Why didn’t she think of this when she committed the crime?”

Gu Qingyan noticed that Magistrate Ding’s relationship with the Li family was definitely not good.

When he was with the Li family before, he thought they were influential in Qingzhou Prefecture and close with the magistrate. Now it seemed otherwise.

The Li clan head was sweating profusely, worried that if Madam Xu was punished, the Li family’s reputation would be ruined.

He even feared that Minister Li in the capital would get reported for this.

He instinctively looked at Gu Qingyan.

Magistrate Ding snorted coldly: “You arrived just in time. Although Madam Xu is unkind and unvirtuous, Gu Qingyan is extremely filial and willing to take the blame to repay the Li family for fifteen years of raising him.”

Clan Leader Li’s eyes showed a complex expression for a moment.

Behind him, Li Mingwei was even more moved, saying, “Brother Yan, you have suffered injustice.”

These words made Li Jingting, who had come along, look even more displeased.

Prefect Ding swept his gaze across them and suddenly got an idea.

“Who is Li Jingting?”

Li Jingting’s heart jumped; he quickly replied, “I am student Li Jingting.”

He was afraid inside—had Madam Xu not held out and handed him over?

Prefect Ding narrowed his eyes: “Most of Madam Xu’s mistakes were for your sake. Do you have anything to say?”

Li Jingting’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at Madam Xu.

She gently shook her head.

Li Jingting breathed a sigh of relief and said righteously, “Stepmother, you are confused. Although I have suffered for fifteen years, now we have all returned to normal. There is no need for you to take matters into your own hands on my behalf.”

“Sir, I truly did not know of this before; otherwise, I would have stopped Stepmother.”

“Please rest assured, sir. When we return, I will persuade Stepmother well so that she won’t make the same mistake again.”

Li Jingting thought these words were honest and straightforward but didn’t notice the change in everyone’s expression.

Especially Madam Xu—hearing the word “Stepmother” reminded her of her concubine status, and the shame made her lower her head.

Gu Qingyan watched his performance silently.

If one hadn’t read the system’s records, who would have thought that Li Jingting was actually the mastermind behind all this?

The reason was simply that he feared that if Gu Qingyan passed the imperial exam, it would outshine him, Li Jingting.

Madam Xu wholeheartedly covered for her own son, but when Li Jingting came along, he only thought of saving himself.

Gu Qingyan lowered his head and sneered coldly. Is this the “mother-son love” Madam Xu wanted?

Clan Leader Li sighed inwardly as well. He thought to himself, saying such things in the courtroom—who wouldn’t see through his scheming?

Prefect Ding sneered even more.

Gu Qingyan was willing to bear punishment to clear his foster mother’s name, but Li Jingting? He only spoke pretty words, shifting all blame onto his birth mother.

Calling her “Stepmother” over and over—truly a son of the Li family, just like his father, heartless and ungrateful.

Prefect Ding cleared his throat: “What happens after returning is your Li family’s business; I won’t interfere.”

“But since Madam Xu’s punishment is imminent, Gu Qingyan was raised by the Li family for fifteen years and is willing to take the punishment himself. What about you, her own son? Are you willing?”

Li Jingting only heard “take the punishment himself.”

The government’s punishment with the wooden board was brutal; ten strikes could cripple a person.

Though the plan failed, and Gu Qingyan’s reputation was to be protected, Li Jingting was basically digging his own grave by offering to take Madam Xu’s punishment. If he were to be struck and thus fail the exam, that might be a good thing.

Prefect Ding sneered, “Well? Are you unwilling?”

Li Jingting shuddered and looked up to see everyone staring at him.

He hurried to say, “Of course I am willing. Stepmother is my birth mother; I am willing to do anything for her. But since he wants to repay Stepmother’s kindness by taking punishment, I won’t compete with him.”

Prefect Ding could clearly see through his little trick and laughed.

“Madam Xu may not be kind, but she bore two filial children. Gu Qingyan knows to repay kindness; Li Jingting has filial piety—both are rare and precious.”

Li Jingting’s heart leapt, thinking his words had won Prefect Ding’s praise.

Clan Leader Li thought otherwise and was about to speak but was stopped by Prefect Ding’s gaze.

He inwardly cursed—others might not know, but he knew Prefect Ding had close ties with the Bai family, and Bai was the official wife of Minister Li.

So of course Prefect Ding wouldn’t favor Li Jingting.

Sure enough, Prefect Ding spoke: “In that case, I expect you two to share the responsibility.”

“Madam Xu gave birth to Li Jingting, so Li Jingting will take the twenty strikes.”

Li Jingting’s face changed drastically.

“Madam Xu raised Gu Qingyan. Though unkind, she still showed kindness. Gu Qingyan, I order you to copy the ‘Classic of Filial Piety’ one hundred times, offer it before Buddha, and maintain two eternal lamps to repay the nurturing kindness.”

Prefect Ding said this and smiled with satisfaction.

Everyone in the courtroom exchanged glances—on one side was twenty strikes, on the other was copying a book. The Prefect’s bias was obvious.

Madam Xu wanted to object but was firmly held back.

Clan Leader Li said coldly, “If you make a fuss again and ruin your son’s future, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Madam Xu trembled and dared not speak further.

Clan Leader Li looked at Li Jingting coldly: “Jingting, aren’t you going to thank the Prefect for his mercy?”

Li Jingting’s teeth clenched tightly. He couldn’t understand why in Qingzhou Prefecture, the Prefect wouldn’t side with him, a high-ranking official’s son, but instead sided with a country bumpkin.

Seeing Clan Leader Li’s warning, he could only bow and say, “Thank you, sir, for your mercy.”

Prefect Ding smiled lightly: “No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Gu Qingyan. If he hadn’t been so understanding and grateful for the Li family’s years of fostering, I would never have spared such a vicious woman.”

“Guards, carry out the punishment!”

Li Jingting bit his teeth, originally wanting to hold out without crying out, but when the first strike came down, the pain was unbearable.

He immediately screamed miserably, regretting his careless words that had fallen into the Prefect’s trap.

If he had known, he wouldn’t have cared about Madam Xu’s fate and wouldn’t have dragged Clan Leader Li and others here to save her.

“Mother, save me! Uncle, save me! It hurts so much… ah—” Li Jingting cried, tears streaming, utterly miserable.

But regret came too late; the guards, experienced, quickly covered his mouth.

Madam Xu’s face was drenched in tears of pain as she rushed forward shouting, “Sir, hit me! Please hit me! Don’t hit my son!”

Prefect Ding’s gaze grew colder: “Pull her away.”

“Let her watch carefully. If she dares to make a mistake again in the future, let her think of this scene first.”

Xu Shi was dragged over and forced to witness the punishment herself.

Gu Qingyan stood to the side, seeing the genuine worry in Xu Shi’s eyes, and also the growing resentment directed at him.

So Xu Shi did care, did feel pain—she would rather be beaten herself than let Li Jingtin suffer.

He lowered his gaze, hiding the complex emotions flickering beneath his eyes.

Li Clan Leader was sweating profusely, inwardly regretting a little, and whispered a plea, “Sir, my nephew is after all a weak scholar. He was supposed to go to the capital this year, but fell ill and was delayed. His body has not fully recovered yet; I ask for your mercy.”

He meant to remind Magistrate Ding that if the man was beaten to death, no one could explain it.

Magistrate Ding only wanted to vent his anger, and said calmly, “Clan Leader Li, don’t worry, twenty strokes won’t kill him.”

Li Clan Leader saw that Ding had it under control and relaxed a bit.

As long as no one died, the mess wouldn’t be his problem to clean up, but that of Minister Li.

Looking at the silent Gu Qingyan on the other side, his heart grew even more complicated.

Once upon a time, he thought this nephew was remarkably clever, and had urged Xu Shi several times to let him focus on studying, maybe one day he could be a top scholar like Minister Li and serve in the court.

But Xu Shi was overly doting then, always saying the boy was weak and often ill, even forbidding him from attending the clan school much.

Time passed, and looking back, Li Clan Leader sensed something was wrong but couldn’t put it into words.

After all, the Li family had raised Gu Qingyan for fifteen years, and at the time, they intended to keep him—not as a young master, but as a distant relative would be fine.

But who knew Xu Shi acted so quickly.

Now seeing this scene again, Li Clan Leader knew the boy had completely turned away and could never be won back.

Magistrate Ding dealt a heavy blow to Li Jingtin but showed some mercy to Gu Qingyan.

“Good child, I know you are filial, but your provincial exam is coming soon. How can you let such a trivial matter delay your imperial exam?”

“You have been wronged in this matter. When you go back, just copy the Classic of Filial Piety properly. When you bring it to me, I will decide your case.”

Gu Qingyan naturally cupped his hands and thanked him.

At the punishment scene, Li Jingtin was crying and snotty-faced. Though Xu Shi wasn’t beaten, she was even more wretched—wailing continuously, losing her formerly dignified noblewoman image.

Gu Qingyan exhaled lightly and didn’t linger.

As soon as he stepped out of the magistrate’s office, Li Mingwei ran up behind him.

“Qingyan, wait.”

Gu Qingyan turned and saw a once familiar cousin who was now a stranger, unsure how to react.

“From now on, Father will watch strictly, so this won’t happen again.”

Li Mingwei patted his shoulder.

“I heard you already passed the county exam, even ranked first. Well done.”

“Given how she acted, maybe leaving the Li family was a good thing for you. Just focus on studying and don’t think too much about it.”

Gu Qingyan felt the goodwill and nodded in thanks.

“No need to thank me. Even if you don’t have the Li surname, we grew up together,” Li Mingwei smiled.

Gu Qingyan tried to smile back, but his mouth felt stiff.

Li Mingwei sighed, thinking how distant they had become. The child who once clung to his leg calling him brother was gone.

“This matter was her doing alone. Father and I definitely didn’t know. Our third uncle in the capital doesn’t know either.”

Li Mingwei wanted to explain more but felt it flimsy, so finally said, “Forget it. Just study hard. If you need help, come find me.”

Gu Qingyan hesitated, then said, “There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Speak,” Li Mingwei answered quickly.

Gu Qingyan explained, “Today when I went to the Li family, I wasn’t stealing anything but looking for someone. When I left in a hurry, Hongdou, who was near the madam, gave me silver. Now that I’m back in Qingzhou, I want to see how she is doing.”

“But who knows… after this, they’ll definitely take it out on Sister Hongdou. Brother… can you help me get her out?”

Since Xu Shi and Li Jingtin had set up a trap using Hongdou, they surely knew he had returned.

Hearing this, Li Mingwei frowned deeply.

“Is Hongdou the one inside Madam Xu’s house? The one who’s quite beautiful, about eighteen or nineteen?”

Gu Qingyan nodded.

“You know her?”

Li Mingwei looked at him, wanting to say something but stopped himself.