Chapter 161: Case Reversed (By Force of Intimidation)

Above the surface of LinYuan City, dark currents churned; on the Provincial Governor's bedside lay three severed heads, corpses piled on smuggling vessels at the harbor, and the Qinglong Society was wiped out.

As for the minor disturbance in the northern quarter and a single woman's corpse? Before these three major events, no one cared anymore.

Early that morning, Chu Danqing left to visit the prisoners.

After bribing the guards with silver, he was granted an audience with Yang Wenju.

Thanks to treatment and a decent night's rest, Yang Wenju looked as spirited as when they first met.

Yet after all this turmoil, he appeared at least ten years older.

Seeing Chu Danqing arrive, he rose and bowed: "Young Master Chu."

As condemned prisoners, Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe were held in separate cells, with no other inmates nearby.

Chu Danqing glanced at Da Bao and the Emperor's Son; both conveyed with their expressions that no one was around.

"The harbor situation is settled—I dealt with the three smuggling ships and the Qinglong Society."

"The heads of Xue Yong, Qiao Huaiyuan, and that society's leader have been delivered to the Provincial Governor."

"They claim this pipeline funds the Empress Dowager's private treasury."

"And they say you possess the Zhenhai Map," Chu Danqing whispered low enough for Yang Wenju alone to hear.

Yang Wenju's face twisted in shock—he hadn't realized how far this reached.

He quickly masked his expression and said calmly: "I don't have the Zhenhai Map."

"Don't you trust me?" Chu Danqing frowned.

"No—I truly don't have the Zhenhai Map," Yang Wenju sighed, seeing Chu Danqing's misunderstanding.

"What I have is the Provincial Governor's ledger of smuggling and sales—it lists not just the Qinglong Society, but all assets of the Baihu Hall, Zhujue Tower, and Xuanwu Gate."

Chu Danqing's inner curse nearly burst out.

"So many ledgers? How did you get them?" Chu Danqing hadn't expected such a trump card.

"I couldn't take them—I just have an excellent memory and memorized every page," Yang Wenju said with a touch of pride, though it faded quickly.

What good was a sharp memory when he was locked away? Without Chu Danqing and Liu Bai, he'd be wrapped in straw and dumped in a mass grave by now.

"Of course, Young Master, if you want the originals, I know where they are," Yang Wenju said, whispering an address to Chu Danqing.

The location was incredibly hidden—no one would ever guess the ledgers were hidden there.

Yichun Pavilion.

"That's probably too late," Chu Danqing realized his movements last night had been too loud—the Provincial Governor wasn't a fool and would likely have moved them.

Chu Danqing summoned a Ghost Wailing Infant and sent it to investigate.

Whether the Zhenhai Map existed didn't matter—but if he got the ledgers, the rest would be far easier.

"I have the Zhenhai Map," said Bai Xiaohe, her hair disheveled from the next cell, cutting in brightly.

Chu Danqing turned, baffled—how in the world did it end up with you?

"The night before my husband was poisoned, he gave me this map, saying someone would help me after my downfall."

"He told me to give it to whoever helped me," Bai Xiaohe explained.

"So is it possible the person he meant wasn't me—but Liu Bai?" Chu Danqing had assumed Liu Bai came to save Yang Wenju; now it seemed he came for Bai Xiaohe.

Bai Xiaohe's husband, Ge Da, was likely not a night watchman at all.

As for why they framed Yang Wenju—under torture, they could make anyone say anything.

But Bai Xiaohe shook her head: "Perhaps—but Liu Bai can't save either me or Yang Wenju."

She saw the situation clearly—even if she gave the map to Liu Bai, the chance he could free them was negligible.

Liu Bai was a native of LinYuan City—how could he fight against the city itself?

But Chu Danqing, an outsider with an unusual status, had the real chance.

Bai Xiaohe knew Chu Danqing's odds were higher—but what could she do? Liu Bai hadn't arrived first.

"The Zhenhai Map is under the water jar at my family's old house—move the jar and dig ten inches down," Bai Xiaohe said without hesitation.

"Alright, I understand," Chu Danqing replied. "Unless something goes wrong, you'll both be released today."

"The Provincial Governor values his life too much to risk executing innocent people."

Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe understood the first two sentences—but the last one left them confused.

What do you mean "values his life"? What exactly did you do to clear their names???

It felt deeply unorthodox.

Chu Danqing was now pondering: what use were the ledgers and the Zhenhai Map?

To LinYuan's elite, they were lethal weapons—and Chu Danqing agreed.

But the problem was, Chu Danqing wasn't truly from the capital; in his hands, this blade had only the hilt, no blade.

At best, he could only use it to threaten.

As he pondered, several yamen runners burst in.

Their faces turned ashen upon seeing Chu Danqing.

"Young Master, the yamen sent us to fetch the condemned for interrogation—what do you say?" the chief constable asked cautiously.

They'd all witnessed his display in court yesterday.

"Isn't the courtroom ruined? How did Master Qiao manage to find me such entertainment so quickly?" Chu Danqing smiled sweetly.

The chief constable sighed helplessly: "Master Qiao committed suicide last night. Today, the Provincial Governor is presiding personally."

"Hence the trial is being held in the yamen."

Hearing of Qiao Huaiyuan's death, Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe went pale—could this be suicide? This was clearly the work of Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing had said so—but they hadn't believed it; who would dare openly kill an official and rebel?

Now, with witnesses, they knew it was true.

"Then let's go—let's all go see," Chu Danqing said. He couldn't leave.

Seeing this, the yamen runners dared not stop him—they let him follow along.

At the yamen, the courtroom was already set up.

Provincial Governor Jia Simou sat in the main seat; upon seeing Chu Danqing beside him, his gaze shifted slightly.

He knew Chu Danqing had done these things. Chu Danqing knew he knew. Yet both pretended nothing had happened.

Jia Simou was no Qiao Huaiyuan—he outright ignored Chu Danqing.

He slammed the gavel: "Court is in session!"

The proceedings moved swiftly, unlike Qiao Huaiyuan's hasty rush to convict.

Liu Bai arrived as well; since the Provincial Governor was presiding, he dared not interrupt as before.

He'd heard of last night's events—evidence pointed to Chu Danqing, but he pretended ignorance.

Watching the trial, Chu Danqing narrowed his eyes.

Jia Simou left no opening—he acted with perfect fairness, clearly determined not to give Chu Danqing any leverage.

In the end, Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe were cleared of all charges.

They had not committed adultery; Bai Xiaohe's husband, Ge Da, died of sudden illness.

The false accusation arose because Qiao Huaiyuan held a personal grudge against Yang Wenju and coerced a confession from Bai Xiaohe.

All those who gave false testimony yesterday retracted their statements, claiming they'd been forced by Qiao Huaiyuan.

Sacrificing one dead man silenced the matter.

【Mission complete. Reward: Paradise Points ×10000, Attribute Points +4】

"I'm still too young," Chu Danqing thought, staring at the completed mission—damn, that was something.

Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe were released on the spot—the case was closed.

As for compensation? They dared not ask—they were lucky to walk out alive.

If they pushed their luck, there'd be plenty of chances to punish them later.

"Young Master Chu, I've arranged a banquet at my residence tonight—I beg you to grace us with your presence," Jia Simou said. His aide hurried over and handed Chu Danqing an invitation.

Chu Danqing took it without opening it, nodded, and said: "I shall attend, Governor Jia."

He'd go—of course he'd go—to see what this old fox was really up to.

"Then I shall await your arrival, Young Master Chu," Jia Simou said, then rose and left.

He feared Chu Danqing's unorthodox force—not his power or status.

To become Provincial Governor meant having an intricate web of connections behind him.

Especially since he collected money for the Empress Dowager—even if reckoning came, it wouldn't be now.

After he left, Chu Danqing slowly departed the yamen.

Bai Xiaohe had been waiting at the gate, as if for him.

"Young Master Chu, I omitted one detail earlier," Bai Xiaohe added suddenly: "It's under the water jar at my natal home."

She gave him another address, then walked away.

For most, the matter was over.

But for Bai Xiaohe, it had only just begun.

The gossipy neighbors and her own mother-in-law, who'd reported her and landed her in prison, were still waiting.

She wasn't the type to endure abuse—she was returning to seek revenge, not to endure.

Chu Danqing heard this and couldn't help but laugh and sigh.

Everyone had hidden cards—no wonder they'd told him outright.

"Perfect—I'll go take a look," Chu Danqing said. He didn't care much about the Zhenhai Map—but what if it was equipment?

Or perhaps the so-called Sea-Chart is merely a part of the Nine Tripods Map.

After all, side quests supplement main quests, and there must be benefits—let alone this one is an A-rank.

After stepping outside, the ghost-child he had sent to investigate the ledgers arrived as well.

It gesticulated wildly while describing the situation.

The gist was that the place was empty, with fresh marks visible.

"Hmm, I understand," Chu Danqing replied, then dismissed the ghost-child.

It was normal for the items to be moved before dawn, especially since the three ghost-children sent to deliver gifts to Jia Simou had been exposed and killed; if the other side hadn't grown wary, how could they dare engage in smuggling?

Fortunately, they believed Yang Wenju possessed a sea chart and did not know his true leverage was the ledger.

Otherwise, both Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe would have died of sudden illness before dawn.

After all, the dead Qiao Huaiyuan could take the blame.

(End of Chapter)