Chapter 368

Lian Xing finished speaking, He Jinglan's eyes had already widened like copper bells.

Silly girl! Zi Chu! Jiang Zi Chu! He is the Top Scholar himself!

The whole house fell silent.

A moment later, the maids exclaimed in unison, 'Ah?!'

Everyone looked at Gu Xixi, some excited, some curious, but most sincerely happy for her.

Gu Xixi opened the wooden box under everyone's eager gaze.

Inside lay an apricot blossom and a sheet of orchid-patterned notepaper.

She picked up the notepaper, glanced at it, and said, 'This looks like Elder Brother Zi Chu's handwriting.'

'How wonderful!' Light Pearl clapped, saying, 'I think this apricot blossom is the very one the Top Scholar wore yesterday.'

Zi Yan, being meticulous, said, 'Indeed identical; the tip of the stem is damp, showing it was carefully kept in a water vase last night.'

Green Wax glanced at Gu Xixi and smiled, 'The Top Scholar really put thought into this.'

No wonder the maids are delighted.

Every three years, the sole Top Scholar receives a single apricot blossom personally folded by the emperor, imbued with multiple meanings.

By today's standards, whoever receives the Top Scholar's gifted apricot blossom is akin to taking first place among women, bringing glory to those around them as well.

Moreover, the Top Scholar is young, handsome, mild-mannered, with limitless prospects, and is a cousin of Boss Gu, so his background is known.

No matter how picky one is, this is a marriage blessed by the Old Man of the Moon, a top-tier excellent match.

He Jinglan gazed at Gu Xixi, her feelings also complex.

Although emotionally she has always wished the two close friends would become a couple and find happiness,

yet rationally she never considered Mu Nan Zhao to be Gu Xixi's best, or only, choice.

'Xixi, Lord Jiang's gift—how do you intend to respond?'

Gu Xixi closed the wooden box and said, 'I don't know.'

'I never imagined he would give me this.'

She looked at He Jinglan, her gaze calm and without any intention of avoiding.

It was as if she were stating the simple fact that 'the weather is nice today.'

'Let's attend to business first; we can think it over slowly after we return from the County Office.'

Pesticide against locusts has been spread throughout the capital region; the first phase is temporarily concluded.

He Jinghui returned to the capital dusty and weary; upon entering the manor he found the servants all beaming with joy.

He casually asked the reason and learned that the guest Boss Gu residing here had this morning received the Top Scholar's apricot blossom.

He Jinghui was stunned; after getting to the bottom of it, he returned to his room, still feeling somewhat indigestion.

Ever since Gu Xixi moved into the little He manor, He Jinghui has been worrying himself sick.

In order to prevent Mu Nan Zhao from having a chance to go mad, he adhered to the principle that any mishap must not occur in his own household.

He Jinghui deliberately separated An Qinghe to the front yard, having the servants attend closely (watch).

Despite all precautions, there turned out to be nothing between Gu Xixi and An Qinghe.

How did it end up with a Top Scholar dropping from the sky?

He Jinghui had long heard of Jiang Mingyuan and also knew he was a distant relative of Gu Xixi.

Compared to An Qinghe, who constantly clings to Gu Xixi like a fool, Jiang Mingyuan shows not the slightest hint or sign.

Who would have thought he would accomplish great things quietly?

The Top Scholar's apricot blossom bears the emperor's blessing; countless households with daughters in the capital are eyeing it.

Once given away, it openly signifies a marriage proposal.

The worst part is that Boss Gu's attitude remains unclear; he actually said he still needs to consider…

The more He Jinghui thought about it, the more he felt this was no trivial matter, and he suddenly rose to his feet.

No, we must inform Mu Nan Zhao as soon as possible.

So that if one day Mu Nan Zhao is dumped, he won't blame us for knowing but not reporting!

At the early shichen hour, the County Office.

Drums thundered, drawing a crowd of commoners.

People in the streets and alleys ran to spread the news; the orphan girl's grievance case is opening trial today. To make tomorrow's justice clear and also prove the Imperial Court will not show favoritism, the Regent Prince specially permitted the three grand gates of the County Office to be opened, inviting all under heaven to oversee.

The County Office magistrate opened court on schedule, first raising the suspects according to the confession submitted by the Regent Prince's office.

The vicious slaves and thugs kept by Fan Dongping's household are a rabble; upon entering the hall, before they even heard the summons, they kept kowtowing and begging for mercy, openly confessing guilt.

But when it was the turn of the personnel from Nan Yi Xian County Office, a change occurred.

Led by the magistrate, everyone denied the previous confession.

The magistrate glanced at the attending Regent Prince and asked the county magistrate, 'Is this wound on the confession indeed your personal seal?'

The magistrate prostrated himself and loudly declared, 'I, your humble servant, am wronged!'

'Within the office, various tortures; if I, a mere scholar, do not falsely confess, I can only die unjustly in prison!'

The magistrate saw Mu Nan Zhao showing no reaction, then ordered someone to bring Fan Dongping to the hall.

To have Fan Dongping confront the magistrate directly.

The magistrate remained calm and unhurried, saying, 'I, your humble servant, may know the suspect Fan Dongping, but we have no close relationship.'

'Even if he has some family wealth, he is merely a commoner.'

'Please, everyone, put yourselves in my place: I have studied bitterly in the cold for thirty years, and obtaining an official post was no easy feat.'

'Is it worth risking violation of the law to help a mere commoner and his petty gains commit murder and silence him? He is not even worthy of such!'

The magistrate sneered, 'For a Parent Official to willingly be the lackey of ruffians—what you say is indeed absurd.'

At this moment Fan Dongping grew a little flustered.

Even if he were stupid, he would know that the County Magistrate, trying to distance himself now, intended to push all the blame onto him.

But he glanced around, gritted his teeth, held his tongue, as if hoping for something.

The County Magistrate straightened his back a bit more.

"Fan Dongping says that in recent years it was I who provided his protection, but where is the evidence?"

"When did he bribe me? What did he bribe me with? Are there any records? Where is the physical evidence?"

"If you condemn me based solely on the one-sided words of a rascal, I could never accept it, even in death!"

The Prefect's face showed a troubled look.

This case indeed lacks physical and corroborating evidence.

If the County Magistrate and others had confessed, it would have been fine, but they instead recanted in court.

The Prefect slapped the wooden clapper, glared at Fan Dongping, and shouted, "Fan Dongping! Slandering an imperial official is a serious crime! Don't you have anything to say?"

Fan Dongping glanced at the County Magistrate, his eyes full of hatred, but he merely swayed his body and remained silent.

The Prefect snapped, "Answer my question! Trying to bring that street‑ruffian act to Jingzhao Prefecture—you've got the wrong calculations!"

Having said that, he was about to throw down an order arrow, ordering the Government Office runners to administer the beating.

At this moment Mu Nan Zhao set down his teacup and slowly said, "You're County Magistrate Chen, right?"

"A bit clever, but not much."

"You guessed your lord's intentions out of self‑interest, decided that Fan Dongping would never be rescued, and thus had already become a sacrificial pawn."

"So you first confessed to avoid suffering, then recanted in court, pushing everything onto Fan Dongping."

County Magistrate Chen startled, lowered his head, his eyes flickering.

Fan Dongping stared at County Magistrate Chen in shock; he was never scheming, and now he couldn't hold back, crying out:

"Is what he says true?"

"My father really doesn't care about me anymore? Impossible!"

"It must be you—you guessed wildly just to save yourself!"

Hearing this, the onlookers outside erupted in an uproar.

"It seems the rumors about the Fan family's illegitimate son are all true, huh?"

"Whose illegitimate son is he? No wonder he can throw his weight around and wipe out other families!"