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Without seeing Ruxin, they were unaware of the specifics. Naturally, they couldn’t take action. Lu Sanniang bit her lip, her face turning blue with anger.

She had known that this day would come. Her eldest daughter was playing with fire and would get burned.

Mayor Qian patted her hand in the carriage. “I’m here. Let’s go to the prefectural court.”

They rushed to the court in the carriage. Wang Zongsheng raised an eyebrow and looked at the plaintiffs and defendants in the hall.

The plaintiff was arrogant and domineering. The defendant, Ruxin, was on her knees, looking disheveled and visibly injured. Her face was almost bruised beyond recognition.

The plaintiff was the Chen family’s eldest young madam, Madam Chen Jia. Her husband, Chen Kai, was handsome and well-educated but a bit too flirtatious.

It goes without saying that the defendant couldn’t resist the temptations of her man and followed him.

However, Madam Chen Jia insisted loudly that they had an unwed relationship and demanded the magistrate punish Lu Ruxin for this crime. But until now, her man has not shown up, and Ruxin steadfastly denies it, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.

At this point, Wang Zongsheng sent people to look for Chen Kai.

Wang Zongsheng wasn’t afraid of the Chen family; they were merely local wealthy people with connections in the capital.

With his daughter married to a prince, he already had a strong background and didn’t need the Chen family’s support.

The Chen family did not dare to act recklessly before him, but he was a good official, and some matters needed to be clarified. He felt that this case was not as straightforward as it seemed.

Madam Chen Jia’s words implied that she was trying to force this young lady into becoming a concubine, but Ruxin repeatedly asserted that she was not Chen Kai’s concubine and would not become one. It seemed that her judgment had not been clouded by love.

At this moment, Wang Zongsheng sent someone to find Chen Kai.

While this was happening, a crowd had gathered outside the courtroom.

Suddenly, Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang arrived, trying to rush in. Wang Zongsheng quickly ordered his officials not to stop them.

“Why are you here?”

Mayor Qian pointed to Ruxin on the ground. “This is my daughter. If she’s in trouble, how can I, as her father, not come?”

Wang Zongsheng was taken aback. This meant that Mayor Qian and his beloved one were married.

“She is?”

Lu Sanniang quickly greeted Wang Zongsheng. “I am the proprietress of Ruyi

Embroidery Manor in Tianshui Town.”

“Oh, I understand now. You’re the sister mentioned by Madam Qiao.” “That’s correct.”

“Although I don’t often visit the Qiao family, I’ve heard of you.”

Below, Madam Chen Jia was somewhat bewildered. How was it possible that her husband’s mistress had such a powerful and wealthy background, even associating with the magistrate? She began to worry about her situation.

She had thoroughly investigated Ruxin’s background and found that her family owned an embroidery shop with no notable ancestors or connections. Her maternal family consisted of a poor scholar.

So, what exactly was going on here?

Ruxin felt scared and decided that today was a make-or-break moment. She couldn’t let the Chen family have their way. She started to miss Lu Sanniang.

But when she saw her mother, she felt ashamed and kept her head down.

At this moment, Chen Kai arrived. As soon as he entered the courtroom, he bowed to Wang Zongsheng and saluted.

“Student pays his respects to Sir Magistrate!”

“My subordinates were looking for you because your wife accused Ruxin of premarital sex. What’s your side of the story?”

Chen Kai saw Ruxin and immediately walked over to her.

He asked gently, “Xin’er, are you alright?”

Ruxin didn’t respond. Chen Kai pursed his lips and continued, “Sir, the truth is,

Xin’er and I share a mutual affection.”

Wang Zongsheng slammed his desk. “Madam Chen Jia?”

“I’m here!”

“When you visited Lu Ruxin’s house today, did you see your husband, Chen

Kai?”

“I did not.”

“Is it just hearsay? Do you have no concrete evidence? Is that correct?” “My husband had this woman’s innerwear and handkerchief.”

“Regarding the incident of you going to her house and causing trouble, did you catch the adulterer and the woman in the act?”

“I didn’t!”

“So you dared to intrude into someone’s residence without evidence? Who gave you the audacity?”

Madam Chen Jia turned pale and signaled to Chen Kai, whose smiling face suddenly stiffened.

“Sir, I’m truly infatuated with Lu Ruxin. We often meet at the Xin Garden, and I have the undergarments and jewelry she gave me as tokens of our affection.”

Upon hearing that Ruxin was Mayor Qian’s daughter, Wang Zongsheng knew how to handle the case.

He pounded the gavel. “Lu Ruxin, is what this man is saying true?”

“No, he is a lecher. He often tried to seduce me because I lived alone.

Unfortunately, I’m just a woman trying to make ends meet.”

“So it was out of necessity.”

Chen Kai pointed to Lu Ruxin. “Xin’er, how can you say that? You told me just last night that you would only marry me. Why are you saying this now?”

Wang Zongsheng was disgusted. Chen Kai was faking it. He exchanged a glance with Mayor Qian, assuring him.

Lu Sanniang rushed forward and slapped Chen Kai hard.

“Who do you think you are? You dare to have designs on my daughter?”

Chen Kai held his face, but he wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled at Lu Sanniang.

“So, it’s my mother-in-law. Xin’er and I fell in love at first sight. Since things have come to this, why not let us marry and send Xin’er into my home?”

Upon hearing this, Ruxin immediately knelt in front of Wang Zongsheng.

“Sir, I refuse. The Chen family has their eyes on my shop, and they’re after my money. That’s why this woman came to my house to cause trouble, damaging my reputation. I implore Sir to intervene on my behalf.”

Madam Chen Jia spat at her. She was about to curse, but Wang Zongsheng interrupted her.

“Silence! This is a public courtroom. Be quiet and listen. I have a question for you, Madam Chen Jia. When you went to Ruxin’s house today, did you catch her alleged lover?”

“Master, have her sign and seal it!”

“Chen Kai, you claimed to have personal items given to you by Ruxin, but this lady denies it. Do you have evidence to prove that these items were given willingly by her?”

“Sir, she really gave these to me.”

“I uphold the principle of evidence. These items could have been acquired by other means besides her willingly giving them to you, so they don’t constitute definitive proof.”

Chen Kai glanced at Lu Ruxin. Since she never met him publicly and only interacted with him privately, he can’t prove her intentions. He reluctantly replied, “No.”

“If there is no evidence, the case filed by Madam Chen Jia against Lu Ruxin is unfounded. Madam Chen Jia, for barging into someone’s house and causing injuries, you will face further judgment when the victim returns home. Take Madam Chen Jia to the prison!”

“But, Sir, this is unfair!”

Chen Kai and Madam Chen Jia knelt on the ground, protesting, but Wang Zongsheng coldly sneered.

“Unfair? According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, catching a thief involves catching both the thief and the adulterer. Where’s your adulterer? That house belongs to Lu Ruxin. It has nothing to do with your man supporting her, let alone calling her an adulteress. Lu Ruxin is a law-abiding citizen of the Great Ming Dynasty with her property. On the other hand, you, with your underhanded connections to the Chen family, thought you could bully her?”

The crowd of onlookers chimed in. “That’s right. It’s clear they wanted to take a woman with some money and confiscate her property.”

“Exactly. With her appearance, why would the Chen family’s young master be interested in her? Isn’t his mistress typically beautiful?”

Listening to the hushed conversations of the bystanders, Ruxin blushed with embarrassment. She had long known she couldn’t have attracted Chen Kai’s attention with her looks.

Without her property and the small shop, she never would have been involved with Chen Kai.

Knowing it was one thing, but hearing it from others was another.

She acted as if she didn’t understand, reluctant to let the handsome Chen Kai go.

Without Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang coming to her rescue today, the Chen family might have had their way with her..