Zhan Feiyu spoke with conviction, but everyone in the courtroom found her words unbelievable, mere ramblings based on earlobes to determine if Tu Da Niu was not the Tu family's son.
"If Your Honor does not believe me, you can send people to find out if the parents have earlobes and if their children are born with them," Zhan Feiyu said again. Liuxian was prosperous and populous, and most families had at least two or three children, with some having six or seven. It wouldn't be difficult to find them.
Young Master Jiao glanced at the hesitant Magistrate Zhu and said coldly, "Magistrate Zhu, since Zhan Feiyu is so certain, why not send someone to verify it?"
Magistrate Zhu could disregard Zhan Feiyu, but he couldn't refute Young Master Jiao. After all, he was the eldest son of the Prefect. Although the Jiao family favored their second son who excelled in his studies, this eldest son, once he donated for an official position, would at least be a seventh-rank county magistrate. With the Jiao family's support, it was uncertain who would ultimately prevail.
Constable Miao and others received their orders and left the yamen. Magistrate Zhu and Assistant Magistrate Wei, along with other yamen officials, temporarily retired to the rear chambers. Young Master Jiao also departed.
In the courtroom, Master Zhao bowed gratefully to Zhan Feiyu, "Thank you, Miss, for your righteous intervention today. Young Master Jiao came for my Zhao family, and I have implicated you."
"Master Zhao, there's no need for politeness. Since we met, I merely spoke a word of justice," Zhan Feiyu replied with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Tu Da Niu and Old Master Tu, who were still kneeling before the corpse of Old Madam Tu.
Even if Tu Da Niu was adopted, Old Master Tu had no reason to conceal it. Was there some unknown secret hidden within this?
After thanking her, Master Zhao had no mood to chat with Zhan Feiyu. He walked over and patted Zhao Ling's shoulder comfortingly, "Today's events have nothing to do with you. Zhenwei Pavilion plotted against us, and we escaped this time, but we might not escape the next."
"Second Uncle." Zhao Ling hesitated, then subtly glanced around at the constables before lowering his voice to speak to Master Zhao, "I think Miss Zhan has an extraordinary background. She didn't seem to take Young Master Jiao seriously at all."
Even Magistrate Zhu had to show some deference to Young Master Jiao. Just moments ago, he had even ordered the yamen runners to bring a chair so that Young Master Jiao could sit and observe the trial.
Yet, even knowing his identity as the Prefect's eldest son, Zhao Ling noticed that Zhan Feiyu's expression hadn't changed. Her calm and composed demeanor indicated she had an even greater background and didn't take the Prefect's son seriously.
Master Zhao nodded, signaling Zhao Ling to continue.
"Second Uncle, Zhenwei Pavilion has targeted us and even resorted to such despicable means. Why don't we cooperate with Miss Zhan? Not only will we get the recipe for the noodles, but we won't have to live in fear anymore." Zhao Ling had been the shopkeeper of the pastry shop for several years and deeply understood the principle of seeking shelter under a big tree. The reason Zhao's Pastry Shop was being suppressed was precisely because it lacked a patron.
Master Zhao sighed. In fact, after meeting Zhan Feiyu at the inn that day, Master Zhao had this intention. However, Zhan Feiyu was young, and this matter would surely be handled by her elders.
If this unknown Zhan family was a noble scholarly lineage, they might not be interested in the meager sum of money from Zhao's Pastry Shop. But if the Zhan family was greedy, cooperation would be like seeking a tiger's skin. They might deter Young Master Jiao, but they would be inviting a wolf into their house.
...
Half an hour passed quickly, and the yamen runners delivered the food. "A simple meal, Master Zhao, please bear with us."
For Tu Da Niu and Old Master Tu, these two dishes, one meat and one vegetable, along with two large bowls of rice, were undoubtedly considered abundant. However, for Master Zhao and Zhao Ling, this was truly the food eaten by Zhao family servants.
Seeing Zhao Ling's expression change, Master Zhao glanced at him, then smiled and thanked the yamen runners who delivered the food, "Being able to fill our stomachs is enough."
After the yamen runners left, Zhao Ling couldn't help but complain, "They say that when people leave, the tea turns cold, but our Zhao family hasn't fallen yet!"
Every year, Zhao's shop would also contribute some money to bribe these constables in the yamen. Normally, they would be polite to Master Zhao or Zhao Ling, but today they were so dismissive.
These opportunists were simply seeing that the Zhao family was in decline and couldn't even bother to maintain appearances, hence they sent such meager food.
Although Master Zhao was also angry, he managed to control his emotions, his gaze becoming even more somber. "When Miss Zhan returns, I will test the waters. If cooperation is possible, I will accept giving half the profits."
Compared to closing down, giving up half the profits meant that Zhao's Pastry Shop could at least be preserved. Furthermore, just as a monk seeks incense, a person seeks dignity. Master Zhao couldn't stomach the idea of handing over Zhao's to Zhenwei Pavilion.
In the small hall of the rear chambers, Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan were presented with a table of four dishes and one soup, all exquisitely prepared and appealing in color, aroma, and taste. In this regard, the yamen truly treated people differently based on their status.
"Miss, even if Tu Da Niu was adopted by the Tu family, it doesn't have much relevance to this case." This was what He Nuan found perplexing. Others might not believe Zhan Feiyu's words, but He Nuan believed them implicitly. However, even if it were proven, it wouldn't be of much significance.
The weather was hot, and even though the small hall had an ice basin, Zhan Feiyu didn't have much appetite. She had put down her chopsticks more than fifteen minutes ago.
Standing by the window, enjoying the cool breeze, Zhan Feiyu turned around upon hearing He Nuan's words, "If ordinary people were framing Zhao's Pastry Shop, wouldn't Young Master Jiao worry about being exposed?"
The travel permits of the three members of the Tu family confirmed they were from Huangshu Village in San Chuan County. As long as someone was sent to investigate, the truth would be clear.
If this family of three were truly ordinary villagers, not only would it be difficult for the Jiao family to find them to frame Zhao's Pastry Shop, but if the matter reached the courtroom and the Tu father and son were exposed, Young Master Jiao's scheme would fail.
No matter how much influence Master Zhao had in Liuxian, if the matter escalated and reached Qianzhong Prefecture, how would Prefect Jiao save face?
If the Prefect's eldest son dared to use human lives to frame a mere merchant, let alone the position of the Jiao family head, his plan to donate for an official position would be thwarted first.
Understanding, He Nuan frowned slightly, "Miss, you mean that Young Master Jiao is certain that the Tu father and son will not reveal any flaws, which means they cannot be ordinary villagers."
"A Nuan, if Young Master Jiao truly wanted to annex Zhao's Pastry Shop, why would he condescend to come to Liuxian? Even if this matter were successful, rumors would still tarnish Young Master Jiao's reputation." A cold glint flashed through Zhan Feiyu's clear, water-like eyes.
Some things did not require witnesses or evidence. Anyone with a brain could see that this was a setup, a trap targeting Master Zhao. However, to risk a human life for a pastry shop, Young Master Jiao's actions were definitely not worth the gain.
After all, Young Master Jiao had previously taken a liking to Zhao's Pastry Shop and had always operated behind the scenes, suppressing Zhao's Pastry Shop's business through Zhenwei Pavilion to achieve his goals.
Even if he wanted to frame them, he could have let Zhenwei Pavilion handle it. Yet, Young Master Jiao had come to Liuxian.
"He came for you!" He Nuan's expression suddenly changed. Master Zhao, as a mere merchant, was not qualified to have Young Master Jiao come to Liuxian. The other person involved in this case was her young lady.
Looking through the window at Tu Da Niu walking along the small path, Zhan Feiyu turned and walked towards the entrance.
Tu Da Niu had washed his face with cold water while pretending to go to the restroom. His head was still throbbing dully. The thought that he was definitely an adopted child filled Tu Da Niu with a sense of foreboding.
"You?" Seeing Zhan Feiyu standing under the shade of the tree, Tu Da Niu stopped, his expression shifting strangely. After uttering a single word, he fell silent, unsure of what to ask.
The air outside the house was even more stifling, and the cicadas chirping in the treetops made one's heart flutter. Zhan Feiyu spoke slowly, "I don't know what illicit dealings the Tu family has been involved in, but if you are an adopted child..."
His face suddenly turned grim, and Tu Da Niu's eyes widened. Under the anxiety and agitation, his hands clenched into fists. Ever since Zhan Feiyu revealed in court that he was not their biological child, Tu Da Niu had considered this possibility.
Now, with Zhan Feiyu stating it so directly, Tu Da Niu's forced composure completely collapsed. He asked in a hoarse voice, "Who exactly are you?"
"We haven't met before, do you think I would deliberately investigate you?" Zhan Feiyu chuckled softly, appraising the distraught Tu Da Niu. "Can you think about those children who were abducted by traffickers? What would be their fate? How would their parents feel?"