Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Reporting the Atrocity, Pursuing Accountability, Execution

’Brother Jiang?’

Mo Lingwei’s brow furrowed instantly.

He subconsciously reached his arm across Shen Ningning’s front, then turned his hand over and pressed it onto her shoulder.

It was a wordless gesture, yet filled with possessiveness.

But Mo Lingwei himself didn’t realize it; he was simply acting on instinct.

As for Shen Ningning, she understood even less. She just thought her brother was afraid she would fall and wanted to hold her a little tighter.

Jiang Zhi walked in, carrying a barely breathing person on her shoulder.

Then, with a heave of her shoulder, she tossed the assassin to the ground, who let out a groan of intense pain.

The Capital Governor asked in confusion, "Who is this?"

Shen Ningning said, "The night I was staying with the Wu family, I went up the mountain with Brother Zuchang to look at the moon, but we were ambushed by a group of assassins. Thanks to Langlang and the wolves, I was able to escape with my life."

"This assassin is the only one left alive. The others were all killed by the wolves. Their bodies are piled up in the Wolf Cave. If you’d like to see them, sir officer, I can have them brought to you."

Jiang Zhi put down a bundle from her back. "There’s this, too."

When she untied the bundle, it was revealed to be full of gold.

This had also come from the Wu family’s home.

Shen Ningning said, "Uncle Wu told me that a nobleman called Third Master Wei gave this gold to his family and told them to adopt me as their daughter."

Mo Lingwei frowned. "Why would the Wei Family make such a request?"

The Capital Governor also sensed that something was strange.

He sternly questioned the assassin, "Speak! Who hired you to commit murder?"

The assassin’s throat had been mangled. He could only make strained, gurgling sounds.

He pointed to a painting hanging next to the Capital Governor.

Everyone looked over.

It was a work by a famous master from a previous dynasty, the Dujun’s Blood Tears Painting.

It was hung in the government office to intimidate every criminal, compelling them to answer truthfully about their cases, lest their families suffer extreme grief like the subjects in the painting.

The assassin pointed at the painting, letting out loud, desperate cries.

Then, he suddenly went still.

Chief Wang went forward to check and said to the Capital Governor, "He bit his tongue and killed himself."

The Capital Governor frowned and glanced at the painting. "Dujun’s Blood Tears... ’Du’... It seems he meant Landlord Du."

Just then, a government official ran in breathlessly from the entrance. "Your Excellency, the Capital Governor! Landlord Du has committed suicide! He left behind a letter written in blood!"

"Bring it here."

The Capital Governor took the blood-written letter and read it. Then, he personally rose, walked over to Mo Lingwei, and presented it with both hands.

Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning read it together.

It was indeed in Landlord Du’s handwriting, and in it, he confessed to his evil deeds.

His story was similar to Qin Sheng’s confession; he was afraid Shen Ningning would reveal what she had seen.

In the letter, Landlord Du took all the responsibility upon himself, begging the Emperor to spare his family.

He wrote that because he wanted to harm Shen Ningning, he had sought out the Wu family, who fit the circumstances. He claimed that when he bribed them with gold, he used Third Master Wei’s name to prevent them from discovering his true intentions.

The reasoning was far-fetched, but it neatly tied up all the loose ends. Even the claim that he had received a sum of gold from Third Master Wei was corroborated by servants from the Du Mansion.

With that, the case was considered closed.

Even Shen Ningning thought Landlord Du was likely the one behind it all.

After all, Qin Fangmei had hated her so much, and the deceased Aunt Qin was the sister of Landlord Du’s wife.

The Capital Governor declared the case closed.

Mo Lingwei instructed, "In that case, cremate Landlord Du’s body and scatter the ashes before the Wu family’s gravestone. It will be a comfort to their spirits in heaven."

The Capital Governor quickly had someone write down the request.

"Also, although Wei San was only peripherally involved, he was excessively foolish. Give him fifty strokes with the heavy plank. Say it was an order from me, the Crown Prince."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The matter seemed to be settled.

But Grandma Qin suddenly stood up. "Your Excellency, Qin Sheng should also be sentenced to death!"

Everyone was stunned. Shen Ningning looked at her grandma.

Mo Lingwei had already intended to do this. He was just planning to deal with Qin Sheng after he had sent Shen Ningning and Grandma Qin home.

But hearing Grandma Qin’s words, he immediately asked, "How would you like him to die, madam?"

Qin Sheng’s face turned pale with fear. "Mother? You can’t do this to me!"

Grandma Qin didn’t look at him.

She only addressed the Capital Governor and the Crown Prince. "Your Excellency, Your Highness, please understand. I have failed, for the son I raised is so wicked."

"If I recall correctly, the laws of this dynasty state that unfilial conduct toward one’s parents is a crime, and in severe cases, it is punishable by death."

"A few months ago, Qin Sheng, in collusion with Wang Guihong, abandoned me—an old, paralyzed woman—on a mountain. Fearing I would crawl my way home, they even dug a pit and tied me to a rock."

"I want to report his evil deeds and hold him accountable for his wrongdoing! I want him to be executed according to the law!"

Grandma Qin’s words were firm and resolute.

Qin Sheng stood frozen, staring at his mother in disbelief.

The Capital Governor mused, "Madam, are you certain?"

"I am. I cannot allow this monster to continue living." Grandma Qin’s tone was firm and calm.

Shen Ningning’s round eyes welled with tears. "Grandma..."

In truth, Grandma Qin had wanted to do this for a long time.

But at the time, her health was poor, so she didn’t pursue it.

Besides, although she detested Qin Sheng and Wang Guihong, she always thought that her grandson and granddaughter shouldn’t be left without a mother and father, so she never brought it up again.

But today, after learning that Ningning had almost been violated, she could no longer hold back.

’A beast like that deserves to die!’

With her personal testimony, the Crown Prince’s own validation, and the recent revelations of Qin Sheng’s other misdeeds, the Capital Governor quickly nodded. "Very well. Bring ink and paper. Write a formal indictment."

A formal indictment was reserved for the most heinous crimes in Cangyun Country, and the sentence was almost always death by a thousand cuts.

Qin Sheng’s face went ashen. He cried out, "Mother! I’m your only son! How can you be so heartless?"

Grandma Qin ignored him, walking over to Shen Ningning and taking the little one’s hand, her heart aching.

"Ningning, don’t be afraid anymore. Our suffering is over, and the good times are here."

Qin Sheng was dragged away by Chief Wang and the other government officers, his sorrow twisting into resentment.

He cursed loudly, "You old hag, I hope you die a horrible death! You’re killing your own son! You’re not human!"

Before he could shout more than a few curses, Chief Wang punched him hard, and Qin Sheng passed out.

Shen Ningning threw herself into Grandma Qin’s arms. The grievances of the past few years were finally washed away in that moment.

’I have people who cherish me and protect me now.’

"Ningning, let’s go home," Grandma Qin said, leading the little one outside.

Shen Ningning realized Mo Lingwei wasn’t following them and turned back to see him staring at the Dujun’s Blood Tears Painting.

In his silence, his handsome, jade-like profile looked exceptionally cold and shadowed.

"Brother?"

Shen Ningning’s call brought a trace of warmth back to Mo Lingwei’s face.

He gave a faint smile. "Coming. Let’s go, I’ll escort you home."

The group left the government office.

What Mo Lingwei didn’t tell Shen Ningning was that he felt the dying assassin, despite pointing at the *Dujun’s Blood Tears*, hadn’t been referring to Landlord Du.

If he remembered correctly, the painting had once been part of Minister Wei’s prized collection, purchased for a great sum.

On one occasion, he had presented it to the Emperor, who in turn had gifted it to the Capital City Government Office. It had been hanging there ever since as a warning to criminals.

If this matter had little to do with the Wei Family, Consort Li would not have been so flustered.

Mo Lingwei slowly raised a brow, his dark eyes deepening like a gathering storm, capable of easily breaking and destroying a person.

’The Wei Family...’ he thought.

He wondered, if the Wei Family was truly behind this, what reason would they have for wanting Shen Ningning dead?

’Unless... Landlord Du was secretly one of Minister Wei’s men all along.’