She refused to marry.

Zongren Mansion.

Zuo Zongzheng sat behind his desk, his fingers resting on the case files, his face tense, and he didn't say a word.

Clerks and scribes stood on either side of the hall.

The coroner carefully hunched his back.

Shen Linfeng knelt on the right, half a step ahead of her.

General Shen was also there, calmly sipping his tea.

Su Wanwan knelt on the left side of the hall for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, until her knees went numb.

Zuo Zongzheng kept a straight face.

Just when she was about to give up.

Zuo Zongzheng finally spoke, "Shen Linfeng, the Su family has accused you of murdering your wife and burying her body. Do you plead guilty?"

Shen Linfeng spoke slowly and deliberately, "My lord, please allow me to speak. My wife has been married into the Shen family for a year, and her health has been poor ever since. Everyone in the household knows that she frequently consults the imperial physician, takes medicine regularly, and is often bedridden."

That day, her old ailment flared up, and she couldn't breathe. I summoned Physician Fang that very night, but by the time he arrived, she was already gone. He sighed.

"My wife left in such a hurry that I was overcome with grief and, in a moment of confusion, arranged for her to stay in my own courtyard to ease my longing for her, without reporting it to the authorities in time. It was my oversight."

He kowtowed again, his usual arrogant demeanor completely reversed, becoming so submissive that not a single fault could be found.

Su Wanwan clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves, a surge of anger rising in her chest.

She had seen Shen Linfeng like this before.

On the day his elder sister got married, he stood in the Su family ancestral hall, kowtowed in the same way, and spoke in the same way, saying that he would take good care of his elder sister and that his father-in-law and mother-in-law could rest assured.

Clothes beast!

Zuo Zongzheng turned a page of the file. "The Su family submitted a petition stating that your wife had multiple old injuries, two broken ribs, and strangulation marks on her arms, and that she did not die of illness. The coroner's examination of the body yielded the same result."

Zuo Zongzheng looked towards the corner. "Where is the coroner?"

The coroner knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling, "Your Honor, I have examined Madam Shen and she does indeed have injuries. There are two old fractures in her ribs, and bruises on her arms, as if she was strangled. But..."

But the body had been buried for many days, and the flesh was rotting. Whether some of the injuries were from before or after death, I, this humble man, dare not be entirely certain.

"My lord, my wife is frail and often falls when she walks. Once she missed a step going down the stairs and fell quite badly. I even scolded the servants for not helping her up properly."

"I know nothing about the ribs; she never complained of pain." Shen Linfeng's voice lowered, and he pounded the ground in anguish.

"She's the kind of person who endures everything, never telling me or her family. If I had known how badly she was injured, I would have spent more time with her."

Su Wanwan watched his act, gritted her teeth, and her anger exploded.

Zuo Zongzheng turned to the next page. "The Su family also presented a testimony, written by your wife's dowry maid. It says that in the month before your wife's death, you often spent the night in the outer brothel, which led to a big argument with the Su family. Is this true?"

"My lord, that maid is my wife's daughter from her family. We grew up together and are as close as sisters."

After my wife left, she was heartbroken and harbored some resentment towards me. It's only natural that she would say a few angry words.

As for spending the night away from home... I was indeed busy with official duties, but my colleagues can testify; they are more credible than a heartbroken maid.

Zuo Zongzheng looked at Su Wanwan, "Su, do you have any other witnesses?"

Su Wanwan's throat was so dry it felt like she had a lump of burning coals inside.

What witnesses does she have?

My older sister is dead.

My colleague is one of Shen Linfeng's men.

The imperial physician was also one of Shen Linfeng's men.

The coroner's words today clearly indicate that he had been threatened.

Shen Linfeng turned to look at her, his eyes gentle, as if he were looking at an ignorant child.

"Second sister, I know you're sad. Your sister is gone, and you're heartbroken. Your sister died of illness."

The imperial physician has medical records, the household has prescriptions, and the neighbors all know she's in poor health. You've said a few hurtful things to the maid, and now you're accusing me of murdering my wife? Isn't that going too far?"

Su Wanwan looked at him, her anger overshadowing the fatigue of the past few days.

Zuo Zongzheng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Shen Linfeng, which imperial physician are you referring to?"

The steward of the Shen family took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands. "Imperial Physician Fang from the Imperial Hospital."

"You may summon him to inquire; the Imperial Hospital has records of the First Madam's medical history."

"Physician Fang is from the Imperial Medical Academy; his words are more credible than those of a maid."

Zuo Zongzheng took the paper, didn't even look at it, and casually put it on the table.

He didn't summon Physician Fang. He closed the file, then opened it again, then closed it again.

"Mr. Su, is there any new evidence?"

Seeing this scene, even if Su Wanwan was stupid, she could see it.

The fact that Zuo Zongzheng has been slow to issue a verdict indicates that the Shen family has already settled the matter.

Now we're just waiting for her to produce new evidence.

She was detained for six days, where new evidence was found.

"Lord Zongzheng, could you grant me three days? In three days, I will surely find new evidence," Su Wanwan pleaded, kowtowing.

"Three days?" General Shen put down his tea. "Second Miss, the Shen family has never mistreated your elder sister. This matter is a misunderstanding; we will definitely come to clarify it another day."

Besides, your brother-in-law holds an important position and has already missed a lot of official business these days. Further delays would only hinder the Ministry of Justice's work.

Su Wanwan looked at Zuo Zongzheng.

Zuo Zongzheng sighed and shook his head.

"The imperial physician said that Madam Shen died of illness. Although the coroner had doubts about the autopsy, the body had already decomposed, making it difficult to confirm."

Shen Linfeng was found guilty of lax household management, which led to gossip surrounding his wife after her death. He was fined one year's salary and ordered to give her a proper burial. The case was thus closed.

Shen Linfeng kowtowed, his voice clear and proud, "Your Excellency is wise."

Su Wanwan knelt there, clutching her handkerchief tightly.

Shen Linfeng stood up, a smile on his face, and said to Su Wanwan, "Second sister, please accept my condolences. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to your brother-in-law."

Having said that, he turned and left.

As Zuo Zongzheng passed by her, he whispered, "There is pressure from above regarding this case. They specifically instructed that only you be invited and that we should not make a fuss. I have done my best."

Then the clerk and the registrar also left.

The coroner bowed deeply to her and then left.

The hall was empty.

Su Wanwan's knees stiffened, and she staggered. Chunhua helped her up.

"I'm fine..."

Chunhua lifted the curtain.

Su Wanwan crawled inside and buried her face in her knees.

Back at the Su residence, she locked herself in her room and sat by the window, feeling restless.

This is likely the last time she will return to the manor; the eldest princess will not let her off the hook.

How can she find a way to survive?

Shen Linfeng's appearance during the day made her feel nauseous.

A thought suddenly popped into my head.

Even if it means death, I will kill Shen Linfeng.

With a "thud," Su Wanwan stuck the scissors into the windowsill.

Having thought it through, Su Wanwan's inner turmoil dissipated.

I went back to bed and fell asleep immediately.

The next day, Su Wanwan opened the door and had a meal with her family as if nothing had happened.

Su's parents forced smiles and accompanied her.

"Father, Mother, it's alright. I'll come back again." Su Wanwan took the soup her mother had served.

"We both know what kind of person the Eldest Princess is. Once she returns to the manor, you... I..." Mother Su was too upset to speak.

The voice just fell.

The butler rushed in, "Master, Madam, the Eldest Princess has sent word that she wants the Second Miss to come over. The carriage is already waiting outside."

"Ah..." The spoon in Su's mother's hand fell in surprise.

He stood up tremblingly and hugged Wanwan tightly.

"My dear daughter, Mother will go with you..."

"Madam, I'll handle this matter. You stay home and wait," Su Hongxuan said.