After marrying the fierce god, her handsome young husband was pampered to the extreme.

Wang Zhao frowned. "I'm not the murderer."

"I know," Lin San said. "Get some rest tonight, we can talk about it tomorrow."

"Oh," Wang Zhao said. "Then remember to send someone to Fulai Inn to deliver a message to Chief Escort Wu, telling them I'm here."

Lin San nodded. "Don't worry."

The bailiff led Wang Zhao to the back room of the yamen and told him not to wander off.

After obediently seeing off the yamen runners, Wang Zhao closed the door and began chirping crickets in Lin San's house.

I don't know how he became a county magistrate. It's clearly his job to hold court and hear cases, so why are other people doing it for him?

Upon closer inspection, the man wasn't wearing the official robes of a county magistrate.

If everyone could come to the court to preside over the trial, then what would be the point of having a county magistrate?

Could it be that the power of the Third Brother has been usurped by these local officials in Song County?

If that's the case, then Third Brother's life in Song County won't be easy.

Wang Zhao also couldn't understand why Lin San, a newly appointed top scholar, would choose to come to such a remote place to suffer instead of staying in the capital to make a living...

-----------------

Wang Zhao had something on his mind, so he slept soundly, but when he woke up the next day, his head was still a little groggy.

Lin San sent someone over to invite him to breakfast, and Wang Zhao instantly sobered up upon seeing the breakfast.

His feelings were very complicated. "Third Brother, is this what you usually eat?"

For a county magistrate to not have meat buns for breakfast is one thing, but he also has two steamed buns and a bowl of white rice porridge, and not even pickled vegetables!

He immediately felt even more sympathy for his third brother.

"Brother Zhao, do not speak while eating."

Wang Zhao pursed his lips.

After the two had breakfast, Lin San took Wang Zhao out of the city.

Wang Zhao was slightly shocked. "Don't you take any of your yamen runners with you when you go out?"

Lin San shook his head but did not say anything more.

Wang Zhao thought to himself, "My third brother must be all alone here, with no relatives or friends around."

That's why the yamen runners in the government offices treat people differently based on their status, and they even dare to disregard their own superiors.

The more Wang Zhao thought about it, the more convinced he was that his guess was correct, and even the way he looked at Lin San became intriguing.

Lin San suddenly caught Wang Zhao's strange look and was immediately at a loss for words, "What kind of look is that?"

Men are all concerned about their image, so Wang Zhao didn't intend to be direct. "Third Brother, where are we going?"

Lin Sandao: "The teahouse outside the city."

Wang Zhao hadn't quite grasped the situation yet. "Want to go for tea?"

Lin San: "Go find evidence that can prove your innocence."

"Oh," Wang Zhao said, "but they have no evidence to prove that I killed the child. Why should I be the one to find evidence to prove my innocence?"

"They have witnesses who said that the day before yesterday, in the teahouse, only you held his child," Lin San said. "I came back too late; the case files, the evidence, even the coroner's autopsy results are all out."

When Lin San found Wang Zhao at the yamen, he had already asked the yamen runners what had happened.

That very night, he saw the case file of a young man poisoning an innocent child.

The case file is very detailed, and the cause, process and result of the case are clearly written. Now all that's left is a court hearing to determine the guilt.

Although many people in the government office privately disobeyed his jurisdiction, he held the official seal, so they didn't dare to be too presumptuous in public.

Upon hearing Lin San's words, Wang Zhao's expression froze, and he asked, "What does this mean?"

Lin San sighed. "It means that all the evidence now points to you as the murderer."

Wang Zhao felt a bit heart-wrenching. "Third Brother, I saw him kneeling on the ground holding his child and felt sorry for him, so I gave him some silver. I didn't hold his child."

"I know you've been framed," Lin San said. "That's why we're out here looking for evidence."

Wang Zhao's feelings were indescribably complicated. He had only done a good deed, but it turned out to be a bad thing for him.

How did he become a murderer out of nowhere...?

"Third Brother, why do you think they would frame me? I have no grudge against them," Wang Zhao asked.

Lin San said, "If you don't know, then I certainly don't know either."

Wang Zhao sighed heavily, his tone full of melancholy, "I just wanted to experience what it's like to be a镖师 (bodyguard/escort), but I didn't expect to experience what it's like to be in jail first."

Lin San remained silent for a long time before saying, "This matter probably can't be hidden from your brother. You should think about how to get past him first."

Wang Zhao felt even more distressed when he thought of his stern-faced older brother.

If his older brother finds out, he'll definitely make him kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment.

Wang Zhao was the youngest child in his family and was pampered by the whole family from a young age, which is why he developed such a fearless personality.

However, his elder brother Wang Rui was different. He was raised from childhood to be the family heir, and he was very serious, composed, and rarely smiled.

He was especially strict with his younger brother.

From childhood to adulthood, Young Master Wang was afraid of nothing except his elder brother.

The thought of his elder brother immediately made Wang Zhao slump down, like a quail.

"Third brother, can't you help me keep this from my eldest brother?" Wang Zhao said pitifully. "Look, I've been framed and am now in jail. If my brother scolds me again, I'll definitely die."

Lin San said, "We've arrived."

Looking at the indifferent man in front of him, Wang Zhao could only wonder what was going on.

May I ask you this, my respected third brother of the Lin family?

Do you even have a heart?!

Wang Zhao was furious. He had finally managed to play the victim, but the man completely ignored him!

Lin San stepped forward and ordered a pot of tea.

He was dressed very simply today, in white clothes and white shoes, and he looked no different from a scholar.

Wang Zhao sat down listlessly, holding his teacup with a melancholy expression.

Lin San quickly started chatting with the tea stall owner. Wang Zhao didn't listen carefully, but he believed that his third brother would definitely clear his name.

Although Third Brother's martial arts skills are lacking, when it comes to brains, he is undoubtedly top-notch.

Soon, Lin San obtained the information he needed, paid for the tea, and left with Wang Zhao.

The road ahead wasn't the way back to the city. Wang Zhao asked curiously, "Third Brother, where are we going?"

Lin San said, "Willow Tree Village."

"I have a small question."

Lin San stopped in his tracks. "Ask away."

Wang Zhao cautiously asked, "Is it faster to ride a horse or walk?"

Lin San: "...Of course, it's riding a horse."

Wang Zhao said, "Then why are we walking? Third Brother, let's go find a horse. Do you have any money? Let's buy one."

Lin San looked at him as if he'd seen a ghost. "You want to ride the same horse as me?"

Wang Zhao bluntly said, "Your horsemanship is terrible. If you fall, I'll have to take care of you."

Lin San asked, "Have you ever heard the saying that most people who drown are good swimmers?"

"What do you mean?" Wang Zhao asked sincerely.

Scholars like to speak in roundabout ways!

Something that could be explained in a single sentence is instead made to go through countless twists and turns.

We were talking about horseback riding, so how did we end up talking about swimming?

Lin San said, "What I mean is, mind your own business."

Wang Zhao immediately bared his teeth in anger.

I hate scholars the most!