Feng Xiang and the rest looked at the old lady with evil smiles on their faces. After the man had died, they’d hired the victim’s relatives to purposely make a scene in court to ensure that Feng Tianlan was found guilty. Then, they could use this opportunity to force her to hand over the Feng family treasure.
The governor replied gravely, “The truth has not been revealed yet. Who told you she was the killer?”
“Er…” the old lady was caught off guard for a few moments. Then, she quickly reacted: “Everyone saw her kill him, so it must be her.”
She had already accepted a large amount of silver coins. Once the matter was settled, she was going to receive a second payment of even more silver coins.
As for her son?
Well, he was already dead, so there was no use in crying. Why not get some silver coins?
Feng Xiupei knelt in front of her, crying non-stop. She pleaded, “Grandma, that….it’s my fault….everything started because of me. Please don’t blame my sister. It’s my fault. So, if you want the debt repaid with a life, take mine instead!”
The old lady looked at Feng Xiupei and started crying too. “Good girl, you’re so kind as to speak up for that horrible girl. How could you be a killer? Don’t take the rap for her. I would never accuse a good person like that.”
Feng Xiuyu saw that all the odds were stacked against Feng Tianlan. She stuck out her chin arrogantly and said, “Feng Tianlan, what have you to say for yourself?”
“Why are you so anxious? The autopsy results aren’t back yet, so any discussion now is futile.” Feng Tianlan curled her lips and continued to look at Feng Xiupei, who was continuing to talk about how she was a good younger sister for taking the rap for her elder sister. Feng Tianlan smiled and asked, “Second Sister, tell me, what poison do you think they’ll find in the autopsy?”
The pill could destroy a cinnabar field by itself, and there was no poison involved. So what poison were they going to find and convict her with?
She was going to wait, watch them lift a rock, and smash their own feet with it.
“I…I don’t know.” Feng Xiupei bowed her head low, thinking about how she hadn’t bribed the forensic doctor yet. So the results…
Feng Xiupei could only pray that a forensic doctor with basic skills would not be able to ascertain that the cause of death had been the cinnabar field’s explosion.
“Doctor Su is here!” someone shouted out, and the crowd made way for him.
Su Ji walked over, and the governor rushed to greet him. “What brings Doctor Su here?”
“I heard that someone was poisoned to death after eating a Marrow Cleansing Pill. Since I happened to be passing by, I thought I’d conduct the autopsy. Most forensic doctors are not able to detect any differences in damage to cinnabar fields, and I don’t want the wrong person to be found guilty,” replied Su Ji very objectively.
In truth, he hadn’t just been passing by. He had been instructed by the emperor to perform the autopsy. No matter what the results were, he was to announce them and remain impartial.
When they saw Su Ji, Feng Xiupei and the rest knew that they were in trouble. Su Ji was a Grade 5 Alchemist, and he was the royal family’s doctor. What if…
“Sure. I believe in Doctor Su’s expertise,” the governor smiled and replied quickly, breathing a sigh of relief. Before Doctor Su’s arrival, he’d been terrified of what was going to happen if the forensic doctor couldn’t find anything. Feng Tianlan was not saying anything, and he simply had no idea what to do.
“Doctor Su…” Feng Xiang called out after him anxiously but did not complete his sentence. She hoped that the doctor could understand what he was hinting at.
Su Ji nodded slightly in response, then turned to look coldly at the silent but confident Feng Tianlan. This was a look of disdain. He despised her for causing harm to one younger sister. Now, Feng Tialan was creating trouble for yet another younger sister, who had just come back home and hadn’t even offended her.
He wasn’t going to let this heartless woman get away with it!
After sneering at Feng Tianlan, he looked at Feng Xiupei and said, “Don’t worry, Second Miss, I will make sure to be just and fair. I will not take sides.”