The first watch, asking for pink tickets.

***************

Wu Lang asked Old Master Lian whether the matter in Taicang had been resolved and how it was resolved. Before Old Master Lian could speak, Lady Zhou started wailing.

"Father, Mother, what’s really going on here?" Lian Shouxin asked, "How did it involve Xiuxiu?... Did his uncle’s wrongdoing drag Xiuxiu into this?"

Old Master Lian sighed.

"Xiuxiu, my foolish daughter, too honest..." Lady Zhou continued crying, "I blame myself, this old fool, I forced her... Oh my Xiuxiu... For those heartless bastards, my good girl got hurt... Oh my heavens..."

"...No one expected this..." Old Master Lian sighed.

Amid the wailing of Lady Zhou and the sighing, brief narration from Old Master Lian, Lian Manman finally understood the gist of the situation.

Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, having gained power in Taicang, began to act arrogantly. When the incident occurred, the entire family from Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou down to Da Niuniu and little Niuniu were imprisoned, cut off from the outside, awaiting the interrogation and judgment of the Prefectural Magistrate.

There’s a saying, ’When the wall falls, everyone pushes.’ Those who used to compliment them suddenly turned against them, flocking to the Government Office to submit evidence against Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi. Every day, Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi faced trials and punishment; even Lian Jizu and Erlang, the adult men, couldn’t escape, and eventually even Lian Silang was dragged to the courtroom and beaten.

As Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were left with half a life, and Lian Jizu, Erlang, and Silang were about to be ruined physically, the charges against Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi kept piling up, leaving the entire family in a state of constant fear, with no means to address the crisis.

Lian Shouren had a position bought by the Song Family, so he had no other background or support in Taicang, with the only hope resting on Third Old Master Zheng from the Zheng Family.

They couldn’t send messages from prison, but people from outside could arrange visits.

Lian Xiuxiu visited the prison accompanied by Third Old Master Zheng.

With her limited knowledge, Lady Zhou spent most of her life within the confines of the inner courtyard. Suffering in jail, witnessing the hardship faced by Old Master Lian, her two sons, and grandsons, while listening to one-sided stories from Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, Lady Zhou naively believed that although their crimes were severe, Third Old Master Zheng could save Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and their entire family, depending only on his willingness to genuinely exert himself to help. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

When Lady Zhou met Lian Xiuxiu, she naturally instilled this idea in her, urging Lian Xiuxiu to find a way for Third Old Master Zheng to rescue the entire family.

Lian Xiuxiu, always listening to Lady Zhou, nodded in agreement. Third Old Master Zheng also vowed not to stand idly by.

Afterwards, each time Lian Xiuxiu visited the prison, Lady Zhou would tearfully implore her to do whatever was necessary. Lian Xiuxiu and Third Old Master Zheng indeed took extensive measures, spending silver coins like flowing water. Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Lian Jizu, Erlang, and Silang no longer suffered punishments, with medication and food provided by Lian Xiuxiu for them. Soon, the judgment was issued: Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were exiled three thousand miles away, while Lian Jizu and Erlang were exiled two thousand miles, the rest were acquitted, and the entire family’s assets confiscated to compensate their embezzled silver taels and appease those victimized by them.

As for the related offenders like He Laoliu, they were sentenced to death, some executed immediately, others awaiting Ministry of Justice approval for next year’s execution.

Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Lian Jizu, and Erlang were spared their lives, Silang and Liulang, too, escaped punishment. During the time remaining after the incident, the family, although in jail, was looked after by Lian Xiuxiu and Third Old Master Zheng, avoiding further suffering, and thus should be thanking Heaven and Earth, grateful to Amitabha.

But they didn’t think so.

Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and others unanimously believed that exiling to distant places was akin to a lifetime death sentence unless there was a general amnesty; neither Old Master Lian nor Lady Zhou wanted this, nor did Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi. The family discussed continuing to push Third Old Master Zheng to make another effort.

Lian Shouren’s time in office was not in vain; he was aware of the provision for ’redemption of crimes with gold.’ The Zheng Family lacked nothing but silver coins.

"Just a few leaking from the tips of Old Zheng Family’s fingers could exempt us from these punishments."