Song Ruotang could hardly believe that Pei Zhiyan was being so agreeable.
Pei Zhiyan, however, didn't want Song Ruotang to get hurt. He had lost all patience with Pei Yu. Moreover, given Pei Yu's stupidity, if he forced him to call off the engagement, it would surely cause a huge stir.
If it weren't for Song Ruotang to have some peace...
Pei Zhiyan sighed. He'd just see how Pei Yu would handle this. He hoped the boy still had some sense left.
After Song Ruotang fell asleep, Pei Zhiyan gently tucked in the corners of her quilt and then walked over to the table in the outer room and sat down.
A man walked in and bowed to him. "My lord, we've found out."
Pei Zhiyan nodded, signaling him to continue.
"Xue Mang is a porter from the Song family's estate. He once colluded with the servants there to bully the lady. He has feelings for Song Wanying and is very close to her. But Song Wanying only uses him. Even the order to bully the lady was from her," the man said calmly.
Pei Zhiyan's long fingers tapped on the teacup. He paused for a moment and looked at the man. "So, Song Wanying instigated this false accusation as well." It was a statement, not a question.
The man nodded. "Although Xue Mang refused to admit it, our men have found evidence of their private meetings."
Pei Zhiyan had long suspected that Song Wanying was up to no good, but her methods were really too stupid.
How dare she blatantly send someone to do this? Did she really think Song Ruotang had no backer and could be easily killed off with some made-up accident?
Pei Zhiyan's eyes darkened. This Song Wanying really needed a good lesson.
Pei Zhiyan gave Pei Yu three days to investigate this matter, but on the second day, Pei Yu sent a letter to Song Ruotang, asking her to come out and meet him.
Song Ruotang sneered when she saw the letter and flatly refused.
When Pei Yu received the news of her refusal, he couldn't believe it. How dare this woman be so insolent!
"Song Ruotang, don't be ungrateful. I'm giving you a chance. If I directly say that you seduced Xue Mang, your husband's family will surely not forgive you. You'd better think it over! If you beg me, I might consider giving you a lighter punishment," Pei Yu sent another letter to warn Song Ruotang. But she ignored him. Pei Yu didn't wait for Song Ruotang to yield. With Song Wanying nagging him every day, he gritted his teeth and said, "Song Ruotang, you've forced my hand."
On the third day, Pei Zhiyan asked him as promised, "How's the investigation going?"
"Father, I've asked around. It was indeed Song Ruotang who seduced Xue Mang. Xue Mang is a porter from the Song family's estate. Before, when Song Ruotang was bullied on the estate, seeing that Xue Mang was tall and strong, she wanted to use him to get out of the situation. So she actively seduced him," Pei Yu lied without batting an eyelid, sounding quite plausible.
Pei Zhiyan didn't say a word. As if he just remembered something, Pei Yu added, "Father, I've also found out about the undergarment in Xue Mang's hand. It does belong to Song Ruotang."
"Oh?" Hearing this, Pei Zhiyan's fingers tightened involuntarily. "Then when and where did she have a tryst with Xue Mang?"
"This..." Pei Yu obviously didn't expect Pei Zhiyan to ask this. He paused for a moment and then slowly said, "It should be on the 18th. When Xue Mang came back from the estate, Song Ruotang went to find him."
Pei Zhiyan found it quite amusing. The 18th was the day when Song Ruotang had waited for him until very late. He had carried her back to the room with his own hands.
Thinking about it, that night he had noticed some movement by the window but hadn't seen any suspicious person. Now it seemed that someone must have stolen Song Ruotang's undergarment that night.
"You just said that Song Ruotang seduced Xue Mang to avoid being bullied?" Pei Zhiyan's voice showed no sign of emotion. Pei Yu nodded. "Yes."
"Then now that she's married and no one bullies her, why did she still seduce Xue Mang?" Pei Zhiyan's eyes swept over Pei Yu, and his question hit the nail on the head.
Pei Yu was instantly stumped. After a long silence, under Pei Zhiyan's scrutinizing gaze, he could only tentatively say, "Maybe she's insatiable. After all, she married a man in his fifties. Naturally, he can't compare to Xue Mang, who is young and strong..."
Hearing the words "in his fifties", Pei Zhiyan's eyes darkened, and his tone turned stern. "I gave you three days to find out the truth of this matter, but today you keep saying 'should be' and 'maybe'. Everything is just your wild guess."
Pei Zhiyan stood up and looked down at Pei Yu. A sense of oppression emanated from him, making Pei Yu shrink his head in fear.
"You haven't spent a single day of these three days on investigating the case," Pei Zhiyan said, looking at Pei Yu with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Pei Yu, who was already a bit scared, felt his legs go weak when he met his father's gaze. He instantly knelt down. "Father, please calm down. Your son knows his mistake..."
"The Supreme Court is a place for sentencing and convicting. It requires fairness and the truth, not your wild speculations," Pei Zhiyan said calmly but with authority. "The Supreme Court is a place to redress the grievances of the good and bring the evil to justice."
He looked at Pei Yu. "Your actions today are enough to prove that you're not suitable to work in the Supreme Court, let alone be the deputy chief judge."
When Pei Zhiyan said this, Pei Yu was already scared out of his wits. With a look about to cry, he crawled on his knees to Pei Zhiyan, grabbed the corner of his robe, and said, "Father, father, your son knows his mistake. Please... give your son a little more time..."
"You couldn't even find out such a simple matter in three days. What's the use of keeping you?" Pei Zhiyan pulled back his robe. Pei Yu grabbed at nothing and fell to the ground. "Father, father..."
Just then, Song Wanying walked in. She was here to see how Pei Yu would punish Song Ruotang today. But as soon as she entered the door, she saw Pei Yu crying and wailing. She quickly rushed to his side and helped him up. "Yu Lang, what are you doing?"
"Father... A Ying, father wants to dismiss me from my post..." Pei Yu grabbed Song Wanying's hand. "Go and beg father quickly..."
Hearing the word "dismissal", Song Wanying was also shocked. Without thinking about anything else, she quickly knelt down in front of Pei Zhiyan with Pei Yu and anxiously said, "Uncle, Yu Lang has always been dedicated to his work in the Supreme Court. When you were recuperating, it was Yu Lang who handled all the matters that were originally yours. He is definitely capable of the job!"
Pei Zhiyan watched the two of them in front of him, their expressions eager and their eyes pleading, but he remained unmoved. He just looked at Song Wanying. "You've come just in time. I don't even have to send someone to arrest you."
Song Wanying was instantly stunned on the spot. She asked stupidly, "Uncle... what... what are you talking about..."
"Someone, arrest Song Wanying and throw her into prison," Pei Zhiyan ignored Song Wanying's shocked expression and just calmly gave the order.
Immediately, someone stepped forward, twisted Song Wanying's hands behind her back, and pressed her to the ground.
"Yu Lang, Yu Lang!" Song Wanying screamed in panic. Pei Yu crawled forward on his knees and grabbed the hem of Pei Zhiyan's robe. He panicked and said, "Father, what's going on? Father..."