When County Magistrate Huang was stared at by her like that, a chill ran down his spine. He quickly nodded and forced a smile. "Of course, of course!"
The group entered the room. Palace Commandant Wang immediately spotted the jade bracelet on the table.
She didn't touch the bracelet but sat down in the armchair beside it.
Sun Miaoqing, who had been sitting there originally, quickly stood up and hid in the corner by the door.
She was a bit afraid of Palace Commandant Wang. This woman with a sharp look on her face had given her twenty strokes with a cane last time, and she still remembered it clearly.
Palace Commandant Wang first motioned for Li Wanming to sit on the other side, and then said calmly,
"Our princess said that this bracelet is called the Double - Blooming Peony Xuan Mountain Jade Bracelet. It was an old item from the time of Emperor Taizong of the current dynasty and was later bestowed upon the Cheng family of Langya, which is the princess's eldest sister - in - law's natal family.
"There was once a servant in the Cheng family who was quite favored by the master. So the head of the Cheng family bestowed the bracelet on them as a kindness."
County Magistrate Huang couldn't quite believe it. Stuttering, he said, "This jade bracelet is so precious. How could they just bestow it on a servant?"
Palace Commandant Wang glanced at him casually. "It may seem precious to outsiders, but for the Cheng family of Langya, it's nothing."
"Not to mention an ancient jade bracelet, even if it were mountains of gold and silver, if the Cheng family wanted to bestow them, they surely could afford it."
"Magistrate Huang, by asking this question, are you doubting the impropriety of the Cheng family of Langya's actions or accusing me of falsely relaying the princess's words?"
County Magistrate Huang was so scared that his face turned as white as a sheet. His knees went weak, and he almost knelt down.
"I dare not! I dare not..."
Palace Commandant Wang continued, "Later, I heard that this bracelet became the heirloom of that family. After several generations, it came into the hands of Mistress Cheng's mother - in - law."
She turned to Li Wanming, her voice softening and a smile appearing in her eyes.
"Since she gave you this bracelet, it means she has already recognized you as her daughter - in - law in her heart and has the intention of entrusting her son to you..."
As she spoke, Palace Commandant Wang put the jade bracelet on Li Wanming's wrist. "Mistress Cheng, wear it well and don't let down your mother - in - law's good intentions."
Li Wanming felt even more guilty.
Such a precious thing, but her mother - in - law had given it to her on their first meeting. What great trust!
But she, because of the fight with Sun Miaoqing, had lost the bracelet...
Later, when she told her father - in - law and mother - in - law about it, the old couple just paused for a moment and then turned to comfort her. "It's okay. It's not a big deal. If it's lost, just let it be. Don't take it to heart."
Not a big deal... This was an heirloom!
The old couple must have been so heart - broken, but they didn't blame her at all. They didn't even say a single harsh word to her...
Li Wanming thought she had handled this matter terribly.
Such considerate and reasonable in - laws were hard to come by. Why hadn't she cared about them at all before?
Before, her parents and elder sister always said she was heartless. She used to be unconvinced.
Now it seemed they were absolutely right. She was really heartless...
After finishing the story of the jade bracelet's origin, Palace Commandant Wang changed the subject. "However, I'm a bit confused now. How did this jade bracelet end up in Magistrate Huang's hands?"
County Magistrate Huang forced an embarrassed smile. "This... this is all a misunderstanding..."
Since no one had overstepped the rules and used the imperial artifacts, and it wasn't a crime of disrespect to the emperor, it was easier to deal with.
County Magistrate Huang secretly heaved a sigh of relief. He winked at Sun Miaoqing, hoping she would quickly say something nice to cover up this matter.
But Sun Miaoqing stared blankly at the jade bracelet on Li Wanming's wrist, motionless, as if she had gone crazy.
What was going on?
The development of the matter was completely different from what she had imagined.
Li Wanming's poor mother - in - law, who was always in patched clothes, had actually given her a Xuan Mountain jade bracelet?
In the morning, when the shopkeeper of Hengyi Pavilion had dragged her to the magistrate, she had really been scared out of her wits.
Later, after crying in the back hall of the county yamen in Zaiting County for a long time, she gradually thought it through. The bracelet belonged to Li Wanming... How could Li Wanming possibly have such a precious bracelet?
After much thought, Sun Miaoqing was certain. That's right! Li Wanming must have stolen it from somewhere!
Thinking of this, she was no longer afraid. Instead, she became excited.
Haha, Li Wanming had stolen an imperial artifact!
Later, the more County Magistrate Huang emphasized how serious this matter was, the happier she felt.
Beheading?
Exile?
Execution of three generations of the family?
Great!
The entire Li family would be implicated by Li Wanming and become prisoners. Let's see how they could still show off in front of her in the future!
So, while wiping the tears that hadn't dried on her face, she urged County Magistrate Huang to quickly arrest Li Wanming.
After Palace Commandant Wang came, although she was a bit panicked, she was mostly overjoyed. Hurry! It was this woman who had committed the crime of disrespect to the emperor. Hurry up and arrest her!
...
Who would have known that the development of the matter was completely different from what she had imagined.
Palace Commandant Wang not only didn't arrest Li Wanming but also comforted her a great deal.
And that precious Xuan Mountain jade bracelet was actually bestowed by the Cheng family of Langya on the ancestors of Li Wanming's husband's family!
This... How was that possible?
How could someone bestow such a precious thing on a servant?
In the end, that bracelet was actually given to Li Wanming...
As Sun Miaoqing thought about it, jealousy burned in her heart, and a venomous light shot out from her eyes.
Li Wanming, she didn't deserve it!
A country bumpkin from Fujian. How could she wear such a wonderful bracelet?
Such a wonderful thing should belong to her...
Seeing that Sun Miaoqing not only didn't respond but also had red - rimmed eyes, County Magistrate Huang coughed and explained on her behalf. "Commandant Wang, Miss Sun said just now that she picked up this bracelet."
"She thought it was something that someone had discarded, so she wanted to take it to the pawnshop to exchange for some silver to supplement the family income..."
"Magistrate Huang, your words don't make any sense!"
Palace Commandant Wang said coldly, "If it was picked up, one should first look for the owner. If the owner couldn't be found, one should hand the bracelet over to the head of the Cheng family and ask them to inquire on their behalf. At the very least, one should report it to the authorities. How could one just take the bracelet without a clear explanation?"
County Magistrate Huang wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Yes... yes... Miss Sun was confused..."
"She was confused?"
Palace Commandant Wang pursed her lips, and her voice became even sharper. "I think it's you who is confused!"
"According to the laws of the Great Sheng Dynasty, not returning lost property is the same as theft and should be punished with cutting off the feet!"
Sun Miaoqing was still in a daze, but County Magistrate Huang's face changed. "Cutting off the feet... This is too cruel, isn't it? Cutting off the feet means cutting off a person's feet!"
Hearing this, the color drained from Sun Miaoqing's face, and she let out a shrill scream. "Cut off my feet? How could they cut off my feet? I don't want that..."
All the strength in her body disappeared instantly. She went limp all over and slumped to the ground.
But Palace Commandant Wang still looked calm and said slowly, "Don't want to be punished? There is another way. According to the 'Commentary on the Laws of the Sheng Dynasty', as long as the owner is willing to forgive the thief and the thief compensates the owner for the loss, the punishment can be waived."
Sun Miaoqing was still dazed and didn't understand.
It was County Magistrate Huang who reacted first. "Yes! Yes! Miss Sun, why don't you quickly go and beg Mistress Cheng for forgiveness? As long as she is willing to forgive you, you won't have to be punished!"
Sun Miaoqing stared blankly at Li Wanming. She had to... beg her?
Li Wanming sat on the chair, looking at her leisurely.
Sun Miaoqing was struggling internally.
She was extremely unwilling to beg this little slut!
But Palace Commandant Wang was sitting right here. If Li Wanming didn't agree, this matter surely wouldn't end well today.
Sun Miaoqing's face changed several times. Finally, she bit her lip and, extremely reluctantly, shuffled over and knelt in front of Li Wanming...