There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 177 Beheading in public display

The prefect snorted coldly.

"With witnesses and physical evidence before you, you have no choice but to confess. Zhu Haose, you have oppressed women, abducted people, and treated human life like dirt. You are to be imprisoned immediately and beheaded in three days."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Haose panicked and shouted loudly at General Xuanwei.

"Father, save me, Father! Save me, Father! You only have me as your son! The General's family line cannot end! Father, Father!"

General Xuanwei was deaf to everything. His son, whom he had painstakingly raised and nurtured, had become such a scoundrel, such a beast, committing so many heinous acts behind his back without him noticing a single clue. He had truly failed as a father.

The Prefect looked at the distraught General Xuanwei and said...

"General Xuanwei, each victim will be given one hundred taels of silver as a consolation payment, and Cui'er's family will be given two hundred taels of silver for funeral expenses. Does General Xuanwei have any objections to this?"

General Xuanwei seemed to be dead, he replied.

No objection

Your Excellency the Prefect: "Court adjourned."

"and many more"

These were the words of Murong Shuxue, who blushed as she looked at everyone.

The prefect, who had just lifted his buttocks, put them down again.

"What's wrong, Xue'er?"

Murong Shuxue clenched her fists tightly, her expression tense.

"Today, with everyone present, I want to clarify things for myself."

"Keep it up!" Li Shuchen whispered.

Murong Shuxue nodded at Li Shuchen. She was much more confident now and said loudly...

"The incident at Xiangchi Tower a few days ago was purely accidental. I, Murong Shuxue, hereby swear that I have absolutely no feelings of love for Zhu Haose. If this is a lie, may I never be able to get married in this life, the next life, and the life after that."

"Great!"

Li Shuchen gave Murong Shuxue a thumbs up, overjoyed.

The prefect was so moved he almost cried; his daughter had truly grown up and wasn't afraid of people anymore.

"Miss Murong made such a solemn oath; it seems she truly dislikes Zhu Haose."

"I think Miss Murong is as beautiful as a flower. Perhaps Zhu Haose himself has developed lustful thoughts and is now claiming that the young lady likes him."

"Exactly! Shameless! Doing such despicable things, and still daring to covet the Prefect's daughter!"

The crowd dispersed, chattering away, and Li Shuchen pulled Murong Shuxue back to the inn.

Three Treasures Hall

Li Shuchen felt relieved and happily poured Murong Shuxue a cup of tea.

"Shuxue, you must be tired after watching a play."

"I'm not tired, but I never expected Zhu Hao to be such a wolf in sheep's clothing. I have to thank Miss Li for helping me today."

Li Shuchen said indifferently

"There's nothing to thank me for. You must have been frightened. Have some delicious food here and cheer yourself up."

"Please, Miss Li, please don't refuse me again. Please grant me my request."

"Okay, then I'm going to eat something good, something expensive."

Murong Shuxue generously placed her purse on the table.

"Eat, Miss Li, I have money."

"Okay, Grape, bring the menu."

Li Shuchen only ordered a few dishes.

Murong Shuxue, however, picked up the menu and ordered a table full of food, then ate and drank heartily, feeling like she was rewarding herself after surviving a disaster.

She was clearly very happy.

After three rounds of drinks and three rounds of meals

Murong Shuxue was completely drunk, and Li Shuchen laughed.

"You call that a good drinker? You passed out after just a few drinks."

"I'm not drunk, I can still drink."

Murong Shuxue forced herself to sit up, swaying as she picked up the wine pot and poured wine, spilling it all over the table.

"Hmm? Miss Li, could you please pour me a glass of wine?"

Li Shuchen took the wine pot and said...

"Come on, the wine pot is so misaligned with the wine glass, and you still want to drink?"

"Drink, drink"

With a "bang," Murong Shuxue fell down.

Li Shuchen shook Murong Shuxue

"Shuxue, Shuxue, it's fallen over."

Li Shuchen resignedly picked up Murong Shuxue in a princess carry and put her into the carriage.

"Grape, go to the Murong residence."

"Yes, miss"

Arrived at the gate of the Murong residence

Li Shuchen then carried Murong Shuxue in a princess carry through the gates of the Murong residence.

"Where is your young lady's room?"

"Please come with me, young lady."

Walking briskly all the way

I ran into the Prefect

"Xue'er, Xue'er, what's wrong?"

"Your Excellency, Shuxue is drunk."

"Someone, quickly, help Miss inside to rest."

"Yes, sir"

The maids took Murong Shuxue from Li Shuchen's hands.

The prefect kept staring at Li Shuchen, making her feel uneasy.

Will the prefect scold her? Who knew Shuxue had such a low alcohol tolerance? She hadn't even had a few drinks.

Li Shuchen rubbed his hands awkwardly, about to explain.

But the prefect said...

"Thank you so much, Miss Li."

Oh, I'm not insulting her.

Li Shuchen said awkwardly

"Haha, no need to thank me."

"Miss Li, please don't refuse. Someone, bring the gifts."

A group of people kept putting things into Grape's hands, so many that they covered the upper half of Grape's body.

Li Shuchen was so surprised he clicked his tongue.

"What brings you here, Your Excellency?"

"Miss Li, I originally intended to take you to your residence, but since you're here, please take me with you."

"Your Excellency, I cannot accept such a generous gift without having done anything in return."

The prefect waved his hand, and the servants all withdrew. Then he smiled and said...

"That's not quite right, Miss Li. You must have known all along that someone would be beating the petition drum today, which is why you kept delaying, allowing the jailer to arrive in time to report and stop Xue'er's engagement. You've done us a great favor."

Li Shuchen laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"This, I, just happened, just happened."

"Miss Li, please don't be modest. If I'm not mistaken, it was you who discovered the place where Zhu Haose was hiding, and it was also you who asked Liu San to beat the petition drum today, wasn't it?"

Li Shuchen scratched his head upon hearing this.

"Ah, haha, Your Excellency the Prefect is wise!"

"Miss Li is exceptionally capable; she has done me and the people of the capital a great favor. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to solve these missing persons cases."

And Xue'er, ever since she met you, she's become much bolder and more confident. Now she dares to stand in front of so many people and prove herself. Congratulations!

Both out of courtesy and reason, I should thank you properly. Please accept these gifts, Miss Li, and don't think they are too little.

"Haha, quite a lot, quite a lot!"

The gifts were piled up to half a person's height; how could she complain that it wasn't enough? She wondered what wonderful things the Prefect had sent; she had to hurry back to see.

"If there's nothing else, Your Excellency, I'll head back now."

"Miss Li..."

Li Shuchen retracted his retreating foot.

"Your Excellency, please speak."

The prefect glanced at Li Shuchen and recited a sentence.

"A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind; a mound that rises above the bank will be eroded by the current; a person who excels above others will be criticized by the masses."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen pondered carefully. The Prefect was telling her to conceal her talents.

Yes, her elaborate search yesterday must have been discovered. It was her fault for not thinking things through. She needs to be more careful in the future. The Prefect was just kindly reminding her.

Thinking of this, Li Shuchen bowed deeply to the Prefect.

"Thank you, Your Excellency. I will take my leave now."

"Goodbye, Miss Li. We won't see you off."