Dong Xuerou glared hatefully at Zhou Yanran, her eyes about to burst, "Bitch, how dare you betray me? Sir, it was Zhou Yanran who wanted to use a borrowed knife to kill, she actively asked me to help her, Zhou Yanran is the main culprit!"
Everyone stared blankly as they exposed each other's flaws.
Lord Han silently lit a candle in his heart for Minister Zhou and Prime Minister Dong.
The Empress supported her forehead, sighed deeply, stood up, and sternly ordered the accompanying nannies and palace maids, "Return to the palace."
After taking a few steps, she noticed Xin Yao hadn't followed and stopped, turning back, "Yao'er?"
Xin Yao glanced at her coldly and turned her face away.
The Empress shook her head helplessly, turned, and left.
Xin Yao watched her retreating back coldly, her eyes unable to conceal her anger and hatred.
It turned out her mother knew yesterday that Zhou Yanran and Dong Xuerou had disfigured her, yet her mother could forgive all of this, not only not punishing them severely but also cooperating with them.
Then what was she, her daughter, to her? A relative who could be used? For her own purposes, for her brother's throne, could her mother sacrifice her at any moment?
As a woman, disfiguring her face was equivalent to ruining her life. Although she could be cured by finding the corpse-eating worm, how long would that take? Three years? Five years? Ten years?
Youth was fleeting, and she couldn't wait.
Xin Yao's fingers, gripping the back of the chair, turned pale blue and white.
With the truth of the case revealed, Lord Han had no choice but to imprison Zhou Yanran and Dong Xuerou.
For the two lords, the case was only half over; they would still have to face the Zhou and Dong families with their strong hearts.
Lu Ye and Bai Sheng's group were acquitted and hugged each other happily.
Consort Mei, her face full of smiles, walked towards Lord Yan, lowering her voice slightly, "If Lord Yan had not overseen this case, I'm afraid it would have been difficult for my little friend to clear her name. Thank you, Lord Yan, for your impartiality and dedication to duty."
Lord Yan stroked his fine beard and chuckled modestly, "Consort Mei, you are too kind. Consort Mei is the one who stabilized the overall situation. I merely did my humble best."
As they were speaking softly and modestly to each other, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye led everyone forward, bowing and kowtowing to Consort Mei and Yan Mingkun to thank them.
Still at the Dali Temple, certain words were inconvenient to speak directly. Yan Mingkun clasped his hands together, bowed towards the sky, and said loudly, "His Majesty is wise, Great Xia's laws are as strong as iron, and the Dali Temple judges cases fairly and justly. As long as you conduct yourselves uprightly and do not commit wicked deeds, justice will naturally be served."
Lu Ye and Bai Sheng responded respectfully.
Lord Han and Lord Wei also seized the opportunity to step forward and exchange pleasantries with Lord Yan and Consort Mei.
Suddenly, a yamen runner rushed in to report, "Reporting to Your Lordship, the prisoner Chun Xing, fearing punishment, has committed suicide by poisoning."
Everyone was slightly startled.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye exchanged a glance, a strange flicker in their eyes.
Lord Han and Lord Wei immediately went to handle the matter, and Lord Yan also took his leave.
After agreeing on a time to meet Consort Mei again, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye led everyone out of the Dali Temple.
On the street outside the gate of the Dali Temple, several carriages were parked. It was Uncle Ding, Third Uncle, Ga Mei, Lu Yun, and Tong Tie.
Upon seeing Bai Sheng and Lu Ye's group emerge, Ga Mei and Lu Yun cried out with surprise and joy, "Sister-in-law (Madam, Hua Hua)," and rushed over.
Even Uncle Ding and Third Uncle ran over urgently. Third Uncle stumbled in his haste and almost fell, but fortunately, Uncle Ding caught him in time.
Tong and Tie followed behind them, grinning foolishly.
The family members hugged each other, laughing.
Li Qing, along with four courtesans, stood to the side, their eyes full of envy.
After expressing her joy to her family, Bai Sheng turned and walked towards Li Qing and the others.
Bai Sheng said gratefully, "Sister Li Qing, elder sisters, thank you for your righteous testimony in court today. I have no way to repay you, but I will find a way to heal your faces in the future."
These courtesans already lived difficult lives, and now they had bravely come forward to testify for her. Bai Sheng was actually worried about how the Dong family would retaliate against them in the future.
"What! Boss Bai, you... you can heal our faces?" The leading woman was extremely excited and grabbed Bai Sheng's arm.
Bai Sheng nodded, "I will do my best! I will tell Sister Li Qing after I handle my family matters, and Sister Li Qing will contact you."
She didn't know if they were willing to redeem themselves. She had heard that some women of pleasure were unwilling to redeem themselves, as it was easier to earn money in the brothel.
"Oh, thank you, Boss Bai!" The leading woman suddenly knelt down facing Bai Sheng, and the other three women also knelt.
If they could have their faces healed, they would gladly give ten years of their lives.
"Sisters, please get up quickly. You are benefactors to my family, how can you kneel to me?" Bai Sheng immediately helped them up.
Xin Yao, who had just walked out of the Dali Temple, happened to see this scene. Her thoughts stirred, and she turned to the palace maid beside her and said, "Send someone to keep an eye on those prostitutes and see if that cheap slave can heal their faces."
The palace maid responded respectfully with a "Yes" and turned to leave.
Xin Yao also twitched the corner of her mouth, her face full of disdain, and left with the remaining attendants.
Bai Sheng thought for a moment and then said softly, "Sisters, you testified for me today and offended the Dong family. The Dong family will certainly not let you go."
The leading woman sighed sadly, "Alas, with our current appearance, we'll live one day at a time. If that person surnamed Dong wants to retaliate against us, let him come. Perhaps death is more blissful than life."
"Yes, I'm not afraid of death, but my son is only three years old," another woman said with teary eyes.
"There's no hope for this life anyway. For us nameless prostitutes, we only earn a few dozen coins for each customer. Being able to live and have a meal is the greatest happiness."
"My body is already infected with a dirty disease, and I don't have many days left to live. If the Dong family comes to retaliate, I'll drag them down with me, one by one."
Bai Sheng felt a pang of sadness as she listened. She was by no means a saint and wouldn't indulge in indiscriminate sympathy. However, for those who had helped her selflessly, she would repay them tenfold.
"Sisters, there's something I want to ask your thoughts on. Do you want to redeem yourselves? I want to help you redeem yourselves."
Li Qing and the four women widened their eyes and looked at Bai Sheng in disbelief.
Li Qing could redeem herself, but she didn't want to, because she had finally managed to get her current position as a manager and wanted to earn more money. Anyway, she didn't have to entertain customers anymore.
The leading woman said, "Yes, we really want to! But, Boss Bai, we... we were all sold to the brothel by the Dong family. To redeem ourselves, the redemption money is probably several times higher. How... how can we let you spend so much?"
Bai Sheng said proudly, "As long as you want to redeem yourselves, I will help you redeem yourselves. Your sister is foolish and has too much money."
The women chuckled.
The woman with the three-year-old son looked worried, "But after redeeming ourselves, where can we go? Our families have long considered us dead, and we can't afford to rent a house. With this face, it's hard to find work, and no employer is willing to hire us."