Chapter 2

**House Rules? Lin Zhao was suddenly startled.**

His thoughts were still lingering on the testimonies of Chen Xuan and Xiao Tao, piecing together clues from his memory to try and find a way to exonerate himself. Just as he was making progress, Lady Meng had already pronounced the verdict and was about to enforce the house rules. What a mess!

But then he heard Lady Meng angrily say, "Drag him away and give him forty lashes!"

What? Lin Zhao was instantly furious. This isn't about house rules; it's clearly an abuse of private power to take someone's life!

Gu Qi, upon hearing this, was greatly surprised and pleaded, "Madam, please show mercy. Zhao'er is frail and can't withstand forty lashes... This is due to my poor discipline. Let me take the punishment instead!"

Uncle, what are you doing? Lin Zhao was moved, but more so, he was angry! Why should I accept punishment when I've been wronged?

Why don't you let me speak? Ah! Lin Zhao's body kept shaking, and he let out muffled groans, trying to express his dissatisfaction.

Gu Yuelun, being the smart one, shouted, "Madam, why not let my cousin speak? Perhaps he was wronged, perhaps there was a misunderstanding..."

"Cousin, I love you to death!" Lin Zhao thought sarcastically, finally someone noticed my plea!

Gu Qi also came to his senses and pleaded, "Madam, please, let Zhao'er speak! If he is truly at fault, we will accept the punishment willingly!"

"Grandmother, let him speak so he can be convinced of his guilt..." Lin Zhao clearly heard a woman's voice, it was Meng Jia's eldest daughter, Meng Ruo Ying. He didn't expect her to be there.

"Madam, can we tolerate his insolence and disrespect to the lady again?" It was Chen Xuan again, and Lin Zhao was furious, already cursing his ancestors several times over.

A gentleman doesn't let a grudge go unavenged. Once I get out of this, you two will see what's coming...

"Let him speak, what harm can it do? If he speaks out of turn, we'll break his legs..." Miss Meng was somewhat reasonable, but why the condescending tone?

Lady Meng pondered for a moment and finally nodded.

Finally, a chance to defend myself!

The rag in his mouth was finally removed, the stench faded, and a fresh breath of air rushed in. One word—refreshing!

"Lin Zhao, what do you have to say?" It was Meng Ruo Ying who asked.

Lin Zhao greedily took a few deep breaths and coldly said, "I have a lot to say, but first, you need to untie me and let me stand up!"

"Bold little thief, how dare you speak so arrogantly..." Chen Xuan was the first to scold him!

"Who do you think you are? When did the Meng family start taking orders from you?" Lin Zhao's words left Chen Xuan speechless. Although many people subconsciously saw him as the future son-in-law of the Meng family, Meng Ruo Ying had hardly ever given him a second glance.

Lin Zhao continued, "What right do you have to tie me up?"

"Rogue, for your crimes in the Meng family!" Meng Ruo Ying, who managed hundreds of servants and workers, was used to giving orders and was not pleased with Lin Zhao's defiance.

Lin Zhao smiled, "Miss, don't be angry. If that's the case, why not hand me over to the Jiangning County Magistrate for a fair trial? What right does the Meng family have to set up a private court? Abusing private power to take someone's life? Are you defying the law?"

You... Meng Ruo Ying was instantly furious.

"Alright, untie him!" Lady Meng's command was final, and no one dared to disobey.

After all, family disgrace should not be aired in public. If he were sent to the magistrate today, rumors would spread throughout Jiangning tomorrow. The Meng family couldn't afford such a loss of face.

Actually, it was common for large families to punish their servants, and Lin Zhao was just bluffing to gain some leverage. Lady Meng, with her concerns, didn't think it through and agreed.

The ropes were untied, and his numb limbs ached terribly. A medium-built, honest-looking man rushed over, concerned, "Zhao'er, are you alright?"

Lin Zhao saw his uncle Gu Qi, tears in his eyes, with blood on his forehead, and felt even more uncomfortable. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm fine, Uncle, don't worry!"

As he spoke, he forced himself to stand up, gently moving his almost numb limbs.

"Little thief, what do you have to say?" Chen Xuan coldly questioned.

Lin Zhao turned and smiled, "Why are you in such a hurry? There's a saying, isn't there? The emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuch is. Could this have something to do with you?"

Chen Xuan, with his guilty conscience, dared not say more.

"Alright, no more nonsense. Do you have any defense?" Meng Ruo Ying felt something was off; her honest and sincere study companion didn't seem like this...

Lin Zhao's gaze fell on Meng Ruo Ying, with her fair skin, bright eyes, and red lips, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, and a small red mole at the corner of her brow, exuding a sense of competence. She was staring at him expressionlessly, and Lin Zhao wondered what she would look like when she smiled.

Meng Ruo Ying was surprised to find Lin Zhao staring at her, her expression slightly uncomfortable, and her phoenix eyes filled with displeasure.

Before Miss Meng could become angry, Lin Zhao bowed slightly and said, "Madam, Miss, Lin Zhao was disrespectful just now, please forgive me!"

"Do you even know what disrespect is?" Meng Ruo Ying's words were double-edged.

Lin Zhao smiled faintly, "It seems Miss has a bias against me. If so, it's necessary for me to prove my innocence first..."

Chen Xuan and Li Shi exchanged a glance, both feeling nervous. How did the usually clumsy bookworm become so eloquent?

Lin Zhao spoke confidently, "May I ask Xiao Tao a few questions?"

"Go ahead, see how long you can keep up your smooth talk," Meng Ruo Ying nodded lightly, while Lady Meng remained silent.

Lin Zhao turned to the witness, Xiao Tao, and asked, "I have a few questions for you. You must answer truthfully. Where were you boiling the medicine at the time?"

Xiao Tao replied, "I was boiling the medicine outside the west room!"

Lin Zhao nodded and continued, "Was there a screen in the lady's room, and where was it?"

"This..." Xiao Tao began to feel something was amiss, but with Lin Zhao pressing, she had to answer, "There was a screen in the lady's room, in the corner of the west wall near the bedroom!"

"Very good!" Lin Zhao pressed, "Today... have you changed your clothes?"

"Pervert..." Upon hearing Lin Zhao's question about whether she had changed her clothes, Meng Ruo Ying muttered softly.

Lin Zhao pretended not to hear and waited quietly for the answer.

Xiao Tao, feeling uneasy under Lin Zhao's sharp gaze, said, "What does that have to do with anything? Why are you asking such an impolite question?"

"Perhaps it's a bit abrupt, but please answer truthfully, as it is highly relevant to this matter," Lin Zhao pressed firmly.

Xiao Tao glanced at Lady Meng and Miss Meng, who remained silent, indicating their tacit approval. She reluctantly said, "I haven't changed my clothes today..."

"Good..." Lin Zhao nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "Where is the young master's inner study?"

"East room!"

Lin Zhao clapped his hands, "That's strange. I went to the young master's study in the east room to deliver a book. The lady's bedroom is in the west room, with the screen in the corner of the west wall, separated by the main hall. You were boiling medicine outside the west room. You insist that I peeped at the lady... changing... which means I didn't break in. So, where did I peep from?

The only possible place is the front of the west room, where you were boiling medicine. Did you not see me? Or did my gaze penetrate the walls and the screen to peep... the lady... changing?"

In large families, the bedroom often had a convenient area behind the screen, politely called "changing," but in reality, it was for using the toilet. I have no such vile interest in peeping at a woman using the toilet...

"This..." Xiao Tao was suddenly flustered, her eyes darting to the lady and Chen Xuan for help... After much hesitation, she finally said, "Perhaps I was mistaken..."

"Alright, second question. You said that when you entered with the medicine, I panicked and tried to escape, colliding with you, right?" Lin Zhao continued, "If that's the case, the medicine bowl would naturally spill... You haven't changed your clothes today, and I haven't had the chance to change mine either. How come there's not a single trace of the medicine on our clothes?

Of course, you might say the medicine spilled on the ground. Has the lady's room been cleaned? Are there any traces? How coincidental is this? Perhaps you were mistaken again..."

Two consecutive questions left Xiao Tao speechless, but they revealed a lot...

Lin Zhao smiled, "Alright, I'm done. I believe Madam and Miss will make a fair judgment!" As he spoke, he coldly glanced at Chen Xuan and Li Shi, a victorious smile on his lips.

To cover up their indiscretion, they tried to frame him, but in their haste, they made too many mistakes. Or perhaps because the situation was sudden, and other members of the Meng family quickly intervened, they didn't have time to coordinate their stories. To make their testimony credible, Xiao Tao filled in many details, making it seem rich and real, but in fact, she was digging her own grave.

Ordinary people might not notice, but for Lin Zhao, with his criminal investigation background, it was easy to find the inconsistencies and prove his innocence.

Making a consistent story isn't easy. Now, it's their turn to be in trouble...

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