After learning about Chen Lin'er's ordeal, Qin Zhenzhen's heart swelled with compassion and indignation.
She vowed that the ruthless bandits and their collaborators would face divine retribution.
"How did you ascertain that those malevolent individuals in the mountains were affiliated with the Public House?" Qin Zhenzhen inquired, her concern etched on her face.
Chen Lin'er's eyes welled up with tears and resentment. "Wang Nian's indictment detailed the involvement of his wife and brothers in the assault on my entire family. He explicitly stated that these malevolent figures were nurtured by the Public House."
Qin Zhenzhen pondered the situation, realizing that the mere mention in Wang Nian's confession did not conclusively establish the bandits' ties to the Public House.
It occurred to her that Wang Nian might have included this detail as a tactic to coerce the governor at the time into sparing him from severe punishment.
