County Magistrate was poised to resume Honglian's interrogation when a discreet note was discreetly passed to him. The delicate parchment held the handwriting of his beloved wife, containing merely six words: "Release her for 1,000 liang."
For County Magistrate, those words carried an undeniable allure. Furthermore, he pondered that without rescinding Su Bin's qualifications, allowing Honglian to depart was not an insurmountable issue.
Thus, County Magistrate excused himself and withdrew to the inner hall, seeking answers from his wife. "Who is safeguarding her?" he inquired.
His wife responded in hushed tones, "It is her guest, the proprietor of Yihong Courtyard. Su Bin has little to lose, and Honglian is simply mistaken. She bears no grudge against Su Bin and harbors no intention to falsely accuse him. Just grant her release!"
County Magistrate furrowed his brow. "But what if he is being framed?"
