Chapter 1897: Clear Skies After the Rain (Patreon)

Chapter 1897: Clear Skies After the Rain

Pan Shi was unwilling to comply; she couldn't bring herself to listen to her eldest brother's words at this point.

Seeing that his attempts at soothing her were futile, Eldest Master Pan grew irritated as well. "Enough! Your disgraceful actions have already dragged down our entire Pan family. Your nephews and nieces won't be able to show their faces outside anymore. And now you dare to make a scene here, crying and causing a commotion. Isn't it enough to let people enjoy a good laugh at us?!"

Pan Shi froze, and Eldest Master Pan took the opportunity to snatch his sleeve back and stood up.

By the time Pan Shi tried to grab it again, the two officials approached and escorted her out of the courtroom.

After they left, Shu Yu turned her head to look at the others. To her surprise, Chen He and Chen Qiu had disappeared; they had taken advantage of the earlier chaos to slip away. They didn't even pay attention to their own parents being taken away.

What a situation—like father, like children? The offspring taught by Chen Bing and Pan Shi had all turned on them.

There were still many people watching the spectacle outside. Shu Yu said to grandma Lu and Grandma Fang, "Let's go. We'll leave through the back to avoid being surrounded."

"Alright."

Xia Yan was quite familiar with the magistrate's office and led the Lu family members towards the rear gate. At the gate, Meng Yunzheng was already seated atop a carriage shaft, waiting.

When he saw Shu Yu, the two of them exchanged a smile.

The group didn't linger; they quickly returned to the backyard of the inn where they were staying.

It was much quieter here. With the matter resolved, everyone finally relaxed.

Also with them were Zhou Tiedong, Wang Yue, Guo Zheng, and Zhou Tiedong's parents.

Zhou Tiedong's parents had come with Wang Yue, but they had waited outside while she was in court, anxiously listening to the verdict.

They finally burst into tears of joy once the final judgment was delivered.

Now, everyone had tidied up their appearances and stood before Shu Yu. They all knelt down.

Shu Yu stepped back a bit. "You don't need to do this."

"No, this is only right." Zhou Tiedong took a deep breath, his eyes red. He solemnly kowtowed to Shu Yu three times. "If not for County Princess, I'm afraid I would've been locked in prison forever, not knowing when I would be beaten to death by those people. My parents would have been left destitute and alone, my fiancée subjected to criticism, and I would be burdened with heavy debts. I can see the light of day again because of County Princess's great compassion. You are Zhou Tiedong's benefactor in this life and the next."

"Also the savior of our Zhou family, thank you, County Princess, thank you." Zhou Tiedong's parents cried as they continued to kowtow.

Shu Yu sighed and rubbed her forehead. She really wasn't accustomed to this kind of scene.

And of course, Guo Zheng chimed in, "And me, County Princess. I've suffered humiliation for many years, wrongly accused by Chen Bing, which left me with a lingering illness and a tarnished reputation. I can no longer be an accountant. Today, justice is finally served. I truly am, I truly am…"

As he spoke, tears started falling. Over the years, only he knew the bitterness he had suffered. He had even thought that he would have to carry those unfounded charges for the rest of his life, never imagining that this day would come.

Shu Yu waved her hand. "Alright, get up, all of you. Today's resolution isn't solely our doing; you all have been making efforts too. Otherwise, without evidence, Chen Bing wouldn't have received his due punishment."

Ying Dong and Ying Xi helped the several people to their feet. Zhou Tiedong's group wiped away tears one after another.

Grandma Fang, watching from the side, felt a touch of sadness. Like them, wasn't she also a victim in Chen Bing's affair?

Finally, after the storm, clear skies had returned.