Xu Xianzhi said to Zhou Xuan: "You are innocent, you can be released in court, go back."

  Zhou Xuan said: "Sir is wise and brilliant, please let my father-in-law go back with me."

  Xu Xianshi said: "Qin Yong has not been sentenced yet and can continue to be detained."

  "Your Honor, since you have clearly investigated and found that I am not guilty, then this is not a false marriage. My father-in-law is also innocent. I humbly request that Your Honor release my father-in-law as well, so that my mother-in-law will not be worried and anxious at home."

  Magistrate Xu shook his head and said, "Zhou Xuan, you should be grateful for the kindness I've shown you by releasing you. Qin Xiong cannot be released, this is the intention of the eunuch Li. However, I can forward your statement to Eunuch Li, so don't worry."

  Zhou Xuan said, "Thank you, Lord Xu. I have a request to make. I am willing to take my father-in-law's place in prison. My father-in-law is over fifty years old and has always been diligent and cautious. Suddenly, he was framed by a villain and I fear that he might think of doing something desperate."

  Feng Ah watched Zhou Xuan and said, "I really didn't expect you to have such filial piety. Dr. Qin is lucky to have a son-in-law like you!" His tone had changed from disgust to admiration.

  Magistrate Xu said: "Zhou Xuan, your filial piety is commendable, but the matter of substituting punishment does not conform to national law. You go back first and come again tomorrow to hear the news, let's see how Lord Li makes a fair judgment."

  Zhou Xuan knew that it was impossible to rescue his father-in-law today, so he said: "I wish to see my father-in-law one more time, please grant me this favor."

  Xu Steward nodded and called a bailiff to come forward: "Xue Bao, take Zhou Gongzi to the waiting crime cell to see Qin Xiong. According to the rules, do not exceed one quarter of an hour."

  At this time, a servant came in and reported: "Outside, there is a woman named Su Xianzhen who wants to see the Honorable Lady Feng."

  Feng Ah watched and said, "It's not good to meet in the main hall, bring her to the small hall on the left to see me." He gave a courtesy to Xu Cishi and Bai Fushi, then retreated from the hall first.

  Song Dachun knelt in the hall, his eyes still rolling around, and no one asked him about receiving money from Jiang Assistant, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

  Xu Steward saw his stupid and despicable appearance and got angry, shouting: "Come on, flog this slave twenty times with a stick."

  In the midst of the "slap-slap" sound of the whip and the "ah-ah" cries of pain, Zhou Xuan walked out of the Constitutional Court, saw Lai Fu pacing anxiously outside, Qin Que and Xiao Huixiang were standing by the carriage, but didn't see Su Zhenzhen, probably went to see Feng Amu.

  "Brother-in-law, you're out! You scared me half to death. I thought someone was beating you up in there!" Lai Fu hastily came forward and said.

  Zhou Xuan said: "The one who was beaten is Song Dachun, it's this evil slave and Jiang Zhuojiao who colluded to make trouble."

  Lai Fu's anger was overwhelming: "It was him after all! He hit well, I'll beat him up again when he comes out, this ungrateful dog!"

  Zhou Xuan looked at Qin Que, who was gazing at him with tears in her eyes. Her lips moved: "Zhou... husband, what's wrong? Father..."

  This was the first time Zhou Xuan heard Qin Que call him "husband", and he felt both happy and worried. He walked over and said: "I'm sure it's a real marriage, Xu Cishi and the two deputy envoys have been moved by my true feelings, they all intend to let go of your father, but there is still Envoy Li who is not here, I need his consent before it can be done. Xu Cishi asked me to come back tomorrow to hear the news."

  Xue Ba said: "Young Master Zhou wants to see Qin Xiong, just follow me."

  Qin Que hastily said: "I also want to go see Father."

  Xue Ba knew the benefits had arrived, frowned and said: "Lord Xu only allows Zhou Gongzi to visit alone, as for others... of course, Miss is Qin Xiong's close relative, so she can also go."

  Xue Ba's tone suddenly dropped and the meaning of his words took a sudden turn, because Zhou Xuan had grasped his hand and stuffed a small silver ingot weighing five taels into his palm.

  The detention cell was a temporary prison for those who had not yet been convicted, and at this time the only person in the cell was Qin Xiong, Dr. Qin, with his hat removed, his hands and feet shackled with iron chains, sitting in a corner of the cell that did not see sunlight, looking pitiful.

  Hearing the sound of the prison gate, Dr. Qin looked up and saw Zhou Xuan and Qin Que rushing in together. At first, he was overjoyed and exclaimed: "Xian'er, Que'er——" Then he was shocked and cried out: "Ah, you two have also been caught!"

  Zhou Xuan hurried over, half-kneeling and grasping Dr. Qin's hand, shaking it gently: "Your son-in-law has come to visit his father-in-law, please don't be alarmed, your son-in-law will definitely find a way to rescue you."

  Qin Que then knelt down on both knees and cried: "Daddy, it's daughter's fault for being unfilial and implicating Daddy..."

  Zhou Xuan and the jailer who was guarding the prison cell discussed and opened the handcuffs for his father-in-law. The three jailers first talked about national law and criminal law, each receiving five taels of silver but still refusing to agree to open the handcuffs, saying that if they didn't wear handcuffs and the prisoner ran away, they would be held responsible for the crime, only promising to take care of him and not let Qin Doctor suffer.

  Zhou Xuan said, "Alright, I'm a sensible person, so let's not waste words. Look, my father-in-law is already old and grey, over fifty years old, and without handcuffs, where can he run to? All of you are from Jiangzhou, and your families have had their share of headaches and fever that needed medical treatment at the clinic. You're all aware of my father-in-law's medical ethics. This time, it's a false accusation by a scoundrel, and tomorrow the truth will be revealed, and he'll be released from prison. Can't you just make things easier for us?"

  Dr. Qin had his handcuffs removed, and Qin Que helped massage her father's numb hands and feet.

  Zhou Xuan said: "Father-in-law, if the eunuch Li Da asks you again, just insist that it's a real marriage and that Jiang is slandering you—"

  "But, son-in-law, I had already admitted in the hall that it was a fake marriage, and the document is still on record!"

  "Did you draw the lottery?"

  "That's not it. At that time, Wu Gongcao wanted to implicate you as well, thinking that the old man's confession was incomplete and untrue, so he didn't sign."

  "Alright, it's easier without the painting as evidence. If Lord Li interrogates you, just pretend to be ignorant and say it's a real marriage. Try to shift the blame to your son-in-law and let Lord Li come ask me instead. I'll know how to respond. Your father-in-law can stay here for the night, and tomorrow my son-in-law will definitely take you out."

  "Ah, my worthy son-in-law! Old Qin is filled with regret. I just found out that Wu Gongcao wants to implicate you in this matter. It's all because of me deceiving you into getting on the boat at Gan Tang Lake tea stand..."

  Zhou Xuan hastily interrupted Dr. Qin's words: "Quickly stop saying those things, Father-in-law has been kind to his son-in-law, and his son-in-law was all alone in Jiangzhou with no relatives to turn to; if not for Father-in-law taking him in, he would still be wandering aimlessly."

  "Dr. Qin said: 'A talented son-in-law, where can't he stand out? Yet he is humiliated in my Qin Manor, I am truly ashamed before him.'"

  Dr. Qin said these words, and Qin Que's head got lower and lower, almost touching the ground.

  Xue Ba shouted from outside: "Zhou Gongzi, it's time, let's go."

  Zhou Xuan ordered Lai Fu to stay and serve Qin Bo Shi. If something happens, he can return to the mansion in time to report the news.

  Qin Que cried and said she also wanted to stay and serve her father, but was forcibly dragged out by Zhou Xuan.

  Zhou Xuan and Qin Que returned to the front of the Xian Si Hall, only to find that there was only a coachman and Xiao Huixiang present, with Zhěn Zhēn not having returned yet.

  Zhou Xuan said, "The deputy envoy of the imperial concubine selection, Feng A, is a female official in the palace. Zhēn Zhēn should be familiar with her. She went to plead for her adoptive father and then Feng A spoke up for her in front of the envoy. I think it's likely that the problem with her adoptive father will be resolved."

  Qin Que nodded, her beautiful eyes gazing at Zhou Xuan with a completely trusting expression.

  Qin Que was clever and mature for her age, and had some experience in medicine, but after all, she was just a seventeen-year-old girl. Suddenly facing such a disaster, she was frightened out of her wits, and apart from crying, she could only think of taking the blame for her father's sake. What else could she come up with? That's why if there wasn't a man in the house to take charge, life would be really difficult, especially in ancient times when men were revered and women were inferior.