At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun reflects the red clouds in the sky, which is brilliant and magnificent. Looking up at the vast sky, seeing the sun gradually dimming and the wind blowing away, I couldn't help but feel melancholy when I thought that even though I tried my best, I still couldn't save this extremely beautiful scene.

After Ning Yue pleaded guilty, Mo Zhifu issued an order to release the second lady back to the house. As soon as she got off the sedan chair, the second lady went straight to Ning Xue's room. The incident happened suddenly, and before the maid guarding the door could come to her senses, the second lady had already pushed the door and entered. I didn't want to come to the second lady, Fang Tao was surprised and happy, and hurriedly saluted. Hearing the words "Second Lady" in a daze, Ning Xue slowly opened her eyes and turned sideways to look. Before the tears dried, her eyes were blurry, and before Ning Xue could see the person's face clearly, she was held tightly in her arms, the familiar breath came to her face, the soft voice sounded softly in her ears, and the long-lost warmth awakened her silent heart. The grievances, grief, unwillingness, and pain that had accumulated in her heart poured out, stirring up thousands of huge waves and overwhelmingly attacking her. Everything around her was so illusory, only the severe pain of her body and mind made her realize that this was not Nan Ke's dream.

"Mother...... Mother ...... "Ning Xue was full of joy and sorrow, and kept calling, for fear that the second lady would leave her again.

The second lady stroked Ning Xue's thin little face, and her heart ached. If it weren't for the master's foolishness, how could his flower-like daughter end up in such a field? Fortunately, it finally waited for the day when the clouds opened and the fog dispersed. "Xue'er, sleep, my mother is here to accompany you......"

Remembering that the murder case was unsolved, Ning Xue frowned deeply and asked, "But the government ......?"

The second lady smiled and said, "She pleaded guilty." ”

The second lady quietly stayed by Ning Xue's side, watching her eat porridge and drink medicine before leaving. Ning Xue ordered the curtain to be removed, and then lay on the bed alone, looking at the quiet night sky through the half-hidden wooden window. The unprecedented calm condensed into crystal teardrops, silently sliding from the corners of her eyes, wetting the Yunjin quilt. That night, Ning Xue slept exceptionally peacefully.

In the early morning of the next day, after Ning Xue asked Fang Tao to wait for her to freshen up and dress up, she quietly left the mansion and took the sedan chair that had already been ordered to go to the prefect's mansion. When I arrived, there were a lot of people gathered in front of the prefect's yamen to see the excitement, and when I heard that this murder case involving two Shangshu lords and alarming the current saint was about to settle, everyone was waiting for it, and they couldn't help but gossip and talk about it. "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Four powerful palanquins were ordered to rush into the noisy crowd, shouting and pushing in both directions, squeezing a passage open. More than a dozen people were trampled on or pushed down, and they couldn't help but be angry, and they were about to make trouble, but when they saw a beautiful figure coming, their anger suddenly disappeared, and they were full of amazement.

"Lord Lao is tired of spreading the word, about Duan Ming's murder case, Ning Xue has something to do."

The gatekeeper recognized her as the daughter of the Ning Mansion, and did not dare to slack off, so he immediately responded.

In the public hall, Mo Zhifu sat on the main seat, with a serious expression, not angry and arrogant. On it hangs an old imperial plaque, and the four words "Zhengda Guangming" written in gold lacquer shine in the sunlight, adding a heroic and righteous atmosphere to the solemn public court. Under the main seat, there is a black wood case on the left and right, and Mo Niancong, the squire of the Criminal Department, and the master each occupy a seat. Mo Niancong was dressed in a vermilion official uniform, his eyes were bright, and there was a faint awe-inspiring aura between his eyebrows, and his emaciated face was no longer childish, but replaced by calm and capable. He was condescending, looking intently at the kneeling people in the hall, his deep eyes darkened. It has been half a pillar of incense since Yumei was summoned to the hall, but the two adults have never said a word, the terrifying silence makes Yumei uneasy, like a man's back, and when she raised her head slightly, she met Mo Niancong's inquiring gaze. Yu Mei was shocked, and hurriedly lowered her head, a thin layer of sweat oozing from her forehead. The sharpness of the gaze seemed to be able to see everything in a moment. On the other hand, Ning Yue, who was kneeling beside her, was thinly dressed and her lips were purple from cold, but her eyes were extremely calm, as if she was outside. Could it be that the turning point that the eldest brother is talking about is Yumei?

Seeing that Yu Mei was in chaos, Mo Zhifu took the opportunity to pat the shocked wood, and asked sharply: "Yu Mei, what do you have to say?" As soon as he finished speaking, the officials standing on both sides struck the ground with their torture rods, making a deafening sound.

Yu Mei was frightened by this momentum, and said in a trembling voice: "Minnu...... The folk girl remembered the events of the day of the murder......"

"Bold! After the murder, the official summoned you many times for questioning, but you said that you didn't know, so you didn't mean to deceive! Mo Zhifu glared at Yu Mei angrily and reprimanded.

Hearing this, Yu Mei kowtowed again and again, whimpering: "The people don't dare to ...... Ask the adults to see ......"

At this moment, the guard came to report, and Ning Xue asked to see her. Mo Zhifu hesitated, and when he saw Mo Niancong turning his head and nodding slightly, he sent someone to pass Ning Xue to the court. Under the leadership of the officials, Ning Xue slowly walked into the court. I saw that she was slender and quite weak. A lotus-colored silk floor-length skirt flutters lightly in the wind, and the face with a little pink is even more delicate and moving. The faint aroma on her body spread with her light steps, softening the breath of the ** in the court, the beauty is picturesque, the charm is good, and it is very pleasing to the eye, but Mo Niancong has no intention of appreciating it. Because, from the moment Ning Xue appeared, Yu Mei began to tremble, her face became more and more pale, seeing that An Ruiqi's hard work was about to fall short, how could Mo Niancong not worry in his heart?

"The folk girl greets your lordship." Ning Xue flicked the brocade fur draped on her body, knelt between Ning Yue and Yu Mei, and when she lowered her head, she glanced at Yu Mei faintly, and a faint cold light flashed on the woven cuffs.

Yu Mei has followed Ning Xue for more than ten years, and she knows what this look means. I don't want the second lady to stop me, but I'd rather burn the jade...... It is not worth exchanging one's life for glory and wealth...... Thinking of this, she didn't dare to say anything more. Seeing Ning Xue again here and now, Ning Yue was shocked and more sad, and in a blink of an eye, she was already in tears.

Mo Zhifu froze, and asked with a smile: "Miss Ning came here this time, I don't know what happened?" ”

Mo Niancong knew that his father had scruples about Ning Zhenhai, and he didn't dare to embarrass Ning Xue, so he didn't care about the mistake of trespassing, frowned, and said sternly: "Ning Xue, above the court, you can't be allowed to cheat, you have to think twice before acting!" ”

In the face of Mo Niancong's fierce words, Ning Xue was more calm. "Master Xie mentions, the folk girl understands." She turned her head to look at Ning Yue, smiled lightly meaninglessly, and then said firmly: "Duan Ming's death has nothing to do with her, please enlighten your lord!" ”

As soon as these words came out, they immediately caused an uproar, and even Mo Niancong couldn't hold back the surprise in his heart and took a deep breath.

Mo Zhifu hurriedly slapped the shocking wood to stop the chaos. He pondered for a long time, weighed the pros and cons, and finally made up his mind and asked, "Miss Ning, what do you know?" ”

Ning Xue responded with her head bowed, and then began to tell everyone what she had seen and heard that day.