The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a crowd had already gathered outside the county yamen gates.

News of Advocate Qin exposing Zhou Shun’s case in court the day before had spread through every street and alley. Hearing that judgment would be passed today, people had come before first light, all waiting to see what fate would befall the tyrant.

At the third quarter of the Chen hour, after three rolls of the drum—

Xu Ke, dressed in his seventh-rank green official robe, sat upright in the hall. With a sharp strike of the gavel, the two rows of yamen runners barked in unison, and the hall instantly fell silent.

Zhou Fengchun sat on the left, his expression unchanged. Registrar Sun Moxuan sat on the right, still wearing his usual genial, smiling look as he held his teacup.

“Bring in the prisoner.”

Zhou Shun was dragged in by two guards. After a night in jail, he had lost all his former ferocity—disheveled and filthy, he knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

Xu Ke picked up the indictment and said in a deep voice, “Zhou Shun, in the case of abducting a civilian woman and murdering her, the evidence is conclusive. Do you admit your guilt?”

Zhou Shun prostrated himself and muttered, “I… I admit guilt.”

Xu Ke nodded, then picked up the confession. “During yesterday’s re-interrogation in prison, you fully confessed to the earlier case of seizing another man’s wife. Is that correct?”

Zhou Shun trembled. “It is.”

Xu Ke set the document down and swept his gaze across the hall. “For the crimes Zhou Shun has committed, the law prescribes death. This magistrate now pronounces judgment—Zhou Shun is to be executed after the autumn assizes. The case file will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for review today.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd outside erupted in cheers. Some shouted “Just magistrate!” while others clapped in satisfaction.

Zhou Shun was dragged away, crying out for mercy as he went.

Zhou Fengchun lifted his teacup and took a light sip, his face betraying no emotion. Sun Moxuan still smiled faintly, though his eyes flicked once toward Xu Ke.

After the noise outside subsided, Xu Ke struck the gavel again.

“Though this case is concluded, this magistrate has more to say.”

The hall fell quiet at once. Even Zhou Fengchun straightened slightly.

Xu Ke’s gaze fell upon the constables of the patrol division. “Zhou Shun was able to break into a home in broad daylight, abduct a woman, and even dispose of a body—yet the patrol office noticed nothing. This is dereliction of duty, negligence that endangers the lives of the people!”

The head constable, Sun Hu, paled instantly.

Xu Ke fixed his eyes on him, his tone turning sharp. “Sun Hu, as head constable, you failed in patrol and governance, allowing harm to come to the people. What crime do you deserve?”

Sun Hu’s legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees. “My… my lord…”

“No need to argue,” Xu Ke cut him off, pulling out a document. “This magistrate has already investigated. In the past three years, five murder cases under your jurisdiction remain unresolved, along with dozens of thefts—none solved. A criminal like Zhou Shun ran rampant, and you turned a blind eye. With such dereliction, what use are you?”

Sun Hu’s face turned deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down.

Zhou Fengchun’s expression shifted; he was about to speak when Xu Ke struck the gavel first:

“Sun Hu is stripped of his position as head constable and thrown into prison. This magistrate will investigate whether he is connected to Zhou Shun’s case before passing final judgment. Take him away!”

Two guards stepped forward and dragged Sun Hu off. Struggling, he turned back and shouted, “Assistant Magistrate, save me!” Zhou Fengchun said nothing, only tightening his grip on his teacup until his knuckles whitened.

The crowd outside burst into uproar.

After a long moment, Zhou Fengchun finally spoke, his voice still calm though laced with anger. “Magistrate Xu certainly wields great authority. But Sun Hu has served in the yamen for twenty years. Even if he is at fault, matters should be handled according to proper procedure. Acting so abruptly—people may not be convinced.”

Xu Ke smiled and looked at him. “Assistant Magistrate Zhou is right. This magistrate is indeed acting according to the law—under the statutes of Great Yan, officials whose negligence results in harm or death among the people are to be removed and investigated. If an official lacks the ability to protect the people, the longer he serves, the greater the harm. Assistant Magistrate Zhou, am I not correct?”

Zhou Fengchun’s expression stiffened. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.

At that moment, Sun Moxuan set down his teacup and chuckled, trying to smooth things over. “All for the good of the people, all for the good of the people.”

Xu Ke glanced at him but did not respond. Instead, he continued, “For now, the deputy will assume the duties of the patrol division. Head Constable Luo—”

A lean, capable-looking man stepped forward and cupped his fists. “At your service.”

“From now on, you will take charge of the patrol division. Be diligent. If anything goes wrong, you will answer for it.”

Luo replied firmly, “Understood!”

Xu Ke nodded, then turned his gaze to Qian Ming, the clerk of the criminal office.

Qian Ming had been keeping his head down, wishing he could disappear into the crowd.

“Clerk Qian.”

Qian Ming jolted, lifting his head with a strained smile. “My… my lord, what are your orders?”

Xu Ke looked at him and said slowly, “Though Zhou Shun’s case is concluded, I suspect there are still many criminals at large in this county. You are a veteran in the criminal office. Go through the old case files—especially those involving injury and death that have been left unresolved—and sort them out carefully. Report each one as you identify it. If you conceal anything, let Sun Hu serve as your warning.”

Sweat beaded on Qian Ming’s forehead as he nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, I obey.”

Xu Ke swept his gaze across the hall. “Does anyone have objections?”

Two breaths passed. No one spoke.

He struck the gavel. “Court dismissed.”

The two rows of runners barked in unison. The crowd dispersed in lively discussion. Zhou Fengchun stood, cupped his hands toward Xu Ke, his face dark, then turned and left. Sun Moxuan smiled as he returned the gesture and followed.

Xu Ke remained seated in the hall, watching the crowd disperse, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

As for Zhou Fengchun…

Xu Ke rose and walked toward the rear hall.

This was only the beginning.

By the time he returned, the sun had already passed noon. Xu Ke sat down in a chair and let out a long breath. To others, his actions in court had seemed decisive and forceful—but only he knew that when he struck the gavel, his palms had been slick with sweat.

The line had been completely crossed.

He lifted a cup of cooled tea and drank deeply, his mind gradually settling.

Sun Hu was a piece he could not move—at least not yet.

First, he couldn’t move him. Sun Hu was too deeply entangled with Zhou Fengchun; digging further now would be tantamount to forcing Zhou into a desperate fight. Xu Ke didn’t fear that—but he didn’t want it yet.

Second, it was useful to keep him. Uprooting everything might sound satisfying, but in practice it would only chill the hearts of those below. If Sun Hu could be crushed today, then tomorrow it could be Zhang Hu or Li Hu—who would still be willing to follow? If Zhou Fengchun wanted to protect him, he would have to expend effort, spend silver, and owe favors—all of which would ultimately come back around.

Better to remain still than to move.

Let them act, and he would watch.

As for underhanded tactics—Xu Ke curled his lips slightly. What tricks could Zhou Fengchun have? At most, he would incite the local gentry to make things difficult. Xu Ke had long anticipated that and prepared his countermeasures.

The key lay in tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the day of the return visit—he would take Yingchun back to the Jia residence.

It would be his first time entering as the Jia family’s son-in-law, and his first chance to show himself before them.

Whether he could achieve his aims would depend on how he handled things then.

Xu Ke set down his teacup, stood, and walked toward the inner courtyard.

As soon as he entered, he saw Yingchun standing beneath the corridor, speaking with Siqi. She wore a pale lotus-colored jacket today, her hair pinned up. In the sunlight, she seemed even more radiant than before. When she saw him, she paused for a moment, then stepped forward, concern in her eyes.

“My lord, you’re back.”

Xu Ke nodded. “What are you doing?”

“Siqi said we were still missing two items for the return visit, so I was checking the list,” Yingchun said softly. Then, after a slight hesitation, “My lord… has the trial concluded?”

“It has,” Xu Ke replied. “Zhou Shun has been sentenced to death pending autumn execution. Sun Hu has been dismissed and imprisoned.”

Yingchun froze briefly, as if wanting to ask something, but held back.

Behind her, Siqi couldn’t help muttering under her breath, “Sun Hu? Isn’t he the head constable? Why is he also—”

Yingchun shot her a glance, and Siqi quickly fell silent.

Xu Ke didn’t mind and said casually, “A case like Zhou Shun’s happened under his watch, and he did nothing. Shouldn’t he be dealt with?”

Siqi didn’t dare respond, only nodded repeatedly.

Xu Ke turned to Yingchun. “Are all the gifts for tomorrow prepared?”

Yingchun nodded. “Almost. The list is here—would you like to look it over?”

She took out a sheet of paper from her sleeve and handed it to him.

Xu Ke glanced over it—four ceremonial gift boxes, two bolts of cloth, some pastries and fruits, and a gift of twenty taels of silver. Proper and balanced, neither excessive nor lacking—just right for a seventh-rank magistrate.

“Good, we’ll go with this. Also pack the gifts I prepared in the study for your sisters and Baoyu,” he said, handing the list back. “We’ll set out early tomorrow. Once we arrive, we’ll first pay respects to your father and the senior madam. After that, you can go visit your sisters.”

Yingchun acknowledged softly, taking back the list. She glanced at him again, hesitating.

Xu Ke noticed. “If you have something to say, say it.”

Yingchun pressed her lips together before speaking in a low voice, “My lord… did you offend anyone in court today?”

Xu Ke was momentarily taken aback, then smiled.

So she wasn’t foolish after all.

“I did,” he said. “But that was bound to happen sooner or later.”

A trace of worry flashed across Yingchun’s face, but she asked no more, only saying gently, “Then… when you go to the residence tomorrow, you should take extra care.”

Xu Ke looked at her and suddenly felt the tension that had been coiled inside him all morning loosen slightly.

“I know,” he said. “You too—it’s your first time returning as a daughter-in-law of the Xu family. Don’t let anyone look down on you.”

Yingchun lowered her head, the tips of her ears reddening again.

Behind her, Siqi covered her mouth to laugh, only to be tugged away by Xiuju. The two quietly withdrew.

The courtyard was left with just the two of them, sunlight warm upon their shoulders.

Xu Ke looked up at the sky, then at the woman before him with her head lowered. Suddenly, life didn’t seem quite so difficult.

As for tomorrow—

Tomorrow would come when it came.