"Thank you, Ninth Sister Yang!" Fang Qin gratefully took the medicine bottle.

Despite her worn and emaciated appearance, she remained beautiful and dignified. Yang Mengchen sighed inwardly and handed Fang Qin another bottle of medicine for replenishing qi and blood.

Taking into consideration that the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were women, Xiao Hongtao did not order them to be flogged in public but instructed Hai Tang and Bai He to carry out the punishment at the Liao family's home later on.

"Senior Minister, the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, as well as Mu Songlin, all said that Liao Xiaofu's body was buried behind the house. Then why did the body appear in the well?" County Lord Zhou asked, "Should we investigate this matter further?"

Xiao Hongtao turned his gaze toward Yang Mengchen, who smiled and pointed at Dai Qiangsheng, "Then we'll have to ask him about it."

Ask Dai Qiangsheng?

The crowd was puzzled and confused, though some quick-witted people soon caught on, yet none of them spoke, instead glaring at Dai Qiangsheng with angry and condemning eyes.

Yang Mengchen gestured for the Government Official to remove the gag from Dai Qiangsheng's mouth and quietly observed him, a cold sneer playing at the corners of her lips.

The reason she had not exposed Dai Qiangsheng from the start, allowing him to meddle and make a fuss, was merely to test the Liao family and Mu Songlin. Now that her objective was achieved, and Mu Songlin had publicly declared he would provide for the Grandma of the Liao family, of course, she had no need to continue beating around the bush.

What mattered most was that she had been away from home for half a month, and she missed her family dearly. Resolving the matters of Jinquan Village quickly meant she could return home sooner.

"Ninth Sister Yang, you and I have no grudges or enmities. Why do you falsely accuse me? What right do you have to say I'm involved in this matter?"

As soon as his mouth was freed, Dai Qiangsheng began to shout loudly, his bloodshot eyes staring venomously at Yang Mengchen. If it weren't for the Government Official's restraint, he would have already charged at Ninth Sister Yang and torn her to pieces.

He had gone to great lengths to set up this plot, but in the end, Mu Songlin didn't die, and the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were only sentenced to be flogged. It was all Ninth Sister Yang's fault for meddling, causing all his efforts to be in vain. How could he not be furious? How could he accept this?

Slowly rotating the jade bracelet on her wrist, Yang Mengchen looked at Dai Qiangsheng with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Using your own words to the Lady of the Liao family, do you dare to swear in front of everyone that you were not behind this?"

"I didn't kill Liao Xiaofu!" Knowing the truth of the matter better than anyone else, Dai Qiangsheng naturally did not dare to make the oath in public. Instead, he tried to evade the core issue, "What evidence do you have that it was me?" He had carefully cleaned up the scene and was confident no one could find the slightest clue.

Yang Mengchen's demeanor was serene and calm, her clear eyes containing a faint smile, yet inscrutable, "I didn't say you killed Liao Xiaofu."

"You... I..." Dai Qiangsheng choked, unable to muster a reply.

Seeing Dai Qiangsheng refuse to swear an oath and instead continuously targeting Ninth Sister Yang made things clear to everyone. They were filled with righteous indignation.

A person who not only refused to admit to doing something wrong but also framed the Liao family and brought disaster to the entire village deserved to be hacked to pieces!

"As for evidence?"

Yang Mengchen produced a small copper lock slice, swaying it by the red string attached and softly reciting, "This was found in an inconspicuous place behind the Liao family's house. The front is inscribed with 'Longevity and Health', and the back with 'Son, Success; Father, Quan'. Dai Qiangsheng, you didn't expect this, did you?

While stealing Liao Xiaofu's body, you left behind this copper lock slice in your haste, ultimately becoming the evidence of your crime!" She then showed it to Xiao Hongtao and the Clan Leader, among others.

After examining it, Xiao Hongtao nodded in acknowledgment, while the Clan Leader and others confirmed it indeed belonged to Dai Qiangsheng.

Years ago, when Dai Qiangsheng was a month old, the Clan Leader and others had seen this copper lock slice and watched Dai Quan tie it around Dai Qiangsheng's neck.

"I wondered why I couldn't find the copper lock slice anywhere. It turns out you stole it quietly while treating me for the epidemic!" After a brief moment of panic, Dai Qiangsheng brazenly accused Yang Mengchen.

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