CHAPTER 2028: CHAPTER 2027: CONSCIENCE OBLITERATED

Bai Zepei didn’t conceal anything, saying with a stern face, "Most of those women are innocent, but some don’t know what’s good for them. I’m aware of what happened before."

"Did someone come to complain to you? I saw their plight and didn’t want to say much. You shouldn’t fuss over this trivial matter with them either." It wasn’t Bai Ruozhu being magnanimous; she simply felt it was all in the past and couldn’t care less about it.

"You don’t know what happened later." Bai Zepei began to tell everyone.

"At the time, those women were settled in, and Ma Quanli hadn’t yet been detained because we wanted to see what else he might say. Unexpectedly, he suddenly asked: How can you interrogate anyone when the female chief doctor has beaten them like this? At the time, a woman voluntarily spoke up, saying they were the ones who beat him. They were harshly tortured by the madam and Yang Laosan, which stirred up their anger, leading them to beat him together."

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment, "Was it the round-faced one who asked not to contact her family?"

She didn’t ask for the woman’s name but remembered she was the calmest among them; she even initially advised against Chun Rong’s attempts to stir up trouble.

"Yes, it was her. She didn’t want other women to fear being questioned, refusing to admit they had beaten anyone; Ma Quanli took this chance to claim that when the Secret Chamber was opened, the women were all locked up in the Prison Cell, how could they beat anyone? He even said Ruozhu had set up a private execution ground, trying to use this matter to press me. Did he really think this would erase his own crimes? I felt quite disheartened at the time, as Ruozhu had saved those women, yet many of them, afraid of being accused, wanted to blame it on her instead."

Bai Ruozhu scoffed, "Yang Laosan was indeed beaten by me. They talked of revenge, but when Yang Laosan stared them down, they didn’t dare to hit him and just vigorously tortured Chun Rong instead."

"It’s really been wasted saving them; they have no sense of gratitude." Lin Ping’er said indignantly.

"If they feared trouble, why did they hit him in the first place? Now they don’t dare admit it." Bai Yihong was also very angry.

"Were their consciences erased when they were caught by the bad guys?" Si Yihuan shook his head in disappointment.

Elder Su frowned while listening and asked, "Was there no one else who stepped forward to tell the truth?"

"Later, a few women hesitated and told the truth, but those who feared trouble claimed they were trying to win my favor. The round-faced woman couldn’t help but point at them, accusing them of ingratitude; saying that were it not for her ignoring Ruozhu’s advice and running around, Chun Rong wouldn’t have had the chance to open the Closed Chamber’s mechanisms. At that time, we were forcibly digging the chamber from outside; Chun Rong threatened it would explode, saying she would have everyone inside buried with her. Many women were frightened into running and yelling, forcing Ruozhu to lock them back in the Prison Cell." Bai Zepei replied.

"What?" Jiao Ling and Fen Jiu came downstairs to eat and happened to hear this. She hadn’t known Bai Ruozhu was locked in the Secret Chamber, only sent word to Bai Zepei that Bai Ruozhu was watching over the madam and Yang Laosan, asking Bai Zepei to arrest them and handle the case.

All this time with Bai Ruozhu, she hadn’t mentioned it once!

Jiao Ling felt a little moved, reached over to hold Ruozhu’s hand, and said, "Why didn’t you tell Aunt? I didn’t expect it to be so dangerous."

Bai Ruozhu felt slightly embarrassed; she’d been hiding in the Space just fine, only fearing her brother outside would be affected.

"Aunt, it’s alright now." Bai Ruozhu smiled and said.

Everyone offered some comfort, only then did Jiao Ling feel a bit better and took a seat beside Fen Jiu for a meal.

Yet, everyone felt a bit emotional, agreeing that pitiful people often have hateful aspects; some women’s lives had been turbulent, deserving sympathy but due to selfishness and cowardice, they acted against their conscience. If they one day return to normal life, will they feel remorse when looking back on this moment?

"Zepei, this sort of thing is really troublesome. I suggest you hand it over to the city governor to deal with; those women are ungrateful, and whatever happens to them in the future is their own doing." Elder Su said bluntly, his protective nature showing as always. Though Bai Ruozhu hadn’t suffered in the least, he couldn’t help but feel his own kin had been wronged.

"And those who kidnapped them, they cannot be lightly forgiven!" He said through gritted teeth; daring to capture children from the Jiuli Clan was like courting death!

In truth, Elder Su secretly watched Lanlan, perhaps because Lanlan used Ruolan’s body, she hadn’t awakened any talents; however, Elder Su wasn’t as cold-hearted as the great elder. Given Lanlan’s experiences, he was willing to protect this child of the Jiuli Clan.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment and said, "Some have a conscience; brother, have someone keep an eye on them, help if you can."

Bai Zepei showed reluctance but still nodded.

Early the next morning, someone reported that Zheng Chunrong’s Account book was found, along with contracts signed by Ma Quanli and her. Now both evidence and testimonies were present, leaving Ma Quanli unable to deny anything; he confessed to everything but insisted he didn’t know about Zheng Chunrong’s plans to abduct decent women to the Brothel for torture and force them to serve guests. He only claimed he was manipulated by Zheng Chunrong, coerced after their intimate relations to help them with intimidation as they attempted to usurp their overlords, and Zheng Chunrong gave him monthly benefits.

But regardless, Ma Quanli’s acceptance of bribes and collusion with Brothel officers were enough to cost him his gauze cap.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t bother with any of it, knowing her brother would surely deal with Zheng Chunrong and Yang Laosan harshly, choosing instead to focus on weaving with Lanlan. Unable to find a partner to dine with, Si Yihuan also went over to learn the craft, even claiming he would knit a wool vest for Bai Zepei.

Three days passed in a blur, and the case of Chun Rong and Yang Laosan abducting decent women finally concluded, spreading through the City. Families who had lost daughters were hit with mixed emotions; joy because their daughters were still alive, horror because they had ended up in such a place. How could they live the rest of their lives?

"Master, upon hearing the news, the Wang Family in City West immediately told others their daughter had died of illness and was buried, not abducted to the Brothel. It seems the Wang Family doesn’t plan to bring their daughter back." Jianqi reported to Bai Ruozhu.

"The rural Kuai Family rushed to the Government Office upon hearing the news to retrieve their daughter. The old couple ran there crying, not even noticing they had lost a shoe on the way."

"As for the Li Family causing the biggest commotion, her parents directly sent her to a far-off countryside; reportedly, a marriage arrangement was made with a widower whose wife had not long passed."

"..."

Bai Ruozhu instructed Jianqi to keep an eye on these women, and Jianqi gathered intelligence, reporting back to her one by one.

"Lost a shoe while running?" Bai Ruozhu suddenly felt her eyes welling up; as a mother herself, she understood the sentiment. Imagining that scene, she couldn’t help but feel like crying.