TFWYH – Chapter 857 A New Perspective

Silence.

A deathly silence filled the courtroom.

Ling Yue spoke with clear logic and articulate precision.

Facing a whole group of witnesses by herself, she remained calm and composed, her reasoning flawless from beginning to end.

In contrast, the so-called witnesses had been left speechless by her questions again and again.

Gu Hengcang narrowed his eyes dangerously, his gaze toward Ling Yue growing increasingly hostile.

This was also his first real encounter with her.

He had never expected that the Minister’s residence would have not only the troublesome Ling Yu, but also a sharp-tongued young woman like Ling Yue.

Tang Wan was utterly astonished.

She looked at Ling Yue with eyes full of admiration.

Holy crap!

Did someone transmigrate into this girl?

How did she suddenly become… so eloquent?

Ling Yu raised an eyebrow, equally surprised by his younger sister’s performance.

No one knew Ling Yue better than he did.

She bullied the weak but feared the strong.

She loved taking advantage of small opportunities.

She had a kind heart…

…but only a little.

She had a mischievous side…

…but not too much of one either.

Whenever trouble arose, she would instinctively hide behind him and Tang Wan, seeking their protection.

But whenever there were benefits to be had, she would rush ahead faster than anyone else.

Compared to Jiang Shi and the late Ling Cangshan, Ling Yue’s personality had actually resembled Old Madam Liu’s much more.

Because of that, Ling Yu had never truly liked this younger sister.

Had it not been for his sense of responsibility—

—or the fact that the two of them shared the same blood—

he probably wouldn’t have cared whether she lived or died.

But today…

He found himself looking at his sister in an entirely new light.

This was also the first time Ling Yue hadn’t sought protection from him or Tang Wan.

More importantly, instead of thinking only about herself, the first thing she had done was clear him of the accusation of being unfilial before turning the tables on Old Madam Liu.

Even Ling Yu couldn’t help praising her inwardly.

Beautifully done.

The Prefect was in agony.

Personally, he genuinely admired this young girl.

But she was simply too bold.

She…

She had actually dragged Chancellor Gu into the case as well!

The Prefect felt miserable.

The Prefect felt helpless.

The Prefect wanted to resign from office altogether.

Just then, however, the Shadow Master quietly raised his eyes and looked at him.

A silent warning flashed within those cold blue eyes.

The Prefect shivered.

In that instant, he stopped worrying about offending Gu Hengcang.

He slammed the sounding block down and glared at Old Madam Liu.

“Ling Liu! Tell the truth at once! Or must this official resort to torture before you’ll speak honestly?”

“N-No…”

Old Madam Liu panicked.

Her mind fell into chaos.

Finally, gritting her teeth, she said,

“My husband and I really did come to seek refuge with our grandson. But the Minister’s residence is a grand estate, and we couldn’t get close enough to see Ling Yu. Chancellor… Chancellor Gu happened to meet us out of kindness and took us in. He said… he said he would notify Ling Yu.”

“But before Ling Yu came…”

“Ling Yue arrived instead.”

“Your Excellency, you don’t know… just seeing her made me furious! We’d been in the capital for so long, and only then did she finally show up. I couldn’t help scolding her a few times.”

“She… she talked back to me and even started fighting me.”

“I’m her own grandmother!”

“The two of us… we ended up struggling with each other.”

“My old man stepped forward to stop the fight, but that wretched girl shoved him…”

“He… he died…”

She dissolved into tears once again.

At that moment, Gu Hengcang also spoke.

“Murdering one’s own grandfather is an act of extreme unfiliality.”

“The crime deserves death.”

The Prefect frowned before turning to Ling Yue.

“Miss Ling, what else do you have to say?”

“Your Excellency…”

Even though the situation was turning increasingly unfavorable, Ling Yue remained perfectly composed.

“May I borrow a charcoal pencil?”

On the journey from the residence to the courthouse, she had exhausted herself thinking.

She had considered every possible excuse Old Madam Liu might make…

Every possible lie…

Every possible tactic…

And she had already prepared responses to them all.

Old Madam Liu’s latest attempt to twist the truth…

Had unfolded exactly as Ling Yue had expected.

She wasn’t flustered in the slightest.