After transmigrating into the body of a stepmother, I led the villains in a rebellion.

Lin Shu's words made the magistrate frown, and a hint of guilt was revealed in his gloomy eyes.

He slammed the gavel down, attempting to demonstrate his authority, "Lin Shu, a life for a life is a matter of course."

"Today, I am merely ridding the people of a scourge. What are you waiting for? Quickly take her away and behead her as a warning to others!"

Lin Shu did not back down, but coldly watched the officials approaching her.

The reason she had been dealing with the magistrate for so long was because she didn't want to implicate the Lu family.

However, if someone insists on causing trouble for themselves, she wouldn't mind giving them a ride.

Just as Lin Shu was about to kill the corrupt county magistrate, Jiang Mubai's voice suddenly came from the doorway, "My lord, please spare his life."

Upon hearing Jiang Mubai's voice, the magistrate frowned even more deeply, his face filled with displeasure.

However, due to Jiang Mubai's special status, he had to suppress his anger.

"Master Jiang, this is an internal matter of this county government. What do you mean by this?" The county magistrate feigned composure, attempting to use his official authority to suppress Jiang Mubai.

Jiang Mubai walked to Lin Shu's side and, seeing her fierce expression, said in a low voice, "It was your son who sent me to rescue you."

These words instantly calmed the murderous intent in Lin Shu's heart.

Ah Heng...

Seeing that Lin Shu was no longer angry, Jiang Mubai raised his head to look at the county magistrate, "Sir, there are still many mysteries surrounding this matter that have not been solved."

"If we execute Lin Shu so easily, it will likely cause controversy and make it difficult for people to be convinced."

The magistrate smiled without fear. "What Master Jiang said makes sense. I am naturally handling this impartially. It is a fact that Lin Shu committed murder. I am doing this to give the people an explanation."

"Otherwise, if this murderer is left outside, the people will probably not be able to sleep at night. Therefore, I ask Mr. Jiang not to interfere with the official business of this county."

Jiang Mubai gently shook his head. "What the magistrate said makes sense, but his methods are unjust."

“I ask you, Miss Lin, how can you convince people if you have no solid evidence? I, Jiang, am not an official, but I know the principle of ‘presumption of innocence’.”

"Sir, you may wish to examine this case more closely to see if there are any omissions, or if any witnesses are suspected of being instructed by someone or being misled by false information."

"Furthermore, we can also take into account Lin Shu's character and reputation among the neighbors and villagers."

"If it was truly a momentary impulse or a frame-up, a wrong judgment would not only ruin her life but also allow the real culprit to go unpunished. This is neither what you wish for, nor is it a blessing for the people of our county."

"Enough! How dare you spout nonsense in court! Do you think I can't even kill someone if I want to?"

"If you obstruct me again, don't blame me for being ruthless and punishing you as well!" The magistrate, having been hit where it hurt, was now desperate.

Now that he has accepted the bribe from the Earl of Mingyang, he is determined to put Lin Shu to death.

Seeing this, Jiang Mubai remained unfazed and responded to the magistrate with a cold laugh.

"Your Excellency is so eager to convict him, could it be that you have a secret you are hiding, or that you are acting on someone's orders to harm Lin Shu?"

Jiang Mubai pressed on relentlessly, each word like a knife, piercing the magistrate's heart and making his face grow increasingly gloomy.

Enraged, the magistrate laughed and slammed his fist on the table. "How dare you! How dare you spout such nonsense before me! Why should I, the magistrate, have a say in my cases? Guards, what are you waiting for? Seize them both at once!"

Lin Shu glanced at Jiang Mubai, his eyes seeming to say, "See? It's not that I'm disrespecting you, he's just asking for trouble."

He pulled Jiang Mubai aside and was about to go to greet the officials when he was interrupted by a sudden sound from outside the door.

"The county magistrate has such an air of authority."

As the sound rang out, Qin Zixuan, supported by Qin Feng, slowly entered the county government office.

The magistrate looked at the newcomer and saw that he was dressed in magnificent clothes, had an extraordinary demeanor, and exuded an aura of nobility that he had never seen before.

For a moment, the magistrate was puzzled and stared blankly at Qin Zixuan, asking, "Who is this?"

Qin Zixuan took out a token from his pocket. "I am Qin Zixuan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

Upon hearing this, the magistrate's face turned deathly pale.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is a high-ranking official in the capital, in charge of criminal justice throughout the country. His position is highly respected and far beyond what a mere county magistrate like him can achieve.

Under the sunlight, the token gleamed with a cold light, highlighting the holder's noble status and supreme authority.

In an instant, the magistrate felt a knife dangling precariously above his head.

He quickly got up and came to Qin Zixuan, bowed and knelt down, "This humble servant greets Your Excellency. I failed to recognize the arrival of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in time and did not greet you properly. I beg Your Excellency to be magnanimous and not blame this humble servant."

Qin Zixuan gave a disdainful snort, his eyes sharp as an eagle, scanning everyone in the courtroom before finally fixing his gaze on the county magistrate.

"I have heard the magistrate's trial process clearly. I never expected that such a small county government office would treat human life so lightly. It has truly opened my eyes."

The magistrate's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat; he knew all too well that his unfair handling of the case had given him leverage against him.

He quickly defended himself, "Reporting to your Excellency, this...this case is still under investigation and no final conclusion has been reached yet."

"No conclusion yet?" Qin Zixuan sneered. "The person is about to be beheaded and there's still no conclusion?"

"How can a doctor who saves lives become the heinous criminal you speak of?"

"Could it be that I have become her accomplice as well, and you intend to eliminate me as well?"

The magistrate's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground. "This humble servant...this humble servant dares not, this humble servant is only acting in accordance with the law."

Lin Shu saved Lord Shaoqing; how could he not know about it?

If he knew, he wouldn't dare offend Lin Shu even if he had a hundred and twenty times the courage.

"So this is what you call acting in accordance with the law? I'd like to ask, is this how the law is enforced in our country's legal code?" Qin Zixuan said sternly.

"Your Honor, have mercy! I know I was wrong," the magistrate pleaded guilty, seeing that his crime had been exposed.

Qin Zixuan ignored him and turned his gaze to Lin Shu, who was standing to the side.

A strange feeling welled up inside him, as if behind Lin Shu's face, which was covered by red spots, lay a sense of familiar intimacy.

However, he knew perfectly well that the person could not possibly be Lin Shu.

That person was as bright and radiant as the moon, burning and dazzling.

"Dr. Lin, please tell me the truth slowly, and I will definitely do justice for you," Qin Zixuan said, looking at her with a complicated expression.

Lin Shu was also shocked by Qin Zixuan's appearance, but not by Qin Zixuan himself, but by his name.

Qin Zixuan, isn't he just the female lead's simp?

According to the book, the female protagonist looked exactly like his deceased white moonlight, so he never refused her requests.

Lin Shu never dreamed that the person she saved out of momentary pity would turn out to be her enemy.

If she had known this would happen, she shouldn't have tried to save him.

Lin Shu suppressed her regret and truthfully recounted the whole story, including the county magistrate's attempt to kill her.