Shocking! In this matriarchal society, every man wants to marry me!

"Let's go." General Yue had his own clean tent.

As soon as Zhongtian entered the tent, he got straight to the point: "General Yue, I have a child here!"

General Yue frowned.

Zhongtian explained Zhou Xiaodi's situation.

General Yue's previously furrowed brows gradually relaxed. Hearing that Brother Zhou had completely let go of the child, he felt a little relieved.

"Bring Zhou in, medic. Check on him and see if he's carrying a boy or a girl."

The person taking care of General Yue's daily life was an old imperial physician who had retired from the palace. Naturally, she had a way of distinguishing between men and women.

Zhongtian knew in her heart that if it were a boy, all her previous efforts would have been in vain. However, she had no control over whether it was a boy or a girl. She was just trying to give Xia Jin'an a chance.

Time passed minute by minute.

Zhongtian's palms were sweating, and General Yue was also somewhat anxious. He picked up the water on the table and took a sip.

A short while later, the military doctor came out.

"Reply to General Hui Le, it's a girl."

"Hahaha, good!"

After General Yue learned that Zhou Xiaodi was carrying a girl, he readily signed a letter of understanding. Afterward, Zhou Xiaodi would be secretly taken to the General's Mansion and would remain there until the child was born.

Yu Yijin was unaware that Zhongtian had found another successor for General Le. He only felt a sense of collapse and betrayal.

Why! Why! Isn't Ming'er quite doted on? Besides, he's the father of her child, why isn't anyone asking him if he forgives her or not!

After carefully examining the two letters of understanding in his hand and confirming that they were not forgeries, Lord Zhao ruled that the two letters of understanding were valid.

Yu Yijin was extremely unwilling: "I am the child's father, I do not forgive him!"

The old steward of the Music Bureau pulled Yu Yijin aside and whispered, "General Yue is the head of the family. Do you want to disobey the general?"

In an era when women were in charge, their wishes represented the wishes of men.

Yu Yijin found himself rather amused. If these two letters of understanding were to take effect, Xia Jin'an would only stay in jail for a while before being released. Had he paid such a high price just to get this result?

He was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it!

Yes, there's another way!

He knelt on the ground with a thud, making a deep sound, but his voice was loud and clear: "Lord Zhao, I am reporting Xia Jin'an for murder and dismemberment!"

All eyes were on Xia Jin'an.

Xia Jin'an slowly exhaled. Had she finally said it?

The fact that he killed Xia Wen was a thorn in his side. Although he felt that Xia Wen deserved to die, killing was wrong and unacceptable. Over the years, he had been hiding and had missed his chance to marry Zhong Tian.

Lord Zhao was startled. He slammed his gavel and loudly questioned, "Lord Yu, you must be joking. Who did Xia Jin'an kill?"

"Xia Wen! He killed Xia Wen!"

"Who is Xia Wen? What is your relationship with Xia Wen, and why are you pleading on his behalf today?"

"Xia Wen is the eldest daughter of the third branch of the Xia family in Yangcheng. I am... I am..."

Yu Yijin couldn't bring himself to talk about his relationship with Xia Wen. Although their families were engaged, they hadn't actually married. Their marriage was an unconventional affair, which was universally disliked.

Upon arriving in the capital, General Yue concealed his identity, gave him a respectable background, and allowed his child to appear before the world in a noble and dignified manner.

Does he want to uncover his own past?

He went to great lengths before, drugging and framing her, simply wanting Xia Jin'an to die, but not wanting her past to be revealed to the world.

Now, is he really going to say it?

Although General Yue was older than him, he doted on him. Now that he held a noble position, was he going to reveal it? Would he subject her child to criticism? Would he destroy his prestigious and respectable life?

He closed his eyes.

The old steward came out at this moment, pulled Yu Yijin aside, and said softly, "Master Yu, our general said that you should go back as soon as you finish your court session. She is waiting for you at home. Don't let irrelevant people delay your time."

Yu Yijin listened slowly.

Yu Yijin understood the old steward's meaning very well. The general knew what he had done, but was willing to forgive him. As long as he was willing to go back, all past mistakes would be forgiven.

His heart swayed between the two sides of the scale, constantly struggling between reason and emotion.

On one side was Xia Wenjun's handsome, smiling face.

On one side was General Yue's tolerant and affectionate face.

The two faces were different ages, but they were both looking at him, staring at him, waiting to see what choice he would make.

After a while, he opened his eyes and said, word by word, "Reporting to Lord Zhao, Xia Wen is my fiancée. I, as her fiancé, accuse Xia Jin'an of murder. I have witnesses."

He shattered the illusion that belonged to General Yue. He would try one last time for the love he had in his youth! Xia Wen, Xia Wen, you have treated me so poorly, yet I am unwilling to let you down.

Xia Jin looked at Yu Yijin quietly. Even though he had many flaws, his love for Xia Wen was genuine. After Xia Wen died, her parents abandoned her, but Yu Yijin continued to seek revenge for her.

The old butler sighed and quietly left the lobby.

"Bring in the witness!"

The girl they brought in was a simpleton.

The silly girl walked in. Yu Yijin had been doing her best to treat her. She used to be a little dazed, but now her eyes had become clearer and she was able to express what she wanted to say.

The silly girl was unaware of Xia Wen's numerous evil deeds, but she witnessed Xia Jin'an committing murder with her own eyes.

“That night, the piglets in the mountains hadn’t been fed yet. I was worried, so I ran up the mountain in the rain and saw Xia Jin’an talking to a woman… I saw him drag the body to the pigpen… I was terrified and ran away.”

"Xia Jin'an, is what the witness said true?"

"……it is true."

Xia Jin'an admitted that, faced with overwhelming evidence, she had no way to defend herself.

"Lord Zhao, if the person being killed is a heinous criminal, and if the killing is done to protect oneself, should one also be buried alive with him?"

Zhongtian pulled out stacks of papers from his pocket, which contained all of Xia Wen's incriminating evidence. Ever since he learned that Xia Jin'an had committed murder, Zhongtian had been collecting evidence against Xia Wen.

During her investigation, she witnessed how Xia Wen had harmed boys and destroyed families that should have been happy.

A lawsuit, a line of blood and tears.

“Lord Zhao, Xia Wen forced Xia Jin’an to obey him and wanted to ruin his reputation. Xia Jin’an was protecting himself.”

Yu Yijin stood there blankly, not saying a word to defend himself. This was his last effort for Xia Wen, and he would no longer insist on the outcome.

Lord Zhao picked up the lawsuit and read it word by word, veins bulging on his hands. "Madam Zhong, are you telling the truth?"

"I swear on my life! It's no lie."

"Is there any evidence?"

"Both witness testimonies and physical evidence have been delivered."

Shunning Express delivered these people quickly and efficiently, right outside the lobby.

"Sir, these people are always looking forward to the day when the villain is brought to justice."

"it is good."

These case files, these pieces of evidence—Lord Zhao conducted the trial all night long, with candlelight burning brightly.

The next day, when the court convened, Judge Zhao delivered his verdict.

"Xia Jin'an's murder is true, but considering that it was done in self-defense, and given Xia Wen's heinous crimes, Xia Jin'an is sentenced to exile!"

"How many years?" Xia Muning asked.

"Three years!"