After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

Fang Zhengyong looked coldly at Fang Xiaoran, "Did you say that?"

“My daughter has never said that,” Fang Xiaoran said firmly.

"Of course you won't admit it. There are even more unpleasant things I can't bring myself to say. Those words are like knives stabbing my heart again and again. Master, everyone in the manor saw how I treated this girl when she first came to the Fang family. But what was the result? My good intentions were taken for granted."

"So, Aunt Wang wanted to kill me because of those baseless accusations? I'm puzzled too. When Aunt Wang came to borrow the key, I made it very clear that it was something my mother left me, and I would not give it to anyone. Moreover, although it was the key to the Bai family's vault, the Bai family is currently in internal strife, and even if I wanted to help, I was powerless to do so. Why wouldn't Aunt Wang let me go? Not only did she send people to set fire to the North Residence, but she also tried to drug me and kill me on the spot."

Fang Xiaoran's words were eloquent and her voice was neither humble nor arrogant, yet it moved everyone who heard it. Originally, Madam Wang tried to change the subject, but Fang Xiaoran pulled her back again. Madam Wang shouted anxiously, "You're talking nonsense! When did I send people to kill and set fires?"

“Isn’t Wu Guicheng a witness? Why doesn’t Auntie recognize him? That’s alright, there’s another person you must know.” Fang Xiaoran turned around and glanced at Qinglan at the door. Qinglan understood and immediately ordered someone to bring the person inside.

When two servants escorted in a middle-aged man with his head down, Madam Wang panicked and almost instinctively cried out, "Steward Wu, what are you doing here?"

Fang Xiaoran smiled and said, "Of course it's because he was trying to escape and was discovered by the servants in the mansion, so I specially brought him here. Steward Wu, you'd better not hide anything, otherwise you can't bear the responsibility for this alone."

"You're threatening him!" Wang roared, but Fang Xiaoran chuckled, "I'm just telling the truth."

"Alright," Fang Zhengyong said sternly, "Wu Fengmao, you tell me what exactly happened?"

Wu Fengmao, kneeling on the ground, trembled and dared not look Fang Zhengyong in the eye. He glanced at Wang Shi and saw her shaking her head angrily at him, signaling him not to say anything. But at this point, if he didn't say anything and things got out of hand, wouldn't it be his responsibility alone?

However, he also had to consider that Fang Xiaoran was not favored in the Fang family, and the master might not stand up for her. But setting fire to the courtyard was a serious matter. If things went wrong, the master might send him directly to jail. Losing his official position was a small matter, but if he was sent to jail, he might not be able to withstand it.

Seeing that Wu Fengmao remained silent, Wu Guicheng grew anxious. His life was still in Fang Xiaoran's hands, and if things dragged on like this, he would only suffer in the end. So Wu Guicheng hurriedly said, "Brother, stop trying to excuse her. Do you want us brothers to take the blame? Did she not consider the consequences for us when she forced you to do these things?"

"Wu Guicheng, what do you mean by that? You..."

"you shut up!"

Just as Wang was about to argue, Fang Zhengyong sternly rebuked her, and she immediately knelt back down, not daring to speak again.

"Wu Fengmao, I'll give you one more chance. What exactly happened?"

"Yes, it was the concubine. She wanted the key to the Bai family's treasury, so she asked me to find someone who knew martial arts to set fire to the North Residence. She said the North Residence was remote and usually deserted, so by the time the fire was discovered, it would be too late."

"Did she ask you to kill Ran'er?"

Fang Zhengyong's question sounded calm, but it actually carried a chill, as if reminding him not to speak carelessly. As the Fang family's steward, Wu Fengmao knew his master's temperament better than anyone. If he answered incorrectly, it could bring disaster. He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head slightly, "I have never heard of it."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang breathed a sigh of relief, but her hands remained tightly gripping her sleeves, not daring to let go.

However, before Fang Xiaoran could speak, Wu Guicheng questioned, "Brother, what do you mean? Are you trying to say that I killed the Sixth Miss? I've never even met this Sixth Miss, so why would I want to kill her?"

“How would I know? I only told you to go to Beiju and set fire to take the key in the chaos. Who knew you would actually have murderous intentions?” Wu Fengmao suddenly said, which made Wu Zhengcheng furious. “Wu Fengmao, you despicable person, you told me to do it, but now you’re turning your back on me? Let me tell you, don’t even think about exonerating yourself.”

Wu Fengmao retorted, "Then do you have any evidence to prove that I ordered you to kill Sixth Sister?"

"The testimony is still there, what other proof do you want? Do you need witnesses?" Fang Xiaoran calmly glanced at Wu Fengmao.

Wu Fengmao paused for a moment, then said resolutely, "Anyway, this was not the concubine's order."

"Butler Wu, are you sure you want to protect her?" Fang Xiaoran asked calmly. Although there was no threatening intent in her tone, it still made Wu Fengmao's heart skip a beat.

Fearing that Wu Fengmao might turn against her, Madam Wang hurriedly said, "Sixth girl, ask yourself honestly, have I not treated you well? Why do you have to frame me? Steward Wu, you don't need to be threatened by her. Facts speak louder than words. We absolutely cannot admit to things we didn't do."

"You didn't do it? Then what about the fertile land and valuables you gave me? And the hairpin of your concubine as hush money? If Master Fang were to investigate these, they would be easy to verify."

Wu Guicheng's words threw Madam Wang into a panic. She immediately scolded him, "Stop talking nonsense!" Then she turned to Fang Zhengyong and pleaded, "Master, please don't listen to his nonsense. I am completely loyal to the Fang family. How could I do such a thing? Sixth Sister is wild and unruly. She never tells the truth. Please don't believe a word she says."

Fang Xiaoran sneered, "So even with witnesses, physical evidence, and testimonies, you can still twist them into a single sentence. Your clever tongue is truly amazing. Father, I will not let this matter rest until I have lost my life. If you cannot uphold justice for me, then I will have no choice but to appeal to the prefectural government."

"Nonsense!" Fang Zhengyong slammed his hand on the table, his voice particularly grating. "Everyone says that family scandals should not be aired in public, but you actually want to take this to the prefectural government office. Where do you put the Fang family?"

"Then where does the father place his daughter's life and death?" Fang Xiaoran's voice was sharp and powerful, each word piercing the heart without leaving any room for doubt, leaving Fang Zhengyong speechless for a moment.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Granny Qian said sternly, "Sixth Miss is fine, so what, do you want our Madam to pay for your life?"

"So, what Granny Qian means is that as long as I'm not dead, all the things that my aunt did can be disregarded?"

"This..." Granny Qian was speechless for a moment.

Fang Xiaoran continued, "If everyone thought this way, wouldn't the world be in chaos? What would be the point of laws then?"

"Don't exaggerate. This is just a small matter in our household. What are you talking about with the world and the law?" Madam Wang retorted immediately, fearing that Fang Zhengyong would waver.

Fang Xiaoran sneered, "So other people's lives and deaths are just trivial matters in your eyes, Aunt. No wonder the people in the mansion dare to act so recklessly." After saying that, she didn't want to waste any more words and simply said, "If Father is unwilling to uphold justice for me today, then I can only take it to the prefectural government office. You can decide what to do."