This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

Academy.

The small courtyard where Old Man Li and his daughter lived.

To prevent Sun Xing from sending people to arrest them, Zhang Ping'an entrusted the dean and two great scholars to look after them.

These two individuals are key evidence in determining whether Chen Zhishi can be rescued.

Inside the room, Old Man Li and his daughter looked at the travel-worn Zhang Ping'an with guilty expressions.

"Young Master Zhang, have you thought of a way to save that child, Xiao Chen?"

Old Li's wrinkled face showed genuine concern.

Zhang Ping'an looked at him seriously and said, "Old Li, I've found a way. But you and your daughter need to step up and help."

Old Li looked at his daughter with concern: "Can't I step forward myself?"

"No." Zhang Ping'an shook his head.

"Dad, Brother Chen not only sacrificed his future but also his life to save me. Now that we have a chance to help Brother Chen, what are you hesitating for?" Li Xiaohong said somewhat angrily.

Old Man Li clenched his fist and nodded emphatically, saying, "Young Master Zhang, tell us, what do you want us to do?"

Zhang Ping'an's gaze swept over the two men: "I want you to go to the Night Watch's office and file a complaint against Sun Xing."

"The...the night watchman!" Old Man Li was so shocked that he fell to the ground with a thud.

Even ordinary people have heard of the Night's Watch's fearsome reputation.

Moreover, this is His Majesty's sword; how could it possibly stand up for ordinary people?

"Afraid?" Zhang Ping'an asked in a deep voice.

Old Man Li didn't speak, but Little Li, with her rosy cheeks upturned, said, "I'm not afraid!"

"When do you want to go?"

Old Man Li stood up and sighed, "Child, why would the night watchmen concern themselves with the affairs of us common folk?"

"Don't worry, they'll take care of it." Zhang Ping'an took out his token.

"Old Li, look what this is?"

"This...this is the night watchman's badge!" Old Man Li was quite knowledgeable.

Zhang Ping'an didn't hide anything from him: "I am now an Iron Guard under the Green Mountain Hall of the Night Watch. If you want to save Chen Zhishi, come with me to the Night Watch's office now to file a complaint against Sun Xing."

Upon hearing that Zhang Ping'an had joined the renowned Night Watch, Old Man Li felt much more at ease.

"Alright, let's go down the mountain with you now and file a complaint against Sun Xing."

……

The residence of Guan Tianyou, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Sun Guihua, dressed in an official robe, sat facing Guan Tianyou.

"Brother Sun, I didn't do a good job on the matter you entrusted to me. That kid is too stubborn and refuses to confess. You'll have to think of another way."

Sun Guihua took a sip of tea, looking confident: "Don't worry, my brother, I've come here precisely to resolve this matter."

"Even if he's tough as nails, he'll always have a soft spot. This time, he'll definitely confess obediently."

Guan Tianyou asked curiously, "What leverage did Brother Sun find?"

Sun Guihua looked at a black-clad follower behind him.

The attendant immediately walked outside.

Immediately, two guards with knives escorted a rural couple dressed in coarse cloth into the room.

Guan Tianyou was overjoyed: "These are that kid's parents?"

"Exactly."

"Haha, this time we're not afraid that kid won't confess."

In the prison cell.

Chen Zhishi sat against the wall, his breathing weak.

Since Zhang Pingan visited him, he has been filled with hope for the future.

There are people outside doing everything they can to save him, so how can he give up on himself?

Although most of his physical injuries were healing, his mental state was deteriorating.

Once inside the Ministry of Justice prison, he learned that in addition to punishments that cause injury or disability, there were also punishments that made people appear completely normal.

In the past two days, he has been subjected to a series of tortures that do not leave external injuries, such as applying wet paper to his face, pounding his heart with cotton pads on his chest, and the tiger bench.

However, the thought that there were still people working hard for him outside gave him the strength to grit his teeth and get through it all.

Clang!

The sound of the prison cell's iron door being opened could be heard.

"grown ups!"

Then came the sound of the jailer saluting.

"kindness."

"Go and bring the prisoner Chen Zhishi here."

Guan Tianyou, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, stood with his hands behind his back and spoke in an official tone.

Soon, Chen Zhishi was escorted by two prison guards to a solitary cell.

There was no bed in the cell, but two armchairs. Sun Guihua and Guan Tianyou sat side by side, watching Chen Zhishi being led into the cell, trembling.

"Hmph, those poor pedants from the academy are indeed both stinking and stubborn."

Sun Guihua gave a disdainful snort.

Despite the excruciating pain, Chen Zhishi stood ramrod straight, his face regaining its usual cold arrogance.

"Since you know I'm tough, why did you call me out in the first place? Show me what you've got, I'll admit defeat if I don't utter a sound."

Sun Guihua gave a sly smile: "Hmph, I hope you'll still be so stubborn when you see the person later."

"Longevity, is that you, Longevity?"

The sudden call struck Chen Zhishi like a thunderbolt, and his face turned deathly pale.

He forced himself not to turn around, pretending not to recognize her.

"Hmph, what are you doing bringing two unrelated people here? If you have any tricks up your sleeve, just use them on me, don't drag others into it."

Chen Zhishi roared angrily, his eyes red.

"Heh, you're so stubborn, how come you don't even dare to acknowledge your own parents?"

Sun Guihua gave a smug, cold laugh: "I thought you really had no weaknesses?"

Chen's mother rushed forward and grabbed the iron bars of the cell, tears streaming down her face, crying out with worry, "Changshou, my child, what have you done wrong?"

"My lord, Changshou is not a bad person. You must have wronged him. Please, my lord, have mercy! Please, my lord, investigate this matter thoroughly!"

As she spoke, Chen's mother knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing to Sun Guihua and the other woman.

The honest and simple-minded father of Chen also went over and knelt down, and the two of them kowtowed to Sun Guihua and begged for forgiveness.

"Sir, we are an old couple and we only have this one child. Please, have mercy on us!"

Chen Zhishi could no longer remain calm and suddenly turned around to slowly kneel in front of his parents.

"Father, Mother...you shouldn't have come here!"

"Changshou, tell your mother quickly, what have you done wrong?" Chen's mother asked anxiously from the outside, holding his hand.

Chen Zhishi wiped away his tears and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that the more he cared, the happier his enemies would be, and the more ruthless they would be in dealing with his parents.

"Father, Mother, do you believe in your son?" Chen Zhishi asked with a serious expression.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen nodded together.

"Son, we believe you. You've definitely been framed, haven't you?"

Chen Zhishi said, "Trust me and don't worry about anything else. Once you leave here, head straight to the academy and find Zhang Ping'an. He will tell you everything."

Sun Guihua sneered dismissively, "Do you think they can still leave?"

"Of course, if you obediently sign and put your fingerprint on it, they might be able to leave."

Chen Zhishi turned around and glared at him, wishing he could tear Sun Guihua to pieces: "You old thief, you're despicable!"

"Despicable? Ha, you poor wretch, that's just standard practice. To deal with you, I don't need those truly despicable methods."

Sun Guihua scoffed, but he was telling the truth.

"I'm too lazy to waste words with you. Sign and put your fingerprint on this document, or let your parents experience the same tortures you suffered."

"I believe you should know how to choose."

Chen Zhishi bit his lip so hard that it bled.

"I plead guilty!"

He shouted those three words with almost all his might.