Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The state prison was dark and damp.

Lin Feng was placed in a relatively clean cell, without shackles or torture, but four soldiers with swords and halberds stood at the door, their eyes like hawks, never leaving him. This was less a detention and more a case of tight surveillance.

When Captain Yang escorted him to the cell, he only said one sentence: "The Imperial Envoy has ordered that you stay here to reflect on your mistakes and await interrogation. Your meals will be delivered on time, so do not cause trouble." Then he turned and left.

Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the dry grass mat, closing his eyes to rest, but his heart was churning like boiling water.

Feng Zhen imprisoned him, but did not torture him or immediately interrogate him, only allowing him to "reflect on his mistakes." This attitude was somewhat subtle. Was he still hesitating? Was he waiting for more "evidence"? Or... was he waiting for him to reveal a flaw on his own?

He didn't know if Feng Zhen had seen Wang the clerk's letter. He also didn't know if Hou Qi could find Wang the clerk in time and "reveal" those crucial clues to Feng Zhen. Now, he was like a bird caught in a net, passively awaiting the hunter's judgment.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps and the sound of chains came from outside. The cell door was opened, and two jailers carried in a food box, placed it on the ground, locked the door without saying a word, and left.

The lunchbox contained two dishes, a soup, and a bowl of brown rice; it was fairly clean.

Lin Feng didn't move, just watched quietly. He didn't think Feng Zhen would poison him at this time, but it was always better to be safe than sorry.

About an hour later, footsteps sounded again outside the prison gate, this time from many people.

Captain Yang entered with several of his personal guards and opened the cell door.

"Lin San, the Imperial Envoy has convened court and summons you for questioning. Come with us."

finally come.

Lin Feng opened his eyes, stood up, and calmly followed Captain Yang out of the cell. They walked through a long, gloomy corridor and arrived at the brightly lit second hall.

In the second hall, Feng Zhengao sat in the main seat, wearing a scarlet official robe and a black gauze hat, his face solemn and dignified, exuding authority without anger.

Seated on either side were Zhou Wenyuan and other key officials of the prefecture, all with solemn expressions. Below the hall, yamen runners stood silently, holding fire and water sticks.

The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like it could drip water.

Lin Feng was led to the hall and bowed, saying, "This humble subject, Lin San, greets Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy and all the esteemed officials."

"Lin San," Feng Zhen spoke, his voice not loud, yet carrying an invisible pressure, "Someone has accused you of 'Sanhe Goods Transport,' colluding with bandits from the canal gangs to rob 'Yongfa' and 'Furuixiang' trading companies of three cartloads of goods, worth over ten thousand taels. Furthermore, someone has testified that you secretly colluded with spies from the Northern Barbarians, hoarding armor and weapons, plotting treason. What do you have to say about this?"

It really was for that batch of "goods"!

Lin Feng sneered inwardly, but his face remained calm: "My lord, this is a false accusation. I and everyone at 'Sanhe' are honest merchants, law-abiding citizens who have never colluded with bandits, much less associated with Northern Barbarian spies. As for the looting, that's utterly fabricated. The night before last, bandits attacked my 'Sanhe' warehouse, killing and burning, and stealing goods; 'Sanhe' was also a victim. My lord sent Captain Yang to investigate this matter the day before yesterday, and there are corpses of Northern Barbarian spies as evidence. I don't know who is so malicious as to frame me like this; I beg my lord to investigate thoroughly!"

"Framed?" Zhou Wenyuan, sitting at the lower end of the table, sneered and interjected, "Lin San, the evidence is overwhelming. You still want to deny it? Bring the witnesses!"

Immediately, some yamen runners brought several people with them.

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly as he looked over. One of them was none other than Manager Zhao of "Fu Rui Xiang"! Another was an inconspicuous laborer at the docks; Lin Feng recognized him as a former member of the canal gang who had been taken in by Liu Neng and was now doing odd jobs at the docks. The last one was a shop assistant at the "San He" warehouse, usually responsible for cleaning the warehouse; he was now trembling and dared not look at Lin Feng.

"Manager Zhao, tell me the truth as you know it!" Zhou Wenyuan shouted.

Manager Zhao knelt down with a thud, his face contorted with grief, and said, "Your Excellency, I am the manager of 'Fu Rui Xiang'. A few days ago, Boss Lin... no, Lin San, approached me and said he had a shipment of 'urgent goods' to be transported north, offering an extremely high price, but demanding absolute secrecy, and... and that the invoices for my 'Fu Rui Xiang' and 'Yong Fa' be used as cover. I was greedy for the high profits and, in a moment of confusion, agreed. Later I found out that the 'goods' weren't silk or medicine at all, but... but swords, spears, and crossbows! When I found out, I was terrified and wanted to back out, but Lin San threatened me, saying that if I dared to speak out, he would exterminate my entire family! I... I'm innocent!"

Swords, spears, bows, and crossbows? Armaments! Just as I thought! Lin Feng sneered inwardly; this frame-up was certainly serious!

"You're talking nonsense!" Lin Feng roared. "Manager Zhao, when have I, Lin San, ever asked you to transport 'urgent goods'? When have I ever threatened you? It's clearly you who conspired with 'Yongfa' to transport smuggled goods for the Prince Qi's mansion under the guise of 'New Year's gifts,' which were then stolen by thieves, and now you're framing me!"

"You're spouting nonsense!" Manager Zhao shrieked. "I don't know anything about the Prince Qi's Mansion! Sir, he's making false accusations! I have the deposit notes he paid that day as proof! And the invoice he wrote himself!" As he spoke, he pulled out several silver notes and an invoice from his pocket and held them up high above his head.

The bailiff took the documents and presented them to Feng Zhen. Feng Zhen glanced at them, frowned slightly, and then passed the banknotes and invoices to Zhou Wenyuan and the others for their review.

"Lin San, this banknote was issued by the 'Huitong' bank. The handwriting on the invoice stub, after comparison, is indeed written by the same person as the handwriting on the accounts of the 'Sanhe Logistics'. What else do you have to say?" Zhou Wenyuan pointed at the banknote and the invoice and said sternly.

Forgery! These bank notes and invoices must be meticulously forged! Lin Feng knew perfectly well that the other party had gone to great lengths to solidify his guilt!

"Handwriting can be imitated, and banknotes can be forged. How can this alone be enough to convict someone?" Lin Feng protested.

"Then how do you explain this witness?" Zhou Wenyuan pointed to the dockworker.

The laborer knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Honor, please understand! I... I was on night duty at the dock that night, and I saw with my own eyes Lin San and a few men furtively carrying several large crates onto the ship. Inside the crates... I heard the clanging of metal! Later... later I heard that the goods of 'Yongfa' and 'Furuixiang' were robbed! I dare not conceal this, Your Honor!"

"And him too!" Zhou Wenyuan pointed to the "Sanhe" employee.

The shop assistant trembled with fear and stammered, "That night... I was cleaning the warehouse when I saw... I saw Master Lin... no, Lin San, he... he was having a secret conversation with several masked men in the backyard, and they were... they sounded like they were speaking a Di language! Then those men left, and then... the warehouse was burned down!"

"Lin San, the evidence is overwhelming, what else do you have to say?" Zhou Wenyuan shouted sternly. "It's clear you colluded with Di Rong spies to rob officials and merchants of their goods, with malicious intent! Now that your deeds have been exposed, do you still dare to deny it?"

Feng Zhen's gaze swept over the people below the hall, finally landing on Lin Feng.

"Lin San, Manager Zhao testifies that you coerced him into transporting contraband weapons, and he has bank notes and invoices as evidence; the dockworkers testify that you loaded boxes onto the ship late at night, and there were sounds of metal being used; your 'Sanhe' partner testifies that you had a secret conversation with a masked man who speaks a Di language. Do you have any rebuttal to these testimonies?"

Compared to Zhou Wenyuan, Feng Zhen's tone was less aggressive and more cautious. He didn't seem to fully believe these "witness accounts and physical evidence."

Lin Feng's heart stirred slightly; he knew this was his only chance.

He took a deep breath and declared loudly, "Your Honor, the testimony of these three individuals is riddled with flaws and is purely a frame-up!"

"Oh? What's the loophole? Tell me." Feng Zhen leaned forward slightly.

"Firstly, Manager Zhao claims that I coerced him into transporting weapons, but the list of the stolen goods was already filed by 'Yongfa' and 'Furuixiang,' showing only silk and medicinal herbs. Where did the knives, guns, and bows come from? If they were truly weapons, would the two businesses dare to openly file for their transport? This is the first contradiction!"

"Secondly, the dockworkers said they saw me loading boxes onto the ship late at night, and heard the sound of metal clanging. May I ask, sir, at midnight the night before last, spies from the Di Rong tribe and bandits from the canal gang attacked my 'Sanheyuan' (a courtyard house), killing and burning. The battle was raging, and I was in the courtyard directing my brothers to defend against the enemy. All the brothers in the courtyard can testify to this! How could I be in two places at the same time, simultaneously loading goods at the dock? This is the second contradiction!"

"Thirdly," Lin Feng's gaze sharpened as he looked at the trembling waiter, "you said you saw me in private conversation with masked men speaking a Di language? Then tell you, gentlemen, how tall were those masked men? What were their builds like? What clothes were they wearing? What weapons were they carrying? How many Di language did they speak? And what did they say? Could you possibly understand them?"

"I...I..." The man stammered, cold sweat pouring down his face. "It was too dark...I couldn't see clearly...I just heard them talking in some kind of foreign language...I couldn't understand them..."

"Didn't you see clearly? Didn't understand?" Lin Feng sneered. "Based on just a few incomprehensible words, you've concluded you're a Di Rong spy? Then may I say that your sleep-talking last night was also in Di Rong language, making you a Di Rong spy too?"

"You...you're spouting nonsense!" The waiter's face turned ashen.

"Enough!" Zhou Wenyuan roared. "Lin San, you're using clever words and twisting the truth! All the evidence points to you! Don't even think about denying it!"

"Lord Zhou!" Lin Feng stood his ground, his gaze fixed on Zhou Wenyuan. "I would like to ask, Manager Zhao accused me of coercing him to transport weapons. Where are those three cartloads of goods that were robbed? Since they were robbed, where are the weapons? Can they be recovered? If they cannot be recovered, how can it be proven that the goods were indeed weapons? Based solely on Manager Zhao's testimony and a few banknotes and invoices of dubious origin?"

"Furthermore," Lin Feng pressed, not waiting for Zhou Wenyuan's reply, "this dockworker was originally a member of the Canal Gang. He was expelled for committing a crime and later joined Liu Neng, the manager of my 'Sanhe' organization, working odd jobs at the dock. Liu Neng was murdered at the dock by remnants of the Canal Gang the other day, and this man was present at the time! Is his testimony now being given under orders to falsely accuse this humble citizen to avenge Liu Neng, or... to cover up some other ulterior motive?"

"As for my 'Sanhe' worker," Lin Feng's gaze swept coldly over the worker, "he's usually responsible for sweeping and cleaning, a coward who shivers with fear. The night before last, when thieves attacked the courtyard, he was the first to hide in the woodshed, trembling with fear. Such a person, amidst the thieves' arson and the deafening shouts of battle, actually dared to eavesdrop on my private conversation with the 'Di Rong spy'? His words are absurd, his actions suspicious! I suspect he was bribed to give false testimony and frame me!"

Lin Feng's words were meticulous and insightful, refuting the testimonies of the three witnesses completely.

Everyone in the hall, including Feng Zhen, looked thoughtful. Zhou Wenyuan's face was ashen, but he was speechless for a moment.

"My lord!" Lin Feng turned to Feng Zhen and bowed deeply. "This humble subject humbly begs Your Excellency to investigate thoroughly! The testimonies of these three individuals are riddled with inconsistencies, and their so-called physical evidence is of dubious origin and difficult to believe! On the contrary, this humble subject possesses conclusive evidence proving that those who attacked my 'Sanhe' last night were spies from Di Rong's 'Shadow Hawk' gang and members of the Canal Gang! Your Excellency has personally examined the body of the Di Rong assassin! Secret letters communicating with the Di Rong assassin were also found on the bodies of the Canal Gang members! This is irrefutable evidence!"

"Furthermore, I have more information to report!" Lin Feng's voice rose, filled with grief and indignation. "My subordinate, Liu Neng, the manager of the 'Sanhe' gang, was ambushed and murdered yesterday at the dock while mediating a dispute by Wang Laizi and other remnants of the Canal Gang! Before his death, Liu Neng said that he was coerced by Qin Wu of the Canal Gang's Punishment Hall to harm me! Liu Neng died suddenly from poisoning, just like the previous death of Huang San, the head of the Canal Gang! This is murder to silence him! I suspect that Qin Wu of the Canal Gang, and even his mastermind, colluded with Di Rong spies to rob officials and merchants, frame people, and intend to disrupt the prefecture. Their intentions are despicable!"

"The other day, under the guise of 'mountain goods and furs,' Liu Neng transported sixteen heavy wooden crates into the Prince Qi's residence. The laborers said there was a rusty, oily smell inside, suspecting they were armor and weapons! How similar is this to the 'weapons' that Manager Zhao mentioned being robbed, in terms of timing and method? I dare to speculate whether someone used 'New Year's gifts' as a pretext to transport weapons, and when the plan failed and was robbed, they framed 'Sanhe' to cover it up by killing them?"

Lin Feng's words shocked everyone in the room! Even Feng Zhen sat up straight, his eyes flashing with a sharp light!

Zhou Wenyuan's expression changed drastically, and he slammed his fist on the table, shouting, "Lin San! How dare you! You dare to falsely accuse His Highness Prince Qi! How dare you!"

"This humble subject dares not make false accusations!" Lin Feng declared, head held high. "This humble subject is merely stating the facts of the doubts! The deaths of Liu Neng and Huang San, the appearance of the Di Rong assassin, the suspicious nature of Qin Wu of the Canal Gang, the anomalies of the 'mountain goods' transported by the Prince of Qi's residence, and the flawed testimonies of Manager Zhao and others—each and every one of these matters is interconnected! This humble subject humbly requests Your Excellency to thoroughly investigate Qin Wu of the Canal Gang, thoroughly investigate the 'mountain goods' transported by the Prince of Qi's residence, thoroughly investigate Manager Zhao and the owner behind the 'Yongfa' trading company, and thoroughly investigate all those involved in this matter! Only in this way can this humble subject be exonerated, can the traitors be eliminated from Qingzhou, and can the borders be secured for the court!"

His words connected the assassins of Di Rong, the internal strife within the Grand Canal Gang, the murder of Liu Neng, the "mountain goods" of the Qi Prince's mansion, and Manager Zhao's false testimony, all pointing directly at Qin Wu and subtly at the Qi Prince and Zhou Wenyuan! Although he didn't explicitly say that the Qi Prince was hoarding weapons or colluding with Di Rong, every word implied a vast conspiracy network behind it all! And he, Lin Feng, and the "Sanhe" were merely chosen scapegoats and sacrifices in this conspiracy!

The hall was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by Lin Feng's bold and sharp accusation. Zhou Wenyuan's face turned ashen, his lips trembled, and he wanted to refute it, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin. The other officials were even more terrified and dared not utter a sound. Feng Zhen's face was ashen, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Lin Feng, Zhou Wenyuan, and the three pale-faced, trembling "witnesses."

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Lin Feng knew he was dancing on the edge of a cliff, placing all his bets on Feng Zhen's clarity and decisiveness. Win, and he might be able to turn the tide and expose the mastermind. Lose, and he would face utter ruin and a gruesome death!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

"Bang!"

A sharp thud of the gavel shattered the silence. Feng Zhen slowly stood up, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping across the entire room.

"This case is riddled with doubts and involves a wide range of people; it cannot be resolved in a short time." Feng Zhen's voice was authoritative and steady. "Although Lin San's account may seem to involve entanglement, the deaths of Liu Neng and Huang San, the discovery of the Di Rong spy, the suspicion surrounding Qin Wu of the canal gang, and the discrepancies in the goods from the Qi Prince's residence all require thorough investigation. The testimonies of Zhao Youcai and the other two are full of loopholes and cannot be relied upon. Lin San is hereby returned to custody and placed under strict guard. He must not be tortured, nor allowed to contact anyone else. Zhao Youcai and the other two are to be imprisoned pending trial and interrogated rigorously. It is imperative to determine whether they committed perjury and who instructed them!"

"Prefect Zhou," Feng Zhen said, looking at Zhou Wenyuan, whose face was ashen, "the true nature of the 'mountain goods' transported by the Qi Prince's residence still needs to be verified. You will personally lead a team to the Qi Prince's residence to inspect those sixteen wooden boxes to prove your innocence. What do you say?"

Zhou Wenyuan's expression changed, and he quickly bowed: "Your humble servant obeys. However... the Qi Prince's residence is the residence of a prince and nobleman. Without any evidence, it might be inappropriate to open the box for inspection..."

"I am an imperial envoy, acting on behalf of Heaven, and have the authority to investigate local illegal activities!" Feng Zhen interrupted him, his tone turning cold. "His Highness Prince Qi is a member of the royal family and should be a role model for the world. How could he possibly possess prohibited items? A thorough investigation will not only clear His Highness Prince Qi's name but also silence public criticism! Prefect Zhou, do you perhaps find this inappropriate?"

"Your humble servant wouldn't dare!" Zhou Wenyuan said hastily, sweat beading on his forehead. "Your humble servant... Your humble servant will take care of it immediately."

"As for Qin Wu of the Grand Canal Gang," Feng Zhen continued, "Captain Yang!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Take this official's token and lead a squad of personal guards to the headquarters of the Canal Gang. 'Invite' Qin Wu to the prefectural government office for questioning. Remember, it's an 'invite,' do not use force. However, if he disobeys, or if anyone obstructs him, you may act as you see fit!"

"Yes, sir!"

Feng Zhenyi's series of orders were clear, logical, and swift. They not only temporarily protected Lin Feng but also pointed the finger at Qin Wu and the Qi Prince's Mansion. Furthermore, he assigned the tasks of verifying "witnesses" and inspecting "mountain goods" to Zhou Wenyuan and Yang Xiaowei respectively. While seemingly fair, this actually placed Zhou Wenyuan under supervision as well.

"Court adjourned!" Feng Zhen flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

The people in the hall had different expressions and all withdrew.

Zhou Wenyuan glared at Lin Feng and stormed off. The three "witnesses" collapsed to the ground like rag dolls and were dragged away by the constables.

Back in his dark cell, Lin Feng let out a long sigh of relief; his back was soaked with cold sweat.

Just now in court, with life hanging by a thread, he appeared calm, but in reality, every word he uttered was a knife's edge. Fortunately, Feng Zhen was not a mediocre or muddle-headed person; he sensed something amiss and made the decision most conducive to uncovering the truth.

Next, we'll see what happens when Zhou Wenyuan goes to the Qi Prince's mansion to inspect the "mountain goods," whether Yang Xiaowei can "invite" Qin Wu, and whether the three "witnesses" can reveal the truth under torture.

The real contest has only just begun.

Lin Feng is now at the very center of this storm!