Atop the court, the wooden block was raised high and then dropped heavily, as a stick marked with ’eighty’ was tossed aside by Han Yue.
Han Yue had closed the case on the spot.
"Administer eighty lashes and banish her to the Bitterly Cold Place! Bring her forward, drag her away!"
"No, oh, Official Pang... Official Pang!!"
Old Lady Cui, kneeling, crawled towards Official Pang, completely panicked by now.
"Save me, save me oh! For the sake of my son, you are his wife’s superior, Official Pang, I beg you to save this old woman!"
Official Pang snorted lightly, "This officer has not yet settled scores with you, and yet you are so eager to come forth!"
Her eyes were filled with annoyance, and from Official Pang’s expression, one could tell that even if Old Lady Cui were not to be exiled, even if she could escape this calamity, Official Pang would likely not let her off easily...
When the dust had settled, Dong Huiying shoved a small porcelain-white bottle into Han Yue’s hands.
"This is the Spirit-replenishing Pill, there are twenty in all. I will visit your household regularly to continue the examination for your husband, you really have helped me a great deal this time."
"Not at all, my lady, do not be too modest, it is simply part of my duty as an officer."
Han Yue commanded someone to bring a box: "This box of treasures has been my collection over the years, I implore you not to decline, and to kindly accept it with a smile."
Dong Huiying suddenly smiled, "Very well, to buy peace of mind. Now that I have accepted this consultation fee, you need worry no more, Sir. Huiying guarantees, within two years at most, or one year at least, I will surely restore your husband to health!"
Han Yue sighed with relief.
That one sentence was enough for her, at least it meant that for the next one to two years, her husband would be safe.
The smile on her face was thus filled with genuine joy.
Dong Huiying bid farewell to Han Yue, turned her head, and saw the helpless look on Liang Zhichen’s face, while the members of the Dong family were also eagerly looking at her.
She paused for a moment, then, seeing Dong Nian’s red cheeks, she suddenly realized and slapped her forehead.
"No worries, no worries!" she laughed awkwardly, "San Nian is very healthy!"
Dong Nian spoke up in a soft voice, "I’ve already said, elder sister gave me a pill, it’s for strengthening the body, my elder sister also told me, this irregular pulse was just temporary, it will have no lasting impact on my health."
Dong Xinyuan shouted, "Ah! Was it that thing elder sister slipped into your hand the day she left? Was that pill given to you then?"
Dong Nian seemed to be shy, he sneakily glanced at his elder sister, "Elder sister said, to increase the odds of winning, she told me to wait, wait until the government officials came to our house, and then to take that pill."
"So that’s what it was..."
The Dong family was reassured and became happy.
With Old Lady Cui caught, receiving eighty lashes plus banishment, not to mention that the lashes alone could be enough to end her old life, even if she somehow survived, there was the thirty years of exile awaiting her. And Old Lady Cui was already of an advanced age; even if she could endure the hardships of exile, could she live another thirty years... Could she survive that long?
Clearly, it was impossible.
In any case, they would no longer have to face Old Lady Cui’s ugly countenance anymore, and the members of the Dong family felt a great sense of relief.
Dong Huiying and Liang Zhichen stood side by side, and she said with a smile, "Today is a good day, let’s go to the restaurant and have a big feast!"
Indeed, it was time for a celebration.
So, they all set off for the town’s restaurant in high spirits.
However, along the way, they encountered a small hiccup. Originally, Dong Huiying had wanted to take everyone to the most famous, bustling, and highly reputed restaurant in town, but as it was now noon, the restaurant was full of people and had no empty tables. They had no choice but to go to another restaurant, which seemed not to be doing as well.