Chapter 80: The Divine Eye

The trained dog sniffed the fabric flower in Zhou Qing's hand, then immediately pounced toward Zhou Bingde.

Zhou Bingde was shocked and stumbled backward, almost falling.

The dog grabbed Zhou Bingde's clothes with its teeth and pulled him out forcefully.

Zhou Qing sneered, "As expected, a dog is more reliable than a person!"

Zhou Huaihai couldn't believe that this wretched girl had hidden the fabric flower in Zhou Huailin's clothes.

Zhou Huaihai said, "Your Honor, my father and Zhou Huailin spoke a few words while standing together. It’s possible the scent transferred between them. We can’t conclude that my father is lying based solely on this."

Zhou Qing responded, "Then let's conduct a live experiment. I'll put this flower in my own pocket, and let’s have someone randomly talk to me. Afterward, we’ll see if the scent transfers as strongly. This will clear everything up!"

Zhou Qing had made the flower herself and understood it better than anyone.

A few words spoken casually wouldn't leave a noticeable scent on someone. Especially not in an open temple with a breeze today.

While she was speaking, the trained dog released Zhou Bingde and leapt at one of his guards and a young monk.

The abbot, seeing the monk also involved, was instantly furious and glared at him.

"How did you get involved in this?"

The young monk was about to speak when a noisy commotion of footsteps and arrogant shouting came from a distance.

Everyone turned to see Zhao Dacheng leading a group of men, all rough-looking. Two men dragged another person between them, the man holding two potted flowers.

Upon seeing the captured man, Zhou Huaihai's face turned pale with fear, and Zhou Bingde gasped, "Heavens!"

The young monk, now terrified, knelt with a thud as the dog tugged at his robes, his face drained of color.

Zhao Dacheng swaggered forward and bowed slightly to the magistrate.

"Your Honor, today I was with some friends at Qingquan Temple. We happened to see this man stealing flowers from the pavilion."

With that, Zhao Dacheng kicked the guard they had brought with them. 

The guard lost his balance and fell to his knees.

Just as he hit the ground, the flower pots in his hands nearly toppled. A young monk quickly rushed forward to catch them.

Zhou Huaihai gritted his teeth and glared at Zhao Dacheng.

Damn you, I didn’t expect that!

How could he have forgotten about Zhao Dacheng?! 

Ever since he got beaten up last time, Zhao Dacheng had been loitering around his house, following Zhou Huaihai's father everywhere.

Though Zhao Dacheng didn't confront him directly, he would trail him at a distance, not doing much, just hovering. 

It was driving Zhou Huaihai mad.

Zhao Dacheng smirked provocatively at Zhou Huaihai, then pulled out a stack of papers and handed them to the magistrate.

"Your Honor, this is the sequence of events we saw unfold at the crime scene, as we illustrated."

The crowd stared at Zhao Dacheng, stunned.

Zhao Dacheng winked at Zhou Qing.

Do you see? My reputation as a dandy is not in vain!

Zhou Qing caught the wink and couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her eye, thinking, "You're impressive."

Zhou Qing wasn’t the only one twitching. The magistrate, upon seeing the drawings, had a similar reaction.

These illustrations didn’t just show the crime; they depicted the entire series of events in vivid detail.

It covered everything, from when Zhou Huaihai and Zhou Bingde left their house, to their arrival at Qingquan Temple. 

It showed Zhou Huailin being called over by his father at the temple gate, sitting on a stone bench with him, then fainting and being helped up by a guard and escorted away by a monk.

It also depicted how one of the guards smashed the flower pavilion and stole the precious dark chrysanthemum, leaving Zhou Huailin behind.

The magistrate's expression grew more complicated as he looked at Zhao Dacheng, then he turned to Zhou Huaihai.

"See for yourself!" 

With that, he threw the stack of drawings to the ground. Zhou Huaihai made no attempt to catch them, letting the pages scatter on the floor.

One after another, the pictures were a damning display of evidence. 

This was like some ancient surveillance system!

Zhao Dacheng’s drawing skills were truly remarkable. He had managed to depict the entire event so clearly in such a short time.

With the truth laid bare, the magistrate slammed his hand on the table, glaring at Zhou Huaihai.

"What do you have to say now?"

Zhou Huaihai’s mind was reeling. How had it come to this?

The evidence, the motive, everything had been perfect. He was certain it would leave Zhou Qing with no room to defend herself, and now...

Bloodshot eyes filled with rage, Zhou Huaihai turned to Zhao Dacheng.

Zhao Dacheng smiled mischievously. "The court will decide your fate, but don't forget, you signed a contract."

Zhou Huaihai’s brain felt like it exploded. That damned agreement again!

According to that agreement, if they were caught framing Zhou Qing or Zhou Huailin, they had to pay 100 taels as compensation.

It wasn’t a large sum of money, but the humiliation was unbearable!

As Zhao Dacheng finished speaking, the abbot chimed in.

"I didn't expect the flowers of my Qingquan Temple to be destroyed like this. Before you go to jail, you must compensate us. The value is 2,000 taels."

Oh, great. 

Now they had enough funds to buy more silk flowers!

If not for the inappropriate situation, the abbot might have rubbed his hands together in glee.

Zhou Bingde looked like he couldn’t take it anymore. With a gasp, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhou Huaihai felt dizzy and unstable on his feet. 

The magistrate stared at Zhou Huaihai in disbelief.

What exactly were they after? Did they have too much money to burn?

He didn’t want to send the father and son to jail, but Zhao Dacheng’s detailed illustrations left him no room to maneuver.

Frustrated, the magistrate snapped, "You’ll compensate Qingquan Temple for the pavilion, 2,000 taels. As for the emotional damages caused to Zhou Qing and Zhou Huailin, you can discuss the terms of that yourselves."

He paused, deliberately avoiding the subject of jail time.

Zhou Huaihai looked at the magistrate with deep gratitude and pulled out two silver notes — the 2,000 taels Zhou Yuan had sent that very morning.

Not yet even warm in his hand, he handed it all to the abbot.

The abbot didn’t spare Zhou Huaihai a glance as he accepted the silver and began calculating silently.

With 2,000 taels, how many large and small flowers should he buy?

Even though framing someone without causing harm wouldn't warrant much jail time, Zhou Qing knew the magistrate wouldn’t risk offending Zhou Yuan over this.

But that didn’t mean she could forgive Zhou Huaihai.

"Pay up!"

Zhou Huaihai gritted his teeth, glaring at Zhou Qing, wanting nothing more than to tear her apart.

Zhou Bingde wiped the blood from his lips and growled, "I’m your grandfather, and this is your uncle. Can’t you show a little compassion?"

Zhou Qing laughed at his shamelessness.

Not even Zhuge Liang had ever encountered such brazen cheekiness!

"Enough nonsense. Pay up!"

Zhou Huaihai reluctantly produced 100 taels.

Zhou Qing wagged her finger.

"1,000 taels, and I’ll settle this privately with you. Not a coin less. Otherwise, I’ll go to the county hall and beat the drum, demanding the magistrate throw you in jail! Even though your crime isn’t severe, it would be enough to stain Zhou Yuan’s father’s reputation forever. This is a shame that Zhou Yuan will never live down!"

"You venomous child!" Zhou Bingde roared, pointing angrily at Zhou Qing. "1,000 taels? Why don't you just rob us?!"

Zhou Qing stared at him with contempt.

"For someone who can't even frame others properly, what gives you the right to shout at me? Keep talking, and I’ll raise the price to 2,000 taels! I’m not afraid, as long as you're not either!"