The first box opened contained three Spirit Stones, which caused a stir among the crowd, as many might have been seeing Spirit Stones for the first time, items related to Cultivators. There was also the thought: how could someone use a Cultivator's Spirit Stones to harm others? It's impossible for the Lin Family to have these Spirit Stones!
Father Lin, who should have been shouting about being wronged, remained silent at this moment.
Next, the second box opened revealed a transparent crystal, about the size of a fist. This item is called an Ultrapure Crystal. It's a special crystal, found in deep mines, and after special cleaning and processing by the Royal Family, it becomes a completely transparent crystal. Because it's flawless, it's called an Ultrapure Crystal. Also, because Ultrapure Crystals can refract many dazzling, colorful lights when exposed to sunlight, they are highly favored by the Royal Family. At the same time, because they are very rare, they have been placed on the Royal Family's protected list: a forbidden item. The eyes of the two lion statues at the palace gate are made of Ultrapure Crystals, and the eyes of the two giant Dragons on the palace roof are also very large Ultrapure Crystals; when the sun shines on them, they look like real Dragons glowing. As for the emperor's crown, some are inlaid with small Ultrapure Crystals, and there are also some on prominent palace walls, carvings, and handrail statues. The entire palace used over 200 Ultrapure Crystals, but this is not enough for the huge palace. The emperor uses them sparingly, naturally placing them on the Royal Family's exclusive treasure list. The Royal Family's collection also has some, but it's estimated to be no more than 100. Adding the over 200 that have been used, the accumulation from the entire country over many years is only a little over 300, which is truly not many. Many people have seen these Ultrapure Crystals when visiting outside the palace gate, but they never expected the Lin Family to have one.
The third box opened was much simpler: a book from the previous dynasty, "The Legend of Prince Lu." With the previous dynasty overthrown, it was forbidden to privately possess this book, so the law prohibited it. Individuals were not allowed to own it and had to immediately surrender it. However, the court could collect it in its library for future reference. "The Legend of Prince Lu" tells the story of an emperor from the previous dynasty when he was Prince Lu. The book's cover used the style of the previous dynasty and had the three characters "Yujin Country" written on it. Since the law wall had an introduction to books from the previous dynasty, everyone could recognize it. This type of book had no value, making it seem most suitable for framing someone.
Lord City Lord began to question, "Lin Chendong, where did you get these forbidden items? Why did you hide them? Confess truthfully!"
This time, Father Lin not only didn't cry out his innocence but first bowed respectfully to the City Lord, then turned and did the same to the surrounding people. He slowly said, "My Lin Family has lived here for over 100 years, and I never expected it to end today. I believe you have all heard of my character, Lin Chendong. As for these forbidden items, my Lin Family truly wouldn't dare to collect them, and I don't know how they ended up in my home. Since there are both human and material witnesses, at my age, I'm not afraid to die. I accept this crime." This was to subtly imply to everyone: it's truly not that my Lin Family had forbidden items; since I've decided to die, there's no need to lie, right? Otherwise, some people might think my Lin Family had forbidden items and someone deliberately brought them out to kill us. I'm truly not afraid of death; I'm admitting guilt because I have no choice.
To be honest, Father Lin had long decided to bravely face his fate, so why would he need to be subservient? He just hadn't expected this scene: the City Lord had arrived, and nearby residents had been brought out to witness the Lin Family's great crime of possessing forbidden items. Forbidden items would cause the Lin Family to bear a criminal name and have their ancestors recorded on the Wall of Criminals, which was what Father Lin least wanted to see. With human and material evidence, he couldn't refuse to admit guilt, especially since Su Gou had long plotted this and wouldn't let the Lin Family off. Father Lin could only calmly and politely "explain" to the surrounding onlookers. If this were just facing Su Gou, it would have been one sentence: "No need for further words, what does a true man fear in death?"
After Father Lin finished speaking, he turned and asked Yin Cui, "Please tell me, Miss Yin Cui, where did you find these forbidden items?"
Yin Cui immediately spoke, "In a secret compartment in your family's study and in a bed box under Young Master Lin's bed in his room. I saw Young Master Lin Han take them out when I was at your Lin Family before. That's how I knew where they were placed." After speaking, Yin Cui gently rolled up her sleeve, revealing the virgin's red cinnabar mole on her forearm, as if to say, "I was just ordinary classmates with your son; I never did anything improper."
"Oh, that's good, they weren't found in my room," Father Lin loudly interjected casually. He had completely thought this matter through. During this time, Yin Cui often came to his house, either in his son's room or the study. Everyone else had been asked to leave by Mother Lin so as not to disturb the two of them. Yin Cui was harming the entire Lin Family. How could Yin Cui suddenly become so cruel? A girl as innocent as Yin Cui wouldn't suddenly change like this; it could only be that she was forced by that Su Gou. So he wouldn't blame Yin Cui.
Father Lin's words were clearly meant for the crowd to hear, and everyone felt a sense of dawning realization. People here knew that Lin Han and Yin Cui were classmates, and some even knew they were quite close. Now, Yin Cui was Su Yibo's fiancée.
"You mean it has nothing to do with you? Then bring your son out for confrontation. Anyway, possessing forbidden items is a capital crime for the whole family; you can't escape either." Su Yibo didn't care what Lin Chendong said. Even if Lin Chendong said that Yin Cui was stolen by him, and that he forced her to harm his family, he wouldn't be afraid.
"My son and his mother have left my Lin Family due to a dispute with me; I don't know where they went," Father Lin answered very directly.
"What? Left the Lin Family? My people have never seen your son leave the Lin Family. Where have you hidden them?" Su Yibo deliberately retorted.
"Alas, these days my wife and I have been at odds. She said she was taking our son and never coming back. I truly don't know," Father Lin feigned ignorance convincingly this time.
"City Lord, what do you think?" Su Yibo asked the City Lord.
The City Lord waved his hand and said, "Search!"
Two military officers immediately led soldiers into the Lin Family residence.
Half an hour later, they emerged, having found no one in the Lin Family residence.
The City Lord spoke, "Lin Chendong, where have you hidden everyone?"
Father Lin still bowed and said, "Lord City Lord, my wife is truly no longer in the Lin Family."
The City Lord no longer questioned Father Lin, instead directly asking the three Lin Family servants, "Where do you say the Lin Family mother and son are?"
All three servants replied, "We don't know; we haven't seen the mother and son." All three knew that the Su Family acted ruthlessly. The Su Family had a retinue of guards and also an army. The Su Family army was originally meant to protect the Su Family, but it was used by the Su Family to visit common people's homes. Each time the army visited, it was like the Qian Family and Sun Family. The three, of course, knew they couldn't escape the Su Family's clutches this time. They had long been prepared to die. But with the incident of the forbidden items, the three of course knew the Lin Family would be executed, including their servants. However, the law did not include the servants' families, only the servants who had sold themselves to the Lin Family and the Lin Family members. So they no longer cared about one more forbidden item incident.
"These matters between my family and me, these three servants are not clear about. My wife and son are indeed no longer in the Lin Family. I accept this crime; I collected them myself," Father Lin quickly added, explaining.
"Sweep thoroughly for me, see if there are any other hidden walls or caves, and find the people for me!" The City Lord commanded loudly this time.
The military officers once again led their team inside, with some soldiers following, carrying pry bars, echo locators, sledgehammers, and other tools. Of course, this process would be very long and would require many soldiers to enter to complete it quickly. This time, three times the number of soldiers were brought in.
Two hours later, the officer reported, "Cannot find them."
The City Lord was displeased this time. "Enough, enough! We've been at this for several hours; I haven't even had dinner. Lin Chendong, since your wife and son abandoned your Lin Family, I will temporarily not pursue them. If they are found later, I will still execute them according to the law. Seeing your sincere confession, are you ready to face your fate?"
The reason the Su Family brought out nearby residents was to solidify the forbidden item accusation against the Lin Family. Simply put, they wanted everyone to be witnesses to the process of punishing the Lin Family. However, Su Yibo's intimidation at this moment made the City Lord somewhat unhappy. He simply closed the case hastily in front of everyone, looking like he was tired and wanted to go home to rest early. These words clearly leaned a bit towards the Lin Family mother and son, as if he directly chose not to pursue the absent Lin Family servants.
Father Lin bowed to Lord City Lord this time and said, "Thank you, Lord City Lord. This humble commoner is already prepared."
But Su Yibo was displeased. "City Lord, this Lin Family privately possessed forbidden items; how can they be let off so easily? My people were indeed guarding the Lin Family and did not see the Lin Family mother and son leave. How about this: leave the matter of capturing the mother and son to me?"
The City Lord pretended to ponder, then slowly said, "Alright, I'll leave it to you." The City Lord already knew in his heart that Su Yibo wouldn't leave easily. Would he go to such great lengths to target the Lin Family and then so easily leave with his army? To be honest, the City Lord was also tired after several hours, but he had to deal with this forbidden item incident. He was very annoyed with Su Yibo: "Then you handle it yourself!"
Father Lin did not show much reaction to the City Lord's words. Firstly, he knew Su Yibo's character and his purpose this time; secondly, he had confidence in his Lin Family's secret passage. That was a secret passage built by his ancestors over many years.
The City Lord turned to Father Lin and, with a stern tone, issued an order: "Lin Chendong of the Lin Family privately possessed forbidden items. This has now been confirmed. According to the laws of Yue Ling Country, the entire family shall be beheaded in the street. Execute them!"
