Feng’s mother hurriedly packed her change of clothes and rushed to Feng Erlang’s hiding place, urging him to escape quickly to avoid being caught by the authorities. As Feng Erlang was about to leave, Luo Shu, Qi Menglin, and Lian Shu ambushed him from outside, blocking his path. Feng’s mother firmly held back Luo Shu and the others, providing cover for Feng Erlang to jump out of the window and flee.
Feng’s mother refused to let go of Luo Shu, preventing her from pursuing further. Luo Shu instructed Qi Menglin and Lian Shu to chase after Feng Erlang. Determined, Qi Menglin and Lian Shu relentlessly pursued Feng Erlang, cornering him in a dead-end alley. Feng Erlang struggled desperately but was ultimately subdued by Qi Menglin on the spot. Lian Shu enlisted the help of local neighbors, and together they used ropes to bind both Qi Menglin and Feng Erlang.
Cai Captian arrived with reinforcements just in time and apprehended Feng Erlang. Luo Shu limped to the scene shortly after. Qi Menglin attempted to carry her back, but Luo Shu felt embarrassed and instead blocked a wine cart from passing by. Qi Menglin and Lian Shu also took a cart to the county office. Qi Menglin deliberately injured his hand, and Luo Shu bought a jar of wine to disinfect his wound. Although Qi Menglin cried out in pain, he felt a warm sense of comfort.
The driver took Luo Shu and the others to the entrance of the county office. Qi Menglin tried to help Luo Shu down, but she lost her balance and fell. Han Muzhi arrived just in time to catch her, and their eyes met as if time had stood still. Chen Meiqing coughed softly, causing them to part ways. Qi Menglin had intended to protect Luo Shu but was overshadowed by Han Muzhi, leaving him feeling resentful.
Han Muzhi interrogated Feng Erlang, who admitted to renting a boat but denied killing Meng Qiaosheng. Han Muzhi persistently questioned him, and Feng Erlang confessed that he had tied Meng Qiaosheng to the boat and beaten him. In the end, Meng Qiaosheng had jumped into the river on his own. Chen Meiqing concluded that Feng Erlang had murdered Meng Qiaosheng and urged Han Muzhi to close the case. However, Han Muzhi found numerous inconsistencies and Luo Shu suggested focusing on Mei Hongying for breakthroughs.
Luo Shu disguised herself as a woman to approach Mei Hongying, while Qi Menglin donned Lian Shu’s attire to impersonate Luo Shu’s page boy. Together, Luo Shu and Qi Menglin visited Mei Hongying’s home. Mei Hongying insisted on meeting Feng Erlang, but her brother Mei Changxiong desperately tried to stop her. Luo Shu explained her purpose, but Mei Hongying didn’t believe that Feng Erlang killed Meng Qiaosheng. Mei Changxiong vehemently distanced Mei Hongying from Feng Erlang. Ignoring her brother’s objections, Mei Hongying followed Luo Shu and Qi Menglin to the county office to testify on Feng Erlang’s behalf. Mei Changxiong pleaded with Luo Shu not to disclose Mei Hongying’s visit to the county office to protect her reputation.
Upon meeting Feng Erlang, Mei Hongying reproached him for breaking his promise. Han Muzhi pressured Feng Erlang to reveal the truth, threatening him with certain death. Mei Hongying urged Feng Erlang to clear his name, but he remained silent. Han Muzhi ordered Feng Erlang to be detained, sentencing him to execution in ten days. Mei Hongying firmly believed Feng Erlang was innocent and earnestly pleaded with Luo Shu to help exonerate him. Luo Shu agreed wholeheartedly and accompanied Mei Hongying home. She casually inquired about Mei Changxiong’s whereabouts on the night of the incident, to which Mei Changxiong claimed he was working in the workshop and that his wife had returned to her parents’ home.
Back home, Mei Hongying was gloomy. Mei Changxiong consoled her gently, and Mei Hongying recalled how Feng Erlang was about to be wrongfully executed. She blamed Mei Changxiong for separating them. Mei Hongying remembered that she and Feng Erlang had arranged to meet at home, but when Feng Erlang came to find her, Mei Changxiong had locked her in the study. Exhausted, she had fallen asleep, missing her appointment with Feng Erlang. Mei Changxiong adamantly insisted that he was working in the workshop that night and was not at home.
Luo Shu returned to the county office late at night, famished and searching for something to eat. Cai Baozi arrived promptly and brought her two steamed buns, which Luo Shu toasted and ate. To protect Mei Hongying’s reputation, Han Muzhi issued strict orders forbidding anyone from disclosing Mei Hongying’s visit to the county office for questioning. However, rumors had already spread early the next morning. Suspecting that someone from the Mei family had leaked the information, Han Muzhi took Luo Shu to the Mei household to investigate. Han Muzhi disguised himself as a scholar.
Han Muzhi and Luo Shu arrived at the Mei household, where they saw Mei Changxiong arguing fiercely with neighbors by the roadside. Mei Changxiong cursed at the gossiping women and, when conflicts arose, the parties would quickly escalate into physical fights. Han Muzhi hurried to intervene, threatening to take the gossips to the county office. Frightened, the gossiping women fled in panic.
Han Muzhi suspected that someone had leaked information about Mei Hongying’s visit to the county office. Mei Changxiong couldn’t figure out who it was either. Mei Hongying arrived, desperately pleading with Han Muzhi to clear Feng Erlang’s name. She wanted to visit Feng Erlang in prison, and Han Muzhi made an exception by allowing Luo Shu to accompany Mei Hongying to the jail. Mei Hongying brought Feng Erlang’s favorite roast chicken, urging him to tell the truth. Cornered, Feng Erlang finally confessed the truth. On the night of the incident, Feng Erlang had asked Lao San and Da Niu to come to his home to pick up Mei Hongying. Upon seeing Mei Hongying sound asleep under a blanket, the three men lifted the blanket and found Meng Qiaosheng naked inside. Feng Erlang had beaten Meng Qiaosheng severely, causing him to jump into the river to escape.
Mei Hongying clearly remembered the events of that day. Mei Changxiong had locked her in the study, forcing her to copy books and locking all the doors and windows. Despite her loud calls, no one came to open the door. She waited for Feng Erlang, but eventually fell asleep, missing her meeting with him. After hearing Mei Hongying’s account, Feng Erlang realized he had wrongly accused Mei Hongying. Luo Shu understood that Feng Erlang had kept the truth to protect Mei Hongying’s reputation. Luo Shu reviewed the entire sequence of events, confirming that Feng Erlang had not killed Meng Qiaosheng.
