The Prefect and Lord Ma were already on Lord Baodung's estate when Lian and Jingyi showed up the next morning.

They'd walked in silence, Lian ten paces behind Jingyi, the resentment emanating off the young woman in waves Lian could feel. The hatred and rage dissipated when she saw Lord Ma, flanked by the peasant father Lian had sent to fetch him and the local Prefect – a tall, lanky woman who had wisely brought a few soldiers along – standing outside the main gate to the Baodung manor.

Lord Ma approached Lian and Jingyi, bowing deep towards the girl. Of course they'd known each other for years – Lord Ma's estate was just as large as Baodung's and in the provincial culture of Qi Kingdom, they were essentially brothers – and it hurt Jingyi to see him look at her with new, more attentive eyes. She almost broke into tears at the thought of one of her family friends viewing her as a victim: an object of pity and revulsion in equal measures.

Ma took Lian aside. She'd worked for him three winters in a row, and she trusted him to act as an impartial voice. Most of the lords in the region acted like Baodung, amateur petty despots ruling over middling tracts of land with tight fists and dim wits. Ma had always seemed more intelligent and mindful of the needs of his peasants. And he'd trusted Lian, which was the only currency that would matter in her current predicament.

"Lord Ma," Lian bowed.

"Madam Zhao," he responded brusquely. "For your sake I hope these allegations you've made are true." He glanced over at Jingyi in her bare peasant clothing and the look of disgust traced his features again. "And for her sake, I hope you're wrong."

"I wish I were."

"You're certain then?"

"No. Not about most of it, actually. But I know enough."

Lord Ma nodded, then called over the Prefect and introduced her.

"This is Prefect Ren. I told her what your messenger said."

The Prefect and Lian bowed towards one another. "Madam Zhao, I take it you would like to ask the questions when we go inside."

Lian nodded. "I'll need your help though. There's one set of answers I'm worried about. A young servant girl. She'll be scared. I'll need your help to make sure she tells the truth."

"Of course."

"Have you ever had one of these before?" Lian asked.

"You mean a three-headed snake?"

Lian nodded.

"One. And you?"

"This is my third." She paused and looked at Jingyi again. "Never like this though."

Lord Ma motioned for the soldiers to escort Jingyi through the gate and towards the large home on the small hill. The young girl's face hung towards the ground, and Lian continued to follow her at a distance. The mood was sombre, her father's actions hanging over the slow canter towards the building, that mood only growing in tandem with the building in their sights.

When they stepped inside the mood shifted at once. Lord Baodung – visibly hungover but also overflowing with joy – bounded down the stairs of the main hall and took his daughter into his arms. She too cried. The Lady Baodung, who had before this point been sedated by Fang and left to rot in a cool room, also appeared, still disconnected from her own body and still dishevelled in appearance, but also relieved. The happy reunion was short but heartfelt. Even Yao appeared on top of the stairs and appeared to be shedding a tear.

"Madam Zhao," Baodung eventually turned his attention to Lian, though he kept his daughter pressed tight against his chest, her eyes were shut tight and her fingers transparent from gripping his clothing. "I'm so glad you brought her back to us. Lord Ma, Prefect Ren, I'm afraid I don't know why you have joined her here."

"There has been an accusation," Prefect Ren said gravely.

"Father," Jingyi gasped, clutching even tighter onto his clothes.

"What kind of accusation?" Baodung asked, his tone hardening.

"A serious one." Ren explained flatly. "And it's directed at you, I'm afraid, Lord Baodung. You and your daughter."

The room fell into a flurry of surprise and immediate counter-accusations. Yao Yun bounded down the stairs in defense of his master. A host of other nearby servants locked eyes with one another, excited and terrified to think their own suspicions, developed over years, were true. Lady Baodung remained blissfully unaware, her entire face still focused on Jingyi, radiating an altered motherly affection. Lord Baodung didn't look away from Lian: their eyes locked, and his face slowly turned to stone. Lian stared back.

"Please! Calm!" Prefect Ren ordered into the chaos, sending one of his soldiers to hold Master Yao back, and the others to stomp their heavy wooden spears on the ground. When the room had settled Ren continued, "There will be a time for refuting the claim. But first, everyone involved should be gathered." She turned to Lian. "Madam Zhao. Who is absent that needs to be brought forward?"

Lian reluctantly turned away from her staring contest with Baodung in order to respond. "Master Fang, the house physician. And Lady Jingyi's serving woman." Ren nodded towards one of the soldiers, who set off with Lord Ma to locate the two.

Baodung took the opportunity to start his defense. "So this is your idea of justice, Ren?" His voice was daggers and his eyes were ice, both inflicted upon the Prefect. "You can't spare an investigator to save my daughter, but you'll walk in with this stranger's word and accuse me in my own home?"

Ren narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "My idea of justice is the same as everyone else. Except maybe yours," she spat. "And I can't help it if the investigator you chose found more than you wanted."

And just like his daughter – still clawing the fabric of her father's shirt – he turned to threat with ease. "I'll see you flayed for this Ren. I swear it. You'll beg for death before I'm done with you."

Ren didn't engage, but Lian could sense a level of fear in her response. A level that meant there was some validity to his threat. If the prefect was scared of this man, then Lian had no hope if he escaped punishment. When Baodung turned back to stare at the Shuli Go again, Lian blinked.

The servant and Master Fang were brought in, Lord Ma looking solemn beside them both. The large room fell silent, and Prefect Ren began the proceedings.

"We are here today to hear a charge against this man, Lord Baodung of Gangxu Province. The charge is brought forward by this woman, Madam Zhao of..."

"Northern Shu."

"...of Northern Shu. Madam Zhao, please."

"This man," Lian pointed at Baodung. "Has been drugging and raping his daughter for at least one year."

The servants' responses were the loudest, their fears and hopes coming true. But Lian had expected that. She didn't look at the servants. She didn't look at Baodung either. She looked at Yao, watching his face. His was the only role she wasn't sure about. Unfortunately his face betrayed nothing: no surprise, but no rage nor disgust either. He just stared.

When the room died down again, Lian continued. "And this man," she pointed at Fang, "aided and supported him in this crime."

Master Fang, looking somehow even older than he had the day before, reared up, as if completely surprised. Of course Lian could tell he wasn't: he'd known he was doomed the moment Lord Ma had come for him. His faked outrage was easy to see through.

Baodung finally released his daughter – though Jingyi begged and clawed to try and stay by his side – and Master Fang was nudged forward to stand beside his lord. The two of them made an odd pair of criminals: Fang withered and frail, Baodung regal and defiant.

"Madam Zhao," Ren instructed, "please make your case against these two."